"The sweetness and gentleness of his nature, his genial and frank spirit, the generous impulses of his heart, and the broad and engaging charity of his views are known best to the favored few who rejoiced in his intimate companionship. His hand was open as the day to melting charity. His dealings were ever plain, straightforward and direct. He despised all shams and affectations. To his friends he was the very soul of unselfish loyalty, and to the party which honored both him and itself in his elevation, and in whose counsels he was ever a trusted leader, he rendered always a manly and unfaltering allegiance. A loving husband, an affectionate and indulgent father, a wise, honest and safe adviser, an unstained lawyer, an incorruptible judge, and a loyal friend are buried in his grave. And if amid the good of his great nature there was mingled any blemish or alloy of human fault or folly, let us to whom his name is now but a sweet and tender memory:
"'No further seek his merits to disclose
Nor draw his frailties from their dread abode,
(There they alike in trembling hope repose)
The bosom of his Father and his God.'"
Gilbert O. Hulse, who preceded Mr. Wadsworth in the office of surrogate, still survives at the age of eighty-four to relate his reminiscences of the bench and bar of a previous generation. Before coming to this office in 1868 he had enjoyed a large professional experience which fully qualified him for his duties. He was engaged in many notable cases, in one of which, attracting great attention at the time, he established a lost will many years after it had been wrongfully destroyed and secured the property till then denied to its rightful owners, his clients. Much of his professional life has been passed in the city of New York but he retains his residence in Orange County, in which he was born in 1824, and with which his ancestors had been identified since 1775.
The early part of the last century was marked by the rise in Orange County of an able and progressive bar, whose courage and public spirit contributed to keep alive the fires of exalted patriotism. Jonathan Fisk, who removed to Newburgh in 1800, became one of the most influential citizens of the county, being elected twice to congress and being appointed twice United States attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Henry G. Wisner, who was admitted in 1802, settled in Goshen in 1810, where for thirty years he stood forth as its most prominent citizen, its most active philanthropist and one of its foremost lawyers.
Walter Case, who also was admitted in 1802, settled in Newburgh, serving in Congress and becoming the surrogate of the county in 1823 for a term of four years. His scholarly tastes and literary gifts still find inherited expression through the cultured mind of his descendant, Walter Case Anthony.
David W. Bate and Thomas McKissock, who were associated under the name of Bate & McKissock, were strong and able men, exercising a wide and potent influence. Judge Bate was elected county judge in 1847. Judge McKissock was appointed supreme court judge to serve for a few months and was elected to Congress in 1849.
William C. Hasbrouck, who studied with Mr. Wisner, was admitted in 1826 and began his practice in Newburgh. where he resided until his death. He was speaker of the Assembly in 1847 and attracted attention and admiration abroad as well as at home by a courtly presence and charming address, united to robust manhood and sturdy principles. He enjoyed the personal friendship of many prominent men of every shade of opinion, including Sam Houston, Andrew Jackson and William H. Seward. He died in 1870.
Benjamin F. Duryea filled a large place in the life of the county. Admitted in 1839, he became surrogate in 1847 and county judge in 1855. His opinion upon any state of facts submitted to him was regarded by his associates of the bar as conclusive upon the questions of law involved. His son, Henry C. Duryea, whose career was marred by precarious health, survived him until 1906.
Of all the able lawyers who have kept bright the fame of the Goshen bar, perhaps no one ever exhibited greater force of character or made a deeper impression upon his fellow citizens than Samuel J. Wilkin, who was admitted to the bar in 1815 and who practiced in Goshen from that time until his death in 1866. He served with distinction in Congress and in the Senate of the State. His fiery eloquence, commanding presence and lofty character live in traditions that will long preserve his name from indifference or his memory from neglect. His daughter Sara became the wife of ex-Surrogate Roswell C. Coleman. His father, General James W. Wilkin, was also a distinguished man, serving in the Senate, Assembly and Congress, and coming within one vote of being elected to the United States Senate.