"J ' gwethtfe Books-
fdr the. founding of a College- in this Colony'1

'YiLiMmmwmmBmY*
BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME j
or THE
Joshua Coit Fund

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Portrait and

^-@*^  BIOGRAPHICAL

*"*^ir

Oi

V

V

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ORANGE COUNTY
NEW YORK

Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent
and Representative Citizens of the Gounty.

Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents
of the United States.

NEW YORK AND CHICAGO:
CHAPMAN PUBLISHING CO.
i§95-

Cj SS.ohT

PREFACE

"HE greatest of English historians, Macaulay, and one of the most brilliant writers of the
present century, has said: "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its
people." In conformity with this idea, the Portrait and Biographical Record of this
county has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical
matter that can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have gone to the people, the men
and women who have, by their enterprise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none
among those comprising this great and noble state, and from their lips have the story of their life
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent public.
In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation of coming
generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and economy have
accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing an education, have
become learned men and women, with an influence extending throughout the length and breadth of
the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and
whose names have become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to
succeed, and records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very
many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way,"
content to have it said of them, as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — ' 'They have
done what they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left
the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession,
and at their country's call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the
Union was restored and peace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every
woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after.
Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the
fact that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would
otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work, and every
opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and
the publishers natter themselves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence.
In addition to the biographical sketches, portraits ofa number of representative citizens are given.
The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this
the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give
the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some
member of the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of
the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though
repeated calls were made at their residences or places of business.
Chapman Publishing Co.
October, 1895.

k^C'lf^y'

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES

OF THE

PRESIDENTS

OF THE

United States

» 9

GEORGF, WASHINGTON.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

HE Father of our Country was born in West
moreland County, Va., February 22, 1732.
His parents were Augustine and Mary (Ball)
Washington. The family to which he belonged
has not been satisfactorily traced in England.
His great-grandfather, John Washington, emi
grated to Virginia about 1657, and became a
prosperous planter. He had two sons, Lawrence
and John. The former married Mildred Warner,
and had three children, John, Augustine and
Mildred. Augustine, the father of George, first
married Jane Butler, who bore him four children,
two of whom, Lawrence and Augustine, reached
maturity. Of six children by his second mar
riage, George was the eldest, the others being
Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and
Mildred. Augustine Washington, the father of George,
died in 1743, leaving a large landed property.
To his eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an
estate on the Potomac, afterwards known as Mt.
Vernon, and to George he left the parental resi
dence. George received only such education as
the neighborhood schools afforded, save for a
short time after he left school, when he received
private instruction in mathematics. His spelling
was rather defective. Remarkable stories are
told of his great physical strength and develop
ment at an early age. He was an acknowledged
\eader among his companions, and was early
aoted for that nobleness of character, fairness and
veracity which characterized his whole life.
When George was fourteen years old he had a
desire to go to sea, and a midshipman's warrant
was secured for him, but through the opposition
of his mother the idea was abandoned. Two

years later he was appointed surveyor to the im
mense estate of Lord Fairfax. In this business
he spent three years in a rough frontier life,
gaining experience which afterwards proved very
essential to him. In 1751, though only nineteen
years of age, he was appointed Adjutant, with the
rank of Major, in the Virginia militia, then being
trained for active service against the French and
Indians. Soon after this he sailed to the West
Indies with his brother Lawrence, who went there
to restore his health. They soon returned, and
in the summer of 1752 Lawrence died, leaving a
large fortune to an infant daughter, who did not.
long survive him. On her demise the estate of
Mt. Vernon was given to George.
Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie as Lieu
tenant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia
was reorganized, and the province divided into
four military districts, of which the northern was
assigned to Washington as Adjutant-General.
Shortly after this a very perilous mission, which
others had refused, was assigned him and ac
cepted. This was to proceed to the French post
near Lake Erie, in northwestern Pennsylvania.
The distance to be traversed was about six hun
dred miles. Winter was at hand, and the journey
was to be made without military escort, through
a territory occupied by Indians. The trip was a
perilous one, and several times he nearly lost his
life, but he returned in safety and furnished a full
and useful report of his expedition. A regiment
of three hundred men was raised in Virginia and
put in command of Col. Joshua Fry, and Maj.
Washington was commissioned Lieutenant-Colo
nel. Active war was then begun against the
French and Indians, in which Washington took

2G

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

a most important part. In the memorable event
of July g, 1755, known as "Braddock's defeat,"
Washington was almost the only officer of dis
tinction who escaped from the calamities of the
day with life and honor.
Having been for five years in the military serv
ice, and having vainly sought promotion in the
royal army, he took advantage ofthe fall of Ft. Du-
quesne and the expulsion of the French from the
valley of the Ohio to resign his commission. Soon
after he entered the Legislature, where, although
not a leader, he took an active and important
part. January 17, 1759, he married Mrs. Martha
(Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy widow of John
Parke Custis.
When the British Parliament had closed the
port of Boston, the cry went up throughout the
provinces, ' ' The cause ot Boston is the cause of
us all! " It was then, at the suggestion of Vir
ginia, that a congress of all the colonies was
called to meet at Philadelphia September 5,
1774, to secure their common liberties, peaceably
if possible. To this congress Col. Washington
was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the
congress re-assembled, when the hostile inten
tions of England were plainly apparent. The
battles of Concord and Lexington had been fought,
and among the first acts of this congress was the
election of a commander-in-chief of the Colonial
forces. This high and responsible office was con
ferred upon Washington,, who was still a member
of the congress. He accepted it on June 19, but
upon the express condition that he receive no sal
ary. He would keep an exact account of ex
penses, and expect congress to pay them and
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch
to trace the military acts of Washington, to whom
the fortunes and liberties of the people of this
country were so long confided. The war was
conducted by him under every possible disadvan
tage; and while his forces often met with reverses,
yet he overcame every obstacle, and after seven
years of heroic devotion and matchless skill he
gained liberty for the greatest nation of earth.
On December 23, 1783, Washington, in a parting
address of surpassing beauty, resigned his com
mission as Commander-in-Chief of the army to the

Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He
retired immediately to Mt. Vernon and resumed
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning
all connection with public life.
In February, 1789, Washington was unani
mously elected President, and at the expiration
of his first term he was unanimously re-elected.
At the end of this term many were anxious that he
be re-elected, but he~ absolutely refused a third
nomination. On March 4, 1797, at the expiration
of his second term as President, he returned to his
home, hoping to pass there his few remaining
years free from the annoyances of public life.
Later in the year, however, his repose seemed
likely to be interrupted by war with France. At
the prospect of such a war he was again urged to
take command of the army, but he chose his sub
ordinate officers and left them the charge of mat
ters in the field, which he superintended from his
home. In accepting the command, he made the
reservation that he was not to be in the field until
it was necessary. In the midst of these prepara
tions his life was suddenly cut off. December 12
he took a severe cold from a ride in the rain,
which, settling in his throat, produced inflamma
tion, and terminated fatally on the night of the
14th. On the 1 8th his body was borne with mili
tary honors to its final resting-place, and interred
in the family vault at Mt. Vernon.
Of the character of Washington it is impossible
to speak but in terms of the highest respect and
admiration. The more we see of the operations
of our government, and the more deeply we feel
the difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common
Interest, the more highly we must estimate the
force of his talent and character, which have been
able tc challenge the reverence of all parties.
and principles, and nations, and to win a fame as
extended as the limits ofthe globe, and which we
cannot but believe will be as lasting as the exist
ence of man.
In person, Washington was unusually tall, erect
and well proportioned, and m* nuscular strength
was great. His features were of a beausiful sym
metry. He commanded respect without any ap
pearance of haughtiness, and was ever serious
without being dull.

JOHN ADAMS.

JOHN ADAMS.

30HN ADAMS, the second President and the
first Vice-President of the United States, was
born in Braintree (now Quincy) Mass., and
about ten miles from Boston, October 19, 1735.
His great-grandfather, Henry Adams, emigrated
from England about 1640, with a family of eight
sons, and settled at Braintree. The parents of
John were John and Susannah (Boylston)
Adams. His father, who was a farmer of limited
means, also engaged in the business of shoe-
making. He gave his eldest son, John, a classical
education at Harvard College. John graduated
in 1755, and at once took charge of the school at
Worcester, Mass. This he found but a ' ' school
of affliction, ' ' from which he endeavored to gain
relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town.
He had thought seriously of the clerical profes
sion, but seems to have been turned from this by
what he termed ' ' the frightful engines of ecclesi
astical councils, of diabolical malice, and Calvin-
istic good nature, ' ' of the operations of which he
had been a witness in his native town. He was
well fitted for the legal profession, possessing a
clear, sonorous voice, being ready and fluent of
speech, and having quick perceptive powers. He
gradually gained a practice, and in 1764 married
Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, and a
lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his
marriage, in 1765, the attempt at parliamentary
taxation turned him from law to politics. He
took initial steps toward holding a town meeting,
and the resolutions he offered on the subject be
came very popular throughout the province, and
were adopted word for word by over forty differ
ent towns. He moved to Boston in 1768, and
became one of the most courageous and promi
nent advocates of the popular cause, and was
chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg
islature) in 1770.
Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first dele

gates from Massachusetts to the first Continent
al Congress, which met in 1774. Here he dis
tinguished himself by his capacity for business
and for debate, and advocated the movement for
independence against the majority of the mem
bers. In May, 1776, he moved and carried a res
olution in Congress that the Colonies should
assume the duties of self-government. He was a
prominent member of the committee of five ap
pointed June 1 1 to prepare a declaration of inde
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson,
but on Adams devolved the task of battling it
through Congress in a three-days debate.
On the day after the Declaration of Independ
ence was passed, while his soul was yet warm
with the glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter
to his wife, which, as we read it now, seems to
have been dictated by the spirit of prophecy.
"Yesterday," he says, "the greatest question
was decided that ever was debated in America;
and greater, perhaps, never was or will be de
cided among men. A resolution was passed
without one dissenting colony, 'that these United
States are, and of right ought to be, free and in
dependent states.' The day is passed. • The
Fourth of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch
in the history of America. I am apt to believe it
will be celebrated by succeeding generations as
the great anniversary festival. It ought to be
commemorated as the day of deliverance by
solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It
ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows, games,
sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations
from one end of the continent to the other, from
this time forward forever. You will think me
transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I
am well aware of the toil and blood and treas
ure that it will cost to maintain this declaration
and support and defend these States; yet, through
all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and
glory. I can see that the end is worth more than
all the means, and that posterity will triumph,

24

JOHN ADAMS.

although you and I may rue, which I hope we
shall not."
In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed
a delegate to. France, and to co-operate with Ben
jamin Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then
in Paris, in the endeavor to obtain assistance in
arms and money from the French government.
This was a severe trial to his patriotism, as it
separated him from his home, compelled him to
cross the ocean in winter, and exposed him to
great peril of capture by the British cruisers, who
were seeking him. He left France June 17,
1779. In September of the same year he was
again chosen to go to Paris, and there hold him
self in readiness to negotiate a treaty of peace and
of commerce with Great Britain, as soon as the
British cabinet might be found willing to listen
to such proposals. He sailed for France in No
vember, and from there he went to Holland, where
he negotiated important loans and formed im
portant commercial treaties.
Finally, a treaty of peace with England was
signed, January 21, 1783. The re-action from the
excitement, toil and anxiety through which Mr.
Adams had passed threw him into a fever. After
suffering from a continued fever and becoming
feeble and emaciated, he was advised to go to
England to drink the waters of Bath. While in
England, still drooping and desponding, he re
ceived dispatches from his own government urg
ing the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health
was delicate, yet he immediately set out, and
through storm, on sea, on horseback and foot, he
made the trip.
February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr.
Adams envoy to the Court of St. James. Here
he met face to face the King of England, who
had so long regarded him as a traitor. As Eng
land did not condescend to appoint a minister to
the United States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he
was accomplishing but little, he sought permis
sion to return to his own country, where he ar
rived in June, 1788.
When Washington was first chosen President,
John Adams, rendered illustrious by his signal
services at home and abroad, was chosen Vice-

President. Again, at the second election of Wash
ington as President, Adams was chosen Vice-
President. In 1796, Washington retired from
public life, and Mr. Adams was elected President,
though not without much opposition. Serving
in this office four years, he was succeeded by Mr.
Jefferson, his opponent in politics.
While Mr. Adams was Vice-President the
great French Revolution shook the continent of
Europe, and it was upon this point that he was
at issue with the majority of his countrymen, led
by Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Adams felt no sympathy
with the French people in their struggle, for he
had no confidence in their power of self-govern
ment, and he utterly abhorred the class of atheist
philosophers who, he claimed, caused it. On the
other hand, Jefferson's sympathies were strongly
enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence
originated the alienation between these distin-
tinguished men, and the two powerful parties were
thus soon organized, with Adams at the head of
the one whose sympathies were with England,
and Jefferson leading the other in sympathy with
France. The Fourth of July, 1826, which completed the
half-century since the signing of the Declaration
of Independence, arrived, and there were but
three of the signers of that immortal instrument
left upon the earth to hail its morning light.
And, as it is well known, on that day two of
these finished their earthly pilgrimage, a coinci
dence so remarkable as to seem miraculous. For
a few days before Mr. Adams had been rapidly
failing, and on the morning of the Fourth he
found himself too weak to rise from his bed. On
being requested to name a toast for the cus
tomary celebration of the day, he exclaimed
"Independence forever!" When the day was
ushered in by the ringing of bells and the firing
of cannons, he was asked by one of his attend
ants if he knew what day it was ? He replied,
' ' O yes, it is the glorious Fourth of July— God
bless it— God bless you all!" In the course of
the day he said, "It is a great and glorious
day . ' ' The last words he uttered were, ' ** Jeffer
son survives." But he had, at one o'clock,
resigned his spirit into the hands of his God.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

'HOMAS JEFFERSON was born April 2,
1743, at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Va.
His parents were Peter and Jane (Ran
dolph) Jefferson, the former a native of Wales,
and the latter born in London. To them were
born six daughters and two sons, of whom Thomas
was the elder. When fourteen years of age his
father died. He received a most liberal educa
tion, having been kept diligently at school from
the time he was five years of age. In 1760 he
entered William and Mary College. Williams
burg was then the seat of the Colonial court, and
it was the abode of fashion and splendor. Young
Jefferson, who was then seventeen years old, lived
somewhat expensively, keeping fine horses, and
going much into gay society; yet he was ear
nestly devoted to his studies, and irreproachable in
his morals. In the second year of his college
course, moved by some unexplained impulse, he
discarded his old companions and pursuits, and
often devoted fifteen hours a day to hard study.
He thus attained very high intellectual culture,
and a like excellence in philosophy and the lan
guages. Immediately upon leaving college he began the
study of law. For the short time he continued
in the practice of his profession he rose rapidly,
and distinguished himself by his energy and
acuteness as a lawyer. But the times called for
greater action . The policy of England had awak
ened the spirit of resistance in the American Col
onies, and the enlarged views which Jefferson had
ever entertained soon led him into active politi
cal life. In 1 769 he was chosen a member of the
Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1772 he mar

ried Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beautiful,
wealthy, and highly accomplished young widow.
In 1775 he was sent to the Colonial Congress,
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he
was placed upon a number of important com
mittees, and was chairman of the one appointed
for the drawing up of a declaration of independ
ence. This committee consisted of Thomas Jef
ferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger
Sherman and R.obert R. Livingston. Jefferson,
as chairman, was appointed to draw up the paper.
Franklin and Adams suggested a few verbal
changes before it was submitted to Congress. On
June 28, a few slight changes were made in it by
Congress, and it was passed and signed July 4,
1776. In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to
Patrick Henry as Governor of Virginia. At one
time the British officer Tarleton sent a secret
expedition to Monticello to capture the Governor.
Scarcely five minutes elapsed after the hurried
escape of Mr. Jefferson and his family ere his
mansion was in possession of the British troops.
His wife's health, never very good, was much
injured by this excitement, and in the summer
of 1782 she died.
Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783.
Two years later he was appointed Minister Pleni
potentiary to France. Returning to the United
States in September, 1789, he became Secretary
of State in Washington's cabinet. This position
he resigned January 1, 1794. In 1797, he was
chosen Vice-President, and four years later was
elected President over Mr. Adams, with Aaron

28

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Burr as Vice-President. In 1804 he was re
elected with wonderful unanimity, George Clin
ton being elected Vice-President.
The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second ad
ministration was disturbed by an event which
threatened the tranquillity and peace ofthe Union;
this was the conspiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated
in the late election to the Vice-Presidency, and
led on by an unprincipled ambition, this extraor
dinary man formed the plan of a military ex
pedition into the Spanish territories on our south
western frontier, for the purpose of forming there
a new republic. This was generally supposed
to have been a mere pretext; and although it has
not been generally known what his real plans
were, there is no doubt that they were of a far
more dangerous character.
In 1809, at the expiration of the second term
for which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he de
termined to retire from political life. For a period
of nearly forty years he had been continually be
fore the public, and all that time had been em
ployed in offices of the greatest trust and respon •
sibility. Having thus devoted the best part of
his life to the service of his country, he now felt
desirous of that rest which his declining years re
quired, and upon the organization of the new ad
ministration, in March, 1809, he bade farewell for-
wer to public life and retired to Monticello, his
famous country home, which, next to Mt. Vernon,
was the most distinguished residence in the land.
The Fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth an
niversary of the Declaration of American Inde
pendence, great preparations were made in every
part of the Union for its celebration as the nation' s
jubilee, and the citizens of Washington, to add to
the solemnity ofthe occasion, invited Mr. Jeffer
son, as the framer and one of the few surviving
signers of the Declaration, to participate in their
festivities. But an illness, which had been of
several weeks' duration and had been continually
increasing, compelled him to decline the invita
tion. On the 2d of July the disease under which he
was laboring left him, but in such a reduced
state that his medical attendants entertained no
hope of his recovery. From this time he was

perfectly sensible that his last hour was at hand.
On the next day, which was Monday, he asked
of those around him the day of the month, and
on being told it was the 3d of July, he ex
pressed the earnest wish that he might be per
mitted to breathe the air of the fiftieth anniver
sary. His prayer was heard — that day whose
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our
land burst upon his eyes, and then they were
closed forever. And what a noble consummation
of a noble life! To die on that day— the birth
day of a nation— the day which his own name
and his own act had rendered glorious, to die
amidst the rejoicings and festivities of a whole
nation, who looked up to him as the author, un
der God, of their greatest blessings, was all that
was wanting to fill up the record of his life.
Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors.
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the cham
pions of freedom; hand in hand, during the dark
and desperate struggle of the Revolution, they
had cheered and animated their desponding coun
trymen; for half a century they had labored to
gether for the good of the country, and now hand
in hand they departed. In their lives they had
been united in the same great cause of liberty,
and in their deaths they were not divided.
In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes
were light, his hair, originally red, in after life be
came white and silvery, his complexion was fair,
his forehead broad, and his whole countenance
intelligent and thoughtful. He possessed great
fortitude of mind as well as personal courage, and
his command of temper was such that his oldest
and most intimate friends never recollected to
have seen him in a passion. His manners, though
dignified, were simple and unaffected, and his
hospitality was so unbounded that all found at
his house a ready welcome. In conversation he
was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic, and his
language was remarkably pure and correct. He
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writ
ings is discernible the care with which he formed
his style upon the best models of antiquity.

