USA > New Jersey > Early historical events in the Delaware Valley > Part 8
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A century ago and later, lumbering was a chief activity all along the Dila- waro river, Converting the logs into the sawed product was s slow process wit: the old up and down sawmills. The first introduction of a circular saw for their purpose was by Commodore C. Cliurray of Narrowsburg and the location was at what was called Ketchall and which came still holds. This introduction gave a wonderful impetus to the lumber industry. John J. Merrill of Beach Lake was put into the mill as chief operator. This was in about 1850 and twer ty years subsequently there were more than fifty circular mills in Wayne Co. some of them using steam power. Soon after 1850 George Abraham built a circualr mill with steam oowor where is now known as Abrahamsville. Lumboring and tanning followed each other back into forest interiors. EARLY BONESDALE NEWSPAPER
The Semi-Weekly Democart was started in Honesdale by Leroy Bonestoel in 1869 the first number appearing under date of May 23. It was a four page paper 13×20 inches. It was thus printed twice a week until October 22, 1809 when it was changed to a weekly and the width doubled making a paper 26x20. December 20, 1870, Mit Donesteel gold his interest to A. P. Childs and returned lo Damascus to take charge of his father's gristill and other business, the father havind died in 1869.
AN EARLY SETTLER
The home of Bryant Kane, one of the early settlers in the Cushetunk Valley was on the east bank (Cochecton) of the Delaware near the Cochecton Falls. The samo location was later occupied by Charles Young. Forth of the Kanchone was that of Nicholas Conklin, and Robert Land lived across the river. laad and Kane were both Tories. This incident happened Gonetime after 1:77. The Mohawks were on the path. The Rane family were all murdered in a night. In chose perilous times a man named Cooley came up the Delaware and asked permission to stay in the Cushetunk settlement As the story he told was not Satisfactory to the people he was not welcomed and be wandered on up the river until he came to a deserted cabin, where is now called Little Equicank. He spont some time there but at length discovered by Capt Tyler and his Land of Scouts. (The Indians called Capt Tyler, Captain Mush) . They dragged the man from his cabin home and after a bricdf parley among themselves decided that he must die. The scouts were divided into a majority and a minority in the untter of killing the man in cold blood but the majority ruled. He plead ed pitiously for his life but even as he knelt a bullet ended his life. Bonce the name Cooley Woods.
In the early days of the Cushetunk settlement there was no way of reaching it but up the Delaware River as an avenue and if any chattels were brought that meant manyd weary days and tired muscles pushing a canoe against the swiftly flowing waters of that torturous stream. But the sturdy mon striving for a goal took no thought of it. And did they not pass through more trying timos than that blazing the way for us? CHAPTER XXII November 22,1927
In Chapter XIX of this series where mention is made of the pioneer, William Monington, and family, an omission was either the writer or the typist deaves the reader in doubt. Two daughters came to the Delaware Valley to reside. and two remained in Philadelphia. The two coming here with their parents were Maru who became the wife of William Tyler who was the progenitor of the Tyler Will Tylers, Rebecca the other daughter who came her became the wife of loses Thomas.
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WILLIAM MONINGTON cleared the flats where C. W. Terril has just erected a steada mill. Since the son James Monington( father of the late Henry Curtis Konington who related the incident to us) cradked and barvested grain on this lot mon- tioned it has been cut over twice for the white pine that grew upon it. Today it is covered with another growth some of the trees quite sizeable.
DAVID WILDER, a native of New Hampshire, married Sophia, daughter of Paul Tyler, of Damascus and located in Bethany in 1803.(3) They had one daughter, Charity B. who married Hon. James Manning; Hester and David. Mr. Wilder was a hotel keep er án Bethany as early as 1811. He was also a successful farmer. THE OLDEST HOUSE
THE badest house now standing in the village of Galilee is sad to be the one across the street from the store of Bull Bros. and owned byf them now. It is still in its originality and was built about seventy-five years ago for Nathan Sutliff, son of "Uncle Joe" Sutliff one of the pioneers of that locality. The oldest house standing inits originality in Tyler Hill, is the house on the Fortnam parm near the Gregg bungalow. It is said to have been by the Ross family who sold it to the Fortnans in 1847. There are several others in the village that were built as early but they have been modeled over. Besides the Tylers, names of Tyler Hill families in the early part of the ninethenth cen- tury were Young, VanKirk, Depuy, Scantlebury , Smith, Mitchell, Page, VanGelder, Kedden, Coward, Theobald, William Tyler who married Mary daughter of William Monington and settled at Tylor Hill had four sons, two ow whoa, Israel and Tru- can, located at Tyler Hill, a son Raymond settled in Manchester, aoar the Dol- aware river. Alfred, another son, located So an island in the Delaware ruver above Callicoon, Israel and Alfred both died the same day in 1873.
