USA > New Jersey > Early historical events in the Delaware Valley > Part 7
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Col.O.B. Brush migrated from Connecticut in 1810. For two years he taught schor in Damascus. He volunteered his services in the War of 1812 and served with great credit He was elected shefiff in 1822. "is three sons were Eliphalet; Oliver B.Jr., and Joseph L. The first son married Antoinettte Mitchell and their children were Clarence; Herman; Alemon; and Ella. The second son married Alice Samson and their children wereFrank L., Charles, Commodore, Julia and Ca rie. The wife and family of the third son referred to in the Mitchell notice. Rev. Isaac Brown was a son of Joel Brown and a grandson of Joseph Brown who m migrated Mere from New Jersey in about 1790. The other children of Joel were Joseph, Enoch, Esther, Fannie, and Eleanor.
OTHER PIONEERS
David Bush came from Stroudsburg about 1795 and made his home with Jesse Drake. He was a surveyor and mill wright. He married Hannah, the eldest dau. Of Nathan Mitchell of Cochecton and settled on the Damascus side of the Del- aware but afterward moved to Cochecton where he was made the first Justine of the Peace.
WilliamMONINGTON onme tton Philadelphia with Thomas Shields and settled on a tract near Derrick Lumens, now owned by Ed Burk. Aided by his son John he built the Shields mills and his 'other sons James and Nathan worked there. He also had a son Israel and four daughters. Two of these married in Philadel- phia, and remained there. Mary (Polly) came here and married Judge Moses
GEORGE BROWN came here about 1800, His first wife was a lassley; his second,
DELAWARE VALLEY 39 Eleanor Decker. His eldest daughter married Jeremiah -Lillie; Sebra, the second, married Joseph Holbert, and Mahalia married. William Owens. The sons were George W. and Daniel. The latter lived for a long time at Bog Island in the Delaware and afterwards moved to Baird's Pond, now Barkley Lake. He is given hhe credit of having brought the first wagon to the Milanville section. He married Catharine, daughter of Albert and Polly Wood-Sherwood. The latter was a sister of Rollin Wood who lived near Tyler Hill, and was the father of Charles, Asil and Ziitha, the latter marrying Henry (Hank) Brown, who in turn was a son of John Brown, a carpenter. Daniel Brown had a large family. Two now survive, Marion F. and Rose who married Emerson Nobel. Both reside in the Calkin section.
After the death of Col Brush , the widow married Stephen Mitchell, and one daughter, Margaret was the progeny. She married Warren Dimock Yerkes and sur- vives, a past octogenarian. Their children were William B. Warren J. , Ed (de- ceased) Eva M, wife of C.H.Decker, of Binghamton and Harold. Stephen Mitchell had previously married Hannah Raymond and had a large family.
Samuel and Enos Hadden came to this section abour 1312, migrating from New Jersey. Samuel married Olive Hurd and Enos married Phoebe, daughter of Silas Tyler.
Jonathan Yerkes migrated here from Bucks county about 1800 and bought a 400 acre tract from Thomas Shields. Some ten years after locating here he built both a saw mill and grist mill on the Calkin creek. His sons were Joseph, Titus, Jacob P. , Nathan L., Sebastian J/, The daughters were Mary A.who married E. B. Clark, Margaret and Hannah who married Ira Sherwood.
BEGINNING AT ATCO
The nucleus of Branningville, now Atco, was Michael Branning who migrated from Newburgh and settled below Cochecton Falls. He married Hannah Anderson, a grand- daughter of Aaron Thomas and their progeny were nine children: - Oliver; Polly who married Stephen Young; Lydia the wife of Stephen Wright'Lorette, who became the wifeg of Charles Lovelace; Hannah J. who married Lemuel Brown, Charity who married --- Budd, John; Moses; and Lot. Artemus, son of Moses survives; one or two more of Lot's progeny survive. Lemuel of Starucca being a son; Mrs. Matilda Smith, wife of Tobias A. Smith of Middletown, N. Y. is a surviving daughter of John Branning.
