Name/Title
Elseffer Correspondence Finding AidEntry/Object ID
2018.005.010Scope and Content
Personal and legal correspondence and legal documents beloonging to Jacob W. Elseffer.
Box 1 of 3 - see attached list
COLLECTION TITLE: Elseffer Papers
Background Note: Jacob W. Elseffer was a lawyerin Red Hook in the Nineteenth Century. His home waswhere the present (1998)CVS drug storeis on North Broadway. The property was sold after his death and the house and antique shop (Anderson Wagon House Antiques) behind ti weretorn downin the 1960's. Every thing was being trashed. Maynard Ham and his father saved what they could. The documents were bound together in bundles. These papers were brought to the Egbert Benson Historical Society in the spring of 1998 by Maynard Ham
S e r i e s 1: V Series 2 :
Series3 :
S e r i e s 4:
Series 5:
Series 6:
V.
Series 7:
Personal Correspondence 1856-1894
Accounts & Receipts 1856-1911
Telegrams 96 in Number
(From Barrytown Railroad Station 1904-July 1911)
Calendars of Circuit Court
1868: March, June, Sept, Oct, Dec 1869:March, June, October 1872:November
1876:October
Calendar, Columbia Co. Circuit Court Jan 1869
Pamphlets
"Outstanding Events In U.S. Naval History" "Hudson Valley Recipe Book', Bernie Fitchett "TheStone ChurchFelowship"1970
Souvenir booklet:" Church of St. John Evangelist" Hymn book, "Revival Gems" 1929
Red Hook, 175th Anniversary booklet
Miscellaneous Flyers & Advertisements
Photographs
Dedication ofnew Red Hook PostOffice (2)
No's. 17, 22, 23 Fraleigh St. (3) Houses on Fraleigh St. (3)
Max's Memphis BBQ 1997 (2)
Unidentified aerial photo Unidentified Tintype, lady (2) Unidentified Tintype, young boy (2) Unidentified Tintype, man
2018.005 COLLECTION NUMBER 0162
Jacob W. Elseffer Collection
Finding Aid produced March 20, 2018
Repository
Historic Red Hook
7562 North Broadway
Red Hook, NY 12571
Title
Jacob W. Elseffer Collection
Accession Number
2018.005
Processed By
Unknown
Creator(s)
Jacob W. Elseffer
Extent
Three document boxes, 1.25 linear feet total
Dates [bulk]
1845-1893
Dates [inclusive]
1845-1893
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions
Languages
English
Scope and Content
The collection consists of three document boxes, two with three ledgers each, one with papers including correspondence, photographs, accounts and receipts, legal papers and misc pamphlets and flyers.
Biographical/Historical Note
Jacob W. Elseffer was a lawyer in Red Hook in the 19th century. His large gracious home stood where the former CVS drug store (and A&P supermarket before that) was located on North Broadway across from the post office. Born September 6, 1822, he died in 1907 at age 85, at that time the oldest practicing attorney in the county. He apprenticed with Judge Rowley of Upper Red Hook instead of going to college, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He was the organizer of the First National Bank of Red Hook and was elected President. He also served as a director and attorney for the bank. As attorney and solicitor, he regularly appeared before the Dutchess County Supreme Court. Elseffer was a Democrat in politics and a member of the fraternity of F & AM, and was made a member of the Monumental Lodge No. 374 at the first meeting in April 1866. He was master of the Lodge in 1860 and through his efforts the Lodge, which had not been thriving, was moved to Tivoli and became prosperous. At the time of his death he was the oldest Lodge member and Senior Past Master.
Provenance
The Elseffer property was sold after his death and the house and antique shop behind it (Anderson Wagon House Antiques) were torn down in the 1960s. Maynard Ham and his father saved what they could,. The documents were bound together in bundles. Maynard Ham brought the papers were brought to EBHS in 1998.
The ledgers were lent to the Rhinebeck Historical Society in 1975 by Robert Wolfert of Rhinebeck. In 1976 he noted that the ledgers should be donated to RHS and if a historical society was formed in Red Hook, that they be donated to that organization.
Subject Headings
Lawyers, Monumental Lodge, First National Bank, Dutchess County Supreme Court
Copyright Notice
Courtesy of Historic Red Hook
Related Materials
- Photographs of his house on North Broadway are in the Historic Houses Collection – 2015.008. 150, 151, 154, 156, 167, 171
- Genealogy folder ‘Elseffer’ in Genealogy drawer.
Container List
2018.005.010 - Box 1 of 3 – See attached Collection List.
(includes unidentified tintype portraits as well as photos of houses on Fraleigh Street, Red Hook Post Office dedication and Max’s Memphis BBQ restaurant (2018.005.001-.009)
2018. 005.011 - Box 2 of 3 – Three ledgers:
1) Cardboard bound - Register No. 1 – 1845-1856 - 192 pages – Elseffer cases listed - Attorney & Solicitor, Dutchess County Supreme Court
2) Leather bound Register # 2 - 1856-1864 – 269 pages
3) Leather bound Register # 4 – 1874-1876, index, 82 written pages, and three at back with clippings, obits.
2018.005. 012 - Box 3 of 3
1) Leather bound Ledger - 1857-1876, index ,156 pages
2) Cardboard bound Checkbook – stubs for 1864-65 Red Hook NY Bank of Rhinebeck – bland checks
3) Leather bound Daybook # 3 – 1863-1872, 266 pagesCollection
Jacob W. Elseffer Collection
