History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 125

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 125


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Benjamin Dodge and Stephen St. John were also alike beneficial, enterprising men at this locality for many years, and well deserve the grateful remem- brance of its citizens.


John Finch, the first immigrant, came from Horse- neck, Conn., and settled at Goshen, and the family tradition is that he was the first grown person buried in the graveyard of the Goshen Church, some chil- dren having been previously buried there.


His son, James Finch, Sr., was born there, and married to Miss Catharine Gale by Rev. Mr. Kerr. James removed and located on land now covered by the site of the village of Middletown, in the town of Wallkill. At this time there were but three log houses besides his within a mile of the place. Shortly before the Revolutionary war he removed to the vicinity of Finchville. When Pennpack was in- vaded and burnt by the Indians under Brant, many of the women and children fled from there to his house for protection. Among others was Mrs. Decker, the wife of Maj. Decker, who came leading her small children by the hand. She had fled from her bed, after retiring for the night, clad in garments which scarcely covered her person. The only article which she saved from the conflagration of her dwelling was the family Bible, which she carried under her arm.


Mr. Finch, though living in the vicinity, was not. in the battle of Minisink. The reason was Cols. Phillips and Wisner, with their troops, while on their march to Minisink, halted at his house to refresh


* The documentary evidence shows that his executors were paid for the church site, however it might be as to the burial-place. (See Con- gregational Church, Wallkill.)


4


507


MOUNT HOPE.


themselves and procure something to eat. At the time there were nothing but salted provisions in the house, and Finch killed a large fat hog and prepared it for the troops .* After they had eaten, the residue was placed in the knapsacks of the soldiers for further nse. Col. Phillips directed that Finch should not go with them, but stay at home and make ready to feed liis men when they should shortly return. But, alas ! how many of his friends and neighbors, who that day partook of his hospitality, never returned from the field of battle to share his kindness or need his care.


Mr. Finch during the Revolution performed mili- tary duty three months, and also during the old French and Indian war in 1755 and 1756. When quite young he was at Fort Stanwix in the capacity of waiter to Gen. Abercrombie or some of his staff. He lived and died a patriot, and a member of the Baptist Church, having acted as a deacon for many years.


James Finch, Jr., his son, of a later generation, was born July 25, 1768. He was well known, both at home and abroad. He came into public life when young, and held the office of justice of the peace from about 1798 to 1830, excepting the time he acted as judge of the county. In 1831, Coe Finch, his son, was elected a justice of the peace in his place. He held the supervisorship of his town for twelve years in succession, and served as a member in the State Legislature thirteen sessions. Early in life he became a member of the Baptist Church, and died in the faith of his fathers on Dec. 7, 1843, aged seventy-five years. He married in 1794, and had ten children, nine of whom lived to be twenty-four years of age. We give a copy of the family record :


Names.


Birth.


James Finch, father ..


.July 25, 1768.


Sarah, mother


.Sept. 23, 1772.


Zophar


.May 20, 1795.


Catharine


May 1, 1797.


Dec. 30, 1843.


Margaret


.Sept. 10, 1799.


Feb. 12, 1807.


P. G


Feb. 28, 1802.


Coe.


April 30, 1804.


Sept. 12, 1832.


Julia


Nov. 20, 1806.


Jesse ..


Jan. 24, 1809.


Nov. 23, 1843.


James M.


.April 11, 1811.


Feb. 4, 1844.


John ...


Jnue 28, 1813.


Dec. 9, 1843.


Sarahı


.Aug. 9, 1819.


Dec. 2, 1843.


Benjamin Woodward, mentioned above, was the son of Hezekiah Woodward, Jr. The latter, with his father, Hezekiah Woodward, Sr., moved to this town from Stonington, Conn., in the year 1773 or '74. This was not far from the same time as the set- tlement of James Finch. Benjamin Woodward was born Feb. 28, 1780. His talents brought him early into public notice. He was a member of the Legis- lature in 1814-15, 1820-21, and in 1826. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1821, and also a State senator 1827-30. Itis son, Charles S. Woodward, was chosen supervisor in 1862, and a member of the Legislature of 1863-64.


