USA > New York > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, and border wars of New York, containing a sketch of the early settlements in the county > Part 18
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HISTORY OF
act of barbarity was perpetrated by a man named Foster, a tory at that time, and the same, who a few years since (1819) was hanged for the murder of his wife, by poison, in Delaware County, N. Y., at Delhi. That the same Foster did murder Colonel Alden, was ascertained by a certain James Campbell, another tory, who stated to David Ogden, that he had heard this Foster boast of the act, while they were both with the British at Niagara. He was at length overtaken by justice, and ended his miserable life on the gallows, although at the advanced age of - years. He died without a confession of his guilt."
The spring following the execution of Graham, a fire broke out in the court-house and jail, which were then all included in one building. The following extract is from the Gazette :---- " On the 17th of April, about half-past 3 o'clock in the morn- ing, the fire was discovered by some person, and the alarm given, but all attempts to save the building proved fruitless. What added to the horror of the scene, a young man from the town of Andes, by the name of Abraham Coon, who, but three days before had received the sentence of the court to a short confinement for the petty theft of three yards of cotton cloth, was extricated from the ruins of the building-his arms and legs completely burned off. His mangled remains were interred in the village burying ground. At this time no family resided in the building, and it was supposed the fire originated in his own room."
A meeting of the citizens was immediately called, and it was determined to apply to the Legislature for a loan to enable them to erect new buildings, without resorting to the expedient of directly taxing the people for the whole amount. The limit of the legislative session was about closing, and no time was to be lost. The late Amasa Parker, Esq., was dispatched to Albany to lay the case before Gen. Root, then a member of that body, and to co-operate with him in procuring the loan.
217
DELAWARE COUNTY.
Col. Parker did not arrive in Albany until the 10th, when he had an immediate interview with Root, who expeditiously drew up a bill covering the whole ground, and having called upon and secured the co-operation of the leading members of both the Senate and Assembly, the next morning introduced the bill, which passed rapidly through both houses, and before night became a law. The following is a summary of the bill :- The State loaned the county $8000, to be redeemed in four years, at six per cent. interest ; that the jail of Greene county should be used in criminal cases, and for debtors who refuse to give . bail, and that courts should be held at the house of Jesse C. Gilbert.
I am indebted to Isaac Burr, for the following information : -" I succeeded Mr. Keeler in the office of sheriff, and the burning of the court-house and jail took place the night before I qualified and took upon myself the responsibilities of the office. I was placed in rather embarrassing circumstances. Mr. Keeler delivered over to me ten or twelve prisoners who were on the limits, and I had not so much as a 'Log Pen,' to confine them in. I, however, succeeded in getting bail for the limits in every instance. In a few days we had a law author- izing me to use the jail of Greene county. And it is a singu- lar fact, that while we were without a jail, for several months, no case occurred that rendered it necessary to take a prisoner to Catskill, and that within two or three hours after we had a prison room in the new jail so far completed as to hold a prison- er , it was necessary to use it."
The same year that the new court-house and jail were put up, the Academy building was also constructed, and it may be interesting to some to learn the history of its origin, and to whom it is indebted for its liberal endowment. In 1770, be- fore the Revolutionary war, John Leake, Daniel Stiles, Roger Richards, and twenty-four other associates, obtained a grant of 27,000 acres of land, comprising what is now commonly called
19
218
HISTORY OF
the Beddington Patent, which lies in the towns of Franklin and Walton. In 1820, Gen. Root discovered that a large por- tion of this tract of land had escheated to the State, its propri- etor having died intestate. He accordingly introduced a bill appropriating the proceeds of the sale of these lands to the con- struction and endowment of an academy at the county seat of Delaware county. The bill, after an exciting debate and a good deal of opposition, finally passed.
The Delaware Academy was one of the first incorporated institutions of learning in the interior of the State, and the first in the county, and has since maintained a high literary repu- tation. Connected with the institution is a valuable and well- selected library, containing several hundred volumes, and a fine collection of mineralogical specimens, principally collected by the County Geological Society.
This Society was formed in 1821. The meeting for the pur- pose of organization, was held at the hotel of G. H. Edgerton, on the 6th of September. Charles A. Foote, Esq., was elected president; Rev. James P. F. Clark, vice-president ; Charles Hathaway, Esq., receiving secretary ; Doctor Calvin Howard, corresponding secretary ; and Selah R. Hobbie, Esq., treasurer ; Cornelius R. Fitch, Esq., R. W. Stockton, and Ebenezer Steele, were elected directors.
