History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

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 159

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" It is with feelings of regret that we are compelled to chronicle the death of Mr. N. D. Woodhull, late of Blooming-Grove, who died in New York City, April 19, 1879. lle was widely and favorably known among the farming community of this and the adjoining counties. Few men there are who possess the business shrewdness and sagacity displayed by bim, by means of which he was in early life enabled to accumulate a large property "

He married Martha V., daughter of John and Betsy Andrews, of Saratoga Co., N. Y., April 16, 1862, and the fruit of this union was Edward D., George G., Jennie V., Mary L., died young; Nathaniel D., Jr., died young ; Walter A., Kate C., and Charles R.

HON. NATHAN HIERRICK WHITE.

Ilis great-grandfather Ebenezer was among the earliest settlers of Long Island. Sylvanus, his son, who married Phoebe Howell and lived and died on Long Island, was a well-known Presbyterian divine of his time. He was the father of Sylvanus, Jr., who was born at Southampton, L. I., July 19, 1730, mar- ried Eunice Herrick, Oct. 10, 1754, and soon after- wards settled upon 300 acres of land at Blagg's Clove, in Orange County. This property has since been the White homestead. The children by this marriage were Phobe, married Anselm Helme; Euphemia, died in infancy ; Sylvanus, died, unmarried, at the

age of thirty-three; Eunice, married Daniel Pop- pino; and Nathan H., the subject of this sketeh. Sylvanus White, Jr., was a farmer by occupation. Hle died March 2, 1881, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His wife died Feb. 24, 1818, in her eighty- fifth year. They had lived together sixty-four years. 1. Hon. Nathan Herrick White was born on the home- stead at Blagg's Clove, June 14, 1770. Ilis prepara- tory course of education was obtained at the schools in Goshen. At the age of eighteen he entered Co- lumbia College, from which institution he was gradu- ated in the same class with John Randolph, in the year 179I. Soon afterwards he took charge of a classical school at Montgomery, N. Y., for six years, there being then but five in the whole State. Follow- ing this he was principal of the Newburgh Academy for two years. During his teaching he cultivated his literary taste and perfected his knowledge of the an- cient languages, which continued so remarkable to the close of his life. He then returned to his paternal home, but was soon called by the publie voice to a seat on the bench, and for twenty years from 1802 was first judge of Orange County, the friend and as- sociate of Kent, Van Ness, Platt, and others. In 1806 he received a commission from Governor Morgan Lewis as captain of an Orange County regiment of militia. For many years he was school commissioner of his town and a justice of the peace.

Judge White was eminently a representative man. During the recess of court his kindness of heart and knowledge of the law made him a public benefactor, and he was always ready to assist his neighbors in settling their disputes amicably. Though retiring, his conversation was singularly cheerful and brilliant. His sight was much impaired in his later years, but he retained his mental faculties perfectly until his deathı.

Judge White was an industrions man, and ever en- joyed himself in agrienltural pursuits. He added 200 aeres of land to the homestead, and there died April 10, 1855. On Dec. 8, 1802, Judge White mar- ried Frances, daughter of Hezekiah and Juliana (Woodhull) Howell, and their children are Albert S., born Oct. 24, 1803, on the homestead, and went to Indiana about 1825. He married a Miss Randolph, of Virginia. Hon. Albert Smith White was a mem- ber of Congress from Indiana for two terms, and was also United States senator for Indiana, cotemporary with Clay, Calhoun, and Webster. In 1863 he was appointed district judge of Indiana by President Lincoln, which position he held at his death, which occurred in August, 1864. The second child was Nathaniel, who died in infancy; then Morgan L., born March 17, 1806, who until within a few years has resided on the homestead owned by him; Eliza- beth Howell, born Jan. 8, ISOS, married Harvey Denniston, and of this marriage was born H. A. Denniston, who lives in Blooming-Grove ; afterwards married John Nicoll, of New York, and died Dee.

Ermeni of Howell

Hoch Howell

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BLOOMING-GROVE.