ELIJAH B.B. CLARK came from Connecticut in 1814 and remained in Damascus town- ship about fifteen years. He married Mary Ann Yerkes, daughter of Jonathan Yer- kes, Ist, and had three daughters, and one son(Sidney) when the family moved to Michigan in 1829.
RUTLEDGE FAMILY
ALEXANDER RUTLEDGE, 1st, migraged to Damascus about 1812. His children were Annn, who became the wife of James onington, Ist, ;Alexander 2nd, Edwardlst, Christopher, John and William. Their"descendants many and widespread. The Rutledgedale post office was namedin their honor and theirchildren to the third and fourth generation are clustered around it.
JAMES BOYD came from near Philadelphia about 1808 and settled on Damascus Manor near Thomas Young. He volunteered in the same company with Sheriff Brush (war of 1812) and served until 1814 when he returned to Damascus. One of the sons Thomas Y. Boyd, located near what was then called Eldred and bought the Tymerson Mills. Until his death he was a prominent and active lumberman and served Wayne in the assembly two terms. In 1849 he married Elizabeth Jane, dau of Isaac and Ursula Smith- Mitchell and a family of twelve children, five of whoi survive, Mr.Boyd soon associated with his brother-in-law Joseph Wood. John Leonard in 1836 bought a large tract of land where Fallsdale now is. He built a sawmill on the north branch of Calkin creek and operated it for ten years. Eli Beach bought out Leonard and in 1850 it passed into the hands of Wood & Boyd. In 1853 Isaac Lovelass bought a half interest in the business and in 1880 became sole owner. Spon after Leonard located Jabez Stearns came to that local- ity: Miss Emily H. ,one of his daughters, became a Wayne county teacher of much note. The writer attended her school. Stearns entered into the lumber business the sawmill being located but a short way from the Lovelass mill. The son David soon took over the business. The Stearns property or the part upon which the berefabuildings were is now the property and home of Lewis Lybolta a Civil War veteran. STEPHEN WOOD, father of Joseph Wood, mentioned, located in what is now 's
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STEPHEN WOOD father of the Joseph Wood mentioned, located in what is now Boyds . Mills in 1837. .
OTHER-SETTLERS
William Hartwell located in the same locality in 1820 and was active in all good work for building a community. His only daughter, Jane married John L (Jack) Burcher and occupied the Hartwell farm after Mr. Hartwell married a sec- ond time and moved to Honesdale. This farm which at one time was considered a model farm has very recently been purchased by Wlater C.Blum, whomarried Avan- ne Burcher, great granddaughter of John K. Burcher who married Maximilla Land daughter of John Land one of the Cushetunk settlers. John Burcher so favorably known in this section of Wayne county , was born at Westminster, London, England September 27,1803. His grandfather for whom he was namedwas a carpenter as was also his son William , father of John 2d. William migrated to this country in 1807 and as an agent bought onethousand acres of land in Mount Pleasant twp. This proved a poor venture for Mr. Burcher as his principal died and he (Burch- er) was obliged to take the land. He cleared 50 acres and then released. He bought other property in the same township ,and the following year brought his family from England. He located in Mount Pleasant township and remained there toll 1832. His wife was Elizabeth Passmore. Their family wereMary whomarried Ogden Cramer; Elizabeth married Joseph Yerkes; Sarah married Warren Dimmick; Helen who married Titus Yerkes,and soon migrated with him to Michigan; John referred to, and Samuel whodied the same year as his father, li39. When the family migrated to Damascus the family occupied their time carving a farm out of the wilderness John Burcher's family were- William P. who died in 1873; Lydia M. married Isaac Tibbets; died in 1878; Samuel; Phoebe T., married Jonathan Yerkers 2nd; Caroline. Walter V .; John L. (Jack) Joseph J. married twiee and is residing in Pleasant Mount; James F.died in 1884; Titus C. died in 1867; Avis died in 1877;, John Burbher like so many others in his neighborhood, knew what it was to go to the grist mill. When only a boy he was obliged to shoulde: a bushel of rye or corn and make his way along a blazed trail four or five miles toget the grain ground. Roads were then known in some places, with a car as a vehicle and oxen as drawing power.
