USA > New York > Sullivan County > Gazetteer and business directory of Sullivan county, N. Y., for 1872-3 > Part 15
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113
. GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
In 1810 the Newburgh & Cochecton Turnpike was finished, passing through the town on the south bank of White Lake. Settlements were soon made on and near this thoroughfare. Among those who thus settled may be mentioned the names of William Brown,* who kept the first hotel in the town, who was the first Town Clerk, which office he filled many years, and was also County Treasurer; John Cross, who kept the first store where Bethel village now is; John Lindsley, who was the first physician in the town, and who represented the County two terms in the State Legislature ; William and David Stewart, John McClure, John and Thomas Potts, John Voorhis, Abner Hollister, Samuel S. Barkley, Henry H. Crist, Eleazer Everard, Thomas Lyon, Paul Horton, Nathan Smith, Isaac, Walter and John Knapp, Thaddeus and Norman Judson, Charles Dekay, Obediah Tibbet, Aaron Heuras, Michael Mudge and others, who either bought or leased land and improved the same. In 1811, William Gillespie bought land in the town, erected a store house at White Lake and commenced the mercantile business. and in the spring of 1812 moved his family from New York City to it. During his life he held various town and county offices; he died in 1849. In 1812 the grist mill at White Lake was rebuilt, and the following year Mr. Beekman put up machinery for spinning flax in its basement. The flax was shipped from New York City, and the thread returned there. The manufactory was under the supervision of Alexander Sterrat, and was continued until after the war was ended in 1815, when it was closed. In the south. part of the town were extensive groves of white pine which have long since disap- peared, having been converted into lumber and shipped to the Philadelphia market by the Delaware River. The hemlock forests are fast disappearing, owing to the increasing consump- tion of the tanneries. Thos. Stewart, from Washington Co., N. Y., came to this town in March, 1812, with his family and worldly effects, drawn by a yoke of oxen, and was that summer drafted into the army. Ile started to join his regiment on Long Island, but when he arrived at Bloomingburgh he hired a sub-
*Wm. Brown purchased land in the town, previous to its erection as such, on what he supposed would be the line of the Newburgh & Cochecton Turnpike, which was then contemplated : but when the road was constructed through the town the line was run about a mile north of his purchase. As the laud was bought on speculation and under the supposition that the road would be built through its center, the location of the road a mile north of it rendered this project abortive. Samuel F. Jones of Monticello, who was acquainted with the drain of Brown, resolved to profit by his mistake and forestall him by parcheing the land un either side of the road; he started lo Albany via New- buralt, and Thetre by shop for that purpose. Brown, ou learning Jones' intention. knowing it was brapossibl . to overtake him by the route he had taken, adopted the expedient of proceedtex to Albany on horseback, which his knowledge of surveying and his ability to determine a route thither with the aid of the compass enabled him to do. Accordingly he started on horseback, with his compass under his arm, and arrived in Albany, transacted his business, and, on making his exit from the land ofllce, met Jones. who had just arrived, but too late to accomplish his purpose.
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114
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
stitute and returned to his farm. His sons are Wm. I., now living at Monticello, and Thomas H. and Alex., who are now living in this town. Adam Pintler, son of John Pintler, was the first male child born in this town. He was born May 2, 1805. Eve Pintler, was born Oct. 7, 1803, and was the first child born in the town. The first death in the town was that of a child of Stephen Northrup .*
*The following extracts are taken from the Town Records:
" At the [first] annual Town Meeting held at the House of Wm. Brown in the Town of Bethel on the first Tuesday of March, 1810, the following persons were Duly elected, viz:
John Conklin, Supervisor; Wm. Brown, Town Clerk, Charles Irvine, John Lindaley and Wm. Brown, Assessors.
"Joseph Mitchel, Russel Hard, and Zalmon Hawley, Commissioners of Highways. "Oliver Calkins and John Lindsley, Overseers of the Poor.
"Norman Judson, Constable.
" Moses Calkin, Constable & Collector."
At that meeting it was " Resolved. that Hogs shall not be free Commoners, that every mans yard shall be his pound, that sheep shall not run at Large, that the Collector shall have five Dollars over bly legal fees, that Ebenezer Taylor shall be allowed for keeping Frederick Wallace, when he Lost his arm and that Jesse Crocker John Linds- ley and Joseph Mitchel be a Committee to enquire and say what shall be allowed.
"Report of said Committee that said Taylor stall be allowed $60."
The following is the record of the annuist election for State Officers, beld April 27, 1810, and "is a juut and true return of the votes taken at said Election."
