History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 156

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 156


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" Preseot, Anslem Helm, John McDowell, Justices of the Peace.


" It was voted that the act to divide the town of Cornwall into three towos should be read.


"It was voted: Daniel Brewster, town clerk ; Selah Strong, super- visor; John McDowell, Samuel Strong, Richard Goldsmith, comonis- sioners of highways; Job Sayre, John Tuthill, Samuel Moffatt, assesors; William Hudson, collector (Richard Goldsmith and Anslem his secu- rity) ; Josiah Seeley, Jr., Zephaniah Halsey, overseers of the poor.


" It was voted that the constable chosen should give security : Ileury Daner, constable, James Thompson (James Sayre, his security).


Overseers of Highways .- No. 1, Josiah Seeley, Jr .; No. 2, Job Sayre ; No. 3, Isaac Bull; No. 4, David Rumsey ; No. 5, Abimael Young; No. 6, Benjamin Gregory ; No. 7, Zopher Ketcham ; No. 8, Samuel Strong; No. 9, Jonathan Tuthill ; No. 10, Asahel Coleman ; No. 11, John Kidd; No. 12, John Chandler ; No. 13, Joshua Curtis; No. 14, Samnel Tuthill ; No. 15, John Reader; No. 16, Benjamin Whitaker ; No. 17, Nathan II. White; No. 18, Samuel Moffatt ; No. 19, Daniel Mapes; No. 20, Nathan Moffatt ; No. 21, Zephaniah IIalsey ; No. 22, David Hawkins; No. 23, Phineas Heard; No. 24, Hector Craig; No. 25, Jotham Jayne ; No. 26, George Duryea."


It was agreed to raise the sum of $200 for the use of the poor the ensuing year. It was voted to pay $10 bounty on each wolf killed within the town. It was agreed to raise money for the payment of Richard Goldsmith and Josiah Seeley, late commissioners. John Tuthill, Hezekiah Howell, John Chandler, Phineas Heard, Selah Strong, and Josiah Seeley were appointed fence-viewers.


The meeting then adjourned to the first Tuesday in April, 1800, at the meeting-house in Blooming-Grove.


GENERAL NOTES FROM THE RECORDS.


The first road-survey recorded after the formation of Blooming-Grove appears to be the following :


" Beginning betweeo John B. Horton's house and barn and running a slant westward down the hill, and then making a small bend eastward, then straight to the north corner of James Thompson's land, and so on Garret Duryea's land, so as to intercept the Goslien road west of Garret Duryea's house, said road to be two rods wide. Surveyed June 5, 1800; recorded Feb. 4, 1803."


1800 .- At the second annnal town-meeting the fol- lowing additional names appear of those elected to office who were not chosen in the first year. Samuel Strong, Jr., Russell Bugbee, Benjamin Mapes, Joseph King, Joseph McLanghlin, David Wiley, Asa Steward, John Miller, Silas Pierson, Richard S. Hubbard, John I. Brooks, George Thompson, James Smith, Ebenezer Seeley, Joel Coleman.


41


634


HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.


April 3, 1800 .-- Jonas Seeley records the birth of a slave child named Charles, born July 8, 1799. Under the same date Jolin Marvin records the birth of a slave child named Dorcas, born Aug. 9, 1799.


Sept. 26, 1800 .- Anselm Helm certifies that a slave child, Chloe, was born June 21, 1800.


Quite a number of similar notices appear in the books from 1800 to 1820, by Seth Marvin, Elihu Marvin, Charles Howell, John Marvin, Hezekiah Howell, Capt. Phineas Heard, James Denniston, Selah Strong, and many others.


The manumission of a slave woman named Peg by John Chandler, with the consent of the overseers of the poor, is recorded under date of March 29, 1804.


July 15, 1819 .- The highway commissioners certify that they have "viewed the bridge over the outlet of Gray Court meadows, on the road from Hezekiah Motlatt's to Oxford, and do agree that it is no longer a public benefit, and do annul the same and declare it to be no longer a town charge."


1821 .- A bounty of $25 was offered for each wolf killed in the town. It was also voted that year to petition the Legislature to confirm the survey made by Samuel MeCown and David W. Brewster between the towns of Blooming-Grove and New Windsor.