The family of Joseph Yerkes and Elizabeth Burcher were William, Jonathan, Jared Warren and Elizabeth who marredd Orrin A. Bentley. Just how many children were in the Bentley family the writer doe s not know, but Volney Skinner married a daughter Julia, and Thomas Ellison married another, Catharine, and a son Clrk. Orrin A Bentley was laid at rest in Chammå Gainsville, Ga. and his wife was laid at rest in theold Methodist Episcopal cemetery in Honesdale. Catharine and Philip Bentley were buried in the same cemetery. Philip was said to he the first child born in Honesdale and was named Philip Hone Bentley.
CHAPTER
October 25,1927
The hamlet of Boyds Mills owes its existence to the early starting of sawmills in that locality. Hiram Willis and Truman Tymerson built a saw mill there in 1843. In 1867 this mill was bought by Joseph Wood and Thomas Y. Boyd. The 10- cality was then known as Eldred but the people around Damascus spoke of it as "out south" However in 1837 a postoffice was established and the name of El- dred was used. James Smith who served until 1846. His successors in rotation, were William Hartwell, Willis Sherwood, Thomas Y. Boyd, John Comfort, ,H.J. Lounsberry and William J. Tegeler. Mr.Boyd was reappointed. In 1874 he was suc. ceded by John Orr who served until 1882. During Orr's postmastership the name was changed from Eldred to Bords Mills. Mr. Boyd was again made postmaster in 1882 and was succeeded by C.T.Tegeler un 1885. Mr.Tegeler moved the office tohis store, About thattime the name was changed to Astoria and later to Calkin.Tow offices were established, Mr.Boyd getting one and restoring the name Boyds Mills which is the only offteef there today.
JAMES SMITH located in Eldred in 1821. He was the father of Loring Parsons Smith and grandfather of Loring Augustus Smith who resides in that locality today. He came from New York state and married Eunice, daughter of Loring Parsons. He had but two sons, E. H. Smith who resides in Bethany, and the one already referred to ,L.A.Smith resades on the old homestead.
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WILLIAM H. TEGELER located in Eldred about 1850 coming-from Philadelphia. The Orrs, relatives-of-the Tegelers, had-preceded-them from Philadelphia. The Orrs sent-instructions to the Tegelers to inquire for the home of John Bradley when they reached Damascus- the rouge was from Philadelphia via of Newburgh thence by the Four Horse Tally-Ho over the turnpike. Mr. Bradley did not keepť a public house but was always ready to do the charity act even to self sacrifice. Mr. and Mrs. Tegeler and sons Christopher Tennant and Frederick William remained in the Bradley home until Mr. Tegeler went to the section now called East Calkin and found the Orr home which was a log cabin near to where the home of John L. Orr now stands. James Orr, father of John L. was dispatched to Damascus with a cart and yoke of oxen to get and convey the Tegeler family through the forest to the Orr home. The last time the writer was in that section the log walls of the old "Castle" stood slowly rotting away at the bottom.
A postoffice was established in Galilee in 1848 with Philip P.BRIGHAM as post master. He held the office to 1869 when Joseph Sutliff succeeded, hobding the office two years whenthe office was abolished. In 1884 hhe office was re estab- lished and David W. Berry made post-master. Webster Sutliff seems to have been the first tommababinah start industrial improvements in Galilee by building a saw mill in 1825. Joseph Sutliff located there in 1835 and David, a brother, som five years prior to this. Philip Brigham located there in 1835. Hiram Brigham brother of Philip was an early settler and was father of George and several other childrenwho grew up and migrated west. Calvin Marks was also an early settler there. His father had settled at Conklin Hill prior to this. Aoo of these early settlers sent sons to thewar of the Rebellion and but few returned. William Kees. ler located between what was now Galilee and Conklin Hill and married a daughter of Cornelius Baults. He was the pioneer Keesler of that section. Prior to 1886 David W. Berry had each started a notion store and in 1886 George C. Abraham start. ed a general store in the Berry stand and soon surprised everybody by the patrom age he drew from the first. Today there are two general stores of merchandise. At one time there were a cooperative creamery and an individual cheese factory owned by George Abraham. Today the latter is the dwelling house afd garage of C.E. Schweighofer and the former has been remodeled into a hall for Unity Grange. George ABRAHAM was born in Montgomery county, December 3,1827.He completed a good academic education in Norristown and in 1850 came to Damascus, locating in the northern part of the township in a dense wilderness and soon became the live wire as a lumberman of that section"He purchased 700 acres of land from Jacob Wagner and built one of the first stead sawmills in this section of Wayne. His mill was twice burned, In 1883 he built the one tht completed his life work. In 1870 .Mr. Abraham fell against the big saw and lost his right arm at the shoulder. In 1853 he married Mary C. daughter of Jacob Wagner and ten children were their progeny, five wf whom survive.