Joshna Corwin was probably in Mount Hope before


the Revolution. He was from Southold, Long Island. He purchased a tract of considerable extent and set- tled his sons upon it. His chiklren were Joseph, Ab- ner, Joshua, David, John, Peter, Anna, Jemima, Ben- jamin, the last named by a second wife. The home- stead of the son Joshua was the place now owned by Silas G. Corwin. He also had one son by the name of Joshua, who was the father of Selah R. Corwin, of Middletown. Joshua the pioneer was born March 25, 1733, or 1735, Joshua the second was born March 6, 1756, and Joshua the third, Oct. 19, 1785.


Jacob Wiggins settled at Mount Hope soon after the Revolution. The homestead was about two miles south of Otisville, now the Writer place in part, though a great-grandson owns a portion of his ances- tor's farm. Jacob Wiggins had three sons, William, Jacob, Benjamin. William succeeded to the home- stead, Benjamin went West, and Jacob became a mer- chant at what is now Otisville, where he traded about 1810, 1811, 1812. A son of Jacob, Abraham B. Wig- gins, resides near Unionville, but over the line in New Jersey. John Wiggins, a descendant of William, re- sides at Otisville.


In the original family were three daughters, who respectively became Mrs. David Slanson, of Minisink ; Mrs. Zachary Young, of Mount Hope; and Mrs. Wm. Young, of Mount Hope.


TOWN OFFICERS OF 1825.


The officers named at the first town-meeting are given under the head of " Organization." The follow- ing memorandum as to their locations will be inter- esting, though it was at a date only forty-five years ago. Joseph Conklin, at whose house the first town-meet- ing was held, kept the house now known as Green's Hotel, at Otisville. Joseph Chattle lived at Mount Hope village, now the place of Mrs. Beekman. Ste- phen Farnum's place was the present farm of M. M. Writer. John King lived on the road to New Ver- non, where his son, John D. King, now resides. Wil- liam Shaw lived near Howell's, on a farm now owned by his nephew, Oscar Shaw. Isaac Corwin's home- stead was the present place of his son-in-law, John S. Wheat. Elisha S. Cadwell resided at Otisville, on the present Everitt place. John Penny, the only one of the town officers of 1825 now living, resides about a mile from Mount Hope village. Peleg Pelton's place was the present farm of John Newkirk, near Howell's. Erastus Mapes' homestead is now owned by his son, Benjamin Mapes, at what is known as Mapestown. Hezekiah Woodward's place was the present farm of Halsey W. Mapes, southeast of Mount Hope village. William Coleman (4) lived near, or in Mount Hope village. It is said that there were actually four William Colemans, not junior not se- nior, and therefore to be designated by numbers. Freegift T. Boyd lived in the southeast part of the town, on the present place of Mary Graham. Barney Horton's farm was the one now occupied by Mr.


* B. F. Bailey states that his grandfather at least had salt pork in his haversack taken from home.


Death. Dec. 7, 1843. Dec. 1, 1843.


508


HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Mapes, below Mount Hope. Nathan Hallock's place was beyond Mount Hope village, and is now owned by the heirs of A. D. Thorn. David Redfield was two miles or so from Otisville, on a place now owned by the Middletown Savings-Bank. Eleazer Brown's homestead was near New Vernon, now owned by his son-in-law, Theodore Graham. William S. Little re- sided near Mount Hope village, on the present place of Mr. Macardell, editor of the Middletown Argus. David Corwin's place was at Mount Hope, now the homestead of Chas. Woodward. Stephen Wiggins resided on the place now owned by his son, James B. Wiggins. Daniel Palmer's house was on the pres- ent Craig place, known as " Farmer" Craig, to distin- guish him from the Rev. Mr. Craig. William Otis was a partner of the firm running the Otis woolen- factory. William Brown lived on a part of what is now the Craig farm. Harris G. King's place was the one now owned by Solomon Jerome, near New Ver- non. Joseph Reed lived in the "dark hollow," so called, on the lower road to New Vernon. Samuel K. Seybolt lived half a mile from Otisville, on the road to Finchville. John Logue lived at the Otis factory place. Abijah Norris resided where A. V. Boak does at the present time. Josiah Pierson's homestead was the farm now owned by his grandsons, Henry S. and Charles Otis.


