USA > New York > Orange County > Orange County, New York : a narrative history > Part 5
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There's only the sound of the lone sentry's tread, As he tramps from the rock to the fountain, And he thinks of the two in the low trundle-bed, Far away in the cot on the mountain. His musket falls slack; his face, dark and grim, Grows gentle with memories tender, As he mutters a prayer for the children asleep, For their mother,-may Heaven defend her!
The moon seems to shine just as brightly as then, That night when the love yet unspoken Leaped up to his lips,-when low, murmured vows Were pledged to be ever unbroken; Then drawing his sleeve roughly over his eyes, He dashes off tears that are welling, And gathers his gun closer up to its place, As if to keep down the heart-swelling.
He passes the fountain, the blasted pine tree,- The footstep is lagging and weary; Yet onward he goes through the broad belt of light, Toward the shades of the forest so dreary. Hark! Was it the night-wind that rustled the leaves: Was it moonlight so wondrously flashing ?
It looked like a rifle: "Ha! Mary, good-by!" And the life-blood is ebbing and plashing. All quiet along the Potomac to-night, -- No sound save the rush of the river; While soft falls the dew on the face of the dead,- The picket's off duty forever.
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MEMORIAL DAY (By Ethel Lynn Eliot Beers)
(The following poem, written by Mrs. Beers, was read by Henry Bacon at the Memorial Day exercises at Goshen, May 30, 1870, and published in the Independent Republican on June 2, 1870.)
Whisper softly, stainless lilies, As you fold each snowy cup, Over soldiers who are sleeping With their war tents folded up.
Bear to them our loving message, In thy sweet, unwritten speech, Chimne, white bells, above them softly Echoes only angels teach.
Tell them, roses, as you wither, Tho' their dust shall heed you not, Still, by song, and flag, and blossom, We would prove them unforgot.
Show them, pansy's purple shadow, Through thy heart of golden bloom, How the light of deeds heroic Overlies the darkoned tomb.
Passion Flow'r with mystic meaning, Lordly, banned fleur-de-lis, Mignonette, and pale narcissus, Soldier dust, we give to thee.
Myrtle crown, and laurel chaplet, Fragrant things that bloom and die, These, oh camp of silent sleepers, Over cv'ry outpost lic.
These, we leave with loving message, Crowns, the faithful earth will keep, While the sacred dust of heroes Still she softly holds, asleep.
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:
GIVEN, NOT HIRED
We hire the roof above our heads, And walls to gird us round, The garden walk, the drooping vine, The rose, and blossom-mound; But, oh that streak of sunset sky Between the budding trees, The moonlight on the little porch,- Whom shall we pay for these?
We have musicians, too, all day, Whose flutes we did not bring; An Oriole trills all the while, And saucy Robins sing, While in the brush of Evergreen A Cat-bird, gray and shy, A solo gives. Who pays the birds For all these songs? Not I.
Just when the twilight turns to dusk, And reveries are sweet, A piping voice, exceeding small, Sounds by my idle feet, And bids me listen to its tale Of home and household fire- Our cricket that we did not bring, The song we did not hire.
The Summer wind that lifts the leaves, To whisper soft and low How Roses and Syringas Bloom, How sweet Acacias blow, With memories of childhood's hours In garden pathways sweet- Who sends the South wind to my door, With soft, unshodden fect?
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Nay, these are gifts one cannot buy, Nor pay in market gold; One debt uncancelled evermore When cycles shall have rolled. So lifting up a thankful heart To God, who gives, I cry, "Thou knowest, Lord, I cannot pay For all these things; not I."
NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS .- Born in Port- land, Maine, January 20, 1806, died at his country home, Idlewild, Cornwall- on-the-Hudson, January 20, 1867. His chief works are: Melanie, Lady Jane and other poems; Pencil- lings by the Way; Ink- lings of Adventure; Ro- mance of Travel, compris- ing Tales of Five Lands; People I Have Met, or Pic- tures of Society and Peo- ple of Mark; A Health Trip to the Tropics; Out of Doors at Idlewild; Paul Fane, or Parts of a life else Untold, a Novel. Edgar Allen Poe, in a review of the literary work of N. P. Willis said: "As a writer of 'sketches' properly so called, Mr. Willis is unequaled. Sketches-especially of society, are his forte, and they are so for no other reason than that they afford him the best opportunity of introducing the personal Willis -or more distinctly because this species of composi- tion is most susceptible of impression from his personal character."
Among his short poems, perhaps the most popular are "May" and "The Belfry Pigeon."
