History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 136

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 136

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In 1825 he married Azubah, daughter of Squire Lee,

ot Goshen. Of this union were born seven children, three of whom died in childhood. The remaining four now living are Louisa, wife of I. Seeley Hetzel ; Floyd Il., married, Feb. 18, 1863, Christine, daughter of John and Hannah (De Kny) Cowdrey, by whom he has two surviving children, Hattie and Clara, and is the suc- cessor of his father in business at Goshen ; Cor L., en- listed in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers in 1862, and was one of the few who remained of the original number when they were mustered out in July, 1865; and Ella, wife of Dr. J. B. Arnold, of Nebraska. The mother of these children died January, 1853, aged forty-three years. For his second wife Mr. Reevs married, in 1858, Mrs. Cath- arine J. Millspaugh, of Warwick, by whom he had one daughter, Fannie.

WILLIAM KNAPP.

Ilis great-grandfather, William Knapp, was the pro- genitor of the family in Orange County, settling here from Horseneck, Conn., when the Indians still claimed a right to their hunting grounds, and the wolf and bear were frequent visitors to the cabins of the settlers. llis land was a part of the Van Horn tract, and contained two hundred and ten acres, most of which remains in the possession of the family in 1881, and a part of which, one hundred and fifteen acres, is the property of the subject of this sketch.

Upon this wilderness tract of land William Knapp, Sr., resided the remainder of his life, and was among the first in the town of Goshen in the early establish- ment of the many interests that are enjoyed and carried on by the present generation. Ilis wife was of Irish birth, and bore him the following children: James, Samuel, and William, the first two of whom took part in the struggle of the colonies for independence, and were killed at the battle of Minisink in 1779.

James, grandfather of William Knapp, our subject, was born in 1735, and being the eldest succeeded to the homestead, the other sons receiving other real estate which their father possessed.

James married Esther Drake, born in 1741, who died at the age of ninety years. Their children were John, Daniel, Nathaniel, James, Stephen, Polly (wife of Stephen Crane), and Sally (wife of William Lucas). Several of these children took possession of the soldiers' right of land, and settled in Cortland County, N. Y. Only John remained, and succeeded to the homestead property.

He was born Aug. 24, 1765, and died Aug. 1, 1851. Ilis first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of James Sawyer, bore him one child, Betsey, who became the wife of Stephen Valentine.

His second wife, Eunice, daughter of Jonathan Smith, of Goshen, born Oct. 6, 1775, died May 2, 1853, and bore him the following children : Abigail, born in 1705, wife of Daniel Wood, resides near Rochester, N. Y. ; Polly, born in 1797, and Fanny, next older, each died at the age of sixteen ; John, born Sept. 1, 1801, died March, 1860; Gabriel, born in 1804, died in 1867; Dolly, is the wife of Calvin B. Gale, of Goshen ; Wil- liam, subject of this sketch, born April 13, 1812; Thomas, born July 17, 1813, resides in Schuyler County, N. Y. ; Fanny Maria, is the wife of N. C. Coleman, of Goshen ; and Virgil, the youngest, owns and resides upon a part of the homestead.

William Knapp, son of John, has resided on the homestead farm of four generations during his life. Like his forefathers, he has never sought public place or the emoluments of office, but has industriously fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, and been known as a man of correct habits, sterling integrity in all the relations of life, and a promoter of all worthy local objects.

He married, in November, 1857, Hannah Maria, daughter of Robert Rutan, Esq., of Vernon township, Sussex Co., N. J., and who was for many years a justice of the peace in Passaie County, N. J. She was born Feb- ruary, 1827. Their children are Isaac Thomas, Adelia R., William, and John.

Oliver B Tuthill

OLIVER B. TUTHILL (Nathaniel,“ Nathaniel,5 Freegift,4 John,3 John,2 IHenry1), of Goshen, N. Y., is seventh in descent from Ilenry Tuthill, born in England, July 16, 1635, married Deliver- ance King, and settled at New Ilavea, Conn., in 1638, and after- wards, io 1640, at Southhold, L. I., where he reared a family, and where he died Oct. 12, 1717.

Freegift, above mentioned, was great-grandfather of our sub- ject, born Aug. 8, 1698, at Southhokl, L. I., where he learned the tailor's trade. For a time after his marriage to Abigail Goldsmith he resided at Brookhaven, L. I., but in 1730 pur- chased a wilderness tract of some four hundred acres of land in the town of Goshen, upon which he settled, and where after -. wards he built a stone house. Ile died in June, 1727, leaving four children, viz. : Abigail, Nathaniel, Joshua, and Freegift, Jr. The three sons were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and the latter died in the service.