NATHAN BAKER came from Orange Co.N.Y. in 1832 and located near Rock Run, He married Phoebe Mitchell daughter of Stepghen Mitchell, and Anna Brown, to the knowledge of the writer he had three sons and one daughter. They located in the Abrahamsville section but are now all deceased but several descendants are there yet. All made prosperous citizens and helped to blaze the way for others. NICHOLAS CONKLIN thepioneer, came to Fushetunk Valley about 1760 with three sons, John, Elias and William, and located in Cochecton bemmaanlow where the station now stands. William married Hester Brink, and located up the river neza- ly opposite Big Island. One of his sons was named Nicholas. He married Kasier Bush. He settled on the lower end of St. Tammany Flats. To them was born a large family one son of whom was named "oratio Nelson in honor of Lord Nelson. Hora- tion was born in 1817. He married Elmira Turner and located on Conklin Hill. Some of the sons and daughters survive, one being Nelson J. a Civil War Veteran. ARCHIBALD MC COLLMM settled early along the turnpike near Four StoryHill. He was the father of a son, Neal, and one daughter who marriedWilliam MacAvoy of Pleasant Mount. Neal married Catherine fully and located near Galilee where he became a large land owner. He was the father of four sons and sin daughters, two of whom survive, Nancy in Illinois, and James on the old homestead. THOMAS JACKSON was born in England, He emigrated to America at a date not a- vailable but prior to the Revolution, settling in Conn. He was a watch and clock
DELAWARE VALLEY 42
maker of great fame One of his make of clocks is still in possession of the Damascus Jacksons. He died in 1806. His wife was Mary. Knight. One son Thomas, was born th them in 1774, John Jackson, wo whom this sketch os dedicated, was born.in Griswold, Conn. in-1812. Oct1, 1833 he married Abbie, daughter fo Chester Appley, of Canterbury, Conn. In 1835 he migrated to Hankins, N.Y. In 1845 he bough 100 acres of land in Damascus of David Nathan, the same being where the Country Club is now located. The children of our subject and his wife, Abbie Appley, were, Charles R, a doctor; Chester T. who was a member of CompanyI, Pa. volunteers under Capt. John Ross, died in service; John Orson; Haniel Clark; William Leveret Sarah Lavan; who married Ed.B. Gager and still survives a past nona genarian John Jackson, the subject of our sketch was a grandsonof the first named Thomas Jackson, The suhgestrofvong are- Haniel C., of Tyler Hill married Josephine Anderson, of Gallicoon, had two sons and two daughters. The oldest son Dr. Roy Ell worth Jackson V.S. is in Federal service, Birmingham, Ala. Theother son, Henry G. resides on the homestead farm, Tyler Hill. William L. married Lydia Canfield of Galilee and thre children wer the assue: Thomas, of Damascus and Coe of Bingham- ton, Sarah L. resides in Dyberry. No issue: husband deceased. Reference was made to John O. and wife Nancy U. Mitchell in the Mitchell chapter. Two sons survive John C. of Orlando Florida, and Benjamin M. of Bethany.
WHEELER H MITCHELL married Mary E. Avery. He died in 1867. Was one ofthe first principals of theDamascus Union Academy. The progeny were two sons , J. Vestor, now of Ottoway, Kansas; Miss Sadie of Redlands, California, Judson W. Redlands, Calif. Wheeler "arvey Mitchell and Mary E. Avery were married ct.8,1857 and their home was where now resides A. D. Bushnell- West Damascus.
