USA > New Jersey > Early historical events in the Delaware Valley > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
Amos T, Mitchell born February 8,1809, died May 22,1882. His wife Silly E. Conklin norn Nov.12, 1812, died Jan.22,1891. This couple was married Nov, 26,1829, and li! lived to gether sisty-three years. Their son Ransom Y. and Lydia Avery celebrat- ed the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage before theth claimed the husband in 1926.
22
.
0
DILATARE VALLEY
THE CONKLIN FAMILY
Now just a brief mention for the Conklin family am it concerns the ancestry of Amos T.Mitchell genealogical treo; History shows that in the year 1820 Mrs. A.T.Mitchell's maiden name was Bally E. Conklin,relative to Bonjanin Concilia (con of Jotmn and Urusla) and of Michèlas Coaklio who were relatives of the firs Conklins who arrived inAmerica from England. Nicholas Conklin woved or migrated to the vicinity of Indian village in the Delewaro Valley called Cusbetunk in 1757 and settled with the Tylers, Calkins, Thomases and Mitchells on the Hardenberg Patent, the settlement being within the ciais of the Connecticut grant. Here Nicholas Conklin built the first tub nill for
grinding grain. The name can be traced back to the town of Contlis,N.Y. which was named for the family. The well known Boscoo Conklin was a first cousin of Mira Amos T, Mitchell. Benjamin Conklin lived the greater prt of his life in Sullivan County, E.Y. Migrated to wear Bileyville and was employed by the Great Bend Turnpike . Benjamin Conklia and Mercy Comfort were married Ist. 9.1800 The former was born August 27,1785 and the latter December 7.1750. The issue of this couple were seven sons and ceven daughters, Sally E. Conklis being the third child. Benjamin Conklin And was born Sept.9, 1619. He married Hary Hopingtoa, daug ter of James Nonington. "enjamin, the father, died Aug.20, 1837. In 1830 all the family but Sally and Benjamin B.migrated to Rockford I12. John Conklin came from England in 1638. No was in Balon Kams in 1640. Nicholas Conklin servedin the Continental forces in the French and Indian outbreak of 1783 when the settlement of Cushetunk wan attached and was commissioned a Lieutenant.
Joha Conklin was elected member of Assembly fron Lumberland,Sullivan Co. 1807-1806 aad from Bethel Sullivan Co. 1810-1812.
From 1743 to 1798 Cochecton was in Mamakating township, from 1798 to 1800 in Lunberland; Sullivan County, and from 1809 to 1828 in Bethel. In the latter year the township of Coshocton mus formed, The first town meeting in the new bowsahip was hald in thess that is now collod Old Town, at the home of 1 Stephen Godney, March 3,1829.
The first pernament white settlement was in 1754 and in 1769 there wree thirty houses ,and aills to saw lumber and grind griin. To reach what is sow Post Jervie they either weat by paths thru the forest of by canoo on the Delaware river. Judge Noses Thomas and Anos T.Mitchell were second cousins.
CHAPTER XVI SOME SKINKER BISTORY October 4, 1927
Robert Land, who came up from the lower counties of the Delaware to the Cochecton Valley so a magistrate in 1763, was considered a tory when the Revolution was raging. To be a Tory was to be a traitor to the cause of liber ty, and liberty and the accompanying prosperuty was what the early settlers i: is our now prosperous and peacable Delaware Valley sought, Aw we mentioned in a preceding chapter Capt. Tyler and his band of scouts when out on one of the their raide not band and another man named Bryant coming up tho Delaware In a canoe at Dig Eddy. They were arrested as Tories and taken to fort Jervis where they were putinto prison, but were subsequently liberated. One account says they made and escape from the prison, At any rate Land and bis family fled to Canada and never returned. However, on son John Land returned to the Cashetunk settlement and became a leading figure in civic and business acti- vities. No married Lillie the only daughter of and sixth child of "Admiral" Daniel Skinner, Among the improvements he made was to build a large 8-story building with basement. This house was built in 1706, is in good state of preservation and is occupied by a Skinner desosadant. John Land sold the house and e large acresce of land to his brother-in-law Jathan Skinner.
