History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 122

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 122

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"Signed with my hand this third day of June, one thousand eight hundred and six. WILLIAM SHAW "

William, the sixth son of William and Mary Shaw, father of our subject, was born Dec. 27, 1782, and died March 25, 1855. His wife was Rachel Schoon- oven, who was born Dec. 19, 1792, and died Dec. 18, 1876. Their children were Aaron, a lawyer, judge of the Supreme Court, and member of Congress, of Olney, Ill .; Howard, United States ganger, and farmer on a part of the old homestead ; Benjamin Woodward ; Mary Waldron, wife of John Myer, of New York,

and after his death became the wife of Edward Clapp, of New York, who is now deceased ; Catherine West- brook, wife of William IIowell, of Middletown ; Peggy, wife of Benjamin Beyea; Alexander McMaken; and Snsan Elizabeth, wife of David Robertson, of Shawan- gunk, Ulster Co., N. Y.

This family of children were reared on the old the erection of the present church edifice, and is at homestead, where the parents spent their lives, and did well their part as good citizens in promoting all local enterprises tending to benefit society.

Benjamin Woodward, son of William and Rachel Slaw, was born Feb. 3, 1817, on the homestead in Mount Hope, on the road between Van Burenville and New Vernon. He spent his boyhood on the farm of his father, attending district school in winter, and showing unusual ability as a mathematician. He also paid some attention to surveying, but chose for his life occupation the mercantile business. At the age of seventeen he came to Middletown as clerk for Samuel Denton, then the leading merchant here. On Sept. 26, 1839, he married Louisa, daughter of David Reeve, and granddaughter of Deacon James Reeve, who came from Long Island about 1763, and settled on a farm in Wawayanda, where he resided the remainder of his life. She was born Oct. 3, 1814, and survives her husband, who died March 29, 1881.

In 1841 Mr. Shaw formed a partnership with Daniel Gerow, under the firm-name of Shaw & Gerow, and engaged in business on his account. This partnership lasted one year .- He was then associated with Col. Herman B. Young and John B. Hanford. After the first year Col. Young retired from the firm, and for fifteen years Mr. Shaw and Mr. Hanford continued the business under the firm-name of Shaw & Hanford. Mr. Hanford's health failing, he retired from busi- ness. A new partnership was then formed with Charles Stewart and William M. MeQuoid. After a few years, Mr. Stewart retired from the firm and went West, and the firm became Shaw & McQuoid, and continued until 1869, when Mr. Shaw's son, Hanford L., entered the firm, the name being changed to Shaws & Mc- Quoid. When Mr. McQuoid's health failed and ne- cessitated his retirement from active business, the firm became B. W. Shaw & Son. Mr. Hanford L. Shaw's health compelled his retirement from business, and on the first of February, 1877, Mr. Shaw associated with himself his two head clerks, Charles C. Lnckey and James B. Carson, and the firm became B. W. Shaw & Co., so continuing until the present time.

The firm of Shaw & Gerow did business on the south side of Main Street, and on its dissolution MIr. Shaw removed across the street, taking possession of the store that he has ever since occupied.

Although closely absorbed in his private business, Mr. Shaw found time to devote to the public interests. He was a trustee of the village under its present charter. For nine years he was trustee of the Presbyterian Church. He was a director of the Wallkill Bank from its organization to the time of its failure. He

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was president of the Middletown and Wurtsboro' Plank-Road Company from the time of its reorganiza- tion. Ile was also a trustee of the Middletown Sav- ings-Bank. Although an earnest Republican, he never took much interest in politics, and when nomi- nated for supervisor by his party a few years ago, re- fused to run.

Mr. Shaw was during the whole of his life deeply absorbed in business, yet he was always willing to lend a listening ear and a helping hand to any pro- ject looking to the welfare of the village. He was a thoroughly honest and upright man, and much of his success was due to the confidence that the purchasing public had in the excellence of his goods and the truth of the representations made by himself and his employés. Ile had a very wide acquaintance not only in the village, but in the country round about, and all his acquaintances soon grew to be friends.

Although not a communicant of any church, he was a regular attendant at the services of the First Presbyterian Church, and contributed liberally of his means towards building the present church edifice. His children are Esther W., wife of Irving D. Booth, a wholesale hardware merchant of Elmira; Pauline D., wife of T. N. Little, of Middletown ; Hanford L., of the real estate and insurance firm of Reeve & Shaw, died May 20, 1881 ; and Miss Netta L. Shaw.

HORTON VAIL.

