USA > New York > Orange County > Goshen > A few biographical sketches of Goshen people and a few reminiscences of doings in Goshen > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01177 1471
Gc 974.702 G69co
2264695
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Jo 20. B. Peckham Es2- with the regards of the author.
SKETCHES
quintin4 1ist404 8 MOTH
GENERAL JAMES W. WILKIN From a Portrait Painting
A FEW
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF GOSHEN PEOPLE
AND A FEW
REMINISCENCES
OF DOINGS IN GOSHEN BY
ROSWELL C. COLEMAN
1909
Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana
2264695
THE COLEMAN FAMILY IN 1904 Before this picture was taken, the mother and two children had died and since then three grandchildren have been born.
TO MY GRANDCHILDREN:
With life all still before you and as yet little inclination to look backward you may not now be interested in the matters about which I have written here, but when you have grown older and do, then I shall live again in your memories, and you may feel grateful for even these brief records of your forebears:
THESE SKETCHES AND REMINISCENCES ARE DEDICATED
WITH GRANDFATHERLY PRIDE IN YOU AND AFFECTION FOR YOU
INTRODUCTION
Mr. Ruttenber, in the Introduction to his History of the Town of Newburgh, says:
"Events of a strictly National character are few in comparison with the Local; and the men whose names live in a Nation's memory as the great statesmen of their day, are fewer still when compared with the many who at the same period filled other spheres, less prominent in- deed, but still closely connected with the wel- fare of society."
At the time of the settlement of this country, in the struggle for existence, it is not strange that the individual should have been lost sight of; and even later, when provided with many of the comforts of life, there were still the crowdings of problems of manner of government and of developing new sections of country so pressing that the individual was still soon lost sight of; and now in these later days of great prosperity the struggle for property suc- cess has been so generally absorbing that, until quite recently, little time has been given to en- quiring who were the individuals that wrought in bringing this wonderful present into existence, and what part and how each, and possibly some ancestor, took and performed in its accomplishment. Most of these enquiries will never be answered for it is already too late to obtain the information. Some of them may,
if record is made while it can be done. Un- doubtedly many, who have no sentiment about the matter, will say why bother at all? For them it is not worth while, they will probably be forgotten quite as quickly as they wish to be. But there are others who do and will care, and for such only these lines are written; and also to discharge an obligation which I conceive is a duty we all owe to those who have striven the best they knew, not only for themselves but for those who should come after.
These thoughts and this duty are impressed upon me particularly with reference to the men of whom I shall write, who were all living within my lifetime and yet, notwithstanding their prom- inence in our local affairs, are already known by so few of those who have succeeded them in the affairs of this county, even by tradition.
R. C. COLEMAN.
NEWBURGH, April, 1909.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
PAGE
JAMES W. WILKIN
9
SAMUEL J. WILKIN 17
WESTCOTT WILKIN 28
HANNAH T. WILKIN 40
SARAH G. WILKIN 45
SARAH W. COLEMAN 51
THE OLD WILKIN HOUSE 60
Three generations of distinguished lawyers in one Orange County family : General James W. Wilkin, father, Hon. Samuel J. Wilkin, son, Judge Westcott Wilkin, LL. D., grandson.
