NOTES: All items in
[] are rough guesses as to what was hand written.
Note 1: Low Dutch:
After several years living in Europe and researching these words I have come to
understand them as a Lowlander Dutch person. The Netherlands, or Nederland in
the German language means the low lands. A NeiderDeutsch person is considered to
be a northern German living near the coast. Over dinner in Rotterdam a Dutch
friend stated that the Dutch people consider all persons living outside of the
two provinces near the coast, which make up the area called Holland, as High
Dutch and those people who live in the land reclaimed from the sea (Holland)
are considered Low Dutch. Today in the Nederland this area is also called the
Westlands.
Added information:
Copy of original by Benj. Depue Hursh (from Paul E. Hursh, Marengo, IA)
Hainesville N.J. June 20th 1887
Now at the age of nearly seventy two years
my thoughts continue to wander back to the days of my early childhood and to
those of my relatives and acquaintances by whom I was then surrounded the
memory of whom is still fresh and pleasant to me. And occupying as I do the old
homestead of my grandfather Benjamin Depue every feature of which is familiar
to my memory as it appeared sixty five years ago naturally brings vividly to my
mind many incidents of early life in connection with them and with the time
when this old home of my grandfather was occupied by him and my grandmother
Osee Depue and where their children gathered around the family hearth in
fraternal heartfelt sympathy. And as with me must pass away most of the
memories of my ancestry I feel a desire to leave for those who come after me a
brief sketch of what I remember of them and what little I have been able to
gather from others concerning them.
John Stivers
The most ancient of my ancestry of whom I
have personal knowledge was my mother’s grandfather – his home was in Middlesex
County in this State in the vicinity [Bouhamtown] and Woodbridge and as I have
always understood was descended from the early Low Dutch (note 1) of East New
Jersey. His wife was a Miss Campbell of a prominent Scottish family in that
vicinity whose descendants are still numerous in Middlesex County and other
parts of this State. When I remember Grandfather Stivers as we usually called
him was about D 1820 at Grandfather Depue’s almost in the same place I am now
writing. He was then very old and was entirely blind. He was an energetic
patriot in the revolutionary war and I have heard numerous anecdotes related of
his personal prowess in his conflicts with the British and Tories who for a
time were quite plenty in his vicinity. His descendants as far as I ever knew
were Randal Stivers, Mary, Osee and Elizabeth. Randal settled in Frankford
Township north east of Culvers Gap on the farm now owned by his son Simeon H.
Stivers jointly with John L. Everitt of Branchville. He was twice married. My
knowledge of his children is imperfect. I know of John, Katherine and Jacob
besides their daughters by the first wife. And Benjamin William and Simeon H.
besides daughters of the second wife. John and Jacob are farmers, Simeon H. was
many years in the clothing business from which he has now retired in very
comfortable circumstances. Katherine married Henry McDonolds who became a
prominent merchant in Branchville where he accumulated a moderate fortune and
died soon after middle life. His wife survived him a number of years. Their
children were William, Matilda, Henry, Mary Anne, Jane and James. Randal
Stivers second wife was a German and by her his children were Benjamin William
and Simeon H. besides daughters. Benjamin and William died before middle life.
Simeon H. still survives. Mary daughter of John Stivers married a Mr. Martin
and lived in New York City pursued the business of a Drayer employing numerous
carts and Drays and became the owner of a number of houses and city lots. Their
descendants if any are unknown to me. Osee married my grandfather Benjamin
Depue. Elizabeth married James Compton and lived mostly in this county. They
raised a numerous family of whom I remember David, Gabriel, William, Jane,
Sarah, Richmond, and Elias. The were an honest worthy couple but did not
accomplish much in the way of worldly thrift and were always in humble
circumstances. Randal Stivers in early life worked at wagon making but finally
settled upon the above mentioned property and followed farming the rest of his
life.
Benjamin Depue
My maternal grandfather was descended from
French ancestors who settled in Pahaquarry Warren County on the opposite side
of the Delaware in Pennsylvania nearly two hundred years ago and before William
Penn got to Philadelphia (since so named). The settlement at these places by
the Depues at these places is mentioned in New Jersey Historical Collections on
page 506 in an article taken from Hazards Register to which reference here is
made. His mother was a [Rancamfun] descended from the original Low Dutch (note
1) in that section of the family are still numerous in Warren County. He served
at an early age in the Revolutionary army, was at the retreat from Long Island
and some of the subsequent conflicts during the retreat across New Jersey.
After the close of his service in the army he married Osee Stivers, daughter of
John Stivers of Middlesex county and moved from Pahaquarry to this place about
the year 1787. The Title Deed of which is from Thomas Romeys bearing date in
1791, Romey’s Deed is signed “Stirling” and dated 1765 both of which deeds I
now have. They had seven children that grew to maturity John, Mary, Samuel,
Moses, Hannah, Sarah and Randal. John married Phibe a daughter of Timothy Shay
and settled in this township upon the farm now owned by Evan Bevans. He had
eight sons and two daughters but one of whom are now living. Benjamin, Timothy,
Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David, John S. and Samuel, Mary and Sarah, only John S.