Josiah, Samuel, and Benjamin Vail, three brothers, were among the early settlers of Orange County, and the name appears in connection with papers and titles of land in the old town of Goshen.

Sammel married Hannah Petty, who bore him children,-Gilbert, Michael, Phebe, Experience, and Hannah.

Gilbert married Hannah Arnot, who bore him the following children : Julia, Samuel, Joseph, Sally, Phebe, Esther, Hannah, and Polly. Of these, Samuel, the grandfather of our subject, resided in the west division of the town of Goshen, where he carried on farming, and also his trade as a cloth-dresser and fuller. By his wife, Hannah Dunning, he had the following children : Deborah, Gilbert, Samuel, James, John, Anson, Phebe, Jacob, Julia, William, Hannah, and Horace. Both Samuel Vail and his wife were buried in the cemetery at Goshen.

The first Gilbert mentioned in this sketch was among the ever memorable brave and worthy patriots who fought Col. Brant, "Monster Brant," as he was styled, and his 300 warriors and 200 painted Tories, at the battle of Minisink, in 1779, and whose name appears on the monument at Goshen, donated by the ' late Dr. Merritt H. Cash.

Samuel, second son of Samuel and Hannah Vail, was born Sept. 23, 1787, and died April 5, 1855. His minority was spent in his native town, Goshen, mostly in the family of Joseph Wood. Upon reach-

ing his majority he learned the trade of wool carding and fulling cloth, which business, during the early part of his active business career, he followed on his own account, and, in connection with farming, was his main life business. He was a resident successively of Minisink ( Gardenerville), Warwick, and Pochuck, now Glenwood, in the township of Vernon, Sussex Co., N. J., until about 1834, when he removed again into the town of Warwick, and settled near Amity, where he resided until his death.

He had a studious and thoughtful disposition, pos- sessed a good business education, and his account- books showed the work of a neat and thorough accountant. He was liberal of his means to any cause that had for its object the elevation and amelioration of society. His love for home and family was intense, and his eyes always kindled with pride when mention was made of his ten boys in his presence. Never an open professor of religion, yet Samuel Vail was a God-fearing man, a thorough student of the Bible, and assisted liberally Christian churches and kindred objects. It was a common saying of him, " If all men were as truthful and honest as 'Uncle Sammy Vail' there would be little need for lawyers, judges, and jurymen."

His wife, Sally, born April 5, 1794, and who died Nov. 7, 1845, was a daughter of Reuben Cash and Millicent Howell, of Minisink, and sister of the late Dr. Merritt H. Cash, well known as a prominent physician in Orange County, who died April 26, 1861, aged about sixty years.

The children of Samuel and Sally (Cash) Vail are : Festus H., was a farmer near Great Bend, and there died ; Reuben C., was a farmer at New Milford, Pa., where he died ; Samuel, is a farmer at the latter place ; Charles M .; James Lewis, is connected with the Newark Morning Register ; Dr. M. H. C. Vail, gradu- ated at the Castleton Medical College, Vermont, practiced medicine for some twenty-five years, served one term in the New Jersey Legislature, and is now the editor and proprietor of the Newark Morning Register; George, resides at New Milford, Pa .; Hor- ton ; Solomon Van Rensselaer, deceased ; and Jolin M., a farmer at Havana, N. Y.

Horton Vail was born June 27, 1834, spent his . minority in the routine of farm work and attending school, and for three years after reaching his major- ity was a teacher. On Oct. 8, 1858, he married Sarah France, daughter of John S. and Hannah M. (France) Redfield, of Goshen. They have an only child, Nellie Vail.

For seven years following his marriage he owned and carried on a farm in the town of Goshen. In 1865 he removed to Middletown, where he engaged in the book and stationery business, which he success- fully carried on for eight years, and disposed of his business.

Upon settling in Middletown, Mr. Vail at once identified himself with the best interests of the village,

Horton Vail

Homag E Aulas

.11-15

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WALLKILL.

and since his residence here he has been a promoter of church and school interests, and an advocate of all progressive measures tending to morality, good society, and the general welfare of the people. Mr. Vail is possessed of a naturally literary taste, and as a casual correspondent of the local newspapers of Orange County, and especially of the Middletown papers, in which many valuable productions from his pen may be found, his contributions are treuchant, studied, and interesting, and show a studions mind, rcaling, and research. Mr. Vail is conversant with the current important topics of the times, a man of practical ideas, considerate in his opinions, and frank in his ways. Both as a trustee of the Second Presby- terian Church, of which he and his wife are members, and as the assessor of the village for the past two years, he retains the confidence of the people.