to:
THE WILKIN LAW OFFICE FOR MANY YEARS The wing was built later. Reading from left, Mr. Champion, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Howell, a neighbor, Mr. Bacon.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
GENERAL JAMES W. WILKIN was the fifth son of William Wilkin and Elizabeth Rogers, and was born in the year 1762, upon a farm in the town of Wallkill, Orange county, then Ulster county. William Wilkin, born January 20, 1720, was the oldest son of John Wilkin, a Welshman who went over with the forces of William, Prince of Orange, about the year 1680, and made a descent upon Ireland, where, after the conquest, he settled near Enniskillen: and later emigrated to this country and settled upon a farm of about 500 acres, in the precinct of Shawangunk, Ulster, now Orange county, and which was owned in part by Gen. Wilkin, late in life, in connection with the heirs of one Whitney and others. This name Whitney may indicate, from the apparent relationship, what the middle letter W stands for in his name, otherwise I have found no clue to its meaning. Of William Wilkin, his son James wrote, he "had a very limited education; but had a strong mind and retentive memory: in those days of real log cabins he was very much respected for the use he was to his neigh- bors, assisting to settle their accounts when dif- ficulties arose among them: and he was a mem- ber in full communion with the Seceder church at Neelytown." There is also a tradition that he was a magistrate. He was one of twelve children.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
James' boyhood was during stirring times in the history of his country. At the time of the battle of Lexington he was twelve years old and we can well believe that this grandson of the Welshman John Wilkin was not indifferent to passing events for, at the age of sixteen, he left the farm and enlisted in the army of the Revo- lution and, after his term of enlistment expired, he served at times in the militia as a volunteer. After the close of the war, in some way (this I say, for it is not probable his father, with his large family to be provided for, was able to do much for him financially) he obtained a sufficient preparation to enter Princeton College and graduated with honor in the class of 1785. Some time between that date and October 23, 1788, when he was admitted to practice as an Attorney of the Supreme Court, he pursued a course of study of law in the office of Hon. Samuel Jones in the city of New York. He had however pre- viously been licensed to practice in the courts of Common Pleas, first in Orange, and a few months later in Ulster, counties. He obtained his degree as a Counsellor of the Supreme court April 27th, 1799. This method of being admit- ted to the bar, in installments, no longer exists. The degrees of Attorney and Counsellor are now both granted by the court at the same time and no license is necessary to practice in the inferior courts.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
The above dates taken in connection with the few facts we have of his early life suggest appli- cation, self reliance and a cheerful readiness to meet early in life, even with limited resources, the responsibilities of manhood. He married Hannah Townsend (of whom I hope in another connection to make more full mention) and there were born to them nine children. The exact
date of his going to Goshen and of his marriage I have been unable to ascertain, but his second child, Samuel, was born there December 17th, 1793; so it must have been not later than about the time he was admitted as an Attorney, in October, 1788, when he was about twenty-five years of age. Altho not then admitted as a Counsellor we have it from an obituary notice in the Independent Republican that "Upon re- ceiving his license he established himself in the practice of the law in this place. His upright character, vigorous intellect and ready elocution, soon secured him an extensive and profitable practice."
The selection of Goshen for his future home, altho in a different county, was due probably to early business associations, it being much nearer than Kingston, thus presaging the change in the county lines made by the Act passed April 8th, 1798, whereby the town of Montgomery, with other towns, became part of Orange county. At the convention of delegates from the different
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
towns of Orange and Ulster, dissatisfied with the then existing county lines, held in Little Britain, which was the third convention held for the purpose, he was one of a committee of four appointed to report terms for a division, and their report resulted in the passage of the Act above mentioned.
The interest in military matters, that Mr. Wilkin probably acquired from service in the war and which continued, not unlikely, from a conviction of its importance to the country, was kept up for some years. He was commissioned captain-lieutenant of artillery by Gov. George Clinton, September 26th, 1786; captain of artil- lery, February 21, 1792; lieutenant colonel of artillery, March 29, 1803; by Gov. Morgan Lewis, brigadier general of artillery. March 7th, 1803, and by Gov: Tompkins, Major General, July 16, 1816.
Mr. Wilkin's law practice soon extended over Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties, notwith- standing the difficult and slow methods of com- munication and travel from his home to the different county seats.
With all his other affairs he must have taken an active interest in politics for he was elected State Senator for the years 1801. 1802, 1803 and 1804; and a member of Assembly for the years 1808 and 1809, being chosen Speaker the last year; and again Senator for the years 1811, 1812.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
1813 and 1814. By virtue of his position as Senator he was elected by the Assembly a mem- ber of the Council of Appointment, January 30, 1802, again January 30, 1811, and a third time January 12th, 1813. He was chosen to preside at the Legislative Caucus which nominated Dewitt Clinton for President of the United States.
He was a candidate for United States Senator in 1815, but was defeated by Rufus King on joint ballot, although in the Senate his majority was greater than the majority given King in the As- sembly. Mr. Wilkin's defeat was brought about apparently by some question of the incorporation of a bank. See 2 Hammond's Polit. Hist. N. Y. 343-4. He was also elected a member of the 14th and 15th Congresses (1815-1818); and was County Clerk from 1819 - 1821; and County Treasurer for several years. He belonged to the Whig party and was a personal friend and earnest supporter of both the Clintons.