Aaron H. Writer lived on the mountain, at the place now owned by John F. Writer. Samuel Harding re- sided on a farm now owned by the Middletown Savings- Bank. Joshua Penny's farm was the present place of Josiah Coykendall, between Otisville and Mount Hope. Abraham Wheat lived on the farm now owned by Galen Otis, near Howell's. Ebenezer Mowry's farm was the one now owned by his son Henry, a mile or so from New Vernon. Daniel Greenleaf lived about half a mile southeast of Mount Hope. Thomas Wheat's place was the farm now owned by George B. Horton, about two miles from Otisville. Henry Cole- man was a merchant at Mount Hope village. Andrew Crawford lived on the "Plains," balf a mile from Otisville, and was a shoemaker. Cornelius Newkirk resided at New Vernon. James Finch's place was the one now owned by Oliver Green at Finchville. James H. Prime resided out towards Finchville, on the lower road, premises now owned by John G. Wilkin, of Middletown. John Osborn's place was the one now owned by his daughter, near Otisville. William M. Conklin lived on what is now the place of Samuel C. Howell, near the village of Howell's. Jonathan Coleman lived below Mount Hope village, sonth part of the town. Peter Hoyt lived near Mount Hope village. Elijah Reeve, Jr., resided near How- ell's, on the present Dolsen place. Philip Ketcham lived near Monnt Hope, where his nephew, Emmet Ketcham, now lives. John Whiting was a school- teacher, and lived at Mount Hope. Asa Smith's place was at Otis' factory. IIe was a partner with Otis. Ambrose D. Baker afterwards went to Sullivan


County. William Baker lived at Otisville. Philip Davis resided near John Penny, on the premises now owned by Mr. Eglinger. Luther Harding lived near Otisville, on the place now owned by Hiram Willis. Nathaniel Stanton's place was the one now owned by Thoodore Moore at Finchville. Eleazer Harding's farm was the present Gillis place, about a mile from Otisville. This locates all of the town officers except Samnel Beyea, Jr., Samuel J. Corwin, Elijah Ban- nister, and Ebenezer Hoyt.


PHYSICIANS.


An early doctor in this section was Dr. Newkirk, of Mount Hope village. Dr. Lummis was at Otisville quite early. Both these men practiced during a long period,-from 1800 or 1805 to 1835 or 1836. Dr. Cook, yet in practice at Otisville, is a native of Beleher- town, Hampshire Co., Mass. When about twenty years of age he came to this county, arriving here April 27, 1827. He taught school for several years, and during that time studied medicine, mostly with Dr. Gabriel S. Corwin, of Bloomingburgh, Sullivan Co. He opened an office at Otisville in 1834, and has spent nearly half a century in the practice of his pro- fession.


At Mount Hope, Dr. Wm. C. Terry was the suc- cessor of Dr. Newkirk, and continued in practice until his death. He was succeeded by Dr. McBride, who also died after a few years."


Dr. Newton also practiced at Mount Hope, and died there. Dr. Whitaker settled at Mount Hope for a time and then removed to Unionville, in Mini- sink. Dr. Graham was contemporary with Dr. Terry at Mount Hope.


The present (1880) physicians of the town are Dr. Cook, Dr. Writer, and Mrs. E. S. Plumb, as shown by the registry. Dr. Putney, though practicing to some extent in the town, resides at Howell's, in the town of Wallkill.


LAWYERS.


Several gentlemen have done legal business in this town from time to time. Joseph Chattle, at Mount Hope, practiced law for thirty or forty years. Coe G. Bradner, who resided between Mount Hope and Otis- ville, was also a practicing attorney for quite a num- ber of years. Samuel Vanton opened an office here, but after a few years went West. George Wiggins died after practicing law a short time. John L. Wig- gins, a lawyer of Mount Hope, afterwards settled at Chillicothe, Ohio. The present legal business, inelnd- ing legal writing, is done by John Wiggins, Esq., and by Mr. Durland.


IV .- ORGANIZATION.


The act of the Legislature incorporating this town was passed in 1825. The territory comprised portions of Wallkill and Deerpark. The new town was first named Calhoun in honor of the distinguished sena- tor, John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina.


509


MOUNT HOPE.


His views, policy, and patriotic course as secretary of war during the contest with Great Britain, in 1812, had rendered him very popular with the people of this section ; but in the nullification discussions of 1831 and '32, a sndden revulsion of public opinion took place, and the people were as anxious to discard the name as they had been eager to adopt it seven years before. A public meeting was called and the name of Mount Ilope adopted. A petition was sent to the Legislature, and the following law ratified the , action of the citizens :


"CHAPTER 63 .- An Act to alter the name of the town of Calhoun. Passed March 14, 1833.


