Gumaer notes this development in the earlier generation. He says, "religious reading meetings were held in the peenpack neighborhood," also "the services of an officer were unnecessary in that neighborhood during the first sixty or seventy years of the settlement. They had the honesty and the prudence to adjust all matters relating to their mutual dealings." When roused by fear and danger they became sturdy energetic soldiers who knew only independence and self-reliance. The extent of this is shown by the military records. In the second regiment of Ulster County militia, in the company of which Captain Abram Cuddeback commanded we find among the enlisted men six of the name of Cuddeback--William, Peter, James, Benjamin, Abraham, Sr., Abraham, Jr., five of the name of Swartwout and several names of each of the families of the region. With such inheritance, with such discipline, with such surroundings, with nature as a firm, kind, unyielding teacher, impress of character was early discernible with these people. These families developed traits of character and physical stature which has been most noticeable in members of succeeding generations. "William Cuddeback, though uneducated, was versed in the scriptures, was characterized as a wise man in his time." Each succeeding generation developed its leaders in the religious, business and social matters of their day, of sterling uprightness and integrity, among a people gentle, modest, retiring, with strong religious convictions, with sympathy and helpfulness toward each other and a fidelity to duty. Gumaer states, "I have sat many a long winter evening and many an hour in the day time to hear the conversations and arguments of a few of the individuals of the second generation. Many of these communications and remarks were entertaining and instructive as to what had transpired in this valley, and as to the lives of the people." Gumaer also states from knowledge gained in this way he considers "that Col. Peter Cuddeback had the general resemblance to the early members of the family." His picture herewith presented may be considered as indicative of the features and general physique of the family. [Illustration: Colonel Peter Cuddeback 1795-1892.] The family life was the community life of the early generations. Remnants of this have continued in some localities where the husking bee, the quilting party or the apple cut afford opportunities for the family to gather and to rehearse tales of the early trials, fortunes and successes. This family visiting, when all of the family were included, with its free hearty welcome, and its unreserved and unstinted hospitality indicated the fellowship of the family as a group and as the unit in the community and is in marked contrast to the twentieth century methods where the individual is the unit.