Nathaniel, eldest son, born at Brookhaven, L. I., Jan. 17, 1730, was at Fort Montgomery wben taken by the British, but escaped. Ile married Margaret, daughter of John Ilerod, of Long Island, and resided on a part of the homestead in Goshen during his life, where he erected a stone house, now standing, and in which his grandson, subject of this sketeli, bas resided most of his life. Ilis wife was born Aug. 3, 1739, and bore him the following children, viz. : Benjamin, Mary (wife of Daniel Bailey), and Nathaniel. Ile died Sept. 16, 1803.

Nathaniel Tuthill, born on the homestead Feb. 2, 1768, mar- ried, Feh. 27, 1792, Martha, daughter of Joseph Wickham, of Hashamomock, L. 1. She was born in 1768, and died in 1808, leaving children as follows : Joseph W., was engaged in Green- wood furnace making eannon balls during the war of 1812, and afterwards spent most of his life as a farmer; John H., was in the war of 1812, and was a farmer; Hector C., was a large farmer in Sempronius, N. Y., where he settled in 1827, and was a member of the State Legislature from that place in ISI8 and in 1849; Daniel Il., was graduated at Union College, read law, practiced his profession in Warwick, Orange Co., and for some time prior to his death was the law partner of llenry G. Wisner, at Goshen, and was also surrogate of Orange County, 1827-31. appointed by Governor Throop: Nathaniel, Jr .; and Oliver Bailey.

For his second wife Nathaniel Tuthill married Mary Bodle,

of Wallkill, who bore him one son, William B. Tuthill, who re- sides upon a part of the old homestead. All of the children of the first family are deceased in 1881, except Oliver B., subject of this notice, who was born on the homestead Aug. 27, 1805. lfe resided with his brother, Ilector C., from the age of fourteen to twenty, and then purchased one hundred and twenty-seven acres of the homestead farm, where he resided and carried on agricultural pursuits until 1873, when he settled in the village of Goshen. Upon the ereetion of the town of Hamptonburgh a part of his farm, including the buildings, fell inside the line of the new town. While a resident of llamptonburgh he filled the varions offices of school inspector, assessor, and justice of the peace. In 1845 he built a house on another part of his farm in the town of Goshen, where he resided until his removal to Goshen. Ile united with the Presbyterian Church at Goshen in 1842, although a Methodist in helief, and in 1817 he was one of the founders and a liberal contributor of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church at Goshen, and since that time has been officially connected with it and influential in its councils. Mr. Tuthill is plain, unostentatious, frank, and honest, and he has ever been esteemed for his integrity in all his business relations.

Mr. Tuthill was among the foremost in the temperance move- ment in Orange County iu 1850, and liberally gave his time and means in support of that cause, and with Charles W. Reevs and others did much to lessen the sale and effects of intoxicating liquors. Ile became a member of a temperance organization in the county, which was advised by the Orange County Medical Society in 1828, and has been a supporter of its principles since.

In the fall of 1852 his name was placed in nomination for mem- ber of Assembly in the First District of Orange County by the friends of the temperanee cause, and a respectful vote polled for his return, one towa, Blooming- Grove, giving a majority for him.

lle married Elmira, daughter of George Thompson, of Bloom- ing-Grove, June 30, 1830, by whom he had four children, viz. : Ezra Fisk, George N., Martha Elizabeth, and Oliver. His wife, horn May 20, 1805, died in May, 1869.

For his second wife be married Mrs. Melinda, widow of the late John Durr, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who by her first marriage had one daughter, Caroline Starey, who became the wife of Charles Winson, both of whom are deecased, leaving an onty daughter, Carrie Grace.

ID= Will & Rusland.

The progenitor of the Durland family in Orange County was Charles Durland, who came from Long Island in 1756, and was engaged on the frontier in the French-and-Indian war. After the close of the war he married Jane Swartwout and settled on a traet of land adjoining the village of Chester, Orange Co., upon which, in 1783, he built a house, which is standing in 1881, and has been occupied as the Durland homestead until the present time. lle was exempted from service in the struggle of the colonies for independence, and died about 1800, aged sixty-seven. Ilis children were Mary, Garret, Joseph, John, Charles, Elizabeth, Rosanna, and Samuel, all of whom were married and reared families in Orange County.

Joseph, son of Charles, and grandfather of De Witt C. Dur- land, born March 31, 1762, was a scout during the elose of the Revolutionary war, married Martha Board, of Ringwood, N. J., who hore him children,-Charles; Elizabeth, wife of Jonas King; and James and John, who were both drowned while young in a pond near the homestead.

