USA > New York > Orange County > Monroe > Chronicles of Monroe in the olden time : town and village, Orange County, New York > Part 3
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" Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun. "
The materials of these rocks are mingled in dif- ferent proportions : feldspar, mica, quartz ; yielding hornblende, gneiss, syenite and granite. Sometimes these materials have scorned admixture, and pushing all rivals aside, have been heaved up and congealed, a splendid crystalline column, as is the case in a remark- able instance with quartz. Beds and veins of iron, magnetic, specular, crystallized and even granular, have also been laid down along with these rocks; iron adapted to every purpose, from malleable cast- ing, for a door-latch, to the sheet-anchor of an iron- clad, or a twelve-inch rifled gun. Beds of limestone were also stored in close proximity to these deposits of iron, while sand for moulding and fire-clay were
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
within easy reach. But where is the fuel ? Timber of best grades abounds, but wasteful man demands something more economical. It was the hope of some that coal would be found in some of these strata. A premium offered by the State stimulated the search; but nothing was found beyond a little lignite, after opening a shaft on Pedlar Hill. The sandstone of that locality is the floor of the coal- measures. Schunemunk is of like formation. On the southwest are coarse conglomerates, which be- come more and more fine toward the eastern extrem- ity; at one spot presenting an upheaved mass of graywacke, as if nature would give an object lesson in quarrying.
Still further east, where the mountain spreads out into a wide plateau, a rocky acropolis lifts its rugged head, composed of coarse conglomerate. On the sur- face of this great stone page nature, with iceberg or glacier, has scratched long lines, which the scientist interprets as the record of prehistoric time. In some instances the flints in this stone pudding are cut directly in half. On the lichens that blacken its sides, giving the spot the name of Black Rocks, are scratched the names of those who have scaled these heights, and left their monogram on the stone page and some of their ashes "in Memory's sacred urn." As we descend Schunemunk on the south, we see the moraines of glaciers fringed with boulders, the lighter of which can be traced far down the valleys, inter- mingled with shell rock, oölite and even with Labra- dor spar, showing that some time in the hoary past, when this planet was fitting up for man's abode, ice and flood swept over these vales and the mountain- tops were covered. These will account for the de- posits of clay, sand, gravel and limestone. But heat,
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Physical Features.
as the third factor, was necessary to metamorphose many of these and give us the beautiful crystals of iron, serpentine, quartz and calc, all of which invite the student of nature. It boasts also some rare min- erals, as brucite, xanthite and spinelles, fine shell impressions, pyrites. One mineral, not found else- where, has been named monroeite. Silver was dis- covered near the Haverstraw border very early and worked; but as no evidence of it has transpired except the abandoned shaft, it may be set down as a failure. Utility has rather been the motto in laying out Monroe. Here are rocks of every material from granite to statuary marble, and every tint from Pa- rian whiteness, through shades of gray, green, pink, red, to the blackest porphyry. Mica, asbestos and slate abound. Even slate pencils of talc were found on the slopes of Bald Hill by the school-boys of a former generation.
A quarry of mica has recently been opened near Mombasha by the Mombasha Mica Company, from which fine sheets of the mineral are obtained, prom- ising Monroe a new source of wealth. Perhaps it might surprise a stranger to see even the Houser ironstone put to a useful purpose; but inasmuch as it bids defiance to juvenile jack-knives, it has been found useful for school-house material. There was no lack of good timber in this region for coaling, fuel, building, or even hoop-poles. These last were long called "Clove wheat." But let us not suppose that it was adapted only to the growth of timber.
The forests were full of trees yielding an abundance of beech nuts, chestnuts and hickory nuts, with vines twining over tree and rock, purple with wild grapes, hedgerow and bush offering their tribute of luscious berries. These forests swarmed with red deer, moose
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
and squirrel, with flocks of wild turkeys, partridge, pheasant and woodcock; and the lakes and streams were alive with salmon, trout, pickerel and catfish. Thus it was "a goodly land" from the beginning; offering to the settler at least subsistence at his arrival, even in midwinter, with promise of good in abeyance, to cater to both taste and profit.
