Chapter Two: The Mill on Halfway Brook

by Louise Smith Posted on March 22, 2010

Sixty years ago in December just closed, Grandfather Eldred came to this neighborhood. At that time it was called Lumberland. Uncle C.C.P. Eldred was a little over seven years old. Came from Orange County, Wallkill Township to Halfway Brook on the old Cochecton Road.

Here they found a sawmill and log house. No other building of any kind within a mile of this place now called Eldred. They took possession of the house and sawmill…There was about two acres of cleared land.
—January 1, 1876, Maria Austin, granddaughter.


Halfway Brook. Photo courtesy of my cousin Cynthia.

Posted in Book excerpts, The Mill on Halfway Brook | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Chapter 1 The Town of Lumberland 1798 to 1815

by Louise Smith Posted on March 20, 2010

It was the beginning of December 1815. A lone log house and sawmill stood silently on almost two acres of cleared land near the middle of Halfway Brook, in the Town of Lumberland, New York. There were no other buildings around for a mile in any direction.

So starts Chapter One in The Mill on Halfway Brook.

There are many Halfway Brooks. The Halfway Brook of The Mill on Halfway Brook flows through the Town of Highland, New York on its way to the Delaware River. The Mongaup River (and Town of Lumberland border) to the east and the Ten Mile River to the west, also flow into the Delaware River.

Halfway Brook not far from where the old mill probably
stood. Photo courtesy of my cousin Cynthia.

Posted in Book excerpts, The Mill on Halfway Brook | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

March 19, 2010: Book Two

by Louise Smith Posted on March 19, 2010

First of all I would like to thank those of you who bought, The Mill on Halfway Brook. I hope you enjoy reading the book.

It’s been busy times and a steep learning curve with the publishing of The Mill on Halfway Brook. But last evening, everything seemed calm, so I started getting the photos I wanted for the next book into the correct file.

This involved using Photoshop. To my dismay, neither Photoshop, nor Indesign (my book layout program) worked. Once again, my tech help—husband Gary, is back troubleshooting and restoring my computer so I can work on my book.

My computer crashed twice during the writing of The Mill on Halfway Brook. You may be able to comprehend my panic and appreciation for the tech help I have, and why I wrote the following on my acknowledgment page:

This book would not have been possible without my husband Gary’s technical help, design expertise, and editing. He kept the computers working, designed the cover, interior layout, created maps, and retouched photos—all this while doing major, complete renovation of our house and coping with a wife who is always working on this book. Thank you, Gary.

Most of the inside of the house is done. Looks like Book Two will be written (I’m assuming my computer will be working soon) during the renovation of the outside.

Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, Ever Your Cousin, The Mill on Halfway Brook | Leave a comment

“The Mill on Halfway Brook”

by Louise Smith Posted on February 23, 2010

The Mill on Halfway Brook

Stories of Families Who Settled Near Halfway Brook in the Town of Highland, New York, 1800 to 1880

At the end of 1815, James and Polly Eldred and their family arrived in the Town of Lumberland and settled on two acres with a log cabin and a sawmill near Halfway Brook. The Eldred property—four miles from the Delaware River—later became the southeast corner of Halfway Brook Village which is now Eldred, in the Town of Highland, New York.

The Mill on Halfway Brook tells of the Eldred, Austin, Myers, and Leavenworth families, their neighbors, friends, and kinsfolk that settled in what was once the Town of Lumberland, in the villages of Halfway Brook (Eldred), The River (Barryville), Ten Mile River (Tusten), and South Lebanon (Glen Spey).

The narrative weaves vignettes of townsfolk, preachers, churches, regional and national events with historical information, land documents, censuses, an 1875 biography, Congregational and Methodist Chruch records, over 300 photos and postcards, old and new maps, and at least 200 family letters (1845–1880).

The Mill on Halfway Brook is fully indexed with names of over 900 people, places, and events. It is the first in the series, Memoirs from Eldred, New York, 1800–1950.

Posted in The Mill on Halfway Brook | Leave a comment

Chapter Titles to The Mill on Halfway Brook

by Louise Smith Posted on January 24, 2010

“The Mill on Halfway Brook” is in final final editing stages before being sent to the printer. It is about 280 pages long. Here are the chapter titles.