21, 1855; Eunice Herrick, born Dec. 10, 1810, died June 25, 1874; Juliana W., married Van Rensselaer Marvin, of Blooming-Grove; Abram A., who resides in Indiana ; and Isaac S., who resides in Illinois.

EDMUND S. HOWELL.

His grandfather, Hezekiah Howell, came from Long Island, and settled in Orange County, at Blagg's Clove, in 1727. He there married Susanna, daughter of Job Sayre, and their children were Phebe, Jane, Hezekiah, and Charles. IIe died in 1785. Charles, father of Edmund S. Howell, was born at Blagg's Clove, Nov. 20, 1752. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and an active man. He assisted in the build- ing of Fort Putnam, at West Point, as a member of the independent corps under Gen. George Clinton, and was also stationed with his corps on guard after the burning of Kingston. In 1785 he married a daughter of Maj. Strong, who was murdered by Claudius Smith, and the same year settled upon 150 acres of land, which is the Howell homestead in Blooming-(trove. By this marriage were Selah Strong, born March 6, 1788; and Clarissa, born July 28, 1791, who married William Strong, of Blooming- Grove. After the death of his first wife Charles Howell married, in 1802, Elizabeth, daughter of Jo- seph Board, and their children were Charles Board, born Sept. 7, 1803, a successful practicing physician of Chester, who died April 3, 1865; Edmund Sayre, the subject of this sketch ; and Joseph Henry, born Dec. 3, 1805, died Dec. 13, 1878. Charles Howell died in January, 1843, at the old homestead.

Edmund S. Howell was born in Blooming-Grove, Sept. 5, 1804, and, with the exception of fourteen years spent in New Jersey, has always lived on the homestead. His educational advantages were limited to the common schools, and his father's farm gave him employment in his youth.

On Feb. 16, 1836, he married Nancy C., daughter of James Bell, of Warwick, and their children are Mary E., married Edward Fitzgerald, and resides in Binghamton ; Clarissa A., married Rev. Arthur Har- low, of Orange County ; Phebe E., wife of Benjamin C. Sears; Charles H., a farmer, on the homestead ; James B .; Caroline A., married Dr. George H. Sears ; Harriet A .; Joseph E .; Susan E. ; and Effie, de- ceased.

Mr. Howell is a member and elder of the Second Presbyterian Church at Washingtonville, and was one of the original movers and contributors in the build- ing of the same. He is also one of the managers of the Orange County Bible Society for the town of Blooming-Grove. Mr. Howell is naturally of a re- tiring disposition, and, although interested in all that pertains to the welfare of his town and county, has never sought publicity in any way. He retains his faculties to a remarkable degree for his age, and be- longs to that class of men that not only think but

act. He is the last connecting-link between his gen- eration and the one preceding him of his line of the Howell family, and is greatly respected by all who know him.

HEZEKIAH HOWELL (3).

Hezekiah Howell (3) is a lineal descendant of Ed- ward Howell, who came from England to Massachu- . setts, and was made a freeman at Boston, March 4, 1639. He was one of the eight "original undertakers" who settled at Southampton in 1640, and the progenitor of the Howell family in that locality. Lieut. Heze- kialı Howell was a descendant in the direct line. He married Phebe, daughter of Thomas Halsey, Sept. 10, 1702, and their children were Hezekiah, Phebe, Ex- perienee, and Jedediah.

Hezekiah (1), the grandfather of our subject, was born May 6, 1709, came to Orange County about 1734, and settled at Blagg's Clove, where, with Syl- vanus White and others, he took up 2000 acres of land, a portion of which has since been the Howell homestead. He married Susanna, daughter of Job Sayre, of Orange County, in 1735, and had children, -Phebe, Jane, Hezekiah, Stephen, and Charles.