1822 .- It was voted that no man in possession of fifty acres of land should suffer his cattle to run on the commons ; if taken up to pay a fine of fifty cents.


1826 .- It was voted to raise $700 for the support of the poor; also to raise $10 to pay Howell for killing a wolf.


Dec. 27, 1827 .- At a special town-meeting Joseph MeLaughlin was chosen supervisor in place of Heze- kiah Moffatt, deceased.


The principal town officers from 1799 to 1880 have been as follows :


1799-1801.


Supervisors. Selah Strong.


Town Clerks. Daniel Brewster.


1802-4


John Tuthill.


1805-10.


Job Sayre.


1811-17


Jerennalı Horton.


1818-20 ..


Joseph Mclaughlin.


1821 ..


Jeremiah Ilorton.


-- 1822-24


Zephaniah Halsey.


1825-27.


llezekiah Moffatt.


1828-30


Joseph Mclaughlin.


=


=


1831-32 .. Wm. S. Woodhull.


1833-36 Joseph Mclaughlin.


1837. George W. Tuthill.


David II. Moffatt.


1838-41


James Duryea.


1842-43


Walter llalsey.


1844.


Thomas C. Brewster.


1845-46.


David HI. Moffatt, Jr.


1847 ...


1848-19 ..


George W. Tuthill.


1851


Jos. Il. Mclaughlin.


James R. Bell.


Charles S. Pitt.


1854


Andrew J. Ileard.


James R. Bell.


1855


Charles E. Brooks.


1856


George W. Tuthill.


Albert G. Owen.


1857


Alden Goldsmith.


1859


JOB. 11. Mclaughlin.


1860-01


Nathan Benjamin.


1862-63.


Alden Goldsmith.


1864-65.


1866


16


1867


Jos. I1. Mclaughlin. Sam' C. Van Vleet, Jr.


1872.


1873


1874.


1875 ..


1876-80


Selah E. Stroog.


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


The following are named in the records as having presided at the town-meetings during the period 1799 to 1830, the years given being the dates when their respective names first appear : 1799, Anslem Helm, John MeDowell ; 1803, Paul Howell; 1804, Nathan H. White; 1809, George Thompson ; 18II, Jeremiah Horton ; 1816, Henry Brewster; 1821, Joseph Me- Laughlin, Moses Ely; 1823, Wm. W. Brooks; 1829, Robert Denniston. Among these Nathan H. White was in office nearly all the time, and was elected by the people for further services, as seen below.


1830, Nathan II. White; 1831, Moses Ely; 1832, James Young; 1833, John Moffitt; 1834, War. W. Brooks; 1835, Moses Ely; 1836, Jede- diah H. Brewster, Jesse Bull; 1837, Wm. S. Woodhull, Nicholas Dederer; 1838, Nicholas A. Dederer, Seely ('. Roe; 1839, Andrew D. Caldwell, John H. Tuthill; 1840, Fred. II. Brewster, Nathan II. White: 1841, Joha H. Tuthill : 1842, Charles S. Pitts; 1843, Nathan Il. White; 1844, Graot B. Marvin; 1845, Iliram Tuthill; 1846, Chas. S. Pitts; 1847, Beuj. G. Horton ; 1848, F. H. Brewster, H. J. Duryea; 1849, Iliram Tuthill, Wright G. Kershaw ; 1850, Chas. S. Pitts ; 1851, Walter C. Many, Robert Denuiston; 1852, Peter B. Taylor, James Satterly; 1853, Alpheus Duryea; 1854, Chas. S. Pitts; 1855, Hiram Tuthill; 1856, Peter B. Taylor; 1857, Richard Caldwell, Noah Math- ewson ; 1858, Charles E. Brooks; 1859, Nathaniel W. Hlowell ; 1860, Valentine Seaman; 1861, Richard Caldwell; 1862, Noah Mathewsoo; 1863, Nathaniel W. Howell, Charles E. Brooks; 1864, Samuel C. Van Vleet, Jr .; 1865, Richard Caldwell ; 1866, Albert G. Oweu ; 1867, Val- entine Seaman ; 1868, Jesse Bull ; 1869, Richard Caldwell, Nathaniel W. Howell; 1870, John C. Warder; 1871, Valentine Seaman, John B. Vroom ; 1872, Samuel R. Strong ; 1873, Richard Caldwell; 1874, John F. Graham; 1875, Valentine Seamao; 1876, Samuel R. Strong; 1877, Richard Caldwell; 1878, J. Owea Moore ; 1879, John F. Graham; 1880, Valentine Seaman.