JAMES MADISON.

JAMES MADISON.

3 AMES MADISON, "Father of the Consti
tution," and fourth President of the United
States, was born March 16, 1757, and died
at his home in Virginia June 28, 1836. The
name of James Madison is inseparably connected
with most of the important events in that heroic
period of our country during which the founda
tions of this great republic were laid. He was
the last of the founders of the Constitution of the
United States to be called to his eternal reward.
The Madison family were among the early emi
grants to the New World, landing upon the shores
of the Chesapeake but fifteen years after the settle
ment of Jamestown. The father of James Madison
was an opulent planter, residing upon a very fine
estate called Montpelier, in Orange County, Va.
It was but twenty -five miles from the home of Jef
ferson at Monticello, and the closest personal and
political attachment existed between these illustri
ous men from their early youth until death.
The early education of Mr. Madison was con
ducted mostly at home under a private tutor. At
the age of eighteen he was sent to Princeton Col
lege, in New Jersey, Here he applied himself to
study with the most imprudent zeal, allowing him
self for months but three hours' sleep out of the
twenty-four. His health thus became so seriously
impaired that he never recovered any vigor of
constitution. He graduated in 1 77 1 , with a feeble
body, but with a character of utmost purity, and
a mind highly disciplined and richly stored with
learning, which embellished and gave efficiency
to his subsequent career.
Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study
of law and a course of extensive and systematic
reading. This educational course, the spirit of
the times in which he lived, and the society with
which he associated, all combined to inspire him
with a strong love of liberty, and to train him for
his life-work as a statesman.
In the spring of 1776, when twenty-six years of

age, he was elected a member of the Virginia Con
vention to frame the constitution of the State. The
next year (1777) , he was a candidate for the Gen
eral Assembly. He refused to treat the whisky-lov
ing voters, and consequently lost his election; but
those who had witnessed the talent, energy and
public spirit of the modest young man enlisted
themselves in his behalf, and he was appointed to
the Executive Council.
Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison re
mained member of the Council, and their apprecia
tion of his intellectual, social and moral worth
contributed not a little to his subsequent eminence.
In the year 1780 he was elected a member of the
Continental Congress. Here he met the most il
lustrious men in our land, and he was immediately
assigned to one of the most conspicuous positions
among them . For three years he con tinued in Con
gress, one of its most active and influential mem
bers. In 1 784, his term having expired, he was
elected a member ofthe Virginia Legislature.
No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no
national government, and no power to form trea
ties which would be binding, or to enforce law.
There was not any State more prominent than
Virginia in the declaration that an efficient na
tional government must be formed. In January,
1786, Mr. Madison carried a resolution through
the General Assembly of Virginia, inviting the
other States to appoint commissioners to meet in
convention at Annapolis to discuss this subject.
Five States only were represented. The conven
tion, however, issued another call, drawn up by
Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their
delegates to Philadelphia in May, 1787, to draft
a Constitution for the United States, to take the
place of the Confederate League. The delegates
met at the time appointed. Every State but
Rhode Island was represented. George Washing-

32

JAMES MADISON.

ton was chosen president ofthe convention, and the
present Constitution ofthe United States was then
and there formed. There was, perhaps, no mind
and no pen more active in framing this immortal
document than the mind and the pen of James
Madison. The Constitution, adopted by a vote of eighty-one
to seventy-nine, was to be presented to the several
States for acceptance. But grave solicitude was
felt. Should it be rejected, we should be left but a
:onglomeration of independent States, with but
little power at home and little respect abroad. Mr.
Madison was elected by the convention to draw up
an address to the people of the United States, ex
pounding the principles of the Constitution, and
urging its adoption. There was great opposition
to it at first, but at length it triumphed over all,
and went into effect in 1789.
Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became
the avowed leader of the Republican party. While
in New York attending Congress, he met Mrs.
Todd, a young widow of remarkable power of fas
cination, whom he married. She was in person
and character queenly, and probaby no lady has
thus far occupied so prominent a position in the
very peculiar society which has constituted our
republican court as did Mis. Madison.
Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration
was chosen President. At this time the encroach
ments of England had brought us to the verge of
war. British orders in council destroyed our com
merce, and our flag was exposed to constant insult.
Mr. Madison was a man of peace. Scholarly in
his taste, retiring in his disposition, war had no
charms for him. But the meekest spirit can be
roused. It makes one's blood boil, even now, to
think of an American ship brought to upon the
ocean by the guns of at English cruiser. A
young lieutenant steps on board ani orders the
crew to be paraded before him. With great non
chalance he selects any number whom he may
please to designate as British subjects, orders them
down the ship's side into his boat, and places them
on the gundeck of his man-of-war, to fight, by
compulsion, the battles of England. This right

of search and impressment no efforts of our Gov
ernment could induce the British cabinet to re
linquish. On the 1 8th of June, 181 2, President Madison
gave his approval to an act of Congress declaring
war against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the
bitter hostility of the Federal party to the war, the
country in general approved; and Mr. Madison,
on the 4th of March, 18 13, was re-elected by a
large majority, and entered upon his second term
of office. This is not the place to describe the
various adventures of this war on the land and on
the water. Our infant navy then laid the found
ations of its renown in grappling with the most
formidable power which ever swept the seas. The
contest commenced in earnest by the appearance
of a British fleet, early in February, 18 13, in
Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole coast
ofthe United States under blockade.
The Emperor of Russia offered his services as
mediator. America accepted; England refused.
A British force of five thousand men landed on the
banks ofthe Patuxet River, near its entrance into
Chesapeake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of
Bladensburg, upon Washington.
The straggling little city of Washington was
thrown into consternation. The cannon of the
brief conflict at Bladensburg echoed through the
streets of the metropolis. The whole population
fled from the city. The President, leaving Mrs.
Madison in the White House, with her carriage
drawn up at the door to await his speedy return,
hurried to meet the officers in a council of war.
He met our troops utterly routed, and he could not
go back without danger of being captured. But
few hours elapsed ere the Presidential Mansion,
the Capitol, and all the public buildings in Wash
ington were in flames.
The war closed after two years of fighting, and
on February 13, 18 15, the treaty of peace was
signed at Ghent. On the 4th of March, 18 17, his
second term of office expired, and he resigned the
Presidential chair to his friend, James Monroe.
He retired to his beautiful home at Montpelier, and
there passed the remainder of his days. On June
28, 1836, at the age of eighty-five years, he fell
asleep in death. Mrs, Madison died July 12, 1849.

JAMES MONROE.

JAMES MONROE.

(JAMES MONROE, the fifth President of the
! United States, was born in Westmoreland
Q) County, Va., April 28, 1758. His early life
was passed at the place of his nativity. His an
cestors had for many years resided in the province
in which he was born. When he was seventeen
years old, and in process of completing his educa
tion at William and Mary College, the Colonial
Congress, assembled at Philadelphia to deliberate
upon the unj ust and manifold oppressions of Great
Britain, declared the separation of the Colonies,
and promulgated the Declaration of Independence.
Had he been born ten years before, it is highly
probable that he would have been one of the
signers of that celebrated instrument. At this
time he left school and enlisted among the pa
triots. He joined the army when everything looked
hopeless and gloomy. The number of deserters
increased from day to day. The invading armies
came pouring in, and the Tories not only favored
the cause of the mother country, but disheartened
the new recruits, who were sufficiently terrified
at the prospect of contending with an enemy
whom they had been taught to deem invincible.
To such brave spirits as James Monroe, who went
right onward undismayed through difficulty and
danger, the United States owe their political
emancipation . The young cadet j oined the ranks
and espoused the cause of his injured country,
with a firm determination to live or die in her
strife for liberty. Firmly, yet sadly, he shared in
the melancholy retreat from Harlem Heights
and White Plains, and accompanied the dispirited
army as it fled before its foes through New Jersey.
In four months after the Declaration of Inde
pendence, the patriots had been beaten in seven
battles. At the battle of Trenton he led the van
guard, and in the act of charging upon the enemy
he received a wound in the left shoulder.

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was
promoted to be captain of infantry, and, having re
covered from his wounds, he rejoined the army.
He, however, receded from the line of promotion
by becoming an officer on the staff of Lord Ster
ling. During the campaigns of 1777 and 1778,
in the actions of Brandywine, Germantown and
Monmouth, he continued aide-de-camp; but be
coming desirous to regain his position in the
army, he exerted himself to collect a regiment for
the Virginia line. This scheme failed, owing to
the exhausted condition of the State. Upon this
failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at
that period Governor, and pursued with consid
erable ardor the study of common law. He did
not, however, entirely lay aside the knapsack for
the green bag, but on the invasion of the enemy
served as a volunteer during the two years of his
legal pursuits.
In 1782 he was elected from King George
County a member of the Legislature of Virginia,
and by that body he was elevated to a seat in the
Executive Council. He was thus honored with
the confidence of his fellow-citizens at twenty-
three years of age, and having at this early period
displayed some of that ability and aptitude foi
legislation which were afterward employed with
unremitting energy for the public good, he was
in the succeeding year chosen a member of the
Congress of the United States.
Deeply as Mr. Monroe felt the imperfections of
the old Confederacy, he was opposed to the new
Constitution, thinking, with many others of the
Republican party, that it gave too much power to
the Central Government, and not enough to the
individual States. Still he retained the esteem
of his friends who were its warm supporters, and
who, notwithstanding his opposition, secured its
adoption. In 1789 he became a member of the
United States Senate, which office he held for

36

JAMES MONROE.

four years. Every month the line of distinction
between the two great parties which divided the
nation, the Federal and the Republican, was
growing more distinct. The differences which
now separated them lay in the fact that the Repub
lican party was in sympathy with France, and
also in favor of such a strict construction of the
Constitution as to give the Central Government as
little power, and the State Governments as much
power, as the Constitution would warrant; while
the Federalists sympathized with England, arid
were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con
stitution, which would give as much power to the
Central Government as that document could pos
sibly authorize.
Washington was then President. England had
espoused the cause of the Bourbons against the
principles ofthe French Revolution. All Europe
was drawn into the conflict. We were feeble and
far away. Washington issued a proclamation of
neutrality between these contending powers.
France had helped us in the struggles for our
liberties. All the despotisms of Europe were now
combined to prevent the French from escaping
from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse than that
which we had endured. Col. Monroe, more mag
nanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in
their extremity. It was the impulse of a gener
ous and noble nature, and Washington, who could
appreciate such a character, showed his calm, se
rene, almost divine, greatness, by appointing that
very James Monroe who was denouncing the pol
icy of the Government, as the minister of that
Government to the Republic of France. Mr.
Monroe was welcomed by the National Conven
tion in France with the most enthusiastic dem
onstration. Shortly after his return to this country, Mr.
Monroe was elected Governor of Virginia, and
held the office for three years. He was again
sent to France to co-operate with Chancellor Liv
ingston in obtaining the vast territory then known
as the province of Louisiana, which France had
but shortly before obtained from Spain. Their
united efforts were successful. For the compara
tively small sum of fifteen millions of dollars, the

entire territory of Orleans and district of Loui
siana were added to the United States. This was
probably the largest transfer of real estate which
was ever made in all the history of the world.
-From France Mr. Monroe went to England to
obtain from that country some recognition of our
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against
those odious impressments of our seamen. But
England was unrelenting. He again returned to
England on the same mission, but could receive
no redress. He returned to his home and was
again chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon
resigned to accept the position of Secretary of
State under Madison. While in this office war
with England was declared, the Secretary of War
resigned, and during these trying times the
duties ofthe War Department were also put upon
him. He was truly the armor-bearer of President
Madison, and the most efficient business man in
his cabinet. Upon the return of peace he re
signed the Department of War, but continued in
the office of Secretary of State until the expira
tion of Mr. Madison's administration. At the
election held the previous autumn, Mr. Monroe
himself had been chosen President with but little
opposition, and upon March 4, 1817, he was in
augurated. Four years later he was elected for
a second term.
Among the important measures of his Presi
dency were the cession of Florida to the United
States, the Missouri Compromise, and the famous
' ' Monroe doctrine. ' ' This doctrine was enun
ciated by him in 1823, and was as follows: ' ' That
we should consider any attempt on the part of
European powers to extend their system to any
portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our
peace and safety," and that "we could not view
any interposition for the purpose of oppressing or
controlling American governments or provinces
in any other light than as a manifestation by
European powers of an unfriendly disposition
toward the United States."
At the end of his second term, Mr. Monroe re
tired to his home in Virginia, where he lived un
til 1830, when he went to New York to live with
his son-in-law. In that city he died, on the 4th
of July, 1831.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

flOHN QUINCY ADAMS, the sixth President
I of the United States, was born in the rural
C2/ home of his honored father, John Adams, in
Quincy, Mass., on the nth of July, 1767. His
mother, a woman of exalted worth, watched over
his childhood during the almost constant ab
sence of his father. When but eight years of
age, he stood with his mother on an eminence,
listening to the booming of the great battle on
Bunker's Hill, and gazing out upon the smoke
and flames billowing up from the conflagration of
Charlestown. When but eleven years old he took a tearful
adieu of his mother, to sail with his father for Eu
rope, through a fleet of hostile British cruisers.
The bright, animated boy spent a year and a-half
in Paris, where his father was associated with
Franklin and Lee as Minister Plenipotentiary.
His intelligence attracted the notice of these dis
tinguished men, and he received from them flat
tering marks of attention.
John Adams had scarcely returned to this
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad.
Again John Quincy accompanied his father. At
Paris he applied himself to study with great dil
igence for six months, and then accompanied his
father to Holland, where he entered first a school
in Amsterdam, then the University at Leyden.
About a year from this time, in 1781, when the
manly boy was but fourteen years of age, he was
selected by Mr. Dana, our Minister to the Rus
sian court, as his private secretary.
In this school of incessant labor and of ennobl
ing culture he spent fourteen months, and then
returned to Holland, through Sweden, Denmark,
Hamburg and Bremen. This long journey he
took alone in the winter, when in his sixteenth
year. Again he resumed his studies, under a pri
vate tutor, at The Hague. Then, in the spring of
1782, he accompanied his father to Paris, travel
ing leisurely, and forming acquaintances with the
most distinguished men on the continent, examin

ing architectural remains, galleries of paintings,
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he
again became associated with the most illustrious
men of all lands in the contemplation of the
loftiest temporal themes which can engross the
human mind. After a short visit to England he
returned to Paris, and consecrated all his energies
to study until May, 1785, when he returned to
America to finish his education.
Upon leaving Harvard College at the age ol
twenty, he studied law for three years. In Jnne,
1794, being then but twenty-seven years of age,
he was appointed by Washington Resident Min
ister at the Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in
July, he reached London in October, where he
was immediately admitted to the deliberations of
Messrs. Jay & Pinckney, assisting them in nego
tiating a commercial treaty with Great Britain.
After thus spending a fortnight in London, he
proceeded to The Hague.
In July, 1797, he left The Hague to go to Por
tugal as Minister Plenipotentiary. On his way to
Portugal, upon arriving in London, he met with
despatches directing him to the court of Berlin, buf
requesting him to remain in London until he
should receive his instructions. While waiting
he was married to an American lady, to whom he
had been previously engaged — Miss Louisa Cath
erine Johnson, a daughter of Joshua Johnson,
American Consul in London, and a lady en
dowed with that beauty and those accomplish
ments which eminently fitted her to move in the
elevated sphere for which she was destined. He
reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797,
where he remained until July, 1799, when, hav
ing fulfilled all the purposes of his mission, he so
licited his recall.
Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen
to the Senate of Massachusetts from Boston, and
then was elected Senator of the United States for
six years, from the 4th of March, 1804. His rep
utation, his ability and his experience placed

