NEWS
Local History by Mary Lou Nahas - Oak Hill and Vicinity The Cheritrees and the Church
I’ve spent time this winter trying to better understand the Cheritrees who had an impact on Oak Hill in the 1800s. I knew the family members engaged in manufacturing and that Olive Cheritree (1852-1924) who was born here became a world-famous painter and died in the mental institution in Poughkeepsie. To better understand, I’ve looked at the Cheritree connection with St. Paul’s Lutheran church.
Sheldon Cheritree (1794-1867) married Olive Botsworth (1796-1891) in Greenville; they had a number of children including. Egbert (1822), Eliza Olive, John Henry (1828), Andrew (1830), Emily (1834), and Walter (1836) while living in Greenville. Sheldon then moved with his family to Middleburg where he “ conducted an iron foundry.” When he removed to Oak Hill, he engaged in the same business being succeeded by his sons, John and Walter, under the firm name of Cheritree Bros, and who conducted the business for nearly thirty years.
Sheldon and Olive were accepted into the Middleburg Reformed Church May 1, 1843 and discharged April 22, 1848.
When Sheldon moved to Oak Hill several of his children moved there too, married into the community, and lived the rest of their lives here. Egbert: a skilled wagon maker, had a house in Oak Hill and died young
Eliza Olive married W. Pierce, pattern maker and iron molder with Cheritree Bros, a partner in the Furnace of Cheritree & Pierce. He died in 1909, aged 85.
John Henry married Margaret DeWitt in 1832; they had 3 surviving children: Olive, Emily Cheritree Ford, and Theodore. John died Feb. 5, 1891, age 63 of “brain difficulty” leaving a widow and three children. Margaret died Jan. 10, 1910. Funeral services were at her home.
Emily (1834-1901): (Mrs. Aaron Roggen ) Aaron was from Oak Hill and later kept the Roggen Mt. House in Tannersville
Walter Cheritree: died May 24 on the eve of his 79th birthday.
After the death of John Cheritree, the business known as the Empire works was run by Cheritree and Pierce. Walter left a widow, one daughter (Mrs. P. T. Hoagland), one brother a former Judge of Warren County, Andrew J. Cheritree of Glens Falls. His funeral services were held Thursday from his late residence with Rev. W. W. Silliman of St. Paul’s church, reading the church services. He was the last person living who was prominently identified with the iron business which at the time made Oak Hill a prosperous community employing many persons in its four foundries.
All of the family members who came to Oak Hill became active members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Let’s now look at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Oak Hill. On April 8, 1844, Rev. Steward was authorized to purchase a minute book and to enter into the book all the papers relating to the first organization of the church. We find that in 1809 a group of men from Durham met at the home of Abijah Moses in Durham to discuss the subject of organizing a parish and agreed they will meet every Sunday after they obtain a clergyman. A committee of James Thompson, Moses Austin, Joseph Adams, James Utter was formed. By Aug. 16, 1808, fifteen or more had subscribed. They did not find a clergyman until 1811. Rev. Samuel Fuller was the first clergyman that preached at Durham and he organized the church. He had been a Presbyterian minister for 18 years and then left the Presbyterian church and embraced the Episcopal church. He was ordained in 1811. He preached in Durham half time from then till 1818. He also had the care of churches at Windham and Stamford .. Next James Thompson had care of the congregation as a missionary until the church was built and consecrated Nov. 21, 1834. Then Rev. Williams Morris came and preached one year.
Two wardens and 8 vestrymen, all male, were responsible for the operation of the church. Easter Monday was designated as the day for the annual meeting.
On Easter Monday, 1849 Sheldon Cheritree and George Bellamy were elected wardens. In 1853 at the annual meeting of male voters of St. Paul’s George Bellamy and Aaron Roggen were chosen Wardens and Sheldon Cheritree and Charles Pierce Vestrymen.
At a Sept. 17, 1853 meeting to elect delegates to annual convention John Cheritree, Elias Austin and George Bellamy were chosen.
July 20, 1854 the group met to elect a minister. Sheldon Cheritree was elected chairman. John Cheritree was secretary and treasurer.
I’ve highlighted the Cheritree names so you note the influence of the Cheritree men in the church: Sheldon, his sons, his sons- in- law.
Illustrating women’s part in the church, Mrs. James Terbush, treasurer of the Ladies Association, reported to the Wardens and Vestrymen that more than $600 had been raised and expended since 1876 in improvements in the Parish, church and grounds, including painting, papering, carpentry, fencing, “Her report was received with expressions of pleasure and gratitude that so much had been done and by only a few ladies.”