"Daniel D. Tompkins for
Governor 27
John Brown, Morgan Lewis. Senator 26
James W. Wilkin
Thos. Blook
Congress
53
John Conklin
54
Samuel Hawkins
Jonas Platt
..
Governor ..
3
Nicholas Fish
Thent.
3
Robert Sands
Senator
8 3
Garret Abee!
.. Conpress 13
Asettubly ..
13
Charles Baker
..
13
Thaddeus Haight
13
Abraham T. E. Dewitt
13
·" Given ander our hands the year and dsy written
John Coaklin We Brown · Inspectors of Election."
Charles Irving )
The following is an extract from the records of 1823 : "BLACK HANNAH."
" This is to certify that in conformity to an act of the Legislature entitled, 'An Act concerning slaves and servants passed the lich of April 1813' Wo the enbecribers being overseers of the poor In the Town of Erthel have examined a certain Negro Woman Named Hannah and her Mulatto Male Child about Two years old who has Been in the employ of William Crown for a Term of years which Term expires on the 23d Day of April Last part arewilling to the Bill of sale of said Negro Hannah. It appears to us by the voluntary seknowledgement of said Hannah that at the time ber services expired she was in perfect health and sound in all respects and to the Best of her knowledge and belle ! Serge was not over thirty six Feet and that the considers herself folly capable of thattitan .... , herself and fluid be Honest industry & we ourselves from her Tertimory and other circumstances corroborating it are felly satisfied that her opinion "Dated at Bethel Aug. 26, 1823
Norman Judson Win. Gillespie y
Overseers of the Poor.
Lient. 27
27
John Lounsberry
44
54
63
Reuben Neuly ʻ
Joun Sudan
115
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
We extract from the writings of J. V. Morrison of Wurtsboro the description of the following incident :
" There was a little boy ten or twelve years of age living with his parents, in 1806, at White Lake. He was sent one day with a little basket to carry dinner to some wood choppers about a mile distant. He took their dinner to them and started for home. On his way back he lost the footpath, and wandered on until the trees began to cast their long shadows castward, and the sun to sink behind the western mountains. He thought he was near home, and knowing not what course to take he concluded to lay down on a bed of leaves and sleep till morning. In the morning he arose early and started again, as he supposed, homeward. He wandered all day, going through woods he had never seen before, crossing streams he had never before gazed upon, till the sun in its golden course in the heavens had declined in the western mountains. The little boy, hungry and tired, with his feet swollen, his clothes in tatters, and his body lacer- ated, lay down to sleep. His sleep was broken by the bleat of a deer and the fierce shriek of a catamount, but [hungry and fatigued he again lay down to sleep] and did not wake until the sun had risen and shone full upon him. He arose from his leafy couch, cold and hungry, and wandered on [during the] days and rested [during the] nights till ten long days and nights passed over him. On the eleventh day he was so weak, (his only food being a few berries,) and his feet so torn and swollen; that he could only crawl along on his hands and knees; yet he wandered on and some- thing seemed to whisper to him, 'Onward ! James, Onward !' Onward he drew his feeble form; but he stopped-he listened-he heard a cow bell near him -- he dragged himself near it and found it in a clearing. He grasped a sapling and raised his trembling form, racking with pain, to see if he could get a sight of a dwelling. He discovered a footpath. The cattle made slowly towards it, and he followed them, dragging his weary body along. Old Mrs. Lair, residing in Callicoon, discovered something near her house, and hastened to see it. She discovered James Glass, the poor lost boy, and took him in her arms and carried him into her dwelling. She laid him on the bed, dressed his wounds, and administered care- fully a little nourishment. He fainted away, but recovered, and soon
slept in a disturbed slumber. In his dreams he called for his uncle and
his mother. He mentioned their names, and as the morning dawned, the old hunters that gathered around, hastened to carry the news of his recov- ery to White Lake. Eight long days had his friends at White Lake sought for him in vain. They gave up all hopes of his recovery, supposing the wild beasts had made him their [prey. ] The old hunters flew with the news, and as the noble hearted pioneers saw them coming they gathered round to hear the welcome news. 'The lost boy is found.' There was joy in the dwelling. James, though he lived to be an old man, never recovered."