4o

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

him immediately among the most prominent and
influential members of that body.
In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the
Presidential chair, and he immediately nominated
John Quincy Adams Minister to St. Petersburgh.
Resigning his professorship in Harvard Col
lege, he embarked at Boston in August, 1809.
While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense
student. He devoted his attention to the lan
guage and history of Russia; to the Chinese trade;
to the European system of weights, measures and
coins; to the climate and astronomical observa
tions; while he kept up a familiar acquaintance
with the Greek and Latin classics. In all the
universities of Europe, a more accomplished
scholar could scarcely be found. All through
life the Bible constituted an important part of his
studies. It was his rule to read five chapters
every day.
On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took
the Presidential chair, and immediately appointed
Mr. Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of
his numerous friends in public and private life in
Europe, he sailed in June, 18 19, for the United
States. On the 18th of August, he again crossed
the threshold of his home in Quincy. During the
eight years of Mr. Monroe's administration, Mr.
Adams continued Secretary of State.
Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's
second term of office, new candidates began to be
presented for the Presidency. The friends of Mr.
Adams brought forward his name. It was an
exciting campaign, and party spirit was never
more bitter. Two hundred and sixty electoral
votes were cast. Andrew Jackson received ninety-
nine; John Quincy Adams eighty-four; William
H. Crawford forty-one; and Henry Clay thirty-
seven. As there was no choice by the people,
the question went to the House of Representa
tives. Mr. Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to
Mr. Adams, and .he was elected.
The friends of all the disappointed candidates
now combined in a venomous and persistent as
sault upon Mr. Adams. There is nothing more
disgraceful in the past history of our country than
the abuse which was poured in one uninterrupted
stream upon this high-minded, upright and pa

triotic man. There never was an administration
more pure in principles, more conscientiously de
voted to the best interests of the country, than
that of John Quincy Adams;#and never, perhaps,
was there an administration more unscrupulously
and outrageously assailed.
On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by An
drew Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected
Vice-President. The slavery question now be
gan to assume portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams
returned to Quincy and to his studies, which he
pursued with unabated zeal. But he was not
long permitted to remain in retirement. In No
vember, 1830, he was elected Representative in
Congress. For seventeen years, or until his death,
he occupied the post as Representative, towering
above all his peers, ever ready to do brave battle
for freedom, and winning the title of "the Old
Man Eloquent." Upon taking his seat in the
House, he announced that he should hold him
self bound to no party. Probably there never
was a member more devoted to his duties. He
was usually the first in his place in the morning,
and the last to leave his seat in the evening.
Not a measure could be brought forward and es
cape his scrutiny. The battle which Mr. Adams
fought, almost singly, against the pro-slavery
party in the Government was sublime in its
moral daring and heroism. For persisting in
presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery,
he was threatened with indictment by the grand
jury, with expulsion from the House, with assas
sination; but no threats could intimidate him, and
his final triumph was complete.
On the 21st of February, 1848, he rose on the
floor of Congress with a paper in his hand, to
address the speaker. Suddenly he fell, again
stricken by paralysis, and was caught in the arms
of those around him. For a time he was sense
less, as he was conveyed to the sofa in the ro
tunda. With reviving consciousness, he opened
his eyes, looked calmly around and said "This
is the end of earth;" then after a moment's pause
he added, "lam content. ' ' These were the last
words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent."

ANDREW JACKSON.

ANDREW JACKSON.

GlNDREW JACKSON, the seventh President
LI of the United States, was born in Waxhaw
/ | settlement, N. C, March 15, 1767, a few
days after his father's death. His parents were
poor emigrants from Ireland, and took up their
abode in Waxhaw settlement, where they lived
in deepest poverty.
Andrew, or Andy, as he was universally called,
grew up a very rough, rude, turbulent boy. His
features were coarse, his form ungainly, and there
was but very little in his character made visible
which was attractive.
When only thirteen years old he joined the
volunteers of Carolina against the British invasion.
In 1 78 1, he and his brother Robert were captured
and imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British
officer ordered him to brush his mud- spattered
boots. "lam a prisoner of war, not your serv
ant," was the reply ofthe dauntless boy.
Andrew supported himself in various ways, such
as working at the saddler's trade, teaching school,
and clerking in a general store, until 1784, when
he entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He,
howTever, gave more attention to the wild amuse
ments of the times than to his studies. In 1788,
he was appointed solicitor for the Western District
of North Carolina, of which Tennessee was then
a part. This involved many long journeys amid
dangers of every kind, but Andrew Jackson never
knew fear, and the Indians had no desire to re
peat a skirmish with "Sharp Knife."
In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman
who supposed herself divorced from her former
husband. Great was the surprise of both parties,
two years later, to find that the conditions of the
divorce had just been definitely settled by the
first husband. The marriage ceremony was per
formed a second time, but the occurrence was
often used by his enemies to bring Mr. Jackson
into disfavor.

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee
then containing nearly eighty thousand inhabi
tants, the people met in convention at Knoxville
to frame a constitution. Five were sent from
each of the eleven counties. Andrew Jackson
was one of the delegates. The new State was
entitled to but one member in the National House
of Representatives. > Andrew Jackson was chosen
that member. Mounting his horse, he rode to
Philadelphia, where Congress then held its ses
sions, a distance of about eight hundred miles.
Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo
cratic party, and Jefferson was his idol. He ad
mired Bonaparte, loved France, and hated Eng
land. As Mr. Jackson took his seat, Gen. Wash
ington, whose second term of office was then
expiring, delivered his last speech to Congress.
A committee drew up a complimentary address in
reply. Andrew Jackson did not approve of the
address, and was one of the twelve who voted
against it. He was not willing to say that Gen.
Washington's administration had been "wise,
firm and patriotic. ' '
Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States
Senate in 1 797 , but soon resigned and returned
home. Soon after he was chosen Judge of the
Supreme Court of his State, which position he
held for six years.
When the War of 18 12 with Great Britain com
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair.
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there
was an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jack
son, who would do credit to a commission if one
were conferred upon him. Just at that time Gen.
Jackson offered his services and those of twenty-
five hundred volunteers. His offer was accepted,
and the troops were assembled at Nashville.
As the British were hourly expected to make
an attack upon New Orleans, where Gen. Wil
kinson was in command, he was ordered to de-

44

ANDREW JACKSON.

scend the river with fifteen hundred troops to aid
Wilkinson. The expedition reached Natchez,
and after a delay of several weeks there without
accomplishing anything, the men were ordered
back to their homes. But the energy Gen. Jack
son had displayed, and his entire devotion to the
comfort of his soldiers, won for him golden opin
ions, and he became the most popular man in the
State. It was in this expedition that his tough
ness gave him the nickname of "Old Hickory."
Soon after this, while* attempting to horsewhip
Col. Thomas Benton for a remark that gentleman
made about his taking part as second in a duel
in which a younger brother of Benton's was en
gaged, he received two severe pistol wounds.
While he was lingering upon a bed of suffering,
news came that the Indians, who had combined
under Tecumseh from Florida to the Lakes to ex
terminate the white settlers, were committing the
most awful ravages. Decisive action became nec
essary. Gen. Jackson, with his fractured bone
just beginning to heal, his arm in a sling, and
unable to mount his horse without assistance,
gave his amazing energies to the raising of an
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Ala.
The Creek Indians had established a strong
fort on one of the bends of the Tallapoosa River,
near the center of Alabama, about fifty miles be
low Ft. Strother. With an army of two thousand
men, Gen. Jackson traversed the pathless wilder
ness in a march of eleven days. He reached their
fort, called Tohopeka or Horse-shoe, on the 27th
of March, 1814. The bend ofthe river enclosed
nearly one hundred acres of tangled forest and
wild ravine. Across the narrow neck the Indians
had constructed a formidable breastwork of logs
and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, with
an ample supply of arms, were assembled.
The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly
desperate. Not an Indian would accept quarter.
When bleeding and dying, they would fight those
who endeavored to spare their lives. From ten
in the morning until dark the battle raged. The
carnage was awful and revolting. Some threw
themselves into the river; but the unerring bul
lets struck their heads as they swam. Nearly
every one of the nine hundred warriors was

killed. A few, probably, in the night swam
the river and escaped. This ended the war.
This closing of the Creek War enabled us to
concentrate all our militia upon the British, who
were the allies of the Indians. No man of less
resolute will than Gen. Jackson could have con
ducted this Indian campaign to so successful an
issue. Immediately he was appointed Major-
General .
Late in August, with an army of two thousand
men on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson went to
Mobile. A British fleet went from Pensacola,
landed a force upon the beach, anchored near the
little fort, and from both ship and shore com
menced a furious assault. The battle was long
and doubtful. At length one of the ships was
blown up and the rest retired.
Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his
little army, he moved his troops to New Orleans,
and the battle of New Orleans, which soon ensued,
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This
won for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name.
Here his troops, which numbered about four
thousand men, won a signal victory over the
British army of about nine thousand. His loss
was but thirteen, while the loss of the British was
twenty-six hundred.
The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be
mentioned in connection with the Presidency,
but in 1824 he was defeated by Mr. Adams.
He was, however, successful in the election of
1828, and was re-elected for a second term in
1832. In 1829, just before he assumed the reins
of government, he met with the most terrible
affliction of his life in the death of his wife, whom
he had loved with a devotion which has perhaps
never been surpassed. From the shock of her
death he never recovered. *
His administration was one of the most mem
orable in the annals of our country— applauded
by one party, condemned by the other. No man
had more bitter enemies or warmer friends. At
the expiration of his two terms of office he retired
to the Hermitage, where he died June 8, 1845. The
last years of Mr. Jackson's life were those of a de
voted Christian man.

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

VyiARTlN VAN BUREN, the eighth Presi-
Y I dent of the United States, was born at Kin-
(g| derhook, N. Y. , December 5, 1782. He
died at the same place, July 24, 1862. His body
rests in the cemetery at Kinderhook. Above itis
a plain granite shaft, fifteen feet high, bearing a
simple inscription about half-way up on one face.
The lot is unfenced, unbordered or unbounded
by shrub or flower.
There is .but little in the life of Martin Van
Buren of romantic interest. He fought no battles,
engaged in no wild adventures. Though his life
was stormy in political and intellectual conflicts,
and he gained many signal victories, his days
passed uneventful in those incidents which give
zest to biography. His ancestors, as his name indi
cates, were of Dutch origin, and were among the
earliest emigrants from Holland to the banks of
the Hudson. His father was a farmer, residing
in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, also
of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel
ligence and exemplary piety.
He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing
unusual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At
the age of fourteen, he had finished his academic
studies in his native village, and commenced the
study of law. As he had not a collegiate educa
tion, seven years of study in a law-office were re
quired of him before he could be admitted to the
Bar. Inspired with a lofty ambition, and con
scious of his powers, he pursued his studies with
indefatigable industry. After spending six years
in an office in his native village, he went to the city
of New York, and prosecuted his studies for the
seventh year.
In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years

of age, commenced the practice of law in his na
tive village. The great conflict between the Federal
and Republican parties was then at its height.
Mr. Van Buren was from the beginning a politi
cian. He had, perhaps, imbibed that spirit while
listening to the many discussions which had been
carried on in his father' s hotel. He was in cordial
sympathy with Jefferson, and earnestly and elo
quently espoused the cause of State Rights, though
at that time the Federal party held the supremacy
both in his town and State.
His success and increasing reputation led him
after six years of practice to remove to Hudson,
the county seat of his county. Here he spent
seven years, constantly gaining strength by con
tending in the courts with some of the ablest men
who have adorned the Bar of his State.
Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mr.
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short
years she sank into the grave, a victim of con
sumption, leaving her husband and four sons to
weep over her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr.
Van Buren was an earnest, successful, assiduous
lawyer. The record of those years is barren in
items of public interest. In 18 12, when thirty
years of age, he was chosen to the State Senate,
and gave his strenuous support to Mr. Madisen's
administration. In 18 15, he was appointed At
torney-General, and the next year moved to Al
bany, the capital of the State.
While he was acknowledged as one of the most
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had
the moral courage to avow that true democracy did
not require that ' 'universal suffrage' ' which admits
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the righv

48

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

of governing the State. In true consistency with
his democratic principles, he contended that, while
the path leading to the privilege of voting should
be open to every man without distinction, no one
should be invested with that sacred prerogative
unless he were in some degree qualified for it by
intelligence, virtue, and some property interests in
the welfare of the State.
In 1 82 1 he was elected a member ofthe United
States Senate, and in the same year he took a
seat in the convention to revise the Constitution of
his native State. His course in this convention
secured the approval of men of all parties. No
one could doubt the singleness of his endeavors to
promote the interests of all classes in the com
munity. In the Senate of the United States, he
rose at once to a conspicuous position as an active
and useful legislator.
In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected
to the Senate. He had been from the beginning
a determined opposer of the administration, adopt
ing the ' 'State Rights' ' view in opposition to what
was deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams.
Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governor
ofthe State of New York, and accordingly resigned
his seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the
United States contributed so much towards eject
ing John Q. Adams from the Presidential chair,
and placing in it Andrew Jackson, as did Martin
Van Buren. Whether entitled to the reputation
or not, he certainly was regarded throughout the
United States as one ofthe most skillful, sagacious
and cunning of politicians. It was supposed that
no one knew so well as he how to touch the secret
springs of action, how to pull all the wires to
put his machinery in motion, and how to organize
a political army which would secretly and stealth
ily accomplish the most gigantic results. By these
powers it is said that he outwitted Mr. Adams, Mr.
Clay, and Mr. Webster, and secured results which
ew then thought could be accomplished.
When Andrew Jackson was elected President
he appointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State.
This position he resigned in 1831, and was im
mediately appointed Minister to England, where
he went the same autumn. The Senate, however,

when it met, refused to ratify the nomination, and
he returned home, apparently untroubled. Later
he was nominated Vice-President in the place of
Calhoun, at the re-election of President Jackson,
and with smiles for all and frowns for none, he
took his place at the head of that Senate which had
refused to confirm his nomination as ambassador.
His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal
of President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated
favorite; and this, probably, more than any other
cause secured his elevation to the chair of the
Chief Executive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr.
Van Buren received the Democratic nomination
to succeed Gen. Jackson as President of the United
States. He was elected by a handsome majority,
to the delight of the retiring President. ' 'Leaving
New York out of the canvass, ' ' says Mr. Parton,
' 'the election of Mr. Van Buren to the Presidency
was as much the act of Gen. Jackson as though
the Constitution had conferred upon him the power
to appoint a successor. ' '
His administration was filled with exciting
events. The insurrection in Canada, which
threatened to involve this country in war with
England, the agitation of the slavery question,
and finally the great commercial panic which
spread over the country, all were trials of his wis
dom. The financial distress was attributed to
the management of the Democratic party, and
brought the President into such disfavor that he
failed of re-election, and on the 4th of March,
1 84 1, he retired from the presidency.
With the exception of being nominated for the
Presidency by the ' 'Free Soil' ' Democrats in 1848,
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until
his death. He had ever been a prudent man, of
frugal habits, and, living within his income, had
now fortunately a competence for his declining
years. From his fine estate at Lindenwald, he
still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics
ofthe country. From this time until his death,
on the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty
years, he resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of
leisure, of culture and wealth, enjoying in a
healthy old age probably far more happiness than
he had before experienced amid tbe stormy scenes
of his active life.

WILLIAM H. HARRISON.