now survives. John Depue was born May 4th 1780 Died May 6th
1866 aged 86 yrs + 2 days, his wife Phibe died January 28th 1849
aged 66 yrs 1 month + 29 days. Mary married Isaac Compton a brother of James
here inbefore mentioned and soon after moved to the western part of New York
State then a new country and before the Erie Canal was heard of and settled in
the vicinity of Lewiston. I have no knowledge of the present whereabouts of any
of her descendants. Sameul married Elizabeth Ogden for his first wife and
[Jenima Wruten] of Orange County for his second wife. They raised nine children
of whom none remain in this part of the country. Moses married Mary Crawford of
Montague in this county and soon after moved to the neighborhood of
[Canandaigua] in the western part of New York. They had fifteen children of whom Hannah the present
widow of Randal Depue now eighty years old is the only one in this part of the
country. Hannah married Anthony Hursh my father and always lived in this
township they had ten children six of whom lived to grow up. She died in
September 1848 aged about 57 years. As far as known four of her children
still survive. Sarah married David
Sayre and lived some time in Montague and afterward moved to Pike County
Pennsylvania bought land and settled there. They had eight children, Seely,
Susan, Mary, Evi John, Osee, James and Randal all of whom died before middle
age except Randal who still survives
but is without children. Randal the youngest of Benjamin Depues children
married Hannah a daughter of his brother Moses Depue and went to PA and lived
one year and prospered but the grief of his father and mother on account of his
absence induced him to return. His father giving him a Deed for the farm he settled
permanently here until his death March 6 1878 aged 80 years. They had four
children, [Orfha], Amanda, Chauncy and [Eleeta] of whom the mother and Chuncy +
[Eleeta] are still living. Benjamin Depue died June 1 1849 aged 88 yrs 5 m’s +
17 d’s. Osee his wife died March 3 1831 aged 72 yrs 1 m 24 d’s
John Hursh
My paternal grandfather lived in Hardyston
Township this county. His wife was Margaret. They were both of German descent.
He was very ingenious at working in wood and made many useful and necessary
articles for the use of neighbors in these early times as flax and woolen
spinning wheels chairs tables and almost any article needed made of wood. They
had a numerous family of whom I recollect George, John, Anthony, Catharine
Susan, Jacob, Maria and Margaret all of whom except Anthony moved west and
settled in Ohio and Indiana more than sixty years ago and we have but little
knowledge of them for the last fifty years. Anthony married Hannah daughter of
Benjamin Depue and built a small house and shop on a part of what was then my
grandfather’s farm where he lived the greater part of his life and where his
six children of whom I was the oldest grew up maintained by the labour of his
hands as a blacksmith. His children were Benjamin, Osee, Lydia, Maria, George
and Susan besides four others who died in infancy. As far as I now know only
Susan and Osee have since died. Anthony my father died in 1847.
Timothy Shay
My wifes paternal grandfather
was born of Irish ancestry October 26 1756 and came to this part of the country
at an early day while it was mostly a wilderness and in the year 1775 married
Mary Drake and settled down on what is now the farm of [Jeftha] Shay then in a
state of nature and though rough and unpromising at the time he located upon
it. He by untiring industry and hard work left it at his death a well improved
farm. They had fourteen children of whom twelve lived to grow up. Elizabeth,
Phebe, David, Ephraim, Joshua, Sarah, John, Mary, Ruth, Osee, Hannah and
Benjamin. Elizabeth the oldest of the children who lived to grow up married
James [Faurot] and they settled on the farm now owned by Robert H. Everitt
where they raised a large family and where she died in 1821 June 16 and was the
first interred in the burying ground at the Centerville church. Faurot
afterwards moved to Susquehanna County, PA where he died at an advanced age.
There is none of his descendants remaining in this part of the country at this
time. Phebe married John Depue. They settled in this township on the farm now
owned by Evan Bevans. They raised a family of ten children of whom one John S.
Depue is now living. Phebe died Jan 28th 1849. David married Joanna
Emory and settled in this township. He served in the Militia in the war of 1812
came home from the service sick from exposure and died having five children.
Elizabeth, Jacob, Timothy, Sarah and Ross. Elizabeth married Joseph Heming a
shoemaker and tanner and settled upon the old Emory homestead now owned by the
heirs of William L. Bevins deceased where they spent their life and left a
number of children of whom only a daughter and granddaughter now remain in this
part of the Country [unreadable word]Sally Ann widow of Dr Isaac S. Hunt and
Florence daughter of David Heming. David Shay was the first person interred in
the “Shaytown Burying ground” now the Hainesville Cemetery in 1814. All the
rest of the families of David Shey and Joseph Fleming went to the far west.
Ephraim married Ann Ogden and settled upon the land now the farm of Theodore
Shay his son. The raised seven children Susan, Timothy, Theodore, James, Mary,
Joshua and Osee. Three of whom settled in this township vis Timothy, Theodore
and Joshua. Joshua married Experience Ogden a sister of his brother Ephraim’s
wife and settled upon the land now the farm of Daniel Warner. They raised five
children Timothy, Dyer, Phebe, [Jeftha C], Isaiah and Hanna of whom only Phebe
and [Jeftha C.] are now living. Sarah married John Layton for his second wife
in middle life and died leaving no children. John my wife’s father married
Sarah Whiting and after living a few years on the land now the farm of John Y.
Clark removed to and settled upon the farm at Big Hat Brook now owned by
William Clark fm where he died. They raised six children. Jesse, Anna, Phebe,
Ephraim, James + Elizabeth all of whom except Jesse and Phebe still survive.
