Book Description

VOLUME 3 ONLY "The time has arrived when it becomes the duty of the people of this county to perpetuate the names of their pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement, and relate the story of their progress." So wrote the compilers of this huge undertaking, whose efforts have produced an extensive collection of over 1,100 biographical sketches of the residents of Orange County, New York, at the end of the nineteenth century. Sketch writers canvassed the entire county-doing research, recording history, and conducting interviews-to make this text as thorough and as accurate as possible. The only residents not included, the Preface points out, are those who declined the chance and those who avoided the writers. Sketches are clear, full of information, and entertaining. They document not just the lives, occupations, and avocations of their subjects, but also the personalities and peculiarities. Family history is provided as well, along with direct quotes from friends and acquaintances, and portraits of many of the sketch subjects. Prominent family names include Brown, Carpenter, Clark, Coleman, Cuddeback, Howell, Mapes, Smith, Thompson, Tuthill, and Wood. A new surname index completes this work and will aid researchers in locating names quickly. "In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after."