Chapter 1: The Town of Lumberland, 1798–1815

Chapter 2: The Mill on Halfway Brook, 1815–1825

Chapter 3: Life in Lumberland, 1825–1831

Chapter 4: Reverend Felix Kyte, 1832–1834

Chapter 5: The Mill on Blind Pond Brook, 1836–1849

Chapter 6: The Bubbling Spring, 1839–1850

Chapter 7: Near Hagan Pond, 1851–1860

Chapter 8: Letters from a Soldier, 1861–1865

Chapter 9: “Your Loving Cousin,” 1866–1871

Chapter 10: Emma Goes to College, 1872, 1873

Chapter 11: Return to Eldred, 1974–1877

Chapter 12: In Kansas Bright as Fair, 1878

Chapter 13: The Journey’s Length, 1879

Posted in Book excerpts, The Mill on Halfway Brook | Leave a comment

Emma Austin’s Christmas 1876 & New Year 1877

by Louise Smith Posted on December 25, 2009

Emma Austin was a sister to my grandfather Charles Mortimer Austin and my great Aunt Aida Austin. This next letter seems to be written from New York City where the Austin Cousins lived.

January 1, 1877
Dear brother Lon,
Holidays of all descriptions are dull days with me and this which began so pleasantly this morning, that I thought it was going to prove an exception to holidays in general is certainly dark and stormy enough to make one feel dull this afternoon. But it gives me some leisure for writing…and wishing you with all love and sincerity, A “Happy New Year” I will proceed with my answer to your letter.

Mother is very well and apparently enjoying her visit as much as me. O if we were all here. It was a shame not to bring poor little Do (her youngest brother). I will send a box directed to Father to Shohola Thursday. I suppose it will be there Saturday…

You will find a little but not much for you. I did not have much to give though Santa was pretty good to me. I got seven books, a whole set of Scotts’ novels beautifully bound and a history of the Centennial. Ida got four books and Addie gave her a work box and a box of perfume and a nice tie. You will think it pretty late for a Christmas box, but better late than never I suppose. I could not get it ready before, there was so much sewing to do.

Write me soon, Lon, best wishes from all from your
Emma

Posted in Book excerpts | Leave a comment

Aida Austin’s 1880 Christmas

by Louise Smith Posted on December 25, 2009

Aida Austin was the sister of my grandfather Charles Mortimer Austin. In a letter she wrote to her brother Lon, she told about her 1880 Christmas in New York City with her Austin cousins—two of whom she mentioned—Ida and Ad (Addie).

Sunday January 23, 1881
Dear Brother Lon,
How did you spend your Christmas and New Years? I had a very good time each day and got some nice presents. We had a little Christmas tree for the children and I dressed up as old Santa Clause. My hair which I had for whiskers, I caught on fire, but Ida and Ad put it out so quick that it did not do much damage. The children were greatly pelased and believe faithfully in Santa Clause.

We did not receive calls New Years. Harry and I went to the Park in the evening to skate, but there was no skating, so we came back and stayed at Mrs. Braisteds until ten o’clock. I have a splendid pair of skates, but cannot skate very good yet.

Write soon. With much love, I remain your affectionate sister,
Aida

Posted in Aida Austin Diary, Book excerpts | Tagged | Leave a comment

1832: Cholera

by Louise Smith Posted on December 18, 2009

Partially because of the cholera epidemic in New York City, in 1832, Felix Kyte and his family sought a new location and by the end of the year were living in Lumberland.

Cholera must also have been in Lumberland as Almira Austin Hooker (sister to my great-great-grandfather Ralph Austin) and her son died from Cholera in August of 1832.

Cholera, also called Asiatic Cholera, is caused by a bacteria. It is an infectious gastroenteritis transmitted to humans through contaminated food or water.

Cholera was originally found in India. The disease spread by both land and sea trade routes to Russia, then Western Europe, and on to North America.

John Snow (1813-1858), a physician and self-trained scientist, found the link between cholera and contaminated drinking water in 1854.—wikipedia

1832 Preventatives of Cholera!
Be Temperate in eating and drinking.
Avoid Raw Vegetables and Unripe Fruit!
Abstain from COLD WATER, when heated, and above all from Ardent Spirits, and if habit have rendered them indispensable, take much less than usual.
—1832 Hand bill from the New York City Board of Health

Posted in Book excerpts | Tagged | Leave a comment

1832: Rev. Felix Kyte

by Louise Smith Posted on December 17, 2009

In 1832, the Congregational Church of Halfway Brook had been without a pastor for six years—since Rev. Stephen Sergeant had left and gone to the Presbyterian Church. The congregation was meeting in the small school house at Halfway Brook, known as The Village, and the membership had dropped to 50.

The deacons, including James Eldred and Sears Gardner, had taken over the pastor’s responsibilities, and thought the church needed a full time pastor. Sears Gardner, had seen Felix Kyte’s advertisement for a position as minister of a Congregational Church in the New York Observer, and encouraged James Eldred to respond to the ad.

Felix Kyte, a schoolteacher from Lydd, England, was living with his wife and two sons in New York City, where there had been many deaths due to the cholera epidemic. Left with fewer students to teach, Felix was considering leaving.
Continue reading →

Posted in Book excerpts | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment