USA > New York > Orange County > Montgomery > The Goodwill memorial, or, The first one hundred and fifty years of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church : Montgomery, Orange Co., N.Y. > Part 8
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diction such a man and such an officer is to his pastor ! What a benediction he was to me! I have not looked upon his like since I saw him last alive, and I fear I shall not soon look on such another." All this the sense of the community approves, for the fragrance of his life abides, showing that he lived not in vain. "He left not only a vacant chair in the family, but in the community and in the church and its session, that no other man can fill as it has been filled. Two such men and two such elders as Dr. James Van Keuren and Nathaniel Brewster, whom the session of the Goodwill church has so recently lost, can ill be spared, and sorely will they both be missed. But Jesus lives forever, the Lord reigns, and His church is His peculiar care." Mr. Brewster's wife-his companion for forty years-died April 9th, 1853, leaving two sons: William Cod
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dington and Nathaniel Augustus; and one daughter, Susan Ann-Mrs. George C. Weeks.
August 15th, 1856, he was again married to Mary Ann Bowne, who survives him. He died June 2d, 1869, in the eighty-third year of his age, and in the forty-seventh year of his eldership in the church. His was " a good old age." His hoary head was to him a crown of glory, for it was found in the way of righteousness.
WILLIAM GRAHAM.
" He was a noble man, and deeply does this church feel his loss." So wrote his pastor a few years after his death. and that this is his memorial in the community the lapse of twenty years conclusively proves. The roll of elders of the Goodwill church contains no name more honored than that of William Graham.
Through his mother he was directly connected with the founders of the colony of the " people of the Wallkill " and with the early elders in this church, as also with one of the most worthy of the early families ; for while his father, James W. Graham, came here from the north of Ireland some years after the first settlers, his mother, Lilly Hunter, the widow of James Hunter, Jr., was the daughter of Elder Robert Hunter. She was born December 22d, 1754. When she was married to Mr. Graham the defective church records fail to show. To them were born three children, Mary, William, and Fanny- Mrs. James Jessup. William was born February 6th, 1794. Though his early educational advantages were limited, his hirst for learning was intense, and through his varied and extensive reading, which he thoroughly digested, his mind was stored with a large fund of general knowledge which he held at ready command.
Inheriting from his Scotch-Irish ancestry, in a very large degree, the robust common sense, the prudence, energy and ndustry of that thrifty and sturdy race, he was far better fit- ed for life's great work than many a one who has enjoyed a
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liberal education. His judgment was sound and his integrity unswerving. His counsels were eagerly sought and highly prized, and young men found in him both a safe adviser and a sympathizing friend. His ability and fidelity were often called into requisition, and would have been displayed more fre- quently and in wider fields but for the modest estimate he' placed on his own capacities, which led him repeatedly to de- cline positions of honor and trust which were urged upon his acceptance. His aspirations fell below both his merits and his opportunities. So to discharge the duties of a christian husband, father, neighbor, and citizen, as to have always "a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men," filled completely the measure of his ambition. December 11th, 1821, he married Hannah Houston, daughter of John Houston, and great-granddaughter of Rev. Joseph Houston, the first pastor of Goodwill church-a union which was sev- ered by the death of Mrs. Graham on its twenty-second anniver- sary. Through this event five sons and four daughters were left to mourn the loss of a true mother ; but the favor of a covenant God was continued with them, and when, years after, the father too was taken from earth, the children all re- mained. Two of the sons-John Houston, who occupies the homestead, and Gardner S., of Warren, Wisconsin-chose their father's occupation, the pursuit of agriculture ; one en- tered the ministry, Rev. James Robert Graham, D.D., since 1851 pastor of the Kent Street Presbyterian Church at Win- chester, Va .; one, William, chose the legal profession, and is a practicing lawyer at Dubuque, Iowa ; while Henry Blain, the youngest, died in the service of his country. Of the daughters, Mary Louisa married Rev. Wm. J. Blain, son of Rev. Wm. Blain, for years the pastor of this church, and Helen E., Fran- ces A., and Margaret, devoting themselves to educational pur- suits, have for several years conducted one of the first schools for young ladies in the city of New York.