Colonel Henry Leavenworth, of the U. S. Army ; Edwin Croswell, then of Catskill, but afterward, and for many years, senior editor of the " Albany Argus ;" and O. Rice, Esq., of Troy, were unanimously elected corresponding members.
The main object of the institution was to promote inquiry with reference to the geology, mineralogy, and the natural history of the county, although I believe the researches of the society in the county for specimens, were very limited. "The Autobiography of the Delaware Gazette" thus alludes to this 1 Society :
"This Society had but a short existence-neither it nor any
219
DELAWARE COUNTY.
other association making us familiar with the geology or mine- ralogy of the county. Some years since the State expended large sums in making geological surveys of its territory, which, so far as Delaware county is concerned, was as complete a hum- bug as ever was known. I think the learned professor conde- scended to ride through our county-possibly he even slept one or two nights within our territory-but for all practical purposes, the passage through our county of a blind fiddler and his dog, would have been as promotive of public good, as the Professor's journey. Delaware county, geologically and mine- ralogically considered, is terra incognita. We know nothing of our mineral resources, notwithstanding nature hints strongly of treasure lying dormant in the bosom of our mountains."
Our limits-even did it not trespass upon the patience of the reader-will not permit us to indulge in all the minute details of the history of the county since its formation, and we shall therefore content ourselves by glancing at the most prominent features. It may with propriety be stated, that the erection of Delaware county, in the face of such decided opposition, is mainly due to Joshua H. Brett, at that time member of the Assembly from Otsego county, an eminent physician of Harpersfield, and one of its first settlers; John Burr, of Middletown, and Ebenezer Foote, merchant of New- burgh, the latter two being members of Assembly from Ulster county. Joshua H. Brett was appointed first judge, and Ebenezer Foote obtained the appointment of county clerk,* and shortly after removed into the town of Delhi, where he resided until the time of his death.
The following extract is from a manuscript journal of Judge Foote :-
" April 28th, 1828 .- I was appointed first judge of Dela-
* Anthony Marvine, father of Charles Marvine, Esq., President of Delaware Bank, recorded the first deed in the county clerk's office.
220
HISTORY OF -
ware county for the third time. Under my first appointment I served until I was sixty years of age-a term beyond which I could not constitutionally hold the office. I was then appointed judge, and served in that capacity until the new constitution was adopted, when I was again appointed first judge, and having served five years, was again appointed as' above stated; and what is rather unusual, my three last appointments have been made by men of different political sentiments from myself."
In 1798, the new town was erected which contained the county seat. There was some dispute as to what should be the name of the new township : General Root and others pro- posed calling it Mapleton, while Judge Foote and his asso- ciates wished to call it Delhi, which name finally prevailed. An anecdote is told of General Root, who was at that time young, but possessing the same impulsive, ardent, fearless dis- position, which so conspicuously marked his after life, that when the decision was announced of calling it Delhi, he expressed himself in the following words to Mr. Foote, or some of his associates ; "Delhi, hell-high-better call it Foote-high !" It is hardly necessary, and perhaps out of place, to predict, that were the choice now to be made, Mapleton would be the deci- sion-Delhi being rejected, from its known Hindoo origin.
We are indebted to a highly respectable correspondent for the following biographical sketch of the life of the late Judge Foote-a life covering more than half a century of the most interesting period of our county-full of incident and useful- ness, which affords abundant matter, would our limits permit, for a more enlarged notice.
" Honorable Ebenezer Foote died at his residence in Delhi, on the 28th, (1818,) at the advanced age of seventy-four. Few men have been called to act as many parts in the drama of human life as the subject of this notice, or have sustained themselves as well. Judge Foote became a volunteer in the
221
DELAWARE COUNTY.
Revolution at the first beat of the drum, and continued as an intrepid soldier and active officer, until near the time of dis- banding the army, in 1783. He participated in the toils and danger of the battle of Bunker's-hill, and shared in the pri- vations and sufferings of his fellow-soldiers at Valley Forge. He escaped from the enemy by swimming the Hudson river, near New York, in December, 1777. The vigilance and ability of young Foote did not escape the observation of the commander-in-chief, from whom he received an appointment in the staff department, and finally left the army in the rank of major. His conduct during the war, won for him the badges of the order of Cincinnati, of which. society he was an active member until his death ; and perhaps no event of the latter part of his life afforded him more pleasure, than on the 4th of July in each revolving year, joining this little band, the remnant of his Revolutionary compeers, in celebrating the independence which they contributed to achieve.