The records of the Surrogate's office show that he was frequently made executor or ad- ministrator of the estates of his friends: and by the records in the County Clerk's office it appears from the frequent conveyances there recorded, to and from him, that he had owned a good deal of real estate, but the commodious house which he built on the west side of Main Street in Goshen,soon after being married, was the only one in which he lived and there he died February 23,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
1845, in his eighty-third year, leaving for those times, a very considerable estate to his family.
The frame of this fine old house, built in 1793, is of large hewn timbers to the roof tree, and the lumber was drawn from mills in Sullivan county. It stands on a rise of ground about half a mile north of the court house and with it were about twenty aeres of land. The Gen. always prided himself on having a fine and early garden and managed the land, with some other acres near by, in true farmer-like ways, with his team of horses, yoke of cattle and a number of cows and hogs. Of the latter I must tell an amusing incident. He was very proud of his cured hams each year, which he smoked in a large stone smoke- house, standing near the kitchen door. One morning, to his surprise and chagrin, he learned that his whole stock of hams had been stolen during the night from the smoke house. Hams, in the economy of the house- keeping of those days, were an almost indispen- sible article, so a new supply must be had. He examined the stock in the different stores and finally selected some he found at Sidway's. After trying them he was so well pleased that he frequently remarked they were quite as good as his own. In some way it was discovered that indeed he was eating his own hams. So, it be- came one of the jokes of the village to send outsiders enquiring for hams to Sidway's, in-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
structed to be sure to enquire for those of Gen. Wilkin's curing. Sidway was a very irascible old chap and lame; and the fun was to watch and see the customer being chased out furiously by the old man with his cane. Sidway is said to have been a Tory. He had his store on Main Street where afterward John Minchin lived. His experience with the hams became a great trial to him in many ways.
One feature with reference to the offices he held late in life, which is especially noticeable after having held many others so much more distinguished, suggests, with much plausibility, that his friends, knowing that he had given his more active years to positions which could not yield him anything financially and which prob- ably had resulted in the loss of much of his law business, sought to make this up by giving to him those which paid better and the duties of which could be discharged while at home.
Any words of appreciation of Mr. Wilkin's character and abilities I, who did not know him, might here make would be witless after the preceding statements of confidences and trusts reposed in him by those who knew him from A to Z. I will therefore close this sketch with another quotation, from the obituary already mentioned, with reference to one side of his character which has not been mentioned. First, however. I will quote a few words written of
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
him by his grandson Judge Wilkin: "He was exceedingly courteous and polite in manners and generally amiable, although possessing a terrible temper when aroused. He was always deferential to ladies for whom in general he entertained the highest respect." And I will add a tradition as to his personal appearance. He was a large man of fine presence and even in his later years he possessed a full figure and maintained an erect carriage: his abundant locks became snowy white and his complexion, that of childhood, so that, it is told of him, when walking in New York, his distinguished and striking appearance would often cause people to turn and look back at him as they passed. Now from the obituary notice:
"In all the walks of private life his character was not only irreproachable, but looked upon as a pattern for emulation, as a husband, a father and a citizen. By the church his loss is deeply felt, for 'a good man has fallen in Israel.' In early manhood he attached himself by pub- lic profession to the Presbyterian church, in which he has been for years a ruling elder. The cause of Christ was dear to him above all else, and he guarded with a jealous eye the interests of His kingdom. His piety was deep. He had 'that faith that works by love and purifies the heart and overcomes the world' and having lived the Christian life, he died the Christian's death."
1 9(71041190YR( R MOTI MOVER) A 1 1
SAMUEL J. WILKIN A Crayon From a Daguerreotype
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
SAMUEL JONES WILKIN, son of James W. Wilkin and Hannah Townsend, was born De- cember 17th, 1793, in the house built by his father the year before in the village of Goshen; and there he died March 11th, 1866. in his 74th year, altho that had not been his home the whole intermediate period, but Goshen had, except for five years, (1836-1841). He married Sarah Gale Westcott, his second cousin, thro the Gales, July 18th, 1816, (and of her I also expect to make mention in another connection), and to them were born eight children. He re- ceived his name from Judge Jones of New York with whom his father had studied law.
