Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/243

 DELAWARE COUNTY, 219 other association making us familiar with the geology or mine- ralogy of the county. Some years since the State expended large sums in making geological surveys of its territory, which, so far as Delaware county is concerned, was as complete a hum- bug as ever was known. I think the learned professor conde- scended to ride through our county— possibly he even slept one or two nights within our territory — but for all practical purposes, the passage through our county of a blind fiddler and his dog, would have been as promotive of public good, as the Professor's journey. Delaware county, geologically and mine- ralogically considered, is terra incognita. We know nothing of our mineral resources, notwithstanding nature hints strongly of treasure lying dormant in the bosom of our mountains.'' Our limits — even did it not trespass upon the patience of the reader — will not permit us to indulge in all the minute details of the history of the county since its formation, and we shall therefore content ourselves by glancing at the most prominent features. It may with propriety be stated, that the erection of Delaware county, in the face of such decided opposition, is mainly due to Joshua H. Brett, at that time member of the Assembly from Otsego county, an eminent physician of Harpersfield, and one of its first settlers ; John Burr, of Middletown, and Ebenezer Foote, merchant of New- burgh, the latter two being members of Assembly from Ulster county. Joshua H. Brett was appointed first judge, and Ebenezer Foote obtained the appointment of county clerk,'*' and shortly after removed into the town of Delhi, where he resided until the time of his death. The following extract is from a manuscript journal of Judge Foote :— April 28th, 1828. — I was appointed first judge of Dela- Delaware Bank, recorded the first deed in the county clerk's office.
 * Anthony Marvine, father of Charles Marvine, Esq., President of