SOME OLD DEEDS
An old indenture handed to us showed that on November 16, 1527 Nathan Mitchell and wife sold to Stephen Mitcheel and wife a parcel of sand in Tyler Hill, containing 25 acres for $1, 500. It being the same land conveyed to Elibu S. 3. Page by John Little and his wife, Martha by deed dated June 14, 1823 and re- corded in Bethany Deed Book Bo.6, and being the same place of land released and quit claimed by David Hunter to said Elihu Page by an Indenture dated April 27,1827 and recorded in Bothany in 1839 being the sano land conveyed by Ejihu S. Page and wife to Nathan Mitchell above mentioned by deed being date of Nov. 28,1835. The Indenture was signed by Nathan Mitchell and his wife Emilenda Mit- chell. The indenture was acknowledged before Judge Moses Thomas, "one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas if Wayne Co. and was Sealed and Delivered before Judge Moses Thomas and Hannal Young, witnesses. The indenture was enter- ed february 6,1849. Tax .50 fees $1.28 -$1.78 was rec'd Irom the hand of Israel Tyler, J, R, Koen, Recorder.
This same parecl of gland was later the property of Tobias VanGelder and still later became the property of William Pethick, the son Clarence M. othick suc- coeding to the ownership. He later sold it and the other parcels that formed cho Willaim Pothick estate to Howard A. Welsh. It was from the above said par- cel of 25 acres that a committedd of Tyler Hill citizens bought a plot 20z200 icet on the south west corner abutting upon the Newburgh turnpike, now the county road intending to build thereon a Baptist church. Ground was broken, a basement partly evacuated , stones and lumber hauled to the spot. The scene stands today as it did when work was called to a halt with the exception that the lumber sin the stages of decay. Today there is but one Tyler in the village of Tyler Bill and he is George A, a son of John Young Tyler and Mary A. Mitchell, the one lining back to the pioneer David Young and the other a lineal descendant of Nathan Mitchell. The name is on the way to extinction.
The following bit of ancient history was sent us by a descendant ofalatban and Masnhanh rightly belongs in these series altho the outline of the coat of arms upon the card can not be reproduced by us, The card is headed : "Coat of Arms of the O'Brennans."
Brennans, Brannans, and Branaings, or more correctly , O'Brennans descended from Braman, a son of Caerbhal, King of Casooy, who died A. D. 887; were lords of the ancient territory of Ui Duach in Kilkenny. They recovered their lands after the Norman invasion and held them by"the strong right arm" till they were disposaesa ed by 7
DELAWARE VALLEY
by Christopher Wandesford.A.D.1637. Then the clan became scattered, and Wil- liam Inally(sie) came and settled on the Hudson river in Almerica. Many of the family still hold land in Kilkenny. The present head of the cin is the O'Brennan, Eden Hall, Kilkenny, Ireland. J.l. Brown-Scheuyesulle. Allada M. Tearse.