The following incident is also extracted from the same writings :
"Not far south of White Lake is a swamp called 'Smedes.' In olden tifnes it was quite a resort for bears, and they occasionally wintered in it. Along the edge of the swamp were berries, nuts, &c., on which they fed. The swamp was filled with heavy timber and thick groves of deer laurel. Panthers, wolves and duer used to frequent it. Uncle Tommy, as' Thomas Horton of Bethel [was] called, had tried his hand quite sucress- fully at trapping wolves, and one time thought he would try his luck at bear catching. He sat his trap near the edge of a stump, and caught & very large one. On discovering it he thought at first it was dead. He
116 GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
soon however saw it move its cars as the flies [lighted] upon them. Concluding that a dose of cold lead would stop its being annoyed by the gnats he administered it with his trusty rifle. It paid no attention to the medicine, and so he thought he would bleed it. Jumping astraddle of its back, he drew his keen edged hunting knife across its jugular, severing [it] at a stroke. This brought life into the bear. Raising upon its hind legs, bruin grabbed Uncle Tommy in rather too affectionate a manner, and he got out of its embrace as soon as possible. It soon fell over, tear- ing the ground in its death struggles."
Though the settlement of this town is of too recent date to develope any considerable historical data pertaining to the wars in which the country was involved prior to the war of the Re- beilion, the record of the participation of its citizens in that memorable struggle is one to which she may point with just pride .*
*From the Town Records we extract the following statistics respecting the enlist- ments from this town during the recent war :
2 men enlisted in the
10th Regiment N. Y. Vol. Infantry.
38 .
28th
1 man
38th
1 .
54th
56th
..
$6
"
1 mar
101et
.6
١١
1 .6 66
106th
6 men
1 man
124th
4.
١١
-
5 Inch
5 **
9th
5 4
66
15th
Mounted Rifles.
1 men
5th Cavalry.
18 men
&3 substitutes.
Five men enlisted for a second term of service.
The following named officere enlisted from Bethel :
Edward C. Howard, Ist Lieut. Co. B. 143rd. Regt. N. Y. Vols. He served on General Sherman's staff and was discharged at St. Louis, Mo.
Calcin Mc Allister, 2d Lieut. N. Y. S. Mounted Rifles. He was wounded in the arm in a skirmish before Richmond, Va., and was diecharged in November, 1864.
The following casualties aro reported among the enlisted men from Bethel :
John Ellis Lawson of Monganp Valley, born Feb. 20, 1840, et Betbel, N. Y., was mne- tered as a private in Co. H. 28th Regt., Oct. 17, 1861. He served about four months, when he was attacked with typhoid fever and died in hospital at Hancock, Md., Feb. 19, 14)2. His body was sent home and interred in the Bethel burying ground.
George W. Brewer of Mongacp Valley. was a private in Co. II. 28th N. Y. Vol. Infly .. and participated in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain and Antietam. The next day after the battle of Antietam be was taken sick with chronic diarrhea, and was raccorsively in the hospitals at Muddy Run, Harpers Ferry and Baltimore, He came bomu and died.
Thomas Me Entyre of Bethel, a private, was engaged in several battles, and was taken friwinter and confined at Andersonville, where he became so emacisted that, after beir. : rx terjed he was too freble to endare the fatigue of the journey bomme, and died in Now Jerry, while on the way thither.
Jrh f. Smith of Bethel, was a Corporat in Co. HI. 28th Regt. Infty., and died of ty- planned fever in Oct., 1861. He was buried at Alexandria, Va. "His remains Were subes- quently removed to New Jersey and interred in the family cemetery.
Matthew B. Linton of Bethel, was a Corporal in Co. H. 25th Infty. He was mortally wounded at the battle of Cedar Mountain, where he was taken prisoner. He died azd way barted by the Rebels at Culpepper.
14Brd
..
46
. 60 men
46
121st
..
"
66
43 men
102d
2nd Heavy Artillery.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
117
The first preacher in the town was Rev. Mr. Greer, a Presby- terian.
The White Lake Presbyterian Church, located at Bethel, was organized with eleven members, by Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins, in 1810, in which year the first house of worship was erected. The present edifice, which will seat 350 persons, was erected in 1847, at an expense of 81,500, and was dedicated Feb. 1, 1848, Rev. James Adams, then of Monticello, preaching the sermon. The first pastor was W. B. Reeve; the present one is Edwin , Town. The Society now numbers 123 members. The value of Church property is 84,500.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of White Lake, located in the vicinity of White Lake, was organized in 1822, with ten
John Carpenter of Bethel, 1st Sorgt. Co. H. 2Sth Infty., was killed in a charge at the battle of Cedar Mountain. His body was never recovered by his friends, and his place of burial is unknown to them.
John French of Bethel, a private in Co. H. 28th Infty., died at Darnetown, M.d. His body was brought home and buried in the family yerd.
Eduard Canfuld of Bethel, a private in Co. H. 29th Infty., was taken, soon after enlist- ment. to a hospital at Baltimore, where he died.