Mary married Jacob Probasco a blacksmith and settled for a time on the east
side of the road opposite to the old burying ground now a part of the
Hainsville Cemetery. They afterwards moved to Pike County PA and finally went
to Ohio where they died. They raised a numerous family of whom none remain in
this part of the country. Ruth married Silsby Weed and settled in Pennsylvania
in the region of the Susquehanna River of their descendants I have no
knowledge. Osee married Whitfield Van Ness and settled along the Susquehanna
River. They reared a large family of whom Edwin and William G reside in this
neighborhood. Hannah married Levi Lewis a carpenter and lived in this
neighborhood for some years finally removed to the Susquehanna country. Their
family was not very numerous. Benjamin married a [Mifs] Writer of Orange County
N.Y. and settled on the farm now owned by Wm G. Rankes and subsequently moved
to Susquehanna County PA in the vicinity of Montrose. They also raised a large
family none of whom live in this state. The Shay family are a forcible
illustration of what can be accomplished by energy + application. Now a little
more than a century since Timothy Shay and Mary Drake joined their fortune and
went to work to make a home for themselves and their future descendants in what
was then a wilderness. Their descendants are a host and the wild places of the
earth made to blossom as the rose.
Elijah Whiting
My wife’s maternal grandfather came to
this part of the country from along the North River below West Point. His Wife
Anna was a sister of James Faurot hereinbefore mentioned from the same section.
He was of English descent and settled on the land now a part of the farm of S.
E. Hursh a bunch of lily flags on a knoll in the meadow shows the place where
his first dwelling stood. He afterwards built a house where S. E. Hursh’s house
now stands and kept a tavern there. Most of the country about him was then
woods. I heard my wife’s mother say that when a girl she had hunted the cows
all through the woods about their place where is now beautiful fields and
meadows. He subsequently moved to the northern part of the State of New York in
the vicinity if Danville where they ended their days. Of their large family all
went with them but Sarah the wife of John Shay my wife’s mother.
Family Record of Timothy Shay
Copied from the old
Family bible now in possession of Theodore Shay
Timothy Shay Born
Oct 26th 1756 Died July 1837
Mary Drake his wife
born Aug 20th 1759 married Jan 19th 1775
Phebe Shay born
March 4th 1779 Died in infancy
Elizabeth Shay born
March 26th 1781 Died Jan 16th 1831
Phebe Shay born Nov
29th 1782 Died Jan 28 1849
David Shay born Feb
27 1785
Ephraim Shay born
Feb 11th 1787
Joshua Shay born Feb
17th 1789
Sarah Shay born Jan
21st 1791
John Shay born Dec 9th
1793
Mary Shay born Jun
27th 1795
Ruth Shay born Aug
20th 1797
Osee Shay born Nov 5th
1799
Hannah Shay born Jan
13th 1802
Benjamin Shay Born
Jan 22nd 1804
Timothy Shay + Mary
Emory his second wife
first Mary Rubart
married June 8th 1825
John Rubart Father
of Mary Oct 1828
Cornelia Rubart his
wife died March 1st 1831
Anthony Hursh
My father was born in Hardyston Township this
county March 1 1793. Where his father had a place of his own but the family
being large and his death occurring at the age of fortyfour years my father was
in early life apprenticed to Aaron Cartright to learn the trade of a
blacksmith. Cartright afterwards and during the apprenticeship moved
to this township and
settled in what was then called Cartright Town (they being numerous there at
that time but none of the families here then remain now) near where John Ryle
now lives where he had a shop near the forks of the road east of Nyles. My
grandfather Hursh’s family being large and the opportunities for securing an
education being very limited my father received no school advantages whatever
and could neither read or write. After serving out his apprenticeship he
married Hannah daughter of Benjamin Depue August 1st 1814. She
remained at home the first eighteen months and my father continued to work in
the shop of his former master. I being their first child was born here in the
house that stood upon the same ground at present occupied by dwelling in which
I am now writing and near the same spot at half past six o’clock September 5th
1815. My father and mother soon after went to Montague and lived and worked
upon the premises of James B. Armstrong where his son George Armstrong now
lives. After living and working at his trade there for a year or two he built a
small house and shop upon the lower end of my grandfather Depue’s farm on the
spot where Charles McManus now lives and has his blacksmith shop. The north
part of the McManus’ house was built by my father as an addition to his first
little house in 1824. Their children were all born here except myself and grew
up here supported by my father working at his trade. There being six children
of us at home and the country new and comparatively poor my fathers task was an
arduous one. Yet we were respectfully brought up and sent to school and given
sufficient education to qualify us to take care of our individual interests.
The teacher was paid for his services by the parents or friends of those who
went to school usually at the rate of from $1.50 to $2 per scholar per quarter
of seventy two days of eight hours per day. Non subscribers sending to them
scholars paid in proportion for the number of days sent. A free school was not
then thought of in this part of New Jersey. The school house where the older
children of my father first went to school was a log cabin standing on the west
side of the road at the foot of the hill where the Shaytown road turns off from
the road leading up the hill to Obadiah Bevans house where Uncle Samuel Depue
then lived in a double-log house. The school house had two four pane windows
and one larger window on the east side next to the road a stick chimney
plastered with clay and a back wall and hearth for a fire place. Many times the
scholars suffered from cold in the winter and in the summer time the sun shone
down upon the hearth in a broad bright spot. The writing desks were wide boards
along two sides of the room supported by sticks driven into holes bored into
the logs + supported by braces. The seats were the flat side of slabs with legs
driven to them. Sometimes in the early winter while the ground was yet bare we
were sent out upon the hill east of the school house to search for and carry in
any old wood we could find to keep up a fire that would make it possible to
stay in school. About 1830 a roomy stone schoolhouse was built upon the corner
where the present schoolhouse now stands near the church, to be used for school
and religious meetings. My father remained upon lot upon which he had built
containing between four and five acres until 1837 when he removed upon the lot
now occupied by G F Kinner having bought it of Everitt VanAaken and sold his
farm place to me the deed for which I yet have dated April 14th
1836. He stayed upon the Kinner lot until 1840 when he rented a house of Joshua
Shay above Hainsville and worked in the shop of John A Westbrook where P. N.