Mr. Vail is the only representative left in Orange County of the large family of ten sons of Samuel Vail, all of whom grew to manhood, and all were married and reared families except George.

GEN. CALVIN G. SAWYER.

His father, Benjamin Sawyer, resided near Carpen- ter's Point, on the Delaware, and for many years kept the hospitable inn of "olden time," and conveyed the guests of his house and the traveling public across the river by means of his ferry. He afterwards removed to the town of Goshen, near the "Drowned Lands," where he purchased a farm, now in possession of one of his sons, Franklin, and there spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. His wife was a Miss Wood, who bore him the following sons: John, Moses, Gen. Calvin G., and Franklin.

Gen. Calvin G. Sawyer was born on the homestead at Carpenter's Point, March 12, 1796, and there spent his minority, and often with his brothers was engaged in running the ferry across the Delaware. He mar- ried Hannah Valentine, who bore him seven children : John ; Rev. Samuel Sawyer, a Presbyterian clergy- man of Marion, Ind. ; Mary E., wife of Alonzo Banks, of Pine Valley, Chemung Co., N. Y .; Hannah V., widow of De Witt C. Payne, formerly of Goshen, but now residing at Battle Creek, Mich .; Harriet; Ga- briel, of Clarence, lowa; and Caroline.

His second wife was Harriet, daughter of Judge Armstrong, of the town of Warwick, near Florida, but at the time of his marriage a widow Smith. The children born of this union are Alida, wife of

Joel H. Coleman, of Blooming-Grove, and Calvin J., | Hope road, about two and a half miles out of Middle- a lawyer, of Clinton, Tenn.

His third wife, whom he married Dec. 25, 1844, was Harriet W., widow of James M. Cash, brother of Dr. Merritt H. Cash, and daughter of Maj. John White and Effa Brown, of Wallkill. She was born Aug. 18, 1815, and died May 7, 1861, leaving no issue.

Maj. White was born Dec. 22, 1768, was son of Samuel White, a farmer, near Montgomery, but who

afterwards settled at Scotchtown, where Maj. White became one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church, and was one of its first elders. He died Sept. 11, 1839. Maj. White's wife was Effa Brown, born Dec. 1, 1775, married March 15, 1792, and who died May 2, 1847, leaving eleven children.

Gen. Sawyer married for his fourth wife, Aug. 31, 1863, Miss Effa Ann, a sister of his third wife, who was born Oct. 15, 1809, survives in 1881, and causes the portrait of her husband to be placed in the his- tory of Orange County, accompanying this sketch.

Gen. Sawyer first resided near Goshen, where Dom- inie Staats now resides, and on the farm afterwards owned by Garret Thew. Retiring from the more ac- tive duties of life, he removed to Middletown, remained one year, thence to Hamptonburgh, where he resided nine years, and returned to Middletown, where he re- sided sixteen years, and until his decease, which oc- curred April 2, 1874. He was a man of decided con- victions, good business ability, and sterling integrity. He was well informed upon the current topics of his day, and always interested in local and national legis- lation, although no seeker after place himself. Ile received his military title from his connection with the old State militia, and was familiarly known among the prominent men of the last generation in Orange County as sociable, frank, and always generous and courteous.

CAPT. THOMAS E. IIULSE.

Capt. Thomas E. Hulse, now residing near Middle- town, is one of the oldest living native citizens of Orange County. His birth occurred Sept. 16, 1796, only thirteen years after the treaty of peace was signed that made the American republic free and independ- ent, and he has lived through nearly every adminis- tration of a government that has increased from a few millions to fifty millions of people.

The progenitor of his family in Orange County was Thomas Hulse, who came from England, was a sol- dier in the struggle of the colonies for independence, and after its close settled in the town of Wallkill, on a farm near where the asylum now stands. He died at about the age of eighty years, leaving the fol- lowing children: Martin, Phineas, Edward, Oliver, Thomas, Susan, wife of James Mapes ; Julia, wife of Mr. Woodruff; and Abigail, wife of Daniel Cooley. Oliver was in the war of 1812.

Of these children, Thomas was father of our sub- ject, owned and resided upon a farm on the Mount town, and spent his life in agricultural pursuits, es- teemed for the common characteristics of the family, -integrity and honesty in all the relations of life. He lived to be eighty-one years of age, and died about 1850. His wife, Phebe Everson, who also lived to the age of eighty-one, dying one year before him, bore the following children : Fanny, Benjamin, Oliver, Capt. Thomas E., Julia, wife of Hudson Everett ;

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Mary, wife of George Cox ; Gilbert, John, and James, the youngest succeeding to the homestead farm.

Capt. Thomas E. Hulse spent his boyhood in the routine of farm work and attending school. At the age of fifteen he started out in life for himself, and be- came a clerk in a clothing-store in Newburgh. Ile was engaged there as a clerk for several years, but about the time of reaching his majority set up busi- ness for himself, which he continued until 1824. Dur- ing that year, thinking that the city of New York would be a more successful place for business and give better opportunities for an enterprising young man, he accordingly formed a business connection with Peter Cornell, father of Hon. Thomas Cornell, of Rondout, N. Y., and opened a wholesale grocery- house in West Street, near the corner of Robinson Street, the corner store being occupied by Mr. Platt Brush, in the same business. These two stores were at that time the only buildings between Robinson and Canal Streets, and for several blocks below.

After four years, Mr. Cornell went to Kingston, and Capt. IIulse, after successfully continuing that husi- ness for some time, disposed of it, and became in- terested in and the owner of a number of schooners plying between New York and Southern ports. He also became a stockholder, and assisted in building and running several steamboats, one of which, the "Thomas E. Hulse," is well and favorably known to all travelers on the Hudson River. Among those asso- ciated with him in steamboat enterprises were Daniel Drew, Kelly, Raymond, Weeks, Cox, Odell, and the . A., deceased. Hon, William Radford.

Having acquired a comfortable competence, and becoming tired of public business, Capt. Hulse, in 1852, purchased a farm in Wawayanda, upon which his family resided until 1855, when he bought 150 acres of land adjoining and partly lying in the corpo- ration of Middletown, upon which he erected the same year his present residence, and removed thereto. He has mostly since been engaged in the improvement and management of his property, until age and paral- ysis debarred him from its superintendence. He mar- ried, Jan. 23, 1823, Permclia A., daughter of George E. Hulse and Mary Lyon, of Newburgh, who was born Nov. 2, 1806. Mrs. Hulse possesses rare womanly qualities, an exquisite taste for all the appointments of her household and flower-garden, in the latter of which may be found, the summer long, blooming flowers that attract the attention of the passer-by, and a hospitality in every respect generous, frank, and welcome.

On Jan. 23, 1873, many of the large circle of friends of Capt. and Mrs. Hulse met at their well-appointed and handsome country-seat, and joined them in cele- brating the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage,- their golden wedding,-then surrounded by six chil- dren and eight grandchildren, among whom were Rev. Ang. Seward, D.D., pastor of the First Presby- terian Church of Middletown, of which they are mem-

bers; Rev. Charles Beattie, and Rev. Charles A. Ifar- vey, who delivered appropriate addresses, frequently dwelling upon the history of this couple who had traveled life's journey together so happily, and again filled with wit and humorous allusions drawn from in- cidents and scenes in the courtship, marriage, and after-lives of the now aged but still cheerful and viva- cions couple.

Capt. Ilulse has never been a seeker after political place or its emoluments, but preferred the quiet and independence of a business life, to which he gave a period of nearly half a century, As a citizen, he has always been esteemed for his integrity, usefulness, frankness, generosity, and courtesy, and to all mat- ters of a worthy local nature he has given a liberal and hearty support.

Their children are Mary A .; Charles J., died at the age of forty in 1866; Henry L., visited California in 1849, returned in 1851, enlisted Sept. 5, 1862, in the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Regiment, New York Volunteers, Duryea's Zouaves, Nineteenth Army Corps, and was in the Red River expedition ; he was in the battles of Fort Hudson, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Sugar-Cane River, and was mustered out of service Aug. 30, 1865; Francis A., was the wife of James V. Schenck, and both are deceased, leaving two children, only one, Marie Louise, survives in 1881; Harriet A., wife of S. J. Curtis, of New York ; Elmendore R., a farmer in Wawayanda : Eugenia C .; La Grange W., carries on the home farm; and Julia

JAMES B. BELL.

Among the oldest native residents of Middletown and vicinity who, by untiring industry and integrity, have won a place in the agricultural history of Orange County, is the subject of this sketch, now in the eighty-first year of his age, the last surviving child in a family of eleven children of John Bell.

John Bell, born in county Down, Ireland, in 1753, came to America in 1772, and upon the commence- ment of hostilities by the colonies for independence he enlisted in the regular service as a common sol- dier, suffered the hardships, endured privations, and followed the fortunes of war till he saw his adopted country free and independent, and was honorably discharged.