Soils of great fertility were laid down here; yes, brought from distant hills to furnish slope and meadow. Here are alluvions of great depth and good grain-lands; but what the town is best adapted for is grazing. The grasses, like those of the Blue Grass region of Kentucky, contain just those elements which yield fattening and milk-producing qualities. Had the mountains of Monroe been only a mass of rock, like some parts of Scotland, they might have been abandoned to the heather and become great solitary sheep-walks; or if they had been only pic- turesque vales and quiet nooks, there would have been a temptation to some lord of the manor to make it his park and country-seat. Heaven had a better destiny in store for it: hence mingled rocks and soils so as to invite the plow, scooped out the water-courses to attract the loom and forge, hid away such materials as would bring hither the herdman and artisan, the abhorrence of lordly pretension and elegant leisure. Monroe, from its very physical con- stitution, was predestined to be the home of honest toil and frugal industry. In the vicinity of what was to be the greatest city of the New World, and on the route of its best approaches from west and north, wealth and prosperity ought to be its sure reward, and doubtless will when the wisdom of men is able to master the situation.
CHAPTER VI.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE AND TOWN OF MONROE.
H AVING taken an eagle's view of the land, before we proceed further it is in order to speak of the organization of the county, which preceded that of the town. Orange County was organized in the year 1683, under the reign of William, Prince of Orange, from whom it takes its name. It then em- braced all of Rockland and part of Ulster County. These were first set off in 1691.
The precinct of Goshen was erected in 1714. In 1764 it was divided into Cornwall, Blooming Grove, and Cheesecocks. In 1801 the form and title was changed from precinct to town. The name of Cheesecocks was exchanged for Southfield. On the 6th of April, 1808, it was resolved to drop the name of Southfield and take the honorable and historic name of Monroe. This was done in honor of James Monroe, who, having achieved distinction in the War of the Revolution, where he served as aid to Lord Stirling, had been honored by the government with high diplomatic commissions, and still further was chosen by the people to the Presidential chair. For such distinguished public services his many ad- mirers in this vicinity deemed it fit to honor him 5
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
still further by naming this historic town. after him, and under a name of which it has ever been proud it has won its place in history. The first town meet- ing was held while yet called Cheesecocks, in May, 1799. James D. Secor was chosen clerk, and Michael Hays, supervisor. All the institutions of the town were put in operation in 1808.
The following is the list of supervisors :
MICHAEL HAY. MOSES CUNNINGHAM (6 years). JOHN COFFEY (2 years). ABRAHAM LETTS (8 years). JOHN MCGARRAH (1 year).
JAMES CROMWELL (1 year).
JAMES CAMPBELL, JR. (1 year). JAMES WEYGANT (9 years).
ROBERT FOWLER (1 year).
HUDSON MCFARLAN (16 years).
CHARLES TOWNSEND (2 years). LEWIS H. ROE (1 year).
MORGAN SHUITT (33 years) .*
CHAUNCEY B. KNIGHT in 1864. EDWARD SEAMAN (3 years). JOHN G. EARL (1 year).
JOSEPH RAKE (2 years).
CHARLES T. KNIGHT (5 years). C. FRED. LAMONT (13 years).
In the year 1863 a movement was set afoot to divide the old town of Monroe into three towns. A
* Served from 1849-1881. This, we believe, is the longest consecutive period for which any man held an elective office in this State.
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Organization of Orange and Monroe.
petition was sent to the Board of Supervisors, which was granted at its annual meeting. The names of the new towns were, respectively, Monroe, Highland, and Southfield. Monroe held its new town meeting March 22, 1864, electing Chauncey B. Knight as supervisor, and a full set of officers. Highland did likewise, choosing its old favorite Morgan Shuitt, with others. The town of Southfield organized in like manner, Josiah Paterson having been elected supervisor; but the records of the proceedings, for some unaccountable reason, are not in the archives of the town of Monroe. This whole piece of politi- cal surgery was at length disapproved, and the dis- jecta membra were brought together and reunited be- fore they had grown cold. In 1865 the legislature was asked to overrule the action of the Town Board, and restore the old town to its pristine glory.
But notwithstanding the lessons of the past, we must chronicle a similar triple subdivision at a more recent date.
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In December, 1889, the Board of Supervisors, upon representation of the diverse interests of different parts of the town, resolved to redivide the same into three parts. Three new towns were erected-named, respectively, Monroe, Woodbury, and Tuxedo. The lines were run so as to give Monroe 1150 acres; Woodbury, 23,000 ; Tuxedo, 50,000. The first super- visor of Tuxedo is J. Spencer Ford; the first super- visor of the new town of Woodbury is John A. Pat- erson; and the first supervisor of Monroe is C. F. Lamont; the second, elected in 1897, is George K. Smith.
