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Deerpark and Mount Hope

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Farms having become small before the war commenced, a large proportion of the inhabitants a few years after it ended became desirous of emigrating into a new country, to advance their interests. Moses De Witt, a young man of this neighborhood, son of Jacob R. De Witt, who was naturally well talented and in a great measure self taught, after serving as an under surveyor in the business of this State, to run a line for dividing the States of Pennsylvania and New York, and surveying some State land at and in the vicinity of Tioga Point, became one of the surveyors of the military lands; and he, together with Major Hardenburgh, were appointed to have the agency of that business. Peter G. Cuddeback, another young man of this town, was employed by them for a time as an under surveyor. From them early information was received here of the good quality of those lands, which, together with the influence of De Witt, led to the emigration of a large proportion of the inhabitants of the place into that district of country, who were among the first pioneers. This did not only advance the interest of those who removed, but of those who remained, for their farms were much enlarged in consequence of it.

Since the Delaware and Hudson Canal has been in operation, the population of this town has been increased by emigration from other parts, and its business consequently extended. For this great work much is due to Maurice Wurtts. He was the first who traversed this county in search of a route for its construction towards Newburgh, and found the Shawangunk mountains together with other inconveniences a great obstacle, and to appearances insurmountable. He was directed to Abraham Cuddeback, Esq., who resided in the vicinity of a gap in the mountain—in which the construction of the New York and Erie Railroad is now in operation—who informed him that the valley leading to Kingston was the most feasible route for a canal; and on being informed of its position, stream, etc., concluded that the construction of a canal was practicable through that valley. He afterwards attended the engineering of the route and construction of the canal, which last was principally executed through this town in 1826.

This town is indebted for many advantages to this work. The small flourishing village of Port Jervis, through which the canal passes, had its origin at the commencement of the navigation there at, and owes its population to that work.* There are now five stores and groceries in this village; three taverns in spacious buildings; one three story grist mill, built by Doct. Ball of Brooklyn, being a stone building, and has four run of stone in it; three churches—a Dutch Reformed, a Baptist and a Methodist Church—and one large school house. The different branches of mechanical country business are also carried on. A considerable amount of lumber is brought in and sold. Coal is deposited and sold. A mail route, from Kingston in Ulster county to Milford in Pennsylvania, and from thence to the city of Philadelphia, pass through this village and crosses the Delaware at about half mile distant. The Neversink Bridge place is about one mile Southerly of Port Jervis; Huguenot about four and Cuddebackville about eight miles Northeast. These are small places; the two latter on the canal and mail route.

Delaware River was named after Lord Delaware. This river was by the Dutch generally called “ Viskill,” which in English is Fish River. It was also called “South River by the Dutch to distinguish it from the Hudson. From the name of this river originated the name of Delaware Indians in consequence of residing in its vicinity.

Mahackemeck.—This is the Indian name of the river running through this town, now known as the Neversink. The name of this stream in the old deeds and writings was "Mahackenmeck," and gave origin to the name of "Mahackemeck Congregation," along which the principal part of the members of this congregation resided.

Neversink, the present name, is considered to be expressive of the Indian idea which implies “ a continual running stream,” which never sinks into the ground, so as to become dry in places. So far as we are informed by those acquainted with the river, no part of it ever becomes dry, and is about two hundred feet wide.

The name also is said to refer to the rapidity of the stream in which things never sink, but are carried along with the current. We think this fanciful guess work, and a mere explanation by two English words which happen to correspond in sound with what has always been supposed to be Indian. Doubtless the river was known to the Indians by its present name, before they ever heard a pale face speak English.

Mongaup.—This is the name of the stream on which the Northwest part of the town is bounded. We presume it is Indian, but do not know its etymology. It might be Dutch it sounds very like what in Dutch would be pronounced Mawgape, according to the broad sound of the a; and might have been derived from a struggle of some kind in that stream. It is about eighty feet wide.

Bashes Kill.—This stream empties in the Neversink River. It received its name from a squaw by the name of Bashee, who resided near Westbrookville in Sullivan county. It is about seventy feet wide.

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*Gilbert F. Mondon and Stephen St. John were the first merchants in this village, and they and Dr. Conklin were the first in this town who abandoned the sale of spirituous liquors. Benjamin Dodge at first was in company with St. John.