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History of Orange County
Town of Crawford
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Mr. Bull has been an industrious farmer from his early days and now enjoys its legitimate rewards—a long life, an honest character, abundant means and a numerous descent. As an evidence of his practical agriculture, we refer the reader to the list of prizes awarded him by the society, which we think are more numerous than those awarded to any other family in the county. Few individuals have cleared up and subdued more wild land, and placed it in a good agricultural condition for their children. The obligations of parent, citizen and friend, imposed on him through the course of a long life, have been duly and faithfully discharged; while those of a superior and more holy character have equally shared his careful attention and pious regard. He must now be looked upon as the Patriarch of this town, with numerous descendents planted and growing up around him. He was an early friend to the construction of the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike Road, and with an interval of one year, has continued a director from the organization of the company—upwards of forty years. This company have semi-annual meetings, and with one or two exceptions at farthest he has always been present. This fact proves two things—good health and a virtuous discharge of public duties. But this gentleman is still living, in the enjoyment of a large portion of mental and physical strength, and we must forbear further remark, while we copy from a newspaper the following notice of him:
“On Tuesday last, at Hopewell, in the town of Montgomery, a most interesting meeting took place, at the house of Daniel Bull.
Mr. and Mrs. Bull had long contemplated having all their children and grand children to visit them at the same time, and were then gratified with the sight.
“These two individuals——neither of whom is yet sixty years of age— were married in the year 1780. They have had thirteen children, nine sons and daughters-in-law, and fifty-two grand children; making in all a family of seventy-six. Of this number all are alive and in health except two; one a child, and the other a grand child. The former died when about ten months old; the latter lived little more than as many days.
“The health of this family is remarkable. Notwithstanding the great increase of their number, there had not occurred a single death in about thirty-three years. And the fact that a family of seventy-four persons should all be in health and able to attend on such an occasion, is truly wonderful and demands a grateful heart.
“Another particular deserving of notice is, that seven of the children who are married, are settled in the immediate neighborhood of their parents; the most distant is not more than two miles from the old mansion house. One of the other two children resides at the distance of eight miles and the other twenty.
A sermon adapted to the occasion was delivered by the Rev. John Johnston, one of the sons-in-law, from the first verse of the 133d Psalm:— Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.’
“After divine service, the children and grand children, forgetting the distinctions of parents and children, and members of separate families, mingled together in the recreations and pleasures of the moment, and felt that they were brethren, and under the roof of their common parents.
After taking their evening meal together they separated to return to their other places of residence, and their various callings.
Perhaps there cannot he found in our land, an instance of so large a family so rapidly increased, so compactly settled together, enjoying such uninterrupted health, and assembled under circumstances so peculiar, as the instance before us.”—Index of June 12, 1821.
THE CHURCH OF HOPEWELL.
The first effort to build a Presbyterian church in Hopewell was made about the year 1779. All, however, that was done at this time was to raise and enclose a building, without finishing the interior; but in which the people occasionally enjoyed the preaching of the gospel. In this situation they continued till the year 1792, when they formed themselves into a body corporate, and chose the following persons as their board of trustees, viz William Cross, Robert Milliken, Jonathan Crawford, Daniel Bull, Andrew Thompson, Nathan Crawford, Abraham Caldwell, Robert Thompson and Robert McCreary.
At a meeting of the trustees held very soon after, they adopted measures to finish the inside of the building: and about the same time resolved upon the expediency of securing the regular preaching of the gospel. They accordingly made a call on the Rev. Jonathan Freeman, and, on his accepting of the call, he was ordained and installed their pastor, August 28, 1793. Soon after his settlement among them, Mr. Freeman ordained Abraham Caldwell, William Cross, Robert Thompson, Jacob Linderman, John Crawford and Matthias Millspaugh, ruling elders; and this appears to be the true date of the organization of the church.
The history of Mr. Freeman was not of long continuance. The pastoral relation between him and the people was dissolved on the 18th day of April, 1798. During the ministry of Mr. Freeman every thing seemed to progress comfortably; and, at the time of his leaving them, the little church which at first consisted of twenty-one members, had grown to the number of one hundred and five.
The resignation of Mr. Freeman left the church vacant for more than five years. At the expiration of this time the church called the Rev. Isaac Van Doren. He was ordained and installed their pastor on the 29th of June, 1803. The ministry of Mr. Van Doren was long and happily protracted. He continued his labors among the people during the full period of twenty-one years, enjoying their warmest affections, and finding his ministry followed up with many blessings. In the year 1820 he enjoyed a very extensive revival of religion among his people, which resulted in the addition of one hundred and fifty-two members to the church. But a time came, in the providence of God, for the severance of hearts so long and happily united. This occurred April 20, 1825, when, at the request of Mr. Van Doren, the Presbytery dissolved his pastoral relation, and once more declared the Church of Hopewell to be vacant.
After being vacant nearly two years, the church called the Rev. Hugh M. Koontz to become their pastor. He was ordained and installed December 20, 1826; and after laboring among the people for nearly six years, his pastoral relation was, at his own request dissolved. This was done in the month of May, 1832.