The West Damascus oostmffice was established in 1869 with George Welsh as post- master. He was succeeded by Mrs. Mary E. Mitchell and she was followed by Mrs Fedelia Mitchell who continued to serve untid a few years ago when the office was abolished.All the people along the route are served at their door by a star route carrier from Rutledgedale to Damascus, the present carrier being Francis Keesler.
CHAPTER XXI
November 11,1927
The Tylers at one time so prominent in civic and industrial life in the Da- mascus section of the Delaware Valley, and in the forming of the early history of Wayne county, has now dwindled to a noticeable minority. Starting with Baz- aleel who is quoted as being the father af fourteen children to reach maturity The mother of theses children was Sarah Calkin, sister of Doctor John Calkin who located at Cochecton Dalls on the New York State side at the same time Tyler located in Damascus, 1754. His son Bazaleel, 2nd broke the Tyler record wit: a minority of six children, John, Moses, Oliver, Elan, Phoebe and Abigail. John married "ane Fanoy and had seven children- Bazaleel 3rd, Moses, Benjamin, Oliver 2d, Sally(wife of Jame s Ross) ; Lidia(wife of Moses son of Oliver Calkindof Big Eddy); Moses the 3rd son of Bazaleel ad, married Sarahdau. of James Ross, Sr. Elamthe fourth son was killed young but had become the father of two daughters, Phoebe the oldest married Joseph Mithcell, Judge Moses ,yler born in Damascus in 1788 was a son of John Tyler referred to above- and married Sally, dau of James Ross Jr. William Tyler son of one of the Bazaleel Tylers married Mary Vail, dau of Capt. Nathaniel Vail of Orange N,Y, who won his title in the Rev. One of William Tiger's sons was Benjamin, who married Martha Thomas, His sons were Calvin, Ulysses, Franklin, Isaac, Joseph, Abraham, A daughter Calthe m. George Young, son of David Young and lived near Cochecton Falls on the New York side. The oldest Tyler now living in Damascus ix Asleep Vance son of Ulysses and Calisto Edwards. He can see his 80th milepost just ahead, He married Christine Lovelass and has two sons, Ernest and Watson L. The latter recently married Irma, daughter of Thomas Treverton an wif of Beachlake. His start of a family is a son Wat Jr. in a line to maintain the Tyler name (Alsop?) Among the first settlers to locate in the Cushetunk Valley and tho have since sent descendants far and wide were David Young and wife who emigrated from Scotland. Mrs. Young claimed to e a legal daughter of King George III. For a time they stayed in New Jersey before coming up the Delaware. They located on the Griswold tract near the river and opposite the lower end of Big island, the New York side after f the river in 1757. Mr Young had studied law but when he
took up a residence in the wilds of the Delaware Valley and built a log cabin
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DERAWARE VALLEY 43
he found that he must "root hog ar die" and he fell to caearing land. He was twice driven from his home by hostile Indians. He saw the red men hold their pow wows and green corn dances on the lower end of the Island where the square (squaw?) raised corn and other food stuffs in its alluvical soil.Here was also where they disposed of their dead. It certainly took a stout heart and iron nerve to leave civilization and settle in so wild a country. This couple had five children reach maturity: David 2d, Thomas, John, George, and Isabelle. David born April 18,1781 married Hester Little, who was born August 6,1786; and the couple wese married by magistrate Moses Thomas. They resided on theCochecton side of the Delaware near the head of Cochecton Falls. Later he took up land on the Penhsylvania side of the Delaware and built saw mills o: on the South Branch of Calkin Creek. One account says he built the Milanville grist mill; another account says he bought it of "onathan Yerkes. However Mr Young was killed by a land slide on November 7;1837 while working at the dam of his sawmill. His wife died Nov.26,1836.Their children were George Charles, Thomas, Moses T. and Isabelle. The first son George was norn in Cochecton Jan.11,1809 and died at Milanville Oct.23,1855, Dec. 17ml835 he mar ried Caltha, dau of Benjamin Tyler of Damascus, and continued his father 's business in the mills at Milanville. E THE YOUNG FAMILY
Charles Youn was born in Cochecton, April 22,1311, He married Matilda Skinner at Damascus, June 12,1833. He lived most of his Ilife in Port Jervis and died there August 15,1852. His widow married Nathan Yerkes, son of the pioneer, Jonathan Yerkes, and patriarch of all the Yerkes of this section. Thomas Young born Bev, 14,1817 died in Berlin Township, April 18, 1866.