Rundles now is in the village and finally returned to his old homestead which
he rented of [Jeptha] Clark to whom I had sold it in 1840. Here he remained
until his death which occurred September 12th 1841. Sister Susan
died a few weeks previous Aug 12th 1841. This year is noted as
unusually sickly and every 12th person in the township died during
the year, the prevailing disease being typhoid fever and dysentery. My fathers
children were Benjamin D. born Sep 5th 1815. John August 2nd
1817, died in infancy, Sally Sept 1st 1818 died at 7 years old. Osee
Feb 1st 1821 died March 21 1880, Lydia Hursh March 1st
1822 died in infancy, Lydia C. Hursh Sept 25 1823, Marie July 21st
1826 George July 18th 1829, and Susan March 7th 1826.
Hannah Hursh our mother died while on a visit to Benjamin and Moses Shoemaker in
Pahaquarry Warren County Sept 15th 1848. My father and mother and
sister Susan are interred in the old Shaytown burying ground now a part of the
Hainsville Cemetery.
Their Children
Benjamin D. born and always lived in this
township from his birth and now living upon the homestead of his grandfather
since 1881 – Osee married a man by the name of Minugh from New York by whom she
had three children Ida, John and Wallace, finally settled in Ohio where she
died March 21st 1880, her children after her death went to Missouri
and the last I knew of them they were in Kansas City – Lydia married John G.
Ludlow and engineer + machinist and went to Pennsylvania in the Iron region
about Bloomsburgh. Ludlow finally deserted her and she is now living at
Bloomsburgh with her daughter Estella and her husband Richard H. Angell. Lydia
had three children, Henry, George and Estella. The sons are both skilled
railroad men.
Maria married Peter C. Rulan of Frankford
by whom she had one child Ophelia married and for many years living
Philadelphia her husband is an engineer. Maria’s husband dying she married
Moses Shoemaker a widower with three children then living upon the farm a mile
or two below Millbrook in Pahaquarry Warren County. Here they lived a few years
and exchanged his farm with a Mr. McMurtsy for a farm six miles southeast from
Callaivissa in Pennsylvania. Soon after the close of the civil war he sold the
farm there and bought where now lives, one mile below Dingmans in Pike County
Pa, they have nine children besides three of his and one of her, of the
halfblood – George at father’s death in 1847 came to work with me in the shop
and after working a year or two went to Branchville to assist Joshua Depue in
turning and lath mill and worked a while at painting with Chris McDanolds. In
the summer of 1853 he returned to my place and in the fall went with me into
the store business as a one fourth partner not having much capital. He staid
(sic) in the store with me four years during which time he married June
McDanolds, the youngest daughter of Henry McDanolds and sister of Judge William
McDanolds, Matilda wife of John Dalrymple and others of the family. Leaving my
place he went to Coleville and bought a lot with dwelling and store house and
again went into the mercantile business there until 1861, when he sold
establishment there and came over and rented my store house and bought my goods
and continued the mercantile business two years when he sold out his stock and
removed to Dingmans Pa and kept a store there for a time and eventually moved
from there to Chicago and from there to Marysville in Missouri where his wife
died leaving three children, Joseph, James and Catie who were brought back to
New Jersey by their Uncle Wm DcDanolds. Catie was taken and carefully brought up
by her aunt Matilda Dalrymple, Joseph was taken by Henry Mc Danolds his uncle
living at Passaic and James staid (sic) at Branchville with his uncle Mc
Danolds. The two boys went west to Smith River in Oregon where James married
respectably, Joseph at last accounts being still single. Catie staid (sic) with
her aunt Matilda Dalrymple until she married George Dalrymple a worthy young
man with considerable means are now living upon a farm in Frankford Township
and have one child a little girl, Brother George after the death of his wife
married again a widow with considerable property and some grown up boys.
Failing to agree with this party he went to Santa Barbary (sic) in Southern
California after being there a year or two went to Smith River Oregon after being
there a short time he was joined by his two sons first James and then Joseph.
George finally went to Portland Oregon where he works as an architect and
builder and after a time married his third wife a widow with two little boys.
When he last wrote to me in February last his health was very poor and had been
obliged to quit work and now at the age of almost 58 years has little to cheer
his declining years – Susan the youngest lived with her father + mother until
past fifteen years of age and died a few weeks previous to our fathers death.