Mr. Graham was afterwards married (June 15, 1847) to Mrs. Caty Crawford, daughter of Joseph Barber and Jane McCob, who survived him.
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But it is his relation to the church which this sketch is in- tended more particularly to record, as his whole life was passed in intimate connection with it. Baptized a member in in- fancy, and a regular attendant on its services from childhood, he yet made no public confession of his faith in Christ till June 3d, 1831. This long delay in uniting with the church in for- mal profession was in part attributable to his high sense of what a church member should be, and in part to the spirit of the time which was against early confession of Christ. Two years afterwards he was elected clerk and treasurer of the congregation, which office he held till his death. August 26th, 1838, he was ordained an elder. He had some time previous been elected to the office, but so exalted was his estimate of its nature and claims, and so profound his sense of personal unfitness for it, that only an imperative sense of duty led him at length to assume its sacred responsibilities. As was to be expected from one of his temperament and views, he, from this time onward, devoted himself with renewed zeal to the maintenance of the purity and welfare of the church, his uni- formly consistent life and thoroughly consecrated spirit mak- ing him an example "to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him an overseer."
Like Abraham of old, he commanded his household after him. In the social prayer-meeting, unless providentially hin- dered, he was always present, and always able and willing to take an edifying part. The sabbath school found in him a true friend and faithful teacher. The records of the session show that he was rarely absent from its meetings. His worldly affairs he so ordered that he might wait upon God in all the public ordinances, while to the benevolent agencies of the church abroad, as well as to its support at home, he was a liberal and cheerful contributor. In perilous times, and in every conflict with the enemies of truth, his pastor could con- fidently rely upon his cordial and efficient support. On the one hand he was no bigot, for he loved and was ever ready to affiliate in every good work with God's people of whatever name; nor, on the other hand, was he an enthusiast. To him
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religion was an every day duty ; faith in Christ an ever pres- ent fact, and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the earnest of his meetness to be " a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light." Those who were aroused to their need of a Redeemer by his stirring exhortations and fervent prayers will ever regard him as the model elder, who
"Lured to brighter worlds, and led the way."
On the 22d of March, 1860, " he fell on sleep" in the faith and hope of a joyful resurrection.
ANDREW N. YOUNG.
" The memory of the just is blessed," and in the list of elders whose consecrated spirits and godly lives adorn the annals of this venerable church, Andrew Neely Young pro- bably stands second to none in genuine excellence and sterling worth. He was born in the district now embraced in the town of Hamptenburgh, July 24th, 1796, the fourth son of Charles and Mary Steward Young. His ancestry on his father's side cannot be traced further back, in consequence of the loss of family records by fire, but as Charles Young was born in Ulster county, October 14th, 1745, we may place them among the early settlers in the precinct. Moreover, Charles Young's family belonged to the Neelytown church. Early in the settlement of " the people of Wallkill," William Young pur- chased part of the Hume patent (including what was afterwards the Major Sly farm). The name of William Young appears in the records of the Goodwill church previous to the organiza- tion of the church at Neelytown, but not afterward, and in 1769 it stands among the names of the Neelytown trustees. Charles Young was at that time but twenty-four years of age, and the conjecture is at least plausible, that the William Young first mentioned is identical with the one who appears afterward, and that Charles Young was his son. Mr. Young's maternal an- cestors were Scotch. In 1731, John Steward-who, with his brother Walter, had been brought, orphans, from Scotland,
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and who on attaining manhood had come together to America -purchased property at what is now known as Brown's mills. He married the daughter of the Rev. John Bradner of Go- shen, and to them were born two children, John and Mary. Mary became the wife of Charles Young. To them were born four sons and three daughters, viz. : William, John S., James, Andrew N., Eunice, Julia (Mrs. George Miller), and Elizabeth.
On the 7th of January, 1823, Andrew N. was united in marriage to Isabella H. Trimble, daughter of Alexander Trim- ble (2). To them were born two sons and six daughters, viz. : John Steward, Elizabeth, Adaline Trimble-Mrs. George E. Van Amringe, Isabella Borland-Mrs. John H. Graham, Mary-Mrs. H. Knox Taylor, Jane Comfort-Mrs. A. J. Rock- afellow, Sarah Roy, and Andrew. Mrs. Isabella H .. Young died January 4th, 1848. Mr. Young afterward married (Feb- ruary 7th, 1851) Mrs. Eveline King of Middletown, formerly Miss Beyea, who survives him.