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

fDQlLLIAM HENRY HARRISON, the ninth
\ A / Piesident of the United States, was born
YY at Berkeley, Va. , February 9, 1773. His
father, Benjamin Harrison, was in comparatively
opulent circumstances,, and was one of the most
distinguished men of his day. He. was an inti
mate friend of George Washington, was early
elected a member of the Continental Congress,
and was conspicuous among the patriots of Vir
ginia in resisting the encroachments of the British
crown. In the celebrated Congress of 1775, Ben
jamin Harrison and John Hancock were both
candidates for the office of Speaker.
Mr. Harrison was subsequently chosen Gov
ernor of Virginia, and was twice re-elected. His
son William Henry, of course, enjoyed in child
hood all the advantages which wealth and intel
lectual and cultivated society could give. Hav
ing received a thorough common-school educa
tion, he entered Hampden Sidney College, where
he graduated with honor soon after the death of
his father. He then repaired to Philadelphia to
study medicine under the instructions of Dr. Rush
and the guardianship of Robert Morris, both of
whom were, with his father, signers of the Dec
laration of Independence.
Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and
notwithstanding the remonstrances of his friends,
he abandoned his medical studies and entered the
army, having obtained a commission as Ensign
from President Washington. He was then but
nineteen years old. From that time he passed
gradually upward in rank until he became aide
to Gen. Wayne, after whose death he resigned
his commission. He was then appointed Secre
tary of the Northwestern Territory. This Terri
tory was then entitled to but one member in Con

gress, and Harrison was chosen to fill that position.
In the spring of 1800 the Northwestern Terri
tory was divided by Congress into two portions.
The eastern portion, comprising the region now
embraced in the State of Ohio, was called ' ' The
Territory northwest of the Ohio." The western
portion, which included what is now called Indi
ana, Illinois and Wisconsin, was called "the Indi
ana Territory." William Henry Harrison, then
twenty-seven years of age, was appointed by John
Adams Governor of the Indiana Territory, and
immediately after also Governor of Upper Loui
siana. He was thus ruler over almost as exten
sive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe.
He was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and
was invested with powers nearly dictatorial over
the then rapidly increasing white population . The
ability and fidelity with which he discharged
these responsible duties may be inferred from the
fact that he was four times appointed to this
office — first by John Adams, twice by Thomas
Jefferson, and afterwards by President Madison.
When he began his administration there were
but three white settlements in that almost bound
less region, now crowded with cities and resound
ing with all the tumult of wealth and traffic.
One of these settlements was on the Ohio, nearly
opposite Louisville; one at Vincennes, on the
Wabash; and the third was a French settlement.
The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians.
About the year 1806, two extraordinary men,
twin brothers of the Shawnee tribe, rose among
them. One of these was called Tecumseh, or
"the Crouching Panther;" the other Olliwa-
checa, or "the Prophet." Tecumseh was not
only an Indian warrior, but a man of great sagac-

52

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

ity, far-reaching foresight and indomitable perse
verance in any enterprise in which he might en
gage. His brother, the Prophet, was an orator,
who could sway the feelings of the untutored In
dians as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath
which they dwelt. With an enthusiasm unsur
passed by Peter the Hermit rousing Europe to the
crusades, he went from tribe to tribe, assuming
that he was specially sent by the Great Spirit.
Gov. Harrison made many attempts to con
ciliate the Indians, but at last war came, and at
Tippecanoe the Indians were routed with great
slaughter. October 28, 1812, his army began its
march. When near the Prophet's town, three
Indians of rank made their appearance and in
quired why Gov. Harrison was approaching them
in so hostile an attitude. After a short confer
ence, arrangements were made for a meeting the
next day to agree upon terms of peace.
But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted
with the Indian character to be deceived by such
protestations. Selecting a favorable spot for his
night's encampment, he took every precaution
against surprise. His troops were posted in a
hollow square and slept upon their arms. The
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock
in the morning, had risen, and was sitting
in conversation with his aides by the embers
of a waning fire. It was a chill, cloudy morning,
with a drizzling rain. In the darkness, the In
dians had crept as near as possible, and just then,
with a savage yell, rushed, with all the despera
tion which superstition and passion most highly
inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the
little army. The savages had been amply pro
vided with guns and ammunition by the English,
and their war-whoop was accompanied by a
shower of bullets.
The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as
the light aided the Indians in their aim, and
Gen. Harrison's troops stood as immovable as
the rocks around them until day dawned, when
they made a simultaneous charge with the bayo
net and swept everything before them, completely
routing the foe.
Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked
to the utmost. The British, descending from the

Canadas, were of themselves a very formidable
force, but with their savage allies rushing like
wolves from the forest, burning, plundering, scalp
ing, torturing, the wide frontier was plunged into
a state of consternatiou which even the most vivid
imagination can but faintly conceive. Gen. Hull
had made an ignominious surrender of his forces at
Detroit. Under these despairing circumstances,
Gov. Harrison was appointed by President Madi
son Commander-in-Chief of the Northwestern
Army, with orders to retake Detroit and to protect
trje frontiers. It would be difficult to place a man
in a situation demanding more energy, sagacity
and courage, but he was found equal to the
position, and nobly and triumphantly did he meet
all the responsibilities.
In 1 8 16, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member
of the National House of Representatives, to rep
resent the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved
an active member, and whenever he spoke it was
with a force of reason and power of eloquence
which arrested the attention of all the members.
Iu 18 19, Harrison was elected to the Senate of
Ohio, and in 1824, as one of the Presidential Elec
tors of that State, he gave his vote for Henry
Clay. The same year he was chosen to the Uni
ted States Senate. In 1836 his friends brought
him forward as a candidate for the Presidency
against Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the
close of Mr. Van Buren 's term, he was re-nom
inated by his party, and Mr. Harrison was unani
mously nominated by the Whigs, with John Tyler
for the Vice-Presidency. The contest was very
animated. Gen. Jackson gave all his influence to
prevent Harrison's election, but his triumph was
signal. The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Web
ster at its head as Secretary of State, was one of
the most brilliant with which any President had
ever been surrounded. Never were the prospects
of an administration more flattering, or the hopes
of the country more sanguine. In the midst of
these bright and joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison
was seized by a pleurisy-fever, and after a few
days of violent sickness died, on the 4th of April,
just one month after his inauguration as President
of the United States.

JOHN TYLER.

JOHN TYLER.

(lOHN TYLER, the tenth President of the
I United States, and was born in Charles
Q) City County, Va., March 29, 1790. He was
the favored child of affluence and high social po
sition. At the early age of twelve, John entered
William and Mary College, and graduated with
much honor when but seventeen years old. After
graduating, he devoted himself with great assi
duity to the study of law, partly with his father
and partly with Edmund Randolph, one of the
most distinguished lawyers of Virginia.
At nineteen years of age, he commenced the
practice of law. His success was rapid and as
tonishing. It is said that three months had not
elapsed ere there was scarcely a case on the
docket of the court in which he was not retained.
When but twenty-one years of age, he was almost
unanimously elected to a seat in the State Legis
lature. He connected himself with the Demo
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures
of Jefferson and Madison. For five successive
years he was elected to the Legislature, receiving
nearly the unanimous vote of his county.
When but twenty-six years of age, he was
elected a Member of Congress. Here he acted ear
nestly and ably with the Democratic party, oppos
ing a national bank, internal improvements by
the General Government, and a protective tariff;
advocating a strict construction of the Constitu
tion and the most careful vigilance over State
rights. His labors in Congress were so arduous
that before the close of his second term he found
it necessary to resign and retire to his estate in
Charles City County to recruit his health. He,
however, soon after consented to take his seat in
the State Legislature, where his influence was
powerful in promoting public works of great
utility. With a reputation thus constantly in
creasing, he was chosen by a very large majority
of votes Governor of his native State. His ad
ministration was a signally successful one, and his
popularity secured his re-election.

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of
the United States. A portion of the Democratic
party was displeased with Mr. Randolph's way
ward course, and brought forward John Tyler as
his opponent, considering him the only man in
Virginia of sufficient popularity to succeed
against the renowned orator of Roanoke. Mr.
Tyler was the victor.
In accordance with his professions, upon tak
ing his seat in the Senate he joined the ranks of
the opposition. He opposed the tariff, and spoke
against and voted against the bank as unconsti
tutional; he strenuously opposed all restrictions
upon slavery, resisting all projects of internal im
provements by the General Government, and
avowed his sympathy with Mr. Calhoun's view
of nullification; he declared that Gen. Jackson,
by his opposition to the nullifiers, had abandoned
the principles of the Democratic party. Such
was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress — a record in
perfect accordance with the principles which he
had always avowed.
Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice
of his profession. There was a split in the Demo
cratic party. His friends still regarded him as a
true Jeffersonian, gave him a dinner, and show
ered compliments upon him. He had now at
tained the age of forty-six, and his career had been
very brilliant. In consequence of his devotion to
public business, his private affairs had fallen into
some disorder, and it was not without satisfac
tion that he resumed the practice of law, and de
voted himself to the cultivation of his plantation.
Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, for
the better education of his children, and he again
took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia.
By the southern Whigs he was sent to the
national convention at Harrisburg in 1839 to nom
inate a President. The majority of votes were
given to Gen Harrison, a genuine Whig, much
to the disappointment of the South, which wished

JOHN TYLER.

for Henry Clay. To conciliate the southern
Whigs and to secure their vote, the convention
then nominated John Tyler for Vice-President.
It was well known that he was not in sympathy
with the Whig party in the North; but the Vice-
President has very little power in the Govern
ment, his main and almost only duty being to
preside over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it
happened that a Whig President and, in reality,
a Democratic Vice-President were chosen.
In 1 841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice-
President of the United States. In one short
month from that time, President Harrison died,
and Mr. Tyler thus found himself, to his own
surprise and that of the whole nation, an occu
pant of the Presidential chair. Hastening from
Williamsburg to Washington, on the 6th of
April he was inaugurated to the high and re
sponsible office. He was placed in a position of
exceeding delicacy and difficulty. All his long
life he had been opposed to the main principles of
the party which had brought him into power.
He had ever been a consistent, honest man, with
an unblemished record. Gen. Harrison had se
lected a Whig cabinet. Should he retain them,
and thus surround himself with counselors whose
views were antagonistic to his own ? or, on the
other hand, should he turn against the party
which had elected him, and select a cabinet in
harmony with himself, and which would oppose
all those views which the Whigs deemed essen
tial to the public welfare ? This was his fearful
dilemma. He invited the cabinet which Presi
dent Harrison had selected to retain their seats,
and recommended a day of fasting and prayer,
that God would guide and bless us.
The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for
the incorporation of a fiscal bank of ;he United
States. The President, after ten days' delay, re
turned it with his veto. He suggested, however,
that he would approve of a bill drawn up upon
such a plan as he proposed. Such a bill was ac
cordingly prepared, and privately submitted to
him. He gave it his approval. It was passed
without alteration, and he sent it back with his
veto. Here commenced the open rupture. It is
said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas

ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M.
Botts a distinguished Virginia Whig, who se
verely touched the pride of the President.
The opposition now exultingly received the
President into their arms. The party which
elected him denounced him bitterly. All the
members of his cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster,
resigned The Whigs of Congress, both the
Senate and the House, held a meeting and issued
an address to the people of the United States,
proclaiming that all political alliance between the
Whigs and President Tyler was at an end.
Still the President attempted to conciliate. He
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs
and Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong
party men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary
to resign, forced out by the pressure of his Whig
friends. Thus the four years of Mr. Tyler's un
fortunate administration passed sadly away. No
one was satisfied. The land was filled with mur
murs and vituperation. Whigs and Democrats
alike assailed him. More and more, however, he
brought himself into sympathy with his old
friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his
term he gave his whole influence to the support
of Mr. Polk, the Democratic candidate for his
successor. On the 4th of March, 1845, President Tyler re
tired from the harassments of office, to the regret
of neither party, and probably to his own unspeak
able relief. The remainder of his days were
passed mainly in the retirement of his beautiful
home — Sherwood Forest, Charles City County,
Va. His first wife, Miss Letitia Christian, died
in Washington in 1842; and in June, 1844,
he was again married, at New York, to Miss Julia
Gardiner, a young lady of many personal and
intellectual accomplishments.
When the great Rebellion rose, which the
State Rights and nullifying doctrines of John C.
Calhoun had inaugurated, President Tyler re
nounced his allegiance to the United States, and
joined the Confederates. He was chosen a mem
ber of their Congress, and while engaged in
active measures to destroy, by force of arms, the
Government over which he had once presided, he
was taken sick and soon died.

JAMES K. POLK.

JAMES K. POLK.

(TAMES K. POLK, the eleventh President of
I the United States, was born in Mecklenburgh
Q) County, N. C, November 2, 1795. His
parents were Samuel and Jane (Knox) Polk, the
former a son of Col. Thomas Polk, who located
at the above place, as one of the first pioneers, in
1735. In 1806, with his wife and children, and
soon after followed by most of the members of the
Polk family, Samuel Polk emigrated some two or
three hundred miles farther west, to the rich val
ley of the Duck River. Here, in the midst of the
wilderness, in a region which was subsequently
called Maury County, they erected their log huts
and established their homes. In the hard toil of
a new farm in the wilderness, James K. Polk
spent the early years of his childhood and youth.
His father, adding the pursuit of a surveyor to
that of a farmer, gradually increased in wealth,
until he became one of the leading men of the
region. His mother was a superior woman, of
strong common sense and earnest piety.
Very early in life James developed a taste for
reading, and expressed the strongest desire to ob
tain a liberal education. His mother's training
had made him methodical in his habits, had taught
him punctuality and industry, and had inspired
him with lofty principles of morality. His health
was frail, and his father, fearing that he might not
be able to endure a sedentary life, got a situation
for him behind the counter, hoping to fit him for
commercial pursuits.
This was to James a bitter disappointment. He
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasKS
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when,
at his earnest solicitation, his faifter removed
him and made arrangements for him to pros
ecute his studies. Soon after he sent him to Mur-
freesboro Academy. With ardor which could
scarcely be surpassed, he pressed forward in his

studies, and in less than two and a-half years, in
the autumn of 18 15, entered the sophomore class
in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allow
ing himself to be absent from a recitation or a
religious service.
Mr. Polk graduated in 18 18, with the highest
honors, being deemed the best scholar of his class,
both in mathematics and the classics. He was
then twenty-three years of age. His health was
at this time much impaired by the assiduity with
which he had prosecuted his studies. After a
short season of relaxation, he went to Nashville,
and entered the office of Felix Grundy, to study
law. Here Mr. Polk renewed his acquaintance
with Andrew Jackson, who resided on his planta
tion, the "Hermitage," but a few miles from
Nashville. They had probably been slightly ac
quainted before.
Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican
and James K. adhered to the same political faith.
He was a popular public speaker, and was con
stantly called upon to address the meetings of his
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such
that he was popularly called the Napoleon of the
stump. He was a man of unblemished morals,
genial and courteous in his bearing, and with that
sympathetic nature in the joys and griefs of oth
ers which gave him hosts of friends. In 1823,
he was elected to the Legislature of Tennessee,
and gave his strong influence toward the election
of his friend, Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of
the United States.
In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah
Childress, of Rutherford County, Tenn. His
bride was altogether worthy of him — a lady of
beauty and culture. In the fall of 1825 Mr. Polk
was chosen a member of Congress, and the satis
faction he gave his constituents may be inferred

6o

JAMES K. POLK.

from the fact, that for fourteen successive years,
or until 1839, he was continued in that office. He
then voluntarily withdrew, only that he might
accept the Gubernatorial chair of Tennessee. In
Congress he was a laborious member, a frequent
and a popular speaker. He was always in his
seat, always courteous, and whenever he spoke
it was always to the point, without any ambitious
rhetorical display.
During five sessions of Congress Mr. Polk was
Speaker of the House. Strong passions were
roused and stormy scenes were witnessed, but he
performed his arduous duties to a very general
satisfaction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to
him was passed by the House as he withdrew on
the 4th of March, 1839.
In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk,
as a candidate for Governor, canvassed the State.
He was elected by a large majority, and on Octo
ber 14, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville.
In 1841 his term of office expired, and he was
again the candidate of the Democratic party, but
was defeated.
On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was in
augurated President of the United States. The
verdict of the country in favor of the annexation
of Texas exerted its influence upon Congress,
and the last act of the administration of President
Tyler was to affix his signature to a joint resolu
tion of Congress, passed on the 3d of March, ap
proving of the annexation of Texas to the Union.
As Mexico still claimed Texas as one of her
provinces, the Mexican Minister, Almonte, im
mediately demanded his passports and left the
country, declaring the act ofthe annexation to be
an act hostile to Mexico.
In his first message, President Polk urged that
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be
received into the Union on the same footing with
the other States. In the mean time, Gen. Taylor
was sent with an army into Texas to hold the
country. He was first sent to Nueces, which the
Mexicans said was the western boundary of Tex
as. Then he was sent nearly two hundred miles
further west, to the Rio Grande, where he erected
batteries which commanded the Mexican city of
Matamoras, which was situated on the western

banks. The anticipated collision soon took place,
and war was declared against Mexico by President
Polk. The war was pushed forward by his ad
ministration with great vigor. Gen. Taylor,
whose army was first called one of ' ' observation, ' '
then of "occupation," then of "invasion," was
sent forward to Monterey. The feeble Mexicans
in every encounter were hopelessly slaughtered.
The day of judgment alone can reveal the misery
which this war caused. It was by the ingenuity
of Mr. Polk's administration that the war was
brought on.
' ' To the victors belong the spoils. ' ' Mexico
was prostrate before us. Her capital was in our
hands. We now consented to peace upon the
condition that Mexico should surrender to us, in
addition to Texas, all of New Mexico, and all of
Upper and Lower California. This new demand
embraced, exclusive of Texas, eight hundred
thousand square miles. This was an extent of
territory equal to nine States of the size of New
York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen ma
jestic States to be added to the Union. There
were some Americans who thought it all right;
there were others who thought it all wrong. In
the prosecution of this war we expended twenty
thousand lives and more than $100,000,000. Of
this money $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico.
On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired
from office, having served one term. The next
day was Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was
inaugurated as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to
the Capitol in the same carriage with Gen. Tay
lor, and the same evening, with Mrs. Polk, he
commenced his return to Tennessee. He wae.
then but fifty-four years of age. He had always
been strictly temperate in all his habits, and his
health was good. With an ample fortune, a
choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic
ties of the dearest nature, it seemed as though
long years of tranquillity and happiness were be
fore him. But the cholera— that fearful scourge
—was then sweeping up the Valley of the Missis
sippi, and he contracted the disease, dying on the
15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth year of his
age, greatly mourned by his countrymen.

ZACHARY TAYLOR.

ZACHARY TAYLOR.