Hezekiah (2) was born on the homestead, Sept. 3, | 1741. He married Juliana, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Smith) Woodhull, of Mastic, L. I., and their children were Hezekiah (3), the subject of this sketch ; Nathaniel W., who resided at Canandaigua, N. Y., and was a prominent lawyer and circuit judge ; Susan, married Benjamin Strong, of Goshen, N. Y .; Sarah, married Abraham Shultz, of New Windsor, N. Y .; Fanny, married Judge Nathan H. White; Jane, married Judge Augustus Porter, of Niagara, who was a member of Congress in 1812, and a finan- cial sufferer during the war of that date; and Eliza- beth, married Rev. Andrew Thompson, of Rockland County, and a preacher at Nyack. Hezekiah Howell (2) was a prominent man of his time, was the first supervisor of the precinct of Cornwall, and was sheriff of Orange Co. during the Revolutionary war.

Hezekiah (3) was born on the homestead in Bloom- ing-Grove, Aug. 21, 1768. His boyhood was spent on the farm, and he attended school at the old brick school-house in Goshen. Noah Webster, the lexicog- rapher, chose him, while a pupil there, on account of his good voice, to give him the sound of the different vowels while compiling his dictionary. Mr. Howell was a farmer by occupation, paid some attention to stock-raising, and was an active business man. He - interested himself in whatever pertained to the public good, and was one of the main men in contributing towards and building the Blooming-Grove church. In disposition he was genial, enjoyed society, and, although dignified in his bearing, was courteous to all whom he met. On Dec. 6, 1796, he married Frances, daughter of Maj. Tuthill, of Orange County, and their children were Juliana Woodhull, married Judge Robert Denniston, and died in 1825; Hezekiah,

648

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

who lived on the homestead, known for his good quali- ties of hand and heart, died unmarried at the age of seventy-four years; Nathaniel Woodhull, who died in middle life at Columbus, Ga .; Matthew Henry ; John W. T., born Oct. 24, 1806, and died in 1870; Mary Brewster, married Henry F. Moffat, of Bloom- ing-Grove; Andrew, died young; Gabriel, Simeon, and Andrew. Hezekiah Howell (3) added 200 acres of land to the homestead, and there died June 20, 1855. His wife died Dec. 14, 1830.

Alden Goldsmith was born Dee. 4, 1820, on the homestead, and has always lived there, being the fourth generation. His education was obtained at the common schools. Having a natural love for stock, he early in life gave his attention to stock-raising. At first he was associated with his father in the raising of horses, sheep, and cattle, and afterwards confined himself more especially to the raising and develop- Matthew Henry was born Jan. 16, 1805, lives on part of the homestead, and follows agricultural pur- suits. He married Julia S., daughter of Daniel Brewster, of Blooming-Grove, and of this union was born Nathaniel W .; Charles, deceased ; Sarah, mar- ried William Clark, and resides in New York; and Joanna B., who died young. ment of blooded horses. The " Maid," trained and developed by him, has linked the name of its owner forever with the horse interests of the United States; afterwards the bringing out of such horses as " Glos- ter," "Huntress," "Powers," " Driver," and " Alley" have tended to make the name of Alden Goklsmith still more widely known. Indeed, the interest taken Nathaniel W. Howell, grandson of Hezekiah (3), lives on 300 acres of the homestead, being the fifth generation. He married Mary, danghter of Walter Halsey, an old family of Blooming-Grove, and has two children,-Joanna B. and Hezekiah. Mr. Howell is an active man in his township, has represented it in the breeding of good horses, and the reputation which Orange County people sustain throughout the country as producers of good stock, is due more to Aklen Goldsmith than any other man. For nineteen years he has owned the stallion " Volunteer," which is now acknowledged as the most prominent stock- in the board of supervisors, and was member of As- . horse in America. Mr. Goldsmith's dealings in horses sembly from the First District of Orange County in the years 1863-64.

ALDEN GOLDSMITH.

