Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/69

DELAWARE COUNTY. 45 sons are found wlio liave evinced the same degree of interest in the collection of historical reminiscences. ^'Dear Sir : — The timely appearance of your work^ embracing the settlement and early history of Delaware county, furnishes a desideratum, the importance of which has long been felt ; and I cheerfully contribute the few historical items which I have been enabled to gather from an intercourse of more than twenty years with the people of this town, for the purpose of rescuing from oblivion what is still matter of veritable history, but which will have become mere tradition, unless speedily placed upon record by the historian. Reliable sources of information have sensibly decreased within the few years last past, and indeed I believe no person is now living who came into this town with the early pioneers, and but few even are left, who have any knowledge of the trials and unforeseen embarrassments which beset the hardy adventurers who first emigrated into this valley.'^ I am principally indebted for the facts here presented, to Frederick Kittle, who came into the settlement with the first emigrants, by his stepfather, Mr. Hendricks. He spent nearly his whole life in this neighborhood, and died some years since at a very advanced age. He was a boy when the little colony was founded, but old enough to remember many of the incidents attendant upon that event. Also, to Christian Yaple, who at the age of about two years emigrated with his father from Pennsylvania, and settled in Middletown, about six years prior to the Revolution. Also, to Nelly Yaple, the only person now living, who was upon the stage of action when most of the events to be narrated occurred. She is the daughter of Hermanns Dumond, one of the original settlers, and was born in Middle- town in 1774. Also, to James Dumond, grandson of Peter Dumoud, another early settler, who was born about the close of the Revolution, and who has resided in Middletown ever since. The latter person is, perhaps, as well acquainted Vfith