G7ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth President of
J, the United States, was born on the 24th of
I2t November, 1784, in Orange County, Va.
His father, Col. Taylor, was a Virginian of
note, and a distinguished patriot and soldier of
the Revolution. When Zachary was an infant,
his father, with his wife and two children, emi
grated to Kentucky, where he settled in the path
less wilderness, a few miles from Louisville. In
this frontier home, away from civilization and all
its refinements, young Zachary could enjoy but
few social and educational advantages. When
six years of age he attended a common school,
and was then regarded as a bright, active boy,
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of
character. He was strong, fearless and self-reli
ant, and manifested a strong desire to enter the
army to fight the Indians, who were ravaging the
frontiers. There is little to be recorded of the
aneventful years of his childhood on his father's
large but lonely plantation.
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for
him a commission as Lieutenant in the United
States army, and he joined the troops which were
stationed at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson.
Soon after this he married Miss Margaret Smith,
a young lady from one of the first families of
Maryland. Immediately after the declaration of war with
England, in 1812, Capt. Taylor (for he had then
been promoted to that rank) was put in' command
of Ft. Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles
above Viribennes. This fort had been built in the
wilderness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to
Tippecanoe. It was one of the first points of at
tack by the Indians, led by Tecumseh. Its garri
son consisted of a broken company of infantry,
numbering fifty men, many of whom were sick.
Early in the autumn of 181 2, the Indians,
stealthily, and in large nnmbers, moved upon the

fort. Their approach was first indicated by thfe
murder of two soldiers just outside of the stockade.
Capt. Taylor made every possible preparation to
meet the anticipated assault. On the 4th of Sep
tember, a band of forty painted and plumed sav
ages csme to the fort, waving a white flag, and
informed Capt. Taylor that in the morning their
chief would come to have a talk with him. It
was evident that their object was merely to ascer
tain the state of things at the fort, and Capt.
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages,
kept them at a distance.
The sun went down; the savages disappeared;
the garrison slept upon their arms. One hour
before midnight the war-whoop burst from a
thousand lips in the forest around, followed by
the discharge of musketry and the rush of the
foe. Every man, sick and well, sprang to his
post. Every man knew that defeat was not
merely death, but, in the case of capture, death by
the most agonizing and prolonged torture. No
pen can describe, no imagination can conceive, the
scenes which ensued. The savages succeeded in
setting fire to one of the block-houses. Until six
o'clock in the morning this awful conflict con
tinued, when the savages, baffled at every point
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired.
Capt. Taylor, for this gallant defense, was pro
moted to the rank of Major by brevet.
Until the close of the war, Maj. Taylor was
placed in such situations that he saw but little
more of active service. He was sent far away
into the depths of the wilderness to Ft. Craw
ford, on Fox River, which empties into Green
Bay. Here there was little to be done but to
wear away the tedious hours as one best could.
There were no books, no society, no intellectual
stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful years
rolled on. Gradually he rose to the rank of
Colonel. In the Black Hawk War, which re-

64

ZACHARY TAYLOR.

suited in the capture of that renowned chieftain,
Col. Taylor took a subordinate, but a brave and
efficient, part.
For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged
in the defense of the frontiers, in scenes so re
mote, and in employments so obscure, that his
name was unknown beyond the limits of his own
immediate acquaintance. In the year 1836, he
was sent to Florida to compel the Seminole Indi
ans to vacate that region, and retire beyond the
Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty had prom
ised they should do. The services rendered here
secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of
the Government, and as a reward he was ele
vated to the high rank of Brigadier-General by
brevet, and soon after, in May, 1838, was ap
pointed to the chief command of the United
States troops in Florida.
After two years of wearisome employment
amidst the everglades of the Peninsula, Gen. Tay
lor obtained, at his own request, a change of
command, and was stationed over the Department
ofthe Southwest. This field embraced Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Establishing
his headquarters at Ft. Jessup, in Louisiana, he
removed his family to a plantation which he pur
chased near Baton Rouge. Here he remained
for five years, buried, as it were, from the world,
but faithfully discharging every duty imposed
upon him.
In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the
land between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the
latter river being the boundary of Texas, which
was then claimed by the United States. Soon
the war with Mexico was brought on, and at Palo
Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Gen. Taylor won
brilliant victories over the Mexicans. The rank
of Major-General by brevet was then conferred
upon Gen. Taylor, and his name was received
with enthusiasm almost everywhere in the na
tion. Then came the battles of Monterey and
Buena Vista, in which he won signal victories
over forces much larger than he commanded.
The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena
Vista spread the wildest enthusiasm over the
country. - The name of Gen. Taylor was on
every one's lips. The Whig party decided to

take advantage of this wonderful popularity in
bringing forward the unpolished, unlettered, hon
est soldier as their candidate for the Presidency.
Gen. Taylor was astonished at the announce
ment, and for a time would not listen to it, de
claring that he was not at all qualified for such
an office. So little interest had he taken in poli
tics, that for forty years he had not cast a vote.
It was not without chagrin that several distin
guished statesmen, who had been long years in
the public service, found their claims set aside in
behalf of one whose name had never been heard
of, save in connection with Palo Alto, Resaca de
la Palma, Monterey and Buena Vista. It is said
that Daniel Webster, in his haste, remarked, "It
is a nomination not fit to be made."
Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a
fine writer. His friends took possession of him,
and prepared such few communications as it was
needful should be presented to the public. The
popularity of the successful warrior swept the
land. He was triumphantly elected over two
opposing candidates, — Gen. Cass and Ex-Presi
dent Martin Van Buren. Though he selected an
excellent cabinet, the good old man found himself
in a very uncongenial position, and was at times
sorely perplexed and harassed. His mental suf
ferings were very severe, and probably tended to
hasten his death. The pro-slavery party was
pushing its claims with tireless energy; expedi
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba; California
was pleading for admission to the Union, while
slavery stood at the door to bar her out. Gen.
Taylor found the political conflicts in Washington
to be far more trying to the nerves than battles
with Mexicans or Indians.
In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor,
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but
little over a year, took cold, and after a brief
sickness of but little over five days, died, on the
9th of July, 1850. His last words were, "I am
not afraid to die. I am ready. I have endeav
ored to do my duty." He died universally re
spected and beloved. An honest, unpretending
man, he had been steadily growing in the affec
tions of the people, and the Nation bitterly la
mented his death.

MILLARD FILLMORE.

MILLARD FILLMORE.

WIlLLARD FILLMORE, thirteenth President
V ofthe United States, was born at Summer
(£ Hill, Cayuga County, N. Y., on the 7th of
January, 1800. His father was a farmer, and, owing
to misfortune, in humble circumstances. Of his
mother, the daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, of
Pittsfield, Mass., it has been said that she pos
sessed an intellect of a high order, united with
much personal loveliness, sweetness of disposi
tion, graceful manners and exquisite sensibilities.
She died in 1831, having lived to see her son a
young man of distinguished promise, though she
was not permitted to witness the high dignity
which he finally attained.
In consequence of the secluded home and limited
means of his father, Millard enj oyed but slender
advantages for education in his early years. The
common schools, which he occasionally attended,
were very imperfect institutions, and books were
scarce and expensive. There was nothing then
in his character to indicate the brilliant career
upon which he was about to enter. He was a
plain farmer's boy — intelligent, good-looking,
kind-hearted. The sacred iufluences of home
had taught him to revere the Bible, and had laid
the foundations of an upright character. When
fourteen years of age, his father sent him some
hundred miles from Jiome to the then wilds of
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier.
Near the mill there was a small village, where
some enterprising man had commenced the col
lection of a village library. This proved an in
estimable blessing to young Fillmore. His even
ings were spent in reading. Soon every leisure
moment was occupied with books. His thirst for
knowledge became insatiate, and the selections
which he made were continually more elevating
and instructive. He read history, biography,
oratory, and thus gradually there was enkindled

in his heart a desire to be something more than a
mere worker with his hands.
The young clothier had now attained the age
of nineteen years, and was of fine personal appear
ance and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so hap
pened that there was a gentleman in the neigh
borhood of ample pecuniary means and of benev
olence, — Judge Walter Wood, — who was struck
with the prepossessing appearance of young Fill
more. He made his acquaintance, and was so
much impressed with his ability and attainments
that he advised him to abandon his trade and de
vote himself to the study of the law. The young
man replied that he had no means of his own,
no friends to help him, and that his previous edu
cation had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood
had so much confidence in him that he kindly
offered to take him into his own office, and to
lend him such money as he needed. Most grate
fully the generous offer was accepted.
There is in many minds a strange delusion
about a collegiate education. A young man is
supposed to be liberally educated if he has gradu
ated at some college. But many a boy who loi
ters through university halls and then enters a
law office is by no means as well prepared to
prosecute his legal studies as was Millard Fill
more when he graduated at the clothing-mill at
the end of four years of manual labor, during
which every leisure moment had been devoted to
intense mental culture.
In 1823, when twenty- three years of age, he
was admitted to the Court of Common Pleas.
He then went to the village of Aurora, and com
menced the practice of law. In this secluded,
quiet region, his practice, of course, was limited,
and there was no opportunity for a sudden rise in
fortune or in fame. Here, in 1826, he married a
lady of great moral worth, and one capable of

C8

MILLARD FILLMORE.

adorning any station she might be called to fill, —
Miss Abigail Powers.
His elevation of character, his untiring industry,
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advo
cate, gradually attracted attention, and he was
invited to enter into partnership, under highly ad
vantageous circumstances, with an elder member
of the Bar in Buffalo. Just before removing to
Buffalo, in 1829, he took his seat in the House of
Assembly of the State of New York, as a Repre
sentative from Erie County. Though he had
never taken a very active part in politics, his vote
and sympathies were with the Whig party. The
State was then Democratic, and he found himself
in a helpless minority in the Legislature; still the
testimony comes from all parties that his courtesy,
ability and integrity won, to a very unusual de
gree, the respect of his associates.
In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a
seat in the United States Congress. He entered
that troubled arena in the most tumultuous hours
of our national history, when the great conflict
respecting the national bank and the removal of
the deposits was raging.
His term of two years closed, and he returned
to his profession, which he pursued with increas
ing reputation and success. After a lapse of two
years he again became a candidate for Congress;
was re-elected, and took his seat in 1837. His
past experience as a Representative gave him
strength and confidence. The first term of service
in Congress to any man can be but little more
than an introduction. He was now prepared for
active duty. All his energies were brought to
bear upon the public good. Every measure re
ceived his impress.
Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute,
and his popularity filled the State. In the year
1847, when he had attained the age of forty-
seven years, he was elected Comptroller ofthe
State. His labors at the Bar, in the Legisla
ture, in Congress and as Comptroller, had given
him very considerable fame. The Whigs were
casting about to find suitable candidates for Presi
dent and Vice-President at the approaching elec
tion. Far away on the waters of the Rio Grande,
there was a rough old soldier, who had fought

one or two successful battles with the Mexicans,
which had caused his name to be proclaimed in
trumpet-tones all over the land as a candidate for
the presidency. But it was necessary to associate
with him on the same ticket some man of repu
tation as a statesman.
Under the influence of these considerations, the
names of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore
became the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their
candidates for President and Vice-President. The
Whig ticket was signally triumphant. On the
4th of March, 1849, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated
President, and Millard Fillmore Vice-President,
ofthe United States.
On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor,
about one year and four months after his inaugura
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the
Constitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus be
came President. He appointed a very able cabi
net, of which the illustrious Daniel Webster was
Secretary of State; nevertheless, he had serious
difficulties to contend with, since the opposition
had a majority in both Houses. He did all in his
power to conciliate the South; but the pro-slavery
party in the South felt the inadequacy of all
measures of transient conciliation. The popula
tion of the free States was so rapidly increasing
over that of the slave States, that it was inevitable
that the power of the Government should soon
pass into the hands of the free States. The fa
mous compromise measures were adopted under
Mr. Fillmore's administration, and the Japan ex
pedition was sent out. On the 4th of March,
1853, he, having served one term, retired.
In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the
Presidency by the "Know-Nothing" party,, but
was beaten by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr.
Fillmore lived in retirement. During the terri
ble conflict of civil war, he was mostly silent. It
was generally supposed that his sympathies were
rather with those who were endeavoring to over
throw our institutions. President Fillmore kept
aloof from the conflict, without any cordial words
of cheer to one party or the other. He was thus
forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe old age.
and died in Buffalo, N. Y., March 8, 1874.

FRANKLIN PIERCE.

FRANKLIN PIERCE.

|~"RANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth Presi-
ift dent of the United States, was born in Hills-
| borough, N. H., November 23, 1804. His
father was a Revolutionary soldier, who with his
own strong arm hewed out a home in the wilder
ness. He was a man of inflexible integrity, of
strong, though uncultivated, mind, and was an un
compromising Democrat. The mother of Frank
lin Pierce was all that a son could desire — an in
telligent, prudent, affectionate, Christian woman.
Franklin, who was the sixth of eight children,
was a remarkably bright and handsome boy,
generous, warm-hearted and brave. He won
alike the love of old and young. The boys on
the play-ground loved him. His teachers loved
him. The neighbors looked upon him with pride
and affection. He was by instinct a gentleman,
always speaking kind words, and doing kind
deeds, with a peculiar, unstudied tact which
taught him what was agreeable. Without de
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural
devotion to books, he was a good scholar, and in
body and mind a finely developed boy.
When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820,
he entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me.
He was one of the most popular young men in
the college. The purity of his moral character,
the unvarying courtesy of his demeanor, his rank
as a scholar, and genial nature, rendered him a
universal favorite. There was something pe
culiarly winning in his address, and it was evi
dently not in the slightest degree studied — it was
the simple outgushing of his own magnanimous
and loving nature.
Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin
Pierce commenced the study of law in the office
of Judge Woodbury, one of the most distinguished

lawyers of the State, and a man of great private
worth. The eminent social qualities of the young
lawyer, his father's prominence as a public man,
and the brilliant political career into which Judge
Woodbury was entering, all tended to entice Mr.
Pierce into the fascinating yet perilous path of
political life. With all the ardor of his nature he
espoused the cause of Gen. Jackson for the Presi
dency. He commenced the practice of law in
Hillsborough, and was soon elected to represent
the town in the State Legislature. Here he
served for four years. The last two years he was
chosen Speaker of the House by a very large
vote. In 1833, at the age of twenty -nine, he was
elected a member of Congress. In 1837, being
then but thirty-three years old, he was elected to
the Senate, taking his seat -just as Mr. Van Buren
commenced his administration. He was the
youngest, member in the Senate. In the year
1834, he married Miss Jane Means Appleton, a
lady of rare beauty and accomplishments, and one
admirably fitted to adorn every station with which
her husband was honored. Of the three sons who
were born to them, all now sleep with their par
ents in the grave.
In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing
fame and increasing business as a lawyer, took up
his residence in Concord, the capital of New
Hampshire. President Polk, upon his accession
to office, appointed Mr. Pierce Attorney-General
of the United States; but •' the offer was declined
in consequence of numerous professional engage
ments at home, and the precarious state of Mrs.
Pierce's health. He also, about the same time,
declined the nomination for Governor by the
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called

72

FRANKLIN PIERCE.

Mr. Pierce into the army. Receiving the appoint
ment of Brigadier- General, he embarked with a
portion of his troops at Newport, R. I., on the
27th of May, 1847. He took an important part
in this war, proving himself a brave and true sol
dier. When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his na
tive State, he was received enthusiastically by the
advocates of the Mexican War, and coldly by his
opponents. He resumed the practice of his pro
fession, very frequently taking an active part in
political questions, giving his cordial support to
the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic party.
The compromise measures met cordially with his
approval, and he strenuously advocated the en
forcement of the infamous Fugitive Slave Law,
which so shocked the religious sensibilities of the
North. He thus became distinguished as a
' ( Northern man with Southern principles. ' ' The
strong partisans of slavery in the South conse
quently regarded him as a man whom they could
safely trust in office to carry out their plans.
On the 12th of June, 1852, the Democratic con
vention met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate
for the Presidency. For four days they contin
ued in session, and in thirty -five ballotings no one
had obtained a two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus
far had been thrown for Gen. Pierce. Then the
Virginia delegation brought forward his name.
There were fourteen more ballotings, during which
Gen. Pierce constantly gained strength, until, at
the forty-ninth ballot, he received two hundred
and eighty-two votes, and all other candidates
eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was the Whig can
didate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with great una
nimity. Only four States — Vermont, Massachu
setts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their elec
toral votes against him. Gen. Franklin Pierce
was therefore inaugurated President of the United
States on the 4th of March, 1853.
His administration proved one of the most
stormy our country had ever experienced. The
controversy between slavery and freedom was
then approaching its culminating point. It be
came evident that there was to be an irrepressible
conflict between them, and that this nation
could not long exist ' ' half slave and half free. ' '

President Pierce, during the whole of his admin
istration, did everything he could to conciliate the
South; but it was all in vain. The conflict every
year grew more violent, and threats of the disso
lution of the Union were borne to the North 011
every Southern breeze.
Such was the condition of affairs when Presi
dent Pierce approached the close of his four-
years term of office. The North had become
thoroughly alienated from him. The anti-slavery
sentiment, goaded by great outrages, had been
rapidly increasing; all the intellectual ability and
social worth of President Pierce were forgotten in
deep reprehension of his administrative acts. The
slaveholders of the South also, unmindful of the
fidelity with which he had advocated those meas
ures of Government which they approved, and
perhaps feeling that he had rendered himself
so unpopular as no longer to be able to accepta
bly serve them, ungratefully dropped him, and
nominated James Buchanan to succeed him.
On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re
turned to his home in Concord. His three chil
dren were all dead, his last surviving child hav
ing been killed before his eyes in a railroad acci
dent; and his wife, one ofthe most estimable and
accomplished of ladies, was rapidly sinking in
consumption. The hour of dreadful gloom soon
came, and he was left alone in the world without
wife or child.
When the terrible Rebellion burst forth which
divided our country into two parties, and two
only, Mr. Pierce remained steadfast in the prin
ciples which he had always cherished, and gave
his sympathies to that pro-slavery party with
which he had ever been allied. He declined to
do anything, either by voice or pen, to strengthen
the hand of the National Government. He con
tinued to reside in Concord until the time of his
death, which occurred in October, 1869. He was
one of the most genial and social of men, an hon
ored communicant of the Episcopal Church, and
one of the kindest of neighbors. Generous to a
fault, he contributed liberally toward the allevia
tion of suffering and want, and many of his
towns-people were often gladdened by his material
bounty.