John Shay
My wife’s father was born December 9th
1793. His father and mother were Timothy Shay and Mary Drake his wife. He grew
to manhood at home upon his fathers farm and took full share in the labour of
clearing and improving the homestead. He married at an early age Sarah Whiting
and estimable young lady of this neighborhood and settled upon the land now the
farm of John H. Clark the house they occupied stood upon the east side of the
orchard west of Flat Brook nor far from the line between his farm and that of
his brother Joshua Shay now Daniel Warrens comes down to the west edge of the
meadow. Much of the land about them was then covered with woods and swamp upon
which their two of three cows sought their subsistence in the summer time and
at evening had to be sought and brought in and milked by the wife or children
and turned out again to be sought and brought up in the morning – After living
here several years where three or more of first children were born he bought of
William Cartright maternal grandfather of the present William A. Drake of
Carpenters Point, the farm at Big Hat Brook now owned by William Clark. Here
him and his family lived and cleared and improved and built the dwelling house
now there, a new barn wagon house and all needed farm buildings planted fruit
trees and expended much labour and almost ceaseless toil to make the rough
places smooth and adding more land enlarging the farm he left it at his death
in as good a state of cultivation as the place was susceptible of – A few years
before his death he partly sold and part devised by will to his son Ephraim all
the personal and real estate Ephraim being the only remaining at home with his
father. He died in 1860 at the age of 66 years his wife surviving him a number
of years and died in 1878 over 85 years old, she was for many years before her
death with general ill health and underwent much suffering. Ephraim a few years
after his fathers death dealt off his farm for a house and lot in Branchville
and finally delt the house and lot to John L Everitt for the farm upon which he
now lives. John Shays family were Jesse, Anna, David, Phebe, Ephraim, James and
Elizabeth. Jesse remained at home with his father until middle life when he
married Margaret Warnen much his senior and settled upon the land obtained by
his wife near where Abraham Johnson now lives. His father having given him the
lower part of his farm which Jesse afterwards sold to Henry Warnen having
become blind and unable to work it. After the death of his wife he lived he
lived alone upon his home lot with such help as he could obtain until finally
his took fire and burn house and furniture making a clean sweep. He then went
to live with his brother Ephraim where remained until his death in 1885. David
died in youth from the effects of a stone bruise upon his head – Anna married
Benjamin D. Hursh in 1839 had a family of ten children six of whom are still
living – Phebe married John Angle of Pike County Pa. They had two children both
daughters, one of whom Samantha sill survives. Phebe died about 1852 – Ephraim
married Mary Ann [Ninhorn] settled upon his fathers farm a few years then moved to Branchville while the
railroad was building there and finally settled upon the farm where he now
lives. They have one child Philip now 30 years of age living at home with his
parents. James after his majority went to Susquehanna County PA. Married
Arminda Mc Ruby and settle upon a farm there where he still remains if living.
They had four children one son and three daughters all now married – Elizabeth
married John Warner and settled in Susquehanna County PA and eventually came
back to New Jersey. They now live upon a farm bought by the two youngest sons
below Newton not far from [Fredon]. They have three children all sons, the
oldest James went to the far west and engaged in railroading, the other two
sons live upon the farm with the parents.
Benjamin D. Hursh
Was born September 5, 1815 in the house of
his grandfather Benjamin Depue on the same ground now occupied by the one in
which I now live and in a room in the southeast part of said house, now and
entry or hall in the present dwelling and but a few feet from where I am now
writing.. As I grew up was sent to school most of the summer as I became five years
in September and so continued to attend in the old log school house in the
summer time until big enough to assist my father in the blacksmith shop
blowing the bellows and holding the
tongs while irons were slit or punched. At ten years old I began to keep my
fathers account books directed by my mother who had kept them previously. I was
very fond of reading and such books as came within my reach were eagerly
perused. In those times interesting books for youth were scarce but the bible
was in almost every house and I soon became familiar with its contents
committing to memory long passages and going every alternate Sunday when the
weather would permit to the old yellow meeting house then standing on the west
side of the river road below the Brier House to receive them. This was at eight
and nine years old sometimes getting a chance to ride in the hind end of a farm
wagon and sometimes on foot. Mr Elting was the minister and the principal
sermon was Sunday forenoon. Sunday school was at recess after the first sermon.
Then another sermon in the afternoon reaching home at three o’clock PM or later
weary and hungry. The minister lived above Carpenters Point where Phillip
Elting his son now lives. In former years these services were conducted in the
forenoon in English and in the afternoon in Low Dutch many of the inhabitants
speaking that language at that time. In addition to the Bible Bunyans Pilgrims
Progress, Robinson Crusue, Sinbad the Sailor. History of the United States, The
Shepard of Salisburg Plain and miscellaneous reading as I could get hold of it
among which was the Arabian Nights. My mother took these away and would not
allow me to read them saying they were wicked lies not fit for my body to read.
My desire to read these books continued until middle when I purchased it at $2
and still have it in my collection of books. Mrs. June Porter’s Scottish Chiefs
was a most absorbing book for me which I also afterwards purchased. At the age
of fourteen and after I borrowed a number of books of John D. Everitt and Peter
Young Eagrs including Goldsmith’s History of England, Josephus’s Works Milners
Church History 5 Vol’s, Bouriennes Life of Napoleon, Rollins Ancient History
and many others as I could get them among which was a volume of Natural
Philosophy from Miss Benton a school teacher which seemed to open a new world
of knowledge to me. From my childhood I had a strong inclination for mechanical
pursuits building miniature wind mills, a saw mill, a forge for hammering out
bars of iron to be driven by water and with instructions from my father made a
rude lathe in the corner of his shop for turning small articles as wheel pins,
knife handles, rolling pins and many other things needed in the neighborhood.
The bench of my lathe was an old hemlock slab previously part of the cover of
the coal house in which was mortised one stationary head block and moving in a
slit in the slab was a moveable one. The stick to be turned was operated by a
cord passing once around it one end of the cord being fastened to the end of a spring
pole overhead and the other end to the treadle operated by the foot. As the
treadle was rapidly pressed down the stick turned rapidly towards the operator
and when the foot was raised the pole overhead drew the cord upward again
causing the stick to turn from the operator which enabled him with gouge and
chisel to work upon the stick to be turned one half the time. Most of the chain
stuff used in this County seventyfive years ago was got in shape this way.