June 3d, 1831, Mr. Young publicly professed his faith in Christ, and for upwards of forty-six and a half years he bore an unwavering testimony to the preciousness of the Gospel of the Saviour. June 13th, 1847, he was ordained a ruling elder, in which office he faithfully and acceptably served his church for thirty and one half years, commanding the confidence and affection of all, and showed himself " an example of believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in puri- ty," until he " came to his grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season."
Quiet and undemonstrative in manner, reserved in conver- sation, and never thrusting himself into notice, those only within the circle of his most intimate friends knew him well : but in their hearts his amiable and cheerful spirit, his thought- ful kindness, and considerate regard for the interest and hap- piness of others, won for him a warm and lasting place, and yet so gentle was he, so conciliatory in his address, so candid in his utterances, and so sincere, humble and consistent in his Christian walk, that to know him at all was to respect and trust and love him. Indeed, so universal was the esteem
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with which he was regarded, that no one probably can recall an instance in which a word was spoken to his disparagement. The transparent purity of his character disarmed calumny, and her shafts were never directed against him. A good citi- zen, an obliging neighbor, a steadfast friend, a faithful hus- band, a wise father, and a judicious church officer, he is re- membered by all who knew him for his soundness of judgment, for his kindness of feeling. He had passed beyond the period of four-score years, and having filled up the measure of his days in the faithful discharge of his duty in all the relations of life, he awaited the summons to depart with that meek and calm re- signation to his Master's will which so eminently belonged to him. And having followed in the footsteps of his Saviour for so many years, when his life of devotional trust and service was about to close, he was not without that Saviour's needed presence and aid, cheering his hopes, supporting his faith, and enabling him to realize his full security as a member of Christ and an heir of salvation. On the 14th day of December, 1877, in the 82d year of his age, the summons for which he waited was received, and he passed up into glory. His end was peace.
On the day of his burial the session of the church of which he had so long been a member placed upon record, " That in the life of the departed we have an example eminently worthy of study and imitation, in the blamelessness of his deportment, the unwavering confidence he reposed in his Saviour, his love for the church, his charity, and his patience in all the vicissi- tudes that marked his career-'a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.'"
JAMES VAN KEUREN. "The beloved physician."
Dr. Van Keuren was of Holland and Scotch-Irish descent. Whether his great-great-grandparents, on his father's side, ever had a home on this side of the Atlantic is not to-day known to their descendants. Their family record, however, kept with
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peculiar care, has been preserved. That they were Dutch no one will question after reading their names. Tjerck Matthyse Van Keuren, born December 16th, 1682, and Maritye Ten Eyck, born October 16th, 1682, were married February Ist, 1702. The former died June 18, 1742, and the latter April 6th, 1760. Their third son, Benjamin, born November 10th, 1713, was married July 11th, 1735, to Sarah Swart, born February 2Ist, 1710. In 1745, they came with their two sons, Tjerck and Hendricus, to the farm still owned and occupied by Eli Van Keuren, Benjamin's ,grandson by an after-marriage to Mary Van Benschooten. This Van Keuren homestead is in the town of Shawangunk, about three miles north of the vil- lage of Pine Bush. Hendricus married Annache Jansen, and a few years after removed with his family to Montgomery, purchasing two hundred and six acres of land from George Monell. The deed is dated May 3d, 1768. This land was in the James Smith patent, and extended from the most northerly corner of the T. Noxon patent on the south to the line of the Archibald Kennedy patent on the north. It included what is now the Downs' farm, just west of the Goodwill property, but extended further to the south. Part of the stone house, which is still occupied, was built by Van Keuren previous to the revolution. It was the original tract of John McNeal, Sr. Van Keuren added to it twenty-three and one-half acres, pur- chased from the executors of John Wharry-date of deed June 3d, 1768-and a few years later twenty acres more. Everything that has been left on record regarding Hendricus Van Keuren, shows him to have been a man not only of prop- erty, but of sterling worth and of prominence in the commun- ity. At the commencement of the revolution he heartily espoused the cause of the colonies and served throughout the war as a captain-according to family tradition, gratuitously. A few years after his removal to this place his wife, Annache, died, leaving two children, Benjamin, who became the father of Miller Van Keuren, the senior elder in the Montgomery village Presbyterian church, and Margaret. He afterwards married Margaret Miller, sister of Johannes Miller, one of the early
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German settlers. To them were born one son, Henry, and three daughters, Annache-Mrs. William S. Miller ; Sarah -- Mrs. Daniel McNeal, and Esther-Mrs. John Hunter. He died December 8th, 1802, in the 65th year of his age. Marga- ret, his wife, died June 8th, 1826, in the 75th year of her age. His son Henry was married August 26th, 1808, to Nancy Sut- ter (written also Shuter and Suter), a descendant of the early Scotch-Irish settlers. He died July 26th, 1825, in the 38th year of his age. Their children were James, the subject of this sketch, and Margaret, afterward Mrs. Lewis Miller, now the widow of Daniel Newkirk. His widow afterward married Rev. R. H. Wallace, pastor of the Little Britain church.