grandson. Nathan married Sarah Calkin and their children voro Calvin, Amanda, Corens, Olive, Albro, Charles, let; Golf, end Silla. Calvin, the oldist of this family became the most noted of the family. Calvin or "Colonel" an he
C
DELAWAREVALLEY
31
.as he was later-known was born on the Ockhake-place, at the -head-of- St. Tammany Flats, near Callicoon, Nov.15,1799. In 1820 at the age of 201 years he married Sarah, a daughter of Jonathan Lillie, and to them were born twelve children:
Calista, Volney, Martha, Weston D. , Octavia, Abigail, and Milton L. Volney married Julia Bentleyand to them twosons and three daughters were born, One son, Nathan survives. and two of the two daughters the Misses Florence and Elizabeth. Milto
1
. L. married Jennie Louise Guinnip, and to them two daughters weremborn, Sarah Edna and Lorena. Colonel Calvin Skinner was a colonel of the 70th regimant, 2nd brig- ade. 8th division. He had a great memory, was a deep reader and admirer of Na- poleon's writings and it was on account of Napoleon's Decree at Milan, Italy that Milanville weceived its name, the same to be credited to Col. Skinner.
In this treatise we have taken up only one member of the NathanSkinner family, Calvin and twomembers of hi s -family, Volney and Milton. The name of theothers only was given. All filled their nitchs in both civic and business ways. Heli was a Justice of the Peace for many years as well as his brother Valvin and their uncle Benben Skinner, who was the first Justice of the Peace commissioned in Wayne Co. A bro like his father Nathan, was a surveyor and rand and estab- lished many of the lines in the Delawzre Valley,
BIRTH OF DR. APPLEY
Dr.Luther Appley was born in Canterbury, Conn. Sept.15,1790 and at the age of 16 years migrated to "ancock, N.Y. One year later he became a student in the office of Dr.Lewis Allen of Deposit. New York. He remained one year then came to Damas- cus in 1811 at the age of 18 years. Here he studied in the office of Dr. Free- man Allen two years. Hor ten years he was surgeon in the 70th regiment of mili- tia. At a very early age the Doctor married Phoebe, oldest daughter of John Land. By this union eight children were born, viz; William Land b. 1813, died Jan 1877, married four times, Harriet Wheeler, Julia Reed, Mrs. Antonette Coots, Mindle Lakin. By the first wife two chilren were born, Henreetta who became the wife of Rev. Theron Brittainmdeceased. One son survives, Dr. Robert Brittain of Downsville, N.Y.
William Wheeler Appley, the noted physician and surgeon o f the Delaware Valley, nr now in his 80th years. He married Mary Barlow and one daughter Miss Musette is the sole heir. Louisa; Theron, born in 1822, died in 1888. He also was a physician He married Ann Hodge, who was born in 1828, died 1897, Their children were Julia whomarried Lucian Olver, their children are two sons, A, mus and Theron; Wilmot who married Estelle Pinney; Otto who married Alice Irvine and Elizabeth Vail. Judson who married Mary Tyler(now residing in California) Amasa who married AnnaRhodenberg; Lillian and Chester. The family are all deceased excepting
Judson. Abigail: Teressa; Luther born in 1826 died in 1919. He married Caro- line Schenck and to them were born twosons and three daughters. The sons and w two daughters survive; Mark born in 1829, died in 1896. He married Mary Beach. One son Wirt, died at the age of 12 years. William L. Appley was a physician and surgeon of note and was for many years employed by the Erie company as surgeon. he lost a leg in in a railroad smash-up. At his death his mantle as Erie surgeon fell upon his son William K. Mark Appley was a farmer and lumber man and for a time was associated with James S. Vail in the mercantile traffic. Luther second ,was the adventurer of his father's family. He followed the rush for gold in 1848 but stopped in Idaho. We have his ipsidixit that he was in the mountains of northern Idaho when the mercury froze. Mecury is used to determine gold in the rock being worked. He had a partner and they were doing fairly well with quite a sack of dust cached. They wished to take another claim and Luther was the one sent to transact the business. When he returned after several days his partner had gone and taken the sack of dust, forgetting to leave any share for Luther. He returned east as eh went away, a poor man. He became a millwright and lumber jobber in Delaware Co. New York but like the rest of the family, soer spent his remaining days near the place of his birth.
