History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 187

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 187

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764

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Newburgh, and is of 80 horse-power. The boilers are also 80 horse-power each. In addition to steam they use water-power, having a fall of twenty feet and a turbine wheel.

"One lindred and twenty-five operatives, men, women, boys, and girls, are constantly employed, who turn out from the looms 400 yards, and from the patent machines 80 1 yards daily,-total 1200 yards,-cassi- meres, overcoatings, and ladies' cloakings, single and double widths; all of which is sold in New York City. The water-power is frequently used six months in the year, and the average consumption of coal per year is 600 tons. The office of the mills is in a building a little higher up the hill. Mr. Broadhead has now carried on this extensive business for eleven years, having purchased the mill in 1869, with the usual ups and downs of manufacturing life, and it is anticipated that when the new railroad is completed from Middletown to New York a greater impulse will be given to this as well as other manufactures."

MOUNTAINVILLE

is a village in the southwest part of the town, near the southern bend of Murderer's Creek. It is a station upon the Newburgh Branch (Short-Cut) of the Erie Railroad. A post-office was established at this place one year after the railroad was opened. The post- master appointed was John Orr, who retains the office to the present time (1880). The village has a location of much beauty, including choice scenery in the val- leys of both the Moodna and the Ramapo. It has had considerable additions since the opening of the railroad. It is near to the mineral spring, and for this and other reasons it is receiving a fair share of the summer travel, and many boarders remain for several weeks in the delightful locality.

SALISBURY MILLS

post-office accommodates a portion of the town of Cornwall, but the village is mostly within the town of Blooming-Grove, to which reference is made for further particulars.

BETHLEIIEM

is a neighborhood in the northwest part of the town on the public road leading from New Windsor to Go- shen, and about five miles southwest of the former village. The name was first applied to the Presbyte- rian church established there in early times; as men- tioned elsewhere. Afterwards the neighborhood be- came known by the same designation. During the Revolutionary war a part of the American army was encamped for a time near the church.

' VI .- SCHOOLS.

There are little or no accounts extant of the schools of this town prior to the Revolution, nor for several succeeding years. A school-house is occasionally mentioned in early road surveys of the eastern part of Orange County, or in other documents. Such schools as existed in those pioneer times were sus- tained by private effort, and were established by combinations of neighbors without any district or- ganizations.

Under a law of the State, passed about the year 1795, something of public organization was attempted, and a small sum of money was apportioned by the board of supervisors. Under this law the following citizens were chosen commissioners of schools in 1796,

and also in 1797 : Zephaniah Halsey, William Den- niston, Seth Marvin, Thomas North, James D. Secor, Obadiah Smith.

In 1799 there were chosen to the same office Joseph Chandler, Obadiah Smith, and Jonathan Cooley. No further official action by the town took place until the passage of the new act of 1812, organizing the general school system of the State.

The following persons served one or more years each as school commissioners during the period from 1813 to 1843: Joseph Chandler, Jr., Samuel Van Duzer, Thomas Carpenter, Jr., William A. Clark, Isaac Van Duzer, Cornwall S. Roe, William Sayre, Stephen Crissey, John Denniston, Thomas F. Fish,* Isaac Cock, Samnel Townsend, Thomas F. Fish, Bartholomew Mailler, Isaac Seaman, James Van Duzer, Francis Clark, Francis E. Weygant, Samuel Ketcham, Cornelius H. Clark, Horatio N. Woodward, David Parry, James Barton, Francis T. Benjamin, William H. Carpenter. Three of these were continued in office for a long series of years, - Isaac Van Duzer, William A. Clark, and John Denniston.

During the same period the following persons were chosen inspectors of common schools and served one or more years each : Isaac Van Duzer, Elihu Hedges, Campbell Faurot, N. Barton, John B. Havens, Wil- liam Sayre, Noah Townsend, Gilbert Webb, Cornwall S. Roe, Artemus Dean, David Haven, Richard A. Kronkbyte, John Smith, Nathan Westcott, David S. Ring, Gilbert C. Peet, John Owens, John M. Gough, Samuel H. Purdy, Isaac R. Van Duzer, Thomas F. Fish, Alexander Clinton, Ebenezer C. Sutherland, John L. Dusenberry, Oliver Cromwell, Nathan Smith, William Morrison, William P. Cock, Theophilus R. Burchard, Eleazer Crane, Evans Davis, Bartholomew Mailler, Henry F. Chadeayne, William Hill, Isaac Faurot, Zabinee J. D. Kinsley.