As previously referred to in these sketches, William, thencalled Branning, came crom the Hudson and settled along the Delaware above Narrowaburg. Jacob Branning, grandfather of Joseph C.Branning, marchedf Niss Ellen Lassley. Moses D. Branning and wife, Ellen Carpenter, were the parents of Joseph C, Sarah Jane, Ohbelis, William F. and Susan. Joseph C. married Mary Hornbeck, of Equinunk; Sarah J. married James K. Horabeck; Ophelia married Wells Lester: William F.married Sophia Brinkman and Susan became the wife of Jacob Hillier. Joseph C. Branning and Mary Bornbeck had five children; Gertrude who became the wife of Edward Barns, Caroline, Fred. Boy, Mabel, Lulu, Edna. THE HOLBERTS
The Bolberts, a wide-spreading family along the Delaware and adjacent sectior claia as their progenitor in America, Willian Holbert who was born in Holland im 1751 and married Mary Showers one year his junior. They came to America in 1778 and settled at Indian Orchard. Two years subsequently the Indians raided the settlement, burned the buildings and took the Holbert and fother families to what is now known as Hancock on the Delaware Biver. They placed the women and children in a canoe and started them down the river. They fi- ually landed at Minisink. The men succeeded in getting away from their cap-
tors at where is now called Oneida, and finally reached Minisink. It is said that following the Declaration of Independence the Holberts bought the Lack- waxen Flats of a widow Jones for sixpence an acre. William Holbert furnished the lumber for the Trenton bridge in 1303. He died in 1815, the wife 17 years later. They left two sons, Benjamin and Joseph. The former was born at Lack- awaxenin 1782. He married Mary Rider and to them were born the following children: Elizabeth, William, Josoph G. Catharine, Martha, Stephen Decatur, Bc jamin F., Mary. Fred.B. ,Albert J.
Joseph G. Holbert born in 1803 at Wescoloang, married Babra Brown, born in 1803, a daughter of George and Elenor Dacker-Brown, and aunt of Marion P. Brown now a resident of East Calkin, The children of J.G. and Sabra Browa- Holbert were Elizabeth, Josophing, who married Cornelius B. Lassley and Willian who twice married- Emma Poole and later died in 1888, and their two offsprir both died young. In 1894 our subject married Mrs. Elizabeth Horabeck.
Frederick Holbert married Elizabeth Pole and they resided at Festcolang, Their children were Albert, Emma, F.J. Mamy, Calvin, Philena, Elizabeth, Bodlar us, married Ebenezer Tyler, Louis N. married Dollie Eldred, and Arthur D.B.F. born in 1851 married Elizabeth Furman. They had but two children- Candace and Otis R. who married Clara Buchanan.
THE LASSLEYS
John Lassley was the forbear of all the Lassleys in the Cusbetunk Valley. He came to this valley at the same time the Thomas, Tyler, Roms and Young faaile ies came- 1754. Be took up a tract of land adjacent to that of Aaron Thomas on the Pennsylvania side of the Delavare river immediately below the Coch- ecton Falls, Fe came as a single man but soon married Sarah Tyler. They had three children, viz; Cornelius, who married Lana Decker, ; Sarah who became the wife of Parks Baird, and Elizabeth who married John Salisbury who set- tled in Cayuga Co. New York.
When the Revolutionary War broke out our subject, in company with bis rela- tives, the Tylers, enlisted in & New York state company and served under the Captaincy of Peter Mille. (sic) Elizabeth Forabeck: Benjamin D. married Mire da Haggerty; George, who first married Phoebe Adelza Brown and as a 2nd wife Illa Remsen; John married Catharine Lassley; Franklin; Thomas Jefferson wjp married Kary Stewart Mary, Franklin was born in 1838 and in 1850 mar- ried Clara Barres. The and Baldwin's regiment. (Beginning with sic to bere appears to belong in the Bornbeck family) Mr. Lassley was bonorable discharged at the alose of the war. His name is to be found on themonument recently erected in Bonesdale in memory of the soldiers of the Revolution.