After a while working this way I made a childs small chair, bored the posts
with a half inch screw auger and driving it together upon the anvil. This one
went into the house for my younger sisters, but having calls for more of them I
continued to make them when not helping my father at the bellows or anvil and
followed it up by making a [quill] wheel and knot reels then much in use in
making wool yarn for cloth and hosiery. Becoming much interested I this pursuit
as it brought in a few shillings at that time scarce enough I soon made a wheel
lathe which though rude answered a much better purpose. At the age of sixteen
father assisted me to build a small shop 12X16 feet square 12 ft posts on the
east side of the road near the brook and nearly opposite the blacksmith shop.
He put in two thirds of the under floor and sided up the front and two ends and
put on a roof. Here the lumber gave out and I put up my lathe and work bench and began with a few tools most
of them made in the blacksmith shop to try to provide for myself giving my
father one third of my earnings and helping him in the shop when needed, to pay
for my board mother washing and caring fro my clothes without further
compensation than the satisfaction of seeing me try to help myself. Here I
worked on making chairs, reels, woolen wheels, bedsteads common square tables
apple parers, painting out at times as jobs offered. My first chairs were
bottomed with ash splints but soon father went to John Simonson a chairmaker
living in the mountain towards [Beemerville] and employed him to come to my shop
and he matted five chairs for me and instructed me in the art and mystery of
making chairs with [flags] for which I was required to pay him three dollars.
This is all the apprenticeship served by me the rest was picked up here and
there from observation and inquiry. I worked here until nineteen years of age
when I taught school three months in what was then known as [Ninetten] Town the
school house stood a little north of where Uncle David Sayer then lived at
seven dollars per month, with this and what I had before I bought the little
shop of my father and with the voluntary assistance of the neighbors moved it
across the bridge upon a small lot presented to me by Uncle Randal Depue
containing 1/6 of an acre upon my paying for the survey and for making the
deed, the lot was mostly mud and water but saved me paying rennt and enabled me
to sit upon a jury which at that time a person not a freeholder could not do.
Here I built an addition to the little shop on the north end 16X18 feet in
which I kept a small grocery and some other merchandise about a year, this
netted me about $130. My father becoming embarrassed about this time and
desiring to sell the lot he got from grandfather Depue south of the bridge and
adjoining my little lot and containing four and a half acres I bought it
September 14 1886 [this date is wrong] for $300 being then 21 years of age. I
rented the lot and buildings Andrew K. Westbrook a wagon maker for three years
at $25 a year commencing April 1st 1837 my father going upon the lot
where G F Rinner now lives and I going to board at uncle Randal Depue at $1 per
week. My grocery business being too idle to satisfy me I went to work again on
the shop boarding at Uncle Randals until fall when I went to fathers on the
turnpike furnishing my own provisions cooking for me and baking for me
altogether. In the spring of the next year 1838 boarded a while witth A K
Westbrook and finally went back to fathers and had my home there until I got
married in 1839. This spring 1838 I rented to Eph Depue the lower part of my
shop and addition to it, he using the shop for wheelwrighting and the addition
for a dwelling reserving for a shop for myself the upper part of both building
for a shop. Rent $25. a year. The next year 1839 I built a new shop two stories
hight (sic) 16X20 feet with a double porch in front 8 feet wide making the
whole building 28 feet long. Set it upon land of Jeptha Clark then as now a
common northwest of the bridge on the west side of the road and opposite to my
other shop this cost me about $300. I occupied the lower part for a shop early
in July. October 5th the same year I married Anna daughter of John
Shay and moved into the upper part of the new building about the 21st
of the same month. Here I lived and worked until the spring of 1840 when
Westbrook term having expired I moved upon the lot I got of father and rented
the new building to Samuel [Roe] a shoemaker for $25 a year using for my shop
the two rooms above those occupied by Depue as a wagon shop the same I had
previously occupied after renting to Depue. In July of this year 1840 I sold to
Jepha Clark for $600 my lot and buildings here and bought of John B. and
Elizabeth Fields his mother about 16 acres of land at Centerville now owned by
Warren C. Hursh and George G. Hursh for $1000 and moved upon it Dec 5th
of this year. Paying so large a price left me in debt at this time about $500.
The land when I took possession of it had but little fece no shelter no pen
only one dilapidated old house with two rooms and the building on the corner
put up by Fields for a grocery plenty of hedgerows and brush and what is now a
pond lot was a swamp covered with thorns brier vines trees and brush. We moved
into the old house which was open and poor and took the building on the corner
for a shop. The second night after we moved came a heavy snowstorm and in the
morning my two shoats were snowed under and the cow stood shivering up to her
knees in the snow. This was the gloomiest period of my life. Here we lived and
worked hard in the shop and out doors improving and straightening up things
during the spring and summer of 1841. Sept 2nd Camp meeting was held
at my father in law Shays. I helped in preparing for this and went with him to
Newburgh for supplies. On our way home we were taken with a severe attack of
Cholera Morbus at Mount Hope and had a narrow escape it being very sickly out
there. This with previous over exertion left me in poor health and I kept
school that winter at Tuttles Corner in the old log house standing on the east
side of the road at the foot of the hill below the hotel. We continued to live
in the old house until the spring of 1842 when with the help of my neighbors I
moved the grocery building to near the old house and filled it up for a
dwelling with three small rooms and a small garret and afterwards dug a cellar
under it John E Kent and Francis Hiough doing it by the job for $9. and the two
Tilman brothers Nicholas and John doing the mason work at 9 Shillings a day and
boarded. Here we lived nineteen years and here all our children were born
except Emily born in the old house I bought of my father and John born in the
old Fields house and there three of
them died Mary Irene, Arthur + Anna Mary. After moving in this house in May
1842 I used the old house we moved from for a shop and continued in it as long
as I worked my trade as a steady business. My old “day Book” of this period
showing the range and character of my occupation. Sometimes having the land
worked on shares and other seasons hiring the team work done. In the summer of
1843 Mr Jonathan Emory ha a turning lathe put up in his saw mill across the
fields from my place at which I helped and which I used in turning heavy work
as wagon hubs bed posts etc. The well upon my place closing together near the
bottom the first year we lived here I had a new well dug this year. This cost
about $50. besides help from my father in law. Also had the cellar dug and
walled up under the house this fall having till this time used the cellar under
the old house. In the fall of 1844 hired James Hoffman to help in the shop he
having before had some practice with tools and painting he staid (sic) with me
nearly a year and was good help. April 1st 1845 brother George then
in his 16th year came to work with me and staid (sic) until I quit
the shop at $25 for the 1st year $40 for the second and $60 for the
third year. Our little house being small for the size of our family I this year
built a leanto to it 16X24 thus adding kitchen and bedroom cost about $115.In
1847 I built a barn 24 ft square 16 ft posts on the south side of the road
nearly opposite the house cost $150. David Rosenkrans doing the carpenter work
and William Holalen laying the foundation using the chimney of the old house
for the purpose. This was the “sickly Summer” in which the one twelfth part of
the people in this township died. The principal diseases being typhoid fever
and dysentery. My sister Susan and father died this summer and Sister Lydia.
