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History of Orange County

Town of Crawford

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Mr. Elder had received but a very limited education, yet possessing strong natural good sense, he was fitted to discharge the duties of the various town offices to public satisfaction. He was many years a magistrate of the town, and if be erred at any time, the fault was of the head and not of the heart, for he was proverbially an upright and honest man.

DR. JOSEPH WHALEN.—This gentleman came to this country from Ireland at the close of the Revolutionary war, and located in this town, then a part of Montgomery. He did not remain many years before he moved near to the village of Montgomery, where he practised medicine for more than half a century, and died a few years since, when far advanced in life, an honest and very respectable citizen. This individual was well educated in his profession before he came to this country, and during his life enjoyed an extensive practice. The Doctor was a capital Latin scholar, a gentleman in all respects; and we do not believe he ever offended another by the expression of a political opinion; he strictly attended to his own personal affairs, and permitted others to do the same. He had two brothers also in this country—one at the South in East Florida, who, we believe, was a Catholic priest, the other located in Canada, and now both are dead.

In old times no physician expected to collect his bill of him

patient during life, but rested contented with the hope of receiving it from the executor or administrator. In the course of a long life and by an extensive practice notwithstanding, the Doctor accumulated a handsome estate; the while, no physician, unless he practised without compensation, did more service for nothing. The Doctor in religious tenets, remained true to an early faith, and was a moderate and unoffending Catholic, never intruding his opinion upon others, or questioning theirs.

Joseph Whalen, Esq., of Montgomery, is one of his children, and now lives upon his paternal estate. There were several other children.

While in practice, the Doctor either rode on horseback, or drove two horses. He was a capital horseman, and his animals usually of the first order for beauty and fast travel.— The individual who went a special messenger after him by day or night, was pretty sure to have the speed of his horse tested or arrive last.

The Doctor rode a horse with great ease and elegance, and with a perfection in horsemanship rarely attained. It was said of him, he could mount his horse, take a wine glass in his hand, poured full of any liquid, and then start upon a lope, ride a quarter of a mile, turn and come back again without spilling a drop. This was quite up to Count Pulaski, the celebrated Polish General of the Revolution, who, while riding on horseback, would throw his hat before him on the road, and while under full speed, so far dismount as to take it up. The Count was thought to be the best and most expert horseman in the American service. While the army were at Morristown, before coming to Newburgh, the American officers frequently exercised themselves with the Count in performing the above hazardous feat, many of whom unhorsed themselves with broken heads in the experiment.

DANIEL BULL.—We cannot in this place omit an honorable mention of this gentleman, now one of the oldest inhabitants of the town, about 86 years of age. He was the son of Thomas Bull, who was the son of William Bull, the early settler at Hamptonburgh. His father lived at the old stone mansion in the now town of Hamptonburgh, on the road from Montgomery to Goshen, and known as the Cad Bull stone house. He removed to this town before he was of age upon a large tract of new rough land, then owned by his father, and located himself upon the lot where he now lives. His father Thomas was infirm towards the latter part of his life, and when about to make his will and settle his worldly affairs, had thoughts of selling his land in Crawford, which was then worth about $2.50 per acre, and for which he had an offer; and asked his son Daniel—then a lad of about fifteen years of age—whether he had better sell it or let him take care of it. Daniel replied, that if he would give it to him he would try to take care of it.” His father concluded to try him and made his will accordingly. This gave the young man confidence and increased his pride; and the community at this day can judge of the manner in which he fulfilled this early filial promise. In 1780, when nineteen years of age, he married Miss Catharine Miller, who was younger still, and forthwith commenced clearing up his new estate.

The winter of 1780 was celebrated all over this country for its length and the depth of its snow. It was so deep and hardened by the severity of the weather, that for some time the people of the county, in transacting their necessary or pleasure business, drove their horses and sleighs in any and all directions across the fields irrespective of the fences. Mr. Bull and Miss Miller went to Goshen to be married Mr. Carr of the Episcopal church, and that day a fall of snow commenced, which, with previous ones, deepened the road so much there was no travelling the next day. There the new married pair spent two weeks of the honeymoon.

Thirteen children were the fruits of this early marriage, the most of whom grew up and were married. Their names, and to whom married, are as follows:

Thomas married Sarah Mills;

Hannah do Alex. Thompson;

Abner do Maria Brinson;

David C. do Maria Barkley;

Keturah do William Bull;

Catharine do Jas. H. Crawford;

Mary married Rev. John Johnston;.

Henry do Jane Stilt;

Milton do Esther Crawford;

Sarah do Denton Mills

Miller not married;

Daniel do Sarah Thompson;

John died young.