DR LUTHER APPLEY
In 1838 our subject, Dr.Luther Appley went toPhiladephia to practice medicine and surgery and attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College. In that city he met Mary E. Effinger whose parental ancestors were wealthy Quakers. In 1844 she became the Doctor's second wife and a year later they came to Damascus to
-
,resid
DELAWARE VALLEY 32
4 two daughters were born. Adelaide who died in infancy.A 2nd daughter-www .... 80 named .Adelaide who married Luther Peckand died Sopt.4, 1871 .. . aged 21 years. The Doctor died at Damascus Oct.20,1853.His wife, Mary E.died in Honesdale Oct; 6,1899,gged 86 years. It is said that while residing in Damascus Mrs. Appley, the 2nd had two barrels of wheat flour shipped from Philadelphia via New York and up the Hudson to Newburgh, thence across the country over the turn- pikes by the Tally-Ho to Damascus. This was before the advent of the Erie. Dr.Luther Appley was a surgeon and physician in hus day. He was often called in consultation with othe eminent physicans. The principal mode of travel in those days wa on horse-back wit the usual saddle bag equipment and the Doctor made many long and tedious trips to the bedside of a patient in his manner, As the home of the Doctor and the home of the writer's parents were only a few rods apart the two families were on gracious terms and the writer heard much inside infor- mation.Dr.Appley was a kindhearted man and much given to charity, especially a- mong his patients, often attending where he knew he would receiveno pecuniary reward. He won the respect, the honor and gratitude of the people in a wide circle where he circulated as a physician and this was shown by these people when his mor tal remains wer taken for burial in the Methodish Episcopal cemetery. Two of his sons as mentioned were physicians and grandsons, William W. and Otto, son of Theron followed in his footsteps as physicians. Chapter XVII
October 7,1927
In Chapter ten of this series we made referene to the early life of the Cochecton Presbyterian church which when started was used by the Damascus people of the Methodist faith, services beingheld in a school house that stood near the opesent site of the Presbyterian church of today. The starting of Methodist worship in Damascus dates back to 1830, when a class was organized in Milanville with John Tyler as leader. Other appointments during the early history of the circuit were St.Tammany, Conklin Hill and Galilee.
SOME CHURCH HISTORY
In 1839 a union organizationwas formed and named the the Presbyterian and Method Episcopal Society of the town of Cochecton, and on the 8th day of March in that year the following named men were appointed a board of trustees: Moses Calkin, Georgr Bush, Jared Irvine, Alexander Irvine, James C.Curtis, Charles Young, Nathan Skinner, Charles Drake, and Walter S, Vail. The necessary steps were immediately started to raise money by subscription for hhe erection of a churbh edifice. On the 6th day of Mann May foloowing Moses Calkin gave a deed of a lotfor the church charging $2. In this deed was a proviso which gave the Presbyterians the privil- ege of buying the rights of the Methodists at the expiration, paying them back the amount they had subscribed. Those who signed the subscription paper stated whether they were Presbyterians or Methodists. In June of this year (1839 )Jaces C.Curtis, Walter S, Vail and Charles Drake as a building committee contracted with Ira and Willis Sherwood to erect a church building for $15.00.00 ($1500) The ddi- fice was sompleted Jan.28,1840 and Messrs Sherwood made a reduction of $75 from the contract price. This edifice was dedicated on February 20,1840, Rev. David Webster conducting the dedicatory service, preaching from Psalms 44:1-2, There was a mutual beard understanding by the board of trustees that each denomination should occupy th edifice abternate Sundays, also giveing other evangelical denom- inations the privilege of using the church for worship or for abolition of slavery lectures, In 1856 the union between the Presbyterians and Methodists was dissol. ved the latter withdrawing.