George and myself were down with it about six weeks each. After our recovery
myself and George continued to work in the shop until September of the
following year 1848 when Zechariah Emory and myself having put up a small store
house 18X22 ft one and a half stories right on the corner where Warren E. Hursh
now lives went into the store keeping business with Isaiah V Shay for a partner
George occupying the shop on his own account and taking the residue of my stock
in the shop and using my tools until the next year 1849 when he went to
Branchville – We three under the firm of B D. Hursh + Co. continued together
one year when Shay withdrew myself and Emory buying his share of the stock and
continued the business in the firm name of Hursh + Emory. This went on two
years until 1851 when we sold our stock and rented the building to Hanson A Kinner
+ Auson P. Rosenkrans for two years I building an addition to the store house
18X24 ft enlarging the store room ten feet in length and finishing the rest
into one room below + two rooms above for a dwelling Kinner being married. When
their term expired in 1853 myself + George refitted the store room and went
into business under the firm name of B. D. + G. Hursh + hired Daniel Beaton a
Scotch tailor and conducted the tailoring business in the dwelling part of the
store house two years. George + me continued the business together four years
when George having married I bought his interest in the store and kept on in
the store in my own name in September 1857 – In 1854 I bought the farm where
John S. Hursh now lives containing 81 acres of Ephraim Shay for $3,500 payable
in equal payments of #500 for which he took my notes with the accruing interest
to time of payment added in so that if
the notes were not paid at maturity the accrued interest would also draw interest
Abram Zwan making the purchase for which I paid him $100. In 1855 I bought of
Joshua Shay 20 acres adjoining the above lying back of Gideon Rutans house for
$1000 payable in three payments beginning April1st 1866. I built an addition to
the rear of the old house 16X30 with cellar under it, and new hog pen + corn
crib. The farm was worked on shares the first two years, then rented for money
rent at 375 to 425 dollars per year until I sold the place to John. He moved
upon it April 1st 1869. The addition to the house cost over $300.
The hog pen + corn crib about $100 – In 1860 I bought of Thomas Ryte adjoining
me his farm of 76 acres for $3075, and moved upon it April 1st 1861.
In September of this year I sold the store goods + rented the building to
brother George who moved into it from Coleville and myself and family occupied
ourselves at farming + improving. In February 1862 Warren enlisted and went to
the army served three years. During that time he came home on furlough wounded
staid (sic) some 30 days and returned to the service and still has in his hip
the bullet received at the Battle of Harrisonburgh – In 1863 Built an addition
to the house on the Ryte farm 18X22 ft with leanto 12X22 ft and cellar under it
12X12 ft square and cistern partly under the north end of it. Daniel H.
Rosencranz being the carpenter and Jac
Struble and Robert Snock the masons – In 1863 brother George sold his store
goods to Jackson Cole who then rented the store building and continued business
in it until March 1873. The same summer 1863 moved the old house that adjoined
the main Ryte dwelling up to where it now stands put cellar under it and filled
it up for a dwelling in the corner of the lot above where George now lives cost
$66. This house was originally built by Isaac Bedell who made first improvement
where it stood – In 1865 July 9th bought of Esther Clark adjoining
the Ryte farm her farm of 88 acres upon which was a house barn wagon house,
well + hog pen for $44250, payable in four years beginning April 1st
1866 – In 1868 April 1st sold the upper farm to John and April 1st
1869 he moved upon it. The same year I bought of John B. Layton a part of the
Layton farm adjoining the land bought of Esther Clark 51 acres at $85 per acre
amt $4337.25, $2000 payable 1st 1870 The balance un eight equal
annual payments secured by mortgage – In the spring of 1874 George having
married we all worked together that year. In March 1875 sold the farm to George
with the stock and improvements and was idle that year. Eugene working for John
and [missed] working for George. In February 1876 bought the Jesse Bell farm
and moved upon it March 31st 18876 there still being together of the family at
home Eugene Ben and Annie – April 26th 1878 received a deed from
Chaunce Depue and wife for the farm originally owned by my grandfather Depue 156
acres for the amt of the incumbrances (sic) against it amounting to $7801.95
but adding cost up to the time I came in full possession of it amounted to over
$8400, In October of this year my barn cow house wagon house and corn crib with
all the crops stored in them including a valuable team of horses were totally
destroyed by fire ourselves and neighbors saving the dwelling house by almost
superhuman efforts – In 1879 rented the Depue farm to Wm F. Smith for 2 years at
$300 per year, uncle Randal Depues widow still occupying the main house until
Feb 24th 1880 – In 1881 March 31st having sold the Bell
farm to Eugene we moved upon the Depue farm and the following winter built a
new wagon house cost about $200. In December 1884 built a tenant house on the hill
at the south east corner of the farm cost about $250, at the same time repaired
+ newly filled up the east part of the dwelling for the use of Ben and his
family cost about $75 and have continued to make + repair fences cut brush and
repair buildings ever since we came upon the place. In May + June 1886 new
roofed the barn + west cow house and built wind break between west cow house +
wagon house. Joe Bensley doing the cow house and Saml Garrison + Alfred
Spangenburg doing the barn. Cash paid out $125. In June 1887 put new roof in
and reclothed the east cow house paid out $109.95. To the cost of the foregoing
buildings and repairs is to be added the labour of Ben and team of hauling
materials, the timber furnished by ourselves and board and Bens help to the
mechanics while doing the work. The last named buildings were done by George
Van Sickle + S Garrison – Before conveying the home farm to George in 1875 I
had surveyed and presented to Warren a deed for the lot whereon he now lives
with the old house in which we lived so long and the store buildings he moved
upon it in [blank] contains about six acres.