mar- ried Mary Harparee at Damascus, October 26,1837 (mentioned later).
Moses T, Young born August 4,1821, died August 28m-1839. He married Eliza Calkin at Shohola, Pa. Dec. 5,1844. Their children were Aranza Gale, born Septemb ber 11,1845, resides now in New London, Conn. Helen Lovisa born March 20,1850 resides in Damascus ; Charles Jazette born June 19,1854 died in Alabama, March 28, 1911; Emma Eliza b. June 5,1860 married Hood Tyler and Minor Keyes. She resides in Damascus with 2nd husband. Earl Wheeler, born April 12, 1863, died Dec. 24,1866.
Isabelle married Charles Tyler, Their children were David, Aufilla, Thomas,
and John Y. The latter was referred to earlier in this series. Aurilla spent her last days in the home of Moses T. Young and died there July 28,1867. The children of Thomas Young and Abigail Thomas, were Truman, Sarah, Aaron, Dav David 3rd, Elias, John and Virgil, Thomas Young died in Canada, Trumanwas born in Cochecton in 1812 anddied there in 1830. he married Lydia Tyler dau. of Bazaleel Tyler in 1833. Lydia Tyler was born in 1817 and died in 1882. This couple had but one child, Abigail Thomas, born in 1839 and stillsurv&ves. In 1857 she married Sehh Burr (born 1829, died 1904) and to them were born Tim- othy L. (1860) married Etta Calkin; TrumanY. (1861) married Emma Graze. Freddie born and died in 1865. Amelia(1871) Mary Belle(1873) Hattie(1875) The sons both reside in Cochecton.
Sarah daughter of Thomas married a Skinner (name not known to the writer) Aaror married Dausilla Drake and one of their sons was pomer. He married E_iza Wilmot and their children were Aaron W. (deceased) Grace, who married Dr. Poor, of Otisville, N.Y. and Junius who married and resided on the old Aaron Young homestead.
David Young married Sarah Page, Elias and Sarah died in Great Bend, Mary Bell died in Michigan and John Young married a gradddaughter of the pioneer John Lassley and after living on the Young farm near Cochecton Falls he moved to Smith Hill in Berlin township. He had a son John, daughter Charlotte, Minerva and another daughter who married an Amerman
George Young Sr. married Hannah Wheeler and took up a residence at Tyler Hill, Thehome stood behind where the late W.A. Gregg built his bungalow home, but the Young home has long since been razed. Their children were William Ran- some and homas. William's first wife was Amands, dau. of Eliot Tyler and his 2nd wife' Tuth Gardner of Callicoon. No issue. Lansom married Amdnda Thomas and went west; Thomas married Adeline Avery and went west also. The latter, couple are both deceased, but one sonFrank Thomas Young resides in LeRoy , Minn
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This Goorge Young is brother of the Thomas Young who married a daughter of Bazaleel Tyler the pioncor, who pased his last days in Caunda
Thomas Young, son of David 2nd mentioned above, who married Mary Harparee and resided for some time at Tylor Hill. Their children were Halsey, George, Calin Isabelle and Judson, The family tater moved to "ankins N.Y. Isabelle married Henry Hartman of Smith Bill and went to reside in Carbondale viere both died They had but one daughter who reached adult age. Georgo married Eliza Roden burg and had one daughter Lille, who married Fred Swab and resides in Galileo Thuir issue are three sons Clarence E of Galilee, Mevil of Honesdlae and Glenn in the parental home. George Young and wife also reside in Galilee, LUMEBERING MAIN BUSINESS
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