After the adoption of the method of supervision by town superintendents the following persons served in that office in Cornwall. Annual elections : 1844- 47, James Barton. Biennial elections : 1848-54, James Barton; 1856, Ephraim Goodman. The one last named was not sworn in, as district commissioners superseded the town superintendents in June, sev- eral months before the official term of superintendent commenced. From that date to the present time the supervision of the schools has been wholly removed from the town authorities.

Of the present public schools it is proper to say that they are under excellent management, are well attended, and are accommodated generally in good buildings. The school at Willisville is worthy of special mention. The building devoted to it is lo- cated near Library Hall, and was erected in 1868 at a cost of about $12,500. The money was raised at the time by the issue of bonds, all of which were

$ He had a tie vote with John Denniston in 1826.

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CORNWALL.

subsequently paid according to their terms. About $2600 more was afterwards expended in the purchase of maps, furniture, and other appointments. The building is of brick, 60 by 82, and contains six class- rooms besides a library. The latter includes about 600 volumes. The public school at Canterbury is ac- commodated by a plain, substantial building located on Clinton Street.

There are several private schools maintained at Cornwall under thorough management. The influ- ences thrown around pupils are of an elevated .char- acter. The fine scenery, the healthy atmosphere, the literary culture existing in the town, as well as the superior qualifications of the teachers, combine to render the place a desirable resort, to which pupils may be sent by parents who desire to know that only proper influences surround their children while away from home at school. Among these the Young Ladies' Institute may be specially named, Rev. Alfred C. Roe, principal.

REV. ALFRED COX ROE .- The branch of the Roe family represented by the subject of this sketch was early identified with the pioneer life of the country. The progenitor of the family in America was John

alfred le Roc

a son, Nathaniel, in 1670, who died in 1752. His wife was Hannah Reeve, born in 1678, died Aug. 16, 1759, and the children were Nathaniel, John, Eliza- beth, Hannah, and Deborah. Nathaniel Roe (2) was born in the year 1700, and died in 1789. He mar- ried Elizabeth Phillips, born in 1702, died in 1788, and the issue of the union were Phillips, James, Na- thaniel (3), William, Hannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Deborah.

James Roe, second son of Nathaniel (2), was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and was born April 9, 1744. Early in life he took up his residence at Kingston, Ulster Co., where he married, on Oct. 19, 1770, Elizabeth Elting (born Jan. 8, 1745, died Sept. 28, 1793), and a representative of an old Huguenot family in Ulster, who, driven forth from France by the revocation of the ediet of Nantes, sought the wilderness of America as an asylum where freedom ot religious worship could be enjoyed. He served as a captain in the Revolutionary war. His house was burned by the British at the time of the burning of Kingston, during that struggle. His children, all of whom were born in Kingston, were James, Elizabeth, John Elting, Sylvester, Ann, William, Nathaniel (+), Rachel, and Peter. James Roe died Oct. 31, 1815, and was buried at Cornwall, where he settled soon after the close of the Revolutionary war.

Peter Roe, father of Rev. A. C. Roe, was born Sept. 14, 1789. He married Susan Williams, of New Windsor; and during the earlier part of his life en- gaged in the wholesale grocery business in New York City. He subsequently settled in New Windsor, where he engaged in agricultural and horticultural opera- tions until his death on Aug. 13, 1877. He was a man of integrity and moral worth, devoted to the performance of secular and religious duty, and led an unostentatious and earnest life. An early anti-slavery man in his convictions and in his political action, he encountered many personal dangers growing out of the agitation of that period, while during the late Rebellion he maintained great personal courage on several important occasions. His wife was a lady of many excellent qualities, possessed of a wonderful memory, and a devoted wife and mother. She was a thorough historical and biblical scholar, and, it is said, could repeat the New Testament and Milton's Paradise Lost word for word. The children of Peter and Susan (Williams) Roe, were eight in number, namely,-Oswald William, who died young; Alfred Cox ; James Gilbert ; Susan Elizabeth ; John Peter ; William Wilberforce; Edward Payson; and Mary Abigail.

Alfred C. Roe was born in New York City, on April 7, 1823. In 1824 his father, Peter Roe, removed to Moodna, Orange Co., then known as Murderer's

family in the early Indian history of the country, re- lated by Paulding, and afterwards celebrated in verse by Bishop A. C. Coxe.