WSmjM

JAMES BUCHANAN.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

(TAMES BUCHANAN, the fifteenth President
I of the United States, was born in a small
G/ frontier town, at the foot of the eastern ridge
of the Alleghanies, in Franklin County, Pa. , on
the 23d of April, 1791. The place where the
humble cabin home stood was called Stony Bat
ter. His father was a native of the north of Ire
land, who had emigrated in 1783, with little prop
erty save his own strong arms. Five years after
ward he married Elizabeth Spear, the daughter
of a respectable farmer, and, with his young bride,
plunged into the wilderness, staked his claim,
reared his log hut, opened a clearing with his
axe, and settled down there to perform his obscure
part in the drama of life. .When James was eight
years of age, his father removed to the village of
Mercersburg, where his son was placed at school,
and commenced a course of study in English,
Latin and Greek. His progress was rapid, and
at the age of fourteen he entered Dickinson Col
lege, at Carlisle. Here he developed remarkable
talent, and took his stand among the first scholars
in the institution.
In the year 1809, he graduated with the high
est honors of his class. He was then eighteen
years of age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health,
fond of athletic sports, an unerring shot, and en
livened with an exuberant flow of animal spirits.
He immediately commenced the study of law in
the city of Lancaster, and was admitted to the
Bar in 1812, when he was but twenty-one years
of age.
In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for
ten years he remained a member of the Lower
House. During the vacations of Congress, he

occasionally tried some important case. In 1831
he retired altogether from the toils of his profes
sion, having acquired an ample fortune.
Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presi
dency, appointed Mr. Buchanan Minister to Rus
sia. The duties of his mission he performed
with ability, and gave satisfaction to all parties.
Upon his return, in 1833, he was elected to a seat
in the United States Senate. He there met as
his associates Webster, Clay, Wright and Cal
houn. He advocated the measures proposed by
President Jackson, of making reprisals against
France to enforce the payment of our claims
against that country, and defended the course of
the President in his unprecedented and wholesale
removal from office of those who were not the
supporters of his administration. Upon this
question he was brought into direct collision with
Henry Clay. He also, with voice and vote, ad
vocated expunging from the journal of the Senate
the vote of censure against Gen. Jackson for re
moving the deposits. Earnestly he opposed the
abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia,
and urged the prohibition of the circulation of
anti-slavery documents by the United States
mails. As to petitions on the subject of slavery,
he advocated that they should be respectfully re
ceived, and that the reply should be returned
that Congress had no power to legislate upon the
subject. " Congress," said he, "might as well
undertake to interfere with slavery under a for
eign government as in any of the States where it
now exists. ' '
Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency,
Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as
such took his share of the responsibility in the

76

JAMES BUCHANAN.

conduct of the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed
that crossing the Nueces by the American
troops into the disputed territory was not wrong,
but for the Mexicans to cross the Rio Grande
into Texas was a declaration of war. No candid
man can read with pleasure the account of the
course our Government pursued in that movement.
Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly
with the party devoted to the perpetuation and
extension of slavery, and brought all the energies
of his mind to bear against the Wilmot Proviso.
He gave his cordial approval to the compromise
measures of 1850, which included the Fugitive
Slave Law. Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the
Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with the mis
sion to England.
In the year 1856, a national Democratic Con
vention nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presi
dency. The political conflict was one of the most
severe in which our country has ever engaged.
All the friends of slavery were on one side; all
the advocates of its restriction and final abolition
on the other. Mr. Fremont, the candidate of the
enemies of slavery, received one hundred and
fourteen electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received
one hundred and seventy-four, and was elected.
The popular vote stood 1,340,618 for Fremont,
1,224,750 for Buchanan. On March 4, 1857,
the latter was inaugurated.
Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only
four years were wanting to fill up his three-score
years and ten. His own friends, those with
whom he had been allied in political principles
and action for years, were seeking the destruc
tion of the_ Government, that they might rear
upon the ruins of our free institutions a nation
whose corner-stone should be human slavery. In
this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly
bewildered. He could not, with his long-avowed
principles, consistently oppose the State Rights
party in their assumptions. As President of the
United States, bound by his oath faithfully to
administer the laws, he could not, without per
jury of the grossest kind, unite with those en
deavoring to overthrow the Republic. He there
fore did nothing.
The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administra

tion nominated Abraham Lincoln as their stand
ard-bearer in the next Presidential canvass.
The pro-slavery party declared that if he were
elected and the control of the Government were
thus taken from their hands, they would secede
from the Union, taking with them as they retired
the National Capitol at Washington and the
lion's share of the territory of the United States.
As the storm increased in violence, the slave
holders claiming the right to secede, and Mr.
Buchanan avowing that Congress had no power
to prevent it, one of the most pitiable exhibitions
of governmental imbecility was exhibited that the
world has ever seen. He declared that Congress
had no power to enforce its laws in any State
which had withdrawn, or which was attempting
to withdraw, from the Union. This was not the
doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with his hand
upon his sword-hilt, he exclaimed: "The Union
must and shall be preserved!"
South Carolina seceded in December, i860,
nearly three months before the inauguration of
President Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in
listless despair. The rebel flag was raised in
Charleston; Ft. Sumter was besieged; our forts,
navy-yards and arsenals were seized; our depots
of military stores were plundered, and our cus
tom-houses and post-offices were appropriated by
the rebels.
The energy of the rebels and the imbecility of
our Executive were alike marvelous. The na
tion looked on in agony, waiting for the slow
weeks to glide away and close the administration,
so terrible in its weakness. At length the long-
looked-for hour of deliverance came, when Abra
ham Lincoln was to receive the scepter.
The administration of President Buchanan was
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex
perienced. His best friends can not recall it with
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his
fame, that in that dreadful conflict which rolled
its billows of flame and blood over our whole
land, no word came from his lips to indicate his
wish that our country's banner should triumph
over the flag of the Rebellion. He died at his
Wheatland retreat, June 1, 1868.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

(31 BRAHAM LINCOLN, the sixteenth Presi-
Ll dent of the United States, was born in Hardin
/ I County, Ky., February 12, 1809. About
the year 1780, a man by the name of Abraham
Lincoln left Virginia with his family and moved
into the then wilds of Kentucky. Only two years
after this emigration, and while still a young man,
he was working one day in a field, when an Indian
stealthily approached and killed him. His widow
was left in extreme poverty with five little chil
dren, three boys and two girls. Thomas, the
youngest of the boys, and the father of President
Abraham Lincoln, was four years of age at his
father's death.
When twenty-eight years old, Thomas Lincoln
built a log cabin, and married Nancy Hanks, the
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky
emigrants, who had also come from Virginia.
Their second child was Abraham Lincoln, the sub
ject of this sketch. The mother of Abraham was
a noble woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created
to adorn a palace, but doomed to toil and pine, and
die in a hovel. "All that I am, or hope to be,"
exclaimed the grateful son, " I owe to my angel-
mother." When he was eight years ot age, his
father sold his cabin and small farm and moved
to Indiana, where two years later his mother died.
As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly
family was the usual lot of humanity. There
were joys and griefs, weddings and funerals.
Abraham's sister Sarah, to whom he was tenderly
attached, was married when a child of but four
teen years of age, and soon died. The family
was gradually scattered, and Thomas Lincoln
sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, and emi
grated to Macon County, 111.
Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years
of age. With vigorous hands he aided his father
in rearing another log cabin, and worked quite
diligently at this until he saw the family com
fortably settled, and their small lot of enclosed
prairie planted with corn, when he announced to

his father his intention to leave home, and to gc
out into the world and seek his fortune. Little
did he or his friends imagine how brilliant thai
fortune was to be. He saw the value of educa
tion and was intensely earnest to improve his
mind to the utmost of his power. Religion he
revered. His morals were pure, and he was un-
contaminated by a single vice.
Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired
laborer among the farmers. Then he went to
Springfield, where he was employed in building
a large flat-boat. In this he took a herd of swine,
floated them down the Sangamon to Illinois, and
thence by the Mississippi to New Orleans. What
ever Abraham Lincoln undertook, he performed
so faithfully as to give great satisfaction to his
employers. In this adventure the latter were
so well pleased, that upon his return they placed
a store and mill under his care.
In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk
War, he enlisted and was chosen Captain of a
company. He returned to Sangamon County,
and, although only twenty-three years of age, was
a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated.
He soon after received from Andrew Jackson the
appointment of Postmaster of New Salem. His
only post-office was his hat. All the letters he
received he carried there, ready to deliver to those
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and
soon made this his business. In 1834 he again
became a candidate for the Legislature and was
elected. Mr. Stuart, of Springfield, advised him
to study law. He walked from New Salem to
Springfield, borrowed of Mr. Stuart a load of
books, carried them back, and began his legal
studies. When the Legislature assembled, he
trudged on foot with his pack on his back one
hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here
it was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839
he removed to Springfield and began the practice
of law. His success with the jury was so great

So

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

that he was soon engaged in almost every noted
case in the circuit.
In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr.
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas on the slavery ques
tion. In the organization of the Republican party
in Illinois, in 1856, he took an active part, and at
once became one of the leaders in that party.
Mr. Lincoln's speeches in opposition to Senator
Douglas in the contest in 1858 for a seat in the
Senate, form a most notable part of his history.
The issue was on the slavery question, and he
took the broad ground of the Declaration of In
dependence, that all men are created equal. Mr.
Lincoln was defeated in this contest, but won a
far higher prize.
The great Republican Convention met at Chi
cago on the 1 6th of June, i860. The delegates
and strangers who crowded the city amounted to
twenty-five thousand. An immense building
called " The Wigwam," was reared to accommo
date the convention. There were eleven candi
dates for whom votes were thrown. William H.
Seward, a man whose fame as a statesman had
long filled the land, was the most prominent. It
was generally supposed he would be the nomi
nee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received the
nomination on the third ballot.
Election day came, and Mr. Lincoln received
one hundred and eighty electoral votes out of two
hundred and three cast, and was, therefore, con
stitutionally elected President of the United States.
The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this
good and merciful man, especially by the slave
holders, was greater than upon any other man
ever elected to this high position. In February,
1861, Mr. Lincoln started for Washington, stop
ping in all the large cities on his way, making
speeches. The whole journey was fraught with
much danger. Many of the Southern States had
already seceded, and several attempts at assassi
nation were afterward brought to light. A gang
in Baltimore had arranged upon his arrival to
"get up a row," and in the confusion to make
sure of his death with revolvers and hand-gren
ades. A detective unravelled the plot. A secret
and special train was provided to take him from
Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at an unexpected

hour of the night. The train started at half-past
ten, and to prevent any possible communication
on the part of the Secessionists with their Con
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train
had started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr.
Lincoln reached Washington in safety and was
inaugurated, although great anxiety was felt by
all loyal people.
In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave
to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to
other prominent opponents before the convention
he gave important positions; but during no other
administration had the duties devolving upon the
President been so manifold, and the responsibilities
so great, as those which fell to his lot. Knowing
this, and feeling his own weakness and inability
to meet, and in his own strength to cope with,
the difficulties, he learned early to seek Divine
wisdom and guidance in determining his plans,
and Divine comfort in all his trials, both personal
and national. Contrary to his own estimate of
himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the most cour
ageous of men. He went directly into the rebel
capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, with
no guard but a few sailors. From the time he
had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had
been made for his assassination, and he at last
fell a victim to one of them. April 14, 1865, he,
with Gen. Grant, was urgently invited to attend
Ford's Theatre. It was announced that they
would be present. Gen. Grant, however, left the
city. President Lincoln, feeling, with his char
acteristic kindliness of heart, that it would be a
disappointment if he should fail them, very re
luctantly consented to go. While listening to
the play, an actor by the name of John Wilkes
Booth entered the box where the President and
family were seated, and fired a bullet into his
brain. He died the next morning at seven
o'clock. Never before in the history of the world was
a nation plunged into such deep grief by the death
of its ruler Strong men met in the streets and
wept in speechless anguish. His was a life which
will fitly become a model. His name as the
Savior of his country will live with that of Wash
ington's, its Father.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

61 NDREW JOHNSON, seventeenth President
L\ of the United States. The early life of An -
| J drew Johnson contains but the record of pov
erty , destitution and friendlessness. He was born
December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, N. C. His par
ents, belonging to the class of "poor whites"
of the South, were in such circumstances that they
could not confer even the slightest advantages of
education upon their child. When Andrew was
five years of age, his father accidentally lost his
life, while heroically endeavoring to save a friend
from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew
was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by
the labor of his mother, who obtained her living
with her own hands.
He then, having never attended a school one
day, and being unable either to read or write, was
apprenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gen
tleman was in the habit of going to the tailor's
shop occasionally, and reading to the boys at
work there. He often read from the speeches of
distinguished British statesmen. Andrew, who
was endowed with a mind of more than ordinary
ability, became much interested in these speeches;
his ambition was roused, and he was inspired with
a strong desire to learn to read.
He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet,
and with the assistance of some of his fellow-
workmen learned his letters. He then called upon
the gentleman to borrow the book of speeches.
The owner, pleased with his zeal, not only gave
him the book, but assisted him in learning to com
bine the letters into words. Under such difficul
ties he pressed onward laboriously, spending usu
ally ten or twelve hours at work in the shop, and
then robbing himself of rest and recreation to de
vote such time as he could to reading.
He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at

Greenville, where he married a young lady who
possessed some education. Under her instructions
he learned to write and cipher. He became
prominent in the village debating society, and a
favorite with the students of Greenville College.
In 1828, he organized a working man's party,
which elected him Alderman, and in 1830 elected
him Mayor, which position he held three years.
He now began to take a lively interest in
political affairs, identifying himself with the work
ing-class, to which he beLnged. In 1835, he
was elected a member of the House of Represent
atives of Tennessee. He was then just twenty-
seven years of age. He became a very active
member of the Legislature, gave his support to
the Democratic party, and in 1840 "stumped the
State," advocating Martin Van Buren' s claims to
the Presidency, in opposition to those of Gen.
Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased
his reputation.
In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843,
he was elected a Member of Congress, and by suc
cessive elections held that important post for ten
years. In 1853, he was elected Governor of Tenn
essee, and was re-elected in 1855. In all these
responsible positions, he discharged his duties
with distinguished ability, and proved himself the
warm friend ofthe working classes. In 1857, Mr.
Johnson was elected United States Senator.
Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated
the annexation of Texas, stating, however, as his
reason, that he thought this annexation would
probably prove ' 'to be the gateway out of which
the sable sons of Africa are to pass from bondage
to freedom, and become merged in a population
congenial to themselves." In 1850, he also sup
ported the compromise measures, the two essen-

84

ANDREW JOHNSON.

tial features of which were, that the white people
of the Territories should be permitted to decide
for themselves whether they would enslave the
colored people or not, and that the free States of
the North should return to the South persons who
attempted to escape from slavery.
Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly
origin: 011 the contrary, he often took pride in
avowing that he owed his distinction to his own
exertions. "Sir," said he on the floor of the
Senate, "I do not forget that I am a mechanic;
neither do I forget that Adam was a tailor and
sewed fig-leaves, and that our Savior was the son
of a carpenter. ' '
In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i860,
he was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for
the Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of
the Southern Democracy became apparent, he took
a decided stand in favor of the Union, and held
that "slavery must be held subordinate to the
Union at whatever cost. ' ' He returned to Tenn
essee, and repeatedly imperiled his own . life to
protect the Unionists of that State. Tennessee
having seceded from the Union, President Lincoln,
on March 4, 1862, appointed him Military Gov
ernor of the State, and he established the most
Stringent military rule. His numerous proclama
tions attracted wide attention. In 1864, he was
elected Vice-President of the United States, and
upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 1865,
became President. In a speech two days later he
said, "The American people must be taught, if
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime
and must be punished; that the Government will
not always bear with its enemies; that it is strong
not only to protect, but to punish. * * The
people must understand that it (treason) is the
blackest of crimes, and will surely be punished."
Yet his whole administration, the history of which
is so well known, was in utter inconsistency with,
and in the most violent opposition to, the princi
ples laid down in that speech.
In his loose policy of reconstruction and general
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress, and he
characterized Congress as a new rebellion, and
lawlessly defied it in everything possible to the ut
most. In the beginning of 1868, on account of

"High crimes and misdemeanors," the principal
of which was the removal of Secretary Stanton in
violation of the Tenure of Office Act, articles of
impeachment were preferred against him, and the
trial began March 23.
It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three
months. A test article of the impeachment was
at length submitted to the court for its action. It
was certain that as the court voted upon that ar
ticle so would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices
pronounced the President guilty. As a two-thirds
vote was necessary to his condemnation, he was
pronounced acquitted, notwithstanding the great
majority against him. The change of one vote
from the not guilty side would have sustained the
impeachment. The President, for the remainder of his term,
was but little regarded. He continued, though
impotently, his conflict with Congress. His own
party did not think it expedient to renominate
him for the Presidency. The Nation rallied with
enthusiasm, unparalleled since the days of Wash
ington, around the name of Gen. Grant. Andrew
Johnson was forgotten . The bullet of the assassin
introduced him to the President's chair. Not
withstanding this, never was there presented to a
man a better opportunity to immortalize his name,
and to win the gratitude of a nation. He failed
utterly. He retired to his home in Greenville,
Tenn. , taking no very active part in politics until
1875. On January 26, after an exciting struggle,
he was chosen by the Legislature of Tennessee
United States Senator in the Forty-fourth Congess,
and took his seat in that body, at the special ses
sion convened by President Grant, on the 5th of
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-Presi
dent made a visit to his daughter's home, near
Carter Station, Tenn. When he started on his
journey, he was apparently in his usual vigorous
health, but on reaching the residence of his child
the following day, he was stricken with paralysis,
which rendered him unconscious. He rallied oc
casionally, but finally passed away at 2 A. m.,
July 3 1 , aged sixty-seven years. His funeral was
held at Greenville, on the 3d of August, with
every demonstration of respect.

