Town of Crawford

This was erected from Montgomery in 1823, is the west half of the old town, bounds on Sullivan county, and its original settlement treated of in connection with Montgomery. The name was from an old, numerous and respectable family of the name of Crawford, of Irish descent, who were among the first settlers. The whole town is more elevated than Montgomery, being on the eastern flank or slope of Shawangunk Mountain, before wholly run out. It is separated from Montgomery by the elevated range of upland running North and South, called Comfort’s Hills, the line of separation follows the direction of the Hills. The land is not of so easy cultivation as that of the former town, more stony and broken up by high ridges running North and South. The soil, when divested of its native forests and cleared of stone, is strong and productive of grass and grain. A fine quality of butter is made here and in great abundance. The grasses are excellent and dairies large. This town is benefited in some respects by its elevated locality, and made more productive in the fruits of the earth. Being in the vicinity of the Shawangunk Mountains, it receives more numerous and copious showers throughout the year than localities further removed from their influence, and consequently suffers less drought. These physical causes operate benignly upon the grains and grasses, and generally prevent the lands from being burned up during the heats of summer. The Dwass Kill runs from South to North through the whole central portion of the town, and at Searsburgh furnishes a pleasant, useful and controlable water power, which has been in beneficial operation since the first settlement of the town. Further west, the Shawangunk Kill, the west bounds of the town, runs in the same direction and furnishes a much larger hydraulic power in many places along its course. These in like manner were put it, early use by the original settlers of the vicinity on both sides of the stream, which we have particularly noticed heretofore. As previously remarked, this was not generally settled as early as the present town of Montgomery, and its christian and civil facilities may not be as numerous, but time, the convenience and necessities of community will supply all that is now deficient in these respects. The citizens are frugal and industrious, and determined to make the most of their inland position. The great mass of the people are engaged in the various departments of agriculture, and have shown their improvements and capabilities in these departments by the receipt of prizes awarded them on several occasions by the agricultural society of the county for the best improved farms, best quality of butter, stock, grains, &c., all which, are public monuments of industry, skill and enterprise, highly honorable to the town and its citizens. The grasses in this town are free from noxious vegetables, and growing upon high land are strong and produce a fine quality of milk. The town is noted in the markets for its first rate quality of butter. The farmers are growing more attentive to stock than formerly. The roads of the town are in good condition, and considering the distance from market it is imperative upon the inhabitants to keep them up to this standard at all times and seasons of the year. The Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike runs through a southern portion of the town, and furnishes desirable facilities for pleasure and business purposes. This region is favorable to the growth of apples and peaches, the quality and quantity of which, especially the apple for winter use, are on the increase. The Rev. Isaac Van Doren, the former pastor of Hopewell Church, some thirty years since sat out an apple orchard on the parsonage farm of grafted choice fruits, which is now in fine bearing. He may be considered the father of the winter apple in this town.

Hopewell.—A small village in the northwest part of the town, and called after the Presbyterian meeting house there, of that name. This congregation was a swarm of the old hive at Goodwill in the town of Montgomery, among the oldest of that denomination in the county. The name is fanciful, and we suppose expressed their hopes and desires of future success and prosperity, on establishing a new place of worship in a distant part of the town. It was the case of sons and daughters leaving the old mansion so dearly beloved, and taking up their abode in a new and distant land. Their hopes were well founded; the congregation is prosperous, and the institution well endowed.

Bullville.—A small village on the turnpike, seven mile west of the village of Montgomery, and recently grown up. It has its name from Mr. Thomas Bull, who resides there, and conducts business of various kinds in the place.

Searsburgh.—Another small village in the centre of the town. It is upon a stream called the Dwass, Dwasse or Dwarf’s Kill, where there is a flour and saw mill. The place received its name from Mr. Benjamin Sears, who resided there and owned the mills, and was once Sheriff of this county. He was the father of Doct. Sears of this county; of William Sears, attorney at law, of the city of New York; and of the Rev. Jacob Sears, of the Dutch Church, New Jersey.

There is much to gratify and console, in the thought that we have given name even to a town or village—nay, to a piece of fruit or flower. It is proof that we have (lone something in our day worthy of being remembered. To die and be forgotten, without leaving a name behind, is disreputable. Every man ought to have more on his tombstone than Hic Jacet. If the public will not decree us more, we have lived in vain, cheated our country, and disappointed the fond hopes and just expectations of friends and kindred.— Alas ! how many leave the work assigned them undone, and depart without having earned a worthy remembrance

Dwass Kill or Dwarf’s Kill.—This is quite an important stream in the town—runs north, and empties into the Walkill near Gatesville, Shawangunk. The name is Indian;— the meaning unknown. The tradition is, that it was named after the chief of a small tribe, that lived upon its banks in that part of the county. We are informed by a gentleman living in that part of the county, that his father, who was among time early settlers of what is now Crawford, told him that he had seen the chief of the tribe, called Dwasse; and that there was a wigwam of the tribe, near what is called Turnpike Gate, No. 3 in that town, and he had seen it.

Some say the name is Low Dutch, and means perverse or contrary." We do not know that it is more perverse or headstrong than its relatives; for they all practise the principle of running down hill, without showing unnecessary temper about it.

