New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-02
OLD AND NEW MILFORD.
A FAMOUS PENNSYLVANIA TOWN.

frRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT on THE rRBuSEt
MILFORD, Penn. Aug. 30.-The Delaware
Valley, from the Water Gap to Hancock, N T., as
lance OF over 100 miles, ia almost continuous
summer resort. although 1t Is only few years since
city boarder" was unknown at any point farther up
the valley than Milford and rarity between here ana
the Water Gap. Milford has been popular summer
resor. many years The pioneer city visitor to tho
place Allen Cuthhert, prominent merchant OK
PHILADELPHIA who came here with his wife fifty -four
years ago this summer The venerable couple have
spent their here every year but SINCE and
that year-lS74 they in Europe. They are here
this season at the sawk House. the hotel they selected
on their first visit which they have invariably made
their quarters. There railroads then, and Mil
ford was one OF stopping places for coaches on
the turnpike which was the principal thoroughfare
between New-York City and the lake country"
THERE WE'RE GIANTS IN THOSE DAYS.
The sawkill was then only village tavern, AMI was
kept by o remarkable named Lewis Cornelius VINO
at the time of his death I'm 1S41 must have Deen tue
heaviest person country The following copy
OF certified entry In OF the books o. record In tho
CLERKS office OF this county. the original entry having
been made Immediately after Mr.. Cornelius's death:
Lewis Cornclius-Ded September "a, 1s41.
Circu Inference below the waist, feet 2 inches.
circumference above the waist q feet zig incnes
Of arm above the elbow es ncnes
Circumference of wrist, foot inches.
circumference OF thigh. feet inches.
circumference OF calf OF leg, fect lncnes.
circumference OF an kle, foot inches
His weight 645i2 pounds, without clothing.
During his lifetime Mr.. Cornelius would not consent
TO be weighed The above his weight after DEATH
and after long illness, during which he had lost much
flesh Mr. Cornelius was survived by wife and seven
children three sons and four daughters. The manage
ment hotel has passed out OF the hands OF
the family The wife, the three sons and one daughter
are dead and the is managed by tho remain
ing daughter Two Of the weighed over 800 pouhds
each at the time of their DEATH and the deceased
daughter weighed AGO. Ore SOD, who died TWO
wears ago. had been sherif the county i've times.
From the time Of the elder Cornelius until now the fame
OF the sawkn House has been wide Tor the exceienco
table, IL has been patonized by Joseph Jenerson'
Samuel Randall, George H. Boxer. members OF the
Drexe family, and many others celebrated In politics
and the pr0fe ssions.
SOME OF THE PIONEERS.
Atthe time Allen Cuthbert discovered Milford 1t was
Quaint odfasbioned village but OF much more iDpor-
lance In way than 1t boast OF being now.
James Wallace father OF the late Francis D. Wallace
the well Wall Street broker kept small country
store here and Cyril D. Pinchot father OF James W.
Pnchot, of New-Yorx, now leading and wealthy pa
tron OF ar, in that city, clerk In his fathers sti
smaller store H. an old frame building In the village
Deacon Moses Bross kept raftsmans tavern on tho
hanks of the Delaware The Deacon had son William
among host of other children. 1t was among the du
ties OF William boat out on the river when rai1s
running ana 10 peuulc Sin appic-Jach,
eggs and pie TO the raftsmen One day ne poaroeu
raft piloted by George Bush pioneer temperance adj
vocate Learning the lads NAME Bush said to him that
he WAS altogether too and brghtlookng boy 10 DO
selling liquor and advised him TO quit 1t, study ana no
might be Governor day William was so I'M
pressed with the advice Of the pilot that he went nome
and told his father that she would sell gin no longer
There was printing Office in Milford at that early day.
Young Bross went to work in it us devil and learned
the printers trade Subsequently he went TO Chicago
then but a struggling village The words OF George
Bush you nay bo Governor some day. were always
with him. He never became exactly Governor but no
was one the founders Of The Chicago Tribune ana DO
came Northumberland OF Illinois.
Milford at that time was made up almost entirely OF old
families and they formed an aristocracy
unto themselves. Among them were the Brodheads'
the Motifs the Dlmpicks, the Edreds, all Claiming an
ancestry ancient and honorablcone at least trac
ing direct lineage back TO the a-Beckets OF England
Richard Brodhe ad, United states Senator ana onco
within Que OF being the Democratic nominee Tor
President az that time equivalent 70 elections Henry
g. Mott for years leader In the Democratic party OF
Pennsylvania, and power In Its councils, VINO was
elected Canal Commissioner I'm 1874 over George Darcy
by 10000 mai GRITTY and the last President OF the
Hoard Of Public Works and the Pennsylvania Railroad
previous their sale to the State; W. H. Dimmicx u-
rist aud statesman for years leading member OF Con-
eress; samuel T. Dimmick, AttorneyGeneral OF Penn
sylvania in 1874 and prospective Republican canndto
for Governor OF his death; Nathaniel Edred,
one OF most learned and revered judges
and Naval Officer Philadelphia under Bnchanans Adj
mnisratOn all came from this then exclusive stocA
THE MILFORD OF TO-DAY.
Rnt the Milford of to day is far different AFFAIR from
the Milford of fifty years ago. The descendants OF the
old families are here abundance, TO be sure and re-
tain the traditions their fathers Marriage and inter-
marriage made the whole community almost akin'
and the stranger needs have care how he remarks 10
one native some popularity he may have observed IN
another 1t may be No. Ones sister or his cousin or Ms
amt But with the atmosphere OF the place
there is now mingled much that is very perceptioy
unitarian; and alien blood, with little knowledge OF
past traditions OF the place and less care Tor trem
rapidly wpng them out and removing all that may re-
mind coming generations that they ever existed True,
the old Court House-the Oldest but one in the state
having been built In 1912 stands unchanged as TO APP
pearance a quaint many-hued stone structure OF tho
AN guar unmeanns local architecture OF seventy years
ago IL is court house no longer for II was aoan-
doned years for more modern ana pretentious
structure the building which has echoed with the
eloauence of the great lawyers of past era-the Jes
aims, the Reeders the Porte the Woodwards and hosts
OF oherss handed TO the county as the COM
mon jai The od-ashioned homesteads have been re-
placed by residences" OF modern architecture ana
pretentcus surroundings. The village houses are no
longer houses but cottages" The modest taverns
whose swinging signs annOun ced Entertainments
for man and beast" now commodious " hotels"
where entertainment the casual man and beast In
the time At least depends In great measure on
how much space the city boarders occupy. .
That the average city boarier has good sense shown
by fact that he is always on hand In the fullest pos
sibe force In Milford, from early In the season until
late Its twelve large and excellent hotels and numer-
Gus boarding houses at present crowded win tue
best people of Ncw-Yors, Brooklyn aud philadelphia
Milford Is reached FROM York by the Ellie Railway
TO Port Jeryis, three-hours' ride. drive OF seven
miles Port Jeryisor the clamor OF no railroad mas
ever yet pr0faned these quiet rosa As
hard as cement aud wonderfully smooth running along
the OF lofty aud preciptous range o. moantns'
crowned with high, perpendicular ellis OF slate rock,
brings The visitor to Milford The attractions OF this
resort are first its charming location; second tue
grand work nature has done around IT. third It's nshinZ
and hunting grounds fourth the general excellence or
its hotels and boarding houses Milford lies on broad
TWO above the Delaware 1iver ana
abouI one thousand feet above tide. IL commands
IN the vale plains aud forests Of three States,