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THE BELFRY PIGEON (By N. P. Willis)
On the cross-beam under the Old South bell The nest of a pigeon is builded well, In summer and winter that bird is there, Out and in with the morning air; I love to see him track the street, With his wary eye and active feet; And I often watch him as he springs Circling the steeple with easy wings, Till across the dial his shade has passed, And the belfry edge is gained at last; 'T is a bird I love, with its brooding note, And the trembling throb in its mottled throat; There's a human look in its swelling breast, And the gentle curve of its lowly crest; And I so often stop with the fear I feel,- He runs so close to the rapid wheel.
Whatever is rung on that noisy bell, --- Chime of the hour, or funeral knell,- The dove in the belfry must hear it well. When the tongue swings out to the midnight moon, . When the sexton cheerily rings for noon, When the clock strikes clear at morning light, When the child is waked with "nine at night," When the chimes play soft in the Sabbath air, Filling the spirit with tones of prayer,- Whatever tale in the bell is heard, He broods on his folded fect unstirred, Or, rising half in his rounded nest, He takes the time to smooth his breast, Then drops again, with filmed eyes, And sleeps as the last vibration dies.
Sweet bird! I would that I could be A hermit in the crowd like thee! With wings to fly to wood and glen; Thy lot. like mine, is cast with men; And daily, with unwilling feet,
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I tread, like thee, the crowded street, But, unlike me, when the day is o'er, Thou canst dismiss the world, and soar; Or, at a half-felt wish for rest, Canst smooth the feathers on thy breast, And drop, forgetful, to thy nest.
I would that in such wings of gold I could my weary heart upfold; I would I could look down unmoved (Unloving as I am unloved,) And while the world throngs on beneath, Smooth down my cares and calmly breathe; And never sad with others' sadness, And never glad with others' gladness, Listen, unstirred, to knell or chime, And, lapped in quiet, bide my time.
MAY (By N. P. Willis.)
Oh, the merry May has pleasant hours, And dreamily they glide, As if they floated like the leaves Upon a silver tide; The trees are full of crimson buds, And the woods are full of birds, And the waters flow to music, Like a tune with pleasant words.
'The verdure of the meadow land Is creeping to the hills, The sweet, blue-bosomed violets Are blowing by the rills; The lilac has a load of balm For every wind that stirs, And the larch stands green and beautiful Amid the sombre firs.
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There's perfume upon every wind --- Music in every tree-
Dews for the moisture-loving flowers --- Sweets for the sucking bee;
The sick come forth from the healing South, The young are gathering flowers;
And life is a tale of poetry,
That is told by golden hours.
It must be a true philosophy, That the spirit when set free
Still lingers about its golden home, In the flower and the tree, For the pulse is stirr'd as with voices heard In the depth of the shady grove,
And while lonely we stray through the fields away, The heart seems answering love. .
GEORGE CLINTON .- For many generations the name of Clinton has been a name for New York State to conjure with. The public achievements of George Clinton and his fame as a far-seeing statesman have been somewhat obscured by the later brilliancy of De- Witt Clinton, of the same clan. George Clinton was born on July 26, 1739, in what is now the Town of New Windsor, Orange County, N. Y. He was the youngest son of Charles Clinton, who came from the North of Ireland. He was born in 1690 and died in Orange County in 1773.
It should be stated by way of explanation regarding the birthplace of George Clinton, that he was born in what was then the County of Ulster, but his life work and political associations were confined largely to this county. In the year 1797 Orange County included the present county of Rockland, its northern boundary ex- tending only as far as Murderer's Creek. In that year, what is now Rockland County, was detached, and five towns then in Ulster County, viz, New Windsor, New- burgh, Wallkill, Montgomery and Deerpark were annexed to Orange County, whereby Orange County
ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
acquired its present dimensions. George Clinton re- sided at New Windsor and the house in which he lived is still in existence.
His first noteworthy adventure was connected with privateering in the French war of 1763. He was an officer in the expedition against Fort Fron- tenac, and after the war went into law and politics. He was chosen to the Colonial Assembly and to the Continental Congress and was made a Brigadier- General in the Revolutionary Army. In 1777 he was elected first Governor of the State of New York. Ile was re-clected and occupied the executive chair in all for eighteen successive years, and in 1800 was chosen for one more term, making twenty-one years as Governor. In 1804 he was elected Vice-President of the United States, holding the office until his death, as he was re-elected in 1808, when Madison was elected President. He died in Washington in the year 1812, aged 73 years.
