Thomas VanEtten was of a very ancient family in Ulster county (NY) and settled on lands in Montague township. In 1859 the old homestead was sold to Allen Everett, whose grandfather, Jacob Everett, who married Hannah Longfelt in Hunterdon county, NJ had arrived in Montague about 1765. Jacob was a doctor and practiced his profession there from 1770 to 1802 where he died. Of his eight children, Isaac, born March 13, 1771, married in 1797, Mary, born May 1777, a daughter of Daniel Davis. He died March 7, 1833; his wife, Mary, June 23, 1835.

Of their children, Allen, born July 24, 1814, married March 2, 1847, Ellen, daughter of Jesse and Margaret P. Hunt. She died Feb. 27, 1857. He again married April 3, 1859, Sally J., widow of John Finch of Orange county, NY, daughter of James B. and Mary D. Armstrong, of Montague. His first wife's children were: Hannah J., born Jan. 5, 1848 married Wilhelmus Westfall; George, Oct. 6, 1850, died young, and Martin died unmarried. His second wife's children were George L., born April 21, 1860; Frank A., March 14, 1862, died young, and Sarah E., April 6, 1865.

Of the above eleven children, of Isaac and Mary D. Everett, Jacob D., born March 23, 1798, married Roanna, born May 6, 1799, daughter of Daniel Decker, May 7, 1820. She died Feb. 28, 1859. He again married, Diana, widow of John Kittle and daughter of Alexander Enes. He died Nov. 15, 1876. His children by his first wife were: Catherine J., married John B. Layton Jr. of Port Jervis, NY; Daniel D., Isaac; Isaac J. died in 1875, at Orange, NJ; Martin C., President of First National Bank, of Port Jervis, NY; Robert H., upon the homestead, and James A., who died in 1861 unmarried.

Allen and John D. Everett were born upon a tract of land owned originally by John Cortright, one of the six settlers of old Minisink village. They were both distinguished and respected citizens of Montague and held many offices of a corporate and public nature."