mus a small man in stature, but of wonderful activity and endurance and -
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was spoken of as being one of the best riflp markemen among the pioneers in the Delaware Valley, When he returned to his Damascus home after the close of the war be engaged in famming and lumbering and lived and honorabled and re- spected and neighbor to the ripe old age of one hundred years at the home of his daughter Mra. Elizabeth Salisbury in Cayuga County, N.Y. GRAND OLD PIONEER
Atouching incident in thelife of this grand old soldier bas often been re- hearsed by his grandson, Cornelius, and handed down to the younger generations
as a lesson of patriotism. As this grandson, a mere boy, approached the home. of this venerable relative on one of his many morning calls he was both surpris ed and frightened to see crepe floating from the door latch but he continued onward to the humble home. The old man met hin at the door and with tears streaming down his furrowed cheeks th tole the boy George Washington was dead and he had hung up the emblem of mourasig upon his door because be loved and honored him as though he were my father, and he was the Father of His Country. DROWKED AT HARROTSBURG
His only son Cornelius was drowned in the Delaware river at Marromsburg while trying to save a raft during flood. He left four children; Cornelius, John, Catherine and Eleanor. John?married Mary Branning and they had five children; Cornelius, 3rd, John, James, Esther and Lana. (Should this not be Cornelius in- stead of John?) John married Josephine daughter of Joseph G. Bolbert and his wife Sabra Brown, of Lackawaxen and bought a farm upon the Narrowaburg turnpike, In Damasous township in 1850 where ha and his brother John farmed and lumbered. John married Elizabeth of Thompson and Nora Sluman-Woodley and jad several children, one yof whom, Mrs. Virgil Whitaker, of Hancock survives. John was killed at Marrowsbugg by and Erie train in 1887.
James settled at Swamp Mills in New York state and had three children; George, Warren and Mrs Marcus Elmore, of Dunmore, Pa.
Esther married Warren W. Tyler, of Damascus, and one daughter, Louise V. was the issue, Her marriage was referred to in an early chapter. Lana married James (Jabe) Tyler son of Judge Moses and Sarah Ross-Tyler, and their children were Elnora and Carried. The former survives and is the wife of Birtsoll I. Bush of Greene, N.J. Chenango Co. Their daughter is Mrs. Elmar Tyler of Conklin Bill. and they have several children. Carrie became the 2nd wife of Thones Ellison deceased, resides in Damascus.
When Cornelius died in 1907 he was survived by eight children; Anrilla, Lana, Marcus, Sabra, George, Josephine, Mattie, and Cornelius, Jr., who resides on tho homestead bought im 1850.
Aurilla married Smith; Lana married B. C. Ross (deceased). Their children were Porter, of Newark, N.J, Chester of Wilmington, Del., is married and has several children; Laura married Clinton Abraham son of George C. and Grace Kallen- Abraham and had one daughter Betty. The husband is deceased, Marcus married and had a family, but more than this is unknown to the writer. Miss resides on Bingjamton; Sabra married Joseph Wood and reside in Binghamton; (Nattie deceased; George B. married Mary Alfast and their children are Myrtle wife of L. A. Bocker, of Kilaavilloand have three children-Inos, Willard and George. and Joseph G. who married Pauline M. Seipp and their progeny Lucille and Alfred. The father and son under the firm page gfG. B. Lassley & Son ovn and conduct a dairy fama of registered Holstein cattle near Milanville. The fara was a lumber tract for- merly owned by John D.Branning but was subsequently bought by the Ross Bros of Milanville, and after it was denuded of its giant hemlock became the indivi. dual property of B.C.Ross who began to clear and cultivate it hut later sold it to his brother-in-law G. B. Lessley and moved (to) another farm near Silver Lake where he died.
CHAPTER XXIII
December 13,1927
If you have followed these sketches through carefully you could not fail to notice how closely and peculiarly the carly settlers in the Cushetunk Valley were allied in a closely woven net-work of marriage and so much so that it need care in designating the families to whom certain man and woman belong. One muat be very familiar with the existing conditions to do so,
& KISSING SINILY LINE
A missing link in the family of John Young who located near Suith Hill, has ' been picked up and will be welded into the chain bere.
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The daughter who married an Ammerman was Elizabeth, She married Edward Ammer- man of Monroe Co. After residing for a time in Palmyra township, the couple fi- nally settled in Hawley in 1844. At that time they had a son, George, seven years of age. This son grew up in Hawley and unlisted in the Civil War. In the battle of the Wilderness he was wounded in one knemm which necessitated amputa- tion of the leg at that point. In 1871 he married Barah Snyder and their des- cendants are to be found in Hawley today.