His great-grandfather Thomas was one of five brothers who came from England and settled on Long Island early in the eighteenth century. He after- wards came to Orange County, and in 1735 bought a patent of land of 1000 acres for £200, the title coming from Queen Anne. Washingtonville is situated upon this patent, and a portion of the land has since pa-sed to his lineal descendants, and been the homestead. His children were Elisha, Joshua, and Richard. Elisha married Sarah Dunning, of Orange County, and their children were Henry, father of our subject ; John ; Elisha ; Charles; Matilda, married Peter Earle; | Convention of 1855, held at Saratoga. He has since Sally Ann, married Peter Larary ; and Dicia, married James Kelso.

Henry Goldsmith was born in Blooming-Grove, on July 18, 1788. By inheritance and by purchase he came into possession of 200 acres of the homestead, and lived upon the same during his lifetime, follow- ing agricultural pursuits, and giving some attention to stock-raising. As a farmer he was successful, and as a man was highly respected and esteemed for his good social qualities. He married Fayetta, daughter of Peter Moore, of Blooming-Grove, in 1815, and of this union was born, Adaline, who lives on the home- stead; Ann Eliza, who married Edwin Hulse, and after his decease, Capt. Thomas N. Hulse, of Bloom- ing-Grove ; Alden; Henry M., resides in the West ; Walter, who resides in lowa ; Mary L., died young ; and Charles H., who died at the age of forty. Henry Goldsmith died April 10, 1875, in his eighty-seventh

year. Ilis wife Fayetta died Dec. 2, 1835. After her decease he married Sarah Pelton.

have made his name indissolubly connected with the stock-growing interests of this country, and the " Wal- nut Grove Farm" of 200 acres is devoted by him exclusively to the raising of finely-bred horses.

While he has thus been interested in stock-raising, he has still kept up his interest in public matters. In 1858 he represented his town in the board of super- visors, as did he also from 1862 to 1868. He was a member of the finance committee of the county in the late war. For twenty years Mr. Goldsmith has been a director in the Quassaick Bank of Newburgh, and many times has been president of the Orange County Agricultural Society. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but has been identified with the Republican party from its formation, and was a delegate from Orange County to the memorable New York State

represented his party in her State conventions at dif- ferent times. On Oct. 29, 1846, he married Catherine Cornell, daughter of James and Anna Townsend, of Hamptonburgh, and their children are James H., Annie S., and John Alden.

JESSE BULL.

Jesse Bull is a descendant in the fourth generation of William Bull, who was born in England in Feh- ruary, 1689, and sailed from Dublin, Ireland, to this country, and here died in 1755. Fle married Sarah Wells, who was the first white woman in Goshen township, and they were the first couple of white people that were married in Goshen. William Bull built the old stone house in Hamptonburgh often mentioned by historians as the scene of many noted events. In 1868 an appropriate monument was

Al dan har Lowmist

AS ilas R. Horton

SILAS R. HORTON is a lineal descendant in the seventh generation of Barnabas Horton, who was born in Mousely, Leicestershire, England, July 13, 1600. He emigrated to America, in the ship "Swallow," in 1635, and landed at Hampton, Mass. In October, 1640, he settled at Southold, L. I., and there died, in July, 1680. His children were Joseph, Benjamin, Caleb, Joshua, Jonathan, Hannah, Sarah, Mary, Mercy, and Abigail. The old Horton homestead, ereeted by Barnabas Horton in 1660, at Southold, L. I., still remains standing, in a good state of preservation, and is, in all probability, the oldest wood house in America. Six generations bearing the Horton name have lived and died in this venerable building. James, the youngest son of Jonathan Horton, and one of eleven children, was the father of Silas, who settled on the old Horton homestead, in Goshen town- ship (formerly), in the year 1750. Since that date the property has been owned by his lineal descendants. Silas Horton married Margaret Bull, and the children of this union were James, Silas, James (2), William, Anna, Margaret, and Sarah, all of whom died young except Sarah, who married David Hawkins, and Wil- liam, the grandfather of our subject. He was born on the homestead, July 2, 1771, and followed agricultural pursuits during his life. On Dec. 23, 1793, he married Phebe, daughter of Phineas Rumsey, of Goshen, and their children were Sarah, died young ; William ; Mar- garet, born Oct. 4, 1797, died Jan. 15, 1817; and Char- lotte, married Dr. Jerome Welles, and lives in Goshen, N. Y.

