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$1000, and rented 70 acres adjoining their north farm for $140.
In 1870 they bought the Clute Islandytad a small house in Niskayuna for $2508.55.
(which had 93/4 acres)
and traded their Sand Creek farm with Pittock for a house and lot on 2d Street ty\. In 187


and drying shed at Rotterdam burned in December 1883 but they immediately built a
& elder
new one. Galen Richmond, who had been their business agent .for over 30 years,
died in 1887 and Ozias Bogert became elder. Ozias was not the businessman or manager
that Galen had beenj there was now a severe lack of men and of members, in general;
and things were all downhill from now on. Ozias died in 1916, the last elder at
the SF, and Eldress Anna Case took charge. She had a good farm manager in Hugo
Strobel, who had come from the West Family when it had closed in 1914 after the
death of Elder Isaac Anstatt, and Hugo continued as manager until Eldress Anna died
in 1938 and the South Family itself closed, the iasfe end of the Shakers at Watervliet.
During the 1830s and 1840s, there was a State law that every able male citizen
had to serve in the militia or pay a fine. The Shakers, being pacifists, would not
serve and also, as a matter of principal, refused to pay the fine. In 1832, 7 from
the SF, along with 5 from the CF, 1 from NF and 2 from WF, were arrested and locked
up "within the stench and horrible degradation of the infernal regions," aand held
twoweeks.
In August 1832 the remark is made that "Poor little Ann;s old house is almost
\l to pieces." This, presumably, is the house

later, on Aug. 28th, "assisted by the Second Family, we bury the earthly house of
Ann, a dear little saint."
In August 1833, they "saw the balloon above Albany." In June 1835, Polly
Vedder came fromthe CF to instruct the sisters about making bonnets. This became
a large business with the world,large quantities being shipped to NYC, as well
as being sold locally to stores. In April 1836 a pair of black horses were stolen
from their stable, and Asa,&** went looking for them, returning with them two
days later. Three days after that, two constables reported they had caught the