He served under General Washington and other illustrious and brave commanders, and fought in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Moumouth, and for many years after the close of the war received a small pension,

After the close of the war he married Keziah Mapes, who was born in 1776, and settled on 111 acres of land in the town of Wallkill, where he spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. His wife, a devoted Christian mother and member of the Presbyterian Church, died in 1810, and bore him the following children :

James B. Bell

Alumson taughtes

Beujs

John, Ly

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Gabriel

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WALLKILL.

Benjamin, born April 22, 1786; Alexander, born 1788; Jane, born June 22, 1790 (wife of L. Godfrey) ; John, born May 23, 1792; William, born July 13, 1794; Moses, born April 20, 1797; Thomas, born March 4, 1799; James B., born March 10, 1801; Gabriel, born April 25, 1803; Lewis, born July 2, 1805; George W., born June 3, 1807.

John Bell married for his second wife Mary Crane, of which union there was no issue.

All his children settled in Orange County except Benjamin, who settled in Ohio, and all were married and reared families except Thomas and James B.

John Bell was known as honest in all his dealings with his fellow-men. He inherited from his Scotch ancestry that independent free spirit of religious worship which they spilt their blood to achieve, was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Deerpark, and a devoted Christian. He died Feb. 23, 1834.

James B. Bell was left motherless at the age of nine years, and at that tender age went into the busy world to carve out a fortune for himself, which, by industry, economy, and resolution, he early in life laid a foundation for; until the age of fifteen he worked where he could find anything to do, at very small wages, at one time only receiving twenty shil- lings per month. At that age he began to learn the tailor's trade, which he followed until his marriage, Oct. 25, 1826, to Harriet Tuthill, who was born in 1802. He then purchased the homestead farm, which he retained until 1831, sold it, and subsequently owned several farms in the town of Wallkill. In 1859 he bought 108 acres contiguous to the village of Middletown, which he has laid out into lots and streets, and sold for building purposes. In the short time of twenty-two years this property has been nearly all covered with many fine and sub- stantial residences, forming a very desirable part of | Aug. 14, 1877.

the village.

Wherever his residence has been, Mr. Bell has al- ways taken an interest in church matters and all that tends to morality and good society.

Ile became a member of the Deerpark Church at an early age, was a member of the Howell Presbyte- rian Church, and served it as trustee for fifteen years, building himself the present church edifice, and since his residence in Middletown he has been a member and contributor to the Second Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Bell is a man of strength of character, pos- sessed of integrity in all business relations, consid- erate in his opinions, and decided in them when once made.

His wife died May 6, 1874.

For his second wife he married Harriet, daughter of George Pelton and Sarah Tuthill, of Wallkill, and granddaughter of Peleg Pelton, a native of Con- necticut, who was one of the early settlers of Wall- kill. She was born Nov. 16, 1816, was first married to l'eter HI. Bell, by whom she had seven children, only one of whom (Jane, wife of Andrew Myres,

of Wantage, N. J.) is living. Her second hus- band was Daniel Mapes. Her marriage to James B. Bell, her present husband, occurred June 10, 1875.

ALANSON SLAUGHTER.

His paternal ancestor came from Wales, and settled in Virginia, and many of his descendants are now re- siding in the vicinity of Petersburg and Fredericks- burg in that State.

Isaac, grandfather of Alanson, served under Gen. Washington in the war for independence, and was with him when encamped near Newburgh, Orange Co.

He was at the battle of Ticonderoga and at the taking of Crown Point, and served in the northern campaign. After the war he received a pension. He settled in the town of Wallkill after peace was de- clared, subsequently removed to Shawangunk, Ulster Co., and in the year 1803 purchased 200 acres of land in the southeastern part of Wallkill, which has since remained in the family.

In 1817 he bought a farm in what is now the town of Hamptonburgh, upon which he settled in 1819, and there resided the remainder of his life. He died in 1838, aged eighty-four years.

He was twice married, and had a family of twenty- one children, of whom nineteen grew to manhood and womanhood. Of these, Benjamin, Joseph, Archi- bald, De Witt, William H., and several daughters located in Orange County. His second wife's name was Jane McBride.

Joseph was born Oct. 13, 1794, and died Feb. 25, 1873. His wife, whom he married Dec. 16, 1817, was Amelia, daughter of Thomas Booth and Jane Barker, of Hamptonburgh, who was born in 1798, and died

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 122

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1336

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336