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 129
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Following Main Street, the next place of note as a public-house was near the present residence of Henry Bacon, once the family mansion of the Burrills .; Here it is said the first tavern in Goshen village was kept by Birdseye Yarrington. It was not, how- ever, as important as that of Anthony Dobbin, in the house now occupied by John J. Heard. Here, while courts were held under the old custom, the judges were wont to march from the court-room to their din- ner and back wearing their official robes. In the stables of this hotel, which stood near the present resi- dence of J. D. Staats, Esq., in the year 1801 was kept the celebrated horse "Imported Messenger," the pro- genitor of more trotting-horses than any other in the country.
Southeast of this, on the same side of the street,
* Family are said to have had the name changed to Arnell after the treason of Benedict Arnold.
+ By Nathaniel Vail.
# Charles Burrill was a Federalist; was appointed postmaster of the city of Baltimore by the senior Adams; was continued in office, not- withstanding his political principles, by Thomas Jefferson eight years ; then removed to Goshen and fitted up this residence, where he lived until his death, May 2, 1836.
527
GOSHEN.
where the present residence of Horton Smith now auguration of John Quiney Adams, headed by Gen. stands, was a tavern, erected soon after 1800 by the George D. Wickham, and many distinguished poli- ticians from other places, including New York, were
father of Colville Bradner, which was kept by him, by Daniel Gale, Peter Gale, George Moore, and others, " present. It closed with a grand ball. The hotel was subsequently kept by Robert L. Hathaway in 1841 and 1842, after which he kept Hathaway's Hotel, in Greenwich Street, New York, until the death of his wife, a woman of many estimable qualities.
with little or no success. It afterwards passed into the hands of Capt. Lebbeus L. Vail, who kept the house for ten years with great popularity, until he was elected to the office of county clerk. It had a splendid sign, painted by l'hillips the artist, with an eagle on each side. It was known as " Vail's tavern," until a new proprietor, O. Ensign, looking at the swinging sign-board, exclaimed, "Why, this is the Eagle Hotel. Eagle it has been, Eagle let it be." It was destroyed by fire April 17, 1841, with the Mansion House, immediately adjacent.
The Mansion House was re-erected soon after 1800, and enlarged in 1830 by Hector Craig .*
The Mansion House, kept for many years by Evans, Lewis, Barker, Drake, Blain, Dolsen, Hathaway, and others, was the headquarters of the Whig and Anti- Regency parties in this county. The spacious salons were frequented for many years by Ludia Grant and Sanford Robinson, the celebrated teachers of dancing in Orange County. This was a first-class house in the modern sense.
The well-known Orange Hotel has been occupied for hotel purposes more than a hundred years.
On South Main Street was the Kitchel tavern, the present residence of Mrs. Weymer, adjacent to the race-course. It was kept by Josiah Kitchel and his family until his death, May 5, 1826. He was a Jer- seyman from Monmouth Co., and a model landlord. A few rods] further south was the well-known Wash- ington Hotel, in which Professor Wilson now holds his institute. John Bailey was the proprietor from 1833 to 1842, when this hotel was the headquarters of the civil engineers then surveying the New York and Erie Railroad. John Daily succeeded John Bailey. He was a brother-in-law of Col. Theron Feltor, of Newburgh. Daily erected the piazza and balconies, giving the building its present form.
Sidway's tavern, kept by William Sidway, a drum- mer of the Revolution, was the present building in part of Mrs. D. Denton Young. Here, for the war of 1812, the several drafts for this district were made. The landlord was an eccentric character, and many interesting anecdotes might be told of him. At the time of his death he was living in the old Minchin residence, opposite the present place of Charles J. Everitt.