Family Record Anthony Hursh
Anthony Hursh born
March 9th 1793 died Sept 12 1847
Hannah Depue born
Oct 26th 1791 died Sept 15 1848
Married Aug 7th
1814
Benjamin D. Hursh
born Sept 5th 1815 died Sept 16th 1890
John Hursh born Sept
2nd 1817 died in infancy
Sally Hursh born
Sept 6th 1818 died at 7 yrs of age
Lydia Hursh born
March 11th 1822 died in infancy
Lydia C. Hursh born
Sept 25th 1823 died Feb 16th 1905
Maria Hursh born
July 21st 1826
George Hursh born
July 18th 1829
Susan Hursh born
March 7th 1823 died Aug 22nd 1847
Family Record Benjamin D. Hursh
Benjamin D. Hursh
born Sept 5th 1815 died Sept 16th 1890
Anna Shay born April
25th 1818 died April 25th 1894
Married Oct 5th
1839
Emily Hursh born Oct
20th 1840
John S. Hursh born
Feb 18th 1842 died Oct 4th 1903
Warren C Nelson
Hursh born Nov 28th 1843 died March 1914
Mary Irene Hursh
born Jan 1st 1846 died Oct 28th 1856
Anna Mary Hursh born
Nov 9th 1847 died Oct 7th 1850
Arthur Hursh born
Oct 24th 1849 died Sept 29th 1850
George Emmet Hursh
Born Sept 21st 1851
Seely Eugene Hursh
born Oct 3 1853
Benjamin B. Hursh
born July 25th 1856 died March 25ht 1912
Annie Hursh born
July 1st 1859 died May 29th 1886
Our Children
John S. Hursh
married Phebe J. daughter of Daniel Warner and settled upon the farm where he
now lives April 1st 1869. They have no children. John S died Oct 4th
1903
Warren C Hursh
married Barbara A. Arnst Oct 21st 1869. began keeping house in the
little house on the east side of the road above Georges place where I then
lived April 1st 1870 and continued to live there until he moved into
the store building on the corner near the school house. They have three daughters
Anna Mary [Arsada] and Cora
Barbara A died Feb
26th 1899. Anna Mary married Frank McKeeby Mar 26th 1890.
They have 6 children living Helen, Barbra, Warren, Beatrice, Ambrose and Coe
George E. Hursh
married Mary Alice Rosenkrans daughter of Alfred Rosenkrans Nov 13th
1873. Both lived and worked with us during the season of 1874. In March 1875 he
bought the home farm and began business for himself. They have six children
Estella, Benjamin D., Emily, Ella E, Kate, and Roscoe C.
Seely Eugene Hursh
married Amanda daughter of Elias H. Smith December 16th 1879. In
April 1880 when he took entire possession of the farm and began business on his
own account. They have two children living Elias, George L, Jacob S. Anna M and
John J. Amanda died Nov 1899.
Emily Hursh married
William T. Smith June 14th 187X. they have two children George and
Hezekiah and live upon the homestead of his father William Smith. George
married Anna Adams and they have one child, Roberta May. Hezekiah married Emma
Bunnell and they have 2 children, George and Donald.
Annie Hursh married
George Robinson Nov 29th 1883 and went to live with him in Port
Jarvis where she died May 29th 1886. they had two daughters Nina +
Annie. Nina married Lorn Shay Aug 3rd 1904 and have one child
Kenneth J.
Benjamin B. Hursh
married Ella daughter of Allen Everitt Feb 10th 1885 and moved into
a part of the homestead and occupy the house and farm together they have one
child Allen Everitt [and added later] born Jan 1886 Eugene born Oct 2nd
1888 Mary Louise Aug 19th 1889 Sarah Ellen Everitt april 18th
1891. Sarah Ellen Everitt died April 27th 1891.
Aug 8th
1887 John S. Depue the only remaining child of John + Phebe Depue was found
dead in his chair this morning. He lived with his son Nelson.
Benjamin B. Hursh married
April 25th 1899
Jennie Major Factor
born July 1st 1870
Josie Major Hursh
born Jan 27th 1900
Benjamin B. Hursh
born Feb 15th 1904