Roe, born in 1628, emigrated from Ireland in 1641, and who located first in Massachusetts, and subsequently on Long Island, at a place then called Setaucket, | Creek, from the tradition of the death of the Stacey now Port Jefferson, where several successive genera- tions of the family have since resided. He died in 1711. Of himself and wife, Hannah Purrer, was born

766

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The earlier educational training of Mr. Roe was received from a governess employed in the family, and from IS35 to 1840 he was fitted for college by Rev. Jonathan Silliman, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Canterbury, Orange Co. He entered the sophomore class of the New York University in the latter year, and after a successful collegiate career was graduated with the third honor of his class, being especially proficient in Greek, mathematics, and the natural sciences. Among his classmates were Rev. William P. Breed, D.D., William Allen Butler, and Aaron J. Vanderpoel. On leaving college Mr. Roe taught for one season in the school of Rev. Alfred Chester, of Morristown, N. J., and in the fall of 1844 opened a school for ladies and gentlemen in the vil- lage of Canterbury, now Cornwall, Orange Co., some of those whom he had then under instruction sub- sequently becoming well-known officers in the war of the Rebellion, among them being Col. Ulric Dahl- gren, Col. William Silliman, and Maj. James Crom- well, of Orange County, all of whom lost their lives in the war.

and at the surrender at Appomattox, oftentimes per- forming hazardous and trying service.

At the close of the war Mr. Roe located in New York, where he entered upon city mission-work in the service of the New York City Mission and Tract Society, working chiefly in the Fifteenth Ward, in the neighborhood of Houston and Bleecker Streets, among the fallen and the saloons of gilded vice, and in connection with the " Home for the Fallen." In De- cember, 1867, he accepted the position of secretary of the American Christian Commission, and was occu- pied in arranging Christian conventions and in dis- seminating information on practical Christian labor. The Christian at Work was started in Mr. Roe's office, largely by his help and influence, and was edited by him for several months.

In the spring of 1870, Mr. Roe entered into the dis- tinctive work of the ministry, and labored until May of the following year among the factory operatives at Lowell, Mass., in many respects a wide and promising field. In June, 1871, he accepted a call to the Second Presbyterian Church of Geneva, N. Y., where he la- bored for two years, and then removed to Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y., where he remained until May, 1877, when, finding the climate injurious to his fam- ily, he returned to Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, and opened in the fall of that year a school for young ladies, occupying for one year his former location,

In the spring of 1853, Mr. Roe purchased the Fowler Griggs property, now owned by Mrs. Cars- well, and removed to Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, where he opened a school for boys, at first general in its scope, but which was gradually changed to mathe- matical and engineering studies, and enjoyed great popularity. In the fall of 1868 he entered the gospel ! and then removing to his present picturesque and ministry, and was ordained by the Presbytery of . healthful residence. Here Mr. Roe has since contin- North River. He soon after closed his school and, ued, bringing to his duties a wide experience in edu- animated by a desire to be of service in the war then cational work, and laboring to confer upon the young ladies committed to his charge a superior education, and to fit them for the intelligent performance of the duties of life. The course of study pursued is high, following the Harvard standard for ladies as a guide, and the object in view is to educate the pupils as thoroughly as they would be at any collegiate insti- tution, while due regard is paid to the health and strength of each, so that girls of delicate constitution can study as they are able without the pressure of the routine of a college or large institution. The plan has proven justly popular, and the school is well pa- tronized by the public, the pupils enjoying mean- time the influences of a harmonious and well-regu- lated Christian home, as well as a climate celebrated for its general healthfulness. being prosecuted against the South, entered the army as chaplain, being connected first with the Eighty- third New York Volunteers (the old Ninth New York State Militia), and subsequently with the One Hun- dred and Fourth New York Volunteers. He joined his first regiment at Cedar Mountain, and partici- pated actively in the great revival movements of the Army of the Potomac, especially at Culpepper. Ile was in the field-hospitals or with the troops during the campaign of the Wilderness, and until the army settled down before Petersburg. He was then in the neighborhood of Forts Sedgwick and Warren until the taking of the Weldon Railroad. The day follow- ing the regiment to which he belonged was annihi- lated or captured in the attempt of the Confederates to retake the position, the chaplain escaping the gen- Mr. Roe was married on March 23, 1847, to Caroline P., daughter of Judge Francis Child, of Morristown, N. J., who died in 1859, leaving two children, viz .: Frank C., at present in the employ of the New York Elevated Railroad Company, and Caroline P. Roe. To his present wife, née Emma, daughter of Rev. J. D. Wickham, D.D., of Manchester, Vt., he was united on Oct. 24, 1860. The children of this union are Elizabeth Merwin, Mary Wickham, and Joseph Wick- ham Roe. eral disaster on account of his absence in expressing money home for the soldiers. Even then he would have returned in time to his regiment had he not been urged by one of the general officers on his route homeward to stop and take dinner with him. After the destruction of his regiment, Chaplain Roe was appointed to staff service with the Third Division, Fifth Corps, Maj .- Gen. Crawford commanding, until the close of the war. While attached to this corps he was present at the battle of HIatcher's Run, at Warren's raid to Weldon, at the battle of Five Forks,

767

CORNWALL.