In preparing part of this sketch I shall draw largely from what has been already written by others, believing the judgment of his contempo- raries will, in this case, be more desired.
Mr. Wilkin was carefully and thoroughly educated, and graduated from Princeton College before attaining his majority, in the class of 1812. He studied law in his father's office and was admitted to practice as an attorney in the Supreme Court, October 25th, 1815, and as a Counsellor and Solicitor, February 1st, 1822. He very soon attracted notice by his skill as an advocate, and at an age when most young men are climbing slowly and with difficulty up the first steps of the ladder of distinction, he had already won a high and enviable reputation as a
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
member of the bar of his native county; nor was it an easy task for any one to win professional laurels amongst such competitors for distinction as then adorned the profession of the law in the county of Orange. Some of the ablest and most eloquent men of the state were then members of the bar of this county and against such men Mr. Wilkin made his first professional efforts, and met with success. Whilst still a young man he devoted much time to political affairs. and became a leader of his party in the county. He was elected a member of the Assembly in 1823, against a strong Anti-Clintonian majority in the county, mainly overcome by the force of his fine talents and superior personal worth. In the legislature he took a bold and prominent stand in favor of giving the choice of Presidential Electors to the people. His efforts in this behalf caused Judge Hammond in his political History of the state to speak of him as "a young man of splendid talents." He was re-elected the following year and gained additional laurels as an eloquent debater and sound statesman. After this he was engaged mainly in his pro- fessional labors until elected a member of the twenty-second Congress in 1828, in the face of a previous majority of over 1500 against his party and was re-elected in 1830 and filled the office with dignity and honor.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
In 1844 he was on the Whig ticket for Lieut. Governor, with Clay for President and Filmore for Governor, but was defeated by a much smal- ler vote than that against Filmore. In 1846 he was prominently named for the office of Gover- nor and subsequently for Secretary of State, either of which positions he would have filled with honor and credit both to himself and the people. In 1847 he was chosen to the Senate of the state by a majority of 1000, in the then strongly Democratic district of Orange and Sul- livan-affording another proof of his merits and popularity. His able reports and speeches on the Mexican war Resolutions, while a member of that body, gained him much credit. His duties as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, (the Code being then under revision), were most arduous and valuable. On the election of Gov. Hunt he was appointed by him one of the Canal Appraisers, which service he performed ably and satisfactorily.
Mr. Wilkin was a Whig as long as that party had an existence. During the Know Nothing furore, he sided with the "American Party" but since then he has acted with the Republican and Union parties. While the Nebraska bill was pending in Congress he did much to arouse pub- lic opinion to the iniquity of the scheme; and at a county meeting called to protest against its passage. he made one of the ablest and most ef-
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fective speeches that was offered on the subject. The question of Slavery-Extension, indeed, al- ways found in him a most determined opponent, both by his votes and speeches. During the Civil war he earnestly upheld the Union cause, both by voice and pen, and gave one of his sons a willing sacrifice on the altar of his country.
As a writer he was scarcely less effective than as a speaker. He held a ready and eloquent pen. He was possessed of great humor, keenly enjoying the ludicrous, and when a fit subject offered, his "taking off" was complete. "Min- chin's Best," published in the Orange County Press in 1855, and the "Political Jockey Club" in the Orange County Patriot in 1830, signed "No Mistake in Purdy" are instances.
In his profession to which he devoted most of the years of his active life he was eminent as a successful advocate and and an able, learned and skillful lawyer. Some of his addresses to juries in important cases were fine specimens of professional skill and logical and impassioned eloquence. He brought into the practice of his profession the highest type of integrity and never swerved from it under the pressure of any temptation. He was a fine classical scholar and found time to pursue the studies that had delighted his youth all through life and would read Latin and Greek writers quite as readily as English. In a sentence he was a
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pure statesman, a brilliant scholar and eloquent orator, an able counsellor and advocate, a true friend and a greatly respected citizen. In his death Orange county lost one of her best and worthiest sons.