The " Yellow Tavern" was a large frame building a few rods farther south, on the site of the present dwell- ing of Capt. Ellis Post. It was kept by Robert Seeley and others, and was very much of an "upper ten" affair. In 1825, at this hotel, was celebrated the in-
Coming down to modern times, the Occidental Hotel, on West Main Street, was built by Gen. George D. Wickham in 1841, and was opened in September of that year, at the celebration of the opening of the Erie Railroad from New York to Goshen. It was first known as the Pavilion Hotel, taking that name from a sulphur well in the rear of the building. Capt. Barney first kept it, a well-known Hudson River man. Afterwards Gilbert Gale, whose large family of sons have for thirty years past kept with great suc- cess fashionable hotels at Lake George, Saratoga, Ni- agara, and Lebanon Springs, also in New York and in Philadelphia. John S. Edsall, the owner of the famous horse " Edsall's Hambletonian," afterwards known as " Alexander's Abdallah," also kept this hotel. It took the name Occidental when Col. Abbott took possession in 1872.
Soon after the completion of the Erie Railroad to Goshen, William Lovelace, an old river boatman, came to Goshen, and made the acquaintance of Andrew Tucker, a colored man, who had for some years lived on the present site of the Van Nort Honse. This was soon changed into a fish-market and green groceries, which they kept with success until 1844, when Joseph S. Van Nort came in possession of the property and continued the business. He finally procured license, and kept a restaurant and oyster saloon until 1869, when he erected the present brick building. It had been intended to extend it to the corner of John Street, but finally he finished it in its present form. In the failure of the experiment the project died.
It was afterwards kept by many different proprie- tors until Mr. George N. Remer, the present propri- etor, took possession and made it a complete success.
IV .- ORGANIZATION.
The precinct formed by the name of Goshen was the first in Orange County north of what is now Rock- land. It is a tradition, though of little anthority, that the name was selected for its scriptural associa- tions. As ancient Goshen included the best land in Egypt, so the modern Goshen was supposed to include the best land of the Wawayanda Patent. This ex- planation might be admitted were it not for the fact that the name was then applied to an immense terri- tory stretching from the Hudson to the Delaware, and not to a small fertile tract.
The boundaries of the early Goshen Precinct, formed, it is supposed, about 1720, were evidently the follow- ing: On the north by the "old county line," extending from Plum Point, on the Hudson, to the Delaware
* James Craig and his son, Hector Craig, were Scotchmen. The son was elected to Congress about 1828, when he became intimate with Gen. Jackson, who appointed him collector of the port of New York. Hector Craig, a grandson, resides in Newburgh.
528
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
River in the vicinity of the present hamlet of Spar- rowbush ; on the east by the Hudson River; on the southwest by the boundary line between New York and New Jersey. As this line was in dispute for a period of fifty years or more, it might be inferred that the southwest line of Goshen was a movable and un- certain boundary. Perhaps this was so to some ex- tent. Yet there is some evidence that the present boundary between the two States was from the first the New York view of the southwest line of the Goshen Precinct; for as early as 1738 New York had organized the "Precinct of Minisink," lying wholly below Carpenter's Point, in what is now the State of New Jersey. The name Minisink Precinct has no place in New York documents after the settle- ment of the State line. It is certain that the next year after the final settlement of the disputed line (that is, in 1775) Goshen extended up to Sparrowbush, taking in the triangular portion of the present town of Deer- park, south of the old county line. This is proved by the assessment-roll of that year.
In 1764 the precinct of Goshen was divided by a line which was nearly that of the present west line of Monroe. The west part retained the name of Goshen, and the east part was named New Cornwall. After that year the territory of Goshen was still an immense tract, covering the present towns of War- wick, Goshen, part of Chester, Wawayanda, Mini- sink, Greenville, and the south part of Deerpark. This continued until 1788, wben Goshen was reduced largely by the formation of the towns of Warwick and Minisink.
The precinct records which would have furnished names abundantly for the period 1720 to 1775 are de- stroyed. Little or nothing can therefore be given of the civil history of Goshen from 1720 to 1798, more than three-quarters of a century. Even a list of supervisors can only be obtained back to the latter date by consulting the county records. Dismissing, then, these lost records, we give the following list of supervisors and town clerks from 1798 to 1880, and the justices of the peace chosen by the people:
Snparvisora.
1798-99. John Vail.
1800-1. Peter Townsend.
1802-7 .. .David M. Westcott.
1808 ... .. Stephen Jackaon.