Before we drop this subject it is well to remember a few additional facts, namely : that the first subdi-
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
vision of the town was made in war times, when it was desirable to get control of a majority in the Board of Supervisors, and it was so carved with a view to that end. The plan failed, so that in a short time even its advocates desired the reuniting of the fragments. When the desire returned in 1889 to divide again, the reason now given was that the town was too large and its interests were too diverse for harmonious government.
The Board of Supervisors resolved that the town should be divided on the old lines, only that the names ; of Highland and Tuxedo should be substituted for Woodbury and Southfield. This was duly passed upon by the legislature and signed by the governor. Now the boundary line between Monroe and Tuxedo had not been clearly determined by careful survey, or at least had not been marked by monuments. Hence when the Heine Club desired to construct a road from Mombasha, where they were constructing a park, to Southfield, it became a practical question, says Mr. A. B. Hulse, how much of this road must be paid for by each town. Hence a question as to the division line. The men who were with the 1863 sur- veyor said "it crossed Mombasha Pond, but they did not know where." In this emergency, when war seemed imminent, Mr. Fred. J. Knight, the surveyor, came forward and established the line. He pointed out that the line of 1863 must have been a trial or random line, the true line never having been run. This decided the matter, and to one of her loyal sons was Monroe indebted for the saving of fair Mom- basha to the territory of his native town, " to which," says our informant, "Nature intended it should be- long." But the mountains in which Monroe once
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Organization of Orange and Monroe.
gloried have been rent from her mantle and turned over to her sister towns. Sic transit gloria !
The town, thus shorn of its ancient proportions, enters upon a new epoch of history, which it is hoped will be as worth chronicling by some future historian nourished on its own soil as has been the past.
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CHAPTER VII.
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN.
W HILE the emigrants from England and Holland were locating along the Wallkill, the valley of Mamakating and the Neversink, clearing farms, build- ing homes, villages and churches, the rough moun- tain slopes and cloves were passed by and remained a wilderness, undisturbed by white men, except, per- haps, by some Indian trader or trapper, some lover of adventure or traveller, who found that the valley of the Ramapo was the natural and nearest route to Manhattan Island. In course of time, as early as 1742, came a few settlers who staked out their claims and set up their log cabins. These settlers were not the mere overflow of more thickly popu- lated parts of the county, but many of them immi- grants from abroad, by the way of Connecticut and Long Island. Among these were such names as John, David, and Hophni Smith, John Belcher, Robert Brock, Henry Cock, John Bull, Solomon Townsend, A. Cunningham, David Compton, Solo- mon Cromwell, Joseph Davis, John Earl, Alexander Galloway, William Fitzgerald, Elijah Green, Samuel Knight, Henry Mapes, Daniel Miller, Joseph Pat- erson, Alfred Cooper, James Wilkes, and Jas. Secor. Others could be mentioned, but these are the most
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The Early Settlement of the Town.