THE EARLY METHODISTS
On August 14mk856, members of the Methodist society met in the Damascus Union A- cademy and formed a new board of trustees as follows; John Jackson, Israel Tyler, Calwin Tyler, Jesse Bush, Judge Mebatman Tyler, Webster Sutliff, Lancelot Drake, The organization was called "The Methodist Eposcopat Church of Damascus", and charter applied for. This was granted December 8,1856.
The lot upon which the church was built is 132 by 227 feet and was purchased from Judge Moses Tyler for $36, and the deed for the same is dated Oct. 3, 1857. Later ar additional lot was purchased for $32. This and part of the first lot was used as a cemetery. When the church was completed and furnishedthe expenditure was $1605. The sum of $1075 had been raised by subscription and at the dedication October 27.
DELAWARE VALLEY 33
1857 the balance was easily raised. At the dedicatory service Rev, Jesse T. Peck, D. D. and Thomas Mack of the Presbyterian Church, Cochecton, assisted the minister Sn the charge, Rev. E. W. Breckenridge. Rev. Peck delivered the dedicatory sermon taking for his leading words those found in Luke 3:4-6 In 1874-5 the edifice was enlarged and generally overhauled at a cost of $5,800. The L. A. S. contributed $800 of the amount. The church was rededicate Feb.24,1875. At this rededication Rev. W. P. Abbat preached from Rev.19:6 and Rev.D. C. Olmstead made the dedication remarks. Since that time $1,400 has been expended upon the church, In 1860 two lots 100x200 each were purchased across the roadfrom the church from Judge Moses Tyler and George Bush, each receiving $20. Seven years following (1867) a parsonage was built at a cost of $800. On Oct.26,1807, the fiftieth anniversary of this church was celebrat ed. At that date the secretary reported no indebtedness and the secretary's report today shows no indebtedress.
The records show that since the erection of the edifete in 1857 the foodowin preachers have served on the charge: E. W. Breckenridge, C. White. M?Swallow, D. Williams. S.Barnes, J. L. Race, P.D. Clark, N. D. Reynolds, Jonas Underwood, J.R. Angel, R.J. Kellogg, Moses D. Fuller, A.W.Cooper. A. W. Loomis. A. C. Olver, F.A. Doney, H. G. Harned, Arthur Osborne, W.L. Linaberry, Ira C.Estes, J. H. Boyce, L. VanCampen, J.M. Coleman, J. D. Wheeler, H. L. Renville, Arthur Jones, W. J. Seymour O. G. Russell, John Robinson besides a few who supplied, Memorial windows have been put in the edifice.
THE UNION CHURCH
A union church was erected at what was then called Eldred, now Calkin, in 185. at a cost of $2500, most of which was raised by subscription. There is also a cemetery connected therewithand the firts interment in it was the body of Margaret May Arthur July 8,1858. As early as 1842 there was a Presbyterian class organized there. In 1857 Rev. Thomas Mack presided at a meeting which perfected the organization of the Presbertian church in Calkin. At that meet- ing James MacArthur, Hiram Willis, John Orr, and William MacArthur were made ruling elders and the following members were enrolled: James MacArthur and his wife Agnes: Margaret MacArthur; Claudius McIntyre: and Jane, his wife: Will iam MetArthur and and Nancy, his wife, Alexander MacArthur and Ann, his wife: Hiram Willis and Eleanor, his wife; Varoline E. Pelton, John Lovelass John Orr; James Orr and Catharine his wife; Ann Lovelass; Eliza Orr; William Love- lass. Yhis church the Cochecton pastors fill the pulpit in the Calkin church Soon irter 1936 a school house was built near this Urion church and Kiss Emily Stearns was the first teacher. A branch of the Christian church was al- so organized at Calkin and many of the peopde there embraced that faith. This church has ro building of its own but worship in the Union church and con- tribute to the same and support their own pastors.