" At the close of the war, Major Foote had little left but his title and his friends ; of the former he was tenacious, and to the latter he was true. He commenced the dull round of his civil life by embarking in mercantile business, in Ulster county, in which he continued with varied success, until 1797; when, upon the organization of this county, he was appointed its clerk, and shortly afterward came to reside upon the spot where his remains are now deposited.
"Judge Foote was a member of Assembly several years, from the county of Ulster ; represented the old Middle District four years in the Senate of this State; sat in the Council of Appointment with Govenor Jay, and enjoyed his confidence. Upon the resignation of Judge Brett, in 1810, Mr. Foote was appointed to fill the vacancy of first judge of this county, and has ever since remained a distinguished member of the Com- mon Pleas bench.
"Mr. Foote having been identified with party politics in 19*
222
HISTORY OF
1800, fell a victim to its retribution when at its utmost height, in 1801, and was deprived of the office of clerk, upon which he relied for the support of himself and family. This event, connected with an indiscreet selection of a successor, gave rise to considerable newspaper discussion of the day, and as the case gained publicity, it secured to Mr. Foote friends who soon obtained for him an extensive and profitable land agency, which he retained during his life. Without the advantages of an early education, Judge Foote nevertheless possessed a liberal share of literary attainments. To an original and strong mind, he united peculiar amenity of manners, a high sense of moral propriety, and unyielding integrity."
The following list contains the names of the members who have been sent to the Legislature from the county, since its erection :
1798. William Horton, Nathaniel Wattles,
1799. Elias Butler, Erastus Root,
1800. Patrick Lamb, Sluman Wattles,
1801. Gabriel North, Erastus Root,
1802.
1803. John Lamb, Elias Osborn,
1804. Gabriel North,
1805.
Adam I. Doll, Anthony Marvine,
1806. Gabriel North,
1807.
John T. More, Joshua Pine,
1808.
Gabriel North,
1809. Daniel Fuller, David St. John,
1810, John T. More, Elias Osborn,
1811.
Daniel Fuller, David St. John,
1812. Daniel H. Burr, Isaac Ogden,
1813. Robert Clark, Andrew Craig, Jr.,
1814. John T. More, Isaac Ogden,
1815. Robert Clark, Asahel E. Paine,
1816. William Dewey, Henry Leavenworth,
1817. Martin Keeler, Asahel E. Paine,
1818. William Beach, Erastus Root,
223
DELAWARE COUNTY.
1819. 1820. Peter Pine,
James Eells, Erastus Root,
1821. John H. Gregory,
Benjamin Benedict, Asa Grant,
Jabez Bostwick, Harman I. Quackenboss,
Erastus Root, William Townsend, John Thompson, Edward Doyle, William S. McCrea, James G. Redfield,
1822. 1823. Samuel Rexford, 1824. James Eells, Peter Pine, 1825. 1826. 1827. 1828. 1829. 1830. Erastus Root, Matthew Talcott, 1831. David P. Mapes, Peter Pine, 1832. James Coulter, James Hughson, 1833. John Edgerton, Stoddard Stevens, Samuel Gordon, Amasa J. Parker, 1834. 1835. Dubois Burhaus, William B Ogden,
1836. John Griffin, James W. Knapp, Jesse Booth, Thomas J. Hubbell, Cornelius Bassett, Darius Mapes, 1837. 1838, 1839. Ichabod Bartlett, Jonas More, Orsen M. Allaben, Nathan Bristol, 1840. 1841. Stephen H. Keeler, Charles Knapp, Samuel Eells, Orrin Griffin, 1842. 1843. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. George H. Wisner, Richard Morse, 1851. 1852. 1853. Charles S. Rogers, Daniel Stewart, 1854. Samuel A. Miller, Daniel Rowland,
Milton Bostwick, Nelson K. Wheeler, Edward J. Burhaus, Jesse Palmer, John McDonald, Linus Porter, Orrin Foote, Reuben Lewis, John C. Allaben, Donald Shaw, Platt Townsend, John Calhoun, James E. Thompson, Luther Butts,
Samuel Doyle, William Gleason, Jr., Hezekiah Elwood, Lewis Mills,
1855, William B. Smith, William Miller,
1856. Haxtun.
224
HISTORY OF
Annexed is a list of the first Judges of the County Court, with the respective dates of appointment or election, for which the author is indebted to the New York Civil List, by F. B. Hough, Esq. :
Joshua H. Brett, March 20, 1797.
Ebenezer Foote, March 27, 1810. Isaac Ogden, March 26, 1816. Ebenezer Foote, Feb. 10, 1823. Jabez Bostwick, Jan. 22, 1830.
Charles Hathaway, Feb. 12, 1840.
Nelson K. Wheeler, Feb. 12, 1844.