V .- VILLAGES, NEIGHBORHOOD NAMES.


WASHIINGTONVILLE


is the principal village of the town, situated upon the old publie road from Newburgh to Goshen, eleven miles from the former and nine miles from the latter. It is now a station upon the Newburgh Branch of the Erie Railroad. It is said to have been named in honor of Gen. Washington, and is situated in an open, pleasant country upon the Otterkill, or Mur- derer's Creek. The railroad crosses the stream twice, the station buildings being located between the cross- ings and the main portion of the village, lying upon the opposite side. It is a stirring business place, with shop, stores, manufactures, schools, and churches. It has already been mentioned that Thomas Goldsmith bought and probably settled here in 1731. It was un- doubtedly the second point of settlement in town, Salisbury being the first. The rich, fertile lands at- tracted immigration, and many, no doubt, soon after joined Mr. Goldsmith in this location. Long before the opening of any modern lines of travel this place was upon one of the oldest roads in the county. Its distance from Goshen and Newburgh was favorable to the growth of a village. Its modern development dates from the opening of the Erie Railroad, A post-office was established here at an early day. The present incumbent of the office is Selah Strong, and the office is kept at the store of W. S. Howell, who is


1858


Alexander Moore. Pbilauder Mix.


John H. Mclaughlin. Wm. S. Ilowell. .. =


1SGS-71


Nathan W. Howell. Albert G. Owen,


James M. Miller. 44 Sanford D. Ilallock. Charles W. Hull. =


=


= 46


=


44


17


11


=


John Jaques. Albert G. Oweu. Alexander Moore, Jr.


1850.


1852 James G. Thompson.


1853. Jos. Il. MeLaughlin.


635


BLOOMING-GROVE.


deputy postmaster in charge. Mr. Strong was ap- pointed in July of the present year. His predecessor was Alexander Moore, who held the office about six years. Nathan H. MeLaughlin was postmaster for about thirteen years from 1861-62. Before him John C. Warner had the office for four years. Mr. Breed was postmaster, and after his death Mrs. Breed held the position for one year.


The present business indicates a thriving country village. Near the station is the grist-mill of Thomas Fulton, using both steam- and water-power as may be necessary. It is both a custom- and flouring-mill. Mr. Fulton took possession about five years ago. The mill was built by David Wright twenty-five years ago. It was located on the same site as a mill of earlier years. There is also the manufacturing estab- lishment of Taylor & Belknap, making cheese-boxes, wagon-felloes, spokes, hubs, etc.


At Washingtonville there is also located the cream- ery belonging to the Farmers' Association. This has been in successful operation for some years. Other business in Washingtonville at the present time may be summed up as follows : A hotel by James Angus; store by John C. Warner, general merchandise ; also by S. H. Johnson, general merchandise, and by W. S. Howell, general merchandise, and also coal ; hard- ware-store and tin-shop, C. W. Hull; also a tin-shop by Charles Mckinney ; groceries, boots and shoes by M. R. Denniston; groceries, Edward Mclaughlin ; fur- niture and undertaking, A. Moore & Co .; feed, flour, lumber, coal, Charles G. Cooper; same line of busi- ness, Hector Moffatt; harness-shop and horse-goods, Brooks & Parsons ; wagon-shop, Daniel Giles; wagon- and paint-shop, Murphy & Ploughman ; blacksmith- ing, Henry Dusinberry; blacksmithing, Charles Green; millinery, Mrs. Bull ; meat-markets, oue by I. J. Bull, and one by George Clark ; drug-store by Bond Bros .; also one by M. B. Shafer ; shoe-shop and store by Charles Boyle ; insurance agencies, one by W. J. Tuthill, and another by Wm. Westervelt, the latter of whom is also an auctioncer ; Dr. J. Moffatt and Dr. S. D. Du Bois, physicians.


