The old merchants of New York City / by Walter Barrett.

12

THE OLD MIERCHIITS

contrary, fueling an honest pride in the pursuit by which
his father had obtained his pecuniary independence, he
resolved to employ his share of his parent's fortune in
a pursuit directly growing out of that in which it had
been gained. Purchasing the valuable water power at
Buttermilk Falls, near West Point, he erected large mills
for the manufacture of flour, which are still there and in
use, and commenced its manufacture upon an extensive
scale, employing a large number of persons, and in connection with it purchased the building which is still standing at the corner of South and Dover streets, as a depot for its sale, and for the transaction of the general
business of a wholesale flour merchant.
Marrying a beautiful woman of no fortune, the daughter of Peter Mesier, one of the wealthy and patriotic
merchants whom the Revolution had ruined, Mr. Lydig
took up his residence in Beekman street, next door to
the house of General Stevens. As the city was small,
and the people generally known to each other, there was
much more social intercourse than at present, and as
Mr. Lydig owned fine sloops plying between the mills
at West Point and the city, it was his custom every summer to make up parties of friends, ladies and gentlemen,
for an excursion through the Highlands and even to Hyde
Park and Albany, stopping by the way at the country
places of various friends along the banks of the Hudson.
It was like yachting at the present day, but more impromptu and infinitely more sociable. Under his excellent management his business steadily increased, and
the mills at Buttermi.k Falls not affording a sufficient
supply of flour, he purchased another water power nearer to the city, witll a mill attached. This was the beautiful country residence of the De Lanceys, in WestchesCtr County, adioining the village of West Farmls, situ