In 1840 a Metbodist class was established in Galilee with Joseph Sutliff the first leader. In 1876 under thepastorate of R.J. Kellogg a church edifice was builtat a cost of $2,000. the amount being raised by subscription. It is one of theappointments on the Damascus charge. The Midanville people also built a church and it is also a branch of Damascus. There is a Union church con Conklin Hill and a church has just been built in Abrahamsville. This makes six appointments on the Damascus charge and all are attended by one man. There is also a Roman Catholic church, St. Joseph, in Rutledgedale, but it has no regular advisor, being supplied by priests from Bangall, Rock Lake, Calli- coon, or elsewhere as conditions and circumstances demands. It is opened mostly on funeral occasions and at stated times.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
The fact that Thomas. Shields was an ardent Baptist led to the building of the First Baptist church in Damascus and the first church edifice in Wayne County This was in 1800. It was deeded together with the lots on which it stood, in trust, for a regular Baptist church and society when organized. In 1820 Rev. John Smitzer visited Damascus but was not invited to preach because of his close communion maskaviews. He again visited Damascus the following fall and organized a regular Baptist church, twelve persons enrolled in hhe class. Aug. 26,1821, a council of recognition convened and nineteen members enrolled, seven being baptized in the Delaware river. In September of the same year
22
-
DELAWARE VALLEY 34
Jonathan Yerkes was chosen clerk and the succeeding November Isaac Brown was made deacon. The church was admitted to the associationin 1822. In March 1826 Rev. Smitzer resigned his charge. This left the church without a regular pas- tor but the pulpit was at times supplied by Revs. Enoch Owen, Horace Jones, Charles H. Hubbard, and Robert C.Brisbane. In 1831 a new church edifice was built on the flat noar the Delaware(the old edifice was about midway up the hill from the river) which was dedicated November 7,1831. There was no regu- lar services until 1835 when Rev. J. Bixby was called for the fourth pastor, He died the following year and the pulpit was vacant again. For nine months, John f. Mitchell. licentiate, served, November 1837 Joseph Currin was called' as pastor. At this date the membership was eighty. Rev. Henry Curtis then took charge, 1839, and resigned in 1349. leaving the church with one hundred communicants. The pastors who served during the interim to 1356 were Revs. J. T. Mitchell, W. C. Ulyat, T.O. Judd, Andrew Hopper, J. C. Shearman./A. M. Calkin who succeeded in 1855 . In 1856 a great revival service continuing three mont: swelled the membership to one hundred thirty, Rev. Calkin served as pastor until[November 1866. He was succeeded by T. F. Smith in the following year. Walter Gallant was called April 12.1974 . At this time the church was given a general overhauling at a cost of $6,000 and was redddicated June 2,1874. In 1875 Rev. Gallant resigned and was succeeded by pastors in the following order ti 1883: I. N.Barl, J.A.Baskwell, F. H.Cooper, S. M. Wescott, C.B. Fitz- william.
A second Baptist church was organized and was mainly an offshoot of the First Baptist church. Rev. J. T. Mitchell had for several years been preaching in schoolhouses to members of the infant church. The recognition sermon was preached by Rev. H. Curtis and Rev. Mitchell was chosen as pastor. He continued as pastor until 1856 when his death occurred. He was succeeded by John II. Dodge, a licentiate, who acted as a supply until 1857 when Rev. Newell Callen- der was called. He soon started a series of revival services ably assisted by Rev.k. A. Harris and by the effort forty-nine persons were baptized and admitted on profession of faith.
The writer was no record oo show when the first Baptist church edifice was ab bandoned for church purposes. But under the provision of the deed given by Thomas Shields, who was born in Chester county in 1743 and died in Philadelphi in 1520, the house and lot reverted to the origianl tractwhen abandoned for religious use. Charles Drake, one of the Manor Company, sold the building and lot to John Bradley for $40. This price was all paid in silver. The building stands, 1927, as a dwelling house.