1809-10 Joshua Brown.
1811. Reuben Hopkins.
1812-13
1814-16
.David M. Westcott.
1817
46
1818
.6
=
1819-21
1822
1823
Thomas Thorne. John B. Booth.
1825
.
Daniel H. Tuthill. John Bailey.
1830.
1831 Egbert Jansen.
1832
1833.
1834 Francis Tuthill.
1835
1836. Ilenry Merriam.
1837-38.
John Vanduzer.
1839. .Charles B. Durland.
1840 .Gabriel Seeley.
1841
66
1842 Daniel Wardet.
Supervisors.
1843.
James J. Hallock.
1844
Robert L. Hathaway.
1845-47
Calvin Gardner.
1848
Chas. D. Edsall.
1849 Richard M. Vail.
1850
1851-52
16
1853-59
Calvin Gardoer.
1860-61
..
Samnel B. Kitchell.
1862-64
John C. Wallace.
H. V. D. Hoyt.
1865-G6
Samuel B. Kitchell.
1867
=
H. V. D. Hoyt.
1868-69
George W. Millspaugh. John C. Wallace.
= Asa S. Strong.
1873.
A. J. Moore.
1874-75
Jesse S. Mapes.
1876
R. R. Ilock.
1877-80
A. J. Moore.
Wm. T. Newkirk.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL TOWN- MEETINGS.
1830, Stephen Jackson ;* 1831, Nathan Westcott :* 1832, Horaca W. Elliott; 1833, Hannibal M. Hopkins; 1834, Wm. Smith ; 1835, J. J. Hallock ; 1836, Horace W. Elliott; 1837, Hannibal M. Hopkins ; 1838, William Smith; 1839, Frederick A. Floyt; 1840, Horace W. Elliott, Oliver B. Tuthill; 1841, Thomas G. Feagles; 1842, John Van Duzer; 1842, A. S. Benton ; 1844, Ilorace W. Elliott; 1845, Frederick A. Iloyt ; 1846, John Van Duzer; 1847. James HI. Janaen, Hannibal M. Hopkins, Andrew J. Wilkin; 1848, Andrew J. Wilkin; 1849, Frederick A. Hoyt ; 1850, John E. Ilowell;+ 1851, Jamea H. Jansen ; 1852, Horace W. Elliott, Hannibal M. Hopkina; 1853, Frederick A. Hoyt; 1854, John E. Ilowall ; 1855, John E. McConnell; 1856, lforaca W. Elliott ; 1857, Frederick A. Hoyt ; 1858, John E. Howell; 1859, George W. Millspaugh; 1860, Horaca W. Elliott; 1861, Frederick A. Iloyt; 1862, Bradford R. Champion ; 1863, George W. Millspaugh; 1864, Roswell C. Coleman, Charles G. Elliott ; 1865, Frederick A. Hoyt; 1866, Bradford R. Champion; 1867, George W. Millepaugh ; 1868, Roswell C. Coleman; 1869, Frederick A. Hoyt; 1870, Bradford R. Champion; 1871, Charles G. Elliott; 1872, Charles W. Colamau;+ 1873, Frederick A. lloyt; 1874, Heory C. Duryea; 1875, Charles G. Elliott ; 1876, Wm. Il. Wyker; 1877, Charlea W. Coleman (sama to fill a vacancy); 1878, George W. Millspangh ; 1879, Chaa. G. Elliott ; 1880, Wm. H. Wyker.
V .- VILLAGES.
GOSHEN VILLAGE
is situated in the northern part of the town, and nearly central from east to west. Its history is very largely the history of the town, as well as of the ancient pre- cinct of the same name, extending back one hundred and sixty-six years. Goshen was the place of public business; courts held their sessions here; military movements were arranged here; prominent men of early times resided here; the prisoners of ante-Revo- Intionary years were incarcerated here, and the con- demned were executed here. It is not possible to study Orange County without finding material re- lating to Goshen in almost every direction, and ex- tending through the records of more than a century and a half. Much of this material will be found in the General History of the county included in this volume. The General History of the county must be referred to also for a large amount of valuable and in- teresting material bearing npon the history of Goshen. It may be remarked that the proprietors laid out the village by running a broad street or avenue nearly north and south through the plat, some half a mile
* Town books burned, but the above appear in the county audits, and there must have been others.
