On the east bank of the Wallkill, on the old Rogers farm, there was an old Indian settlement. The red men had made a goodly clearing in the forest here and, tradition says, had planted fruit trees, and when the white man first set foot in this region he found full-grown bearing apple trees on this ancient clearing. An Indian settlement was found on the flat above the bridge over the Wallkill, near the old Miller stone house. Another had its wigwams on the old Christoffel (or Stuffell) Moul (Mould) farm about two miles north of Montgomery on the main highway afterwards known as the stage road from Goshen to Albany. These left for more remote regions in 1775. Near the present village of Walden the settlement of Henry Wileman was made. His patent contained 3,000 acres, and he settled upon it very soon after its purchase in 1712. What was known as the Harrison Patent was granted May 25, 1721. This was given to the following persons: Francis Harrison, Allan Jarrat, Adolphus Phillips, George Clarke, Johanes Lansing, Henry Wileman, Jacobus Bruyn and William Sharpas. This entire tract was surveyed and a large village laid out, and deeds were given to all actual settlers. Among these the following were named: Hans Newkirk, Hendrick Newkirk, Matthias Slimmer, Peter Kysler, ____ Kraus, ____ Brandos. These ancient settlers upon this land were Palatines, and after a few years they erected a small log church within the village, the site of which is still fairly indicated by the old graveyard on the east side of the Goshen road, a short distance south of Montgomery. This old village was known as Germantown. About a mile farther south on this patent Johannes Miller, a German, made a settlement in 1727. The next year he built a stone house where Mr. Elmer Miller afterwards lived. His grandson, Johannes Miller, was a leading citizen of the town in later years--a progressive man, prominent in promoting several important public enterprises, and especially active in the construction of the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike Road. His services towards establishing and maintaining the Montgomery Academy have always been held in grateful remembrance. The 5,000-acre tract granted to Schuyler & Co., was first settled by Jeronimous Weller & Co., in 1721. Another grant of 10,000 acres was settled by a company consisting of Johannes Mingus, his son Jeronimous, Mattias Miltzbagh, and others whose names are not definitely known. It was agreed by this company that a tract of 100 acres would be granted to each family that would locate permanently upon it. Mingus built a mill, around which the old village of Ward's Bridge soon clustered. But Mingus lost his life in this mill by accident soon afterward, which resulted in considerable dispute over the property.