Another Journal entry shows something of the spirit of the church at that time: In Jan, 1845 the Rector explained, “Laying before the vestryman the reason which had induced him on a recent occasion to refuse the use of the church for a funeral at which a Methodist preacher was to officiate. Refusal was extended to all future cases where the services were to be performed by a non-episcopal ordained clergyman. Bishop had expressly declared his disapprobation of allowing a church that had RECEIVED Episcopal consecration to be used to worship other than that provided by our liturgy.”
At the Sept. 17, 1853, meeting to elect delegates to annual convention in Albany John Cheritree, Elias Austin and George Bellamy were chosen..
1854 Sheldon Cheritree and Aaron Roggen were elected vestrymen; John Cheritree was clerk and treasurer.
July 20, 1854 when the group met to elect a minister, Sheldon Cheritree was elected chairman. John Cheritree was secretary and treasurer.
1856 Wardens were Sheldon Cheritree and Levi Tremain. Charles Pierce on vestry. John Cheritree clerk and treasurer.
1857 wardens: Sheldon Cheritree and Levi Tremain vestry. Aaron and Peter Roggen, Charles Pierce, Peck, DeWitt, Welch, Calvin Adams, Howe and M. Mattice on Vestry.
1858: Egbert Cheritree on vestry. Committee of five, including Egbert, Shelden, Roggen Sr., John H Cheritree, was appointed to have the burial ground surveyed, mapped and lots numbered. Contracted with Hallenbeck to build and repair all the fences belonging to the church and parsonage for the sum of $50.
1859: Wardens were Levi Tremain and Sheldon Cheritree. Vestrymen: J. Baldwin, Egbert Cheritree, John H. Cheritree, William DeWitt, A Gifford, M B Mattice, Henry Peck, Roggen;
Cheritree children (not named) were engaged to ring the bell and tend the fire.
1863 the church called Henry Bates to be Pastor.
Jan 28, 1863 the Right Rev. Horatio Potter was Bishop of Diocese of NY. 3 delegates were chosen to represent St Paul’s at the annual convention to be held in NYC in September next. They included Aaron Roggen, J. H. Cheritree, M B Mattice. J. H. Cheritree was unanimously elected as treasurer and clerk of the parish.
1864: Sheldon, John H., and Walter were Vestrymen
Sheldon died 10 Jan. 1867 intestate, leaving Olive as his widow. (In 1878 The Windham Journal mentioned that Mrs. Sheldon Cheritree of Oak Hill fell on her head and was unconscious for about a day.. Sheldon doesn't appear to have had even a one-line death notice.) In a petition for letters of administration signed by Olive, John H. Cheritree was recorded as the son of the deceased. (Probate papers at Vedder Library package #1770 in box 60 pertain to the estate of Sheldon Cheritree of Durham.) I have not found an obituary for Sheldon, apparently that was not so much the custom at that date.
Oct. 17 Met at DeWitt Hotel: wardens and Vestry: resolved that parsonage be repaired and small addition to be set on the barn and that W. Cheritree be able to rent same to Dr. and Mrs. Shafer.
April 1879: W S Cheritree an C A Hall Wardens: W S Cheritree treasurer of vestry. Reported subscriptions fallen off and no rent received from parsonage.
March 29, 1880 the Parish Meeting was held (Easter Monday) at the home of John Henry Cheritree,
1890 Theo Cheritree, Olive’s brother, was elected as a vestryman for the first time
John Henry Cheritree died in Oak Hill, Wednesday evening Jan 28, 1891 He was 63 years old. Fortunately we do have his obituary: “Deceased was of the well-known firm of Cheritree Brothers, furnacemen, who have done business many years in Oak Hill. The loss of Mr. Cheritree will be greatly felt. He was a man of many friends. He was social and his pleasant and genial intercourse with his fellow men had won for him hosts of warm and admiring friends. He leaves a widow and three children to mourn his loss, and they have the heartfelt sympathy of citizens in this sad hour. The funeral obsequies were attended from St. Paul’s church, Oak Hill, on Sunday morning, at the usual church hours. The sacred edifice was densely packed. Rev. T. A. Synder, rector of St. Paul’s officiated on the solemn occasion. Deceased was very prominent as a church worker and a member for many years. He was also one of the oldest vestrymen. The church has met with a great loss, and his familiar face and voice as chorister will no more be seen or heard. None labored more earnestly for St Paul’s than the deceased. His work is done and well done. He has been called to occupy a higher seat.”
Olive’s book Evolution was published in 1891.
1894: Walter Cheritree was a warden; Page Hoagland a vestryman
September 4, 1895, P.T. Hoagland married Ella Cheritree, daughter of Walter S. Cheritree. Olive attended the wedding of Page L Hoagland and Ella E. Cheritree in Oak Hill. Olive later paints portraits of Ella in her wedding dress and of Page.
1896: Nov. 17: Charles Hall, P. T. Hoagland and W S Cheritree were elected to attend Diocesan Convention (as Lay deputies) in Albany. W. S. Cheritree was church treasurer.