In his political career Mr. Wilkin labored under the disadvantage of belonging to what was, the most of the time, the minority party, that is, of course, for his preferment. After his canvass for Governor, he was given that title, by compliment and to distinguish him from his father. Years afterwards Mr. Stephen Rapaljee of Montgomery, who was a member of the As- sembly at the time Mr. Wilkin was in the Senate, told me with evident local pride of the place held by Mr. Wilkin among the party leaders at Albany, how he was the one they all looked to for counsel. and as a leader in debate.
In 1836, by the advice of his friends, Mr. Wilkin decided to remove to New York. As a business undertaking it was a success, but it resulted in the complete breaking down of his health, probably from too close application, climate and indoor confinement, to which he was unaccustomed.
Judge Gedney told of one of Mr. Wilkin's ex- periences after he began practicing in New York when his adversary in a trial misjudging him from his plain appearance and omission to urge technicalities undertook to speak slightingly to
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the jury of "this country lawyer." When Mr. Wilkin got through with his reply the counsellor had left the room; meeting him in the corridor soon after, the man came to him and said, "See here, I do not want to quarrel with you, I want you for a friend as long as I live."
After being in New York about five years he was obliged, in the fall of 1841, to leave there and took his family back to Goshen. For awhile he was at a Sanitarium; after that he traveled extendedly in the South, taking his daughter Mary with him for company. This had one unexpected result, for while there she made the acquaintance of Mr. Joseph G. Ellis, of Mobile, and afterward married him. She was a very bright and accomplished woman and ex- cellent company. She however only survived her marriage a few months. Finally after a long rest Mr. Wilkin was again able to resume prac- tice at Goshen, altho he continued to suffer at times severe headaches, which would overtake him at most trying times. Mr. Gott told me of an instance when they were together engaged in an important case in Court at Monticello, and Mr. Wilkin was compelled to leave the court. Mr. Gott continued the trial alone and closed the testimony. The next morning Mr. Wilkin had sufficiently recovered so that before the court convened they were able to go over Mr. Gott's minutes of the testimony and then went
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to court and he made a powerful and successful presentation of the case to the jury.
Mr. Wilkin's office was a very popular place for young men from Sullivan and Rockland as well as Orange to study law. Often there would be three or four of them at a time.
Mr. Wilkin had an unusually keen grey eye looking from under heavy overhanging brows. He had, even in his last days, abundance of wavy dark hair with scarcely any grey, this he attributed to the habit of washing his head every time he did his face and the only combing and brushing it usually got was done with his fingers. In person he was spare, about five feet eight inches in height, and in carriage very erect. So strikingly did he resemble Rufus Choate, in looks, that he frequently was taken for him. His voice was low and pleasing in conversation and in public speaking it still had a soft tone but had surprising volume and carrying power. While his appearance did not suggest strength it was a very courageons or simple minded man that would offer him an affront of any kind.
At some risk of being misunderstood, or per- haps rather, of giving a wrong impression of him I will relate a story of him which tells of his courage and of the ways of travel in this county seventy-five years ago. It was in mid-winter and the opening day of court in Newburgh. The lawyers and others from Goshen on their way to
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court stopped at a hotel in Cornwall to warm and brace up. While there a strapping big mountaineer came into the bar-room swag- gering about and declared with a loud voice, "The Devil once went fishing and they say he took lawyers for bait." He repeated this several times without any attention being paid to him apparently. When most of the party had gone out and were getting into their sleighs Mr. Wilkin lingered behind and as he started to leave stepped in front of this man and said, "So the devil took lawyers for bait did he, well you take this," and he "handed him ont one" that knocked him down. Mr. Wilkin said he realized that probably he would be badly punished for his temerity, but the fellow's im- pudence was beyond his endurance and he never yet had hesitated to act for fear of consequences. As it happened, however, the disturbance im- mediately brought back the whole party and the fellow was quickly hustled off without mishap to Mr. Wilkin. I never heard of, and very much doubt whether, on any other occasion since he was a boy Mr. Wilkin was ever engaged in a "scrap," his dignity precluded it with his equals, and it was not necessary with others. This was an exceptional case, but when a boy, if reports may be trusted, he had many a hard fought battle with his school fellows. This brings to mind an incident told me by the late Nathaniel
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