The Abigail Thomas who became the wife of Thomas, son of David Young, the pioacer was a daughter of Joseph Thomas, a grandson of Moses Thomas. Aaron Young, son of Thomas , married Drusilla Drake October 3,1833, She was born April 5,1817. Aaron Young was born May 20,1810. Drusilla Drake was a daughter of Jesse Drake, Jr. som of Capt. Jouse Drake and her mather was Abigail , daugher of John Tyler. Aaron Young and Drusilla Daake ahd four sons, Homer, Virgil, Paul, and George, Surthor reference was made in a procoding chapter, however, Houer could rightfully be called great grandfather today.
Jonathan Yerkes, the pioneer who came to the Cushetunk Ealley in 1803 was born near Philadelphia. December 5,1759 of German ancestry. In 1780 be married Xlis- abeth Jarrette and both died in Damascus township. Politically he was a Whig, ant later a Democrat and both be and his wife wero reared in the Quaker faith. The wife died February 3, 1883 and the husband followed March 27,1835. The fifth generation now succeeds this pioneer
ISAAC LOVELASS the pioneer, and his wife, Anna Mills-Lovelass vare natives of England and were married in that country. For a time after reaching America Mr.Lovelass located in Philadelphia, later comigg to Damascus township where he remained until 1835, when he moved to what is now Smith Hill, Oregon township. In 1874 he went to Wisconsin and took up a tract of land with the intention of making a permanent location there.He returned for his family but died soon afte reaching the home occupied by his family on Smith Hill. Mr.Lovelass and wife left the following family of children: Mary born in Halifax, Novia Scotia in 1832, became the wife of George Sheard and their ancesary still reside in Calkin John born in Philadelphia, Nobeaber 23,1833, married Charlotto Gavitt and as a second wife married Marrilla Mathews, of Lebanon township; Emily born in Da- mascus township July 10,1836, married David Orr and two children wore the issue- viz; Eliza J; who married A. E. Sizson, and now resides on Cliff St. Honeadale, and William D. who married Mattie Crocker, and (2) Mirs, Etta-Tyler-Brown and re side in Calkin! Isaac born in Damascus township December 23, 837 married Robecca Fish in 1865. Mrs. Lovelass was born August 29,1842.Their children were Lena (born in 1870) Lydia(born in 1862 died in 1386), Isaac Newton, 1874; Laura S. 1876, Homer 1878. Mrs. Lovelass died Nov.23,1827 at the homestead in Fallsdale at the age of 85, An unmarried daughter Laura, remaining with the aged paretn. Isaac Lovelass died Feb. E(sic) 1933. His brother John (Jack) w; married Charlotte Gavitt, daighter of William and Violetee Mithhell-Gavitt die August 24,1902. Mrs. Lovelass died in March 1891. This couple were the parents of twelve children; Adline, Violette, Howard, Rosella, Josoph, James, Loe, Elayra, Florence, Eva. Frank and Ursula. Mary Lovelass- Sheard died August 30,1904 Emily Lovelass- Orr died June 21,1910; Abigail Lovelasa-Skinner died May 13,19 Williamd Lovelas a native of England was among the carly settlers in Damascus township. Be raised a family of four sons; John, Robert, Isaac and James. Rober was bonn in England, married Aan Wilkins there in 1837 and came to the little hollow in what is now called East Calkin. Their children vere Samuel , Jonathan, Sarah Ann, Cyrus and Charles. In 1878, Robert muand returned to England and di there August 12,1833; the wife died March 8,1894. The daughter, Sarah A. died March 11,1917, the son Cyrus W. died November 11,1927. In this family is a clos saod t ne over 500 years old.
The three brothers, Robert, John and James Lovelass all located on land adjacent Later John moved to Damascus village and followed the painter trade, He marr! Kary Harding, a school teacher. Their children were, Margaret, Isabelle, Christii Seymour and Fatson. John Lovelasu died Dec.18,1894, aged 82 years; his wife, K died in January 1903. James lived and died at his first location. He was born in EnglandNov.21,1816, a son of William and Mary Lovelass. The father deid at age of 92 and the mother at the age of 60. It was said that Willian Lovelass built the first frame house in the vicinity. In 1841 James married Emoline, da of Alvan Noble and to them were born mix children; William, Alice, Amelis, Klix
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beth, Florence and Lester, Mr.Lovelass was a shoemaker and many a time the writer then a small boy, watched his drive the pegs in half soling our boots and shoes. He also made them. He had an apprentice camed Charles Bartlet who graduated from his shop and set us business for himself at Kimball Corners. On February 18,1878, Mr.Bartiset! and Miss Mabel Allen had been to some con- vention and in crossing the D.& H. Gravity road at Prompton, riding in a cutter drawn by one borse were hit by a "trip" of empties. Mr. Bartlett was killed and althought his companion was catapulted over the oubankment and alighted upon the ice in the river, was uninjured.