Under his leadership the state's commercial inter- ests were jealously guarded. It is stated by a well in- formed authority that the vast project of the Erie Canal. which was carried out by DeWitt Clinton, had its in- ception in the fertile brain of George Clinton, who, as a member of a distinguished party which included Pres- ident Washington and Alexander Hamilton, toured the northern and western parts of the state in 1780, investi- gating economic conditions.
DeWITT CLINTON .- De Witt Clinton was born at Little Britain. Orange County, N. Y., in 1769. He died suddenly while engaged in official duty at Albany. February 11, 1828. His paternal ancestors, although long resident in Ireland, were of English origin, and his mother was of Dutch-French blood. He was educated at. Columbia College, graduating with high honors. Choosing the law for his avocation, he studied Jaw under Samuel Jones, afterwards Chief Justice of the United States Superior Court. He was admitted to the Bar in 1788 and entered immediately into political life, being an ardent supporter of his uncle, George Clinton. Ho took an active interest in the adoption of the Federal
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Constitution, and reported for the press the proceed- ings of the convention held for that purpose, also acting as private secretary for his uncle. His first office was Secretary of the Board of Regents of the University, and the next, Secretary of the Board of Commissioners of state fortifications. In 1797 he was elected to the State Assembly as a representative from New York City, where he made his residence, and the next year was chosen State Senator for four years. In 1802, when but 33 years of age, he was appointed a Senator of the United States. He labored for the abolition of slavery and its kindred barbarism, imprisonment for debt. Bo- fore his term as Senator expired he resigned to accept the office of Mayor of New York, which he held for four years, when he was removed; he was again appointed in 1809; again removed in 1810; finally appointed in 1811, again holding the office for four years, through the period of the war with England. He was a member of the State Senate from 1805 to 1811; Lieutenant-Governor for the next two years, and for part of this time again made a member of the council of appointment. In 1804, his uncle, the Governor, was elected, Vice-President of the United States, and soon afterwards by reason of age, retired from active political life. His retirement left the political scepter of the Clintons in the hands of De Witt, who speedily became the leader of the Republican party in the State of New York, and their candidate for Pres- ident, at the close of Madison's first term. The result of the election was a disastrous defeat for Clinton, he having but 89 electoral votes to 128 for Madison. His partisan opponents considered his political career at an end, but they were mistaken. He took a leading part on many public questions, notably, that of estab- lishing the public school system of New York City, the establishment and promotion of various institutions of science; in the improvement and modification of crim- inal laws, the extension of agriculture and manufactures, the relief of the poor, the improvement of morals, and many other worthy objects, in which he was in many in- stances the moving spirit.
All these, however, were small in comparison with
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the great work upon which his fame as a public man rests, viz., the building of the Erie Canal. The history of this enterprise and the part he played in it would fill volumes. He labored with indefatigible energy, patience and hope until the great work was an accomplished fact. Through all these weary years "Clinton's folly" was the by-word of scoffers, but he never despaired, and toiled on, often against the most discouraging opposition, never giving an inch, until after a dozen years, a line of cannon stationed at intervals along the much ridi- culed "ditch," awakened the people of the Empire State to the fact that the waters of lake Erie were pour- ing through the canal bearing on their waves the mes- sage that the great lakes were on that day wedded to the Atlantic ocean. In 1816 Governor Daniel D. Tomp- kins was chosen Vice-President and resigned the Gov. ernorship. Clinton was brought forth for the place, bearing not only the odium of advocating the "big ditch," and of the crushing defeat as a Presidential can- didate four years before, but the additional ignominy of having been but one year before removed from the office of Mayor of New York by a council of appointment controlled by his own party. To run for Governor seemed madness, yet the marvelous power and political genius of the man gave him an easy vistory, and he was elected by a heavy majority. He was re-elected in 1820, in 1824, and in 1826. In 1822 he was out of the field, and his enemies once more celebrated his political demise, adding in the course of their two years' rule. the indignity of removing him from the office of Com- missioner of the canal, then under construction. This outrage was more than the people could bear and he was once more brought forward for Governor, running against Samuel Young. The disgraced Canal Commis- sioner was elected by 17,000 majority. While engaged in official duties at Albany he died suddenly on February 11, 1828. Among his works are: Discourses before the New York Historical Society; Memoir on the Antiquities of Western New York; Letters on the Natural History and Internal Resources of New York; Speeches to ile Legislature, and many historic and scientific addresses.
