Page 32
History of Orange County
Towns of Goshen, Hamptonburgh and Chester
Page 32
DOCT. DAVID R. ARNELL.-“ Died, on the evening of Saturday the 2d of September, 1826, David R. Arnell, of the village of Goshen, aged 55 years. By the death of this highly respectable citizen, society has lost a valuable member, religion a distinguished supporter, science a zealous votary, and the profession in which he was an extensive practitioner, an eminent and valuable member.”
Dr. Arnell was a man of much public spirit, and a friend to every measure calculated for the common benefit. As a professor of religion, he was devout, tolerant and zealous, always maintaining his own, but never treating with disrespect the opinion of others. He was much given to reflection and reading. In those hours when the most of mankind were resting in quiet slumber, with the midnight taper as his companion, Dr. A. was to be found laboriously engaged in the pursuits of literature and knowledge. Public opinion had raised him to the head of his profession as a physician. His practice was extensive and arduous, and his unremitted exertions in the line of his duty, whether in healing the rich or the poor, it made no difference, will ever remain engraven upon the minds of those who have witnessed his labors. In fine, he was a good citizen and excellent parent, and a friend to mankind generally.”-Republican.
After the formation of the County Society, the Dr. was appointed State Delegate, and on Feb. 5, 1807, be, with John Ely, Westel Willoughby, Alexander Seldon and James M. Mann, were appointed the committee of correspondence of the State Society. This committee issued a circular notice to all the physicians of the State, which for its good sense, wholesome advice and direction, we commend to the student just entering upon his medical profession. It is found in the Index' of Feb. 19, 1807.
The Doctor was a native of the town of Minisink, and began his practice in the town of Walkill, at Prospect Hill, near Scotchtown. He continued to reside there from before 1800 till about 1808, when he removed to Goshen. While at Prospect Hill, and down till his removal, he was engaged in manufacturing brown earthen ware, a very useful, cheap and convenient article. He was small in stature, of a dark complexion, with small black eyes set deeply in his head, and of a grave and serious turn of mind. He seemed to be a person of thought and to commune much with himself.- His life was wholly devoted to things of a useful and beneficial character, and he gave no heed to those of mere show or ornament. He was eminently a valuable member of society, whether we view him in his professional character or as a mere citizen. The Medical Society of the county is indebted to him for a large share of its early and present reputation. He laid the corner stone as it were of the institution, erected the building and then furnished the laws by which it was to be governed.
"At a meeting of a number of members of the Medical Society of Orange county, at. the house of Dr. T. G. Evans, on Monday, Sept. 4, 1826, it was Resolved, that the President of the society be requested to recommend to all the members of said society to wear crape on the left arm for the space of 30 days, as a mark of respect and esteem for our deceased fellow member Dr. David R. Arnell.
Agreeable to the above resolution I do hereby recommend and enjoin the observance of the same by all the members of the medical society of Orange county.
PETER A. MILLSPAUGH, Prest.”
“Died, Widow Christian Wood of Goshen, on the 5th of July, 1825, aged four score and five years. She was at Wyoming with her family when the battle took place there, and narrowly escaped with her life. She had a son and husband killed in the battle. She herself was approached by an Indian with his uplifted tomahawk, she had an infant in her arms, the little innocent smiled at the sight of the savage, which was observed by the monster, who immediately changed the direction of his weapon of death, as if he meant to make the child the first victim, the agonized mother clung to her offspring, pressed it closer and closer to her breast, while she looked the ferocious savage in the face-he contemplated the scene for a moment, then let fall his tomahawk, turned round and walked off-and the anxious mother escaped with her child.”
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.-On looking over the old Churches of the county, we kept an eye, steadily fixed for a long time, on the old Goshen Church, and in imagination rioted over the historic reminiscences which we were about to glean from it, particularly as illustrating the early settlement of this town; but we have been utterly disappointed, and now mourn over the loss. We made early and late efforts to procure its outline history, and received assurances which no gentleman could doubt; but promises made, in relation to transactions about which we have no personal interest, further than mere courtesy, are spoken to the ear only; and are very apt to be forgotten. We make no point of morals in the matter, nor yet find fault with any one; still we cannot help uttering our lamentations aloud over the loss to our paper of the oldest church record in the county. All the history of this ancient temple, with its priesthood, is contained in the following copy of an inscription found on a stone which covers the mouth of the sepulchre, which contains the ashes of the pious dead.
Inscription on the Stone over the Vault belonging to the Church.
Here repose the remains of
REV. JOHN BRADNER.
a native of Scotland, the first pastor of the
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GOSHEN,
Settled A.D. 1721, Died 1732.
Also of
REV NATHAN KER.
His successor, who preached the Gospel
in thee place for 38 years,
Died Dec'ber 14, 1804,
aged 69 years.
Also of his successor,
REV. EZRA FISK, D. D.,
who was born January 10, 1785,
at Sherburne, in Massachusetts,
Settled as Pastor of the Goshen Church,
August 13, 1813,
Died December 14, *1804,
Aged 49 years.
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Errata--read 1824,