John. M. Hendrickson of Bethel, a private in Co. B. 143d Infty., died of typhoid fever. Henry Sutter, & private in Co. B. 1:3d Infty., died of typhoid fever at Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 29, 1863. and was buried in the military cemetery.
John W. Hogancamp of Bethel, a private in Co. B. 143d Infty., was killed by & railroad accident, caused by the collision of a wood train with a team of mules, March 19th, 1863, near Alexandria, Va., Dear which place he was buried.
George K. Lyon of Bethel, & private in Co. B. 143d Infty., met the same fate as Hogancamp.
James Fitzgerald of Bethel, a private in Co. B. Med Infty., died Dec. 12, 1863, from exhaustion, ou a march through Teno., and was buried at the place where he died.
Joseph, White of Bethel, a private in Co. B. 14ed Infty., was sent to the hospital in May. 1664. Hle went home on a sick furlough and died of dropsy, Nov. 10th, 1804, and was buried in the family cemetery.
John IT. JJackson, a private in Co. B., 143d Infty., had both his legs broken by a rail- road accident near Alexandria, Va .. and chied March 22d, 1863. His body was brought home and interred in the family cemetery.
Abram S. Predmore of Bethel, & privste in Co. B., 143d Infty., died of typhoid fever, Aug. 2, 1508, and was buried at Alexandria, Va.
Peter Van Orden of Bethel, a private in Co. B. 143d Infty., was killed at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ala., July 21. 14, and was buried on the battle field.
John C. Petter of Bethel, a Corporal of Co. B. 148d Infty., died of chronic diarrhea, Jan. 20, 1864, and was buried at Nashville. Teun.
William Pentler of Bethel. a private in Co. B. 143d Infty., was engaged in the battles of Suffolk, (May 3, 1543, Chattanooga and Lookout Valley. He died Jan. 7, 1861, and was buried at Lookout Valley.
Andrew J. McCord of Bethel, a private in Co. B. 143d Infty., died while on a furlough, at the residence of his parents in Ohio.
Robert L. Tillotson of Bethel, a private in Co. B. 143d Infty., died in July, 1863, at Yorktown, Va., at which place he was buried.
Cyrus Hogancamp, a Corporal in the 56th Infty., died of typhoid fever at Davids Island. June 22. 1802. His body was brought home and interred in the family cemetery. Hemen Cooper of Bethel, a private in the 56th Infty., died ----- , and his body was brought home and buried in the family cemetery.
Michael Dobbs of Bethel. a private in the 143d Infty., died while in the service.
Harry Corner of Bethel, a private in the 56th Infty., was wounded at the Seven Days battle, on the retreat froin richmond, Va,, and dying soon after, he was buried on the field.
.Alerender Marsh of Bothel, a private in the 56th Infty., died of typhoid fever Sept. 10th, 1800, at Fortress Mource, Vs.
Richardson Camperii, a private in Co. G. 24 N. Y. Mounted Rifles, died of typhoid fever, July 14. 1864, and was buried near the White Honse, Va.
Comfort Philip, a private in the 56th Infty., was killed at Fredericksburgh.
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118
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
members. Rev. J. B. Williams is supposed to have been the first pastor, being ordained in 1850; he is the present one. The Society erected the first edifice in 1824, and the present one in 1864. It will seat 250 persons, and cost 82,500. The present value of Church property is 83,300. The Society has a membership of eighty .*
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Mongaup Val- ley, was organized in 1832, by Wm. Gillespie and Wm. Fraser, Elders, with about twenty-five members. The congregation worshiped for several years after its organization, in a church edifice at White Lake, then owned by the Reformed Presbyteri- ans, but since that period, torn down. The first pastor was Rev. Jasper Middlemas. The first house of worship was erected in 1827; the present one in 1851, at which time the congregation removed, and took the name of Mongaup Valley, instead of White Lake, by which name it was previously designated. The church was erected at a cost of $2,500. It will seat 300 persons. The Church property is valued at $4,000. The present pastor is Rov. Wm. Ferrie, A. M .; and the present membership, sixty.
The M. E. Church, located at Mongaup Valley, was organized by Rev. Wm. Bloomer, the first pastor, with fifteen members, in 1850, in which year the Orst and present edifice, which will seat 450 persons, was erected at a cost of $1,000. It was improved in 1869. The present value of Church property is 82,500. The present pastor is Rev. James N. Bryers; and the present mem- bership, 132.