"The people of the State of New York represented in Senate aod Assembly do enact as follows :


" Sect. 1. From the passage of this act the town of Calhoun, in the County of Orange, shall be known and distinguished by the came of the town of Mount Hope."


Like several other towns in this county, the records of the town clerk's office are very meagre, as the books were destroyed by fire in 1848. Fortunately, the first town meeting was recorded in the books of Deerpark, and can, therefore, be given in full as follows :


" Proceedings of the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Cal- houo, in the county of Orange, at their first town-meeting st the house of Joseph Conklin ia said town, on Tuesday, the 5th day of April, 1825. Joseph Chattle and Richard Penny, Justices of the Peace, present,


" On motion, Resolved, That the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars be raised for the support of the poor for the ensuing year.


" Resolved, That thirty-five dollars be taxed on the town for supporting bridges for the ensning year.


" Resolved, That there shall be four constables in said town for the year ensuing lhe date hereof.


" Resolved, That the collector's fee sball be three per cent.


" Officers elected by uplifted hands : Fire-Masters, Nathaniel Stantoo, Eleazer Harding, Thomas Wheat, Stephen Farnum, Ilenry Coleman, Samuel Beyea, Jr .; Fence-Viewers, Isaac Corwin, Andrew Crawford, Cornelius Newkirk, Elisha Reeve, Jr .; Ilighway-Masters as follows:


No.


No.


21. Eleazer Harding.


22. Joshua Penny.


3. Jsme: II. Prime. 23. Thomas Wheat.


4. John Osborn.


5. David Corwin.


6. Steplien Wiggios.


7. Daniel Palmer.


8. Win. Otis.


9. Wmu. Brown.


29. l'eleg Pelton.


30. Erastus Mapes.


11. Josepb Reed.


31. Hezekiah Woodward.


12. Samuel K. Seybolt. 32. Wmu. Coleman (4th).


13. John Logue.


14. Cornelius Newkirk.


34. Ilenry Coleman.


15. Abijah Norris.


35. Barney Horton.


36. Nathan Hallock.


17. Sammuel J. Corwin.


18. Eleazer Brown.


19. Aaron Writer.


39. Ebenezer Iloyt.


40. Wm. M. Conklin.


41. Jonathan Coleman.


" Resolved, That the by-laws which were formerly of Deerpark be sev- erally adopted.


" Resolved, That the next anousl town-meeting be held at the house of Mr. Geo. F. Seybolt, in said town.


"Officers elected by ballot: Joseph Chattle, supervisor; Joseph Conk- lio, town clerk ; Stephen Farnum, John King, William Shaw, assessors ; Joshna I'enny, Erastus Mapes, overseers of the poor; Isaac Corwin, col- lector; Elisha S. Cadwell, John Penny, Jasper Writer, Jr., commis- siooers of highwaye; Win. S. Little, Elisha Reeve, Jr., Philip Ketcham,


commissioners of common schools ; Joseph Chattle, John Whiting, Asa Smith, inspectors of schools ; Ambrose D. Baker, William Baker, l'hilip Davis, Luther Ilarding, constables."


At the first town-meeting after the fire, in 1849, the proceedings were as follows :


Officers elected : Augustus P. Thompson, super- visor; John K. Seybolt, town clerk; Samuel C. Howell, assessor; Daniel Mapes, commissioner of highways; Richard Blizard, justice of the peace; Benjamin W. Corwin, justice of the peace (vacancy) ; George H. Seybolt, collector ; Richard Penny, Amzi Mapes, overseers of the poor; Howard Shaw, Joshua Mulock, Jr., inspectors of election ; Horace D. Par- rott, Frederick S. Brown, Philip Davis, Jacob Till- man, constables ; Gabriel Corwin, town sealer.


Levi L. Van Vleck was appointed an inspector of election by the board of town officers.


It was voted to raise one hundred dollars for the re- pairs of roads and bridges.


Wm. Shaw, Wm. S. Little. and Augustus P. Thomp- son were appointed to report by-laws at the next annual town-meeting.


It was voted that the next annual meeting be held at Otisville, at the house of T. K. and J. Rogers.


We give below a list of the principal town officers from 1848 to 1880 :


Supervisors.