+ Elected before he was of age.
Town Clerks. Robert E. Potter.
W. W. Bodle. V. S. Seward. Jacob Y. Randall.
Hl. Vail.
James C. JobDaoD.
=
1870 ..
1871-72
=
Town Clerka. David MI. Westcott. 46
Robert Wood.
=
= David M. Westcott. Asa Dunving.
Henry Seward. Jolin Wilson.
Timothy B. Crowell. Nathan Stark
Albert S. Benton.
1824
1826-29 David D. Westcott. 66
Georga M. Grier.
Joho J. Smith. Lebbeus L. Vail.
Daniel Warden. Albert S. Benton. Daniel Warden. "
John Everett.
Daniel Warden. Robert E. Potter.
529
GOSHEN.
in length, and then by laying off four lots of 80 acres each on the east and west sides of it. The church and academy lots were at the south end of the street.
In addition to laying out the site of a village, the patentees, at or about the same time, laid out on the patent an oblong square, lying northwest and south- east, of several miles in extent, and known on the old maps as "Goshen Township." The village of Goshen is in the northwest part of this oblong square.
The "old township" was laid out in accordance with the early custom of conferring certain civil rights upon the inhabitants of a small, clearly-defined tract, and then attaching to that outlying settle- ments, as "precincts of" the township thus created. This original idea had but little application. Very soon the term precinct came to mean a civil division, in nearly the same sense as "town" is now used. In fact, precinct powers were gradually enlarged until, after the Revolution, it was only necessary to substi- tute the word town for precinct, and the modern sys- tem was legally established. The proprietors of the township laid out the ministerial lots they were re- quired to in the northwest part of this oblong square, and naturally a village was established around in that section. The act incorporating the village was passed April 18, 1843. The bounds were described in
on the road leading from Goshen to Montgomery, and running thence in a southerly direction to the east corner of the dwelling-house formerly owned by Phineas Case ; thence in a direct line southwesterly to the most southerly corner of the house-lot of Wil- liam B. Tuthill; thence northerly to and including the dwelling-house of Dr. James S. Horton ; thence northerly to and including the dwelling-house of Lebbeus S. Vail, and the whole of the house-lot of John B. Booth and Asa D. Jansen ; thence in a direct line to the place of beginning."
The annual meeting was fixed for the first Tuesday of May in each year. The first election was held May 13, 1843, called by F. A. Hoyt, one of the justices of the peace in the town, pursuant to the pro- visions of the act. The following officers were duly elected : James S. Horton, Charles W. Reevs,* Charles Monell, John C. Wallace, Asa D. Jansen, trustees ; John J. Hurd, Charles T. Jackson, Victor M. Drake, assessors; John S. Crane, treasurer; Samuel B. Kit- chell, collector.
This election was held and certified to by F. A. Hoyt, Esq., and by James C. Johnson and Lester L. Robinson, secretaries.
The first meeting of the board was held on Monday evening, May 15, 1843. Charles Monell was chosen president, James S. Horton, vice-president, and Jeromus Johnson, clerk. Stated meetings were or- dered for the third Monday of each month, except
when some court of record for Orange County should meet upon that day, and in that case the meeting was to be held on the second Monday.
Messrs. Jansen and Reevs were appointed a com- mittee to procure a seal for the corporation. It was voted to call a meeting of the inhabitants to vote on money to be raised, such meeting to be held on the 26th.
At a meeting of the board held on the 26th, the village was divided into three districts,-Northern, Western, and Southern.
The meeting of the inhabitants on the same day authorized the raising of a tax of $350; $300 to be applied to the construction of drains, sewers, and sidewalks, and $50 to the purchase of hooks and lad- ders. At a subsequent meeting of the board, May 31st, Messrs. Horton, Jansen, and Monell were ap- pointed a committee on by-laws; Messrs. Wallace and Reevs to provide hooks and ladders; Messrs. Monell and Wallace to see and consult with the commission- ers of highways.