CALLICOON i was formed from Liberty, Mar. 30, 1842. Fremont was taken off Nov. 14, 1851. It lies in the west part of the County, north of the center, about the sources of the
*Wm. Stewart, Raling Wer of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, died in January 18:1. He came to iba vicinity of White Lake in 1805, when no better conveyance could be used than an ox * Ird us an altuoet Impassable road. "The lanreis," says Rev. J. B. Williams, our informant, " were then growing in the streets of Monticello." It was mainly owing to Stewart that the ieganlastion of this Church was kept alive for nearly thirty years, white only a puission etation. "He was a man distinguished for intel- lectual ability, being voll rend in History. Theology and English Literature. He was s pesce-inaker ati & free fibrinid Gie to the poor. I motto was, It is better to help on to help to herlara than to give without return.' The record of his life la that 'charity is the Greatest of earthig Blessings.">
(Pronounced Care Wenn. It lea Dutch word, signifying "turkey." and its applica- tlon to this town fa die to the wild turky which abounded along Callicoon Creek. In the statutes and off' ial publicstions of the State the name is commonly written "Collikoon." The Dutch word for turkey is Kalkun.
119
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
North Branch of Callicoon Creek .* It is watered by numerons streams flowing into the Delaware, the valleys being mostly narrow ravines, and the hills rising in steep declivities from two hundred to six hundred feet above them. In the north- east are Shandley and Sand Ponds, the latter affording a pure white sand, which was formerly used in making glass. The East Branch of the Callicoon flows through the east border, and the North Branch of the same stream flows through the town in a general southerly direction, a little west of the center. These streams are subject to sudden overflows, and much dam- age has resulted from the inundations thus produced.f
*Alfred B. Street, in Vol. 1, p. 40, of his Poems published in 1867, thus descants upon " The Callicoon in Autumn."
"Now, stealing through Ita thickets deep In which the wood-duck hides ; Now, picturing in its basin sleep Its green, pool-bollowed sides ; Here, through the pebbies siow it creepa. There, in some wild abyne it sweepe,
And foaming. hoarsely chides; Then slides so still, Its gentle ewell Scarce ripples round the lily's bell."
tA correspondent to the American Journal, writing from Jeffersonville ander date of Ang. 2, 1855, thus speaks of the freshet which occurred in that year :
" On the night of Ang. 1, 1855, the waters In the East Branch of the Callicoon enddet - ly raised about twelve feet, overflowing ite banks in all directions and spreading ruin upon every side. As far as we have been able to learn there was not a bridge left stand- ing from its head waters to its mouth. All along fis banks from Youngsville to Pike Pond was a scene of ruins. [ Youngsville eustained much damage.] There the stream partially turned from its foriner bed and brauched off In several directions, each branch entting its way through streets and felds, tasking the place resemble a group of small Islands. Nearly every dam on the stream above Jeffersonville was carried away, sud every manufacturing establishment sustained more or less damage, The saw mill of Dan D. Quick was entirely swept off, not even the foundation remaining. Jefferson- ville, too, suffered severely. That part of the village witasted on the island war com- pletely inundated ; all the gardens were destroyed and many of the cellars and lower rooms were completely filled with water. Attwo o'clock it was the general impression that every honse upon the island would be undermined or carried away : [and the fact " that there was no place of refuze for the inhabitants, every bridge having been swept away, and every retreat cut off, added terror to the scene."] In this perilous situation every rumbling noise awakened hew apprehensions that the tannery dam. situated about a quarter of a mile [distant. ] then trembling under the pressure [to which it was subjected. ] would give way and decide their fate. For several hours large logs and heavy sticks of timber flosted through the streets and gardens, bumping the houses and fences as though they stood in the channel of some navigable river. Nearly half the buildings in the place sustained damage. Further down the stream whole pieces of grass and grain were washed away and in e short space of time the fields cpon which they had grown were covered with heavy driftwood. The Callicoon & Cochecton Turn- pike for about two miles was literally washed away or blockaded with huge piles of floodwood.
"On the North Branch of the Callleoon the flood was equally destruc. tive, carrying away every bridge, and seriously injuring every manufacturing establishment on the stream. and entirely destroying miles of road located upon its banks. One dwelling boose, [Harmon Packard's] with its inmates, the wife and a child about 4 years of age. way carried down the stream several rods, into a pilo of driftwood. where the house was creche to pieces. The child was saved, the wife, drowned. The child was found in the morning seated among the ruins, alive and anin- jured. The frat words it spoke to those who found it, were, .My Mother! Oh, My Mother! she is drowned.' [The body of the mother was found after some days.] The family had retired early In the evening without any apprehension of danger, and quietly slept until the houve began to move' from its foundations when the husband leaped from the window Just in time to escape the same fate, leaving his wife and child Invoking him in eapplicatin,r tones to save them ; but alas ! no aid could be given them ; there was a heart to pity, but no armi to save them.
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