Nichbles O.Major and Hiran Major at one time residents near Tyler Bill both enlisted in the Civil War, serving in CompanyI, John Ross Captain. Hiran marriel Mary, daughter of Debastian and Mary Sherwood- Yerkes and the following children were born to then, vis; Nicholas, Sarah, Ina, William, Gertrude, George, and Louis On ;900, Wr.Major sold his property at Tyler Hill and moved to Broome County N.Y. Wilson Major, father of Nicholas and Miral, was born in Monroe county in 1885 and died in 1880. His children were Nicholas, Biram, William, Gertrude, Anna, a. school teacher, She married a Mr. Wheeler and migrated to Dakota; and Milton who spent his last days in Konesdale.
JOK AS LAKIK
Jonas Lekin was born in New Hampshire in 1735 and upon attaining the age of mangood came to the Delaware Valley audtling at Hankins, N.Y. in 1800, and ro- maining there until 1821 when he moved farther up the Delaware and founded the village now called Hancock, Be didd at Hancock in 1848. After coming to the Delaware Valley Mr.Lakin met and married Miss Prudence Parks, who settled at Equinunk, was the first white settler there ammaanteumasad and the first white child born there is conjectured to be Mrs. Lakin, who was born in a cave, She didd at the remarkable age of 108.years. Her father was referred to on a pre- ceding chapter. Bo it said, however, after coming to the Delaware Valley, Vr. Parks had a life of p rication and hardships and because he enlisted in the American army and chose to act as a scout he was hunted from place to place by the Indians and Tories. The children of Jonas and Prudence Parks-Lakin were nine in number: William, Elmira, Sallows, Omar, A., Arad S. Thankful, Sally ", George and Robert.
John and Parthena (Thomas) Lakin came to the upper Delaware from Vermont. Their children were Sarah, Civilla. Maria, Susan and Mindle. The latter became the fourth wife of Dr. William L. Appley of Cochecton, both deceased, the former in January 1877.
Alexander and Samuel MOGRIDGE, Englishmen by birth, came to America and like and others, made their way up the Delaware river journeying upward until they reach ed where os now Manchester township. This seemed to bo their "Alabama" for ther they pitched their tent. This was in 1813. One morning in September seven years lator (1820) a youth pulled the latch string of their caben and walked in un- announced. This youth was their nephew, Matthias Nogridge(Watt) then only 18 years of age. He had served on a man-of- war in England and had heard such glos ing accounts of the new world that he came to see for himself. He returned soon to England but the lure of the wild appealed to him strongly and ho return to Manchester alnong the Delaware and therein 1885 died. He became a noted lua- bor dealer and Delaware river steeruman. From the source of the Delaware to its mingling with the Atlantic the mention of the name Matt Nogridge brought all to attention as he was noted for his linguistic feats. He could not be out-talk ed and was not. Horace Greeley, the founder of the New York Tribune, and con- sidered a great talker, board of the famous Matt and sent for-hin an invitatio for him to visit the Tribune founder when in New York. This Matt did and as he was his own nomenclature when he arrived where Mir. Greely was be turned on th hot air and continued incessantly for que hour not giving Mr. Greely the least chance to start an opening wedge in the matter of conversation. At the end of the time mentioned Matt came to an abrupt halt and said Mr. Greeley now you talk. As soon as the vanquished, although renowned newspaper editor could regain his speech he raised his hands in dismay and beckoned Matthew to go as he had nothing to say. Another time Katt was returning froudown the river when rafts- men when raftsmen came across New Jersey by train and up the Budson by stead-
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