History of Rhinebeck, (Dutchess County) New York United States of America

Freeborn Garretson, pioneer Methodist, was born in Maryland, Aug. 15, 1752. He became a convert to Methodism and in 1775 became an itinerant preacher for that denomination. He was eminently successful in his labors and in 1784 was elected by the general conference a presiding elder and was a voluntary missionary in Nova Scotia for four years. He then selected twelve young ministers and organized an evangelical work in eastern New York and western New England. In 1791 he was married to Catharine, daughter of Robert L. Livingston and thereafter resided in New York city, making Rhinebeck-on-the-Hudson his summer home. His itinerary extended from Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico in the tier of Atlantic states. His daughter, Mary Rutherford Garretson, born in 1783, inherited his property as well as his missionary spirit. Her home on the Hudson was the mecca of Methodism during her lifetime and hundreds of young men, afterward prominent as missionaries and preachers, received their first encouragement and financial help from her. She died at Rhinebeck, N.Y., March 7, 1879. Freeborn Garretson died in New York city, Sept. 26, 1827.

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

Henry Philip Tappan, educator, was born at Rhinebeck, N.Y., April 18, 1805. At an early age he was deprived of family support; resided in Marbletown, Ulster county, N.Y., and made his way unassisted. He was graduated from Union, A.B., 1825, and became one of the three most eminent of President Nott's pupils, the other two being Francis Wayland and Alonzo Potter. The three were designated by some writer as "the triple brood of heroic sons of wise old Nestor." Tappan was graduated at the Auburn Theological seminary in 1827, and was married, April 17, 1828, to Julia Livingston of New York city. He united with the Reformed Dutch church at New Paltz, N.Y., in 1821; was assistant pastor of the Reformed Dutch church, Schenectady, N.Y., 1827-28; installed pastor of the Congregational church, Pittsfield, Mass., September, 1828, and served, 1828-32; was professor of intellectual and moral philosophy and belles lettres, University of the City of New York, 1832-37; of intellectual and moral philosophy, 1837-38; in New York, teaching, preaching, writing and publishing, 1838-52; was the first president of the University of Michigan, and professor of philosophy there, 1852-63. He was a resident of Berlin, Paris, and Nice, 1863-74; of Basle, Switzerland, 1874-80, and of Vevay, 1880-81. He was made a corresponding member of the Institute of France, 1856, and received the honorary degree of D.D. from Union in 1845 and that of LL.D. from Columbia in 1854. He was a member and president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of other organizations. He is the author of: Review of Edwards's Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will (1839); The Doctrine of the Will Determined by an Appeal to Conscience (1840); The Doctrine of the Will Applied to Moral Agency and Responsibility (1841); these three republished with additions (Glasgow, 1857); Elements of Logic (1844, 2nd ed., 1855); Treatise on University Education (1851); A Step from the New World to the Old and Back Again (1852). Introduction to "Illustrious Personages of the 19th Century" (1853); with numerous addresses, articles, tracts. He died in Vevay, Switzerland, Nov. 15, 1881.

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

Cornelius Henry De lamater, iron master, was born in Rhinebeck, N.Y., Aug. 30, 1821. He was a clerk in the Phoenix iron works in New York city, 1837-41, when in company with Peter Hogg, he bought out and continued the business. Upon the retirement of Mr. Hogg in 1857, Mr. De Lamater established in New York city the De Lamater iron works where he built the Monitor and Dictator, designed by John Ericsson. He also built the Iron Witch, the first iron steamboat on the Hudson, and the machinery for thirty Spanish gunboats. He was a member of the New York rapid transit commission, 1876-77, and of the Society of mechanics and tradesmen. He died in New York city, Feb. 7, 1889.

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

Philip Milledoler, educator, was born in Rhinebeck, N.Y., Sept. 22, 1775; son of John and Anna Milledoler, who emigrated from Geneva, Switzerland, in 1751. He was graduated from Columbia college, A.B., 1793, A.M., 1797; and was ordained by the synod of the German Reformed church, May 17, 1794. He was pastor of the German Reformed church on Nassau street, New York city, 1794-1800; of the Third Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, 1800-04; of the Collegiate Presbyterian churches of New York, 1804-13; and of the Collegiate Dutch Reformed churches, 1813-25. He was professor of didactic and polemic theology at the Seminary of the Reformed Dutch church, New Brunswick, N.J.; and president and professor of moral philosophy at Rutgers college, 1825-40. He was a trustee of Rutgers college, 1815-40. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1805. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical society in 1840. He is the author of Dissertation on Incestuous Marriages (1843), and many sermons and addresses. His son, Philip Edward Milledoler, was a well-known clergyman of the Episcopal church, a member of the New York assembly and a trustee of Rutgers college. Philip Milledoler died on Staten Island, N.Y., Sept. 23, 1852.

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

History of Rhinebeck, (Dutchess County) New York

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