June 19th, the committee upon by-laws reported twenty-one sections, which were duly adopted, ordered to be printed in the village papers, and to go into operation on the first day of July, 1843.
his barn the public pound. They also adopted as their temporary seal the impression of the eagle upon the American quarter of a dollar.
Aug. 29, 1843, seems to have occurred the first auditing of bills, and it included the following :
Henry Gale's, for timber and lumber, repairing bridges on Main Street, $7.75; John C. Wallace, for making sidewalks and sewers, $58.88; Patrick Dunn's bill for sewer and walk, $9.25; Charles W. Reevs, for sewer and sidewalk, $25.70.
Oct. 26, 1843, the board adopted a resolution pro- viding names for the streets of the village.
The following were the principal officers from 1843 to 1880:
Presidents.
Clerks.
Treasurers.
1843-44. Charles Monell.
Jeromus Johnson.
John S. Crane.
1845. Squire Lee.
Moses Swezey.
Charles Monell.
1846. No record.
1847. Squire Lee.
Moses Swezey.
1848. Nathan Westcott.
1849. Benjamin F. Duryea. James F. Hoffman.
17
=
1851. C. W. Reevs.
Stephen H. Strong.
John (. Wallace. .. =
1852. Chas. Il. Winfield.
=
James F. Hoffman.
Henry W. Merriam.
1853.
John E. Howell.
=
=
1854. Moses Swezey. 1855-56. “
John C. McConnell.
=
1858-61. 4
James F. Iloffman.
46
1862. W. W. Warden.
=
Brad. R Champion. John Wallace.
1864. Benj. F. Edsall.
=
..
1865. Will. C. Little.
Henry Merriam.
1866. Ellis A. Post.
=
=
1867. Horace Newkirk.
Ilenry V. D. Iloyt.
John Wallace.
1868-70. Edw'd Dikeman. =
Wm. M. Murray. =
* The orthography generally is Reeve, but there are those who write the name Reevs. As in similar cases, we may not be able to correctly recognize the distinction.
1871.
= Asa S. Strong.
=
John S. Crane.
1850. F. A. Hoyt.
1857. John C. McConnell.
David R. Feagles.
1863.
June 29th, the trustees appointed Schuyler P. the act as follows : " Beginning at the one-mile stone . Owen ponnd-master, and made the yard attached to
530
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Presidents.
Clerks.
1872. Geo. W. Millspaugh, Asa S. Strong.
Treasurers. Wm. M. Murray. =
1873. Jason W. Corwin.
Andrew J. Moore.
1874. Edward Dikeman.
=
=
1875. Wm. P. Townsend.
=
=
=
1877. Chas. W. Coleman.
44
1878-80. II. W. Nanny.
WATER-WORKS .- The water-supply of Goshen was provided for in 1872. The water of Prospect Lake was used, an excellent body of water lying between two hills a mile and a half from the village. The ex- pense was about $60,000, and is being paid in install- ments of $3000 each. The first commissioners were Benjamin F. Edsall, John Cooper, and N. C. San- ford. The present commissioners (December, 1880) are J. D. Day, Philip A. Power, James Scott, A. J. Moore, clerk ; P. A. Power, treasurer.
POLICE DEPARTMENT .- This was organized Jan. 1, 1876. The present police-justice is A. D. B. Staats. Three uniformed policemen are employed,-William H. Wood, Hiram Van Keuren, and George Smith.
FIRE DEPARTMENT .- Soon after the incorporation of the village steps were taken to organize fire compa- nies and procure the necessary apparatus. Aug. 29, 1843, the following ten persons were accepted as mem- bers of Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1: Charles S. Tappan, Archibald Smilax, Ogden K. Dunning, Joseph W. Gott, Robert A. Smith, William M. Sayre, Alexander Ross, Benjamin F. Dunning, Samuel Mof- fatt, and William W. Morris.