By a second wife, Sally, daughter of Samuel Satterly, he had children,-Martha, widow of John M. Bull, of Blooming- Grove; Jonas; Samuel; Kezia, died young; Susan, wife of George Mapes, of Goshen ; James; Thomas; and Seeley.

Joseph Durland inherited a part of the homestead at Chester, upon which he resided during his life. Ile was known as a man of strong force of character and a supporter of all worthy local objects. Ile assisted in building the first Presbyterian chureb edifice at that placo, of which church his wife was a member. His second wife died May, 1838, aged sixty years. Ile died Aug. 28, 1828. Ilis children who survive him are Martha, Thomas, and James, who reside upon the homestea l.

Jonas, son of Joseph Durland, horn on the homestead in February, 1803, married Abigail Little, who was born in 1805 and died in October, 1876. Ile died in 1865. Their children are Martha, wife of Edward A. Millspaugh, a farmer in Goshen ; Orpha J., wife of C. B. Wood, a farmer of Chester ; Cornelia, died at the age of twenty-one; Osear, a farmer in Chester ;

James Seeley, died at the age of nineteen ; Nelson, died in 1871, aged thirty-eight, leaving a widow and three children; Do Witt C .; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of John C. Walling, of Goshen ; Louisa, died at the age of ten years.

After his marriage Jonas Durland settled on a farm in Mini- sink, where he remained until 1830, when he purchased ooc hundred and ninety aeres of land in the town of Goshen, where the subject of this sketch now resides. Hle built the present residence on the place in 1847, and made this his home until his death. He was a thorough-going and well-to-do farmer, and upright in all his dealings with his fellow-men. Both himself and wife were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Florida.

De Witt C., son of Jonas Durland, was born May 1, 1835, and married, Dec. 30 1858, Marietta, daughter of George S. Cookling and Mary Seeley, of Chester, who died Dec. 9, 1872, aged thirty-five years, leaving four children,-J. Howard, Murray, Bradford C., and Clara M.

Ilis present wife, whom he married June 10, 1875, is Theresa, eldest in a family of three sons and five daughters of Samuel McCain and Anna Ward, of Hoboken, N. J., and granddaughter of William MeCain, who resided at Amity, Orange Co., and whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Warwick. William McCain's wife was Sarah Jennings.

By his second marriage Mr. Durland has one chill, Ella MeCain Durland. Ile succeeded to the hooiestead farm in Goshen, party by purchase and partly by inheritance, upon the death of his father, to which he has added one hundred aod six acres, having sold a part of the original purchase in small parcels to men engaged in onion-raising, the first sold in the town of Goshen for that purpose.

Mr. Durland has erected commodious barns on bis premises, and all the appointments about his place show the handiwork of a thrifty and enterprising farmer. Ile was one of the orig- inal stockholders io tho Goshen and Pine Island Railroad, and is a trustee of the Presbyterian Church at Florida.

Alfred Walls

old

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557

GOSHEN.

now occupied by Merriam & Corwin, where they con- tinned their business until 1849, when they opened a general hardware house, and did a large mercantile business until the retirement of both members of the firm from the active duties of life in 1869.

Mr. Smith's career, both in business and private life, was one of distinguished integrity and above re- proach. He was of a retiring disposition, unostenta- tious in his ways, and always sought the happiness of others, while he enjoyed the common benefits of life accruing to himself. He was never solicitous of any official position, and preferred the quiet rontine of a business life to the bickerings of political strife or the emoluments of office.

Mr. Smith was the senior warden of St. James' Church at Goshen, and filled that position and the office of vestryman for many years. Born with the beginning of the century, he attained the ripe age of eighty years, his death occurring June 4, 1880, and his long life was devoted to kindness to his fellow- men and devotion to his Maker. He left behind him the useful lesson of a good example.

His wife was Ellen, daughter of Moses and Eleanor (Holly) Sawyer, and granddaughter of James and Elizabeth (Bradner) Sawyer, of Goshen, born Feb. 23, 1817, whom he married Dec. 5, 1838. She died March 23, 1864, leaving three children, viz .: Mary Ellen, born Sept. 20, 1839, died Nov. 1, 1858; Julia, born Sept. 11, 1843, became the wife of William D. Van Vliet, a merchant at Goshen, and died July 28, 1880,- leaving two children,-John Jewell and Julia Marion ; and John Ogden Smith, for several years a clerk in his father's store, and for the past few years a clerk in the Goshen National Bank.

ALFRED WELLS.

For about one hundred and fifty years the Wells family has been identified with the history of Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., and the homestead upon which John Wells settled in Goshen about 1735, then a wil- derness tract of land, containing 240 acres, has been successively owned by the members of four genera- tions, and upon it the subject of this sketch has spent his life.

