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Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe

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TOWN OF BLOOMINGGROVE.

Washingtonville.-This is the principal village in the town, pleasantly situated in an open champaign country, on the public road leading from Newburgh to Goshen, eleven miles from Newburgh and nine from Goshen. The name is in honor of General Washington. We have not been informed when the village had its origin, or who were its early patrons. The last part of the name has been previously explained.

Salisbury.-This is a pleasant little village, situate on the Otterkill-or Big Creek as it is generally called in this town-and on the public road leading from Newburgh to Goshen, about eight miles from Newburgh and three from Washingtonville. At this place the creek furnishes a good water power for manufacturing purposes. The leading men of the place have long and favorably been known to the public as industrious and enterprising citizens.

The name, doubtless, is from Salisbury, England, in the county of Wiltshire, situate at the junction of three rivers- the Avon, Nadder and Willey; the waters of which are conducted through every street by means of small brick canals, which not only promote health and cleanliness, but facilitate many of the processes of useful industry. The cathedral is one of the most interesting public buildings in England. It is said to have as many doors as there are months, as many windows as there are days, and as many pillars as there are hours in the year. There may be a pleasant conceit in this, but certainly no architectural beauty.

The word Salisbury is of Saxon origin and composed of Sarum and bury. We have not been able to find out the meaning of Sarum; bury means a place of residence, as before remarked, and is from burg, a borough or town.

Among the active men of the place, we name Andrew J. Caldwell, Isaac K. Oakley and Peter Van Alen. Mr. Caldwell is, and for many years has been, extensively engaged in the manufacture of leather. To skill and large experience in conducting this business, he brings a mind cultivated with a varied literature, and well stored with agricultural knowledge and its kindred subjects. Modest in temper and unobtrusive as a child, he pursues the silent and even tenor of his way, at peace with himself and the world around him. With his aged father and brothers John, Richard and William, compatriots of the lamented Emmet, after the outbreak in Ireland in 1798, he came to this country and cast his lot in with the citizens of this county. Doubtless, it is hard and trying to the best feelings of our nature, to abandon the land of our birth, the playground of our boyhood, the associations of youth and ripening manhood. Around them linger and cling the tenderest and strongest recollections; but to be compelled to flee from them by force of circumstances which we have neither made nor can control, is akin to hopeless despair and like unto death. Alas! how many have experienced this dire necessity and wept in agony, as they turned and took the last look on green clad Erin, and mentally exclaimed, “O Erin, my country! Erin, We offer no consolation: the wound is too deep and near the source of life to be touched, even by the hand of a friend; and we would not enter the sacred abode of private grief, and open the wound which time, age and reflection may be slowly healing. If we could, we would stay and soften the iron heel of the oppressor that tramples upon down-trodden Ireland, and if available in Heaven's chancery, invoke its choicest blessings upon her domestic institutions, and the emerald fields of her warm hearted and patriot sons.* But like them, we fear we are hopelessly too feeble to resist the deadly fangs of oppression, which with serpentine sinuosity, pervade every department of life, embitter its enjoyments and deaden all manly efforts to better her condition. It is impossible for any country in a colonial condition, however fruitful her resources and industrious her population, to resist and flourish against a stream of bad government, impetuous as a mountain torrent and heavy as the Mississippi.

“Once more, oh! turn and touch the lyre.

And wake that wild impassioned strain,

I feel the circulating fire

Flash from my heart through every vein,

Yes, every swell and every word

Strikes on a sympathetic cord,

And conjures up with viewless wand,

My early days, my native land.

“Beloved country! when I loose

Remembrance of thy carrols wild,

Or hold companionship with those

By whom thy glory is reviled-

Then be my despicable lot

Unloved, renownless and forgot,

To live, to die, to pass away,

And mix with death's neglected clay

The other gentlemen are also deeply engaged in the various departments of manufacturing flour, paper and other articles of prime necessity; are industrious and persevering men, and in their diversified pursuits give extensive employment to numerous laborers and citizens of the village. The father of Mr. Oakley was an old and respectable resident of the place, and conducted business for many years in the establishment now occupied by his son. These are the men which benefit the country in its essential interests. They live not alone for themselves, but gladly shower a portion of their own means broadcast around them, so that all who will may receive a share. Of such the county cannot own too many.

*We confess a feeling on this subject; for by descent we drew an infant breath, and first saw the light of day amidst the dew drops which sparkled in the morning breeze, as it swept over and fanned her true but roughly chafed bosom.