The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1912-05-16
CANON CITY CLAIMS
AMONG CITIZENS. SON
OF ''ICHABOD CRANE"

In his Legend of Sleepy Hollow" IS
q resident of Canon City is fact not
known to many. The original "Icha-
bod was the Hon. Jesse Merwin of
kinderbrook, n. ". schoolmaster, JUS
tice of the peace, membe, of the New
York general assembly and warm per-
sonal friend of Irving. His son Wash
ington Irving Merwin. now in his 18th
year, has for number OF years lived
in Colorado. and now lives at 1906
Rudd avenue. most respected citizen
of the community. Not long ago Mr.
and Mrs. Merwin celebrated their
hfty-ffth wedding anniversary.
Merwin was born ana reared i
n Y. on the HHdosn. =
locality made famous in song and
story, was intimately acquainted with
Irving. after whom he
was named, as well as with President
Martin Van Buren. who was also
native and resident Of the village Of
Many are the interesting reminis-
cenees that Merwin can tell Of these
two famous men. both of whom were
visitors at this fathers home.
When asked to relate some of als
OF these men. he modest
ly replied that while the memories OF
those early associations were indeed
pleasuTable. yet the health-giying air.
blue skies and mountains OF Colorado
were dearer to him than the mist
covered hills and humid atmosphere
Of the Hudson region. beautiful ds
hey were and as romantic their asso-
Stations. Health said Merwin. is OF
he first consideration in life. and that
IS why I'm in Colorado"
Yes" he resumed. "my father wls
he original Ichabod Crane. the school,
master OF Sleepy Hollow. As the leg
and says. he was native OF connecu-
cut. state which supplies the Union
with pioneers for the mind AS well as
for the forest
"of course. the character was great
Iy exaggerated. and my father. in
stead of being tall. exceedingly lank.
with narrow shoulders. and hands
hat dangled a mile out of his sleeves.
vas large. weI-init man. Weighing
in the .nelehborhood OF sg5 pounds.
The ghost story lof Brom Bones and
he Gailoping Hessian was also pure
" a creation OF the authors imagina-
ion. The peerless Katrina van Tassel.
described in the story as the object Of
the riyalrIes OF Ichabod and Bones.
was also we'll known to me. for she
was my own aunt. Hor real name was
Van Dyke instead OF Van Tassel."
Irving was frequent visitor to
our home. lie was the finest writer
ever knew. SO clear were his thoughts
that after writing his manuscript for
the FIRST tine 1t was all ready for the
printer. Literature. however. was
about all he did know. and he was
doefully ignorant of many commou-
place things with which nearly everg-
body also was familiar. For instance.
one day when he was at our house he
noticed some mules in the barnyard.
among the other stock, aud he inno-
Gently inquired what kind OF horses
they were. as he had observed they
were somewhat different from ordin-
ary horses which he had seen.
Martin Van Buren," said Terwin.
was neighbor and close friend OF
my father. Van Buren's home. Linden-
wall. was not far from our place and
I have had. as boy, lot OF good
times there fishing in his big pond or
being treated to the good things 10
eat and drink which ho always kept
in his cellar. Van Buren was ono OF
the most agreeable and soclabic men
ever met. In this respect. he per-
haps excellcd any of the presidents.