Edwin More, (elected) June, 1847. William Gleason, Jr., (elected) Nov. 1851. Jesse Palmer, (elected) Nov. 1855.
COUNTY CLERKS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Ebenezer Foote, March, 30, 1797.
Philip Gebhard, Aug. 17, 1801.
John Doll, March 29, 1803.
Homer R. Phelps, March 6, 1809.
Asahel E. Paine, Feb. 26, 1810.
Homer R. Phelps, Feb. 12, 1811.
Ambrose Bryan, March 30, 1813.
Asahel E. Paine, Feb. 16, 1815.
Homer R. Phelps, Feb. 12, 1821. " (elected) 1822.
John E. Burhaus, 17 1825.
Crawford B. Sheldon, (elected) 1828.
Wm. McClaughry, 1846.
Benjamin Cannon,
1852.
1855.
SHERIFFS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Elias Butler, March 20, 1797. James J. White, Feb. 11, 1799.
5
225
DELAWARE COUNTY.
Clark Lawrence, May 8, 1801.
Roswell Hotchkiss, March, 29, 1805.
Nathan Edgerton, Jr., March 6, 1809. Jabez Bostwick, Feb. 23, 1811. Robert Seal, March 13, 1813. Jabez Bostwick, Feb. 13, 1815.
Martin Keeler, March 6, 1819.
Isaac Burr, March 28, 1820. Martin Keeler, Feb. 12, 1821.
Roger Case, (elected) 1822.
Martin Keeler,
1825.
Gurden H. Edgerton,
1828.
John H. Gregory,
1831.
Duncan I. Grant,
1834.
John M. Betts,
1837.
John Edgerton,
66
1840.
Green Moore,
1843.
De Witt C. Thomas,
1846.
Daniel Rowland,
1849.
Duncan McDonald,
66
1852.
A. H. Burhaus,
66
1855.
5
226
HISTORY OF
CHAPTER X.
The lost manuscript-Early organization of religious societies-Report of the first missionary-Summary of report-Different sects in the county-Educational interests of the county, and other information.
THE reader who has glanced at our preface, has already been made aware of the almost total destruction of this work by fire. And this misfortune appears nowhere more evident than in the present chapter. Several of the first pages of the manu- script, containing much valuable and important historical infor- mation, are thus irremediably lost. The information too was of a character which cannot be replaced. The index to the chapter having been burned, also containing the different points of observation, coupled with the interval of time with its mov- ing world of other projects, have almost totally obliterated from my mind a definite idea of its contents. A general out- line is all that remains.
In the first pages we had remarked the gradual march of improvement from the organization of the county, at which point the preceding chapter had reached, and the development of its moral and social resources. We had extracted from a little pamphlet the report of the first missionary to the county. His visits to the various localities, his remarks on the state of society in the different towns, forming, as they did, interesting themes of instruction and grateful comparison, we are now compelled to omit.
Speaking of the town of Middletown, the missionary thus remarks : "In this town, God appears to have made your society instrumental to the good of many souls, particularly in the settlement of Platte-kill, where the divine spirit was poured out in a remarkable manner.
227
DELAWARE COUNTY.
" At the close of the first sermon, ten or fifteen persons came forward as if impelled by the Spirit, and seated themselves near me, with countenances marked with great anxiety. The first that answered my questions, said with a big tear upon her cheek, that she could scarcely refrain from approaching me till the ser- mon was closed. Soon many were in tears. I appointed a lecture in the evening, and spent the intervening time till I rose to lecture in conversing and weeping with about twenty persons ; and after lecture, till late in the evening, the people appeared unwilling to leave the house. Three days afterward I returned to this place, and after preaching eight times and visiting families, found about thirty persons under conviction, and left three or four of these enjoying hopes of pardon through Christ."
In taking a cursory review of the territory over which he has passed, the pioneer missionary thus refers : " The region through which your missionary was directed to pass, is widely desolate. Two out of the five counties he explored, are almost wholly des- titute of Presbyterian preaching. A great part of Delaware county seldom enjoys preaching of any kind. Those living on the Delaware and its branches are famishing for the Word.
Having submitted to you this brief sketch of my labours, and the missionary field before you, allow me to drop a few sugges- tions relative to the direction and future prosperity of your society and its missionaries.
" The strength of your institution depends much on the zeal and energy of your officers. Let such as possess these qualifica- tions be selected ; and let them and the members be continually exhorted to unremitted exertion, remembering Him that denied himself even to the very death for our sakes,
" Let females also bear offices, particularly that of a committee to enlist new members, solicit donations of the rich, inspirit the society, and to visit and instruct the poor and ignorant. Select young and active missionaries, and assign them stations or limits within which to itinerate.