familiar. Some of their name occupy the ancestral acres, but most of the original estates are now held by another generation, who, though just as ancient and honorable in ancestry, yet have come into the town later. The reason why the lands of the Patent were not sooner taken up was that the original pat- entees, being wealthy, did not care to dispose of their lands. Some were held by the same families till after the Revolution. The desire was to hold a pa- troon relation to the settlers like the Van Rensselaer patentees in the more northern part of the State. Having no motive to sell, and no disposition to come and settle themselves, squatters soon came in and gave it an uneviable reputation. Such neighbor- hoods naturally attract the lawless and desperate. The broken nature of the country, the numerous caves and inaccessible cliffs, would afford safe hiding- places for desperadoes and their plunder. But this condition of things could remain only until the more orderly organized themselves into a community, and brought law as well as public opinion to bear upon them. The oncoming of the Revolutionary War de- layed the reformation of morals and the establish- ment of order. The career of Claudius Smith, the notorious cowboy, gave an unsavory reputation to the Clove ; and the recent "History of Orange Coun- ty" even goes so far as to attribute its name to him, whereas it is well known that it received its name long before, from William Smith, one of the original patentees. As an illustration of the reputation which it had early acquired among its neighbors, it is related that when a tramp settler appeared before a Dutch justice over in Warwick, and was warned to leave the town, he asked, " Where, then, shall I go ?" The jus-
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
tice answered promptly, "Vy, go to Schmit's Clove." From the nature of the case there would be frequent disputes over the ownership of land and trespasses of cattle, so that lawsuits were of constant occur- rence. Then there were horse races and trainings, accompanied with drinking-bouts, and often rude wrestlings and more serious combats. One of the matrons spoke of a flat rock near the village, where some of these rude contests occurred, when a new- comer would leap from his horse and make the chips fly like a whirligig. As these were days of travel in primitive style, by saddle and stage, there were many public houses encouraging social drinking and treat- ing. Loungers were always hanging around, and neighbors dropping in to hear the news from the city or seat of war; hence there was abundance of idleness and dissipation. On one convivial occasion the revellers literally raised the roof of a well-known tavern, and tried to tear it from its place. But, as is often the case, these wild carousals were not the work of those at home. They naturally attracted those of like tastes from abroad, and these, feeling less re- straint, would go to greater lengths. One of the old men said "the boys of Sugar Loaf came over to have a lark with the Monroe boys, and we had a good time, but we were the hardest of the lot." Liquor was largely accountable for this condition of things. It was sold at every corner grocery. Their old ledgers to-day bear testimony to the excess to which the traffic was carried. The accounts of the common laboring man show how much of his hard earnings went for liquor. At first it was rum which came by way of the West Indies. Whisky followed when the orchards began to bear. There was a still on the
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The Early Settlement of the Town.
Still Brook, near the old village; but the chief source of supply was Blooming Grove, where were many distilleries. The brown jug and demijohn trav- elled back and forth on that road around Pedlar Hill, which might account for its crookedness, and give it the name of the "jug-u-lar vein." The late John Brooks, one of the earliest advocates of total absti- nence, went over to that town and delivered a lecture on the subject. He said they resented it as an im- pertinence. It is well known that neighboring towns were accustomed to look down on the Clove and call it the "Kitchen of the County." It is related that a young couple signified their intention to take up a tract of land in Monroe, rather than remain on the old homestead, with its fertile fields. When the old folks could not prevail upon the young couple to change their purpose, they said : "Well, go to the Clove and live on rye bread the rest of your life." It was one of time's sweetest revenges when the farm they took became a model farm, and the young wife became the boasted bread-baker whose wheaten loaves elicited the inquiry : "How do you mix your bread to have it always light ?" "I mix it with judgment," was her reply. We cite attention to the jog in the northwest boundary of the town. It re- minds us of the wart on the nose of old Oliver Crom- well, the Protector, and, by the way, progenitor, if we may credit their tradition, of families of that name in Monroe. The artist wanted to omit the wart in his portrait, but he forbade the omission.
The jog originated in a desire on the part of dwellers on the summit of Schunemunk to attend town meeting in the more convenient valley on the southeast. As soon as the town was organized and 6
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
requisite officers appointed, the wheels of business were set in motion. The first subjects of legislation were the offering of bounties for the slaughter of wolves and other predacious animals which infested the wilderness and annoyed the early pioneers. Ear- marks were recognized to be placed on stock; for as soon as swamps and forest were cleared herding and stock-raising were introduced. Then troubles came from the herdmen of neighboring towns allowing their cattle to trespass on the newly cleared pastur- ages; to prevent which, stringent measures were threatened, if not enforced.
In such conditions of society, litigations would naturally spring up. Not merely would there be diffi- culties concerning the ownership of stock, but trou- bles about boundaries of farms and wood lots, pastures and marshes; for these last were most desirable ranges before the plow and more recent grasses had changed the face of nature. But towering above these petty lawsuits, which constituted the entertain- ment of the early settlers, were the disputes over the Patent lines. We have already alluded to the lavish and careless manner in which those lands were given to favorites by royalty. The same lands were some- times given twice, the lines overlapping. So much trouble came about the Evans Patent on the northeast that the Patent had to be recalled. Troubles arose over the Kakiat Patent and the New Jersey State line ; that commonwealth claiming a gore line that ex- tended up as far as Tuxedo. Then the Wawayanda Patent lines were as indefinite as the Cheesecock. Naturally this interested all along the borders, and aroused such animosity that it became a border war- fare. Commissioners were appointed, and through
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The Early Settlement of the Town.
the offices of Aaron Burr, who sat with the commis- sion at Greycourt in 1801 and helped settle the question, the present zigzag line was fixed as the western boundary between Monroe and Warwick; while Carpenter's Island in the Delaware was made the northwest extremity of New Jersey, where it is marked with a monument which has three sides, one toward New York, another toward Pennsylvania, and the third toward New Jersey. The other extremity of the last-named State's boundary is a bolt in a rock on the Hudson, directly southeast. The line is marked by monuments of square stone every few paces.