James was born June 22d, 1809. He was baptized in the Goodwill church September 10th, 1809. Early manifesting a disposition to break away from the pursuit of agriculture, which his ancestors through so many generations had followed, he devoted himself to study, and on the 6th of March, 1830, when not yet twenty-one years of age, graduated from the medical college in Philadelphia. Returning to Orange county to con- mence the practice of his profession, his course indicated what was afterwards so fully realized, that he intended in all rela- tions of life to be a true man. Well would it be for the young if they would copy his example. On the 5th of September, in the same year, he united with the Little Britain church, and on the Tuesday following he was married to Eunice W. Craw- ford, a descendant by her father from James Crawford, and by her mother from Robert Burnet, early settlers in Lit- tle Britain. September 24th, 1848, he was ordained an elder in the church. Ten years later, on May Ist, 1858, he united with the Goodwill church-the church of his infancy and youth. The next year he was elected to the eldership, in which capacity he served with fidelity till he was called to his reward. The former pastor of this church writes of him : " According to my judgment he was a good man, a good Chris- tian, a good elder, and a good physician-a physician not only of the body but of the soul, for his patients frequently con-
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sulted him as earnestly about the latter as the former, and trusted him as fully in regard to the one as the other. His life in many respects resembled the life of his Lord while on earth, for 'he went about doing good,' 'healing the sick,' ad- ministering comfort and consolation to the down-hearted and discouraged, and bringing liberal relief to the poor and the needy. An elder for many years, he was conscientiously faithful in the discharge of the duties of his office. Liberal in his support of the ordinances at home, and of all the philan- thropic and evangelistic efforts of the age, kind, gentle, con- ciliatory, and wise, he was a great support to his pastor. When he earned money, it was that he might do good with it, nor did he let his left hand know what his right hand did in the way of gentle, kind benefactions, which were many and great. Pleasant, well-informed, full of geniality and good- nature, he was an exceedingly pleasant companion, whose con- versation was cheering, instructive and elevating-calculated to attract both young and old to the paths of righteousness. His was a good and useful life, and his memory will live in the grateful remembrance of multitudes who have admired his character and been blessed by his benefactions." He de- parted this life November 5th, 1868. His wife and their only son, Francis Crawford, survive him. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."
SAMUEL FINLEY.
The session of the Goodwill church being convened on Friday, October 31st, 1879, unanimonsly adopted the follow- ing :
"Whereas, on the 26th inst., our brother, Samuel Finley, departed this life in the bright hope of a glorious immortality, we, the session of the Goodwill church, hereby place on record our high appreciation of him as an honest man, a true Christian, and a judicious officer in the church of Jesus Christ. During the seven and a half years that he has been with us-thrce and a quarter of which he has served as an elder-we have recog
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nized in him the earnest disciple of the Master, careful for the interests of Zion, and deeply solicitous for the salvation of souls. His conversation has marked him as one who could truly say : "Lord I have loved the habitation of Thy house and the place where Thine honor dwelleth." In his death we feel ourselves admonished to work " while it is day," and to be in readiness for our decease. Resolved, That a copy of this minute be given to the family of the departed, with whom we deeply smypathize in their bereavement, but whom we con- gratulate, in the midst of their sorrow, on the rich legacy which is theirs in the precious memories they are privileged to cherish, and in counsels and prayers that are abiding, for " he being dead yet speaketh."