228
HISTORY OF
" As such stations, I would take the liberty of selecting-1st. Meredith and its vicinity, together with the desolate region of Charlotte .- 2d. A circuit including the city, Deposit village, the Forks of the Delaware, and a part of Colchester, demanding immediate aid .- 3rd. A district of country including Middletown, Roxbury, and perhaps Delhi, with settlements adjacent .- 4th. Without pointing out any particular station of it, I shall mention all Sullivan county, as a missionary field, containing three Presbyterian churches, which would probably nearly support a missionary.
" The towns of Sidney, Bainbridge, Masonville, &c., should be frequently visited by your missionaries.
"I would advise that the people you design to supply, be instructed to assist in supporting your missionaries, and that they be encouraged to expect preaching in proportion to the pecuniary aid they furnish.
" Let further attempts be made to form more societies in other counties. Great exertions and more ample funds are necessary to supply that portion of the district already specified.
" You perceive, friends and brethern, you have merely entered upon the threshold of a great work. Let me urge you to press forward zealously and resolutely in the cause of humanity and religion, on the plan you have adopted. Having put your hands to the plough, after the example and injunction of our glorious pattern, never think of looking back."
Up to the introduction of this system of missionary preaching, the moral resources of the county were of the most indefinite character. Indeed, as appears from the extract of the above report, in many localities the inhabitants had not had preaching for years. Society, under such depraved and improper influences, presented but one vast gulf of moral degradation. And at this late day, when we are permitted to draw so favourable a con ... parison-the past in contradistinction with the present-how grateful a tribute ought we to ascribe to the pioneers of our
229
DELAWARE COUNTY.
social and moral improvement. Their peculiar hardships and privations, the ingratitude frequently bestowed upon their ardent labors for the good of others, without emolument or profit to themselves, are fitting themes for discussion in these modern times.
The establishment of churches commenced about 1816, and has kept pace with the gradual increase of population to the present time.
The different sects or denominations which exist in sufficient numbers to support stated preaching, are the Baptist, Congre- gational, Christian, Dutch Reformed, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Union.
The Methodist denomination is the most numerous : The whole county is comprised in the Delaware, now Prattsville district of the New York conference.
The county is subdivided into twelve circuits, and each circuit is filled by two preachers appointed by the conference at their annual meeting, with a limited period, not to exceed two years.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, was first regularly orga- nized in the United States, December 25, 1784, by John Wesley and his associates, to whose laborious and energetic perseverance the church in the new as well as old world is in an eminent degree indebted for its present high degree of prosperity. The doctrines and beliefs of the society are found elsewhere, but a brief history of the origin and progress of the institution, may not prove uninteresting to the general reader.
In 1729, Mr. Wesley, A.M., Fellow of Lincoln College, in the University of Oxford, a regularly ordained minister of the Church of England, became affected by the general apathy exhibited in that body, and associated himself with a few col- lege associates of like opinions.
20
-
The following Statistical Table, exhibiting the number of members, Sunday Schools, and collections for benevolent pur- poses for the entire district, is compiled from the Conference report.
Circuits and Stations.
L
Mem. Prob. Pr.
No. offuffi. &|Schol-| Vols. in Sch'ls. Teac.
lars.
Library.
Missionary Society.
Bible Society.
S. S. Union.
Fifth Collection.
Ten cent Collection.
Dele- gates.
Wesl'n Univer.
Ratio.
Prattsville.
255
56
1
3
36
150
350
$60 31
$5 00
$14 32
$5 04
$5 88
6.2
Gilboa . .
293|
101 7
5
30
100
400
42 00
32 00
$2 80
9 00
3 00
2 00
3.3
Coeymans .
350
5
1
4
25
110
400
43 90
30 00
3 00
3 30
4 43
2 30|
2.2
Catskill .
292
97
ยท
3
44
164
832
54 96
4 28
10 27
12 73
26 45
5 58 $2 04
9.7
Durham .. .
310
55
5
3
29
125
370
21 66
108 57
4 00
7 97
7 61
3 00
4.
Livingstonville
201
20
2
5
40
198
321
12 00
7 41
1 50
1 55
0 60
.7
Windham . ...
365
79
1
40
181
700
83 26
9 10
8 95
11 18
2 32
4.6
Lexington.
202
14
5
2
15
60
260
21 41
2 50
2 82
1 00
1 00
.9
Middletown.
220
15
2
3
23
95
213
23 00
3 29
1 00
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