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WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD .- William H. Sew- ard was born May 16. 1801, in the village of Florida, Town of Warwick, Orange County, New York. His father, Dr. Samuel S. Seward, was a physician of good standing and the first Vice-President of the County Medi- cal Society. Dr. Seward was a farmer, as well as physi- cian, and also the magistrate. storekeeper, banker and money-lender of the little village. He lived to a good old age, dying after his son's election to the United States Senate, in 1849.
The family was of New Jersey origin. John Sew- ard, the grandfather of William Henry, served in the war of the Revolution, beginning as Captain and ending his campaign as Colonel of the First Sussex Regiment.
William Henry was the fourth of six children, and following the custom of those days, was selected as the least physically robust, to receive a college education. The village school, the academy at Goshen, a term or two in a short-lived academy at Florida, gave him his preparatory training, and at the age of fifteen, he passed the examination for the junior class at Union College, Schenectady, though the rules as to age at that institu- tion compelled him to enter as a sophomore.
He graduated in 1820, having also spent six months of his senior year teaching in Georgia. He was admitted to the bar in 1822 and settled in Auburn, N. Y. He soou distinguished himself in his profession, and acquired a wide reputation for originality of thought and inde- pendence of action. He took an active interest in poli- ties and in a public address he outlined the history of the so-called "Albany Regency. "-a political clique. who were in complete control of state affairs at that time. His expose of their intrigues led to their political overthrow in 1828. In 1830 he was elected to the State Senate by the Anti-Masons, who at that time were politi- cally powerful in Western New York. He was probably the youngest man ever elected to the Senate at that period, not being quite thirty years of age. He soon be- came the leader of his party in that body, and was a recognized political force throughout the State. In 1834 he was a candidate for Governor but was defeated. In 1SSS he was elected Governor by a large majority, and
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his administration was in many ways the most remark- able in the history of the State.
In 1843, declining a renomination, he resumed his law practice in Auburn. In 1847 he was invited to speak in New York City on the life and character of Daniel O'Connell, and this is said to have been one of the most brilliant oratorical efforts of his public career.
In 1849 he was elected to the United States Senate. and at ouce took a prominent position in the affairs of his party, and soon thereafter was the recognized leader of the administration party. In 1850 he delivered his famous speech on the admission of California as a state, in which he made use of the expression, "there is a higher law than the Constitution, ". that has since acquired wide fame. Another of his felicitous phrases, which is so frequently quoted as giving character to the history of his time, is from a speech delivered in Roches- ter in 1858, in which he declared that there was "an irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces, " and that "the United States must become either entirely slave or entirely free." He was re-elected to the Senate in 1855, and the news of his re-election was received with rejoicing throughout the free states. In 1860 he was the most conspicuous candidate of the Re- publican party for the Presidential nomination, receiv- ing one hundred and seventy-three votes on the first ballot. He was defeated by Mr. Lincoln, but he immed- iately entered the campaign and gave him his most hearty support, making many speeches throughout the West. After the election of Mr. Lincoln he was invited to become a member of his cabinet, and was appointed Secretary of State, a position which he filled for eight years with almost unparalleled industry, energy and sue- cess. During this period he negotiated nearly forty treaties, most of which were of historic importance. Without doubt his finest acts of statesmanship were his management of the Trent affair, his dignified and deter- .mined action at the time of the French invasion of Mex- ico, the purchase of Alaska, the last of which was an act of judgment and foresight not fully appreciated by the public for many years.
In April, 1865, while he was confined to his room
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because of injuries from a fall from his carriage, Presi dent Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth and at the same time another assassin, named Paine, entered the room of Mr. Seward, dangerously wounded his sou, and with a poinard, inflicted wounds upon him that at first it was thought would prove fatal but from which he slowly recovered.
In 1869 he made an extended tour of California and Alaska, and in 1870-71 he made a journey around the world and was received with distinction everywhere. HIc died at his home in Auburn, October 10, 1872.
THE PURCHASE OF ALASKA
The purchase of Alaska by the United States Gov- ernment during a critical period of our national history, and the part played in that transaction by Secretary Seward, was little understood by the general public at that time, and in fact, for many years afterward, vague and contradictory stories were published in the public press regarding that episode. It was made a football of political controversy in several campaigns, largely by those who were totally ignorant of the inside facts of dip- lomatic history. The masterly diplomacy of Secretary William H. Seward was the foundation of this adroit movement by the United States Government, and to him, more than any other single individual, undoubtedly, is due the credit of acquiring this valuable territory at a time when the government was threatened with serious difficulties with the military and naval power of England and France, who both had heavy financial interests in the Southern Confederacy, and during the negotiations for the purchase, favored recognizing the Confederate Government.
