Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/178

 ik HISTORY OP lies and substance, could it all be written with each night's encampment, and incidents by the way, would form an inter- esting page in this history ; but we can only note a few par- ticulars. On leaving Marbletown they followed up the Esopus creek to Shandaken, where they made a short halt to cut out a wagon-road over Pine-hill. This accomplished, the young men went on in advance, marking and mending the road down the East Branch to Pepacton. At this place canoes were pro- cured to transport their goods and part of the company down to the forks of the Delaware, and up the West Branch to the place of settlement. The remainder of the party opened a road over Colchester mountain, and brought over the wagons and horses, and pitched their tents at the foot of Pine-hill, in full view of the river. The Norths and Furmans lived in their tents till September. Mrs. Robert North, who lived to a good old age, often spoke of this journey as not only very interesting in itself, but by way of rebuking the pride of the present generation. She said she came all the way from Marbletown on horseback, with her bed and all her furniture lashed on behind her, and her son Benjamin in her arms before her. She often boasted that she was the first woman that ever made a foot-print on the soil of Walton. It is seventy years ago this month of June, that these five families commenced the settlement ; they had pene- trated the wilderness about eight miles, and there were only a few scattered families within the circle of that distance, and of these none could give them aid. For flour and meal, the nearest places they could be procured was at Mohawk, Cherry Valley, Schoharie, and Marbletown, and all except the latter conveyed on horseback over Indian trails. Boards and plank, for building, were made by splitting free- rifted pine, and smoothing them with the axe and knife. For the want of nails, the gimlet and wooden pegs were used, but industry, courage, and perseverance overcame all obstacles, and the