One of the first families of Conesville were the Strykers, the first of these were Peter and Barent, who came from New Jersey in 1800. Colby Reed and John Stryker went into the mercantile business together, but in 1815, the partnership ended. Peter Stryker’s son and Barent Stryker built a tannery in Strykerville, and a mill nearby the tannery. Gershom Stevens built another mill in 1835.
Business went well in Strykerville, but Gilboa’s business ended that prosperity. In a nearby stream, many old Indian artifacts were discovered, including stone arrows, knives, and hatchets.
Much of the land of Conesville were purchased by the Dise family, and a man by the name of Ury Richtmyer in 1754. Ironically, the first death in the town was Ury Richtmyer’s, in 1769. The Dise family were not well liked, and among things disapproved upon was their support of the Crown during the Revolutionary War. Also, when the Dises visited the Hudson, they would get drunk and then they’d throw silver coins into the river. They thus lost much of their wealth, and tried to get some of it back by suing others, including Ury Richmeyer. They were unsuccessful.
After the Revolution, many people started to come to the town. By 1836 people were petitioning the state to create a new town. On March 3rd, 1836, an act was passed to divide the town of Broome and Durham. The newly created town was named after Rev. Jonathan Cone. The book provides a list of elected supervisors, including the names Stryker, Richtmyer, and Peter Couchman, who was in office for eight consecutive years, and nine years total. The book also provides a biography of Mr. Couchman.
Can you imagine that, when you drive around, that you are seeing the same thing that people saw over 250 years ago? Also, I wonder what the Dises would think if they could have read this book.
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