A meeting of the taxable inhabitants was called for Thursday, September 14th, to vote on the question of raising money for the purchase of a fire-engine, and at that meeting the sum of $450 was authorized to be raised for that purpose.
At a subsequent meeting of the trustees, A. D. Jan- sen and Charles W. Reevs were appointed a commit- tee to procure the engine. At the same meeting (Dec. 4, 1843) the board adopted rules for the government of the Goshen Hook-and-Ladder Company.
Jan. 22, 1844, the board approved the organization of "Orange Fire Company, No. I," consisting of the following members: Asa D. Jansen, Dennis Mc- Laughlin, Joseph D. Pardee, Samuel Van Voorhees, John L. Riker, Oliver D. Corey, George Maze, Wil- liam Bedford, Charles H. Smilax, William V. Ray, convenient and spacious, but many of them show Robert Wilson, Andrew J. Jones, James McCaw, William Kinsey, Jacob Vreeland, Harvey Wallace, Gilbert Chandler, Edward J. Ayres, Patrick Moore, Henry B. Murray. By-laws for the government of this company were adopted at the same meeting.
The present Fire Department (December, 1880) comprises three companies, with C. G. Elliott, chief engineer ; N. M. Jay, first assistant engineer; James Scott, second assistant engineer; John T. Larue, treasurer ; William T. Newkirk, secretary. This general organization has been in force about ten years.
one early company formed soon after the village was formed. It has an engine for use beyond the limits of the water system of the village. Within those limits the hydraulic pressure is sufficient to enable the company to dispense with an engine and operate with hose only. At the present time the officers of Cataract Company are Barto Wright, foreman ; D. F. Deming, first assistant foreman ; Alonzo Reed, second assistant foreman ; Wellington McBride, treasurer; Casper Reinar, secretary ; J. E. Loud, assistant secre- tary ; William Tierney, steward. The company con- sists of about 40 members.
Dickerson Hose Company, No. 3, was organized in 1872, and has about 20 members. Charles E. Wright, foreman ; William McNish, assistant foreman ; Thos. Farrell, Treasurer; William O'Neil, secretary ; Miles Shafer, assistant secretary ; Hugh Dougherty, steward.
Rescue Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1, was or- ganized in 1870, and has about 30 members. A. J. Moore, foreman ; William Ackley, assistant foreman ; John L. Kniffin, treasurer ; Frank Drake, secretary ; F. C. Hayne, assistant secretary ; E. M. Thurston, steward.
The Department is in an efficient condition, well supplied with apparatus, and managed by active and energetic men. Happily, the village has been fortu- nate in not requiring their services to any great ex- tent, few fires having occurred for some years past in Goshen.
PRIVATE RESIDENCES .- Goshen at the present time includes a large area, within which are many elegant private dwellings. Some of the more elevated streets in the outskirts of the village are especially fine, and few pleasanter drives can be found than through the principal streets and along' the outer lines of the corporation. The village has had a large growth in recent years, despite the fact that the loca- tion of heavy manufacturing enterprises at Middle- town many years ago gave to that place a decided advantage. It is said that a more liberal policy in the sale of lands should have secured a part of them at Goshen. Perhaps no one in the last twenty-five years has contributed so much to the actual extension of the village as ex-Sheriff Van Sickle. He has erected forty or more dwellings. They are not only much attention to correct taste and proper architec- tural beauty in the exterior. They are an ornament to the place. One portion of the village has been so exclusively built by him that it is popularly known by his name.
THE POST-OFFICE .- This is doubtless one of the earliest post-offices in what now constitutes Orange County. It is a matter of regret that so little can be obtained concerning its history. The present post- master, Charles T. Jackson, is a popular and efficient officer. He was appointed to succeed his father upon the death of the latter, in March, 1876, and holds a
Cataract Engine and Hose Company, No. 1, is the commission renewed for several years.
1876. Wisner Murray.
531
GOSHEN.
His father, Charles T. Jackson, Sr., held the office from July, 1853, until his death, a period of nearly twenty-three years. That he remained in office despite the great political changes of 1861 indicates his popularity with men of all parties, and the suc- cessful way he conducted the office to the satisfaction of the people.
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