1848. .Augustus P. Thompson1. ..


1849


Jolin K. Seybolt.


Ferdinand Seybolt.


1851


1852 W'm. W. Reeve.


1853 Win. S. Little.


Benjamin W. Dunning.


1855


1856 Algernon S. Dodge.


1857


Harvey R. Cadwell.


1858


Charles S. Woodward.


1860


John Mulock.


1861


Israel Y. Green.


1862-63 Charles S. Woodward.


1864-65


1866. John Mulock.


1867


George Smitlı. 4


Harrison Wilkin.


1869.


Theodore Writer.


1870-78


Joel Northrup.


1879


Theodore Writer.


1880


.George Smith.


Town Clerks.


Elisha R. Harding.


1850.


John K. Seybolt.


Lebbens L. Harding.


Lewis W. Coleman.


Adamı Siosabauglı.


Ferdinand Seybolt.


Lewis A. Seybolt.


George Smith. = =


=


Reuben Frazer.


James M. Clinton.


1868


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


1830 to 1848, records burned; 1849, Richard Blizard, Benjamin W. Cor- win ; 1850, Ilorton Corwin ; 1851, John Penny, Richard Penny ; 1852, John W. Martio, John W. Martin (vacancy); 1853, Wni. Baker ; 1854, Horton Corwin, Charles Conklin ; 1855, Wm. S. Little, Wm. J. Clows; 1856, John Penny ; 1857, Dimmick Wilkin: 1858, Horton Corwin ; 1859, Wm. S. Little; 1860, John Penny ; 1861, Dimmick Wilkin ; 1862, IIorton Corwin; 1863, Wm. S. Little; 1864, James N. Coleman ; 1865, Dimmick Wilkin, Wm. L. Jackson ; 1866, Ilorton Corwin ; 1867, John Wiggins ; 1868, Benjamin 1 .. Swezey ; 1869, Dimmick Wilkin ; 1870, ITorton Corwin; 1871, Jolin Wiggins; 1872, Charles S. Wood- ward ; 1873, Dimmick Wilkin, Hugh Quigley ; 1874, LIorton Corwin ;* 1875, Theodore Moore; 1876, Hugh Quigley, Jonathan Stanton ; IN77, Dimmick Wilkin, Wiu. II. Dodge; 1878, Theodore Graham; 1879, Jonathan Stanton, Mertin Corwin ; 1880, Wm. II. Dodge.


V .- VILLAGES, MOUNT HOPE VILLAGE


is situated in the southeastern part of the town. It was so named many years before the town was organ-


* Mr. Corwin died Aug. 5, 1880, the same day that the record of his long service was being compiled by the writer. in the office of the town clerk.


1. James Finch.


2. Isaac Corwin.


26. Ebenezer Mowrey.


27. Daniel Greenleaf.


28. Josiah Pierson.


33. Freegift T. Boyd.


10. Ilarris G. King.


16. David Redfield.


37. Elijah BaQuister.


38. Peter Iloyt.


20. Samuel Ilarding.


24. Wm. Shaw.


25. Abraham Wheat.


1854 Horton Corwin.


1859


510


HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.


ized, and the latter derives its name from the village. It is on elevated ground, and from various points there are charming views of the surrounding coun- try.


For many years this village did a brisk lumber busi- ness, and large quantities of shingles were bought of the individual makers in the forests round about the place and sold to dealers abroad. This industry de- clined in later years. The village was founded by Benjamin Woodward and Dr. Benjamin B. Newkirk on the Sth day of May, 1807. They raised the frames of their dwellings at that date. At the conclusion of this old-fashioned "raising," amid something of the hilarity of those times, James Finch, Sr., called the assembled company to order, and in an appropriate speech bestowed the name Mount Hope upon the vil- lage thus founded. Among early residents, Benjamin Dodge and Stephen St. John were prominent busi- mess men, and greatly promoted the prosperity of the village. In modern times there is but little business here. There is a hotel by A. J. Mills, a general coun- try store by J. H. Jeffries, and blacksmithing by Mr. Hatch.