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CHAPTER VIII.
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
B UT, pending these boundary disputes, a more seri- ous question disturbed the pioneers of Monroe- the question of national independence. Before the Declaration of Independence the control of the navi- gation of the Hudson was regarded as a most wise strategic measure. Parliament ordered it kept open to their forces, and sent Sir Henry Clinton with a powerful fleet to keep open communication with Can- ada. Congress also resolved upon measures for the obstruction of the river even as early as 1775. The Provincial Legislature concurred and appointed a secret commission. This latter suggested the erec- tion of forts at the mouth of Poplopens Creek, and the stretching of a boom and chain across the river to Anthony's Nose. Forts Montgomery and Clinton were built, the latter being on the south side of the creek and hence in Monroe; a chain was also con- structed with a boom and put in place as suggested. It may be of interest to inquire as to the origin of this chain. The " Encyclopedia of American Biogra- phy " gives credit for the construction of the " famous chain " over the Hudson to Samuel Wheeler, an emi- nent blacksmith of Philadelphia, who, it represents,
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War of the Revolution.
was recommended by General Mifflin in answer to an express wish of General Washington for a person to make such a chain. Mifflin said there was such a man in his command, but he could not do the work there, but could at his forge at Philadelphia. At the Wecaco forge, it is said, the famous chain was made and transported across the State of New Jersey and up the west bank of the Hudson to Fort Clinton, where it, together with a boom, was stretched across the river a half-mile to the promontory opposite. Now here are two improbabilities :
First. That an order should be given for such a work so far away, when there were iron-works within easy reach : viz., Forest of Dean, Stirling, New Wind- sor, and Poughkeepsie.
Second. That such a weight of iron in such shape should be exposed to the risk of passing the enemy's lines-a risk greatly enhanced by the vigi- lance of Tory spies and cowboys all along the route. It could have weighed scarcely less than 150 tons. It would have taken fifty ox-teams upwards of five days to accomplish it.
We get a clue to the construction of that chain in Colonel Boynton's "History of West Point." He tells us that a part of it was sent from Lake Champlain, where it had been used to obstruct the river Sorel. The balance was made at the Kemble forge, of iron from the mines of Livingston Manor. Thence it was floated down and stretched across the river from the mouth of the creek that separated Forts Montgomery and Clinton.
These forts were under command of Governor George and General James Clinton. The garrison consisted of about 600, mostly untrained militia.
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
They were the yeomanry of the neighborhood, who were mustered as minute-men to defend their own mountain citadels. When the exigencies of home or harvest required, they were permitted to exchange the sword for the plowshare. A system of beacons and signal-fires was agreed upon to call these brave men to their post, and the moment they saw the signal on yonder hills, leaving plow in mid-furrow and bidding adieu to those at home, shouldering gun and knapsack, they joined the hardy band ascending the mountain path.
In October, 1777, Sir Henry Clinton manœuvered his fleet and forces so as to deceive General Putnam. Not so Governor Clinton, who hastily adjourned the legislature, mustered the militia, and occupied the two forts just mentioned. The crafty Briton landed his forces on the east side of the river, then hastily transported them across to Stony Point, where he landed about 4000 men. At daybreak on October 6, the advance-guard, consisting of 500 regulars and 400 Tories, under Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, marched around Dunderberg to the foot of Bear Mountain; while the main column of 1200, under General Vaughan, moved to a position on the right. General Tryon, with the rear-guard, remained in a valley where the force separated. A small force was sent out from the forts to meet the enemy with a single cannon, but were easily dispersed. Campbell's advance attacked Fort Montgomery on the rear, and Vaughan swept down on Fort Clinton. The resist- ance was of the bravest character; but the garrison was not sufficient to guard such long lines of defense. Surrender was refused, whereupon a bloody scene occurred. Some prisoners were taken, but, hopeless
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