FIRST ACADEMY
Educational as well as spiritual matters soon took hold of the people of Da- mascus and a meeting to discuss the feasibility of building an academy was called to meet in the Presbyterian church, Aug. 18.1848. The propositions made in regard tostarting the new institution were not received with favor but the seed had been sown. & second meeting was called to the Baptist church The matter was pressed forward and committee was named to select a site for the proposed building. A committedd was ,at a third meeting, appointed, to buy one acrefrom Charles Drake for $200. It was a portion of theold Damascus Manorand was covered with tall stately white pine trees many of which were ever two feet in diameter. A clearing was made dear the center for the build- ing. The third meeting selected a committee complsed of Koses Thomas, Judge Moses Tyler, John T.Mitchell, Webster Sutliff, James C. Curtis, E.S. Page, and Walter S. Vail.Moses Tyler was made president and Charles Irvine secretary of a subscription committee. The stock was $5 a share and was soon all taken. Charles Irvine drafted the charter which was granted in 1849. Joseph T. Tyler laid the foundation. Cogswell Gordon was the head carpenter and with the assistance of Joseph M.Brigham and Abraham Tyler the building was completed ready for school that same year. The first term of school was opened on the first Monday of May 1850, with Abijah M. Calkin of Cochecton as principal. So great was the attendance he was obliged to call in an assistant.
In 1879 the old building was remodeled and enlarged to its presence appear- ance. The big pines were cut down. The new building has a frontage of 72 feet and depth of 24 ft. In 1899 the building was sold to Damascus School Board for a new High School building. .
35-38
DELAWARE VALLEY
Chapter XVIII missing. October 14,1927.
October 31,1988
Chapter XIX THE COMING OF THE SHIELDS
The coming of Thomas Shields to Damascus gave the place new life and new bus- iness. He had bought the manor tract from the Penn Bros. of Philadelphis in 1795. He soon induced others to come and settle in Damascus.After the com- pletion of the Newburgh and Great Bend turnpike Mr.Shields laid out a vil- lage, making plots that extended 200 feet each from the turnpike and in 1807. deeded lots for church and school. Three years following John Duffie built and started the first hotel in Damascus. Soon afterward William Tyler moved down from Callicoon and opendd a hotel in the building used for many years by his son W. W. Tyler as a home and a store. In 1815 the Duffie hotel was burned and a year later Charles Drake opened his house for hotel purposes. The first Tempspanee hotel or tavern in Wayne county was kept by George Bush He was the son of Simeon Bush the pioneer, and was born in 1791. To the sur- pris e of many this taveryn became ine of the most popular along the Delaware for steersmen and raft hands. Mr. Bush was a prominent man and represented Way. ne and Pike in the Legislature. 1848-44. h e died in 1873, His father made the first assessment in 1801.
Manor CHANGES HANDS
When Thomas Shields retired from business in 1811 and returned to Philadelphi: the Manor Tract passed into the possession of Moses and Bazaleel Tyler, Simeon and George Bush, and they were known as the Manor Company. The Shields' saw and grist mills were propelled by the water from Cashes; Creek abd tge grist mill located where the Drescher residence now stands. Charles Drake operated it for many tears and when the tract upon which it stood passed into the pos- session of Walter S. Vail in 1841 the old mill was razed tge ground leveled and up on the site Mr. Vail erected a residence, It was used by the late Philip O'Reilly, Archie Crossman and the present ownermsuccessively.
DERRICK LUKENS
Derrick Lukens was one of the men who came to the Cochecton Valley with Thomas Shields in 1796. He had married Polly North and they brought one child with them. his children were JohnN. Titus, Derrick Jr., Betsey who married Dr.Allen and afterward R.Hankins, Polly who became the wife of Rev. Isaac Brown; Margaret, the wife of Colonel Oliver B. Brush, at one time sheriff of Wayne County; Sally the wife of Joseph L. Parsons; Hannah the wife of John L. Avery ; and Nancy the wife of Tunis Wilsey. Mr. Lukens located where Marvin O. Price now owns and resides.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.