VII .- CHURCHES. THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF BETH- LEHEM

was incorporated by a certificate filed April 30, 1785. The trustees named in the instrument were Wm. Den- niston, James Kernaghan, Samuel Moffatt, Jr., James Clinton, George Denniston, Samuel Ketcham, Wm. Moffatt, Joseph Chandler. The paper was signed by Wm. Denniston and Joseph Chandler, twoof the elders of the church. This was the legal organization, under the laws of the State, of a church which had already existed for many years under colonial authority.

The congregation embraces a part of three towns,- Cornwall, New Windsor, and Blooming-Grove. The church edifice stands within the bounds of the first named. It is the third oldest Presbyterian congrega- tion organized north of the Highlands and west of the Hudson River. (See General History.)

For a considerable time they did not enjoy the ad- vantages of a stated ministry, but were dependent upon such occasional services as they could obtain. The name of the first minister who resided and labored constantly among them was Chalker. His successor was the Rev. Enos Ayres, whose name is found in the catalogne of the first class graduated from the College , of New Jersey, then at Newark, but since removed to Princeton, Mr. Ayres continued his ministry down to the year 1764. Ile was succeeded by a gentleman from Scotland, Rev. Francis Peppard, but whether immediately or after an interval we are not informed. During his ministry the congregation of New Windsor came into existence, and was associated with Bethle- hem, Mr. Peppard supplying both pulpits. Mr. Pep- pard's ministry ended in 1773. The next stated preacher was the Rev. John Close. His ministry con- tinued fourteen years, embracing the Revolutionary war. After Mr. Close had retired the pulpit was occu- pied by Rev. Mr. Freeman, a learned and eloquent man, who removed from here to the State of New Jersey. He was succeeded by Rev. Joel T. Benedict. Mr. Ben- edict was a man of ardent piety, untiring zeal, and an eloquence which drew crowds to listen to his preach- ing. Rev. Henry Ford, a man of estimable character, followed Mr. Benedict, and was in turn followed by Rev. Artemas Dean, who commenced his ministry in December, 1813, and continued it until April, 1842. During Mr. Dean's pastorate the old church, after standing nearly a century, was replaced by another edifice in 1828.

Mr. Dean was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Hubbard, who occupied the pulpit until April, 1846. Mr. Hub- bard was succeeded by the Rev. John N. Lewis, who remained until July, 1853. He was followed by Rev. Robert H. Beattie in September, 1854. Dr. Beattie was pastor until May, 1866. Rev. Wm. A. Holliday was his successor, and remained until 1872.

The present pastor, Rev. David J. Atwater, officia- ted as a supply for some months, when a call tendered him by the church was accepted, and he was installed

May 1, 1873. In 1872 the church edifice was reseated and otherwise considerably improved at an expense of about $1300.

The old burial-ground belonging to the church is a place of early sacred associations. There "the forefathers of the hamlet sleep." The place was en- larged in 1868 by the purchase of four acres, which were appropriately divided into lots.

FRIENDS' MEETING, CORNWALL (HICKSITE).

The Friends of early times in this town met for worship at the house of David Sands (the Robert E. Ring place of modern times). Mr. Sands was a noted preacher of this denomination, and was very prom- inent in the public affairs of the town. In 1798 he visited England and Ireland, during the rebellion of the latter country, and passed unmolested from the eamp of the Royalists to that of the insurgents, boldly preaching the doctrine of peace.

The meeting-house south of Canterbury village was erected about 1790, and the property, then of · several acres in extent, was deeded in 1789 by Lang- ford Thorn to Joseph Thorn, Nicholas Townsend, and William Titus, in trust for the Cornwall Monthly Meeting. The frame of the original building remains, but is no longer the time-worn, venerable meeting- house known to several generations. It has recently been thoroughly repaired, newly sided, roofed, and painted, and the grounds around it improved. It is now a neat, handsome edifice, yet of that plain, unpre- tending order characteristic of the Friends. It is said that in the erection of the original building of 1790, Catharine Sands brought the nails on horseback with which the house was put together. These nails were of wrought iron, and were made at the smithy in New Windsor. She was at that time about twelve years of age. Six years later she was married to Elias Ring, being the first marriage celebrated in the new meeting-house. In the division that occurred in the denomination throughout the country, about the year 1827, the Ilicksite portion of the Cornwall Friends held the old property.