The station buildings of the Erie Railway are con- veniently situated. Hallock's Hall supplies a place for lectures and public entertainments. A degree of literary taste exists here superior to that usually found in small rural villages. A course of lectures for the current season, 1880-81, J. Owen Moore, manager, comprises some of the best platform speakers in the country.


Washingtouville is delightfully situated on the al- luvial lands bordering the winding channel of the Otterkill. In choosing it as a point of settlement the white people imitated the ruder sons of the for- est, who had probably dwelt for centuries in this vicin- ity, the wigwam of the chief Maringamus having been but a short distance east of the village. From Washingtonville the long, rugged Schunemunk range meets the eye, while nearer are the cultivated farms,


the rich and well-tilled fields indicating homes of comfort, abundance, and wealth.


SALISBURY MILLS VILLAGE


is a hamlet on the public road leading southwest from Newburgh, distant from that place about eight miles, and from Washingtonville three miles. The growth of the place is due to the water-power supplied by the Otterkill, or, as known at this point, Murderer's Creek, or, in local parlance, Big Creek. The name was bestowed by early settlers, perhaps in consequence of certain associations with the places from which they may have emigrated. The place is a station upon the Erie Railroad (Newburgh Branch). Among the men especially active in building up this place and developing all of its varied interests may be named Andrew J. Caldwell, Isaac K. Oakley, and Peter Van Alen.


Mr. Caldwell was for a long series of years an ex- tensive manufacturer of leather. A former writer said of him,-


" To skill and large experience in conducting this business he brings a mind cultivated with a varied literature, and well stored with agricul- tural knowledge and its kindred subjects Motlest in temper and nnob- trusive as a child, he pursues the silent and even tenor of bis way, at peace with himself and the world around him. With his aged father and brothers, John, Richard, and William, compatriots of the lamented Emmnet, after the outbreak in Ireland in 1798, he came to this country and cast his lot in with the citizens of this county. Doubtless it is hard and trying to the best feelings of our nature to abandon the land of our birth, the playground of our boyhood, the associations of youth and ripening manhood. Around them linger aod cling the tenderest and strongest recollections; but to be compelled to flee from them by force of circumstances which we have neither made nor can control is akin to hopeless despair and like unto death."


The erection of the first mill about one hundred and sixty years ago by Gen. Vincent Matthews has been mentioned. In subsequent years the property passed to Mr. Oakley, father of Isaac K. Oakley, who remodeled the building into a paper-mill. Still later, it was taken down, either wholly or in part, and the grist-mill now run by Clark & Ketchum erected. It is said that a part of the foundation walls are the same as those of the early Matthews mill. Another important enterprise at Salisbury is the present paper- mill, situated a little below and near the line of Corn- wall. Henry P. Ramsdell is the proprietor. The buildings are of brick, large and commodious. A full complement of hands are employed, and the business is conducted with vigor and success. Print- ing-paper and wrapping-paper constitute the principal line of work.


Other business at Salisbury may be stated as fol- lows: Post-office, kept by Richard Caldwell; store, general merchandise, C. H. Stevenson ; store, general merchandise, Samuel M. Clemens ; wagon- and car- riage-shop, Thomas B. Giles ; blacksmithing by John Ewen, and also by William Hogan. Salisbury has railroad facilities by means of the Newburgh Branch of the Erie, there being several trains each way daily, rendering communication with Newburgh easy, or with New York by way of Gray Court.


636


HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.


The Methodist Church have a comfortable house of worship. (See notice elsewhere.) The Presby- terian Church of Bethlehem have also built at this place Hope Chapel, in which Sunday evening ser- vices are maintained. The chapel is a neat and con- venient edifice, standing on high ground, and is not the least among the attractive features of the village. The cost was about $3000.


Besides the business establishments and public buildings mentioned, there are many pleasantly-situ- ated private dwellings.


