History of Claverack, (Columbia County) New York United States of America

Elbert Stothoff Porter, clergyman and editor, was born at Hillsborough, N.J., Oct. 23, 1820; son of John Warburton and Mary Bennett (McColm) Porter. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1839, A.M., 1842, and began the study of law which he abandoned for theology, graduating at the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch church at New Brunswick, N.J., in 1842. He joined the New Brunswick classis in 1842, and was pastor at Chatham, N.Y., 1843-49. He was married in 1845 to Eliza K., daughter of the Rev. Peter S. Wynkeep of Ghent, N.Y. He was pastor of the First Reformed Dutch church, Williamsburgh, L.I., N.Y., 1849-83, and during 1868-69, built a new church at a cost of $130,000. In 1883 he retired to his farm at Claverack, N.Y. He received the honorary degree D.D. from Rutgers college in 1854, and was president of the first general synod of the chutes held afar the name was changed to Reformed Church of Noah America. He was editor of the Christian Intelligencer, the organ of the church, 1852-68, and subsequently contributed to other religious periodicals. He is the author of: A History of the Reformed Dutch Church in the United States; The Pastor's Guide, and hymns. He died at Claverack, N.Y., Feb. 26, 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jamas Watson Webb, soldier and journalist, was born in Claverack, N.Y., Feb. 8, 1802; son of Samuel Blatchley and Catherine (Hageboom) Webb. He attended the schools at Cooperstown, N.Y., and in 1819 entered the U.S. army as 2d lieutenant, 4th battalion of artillery; was promoted 1st lieutenant in 1823; became assistant commissary of subsistence in 1824, and was appointed adjutant in 1825, and served under General Scott. He resigned from the army in April, 1827, and removed to New York city, where he was married to Helen Lispenard, daughter of Alexander L. and Sarah (Lispenard) Stewart. He became editor of the New York Courier and in 1829 purchased the Enquirer, which he merged into the Courier under the name Morning Courier and New York Enquirer, and this 'paper became the organ of the Whig party. He established a horse express between New York and Washington in order to obtain news twenty-four hours in advance of his competitors. In June, 1842, he fought a duel with Thomas F. Marshall of Kentucky, concerning an article published by Mr. Webb, and in November he was indicted by the New York grand jury, but was pardoned after two weeks' imprisonment. He was engineer-in-chief of the state with the rank of major-general. He was married secondly to Laura Virginia, daughter of Jacob L. Cram of New York city. In 1849 he was appointed charg? d'affaires to Austria by President Taylor, but the nomination was rejected by the senate, and he returned home in 1850. In June, 1861, he sold the Courier and Enquirer to the New York World. His application for an appointment as major-general of volunteers in 1861 was refused by the war department, and he declined the appointment of brigadier-general which was suggested. He was appointed U.S. minister to Brazil by President Lincoln in 1861; secured the settlement of long standing claims, and aided in securing the withdrawal of the French army from Mexico. In 1870 he returned to New York city. He is the author of: Altowan, or Incidents of Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountains (2 vols., 1846); Slavery and Its Tendencies (1856); National Currency (1875). He died in New York, June 7, 1884.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Claverack, (Columbia County) New York

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