The following particulars are furnished by Joshua T. Cromwell :

There was a meeting held at Cornwall before the Montlily Meeting was established.

Cornwall Monthly Meeting was established 11th mo. 21. 1788. The first clerk was John Dean ; the second, William Titns, appointed 7th mo., 1792; the third, Amos Mills, appointed IIth mo., 1793.

The ministers named in the record are Gardner Earle and David Sands.

The first marriage was of Elias Ring and Catharine Sands, 5th mo., 1790; the second, Henry Reynokls and Rhoda Cock, 2d mo., 1790; the third, Reuben Wright and Philadelphia Hawkshurst, 3d mo., 1791 ; the fourth, Jacob Cock and Hannah Townsend, 4th mo., 1792.

"4th mo., 1789, paid for sufferings on account of

768

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

our testimony against war, £35, and nearly clear of Phebe Dean were the first committee in care of Valley trathe in spirituous liquors ; none distilled.

"4th mo., 1790, £17 17s. 6d. ; no negroes as slaves.

"4th mo., 1791, €12 28. ; clear of dealing in spiritu- ous liquors."

The deed for the property at Cornwall was made by Langford Thorn and Mary, his wife, to Joseph Thorn, Nicholas Townsend, and William Titus, duly elected and appointed by the Society of Friends at a meeting in Cornwall to purchase and take title for and in behalf of said society; is dated 7th mo. 9, 1789; consideration, £25 128. 6d. It is a full war- ranty deed, and conveys ten and a quarter acres and twenty-five rods of land, including four acres called the meeting-house lot. Joseph Thorn, John Young, and Charles Webb were appointed a committee to settle with the trustees for building the meeting- house.

4th mo., 1819, John Green, Noah Townsend, Rich- ard Trimble, and Henry Titus were appointed to re- pair the meeting-house. The expense was $1300. David Cromwell was one of the carpenters. The present cost of repairing (1880) was about $1000.

Present clerks of Preparative Meeting, Charles E. Cock and Mary Brown; of Monthly Meeting, James Seaman and Elizabeth Seaman; of Quarterly Meet- ing, Joshua T. Cromwell; Overseers, JJ. Quimby Brown and Charles E. Cock ; Elders, John Cromwell, Jacob Seaman, Chas. E. Cock, Phebe Cock, Hannah Seaman, Elizabeth Cromwell, and Martha Seaman.

Names of Friends that belonged to the first meet- ings and served on committees, etc., and had removal certificates from Long Island and other places to Cornwall, are as follows :

Names received : David Sands, Nicholas Townsend, Langford Thorn, Joseph Shove, Job Wright, Jede- diah Allen, John Dean, William Titus, Jacob Brown, Gardiner Earle, Gideon Mulliner,* John Young, Ed- ward Hallock,* William Bloomer,* William Knowles, Joshua Sutton, Patrick Cashada, Moses Clark, Nehe- miah Smith, Charles Webb (afterwards a minister).

Under date of 3d mo. 23d, the names of Jacob Cock, Benjamin Pell, Job Davis, and Reuben Wright appear in the records.

25tl1 of 5th mo., 1789, William Titus was ap- pointed treasurer ; Joseph Thorn, Joshua Sutton, Nicholas Townsend, and Job Wright committee to look after the poor. 6th mo., 1789, Elias Ring re- ceived by certificate from Concord, Pa. 12th mo., 1789, school committee, Nicholas Townsend, John Young, Gardiner Earle, William Titus, and Job Wright. 3d mo., 1792, raised for the relief of the poor 5 pounds 19 shillings. 6th mo., 1794, Samuel Seaman received by certificate, and his wife, Keziah, and children,-Thomas, Martha, Silas, Rachel, and John. Women Friends named in early records were Phebe Earle, clerk ; Abigail Fowler, Phebe Young,

meeting ; Clement Sands, Hannah Smith, Phebe Earle, and Abigail Fowler were the representatives to first Quarterly Meeting.

llannah Smith, Catherine Palmer, Elizabeth Cock, and Mary Pell were a committee to attend the meet- ing at Gideon Mulliner's house. At this time Clement Sands and Mary Titus were overseers. The second committee to attend meeting at Gideon Mulli- ner's house were Abigail Fowler, Hannah Smith, Philadelphia Townsend, Mary Carpenter, Phebe Young, Letitia Clark, Rhoda Cock.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 187

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