BLOOMING-GROVE


is a hamlet nearly central east and west, situated in the valley of a southern branch of the Otterkill, a branch usually known as the Schunemunk. The growth of Washingtonville, two miles away, and the laying of the Erie Railroad so as to have stations at Craigville and Washingtonville and none at Bloom- ing-Grove, stopped the tendency of business to cen- tralize at this point, and so the real Blooming- Grove of a hundred years ago, Blooming-Grove " proper," is now only a rural neighborhood with neither hotel nor stores. The regular successors of the church of the fathers are, however, here, and their children's children are leading the younger genera- tions to the same sacred spot cherished in the early days of settlement. The building of the meeting- house of 1759 at this point indicates that it was then central for at least the congregation that designed to worship there. The ancient name of the village was extended to the town on its organization.


CRAIGVILLE


was founded as a manufacturing village, and is some- what romantically situated on Gray Court Creek, better known as the Cromeline. It takes its name from the Craig family. At this place there was a forge, and, it is even said, a powder-mill during the Revolution. Soon after that the property passed into the hands of Mr. James Craig, and about 1790 he commenced the manufacture of paper, and this busi- ness was continued for many years after his death by his son, Hon. Hector Craig, to whose enterprise the growth of the village is mostly due. Mr. Craig also erected a cotton-mill that stood down to within a few ycars.


In later years Craigville is a station on the railroad, though the station buildings are half a mile or more from the village. At the station W. Wesley Thorn is - station-agent, nierchant, and postmaster. The firm of Marvin & Thorn are also dealing in flour, feed, and coal. Mr. Thorn has been postmaster about thir- teen years. Previously the office was at the village, and was kept by Mr. E. Duryea for several years, and W. B. Hunter had been his predecessor. At the vil- lage, distinct from the station, there is now the store of Henry Ward, general merchandise ; the store of Edwin Duryea, general merchandise ; blacksmithcry, ' stead on the other.


by G. W. Parker; wagon-shop, by W. C. Smith. At this place is also located the modern and success- ful business of Alexander Hornby, manufacturing "steam-cooked cereals," supplying for market oaten grits, oat-meal, also various similar forms of other grains. The buildings used were formerly a grist-mill, run by T. J. Murphy, a part of the old Craig property. The cotton-factory of Hector Craig passed to sub- sequent proprietors. It was destroyed by fire a few years since and has not been rebuilt. It was then in operation and under the proprietorship of Joseph Greaves. There had also been a hub-factory at Craigville, established by Frank Woodhull. It was also burned, Augustus Thompson being the proprie- tor, and the enterprise has not been renewed. The Methodist house of worship is still standing, but the society is virtually united to that of Chester, and ser- vices are not maintained here. The building is, how- ever, a convenience for neighborhood meetings, funer- als, etc. A school-house completes what may be called the village of Craigville. The water-power here is valuable, and capable of being utilized largely as it has been in the past.


SATTERLY'S MILLS


arc about six miles south of Washingtonville. The creek upon which they are situated is the Schune- munk,* and the mills are so called from their founder -the pioneer Satterly.


This neighborhood is a place of very early settle- ment. Nathaniel Satterly's mill is mentioned in the town-meeting of 1765. Uriah Crossman is the present proprietor. There is no other special business at this point. A Methodist society existed here for a time, and a house of worship was erected. It is evident from the frequency with which some of these names in the interior of Blooming-Grove appear in the Corn- wall records that there was quite a population in this section-perhaps nearly as many as there are now living in these rural neighborhoods; the military rolls given elsewhere for 1776 indicate this fact clearly.


OXFORD DEPOT


is on the line of the Erie Railroad, in the southwest part of the town. It furnishes railroad facilities for freight and passengers to a section of this and neigh- boring towns. It has also a post-office which was es- tablished in 1842. The first postmaster was John H. Tuthill, 1842-48; the second, Peter B. Taylor, 1848 -59; the third, Gilbert H. Clark, 1859-61 ; the fourth, S. C. Van Vliet, 1861-80. The Oxford neighborhood of early times must have been of wider extent than the present village. It evidently embraced quite a district in the extreme southern or southwestern part


* The name of the creek seems to be somewhat uncertain on modern maps and among the people, the name Satterly's appearing to be given at times to hoth this stream and the one farther east. The explanation may be that the Satterly mills were on this stream, and a Satterly home-


637


BLOOMING-GROVE.


of Blooming-Grove. Since the opening of the rail- road the station is the point known as Oxford. The business of the present time consists of the freighting and passenger traffic of the Erie road; a store of general merchandise, by S. C. Van Vliet, who is also postmaster, station-agent, and dealer in coal, flour, and feed ; blacksmithery and a wagon-shop, by W. J. Gaunt. The Friends' meeting-house is a mile or more south of the station, and there was once a Methodist church in that neighborhood, but the enterprise was abandoned. (See Churches.)