Of Mr. A. J. Mills we obtain the following : "His grandfather, Ebenezer Mills, of Mills' Pond, L. I., was born Aug. 3, 1759. He came to Orange County in 1786, and was fourteen days making the pas- ssage by a sloop from Long Island to Cornwall. He settled near Middletown and married Abigail Vail, twin sister of Isaiah Vail. He soon after moved to the Francis Hughes farm near by, but a little later bought the Monhagen Lake farm, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1829. His children were Isaac (father of A. J. Mills, the Monnt Hope Hotel landlord) ; Henry P., who settled in Minisink, but afterwards removed to Onondaga County ; Isaiah, who lived in Mount Hope ; Samuel, who removed to In- diana; and Sally, who became Mrs. J. C. Coleman, of Goshen, and later removed to Allegany County ; Phebe, who became Mrs. Wallace, of Onondaga County ; and William, who settled in Wallkill."


The Mount Hope Hotel was built in 1807 by Ben- jamin Woodward. It was the first house in Orange County to burn coal. Mr. Woodward kept it for many years, and was succeeded by his son, Charles Woodward, for a few years ; subsequent proprietors were Thomas King and Leman Stiles. A. J. Mills took possession of the property, Jan. 8, 1849, and has kept the house ever since. It is a rather unusual circumstance that Benjamin Woodward, one proprie- tor, served two years in the Legislature; Charles Woodward, two years; and A. J. Mills, two years ; three landlords from the same house of equal service at Albany. Mr. Mills is very clear in his recollec- tion of names and dates, and can give them with pre- cision and accuracy. He gives a rare instance of testimony. Daniel Skinner, in a lawsuit held in the hotel of Mr. Green, at Otisville, gave evidence relat- ing to events ninety years before. Mr. Skinner was


one hundred and three or one hundred and four years old at the time.


OTISVILLE


may be described as the principal village in the town, located near the western line, and a little north of the centre. It is a station upon the Erie Railway, and just west of this place that route makes its sharp southern detour to reach Port Jervis. The lo- cation is pleasant, and some of the lands in the imme- (liate vicinity are of excellent quality for agricultural purposes. The name is from Isaac Otis," who settled


at this place, carried on an extensive mercantile busi- ness with other enterprises, and gave an impulse to the growth of the village. The present business may be briefly stated as follows: The Blizard House, kept by L. N. Dix; the old hotel kept by O. B. Green ; Joel Northrop, general merchandise; A. W. Dodge, groceries; Dr. A. Cook, practicing physician and druggist : Albert Ketcham, post-office and groceries ; Dr. Theodore Writer, practicing physician and keep- ing a drug-store; Charles H. Wiggins, merchant tailor ; Mrs. Plumb, a practicing physician, and keep- ing a drug-store; Reed & Smith, general merchan- dise, also dealers in grain, feed, coal, lumber; James S. Eaton, general merchandise, also dealing in grain, feed, lumber ; William H. Smith, restaurant; J. Van Duzer, stoves and tin; Joel Northrup, meat-market; Ralph Elston, bakery and groceries; Mrs. Wilkin, millinery, boots and shoes ; A. Kniffen, harness-shop ; Asa J. Ogden and William H. Hall, blacksmiths ; Anderson Holley, wagon-shop, making and repair- ing; and the freight and passenger buildings of the Erie Railroad.


A public school with two departments is main- tained, Harvey Clark principal, and Mrs. Frank Hill assistant.


Dr. Cook states that when he began to practice there was one store and tavern kept by Galen Otis. Not long after, Thomas King opened a similar estab- lishment, combining trade and entertainment. Cor- win & Tryon were afterwards in trade for some years.


The post-office at Otisville was established in 1819, and Isaac Otis was the first postmaster. He held it for about five years, and was succeeded by Galen Otis for about the same time. Other incumbents since then have been Elisha Cadwell, about two years; Charles Conkling; Ferdinand Seybolt ; Alsop


* Isaac Otis was ef Puritan descent, and resided in early life in Massa- chusetts, where he married the daughter of Capt. Oliver Smith, ef Wal- pole. He removed to Orange County in 1816, and established a country store, around which other buildings clustered, and to which a post-office was given under the title of Otisville. Mr. Otis removed to Philadelphia in 1831, where he served as a member of the Common Council from 1835 te 1849. In 1841 he was appointed by President Harrison marshal of the United States for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, and held the office two years. In 1851 he remeved to New York, where he became the head of the firm of Otis & Co., and also served as president of the Hlanever Bank. He retired from that pesition in 1853, and was instru- mental in feunding the Atlantic Bank, of which he became president. He died in Boston.




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