William Horton, M.D., was born in Goshen, N. Y., on the homestead, May 16, 1796. His early education was obtained at the schools in Goshen. At the age of eighteen he entered the junior class at Union College, from which institution he was graduated. After his collegiate course he studied medicine and attended med- ical lectures at the University of New York, during the palmy days of Mitchell and Iosack. He commenced the practice of his profession at the residence of his

father, hut soon afterwards moved to Goshen, where he continued the practice of medicine. He died on the homestead, Dec. 1, 1844, at the untimely age of forty- seven. In an obituary notice of Dr. William Horton, taken from the Goshen True Whig, we find the follow- ing : " He was a surgeon, but was still more celebrated as a physician. By his skill and honorable bearing he early secured the confidence of his medical brethren, and was frequently called in consultation with the aged and experienced physicians of his day. He was remark- ably successful in the treatment of fevers, and prepared a work relative to them, which, however, was never published. His pamphlet on dysentery and his geolog- ical reports are his only published works, and these are sufficient to establish his reputation as a profound thinker and a clear and powerful writer. In the midst of his career of usefulness as a physician he turned his atten- tion to the study of botany, mineralogy, and geology, and soon became one of the most noted men of his day in these sciences. His great delight in these studies led him, at the age of thirty-seven, to relinquish the practice of medicine and devote himself wholly to these sciences, and had he lived a few days longer he would have pub- lished a large work on these subjects. Dr Horton was always rigidly moral, and never sacrificed principle to expedieney." He married, April 9, 1817, Maria Ryneck, of Schenectady, and their children are Silas Ryneck, who married Sarah Jane, daughter of Jacob J. Decker, of Ulster County, N. Y. He inherits something of his father's taste for geology and mineralogy, and a few years since discovered a new and rare mineral, which has since been named by Prof. George J. Brush, of Yale College, " Hortonalite ;" Eugene, who married Anna T. Haley, and follows agricultural pursuits on the old homestead, being the fifth generation ; William, a phy- sican, at Craigville, N. Y. ; Egbert, died young ; Emily, married .I. J. Dolson ; Margaret, married S. W. Leddel ; Charlotte, married Jesse E. Moffat; and Gertrude, married Brower C. Ward.

Anselm Helme.

His grandfather, Anselm, was born on Long Island, July 8, 1750. In early life he was a sailor, but left the sea at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and landing at New- port, R. I., came overland to Orange County, where, in 1776, he settled upon two hundred aeres of land in Blooming-Grove, the farm now owned by Joel Coleman. Ile married Phoebe, daughter of Sylvanus White, of Blooming- Grove, Feb. 3, 1778. Their children were Ruth, married Samuel Denniston ; Eunice, married Samuel Strong; Brewster; Phobe, married Joseph Decker; Mary, married Apollos Halsey ; Deborah, married Thomas Moffat ; Nathan W. ; and Joseph W.

Anselm Helme died Dee. 9, 1824. His wife died in 1833. Soon after his marriage he sold his original purchase, and bought about two hundred acres of land in Blooming-Grove, which has since been the homestead of his descendants.

He was considered a man of good judgment, and was appointed by the Legislature of New York State as a member of a committee to ap- praise the damages done by squatters to the government land at West Point. He was also a justice of the peace for many years.

was born April 14, 1782. He married Ex- perience, daughter of Samuel Strong, of Bloom- ing-Grove, in the year 1807. He was a farmer by occupation, and always lived on the home- stead. By his marriage he had two children,- Elizabeth (deceased, married Wm. H. Thomp- son, of Blooming-Grove) and Anselm. His death occurred Feb. 11, 1861.