The progenitor of the Wells family from which Alfred Wells is descended, was Hon. William Wells, who was born at or near Norwich, Norfolk- shire, England, in 1608, and emigrated to America about the year 1635. He was stated to have been a passenger on the ship "Free-Love," of London, Robert Dennis master, June 10, 1635, and was twenty-seven years of age at that time. He was an educated lawyer in England, and high sheriff of New Yorkshire, on Long Island.

His son, Justice Joshua Wells, was born at South- old, L. I., in 1664, and died there in 1744. John, son of Justice Joshua, born at the same place, Jan. 31, 1689, also died there. John, son of John, born at

the same place about 1715, died in Orange County, July 4, 1776, is supposed to be the first settler of the family in Goshen, and the one mentioned at the be- ginning of this sketch. His son Joshua, born at Goshen in 1744, succeeded to the homestead, upon which he resided during his life, and died in 1819. He was a soldier in the colonial army during the Revolutionary war.

His wife, Rhoda Booth, was a granddaughter of William Bull and Sarah Wells, who bore him the following children : Mary (wife of George Phillips), John, George, Joshua, Jr., Christina (wife of John Decker), Dolly (wife of Edward Ely), Sarah (wife of James Tuthill). He was one of the early members of the Presbyterian Church at Goshen.

Of these children, Joshua Wells, Jr., was father of our subject, and was born on the homestead, Sept. 6, 1779, and died there in 1867. He carried on the homestead farm during his active business life, was a man of good judgment, correct habits, and strong force of character. He sought to fulfill the full duties of the good citizen, and was known by his fellow-men as a man of sterling integrity, not solici- tous of public place, frank and manly in his ways, and a Christian man.

His wife was Jemima, daughter of Jonathan Sayer, of the town of Goshen, born in 1779, and who died in 1811, leaving the following children: Adeline (wife of James C. Reeve), Alfred, Mary Jane (died unmarried), Jerome was a physician of Goshen, and died here, and Frances (wife of Adrian Holbert, of Goshen).

His second wife was Katy Ford, who bore him children, viz .: Julia (wife of John M. Ford) and Elizabeth (unmarried). His second wife died in October, 1834.

Alfred, son of Joshua Wells, Jr., was born on the homestead, Nov. 17, 1805. His early education was received in the common school, and at Farmers' Hall Academy at Goshen. For one term he was a teacher, but succeeded to the homestead property, upon which he has spent most of his business life. The present residence on the farm was built by his father during his lifetime, and during the last three years Mr. Wells has caused to be erected one of the finest and most substantial barns in Orange County. Mr. Wells succeeded to the old homestead by inherit- ance, to which he has made an addition of a small parcel of land, and is the possessor of other valuable property besides.

He is a man of determined effort, judicious in the management of his affairs, and, although far past the active duties of life, finds pleasure in the care and superintendence of the place of his birth, where he and his wife spent so many happy years together.

Mr. Wells always gave encouragement to all ob- jects of a local nature tending in any way to the pros- perity of the people and the development of interests in his own town, and although, like his forefathers,

558

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK:

he never sought political place or its emoluments, he has always been a careful observer of the progress of the times, and interested in the establishment of law and order in the country.

Ile married in June, 1832, Lydia, daughter of John Nyce, of Wheat Plains, Pike Co., Pa., who was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Goshen, a devoted wife and mother, and died October, 1871, aged sixty-two years.

Their children are Jerome, prepared for college, but died at Flushing, L. I., in October, 1855; James E., a farmer in the town of Goshen; John N., of San Francisco, Cal. ; George W., was graduated at Princeton College in the class of '65, subsequently at the Bellevue Hospital, New York, and is connected with the medical department of the New York Mu- tual Insurance Company ; Moses A., a soldier in the late civil war, is a dry-goods merchant in Chicago; Eugene F., a druggist at Waverly, N. Y .; Lewis A., died October, 1870; Charles S., a farmer in the town of Goshen ; Mary F. (wife of Lewis E. Coleman, of Goshen); Catharine R. (wife of Samuel M. Slaugh- ter, of Wallkill); Charlotte (wife of Samuel W. Slaughter, of Waverly, N. Y.).

THOMAS THORNE.

His father, Richard Thorne, of Great Neck, Hemp- stead, L. I., was a wealthy and influential citizen. He served in the Revolutionary war in defense of the colonies, and was taken prisoner by the Hessians. His family consisted of eleven children, of whom the following, Phebe, Betsey, Richard, Henry, Latitia, Sarah, Daniel, William, Thomas, and Jolin, reached manhood and womanhood, and all reared families except Phebe and Betsey.