Henry F. Moffatt, Seeley Roe, William A. Halsey, John Bell, John S. Bull, Isaac K. Oakley, Joseph C. Platt, William H. Arnold, Milton Hulse, Michael Walsh, Jesse Bull, Stephen Reed, James Dean, Charles Pitts, Charles E. Brown, Anselm Helm, James M. Young, J. W. N. Bull.


After the method of supervision by town super- intendents was adopted, the following persons were elected to that office in this town :


Chosen annually : 1844 46, Andrew J. Caldwell ; 1847, Philander Mix. Chosen once in two years : 1848, Samuel H. Moffatt ; 1850, Charles S. Pitts ; 1852 -56, Philander Mix.


Occasional mention of early school-houses appears in describing road districts. At the present time good schools are maintained in the several districts of the town.


VI .- SCHOOLS.


In 1800, Seth Marvin, Daniel Brewster, and Phineas Heard were chosen school commissioners. This was under the early school law, which was repealed about that time or allowed to become inoperative.


Under the new school act of 1812 the general school system of this town was organized in 1813. During the period 1813 to 1843 the following persons served one or more years each as commissioners of common schools, viz .: Jeremiah Horton, Daniel Brewster, Nathan H. White, Edward W. Brewster, Hezekiah Moffatt, Andrew J. Caldwell, Wm. W. Brooks, Wm. S. Woodhull, George W. Tuthill, Henry F. Moffatt, Jesse Bull, Hector M. Craig, Seeley C. Roe, J. W. T. Howell.


As there were three commissioners chosen annually in this period of thirty years, the few names above shows how continually the people trusted their school interests to nearly the same men. Mr. White was commissioner for nearly the whole period. During this same length of time the following school in- spectors served one or more years each : Selah Strong, Joseph Mclaughlin, Zephaniah Halsey, Hezekiah Howell, Hezekiah Moffatt, John B. Horton, Samuel Warner, David Brewster, Nathaniel W. Helm, Samuel Strong, Andrew J. Caldwell, Robert C. Hunter, Wil- liam Horton, Jr., Edward W. Brewster, Robert Den- niston, Walter Halsey, Wm. W. Brooks, A. M. Brewster, Moses Ostrander, R. Bell, Moses Ely.


VII .- CHURCHES.


For a long period after its settlement there was but one church in the township. Some eight or nine buildings for worship have within sixty years been erected within the bounds of the original Blooming- Grove parish. This town is to a marked degree both moral and religious. The strong character of its early settlers, their reverence for Christian institu- tions, their practical piety, their belief in faith and works, have left an abiding influence for good upon their children and successors.


"The first house for worship in Blooming-Grove was built in 1759 by immigrants chiefly from Suffolk Co., L. I.," who, on their arrival here, organized them- selves into a religious congregation, calling the Rev. Enos Ayres to be their pastor. Ile ministered to the people in holy things until his death in 1762.


In 1764 the parish called as his successor the Rev. Abner Reeve, father of the celebrated Judge Reeve who founded the law school at Litchfield, Conn. Mr. Reeve served the people some four years, when resign- ing, the Rev. Amaziah Lewis supplied the pulpit for twelve months. Then, as supplies, we find that the Rev. Mr. Case, Mr. Greene, and Rev. Silas Constant occupied the pulpit for several years.


In 1768 the Rev. Samuel Parkhurst came to preach for the people, sickened and died, and was buried by the side of the first pastor, their graves being to this day underneath the church edifice, as is also the mor- tal remains of Rev. Benoni Bradner, who became pastor in June, 1786, and died 1804, in the seventy- first year of his age.




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