John Finley, the grandfather of Samuel, came to this coun- try from Longford county, Ireland, some years before the revolution. Family tradition says that for some time he engaged in teaching. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick McClaughry, who came over in 1729 in the same ship with Clinton, Denniston, Young, and others, and who, when the Associate church at Little Britain was organized, was ordained one of its elders. Finley purchased from McClaughry, in 1773, a tract of land which has been retained in the family -the life-long home of the subject of this sketch and his only brother-as years ago it was divided between them.
To John and Elizabeth Finley were born six children, Mary, Elizabeth, Samuel, John, Margaret-Mrs. Dr. Charles Fowler," and James. James married Elizabeth Boyd, daughter
* Dr. Fowler is one of the Newburgh Fowler family. They are of English ancestry, and their genealogy in this country is traced back to Joseph Fowler, who is mentioned as one of the first settlers near Mespat Kills, L. I., 1665. Dr. Fow- ler was one of eleven children born to Isaac Fowler, Jr., and his wife, Glorianna Merritt. He married Sarah Hill, daughter of Peter Hill and his wife Isabella Trimble. Their children, with the exception of one that died young, were Isabella H., who married Major John F. Scott ; Nathaniel H., who married Sarah E. Munn ; Mary H., who married Rev. B. Carter ; Dr. Charles G. Fowler, who married Ann E. McNeal, and Peter H. Fowler, who married Anna Jansen. Dr. Fowler's second wife was Margaret Finley. He was once chosen to the eldership, but declined to serve on account of ill health.
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of James Boyd, long an elder in the Little Britain church. Their children were Samuel, Elizabeth M .- Mrs. Rev. J. W. Shaw, and James B. Samuel was born June 16th, 1816. When about twenty-six years of age he united with the Reformed Presby- terian church at Coldenham, with which his father's family and his great-grandfather's had been associated. March 26, 1844, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John T. Brown of Coldenham, who survives him with their three daughters, Agnes F .- Mrs. A. C. Burnett ; Margaret E .- Mrs. J. D. Bull, and Helen-Mrs. A. E. Morrison. In May, 1857, the family united with the church at Little Britain where they wor- shiped till May 4th, 1872, when they removed their connec- tion to the Goodwill church. A little more than four years after- wards, or on the 20th of August, 1876, Mr. Finley was ordained an elder. This church could have given him no stronger evidence of their regard and confidence, and he proved him- self in every way worthy, for until the day of his death no man in the community lived a more blameless life. He was to the last a growing Christian, just such as is described in the first three verses of the first Psalm, for while he took an inter- est in the general affairs of his day, he was to a wonderful extent a man of one book, and with that book-God's own- he was wonderfully familiar. In all the affairs of the church, too, he was deeply interested, and though quiet and unobtru- sive, he was always ready to undertake whatever duty was assigned him. The prayer-meeting in his immediate neigh- borhood sadly misses his presence and active support. In the sabbath school, too, he was eminently faithful. To visit him in his last sickness was to approach the gate of heaven. To his praise be it said, that those who knew him the most inti- mately prized him the most highly. " I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write : Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."
As forming THE CONNECTING LINK between the past and the present acting session, of which he is the senior member- and long may he occupy the place-is
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CHARLES MILLER.
Those who were ordained with him, June 3d, 1847, are gone, with all those already in the eldership with whom he then became associated in official duties. His ancestors were not among the first settlers. They came in after the forests had been broken in upon and the foundations had been laid; yet they became associated with the church at least one hun dred and sixteen years ago.
January 20th, 1764, Samuel Miller purchased land which is still in the family. He came from Canada, where he had been in some mercantile business. When he came is not known. The language of the deed of the land he first bought would suggest that previous to the purchase he had been a merchant here also. His children were George S., who mar- ried Julia Young ; James, who married Fanny Falls; William S., who married Annache Van Keuren, and Mary, who became the wife of Benjamin Van Keuren.
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