1896: Nov. 17: Charles Hall, P. T. Hoagland and W S Cheritree elected to attend Diocesan Convention (as Lay deputies) in Albany. W. S. Cheritree was church treasurer.
March 31, 1902: W S Cheritree and P T Hoagland elected wardens. E Ford vestryman appointed and looking after grounds.
1903: W S Cheritree and P T Hoagland elected wardens. Board of Vestrymen: Charles Graham, Hiram Snyder, BO Dewitt, Ernest Ford.
[Mrs.. Emily Ford was Olive’s aunt. Ruth Ford inherited much of her property.]
1905: Wardens W S Cheritree and Hoagland; Vestrymen were Charles Graham, L H Wade, E Ford, DeWitt, Shafter, Hall
1906: Meeting at E Ford’s office. W S Cheritree designated to attend convention Nov. 20 in Albany.
Ledger records that “Resolved that we close St. Paul’s church until May 1, 10-7 due to attendance. Attendance 1-12 during winter season and that we notify Bishop Doane.” [Olive would later write personally to him] W. Cheritree and P T. Hoagland wardens: Emerson Ford, B C DeWitt, L H Wade Vestrymen
Jan. 10, 1910 Margaret DeWitt Cheritree, wife of the late John H and mother of Olive and Emily Cheritree Ford died
Emily Cheritree Roggen died in-1901. Emily was the widow of Aaron Roggen who kept the Roggen Mt. house at Tannersville for many years. Burial at Oak Hill. Jan 25, 1902 Emily Roggen left in her will $300 to the church. Mentioned cemetery lot owned by her father Sheldon Cheritree.
August 26, 1915: due to decease of Walter Cheritree, P T Hoagland elected Warden
Now, a few thoughts about Olive’s part. John Henry Cheritree, her father, died in Oak Hill, Jan 28, 1891, the year she published “Evolution.” Jan. 10, 1910, her mother, died You can’t miss the involvement of John Henry Cheritree with the church. Olive Cheritree was his oldest living daughter. We’ve seen that women were not involved in the church in positions of authority as were the men. Men attended the conferences in Albany and New York and John Henry went more than most.
So, while it was not usual but maybe not surprising that Olive inserted herself into the center of the church. (1889—Olive wrote a letter to Episcopal Bishop Potter, Bishop of NYC on March 11, while she is in Brooklyn, saying that, she “was instructed somewhat by our rector, an English clergyman, in which seemed to me then as a rather high church view. By his advice, I came to you with some friends and joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, of the English branch of which he and his family were members. He was in the dioceses of Albany for three years.”
Olive was sent to a private boarding school in Poughkeepsie. She later wrote, “At boarding school I joined the church, not because I believed in it, but because I was so unhappy that I would try what efficacy there was in the church.”
The church because an obsession for her. In a letter Olive later explained that the church and religion along with her painting pretty much dominated her life. Olive several times mentions discussing with her family whether her brother Theodore should enter the ministry (he apparently attended Trinity College, an Episcopalian school in Connecticut, and because a lawyer and teacher in Niagara Falls.). She wrote, “I had done, in most every way nearly all that I could; first, as means were limited, had educated myself, then my sister, and finally advising him to study for the ministry when he entered college. It seemed to be anything but practicable, as business was not going well at home., I had my own studies to continue, and everything else to attend to; but in faith, I finally gave all my influence in that direction, and from that moment on I found my way.”
“Evolution” was published in 1891 and went into a second printing. Copies are available for anyone who wants to read it today. In a letter to Bishop Doane, Olive wrote: :“Dear Sir: One of our Bishops wrote me that he was not in sympathy with the theory upon which “Evolution” was written, But to me it is not a theory; it is a proven fact.”
1897 Olive temporarily institutionalized at request of her brother Theodore (who was to die in 1903).
Catskill Examiner, October 2, 1897 published: Olive Cheritree, of Oak Hill, was committed to the Hudson River State Hospital at Poughkeepsie on Tuesday by Judge Sanderson. She was examined by Drs. E. E. Elliott and C. E. Willard, who pronounced her insane. Miss. Cheritree formerly resided in this village (Catskill). She built the River View Cottage and established an artist studio here. As an artist, her pictures were admitted to the Paris Salon and her work was of a high order of merit. Her mind had been more or less affected by several years with a religious mania. She was the author of a pamphlet on “Evolution” published while she was in Catskill. The work strongly indicates that her mind was not right.”
Olive died in 1924 in Poughkeepsie; her funeral was in Oak Hill and she was buried there. Years later a neighbor from Catskill wrote to Ray Beecher: “I went to Olive’s funeral and though that she was happy looking for being in Poughkeepsie so long.”