Anselm Helme was born on the homestead, Jan. 6, 1817. His early life was spent on the farm and in the common school. He obtained the homestead by inheritance, and has always lived upon it as a farmer. Mr. Helme is not a man who courts public favor, but has always led an honest, quiet life. He is the last of his generation, and is esteemed by his neighbors as a good citizen. He and his family are attend- ants of the Congregational Church at Blooming- Grove.

On the 29th of March, 1849, he married Jane B., daughter of Dr. Samuel Warner, of Blooming-Grove, and their children are Ara- bella S., who lives at home; Anselm Winfield, who married Anna, daughter of Levi Benedict, of Cornwall, and lives adjoining the homestead; Mary Ann, died young; Irving, died young ;

Brewster Helme, the father of our subject, | and Mary E., who lives at home.

C. S. Marvin

CORTLAND S. MARVIN is a lineal descendant in the sixth generation of Matthew Marvin, who came from England in 1635, and was among the original settlers of Hartford, Conn.

His son Matthew, who was born in England in 1627, and came to this country with his parents, was the father of John Marvin, who was born in Con- nectieut, Sept. 2, 1678.

Elihu was the son of John, and was born Oct. 10, 1719. About the year 1743 he settled in Orange County upon two hundred acres of land, which has since been the Marvin homestead, being the place where C. S. Marvin now resides in Blooming-Grove. He married Abigail, daughter of John Yelverton, of Chester, and their children were Seth, Abigail (mar- ried Sheriff Jackson), Elihu, John Yelverton, Eliza- beth (married John McDowell), Hannah (married John Hall), John (father of our subjeet), James, Kezia, and Anthony. Elihu Marvin died on the

As a farmer he has been successful, and as a man has borne a good reputation among his neighbors. In disposition he is genial and pleasant, and retains his faculties to quite a remarkable degree. In stature he is tall and well-proportioned, and is the last survivor homestead, Ang. 11, 1803. Ife was a farmer by , of his generation. He and his family are attendants occupation, served in the Revolutionary war, and was , at the Blooming-Grove Congregational Church.

one of the associate justices on the trial of Claudius Smith for the murder of Maj. Strong. John Marvin was born in Blooming-Grove, April 8, 1757. Ile married Fanny, daughter of Ebenezer Woodhull, May 1, 1797. Their children were John F., born Jan. 19, 1800, married Amelia, daughter of Stephen Jayne, of Florida, N. Y., died March 16, 1868; Caro- line, born May 20, 1803, married Walter Halsey, of the sixty-third year of her age.

Blooming-Grove, and died Feb. 7, 1879; Van Rens- selaer W., born March 9, 1805, married Juliana W., daughter of Judge Nathan White, and died Feb. II, 1856; and Cortland S.

John Marvin lived on the homestead during his life, and there died June 23, 1809. His wife died April 7, 1857.

Cortland S. Marvin was born Dec. 11, 1807, at the home of his ancestors. He has always followed agri- cultural pursuits, and is a member of the Orange County Agricultural Society. Mr. Marvin has always led a quiet, unassuming life, and has never figured in public matters, with the exception of being com- missioner of highways and assessor of his township.

On Jan. 3, 1839, Mr. Marvin married Melissa, daughter of James and Mary (Heard) Duryea, of Blooming-Grove, and of this union was born one son, William II., who is a farmer on the homestead, being the fourth generation. Ile married Anna M., daughter of Josiah and Harriet (Tuttle) Seely, of Blooming- Grove. Mrs. C. S. Marvin died Feb. 25, 1871, in

P.E

Life Bull

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HAMPTONBURGH.

erected over the remains of William Bull and his wife, near Hamptonburgh church, by his lineal de- scendants. Jesse's children were John ; William ; Saralı, married Charles Booth ; Thomas; Isaac; Es- ther, married John Miller ; Mary, married Benjamin Booth; Margaret, married Silas Horton; Catharine, became the wife of James Falkner; Ann, became the wife of William Eager; Richard; and Eleanor, who became the wife of Henry Weller.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

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