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Table of Contents Town of Crawford Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Orange County AHGP/ALHN New York AHGP/ALHN AHGP ALHN	History of Orange County
	Town of Crawford This was erected from Montgomery in 1823, is the west half of the old town, bounds on Sullivan county, and its original settlement treated of in connection with Montgomery. The name was from an old, numerous and respectable family of the name of Crawford, of Irish descent, who were among the first settlers. The whole town is more elevated than Montgomery, being on the eastern flank or slope of Shawangunk Mountain, before wholly run out. It is separated from Montgomery by the elevated range of upland running North and South, called Comfort’s Hills, the line of separation follows the direction of the Hills. The land is not of so easy cultivation as that of the former town, more stony and broken up by high ridges running North and South. The soil, when divested of its native forests and cleared of stone, is strong and productive of grass and grain. A fine quality of butter is made here and in great abundance. The grasses are excellent and dairies large. This town is benefited in some respects by its elevated locality, and made more productive in the fruits of the earth. Being in the vicinity of the Shawangunk Mountains, it receives more numerous and copious showers throughout the year than localities further removed from their influence, and consequently suffers less drought. These physical causes operate benignly upon the grains and grasses, and generally prevent the lands from being burned up during the heats of summer. The Dwass Kill runs from South to North through the whole central portion of the town, and at Searsburgh furnishes a pleasant, useful and controlable water power, which has been in beneficial operation since the first settlement of the town. Further west, the Shawangunk Kill, the west bounds of the town, runs in the same direction and furnishes a much larger hydraulic power in many places along its course. These in like manner were put it, early use by the original settlers of the vicinity on both sides of the stream, which we have particularly noticed heretofore. As previously remarked, this was not generally settled as early as the present town of Montgomery, and its christian and civil facilities may not be as numerous, but time, the convenience and necessities of community will supply all that is now deficient in these respects. The citizens are frugal and industrious, and determined to make the most of their inland position. The great mass of the people are engaged in the various departments of agriculture, and have shown their improvements and capabilities in these departments by the receipt of prizes awarded them on several occasions by the agricultural society of the county for the best improved farms, best quality of butter, stock, grains, &c., all which, are public monuments of industry, skill and enterprise, highly honorable to the town and its citizens. The grasses in this town are free from noxious vegetables, and growing upon high land are strong and produce a fine quality of milk. The town is noted in the markets for its first rate quality of butter. The farmers are growing more attentive to stock than formerly. The roads of the town are in good condition, and considering the distance from market it is imperative upon the inhabitants to keep them up to this standard at all times and seasons of the year. The Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike runs through a southern portion of the town, and furnishes desirable facilities for pleasure and business purposes. This region is favorable to the growth of apples and peaches, the quality and quantity of which, especially the apple for winter use, are on the increase. The Rev. Isaac Van Doren, the former pastor of Hopewell Church, some thirty years since sat out an apple orchard on the parsonage farm of grafted choice fruits, which is now in fine bearing. He may be considered the father of the winter apple in this town. Hopewell.—A small village in the northwest part of the town, and called after the Presbyterian meeting house there, of that name. This congregation was a swarm of the old hive at Goodwill in the town of Montgomery, among the oldest of that denomination in the county. The name is fanciful, and we suppose expressed their hopes and desires of future success and prosperity, on establishing a new place of worship in a distant part of the town. It was the case of sons and daughters leaving the old mansion so dearly beloved, and taking up their abode in a new and distant land. Their hopes were well founded; the congregation is prosperous, and the institution well endowed. Bullville.—A small village on the turnpike, seven mile west of the village of Montgomery, and recently grown up. It has its name from Mr. Thomas Bull, who resides there, and conducts business of various kinds in the place. Searsburgh.—Another small village in the centre of the town. It is upon a stream called the Dwass, Dwasse or Dwarf’s Kill, where there is a flour and saw mill. The place received its name from Mr. Benjamin Sears, who resided there and owned the mills, and was once Sheriff of this county. He was the father of Doct. Sears of this county; of William Sears, attorney at law, of the city of New York; and of the Rev. Jacob Sears, of the Dutch Church, New Jersey. There is much to gratify and console, in the thought that we have given name even to a town or village—nay, to a piece of fruit or flower. It is proof that we have (lone something in our day worthy of being remembered. To die and be forgotten, without leaving a name behind, is disreputable. Every man ought to have more on his tombstone than Hic Jacet. If the public will not decree us more, we have lived in vain, cheated our country, and disappointed the fond hopes and just expectations of friends and kindred.— Alas ! how many leave the work assigned them undone, and depart without having earned a worthy remembrance Dwass Kill or Dwarf’s Kill.—This is quite an important stream in the town—runs north, and empties into the Walkill near Gatesville, Shawangunk. The name is Indian;— the meaning unknown. The tradition is, that it was named after the chief of a small tribe, that lived upon its banks in that part of the county. We are informed by a gentleman living in that part of the county, that his father, who was among time early settlers of what is now Crawford, told him that he had seen the chief of the tribe, called Dwasse; and that there was a wigwam of the tribe, near what is called Turnpike Gate, No. 3 in that town, and he had seen it. Some say the name is Low Dutch, and means perverse or contrary." We do not know that it is more perverse or headstrong than its relatives; for they all practise the principle of running down hill, without showing unnecessary temper about it. 680th