Page 47
History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 47
In 1812, Mr. Niven, ever active and determined to do something for a living, left the city, located in Mamakating Hollow in Sullivan county, and with brightening prospects of success, entered into agricultural pursuits connected with Inn-keeping. In this he experienced about an equal result, and came out with whole bones, and in 1816 we find him in the growing village and pure atmosphere of Monticello, upon the very Summit of the Alleghanies. There is sometimes as much danger in being too high as too low, and Mr. Niven retired to the foot of the mountain, and became a resident of the large and more ancient village of Bloomingburgh. When the Delaware and Hudson canal was in progress of being built, the general impression was that it would add to the business operations of the inhabitants all along the line through the valley, and Mr. Niven, entertaining the same opinion, determined that if it rained porridge upon the citizens, at least he would have his dish right side up, removed to Mamakating Hollow and sat up an inn. The work was completed in a few years, spent its force of construction along the path of its route, and the agents, workmen and visitors retired from Mamakating—leaving matters and things in status quo. Mr. Niven, not to be singular, "when all the world’s a stage,” returned to his first love in 1837 . He is now in a green old age, about 78, in the frill possession of his mental and bodily faculties,—young and buoyant in manner and feeling as a man of fifty. Mr. Niven built the second brick house in the Village of Newburgh, and was the first to put a slate roof on.
Mr. Niven was educated in the Associate Reformed Church of Scotland, and early united himself with that body of Christians here. Not many years after he came to Newburgh, there being no worship in the village in a church to which he belonged, went up one Sabbath morning to the First Presbyterian Church in the village, with a view to worship there for the day. When he arrived the services were being commenced by the Rev. Mr. Ford of New Jersey, and as he looked in at the door, Mr. John McAuley got his eye on him, rose up, and beckoned him to come in. Mr. Niven went in and took a sent with Mr. McAuley. Here, he says, they sat like two noblemen, in the only pew in the church. The psalm was being read, and though there were several books in the seat, neither of them could find it. Mr. McAuley, knowing that the chorister was not there, said to Mr. Niven, “Daniel, you must set the tune." He replied,—"How can I do it: I can’t find the psalm." “Go up, man, and take the book from the parson." Mr. Niven agreed, went up to the pulpit, received the book and sang the psalm. While singing, a Scotch friend of Iris, who came to this country in 1791, also came to the door and looked in, saw what was going on and left. This individual, with his then opinions of a true and false church, would as leave have worshipped in a heathen temple as in a Presbyterian meeting house.
When Mr. Niven met the gentleman alluded to, he was chided by him for what he had done, and threatened if he did not do better for the future, and quit singing such psalms in such places, he would complain to the proper authority, and have him spiritually punished. Whether Mr. Niven was improved by the fatherly advice of his friend we do not know, but we are of opinion, from his liberal views on that subject, that in a crisis like the one referred to, he would lift his voice to-day, in such a place, and send his heart with it.