Thomas Thorne, son of Richard, was prominently identified with the business interests of Goshen nearly his whole life. His frankness, sociability, genuine good sense, readiness to assist young men starting out in life, generosity in all matters of a local nature tend- ing to the welfare of the community, and his fine busi- ness capacity have made him remembered in Goshen as a man the history of whose life was inseparably connected with many of the leading interests of Goshen for many years.

He was born at Hempstead, on Long Island, March 11, 1774, and at the age of sixteen came to Goshen to reside with his uncles Daniel and William, who then owned the place which afterwards became his home- stead, consisting of about 100 acres, which was a part of the large tract of land formerly owned by Maj. Wood. He was a student at the Farmers' Hall Acad- emy in Goshen when under the supervision of Noah Webster, the lexicographer, but in early manhood turned his attention to business pursuits. He pur- chased the farm of his uncles, which he carried on dur- ing the remainder of his life, and made it one of the most desirable locations, contiguous as it is to Goshen

village, anywhere to be found in Orange County. On the opposite side of the road from his residence he built a tannery, where, although not a practical tan- ner himself, he successfully carried on business for many years. He dealt largely in cattle for market, supplying Goshen and the surrounding country almost wholly with beef, besides shipping to other markets. Mr. Thorne successfully undertook the improvement of the Rio Grande running through Goshen, by which nearly 1000 acres of boggy and marshy land adjoin- ing the village, inundated for most part of the year, became tillable and rich, productive farming land.

Mr. Thorne was influential in local matters, was supervisor of Goshen in 1823, and he was one of the loan commissioners for Orange County when great re- sponsibility and care in the management of the pub- lic funds were required. During his business career, in middle life, Mr. Thorne signed a sheriff's bond, by which he lost his entire property. Nothing daunted, and with a most remarkable recuperative energy and resolution, he began at the bottom of business, and soon regained a stronger financial position than he had before occupied, and, although late in life, he acquired a large competency.

Mr. Thorne was a promoter of secular interests and good society, and at the time of his decease, April 2, 1860, he was the senior warden of St. James' Church, Goshen, and had been for many years one of the liv- ing pillars of that body. His first wife, Mary Het- field, died in 1825, leaving no children.

His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Thomas Waters, who owned some 300 acres of land, a part of the Stewart estate, in Goshen, where he kept slaves to carry it on. He was with the Goshen vol- unteers, and had charge of the horses used to convey them from Goshen to the place where the battle of Minisink was fought, and after many of their riders had been slain in that memorable engagement, Mr. Waters, then a young lad of about sixteen years, safely returned with the horses to Goshen, and first reported the news of the terrible slaughter by Brant and his soldiers,

Col. Waters was sheriff of Orange County, and an influential citizen. His wife was Betsey Matthews, who owned a large estate at Washingtonville, known as the " Matthewsfield."

Elizabeth Waters was born Aug. 23, 1790, married to Mr. Thorne April 9, 1826, and died Nov. 6, 1865. Their children are John W., born Jan. 18, 1829; Mary Elizabeth, died Oct. 11, 1835, at the age of four. years ; and Sarah Thurman Thorne, born Jan 16, 1831, re- sides on the homestead at Goshen, and is the wife of J. Francis Matthews, a manufacturer in Middletown for many years.

JOHN J. HEARD.

His paternal great-grandfather, John, emigrated from England during the reign of Queen Anne, and settled at Woodbridge, N. J., where he reared the fol-

Thomas Thorn.

John Co. Walling

HIis great-grandfather, John T. Walling, was born in Ire- land, came to America while a young man, and settled in Ver- non township, Sussex Co., N. J.

He is supposed to have been a man of considerable means, for he took up a large amount of land in that place; and although he died at middle age, he was the possessor of some three thousand acres of land, owning traets about Hamburg, and nearly all the laod from Tompkins Corners to Hamburg. He died on the Charles De Kay tract, which he owned, in Ver- non.

His wife was a Miss Baird, who bore him three children, - Sarah (died at the age uf six years), Francis, and Joseph.

Francis, grandfather of our subject, was born about 1786, and died in 1861. lle learned the tanning and currier business of Maj. James Wheeler, of Warwick, during his minority ; after- wards, with his brother Joseph, went to Cincinnati. where they were engaged in business for a time, and were very successful. Returning, he married Margaret Perry, who bore him the fol- lowing children : Joseph, Catharine ( wife of Nathan Campbell). Sally (wife of Robert T. Martin), Vincen P., Ilester, John T., Ilannah (wife of Frederick Gulick), Abiah F., Brice P., and William.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 136

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