Chief Justice Paxson, of Pennsylvania, at a dinner given by the Clover Club, of Philadelphia, to Mr. Charles Emory Smith, in honor of his appointment as Minister to Russia, shortly after the close of the Civil War, un- folded a page of war history by relating some details about the sale of Alaska by the Russian Government to the United States. He said: "The United States paid $7,200,000 in gold for this then-regarded barren and worthless country, but we did not know what was in- volved in the sale of what has since proved a treasure.
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We were struggling in the throes of civil war, and the governments of England and France were being moved by every influence to recognize the Southern Confederacy. The acquisition of Alaska meant much to the Govern- ment. When that sale was completed and the stormns of indignation that followed Secretary Seward when he paid $7,200,000 in gold for that frigid country, all through Europe was also heard the ominous growl of the Russian hear, which said plainer than words to England and France. 'Hands off, or we will interfere and make this a world-wide struggle.' How many knew what deep im- port was vested in the appearance of an entire squadron of Russian gunboats in our harbor? But Seward did. It meant this: The Admiral of that squadron was in possession of sealed erders. His orders from the Rus- sian Government were to remain where he was until this great question that was agitating France and England was settled. Upon the instant the Confederacy was recognized by those European powers the seals were to be broken, and his orders were to report for instructions in person to President Lincoln. That was the depth of the import embodied in the acquisition of Alaska by the United States."
BENJAMIN BARKER ODELL .- Benjamin B. Odell, thirty-seventh Governor of the State of New York. was born at Newburgh. N. Y., January 14, 1854. He was the son of Benjamin Barker and Ophelia (Bookstaver.) Odell. IJe graduated from Newburgh Academy in 1874. and entered Bethany College, in Bethany, W. Va., the same year. He remained there one year. after which be entered Columbia College, New York City, where he continued until 1877. He married Estelle Crist, of New- burgh, April 25, 1877; she died in 1888. His second wife was Mrs. Linda (Crist.) Traphagen, a sister of his first wife, whom he married in 1891. He was a member of the Republican State Committee 1884-96; Chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee 1898-1900; Member of the 54th and 55th Congresses 1895-9. 17th New York District; Governor of New York, two terms, 1901-5. He died at Newburgh, N. Y., May 9, 1926, aged 72 years.
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BENJAMIN BARKER ODELL
Governor of New York State, two terms, 1901-05; born January 14, 1854, died May 9, 1926.
A NARRATIVE HISTORY
MAJOR. EDWARD CARLISLE BOYNTON .- Major F. C. Boynton, a graduate of West Point Military Academy, and for many years an instructor in that in- stitution, is chiefly distinguished as the author of the "Ilistory of West Point and the Origin and Progress of the U. S. Military Academy," and several technical works, all of which are regarded as standard authorities on the subjects of which they treat. He was appointed as a cadet at the United States Military Academy, July 1, 1841. After graduation in 1846, he was assigned to the Second Artillery as Brevet Second Lieutenant and ordered to join the army in Mexico, where he served with General Taylor at the front of the invading force. Ho served at Monterey and at the seizure of Saltillo in 1846. He participated in the siege of Vera Cruz, the battles of Cerro Gardo, Contreras, Churubusco, in the seizure and occupation of Puebla and in the skirmishes at Amazoque and Oka Laka in 1847. He was severely wounded in the action at Cherubusco. He was promoted Second Lieutenant February 16, 1847, and First Lieu- tenant, August 20, 1847, and Brevet Captain at the same time for "gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Contreras and Cherubusco, Mexico." In 1848 he was assigned to the Military Academy at West Point as Assistant Acting Quartermaster. From August, 1848, to September, 1855, he was Assistant Professor of Chem- istry, Mineralogy and Geology. In 1855-66 be accom- panied the expedition against the Seminole Indians in Florida. The degree of A. M. was conferred on him by Brown University in 1856. In 1856 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology in the University of Mississippi, which position he filled until dismissed in 1861 for "want of attachment to the govern- ment of the Confederate States." He was appointed to the United States Army as Captain in 1861, and assigned to the Military Academy, first as Adjutant and then Quar- termaster, remaining at that post throughout the civil war, at its close receiving the brevet of Major for faith- ful services. He resigned from the army in 1872, and thereafter made his home in Newburgh.
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