I7. S. GRANT.

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

HLYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth Presi
dent of the United States, was born on the
29th of April, 1822, of Christian parents, in
a humble home at Point Pleasant, on the banks
of the Ohio. Shortly after, his father moved to
Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio. In this re
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses received a common-
school education. At the age of seventeen, in
the year 1839, he entered the Military Academy
at West Point. Here he was regarded as a solid,
sensible young man, of fair ability, and of sturdy,
honest character. He took respectable rank as a
scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated about the
middle in his class, and was sent as Lieutenant of
Infantry to one of the distant military posts in the
Missouri Territory. Two years he passed in these
dreary solitudes, watching the vagabond Indians.
The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His
first battle was at Palo Alto. There was no
chance here for the exhibition of either skill or
heroism, nor at Resaca de la Palma, his second
battle. At the battle of Monterey, his third en
gagement, it is said that he performed a signal
service of daring and skillful horsemanship.
At the close' of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant
returned with his regiment to New York, and
was again sent to one of the military posts on the
frontier. The discovery of gold in California
causing an immense tide of emigration to flow to
the Pacific shores, Capt. Grant was sent with a
battalion to Ft. Dallas, in Oregon, for the protec
tion of the interests of the immigrants. But life
was wearisome in those wilds, and he resigned
his commission and returned to the States. Hav
ing married, he entered upon the cultivation of a
small farm near St. Louis, Mo., but having little

skill as a farmer, and finding his toil not re
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering
into the leather business, with a younger brother
at Galena, 111. This was in the year i860. As
the tidings of the rebels firing on Ft. Sumter
reached the ears of Capt. Grant in his counting-
room, he said: "Uncle Sam has educated me
for the army; though I have served him through
one war, I do not feel that I have yet repaid the
debt. I am still ready to discharge my obliga
tions. I shall therefore buckle on my sword and
see Uncle Sam through this war too. ' '
He went into the streets, raised a company of
volunteers, and led them as their Captain to
Springfield, the capital of the State, where their
services were offered to Gov. Yates. The Gov
ernor, impressed by the zeal and straightforward
executive ability of Capt. Grant, gave him a desk
in his office to assist in the volunteer organiza
tion that was being formed in the State in behalf
of the Government. On the 15th of June, 1861,
Capt. Grant received a commission as Colonel of
the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Volunteers.
His merits as a West Point graduate, who had
served for fifteen years in the regular army, were
such that he was soon promoted to the rank of
Brigadier- General, and was placed in command at
Cairo. The rebels raised their banner at Padu-
cah, near the mouth of the Tennessee River.
Scarcely had its folds appeared in the breeze ere
Gen. Grant was there. The rebels fled, their
banner fell, and the Stars and Stripes were un
furled in its stead.
He entered the service with great determina
tion and immediately began active duty. This
was the beginning, and until the surrender of
Lee at Richmond he was ever pushing the enemy

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

with great vigor and effectiveness. At Belmont,
a few days later, he surprised and routed the
rebels, then at Ft. Henry won another victory.
Then came the brilliant fight at Ft. Donelson.
The nation was electrified by the victory, and the
brave leader of the boys in blue was immediately
made a Major-General, and the military district
of Tennessee was assigned to him.
Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well
how to secure the results of victory. He imme
diately pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then
came the terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing,
Corinth, and the siege of Vicksburg, where Gen.
Pemberton made an unconditional surrender of
the city with over thirty thousand men and one
hundred and seventy-two cannon. The fall of
Vicksburg was by far the most severe blow which
the rebels had thus far encountered, and opened
up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf.
Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown
from his horse, and received severe injuries, from
which he was laid up for months. He then
rushed to the aid of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas
at Chattanooga, and by a wonderful series of
strategic and technical measures put the Union
army in fighting condition. Then followed the
bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout Moun
tain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels
were routed with great loss. This won for him
unbounded praise in the North. On the 4th of
February, 1864, Congress revived the grade of
lieutenant-general, and the rank was conferred
on Gen. Grant. He repaired to Washington to
receive his credentials and enter upon the duties
of his new office.
Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge
of the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed
National troops for an attack upon Richmond,
the nominal capital ofthe rebellion, and endeavor
there to destroy the rebel armies which would be
promptly assembled from all quarters for its de
fense. The whole continent seemed to tremble
under the tramp of these majestic armies, rushing
to the decisive battle-field. Steamers were crowd
ed with troops. Railway trains were burdened

with closely-packed thousands. His plans were
comprehensive, and involved a series of cam
paigns, which were executed with remarkable
energy and ability, and were consummated at the
surrender of Lee, April 9, 1865.
The war was ended. The Union was saved.
The almost unanimous voice of the nation de
clared Gsn. Grant to be the most prominent in
strument in its salvation. The eminent services
he had thus rendered the country brought him
conspicuously forward as the Republican candi
date for the Presidential chair.
At the Republican Convention held at Chicago,
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated
for the Presidency, and at the autumn election
received a majority of the popular vote, and two
hundred and fourteen out of two hundred and
ninety-four electoral votes.
The National Convention of the Republican
party, which met at Philadelphia on the 5th 01
June, 1872, placed Gen. Grant in nomination for
a second term by a unanimous vote. The selec
tion was emphatically indorsed by the people five
months later, two hundred and ninety-two elect
oral votes being cast for him.
Soon after the close of his second term, Gen.
Grant started upon his famous trip around the
world. He visited almost every country of the
civilized world, and was everywhere received
with such ovations and demonstrations of respect
and honor, private as well as public and official,
as were never before bestowed upon any citizen
of the United States.
He was the most prominent candidate before
the Republican National Convention in 1880 for
a renomination for President. He 'went to New
York and embarked in the brokerage business
under the firm name of Grant & Ward. The
latter proved a villain, wrecked Grant's fortune,
and for larceny was sent to the penitentiary.
The General was attacked with cancer in the
throat, but suffered in his stoic-like manner, never
complaining. He was re-instated as General of
the Army, and retired by Congress. The cancer
soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 1885,
the nation went in mourning over the death ol
the illustrious General.

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, the nineteenth
President of the United States, was born in
Delaware, Ohio, October 4, 1822, almost
three months after the death of his father, Ruther
ford Hayes. His ancestry on both the paternal and
maternal sides was of the most ¦ honorable char
acter. It can be traced, it is said, as far back as
1280, when Hayes and Rutherford were two
Scottish chieftains, fighting side by side with
B'aliol, William Wallace and Robert Bruce. Both
families belonged to the nobility, owned extensive
estates, and had a large following. Misfortune
overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scotland
in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son
George was born in Windsor, and remained there
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter,
married Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of
his marriage until his death in Simsbury, Conn.
Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was
a manufacturer of scythes at Bradford, Conn.
Rutherford Hayes, son of Ezekiel and grandfather
of President Hayes, was born in New Haven, in
August, 1756. He was a farmer, blacksmith and
tavern-keeper. He emigrated to Vermont at an
unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, where he
established a hotel. Here his son, Rutherford
Hayes, the father of President Hayes, was born.
He was married, in September, 18 13, to Sophia
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors
emigrated thither from Connecticut, they having
been among the wealthiest and best families of
Norwich. Her ancestry on the male side is
traced back to 1635, to John Birchard, one of the
principal founders of Norwich. Both of her grand
fathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
The father of President Hayes was an industri
ous, frugal, yet open-hearted man. He was ofa

mechanical turn of mind, and could mend a plow,
knit a stocking, or do almost anything else that
he chose to undertake. He was a member of the
church, active in all the benevolent enterprises
ofthe town, and conducted his business on Chris
tian principles. After the close of the War of
1 81 2, for reasons inexplicable to his neighbors, he
resolved to emigrate to Ohio.
The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day,
when there were no canals, steamers, or rail
ways, was a very serious affair. A tour of in
spection was first made, occupying four months.
Mr. Hayes decided to move to Delaware, where
the family arrived in 181 7. He died July 22,
1822, a victim of malarial fever, less than three
months before the birth of the son of whom we
write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore bereavement,
found the support she so much needed in her
brother Sardis, who had been a member of the
household from the day of its departure from
Vermont, and in an orphan girl, whom she had
adopted sothe time before as an act of charity.
Rutherford was seven years old before he went
to school. His education, however, was not neg
lected. He probably learned as much from his
mother and sister as he would have done at
school. His sports were almost wholly within
doors, his playmates being his sister and her asso
ciates. These circumstances tended, no doubt, to
foster that gentleness of disposition and that del
icate consideration for the feelings of others which
were marked traits of his character.
His uncle, Sardis Birchard, took the deepest
interest in his education; and as the boy's health
had improved, and he was making good progress
in his studies, he proposed to send him to college.
His preparation commenced with a tutor at home;

92

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

but he was afterwards sent for one year to a pro
fessor in the Wesleyan University in Middletown,
Conn. He entered Kenyon College in 1838, at
the age of sixteen, and was graduated at the head
of his class in 1842.
Immediately after his graduation he began the
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow,
Esq., in Columbus. Finding his opportunities
for study in Columbus somewhat limited, he de
termined to enter the Law School at Cambridge,
Mass., where he remained two years.
In 1845, after graduating at the Law School, he
was admitted to the Bar at Marietta, Ohio, and
shortly afterward went into practice as an at-
torney-at-law with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fre
mont. Here he remained three years, acquiring
but a limited practice, and apparently unambitious
of distinction in his profession.
In 1849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his am
bition found a new stimulus. For several years,
however, his progress was slow. Two events
occurring at this period had a powerful influence
upon his subsequent life. One of these was his
marriage with Miss Lucy Ware Webb, daughter
of Dr. James Webb, of Chillicothe; the other was
his introduction to the Cincinnati Literary Club,
a body embracing among its members such men
as Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, Gen. John
Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many others
hardly less distinguished in after life. The mar
riage was a fortunate one in every respect, as
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of
our Presidents was more universally admired,
reverenced and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and
no one did more than she to reflect honor upon
American womanhood. The LiteraryClub brought
Mr. Hayes into constant association with young
men of high character and noble aims, and lured
him to display the qualities so long hidden by his
bashfulness and modesty.
In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge
of the Court of Common Pleas, but he declined to
accept the nomination. Two years later, the of
fice of City Solicitor becoming vacant, the City
Council elected him for the unexpired term.
In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was
at the zenith of his professional life. His rank at

the Bar was among the first. But the news of
the attack on Ft. Sumter found him eager to
take up arms for the defense of his country.
His military record was bright and illustrious.
In October, 1861, he was made Lieutenant- Colo
nel, and in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of
the Seventy-ninth Ohio Regiment, but he refused
to leave his old comrades and go among strangers.
Subsequently, however, he was made Colonel of
his old regiment At the battle of South Moun
tain he received a wound, and while faint and
bleeding displayed courage and fortitude that
won admiration from all.
Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment,
after his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General,
and placed in command of the celebrated Kanawha
division, and for gallant and meritorious services
in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and
Cedar Creek, he was promoted Brigadier- General.
He was also breveted Major-General, "for gallant
and distinguished services during the campaigns
of 1864, in West Virginia." In the course of his
arduous services, four horses were shot from un
der him, and he was wounded four times.
In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress
from the Second Ohio District, which had long
been Democratic. He was not present during the
campaign, and after the election was importuned
to resign his commission in the army; but he fi
nally declared, " I shall never come to Washing
ton until I can come by way of Richmond." He
was re-elected in 1866.
In 1867, Gen. Hayes was elected Governor of
Ohio, over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular
Democrat, and in 1869 was re-elected over George
H. Pendleton. He was elected Governor for the
third term in 1875.
In 1876 he was the standard-bearer of the Re
publican party in the Presidential contest, and
after a hard, long contest was chosen President,
and was inaugurated Monday, March 5, 1877.
He served his full term, not, however, with satis
faction to his party, but his administration was an
average one. The remaining years of his life
were passed quietly in his Ohio home, where he
passed away January 17, 1893.

JAMES A. GARFIELD

JAMES A. GARFIELD.

(TAMES A. GARFIELD, twentieth President
I ofthe United States, was born November 19,
Q) 1 83 1, in the woods of Orange, Cuyahoga
County, Ohio. His parents were Abram and
Eliza (Ballou) Garfield, both of New England
ancestry, and from families well known in the
early history of that section of our country, but
who had moved to the Western Reserve, in Ohio,
early in its settlement.
The house in which James A. was born was
not unlike the houses of poor Ohio farmers of
that day. It was about 20 x 30 feet, built of logs,
with the spaces between the logs filled with clay.
His father was a hard-working farmer, and he
soon had his fields cleared, an orchard planted,
and a log barn built. The household comprised
the- father and mother and their four children,
Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and James. In May,
1823, the father died from a cold contracted in
helping to put out a forest fire. At this time
James was about eighteen months old, and
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps,
can tell how much James was indebted to his
brother's toil and self-sacrifice during the twenty
years succeeding his father's death. He now
lives in Michigan, and the two sisters live in Solon,
Ohio, near their birthplace.
The early educational advantages young Gar
field enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the
most of them. He labored at farm work for
others, did carpenter work, chopped wood, or did
anything that would bring in a few dollars to aid
his widowed mother in her struggles to keep the
little family together. Nor was Gen. Garfield
ever ashamed of his origin, and he never forgot
the friends of his struggling childhood, youth and
manhood; neither did they ever forget him.
When in the highest seats of honor,- the humblest
friend of his boyhood was as kindly greeted as
ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the sym
pathy of one who had known all the bitterness of

want and the sweetness of bread earned by the
sweat of the brow.' He was ever the simple,
plain, modest gentleman.
The highest ambition of young Garfield until
he was about sixteen years old was to be cap
tain of a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious
to go aboard a vessel, but this his mother strongly
opposed. She finally consented to his going to
Cleveland, with the understanding, however, that
he should try to obtain some other kind of em
ployment. He waiked all the way to Cleveland.'
This was his first visit to the city. After making
many applications for work, and trying to get
aboard a lake vessel and not meeting with suc
cess, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal.
He remained at this work but a short time, when
he went home, and attended the seminary at
Chester for about three years. He then entered
Hiram and the Eclectic Institute, teaching a few
terms of school in the mean time, and doing other
work. This school was started by the Disciples
of Christ in 1850, of which body he was then a
member. He became janitor and bell-ringer in
order to help pay his way. He then became both
teacher and pupil. Soon " exhausting Hiram,"
and needing a higher education, in the fall of 1854
he entered Williams College, from which he grad
uated in 1856, taking one of the highest honors of
his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram Col
lege as its President. As above stated, he early
united with the Christian, or Disciples, Church at
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous
member, often preaching in its pulpit and places
where he happened to be.
Mr. Garfield was united in marriage, Novem
ber 11, 1858, with Miss Lucretia Rudolph, who
proved herself worthy as the wife of one whom
all the world loved. To them were born sever*
children, five of whom are still living, four boys
and one girl.

96

JAMES A. GARFIELD.

Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in
1856, in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and
three years later he began to speak at county
mass-meetings, and became the favorite speaker
wherever he was. During this year he was
elected to the Ohio Senate. He also began to
study law at Cleveland, and in 1861 was admitted
to the Bar. The great Rebellion broke out in the
early part of this year, and Mr. Garfield at once
resolved to fight as he had talked, and enlisted to
defend the Old Flag. He received his commission
as Lieutenant- Colonel of the Forty-second Regi
ment of Ohio Infantry August 14, 1861. He
was immediately put into active service, and be
fore he had ever seen a gun fired in action, was
placed in command of four regiments of infantry
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the
work of driving out of his native State the able
rebel officer, Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky.
This work was bravely and speedily accomplished,
although against great odds, and President Lin
coln commissioned him Brigadier-General, Janu
ary 10, 1862; and "as he had bee.i the youngest
man in the Ohio Senate two years before, so now
he was the youngest General in the army." He
was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, in its
operations around Corinth and its inarch through
Alabama. He was then detailed as a member of
the general court martial for the trial of Gen.
Fitz-John Porter. He was next ordered to re
port to Gen. Rosecrans, and was assigned to the
" Chief of Staff. " The military history of Gen.
Garfield closed with his brilliant services at Chick -
amauga, where he won the rank of Major-General.
Without an effort on his part, Gen. Garfield
was elected to Congress in the fall of 1862, from
the Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of
Ohio had been represented in Congress for sixty
years mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and
Joshua R. Giddings. It was not without a strug
gle that he resigned his place in the army. At
the time he entered Congress he was the youngest
member -in that body. There he remained by
successive re-elections until he was elected Presi
dent, in 1880. Of his labors in Congress, Senator
Hoar says: "Since the year 1864 you cannot
think of a question which has been debated in

Congress, or discussed before a tribunal of the
American people, in regard to which you will not
find, if you wish instruction, the argument on
one side stated, in almost every instance better
than by anybody else, in some speech made in
the House of Representatives or on the hustings
by Mr. Garfield."
Upon January 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elect
ed to the United States Senate, and on the 8th of
June, of the same year, was nominated as the
candidate of his party for President at the great
Chicago Convention. He was elected in the fol
lowing November, and on March 4, 1881, was
inaugurated. Probably no administration ever
opened its existence under brighter auspices than
that of President Garfield, and every day it grew
in favor with the people. By the 1st of July
he had completed all the initiatory and prelimi
nary work of his administration, and was prepar
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Will
iams College. While on his way and at the
depot, in company with Secretary Blaine, a man
stepped behind him, drew a revolver, and fired
directly at his back. The President tottered and
fell, and as he did so the assassin fired a second
shot, the bullet cutting the left coat sleeve of his
victim, but inflicting no further injury. It has
been very truthfully said that this was ' ' the shot
that was heard around the world. ' ' Never before
in the history of the nation had anything occur-
red'which so nearly froze the blood of the people
for the moment as this awful deed. He was
smitten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his
life, at the summit of his power and hope. For
eighty days, all during the hot months of July
and August, he lingered and suffered. He, how
ever, remained master of himself till the last, and
by his magnificent bearing taught the country
and the world one of the noblest of human les
sons — how to live grandly in the very clutch of
death. Great in life, he was surpassingly great
in death. He passed serenely away September
19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of
the ocean, where he had been taken shortly be
fore. The world wept at his death, as it rarely
ever had clone on the death of any other great
and noble man.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

E HESTER A. ARTHUR, twenty-first Presi
dent of the United States, was born in Frank
lin County, Vt, on the 5th day of October,
1830, and was the eldest of a family of two sons
and five daughters. His father was the Rev. Dr.
William Arthur, a Baptist clergyman, who emi
grated to this country from County Antrim, Ire
land, in his eighteenth year, and died in 1875, in
Newtonville, near Albany, after a long and suc
cessful ministry.
Young Arthur was educated at Union College,
Schenectady, where he excelled in all his studies.
After his graduation he taught school in Ver
mont for two years, and at the expiration of that
time came to New York, with $500 in his pocket,
and entered the office of ex -Judge E. D. Culver
as a student. After being admitted to the Bar, he
. formed a partnership with his intimate friend and
room-mate, Henry D. Gardiner, with the inten
tion of practicing in the West, and for three
months they roamed about in the Western States
in search of an eligible site, but in the end re
turned to New York, where they hung out their
shingle, and entered upon a successful career al
most from the start. Gen. Arthur soon after mar
ried the daughter of Lieut. Herndon, of the
United States Navy, who was lost at sea. Con
gress voted a gold medal to his widow in recog
nition of the bravery he displayed on that occa
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr.
Arthur's nomination to the Vice-Presidency, leav
ing two children.
Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celeb
rity in his first great case, the famous Lemmon
suit, brought to recover possession of eight slaves
who had been declared free by Judge Paine, of
the Superior Court of New York City. It was in

1852 that Jonathan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to
New York with his slaves, intending to ship them
to Texas, when they were discovered and freed.
The Judge decided that they could not be held by
the owner under the Fugitive Slave Law. A howl
of rage went up from the South, and the Virginia
Legislature authorized the Attorney-General of
that State to assist in an appeal. William M.
Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed to
represent the people, and they won their case,
which then went to the Supreme Court of the
United States. Charles O' Conor here espoused
the cause of the slaveholders, but he, too, wv.s
beaten by Messrs. Evarts and Arthur, and a long
step was taken toward the emancipation of the
black race.
Another great service was rendered by Gen.
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jen
nings, a respectable colored woman, was put off
a Fourth Avenue car with violence after she had
paid her fare. Gen. Arthur sued on her behalf,
and secured a verdict of $500 damages. The next
day the company issued an order to admit colored
persons to ride on their cars, and the other car
companies quickly followed their example. Be
fore that the Sixth Avenue Company ran a few
special cars for colored persons, and the other lines
refused to let them ride at all.
Gen. Arthur was a delegate to the convention
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party,
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of
the Second Brigade of the State of New York,
and Gov. Morgan, of that State, appointed hini
Engineer-in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was
made Inspector-General, and soon afterward be
came Quartermaster-General. In each of these
offices he rendered great service to the Govern-

IOO

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

ment during the war. At the end of Gov. Mor
gan's term he resumed the practice of law, form
ing a partnership with Mr. Ransom, and then
Mr. Phelps, the. District Attorney of New York,
was added to the firm. The legal practice of this
well-known firm was very large and lucrative,
as each of the gentlemen composing it was an able
lawyer, and possessed a splendid local reputa
tion, if not, indeed, one of national extent.
Mr. Arthur always took a leading part in State
and city politics. He was appointed Collector of
the Port of New York by President Grant, No
vember 21, 1872, to succeed Thomas Murphy,
and he held the office until July 20, 1878, when
he was succeeded by Collector Merritt.
Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the
famous National Republican Convention held at
Chicago in June, 1880. This was perhaps the
greatest political "convention that ever assembled
on the continent. It was composed of the lead
ing politicians of the Republican party, all able
men, and each stood firm and fought vigorously
and with signal tenacity for his respective can
didate that was before the convention for the
aomination. Finally Gen. Garfield received the
nomination for President, and Gen. Arthur for
Vice-President. The campaign which followed
was one of the most animated known in the his
tory of our country. Gen. Hancock, the stand
ard-bearer of the Democratic party, was a popular
man, and his party made a valiant fight for his
election. Finally the election came, and the country's
choice was Garfield and Arthur. They were in
augurated March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-
President. A few months only had passed ere
the newly-chosen President was the victim of the
assassin's bullet. Then came terrible weeks of
suffering — those moments of anxious suspense,
when the hearts of all civilized nations were
throbbing in unison, longing for the recovery of
the noble, the good President. The remarkable
patience that he manifested during those hours
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible
suffering man has ever been called upon to en
dure, was seemingly more than human. It was

certainly godlike. During all this period of
deepest anxiety Mr. Arthur's every move was
watched, and, be it said to his credit, that his every
action displayed only an earnest desire that the
suffering Garfield might recover to serve the re
mainder of the term he had so auspiciously be
gun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested in
deed or look of this man, even though the most
honored position in the world was at any moment
likely to fall to him.
At last God in his mercy relieved President
Garfield from further suffering, and the world, as
never before in its history over the death of any
other man, wept at his bier. Then it became the
duty of the Vice-President to assume the respon
sibilities of the high office, and he took the oath
in New York, September 20, 1881. The position
was an embarrassing one to him, made doubly so
from the fact that all eyes were on him, anxious
to know what he would do, what policy he would
pursue, and whom he would select as advisers.
The duties of the office had been greatly neglected
during the President's long illness, and many im
portant measures were to be immediately decided
by him ; and to still further embarass him he did
not fail to realize under what circumstances he
became President, and knew the feelings of many
on this point. Under these trying circumstances,
President Arthur took the reins of the Govern
ment in his own hands, and, as embarrassing as
was the condition of affairs, he happily surprised
the nation, acting so wisely that but few criticized
his administration. He served the nation well
and faithfully until the close of his administra
tion, March 4, 1885, and was a popular candidate
before his party for a second term. His name
was ably presented before the convention at Chi
cago, and was received with great favor, and
doubtless but for the personal popularity of one
of the opposing candidates, he would have been
selected as the standard-bearer of his party for
another campaign. He retired to private life, car
rying with him the best wishes of the American
people, whom he had served in a manner satisfac
tory to them and with credit to himself. One
year later he was called to his final rest.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

STEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND.

jTEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND, the
twenty -second President of the United States,
was born in 1837, in the obscure town of
Caldwell, Essex County, N. J. , and in a little
two-and-a-half-story white house, which is still
standing to characteristically mark the humble
birthplace of one of America's great men, in
striking contrast with the Old World, where all
men high in office must be high in origin and
born in the cradle of wealth. When the subject
of this sketch was three years of age, his father,
who was a Presbyterian minister with a large
family and a small salary, moved, by way of the
Hudson River and Erie Canal, to Fayetteville, N.
Y., in search of an increased income and a larger
field of work. Fayetteville was then the most
straggling of country villages, about five miles
from Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour
was born.
At the last-mentioned place young Grover com
menced going to school in the good, old-fashioned
way, and presumably distinguished himself after
the manner of all village boys — in doing the
things he ought not to do. Such is the dis
tinguishing trait of all geniuses and independent
thinkers. When he arrived at the age of four
teen years, he had outgrown the capacity of the
village school, and expressed a most emphatic de
sire to be sent to an academy. To this his fa
ther decidedly objected. Academies in those
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him
to become self-supporting by the quickest pos
sible means, and this at that time in Fayetteville
seemed to be a position in a country store, where
his father and the large family on his hands had

considerable influence. Grover was to be paid
$50 for his services the first year, and if he proved
trustworthy he was to receive $100 the second
year. .Here the lad commenced his career as
salesman, and in two years he had earned so good
a reputation for trustworthiness that his employ
ers desired to retain him for an indefinite length
of time.
But instead of remaining with this firm in
Fayetteville, he went with the family in their re
moval to Clinton, where he had an opportunity
of attending a High School. Here he industri
ously pursued his studies until the family re
moved with him to a point on Black River known
as the "Holland Patent," a village of five or six
hundred people, fifteen miles north of Utica, N. Y.
At this place his father died, after preaching but
three Sundays. This event broke up the family,
and Grover set out for New York City t d accept,
at a small salary, the position of under-teacher
in an asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully
for two years, and although he obtained a good
reputation in this capacity, he concluded that
teaching was not his calling in life, and, revers
ing the traditional order, he left the city to seek
his fortune, instead of going to the city. He first
thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as there was some
charm in that name for him ; but before proceed
ing to that place he went to Buffalo to ask advice
of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted stock
breeder of that place. The latter did not speak
enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do,
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study
law," was the reply "Good gracious!" remarked
the old gentleman; "do you, indeed? Whatever

104

STEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND.

put that into your head ? How much money
have you got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I
haven't got any."
After a long consultation, his uncle offered him
a place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at
$50 a year, while he could look around. One
day soon afterward he boldly walked into the of
fice of Rogers, Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and
told them what he wanted. A number of young
men were already engaged in the office, but Gro-
ver's persistency won, and he was finally per
mitted to come as an office boy and have the use
of the law library, receiving as wages the sum of
$3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for his
board and washing. The walk to and from his
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and although
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his
shoes were out of repair, and as for his overcoat he
had none; yet he was, nevertheless, prompt and
regular. On the first day of his service there, his
senior employer threw down- a copy of Black-
stone before him, with a bang that made the dust
fly, saying "That's where they all begin." A
titter ran around the little circle of clerks and
students, as they thought that was enough to
scare young Grover out of his plans; but in due
time he mastered that cumbersome volume.
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleve
land exhibited a talent for executiveness rather
than for chasing principles through all their
metaphysical possibilities. ' 'Let us quit talking
and go and do it, ' ' was practically his motto.
The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland
was elected was that of Sheriff of Erie County,
N. Y., in which Buffalo is situated; and in such
capacity it fell to his duty to inflict capital punish
ment upon two criminals. In 1881 he was
elected Mayor of the City of Buffalo, on the
Democratic ticket, with especial reference to bring
ing about certain reforms in the administration
of the municipal affairs of that city. In this of
fice, as well as in that of Sheriff, his performance
of duty has generally been considered fair, with
possibly a few exceptions, which were ferreted
out and magnified during his Presidential cam
paign. As a specimen of his plain language in
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an

iniquitous street-cleaning contract: "This is a
time for plain speech, and my objection to your
action shall be plainly stated. I regard it as the
culmination of a most bare-faced, impudent and
shameless scheme to betray the interests of the
people and to worse than squander the people's
money." The New York Sun afterward very
highly commended Mr. Cleveland's administra
tion as Mayor of Buffalo, and thereupon recom
mended him for Governor of the Empire State.
To the latter office he was elected in 1882, and
his administration of the affairs of State was
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made,
if any, were made very public throughout the na
tion after he was nominated for President of the
United States. For this high office he was
nominated July 11, 1884, by the National Demo
cratic Convention at Chicago, when other com
petitors were Thomas F. Bayard, Roswell P.
Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, Benjamin F.
Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he was
elected by the people, by a majority of about a
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Re
publican statesman, James G. Blaine. President
Cleveland resigned his office as Governor of New
York in January, 1885, in order to prepare for
his duties as the Chief Executive of the United
States, in which capacity his term commenced at
noon on the 4th of March, 1885.
The silver question precipitated a controversy
between those who were in favor of the continu
ance of silver coinage and those who were op
posed, Mr. Cleveland answering for the latter,
even before his inauguration.
On June 2, 1886, President Cleveland married
Frances, daughter of his deceased friend and part
ner, Oscar Folsom, of the Buffalo Bar. Their
union has been blessed by the birth of two daugh
ters. In the campaign of 1888, President Cleve
land was renominated by his party, but the
Republican candidate, Gen. Benjamin Harrison,
was victorious. In the nominations of 1892
these two candidates for the highest position in
the gift of the people were again pitted against
each other, and in the ensuing election President
Cleveland was victorious by an overwhelming
majority.

BENJAMIN HARRISON.

BENJAMIN HARRISON.

SENJAMIN HARRISON, the twenty-third
President, is the descendant of one of the
historical families of this country. The first
known head ofthe family was Maj . -Gen. Harrison,
one of Oliver Cromwell's trusted followers and
fighters. In the zenith of Cromwell' s power it be
came the duty of this Harrison to participate in
the trial of Charles I., and afterward to sign the
death warrant of the king. He subsequently
paid for this with his life, being hung October 13,
t66o. His descendants came to America, and
the next of the family that appears in history is
Benjamin Harrison, of Virginia, great-grandfa
ther ofthe subject of this sketch, and after whom
he was named. Benjamin Harrison was a mem
ber of the Continental Congress during the years
1774, 1775 and 1776, and was one ofthe original
signers of the Declaration of Independence. He
was three times elected Governor of Virginia.
Gen. William Henry Harrison, the son of the
distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a
successful career as a soldier during the War of
18 1 2, and with a clean' record as Governor of the
Northwestern Territory, was elected President of
the United States in 1840. His career was cut
short by death within one month after his in
auguration. President Harrison was born at North Bend,

Hamilton County, Ohio, August 20, 1S33. Hia
life up to the time of his graduation* from Miami
University, at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful
one of a country lad of a family of small means.
His father was able to give him a good education,
and nothing more. He became engaged while at
college to the daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of
a female school at Oxford. After graduating, he
determined to enter upon the study of law. He
went to Cincinnati and there read law for two
years. At the expiration of that time young Har
rison received the only inheritance of his life — his
aunt, dying, left him a lot valued at $800. He
regarded this legacy as a fortune, and decided to
get married at once, take this money and go to
some Eastern town and begin the practice of law.
He sold his lot, and, with the money in his pocket,
he started out with his young wife to fight for a
place in the world. He decided to go to Indian
apolis, which was even at that time a town of
promise. He met with slight encouragement at
first, making scarcely anything the first year.
He worked diligently, applying himself closely to
his calling, built up an extensive practice and
took a leading rank in the legal profession.
¦ In i860, Mr. Harrison was nominated for the
position of Supreme Court Reporter, and then be
gan his experience as a stump speaker. He can-

*o8

BENJAMIN HARRISON.

vassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by
a handsome majority. In 1862 he raised the
Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its
Colonel. His regiment was composed of the raw
est material, but Col. Harrison employed all his
time at first in mastering military tactics and drill
ing his men, and when he came to move toward
the East with Sherman, his regiment was one of
the best drilled and organized in the army. At
Resaca he especially distinguished himself, and
[br his bravery at Peachtree Creek he was made
a Brigadier-General, Gen. Hooker speaking of
him in the most complimentary terms.
During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the
field, the Supreme Court declared the office of
Supreme Court Reporter vacant, and another
person was elected to the position. From the
time of leaving Indiana with his regiment until
the fall of 1864 he had taken no leave of absence,
but having been nominated that year for the same
office, he got a thirty-day leave of absence, and
during that time made a brilliant canvass of the
State, and was elected for another term. He then
started to rejoin Sherman, but on the way was
stricken down with scarlet fever, and after a most
trying attack made his way to the front in time to
participate in the closing incidents of the war.
In 1868 Gen. Harrison declined a re-election
as Reporter, and resumed the practice of law. In
1876 he was a candidate for Governor. Although
defeated, the brilliant campaign he made won for
him a national reputation, and he was much sought
after, especially in the East, to make speeches.
In 1880, as usual, he took an active part in the
campaign, and was elected to the United States
Senate. Here he served for six years, and was
known as one ofthe ablest men, best lawyers and
strongest debaters in that body. With the ex
piration of his senatorial term he returned to the
practice of his profession, becoming the head of
one of the strongest firms in the State.
The political campaign of 1888 was one of the
most memorable in the history of our country.
The convention which assembled in Chicago in
June and named Mr. Harrison as the chief stind-
ard-bearer of the Republican party was great in
every particular, and on t'lis account, and the at

titude it assumed upon the vital questions of the
day, chief among, which was the tariff, awoke a
deep interest in the campaign throughout the
nation. Shortly after the nomination, delegations
began to visit Mr. Harrison at Indianapolis, his
home. This movement became popular, and from
all sections of the country societies,, clubs and
delegations journeyed thither to pay their re
spects to the distinguished statesman.
Mr. Harrison spoke daily all through the sum
mer and autumn to these visiting delegations,
and so varied, masterly, and eloquent were his
speeches that they at once placed him in the fore
most rank of American orators and statesmen.
Elected by a handsome majority, he served his
country faithfully and well, and in 1892 was nom
inated for re-election; but the people demanded a
change and he was defeated by his predecessor"
in office, Grover Cleveland.
On account of his eloquence as a speaker and
his power as a debater, Gen. Harrison was called
upon at an early age to take part in the dis
cussion of the great questions that then began to
agitate the country. He was an uncompromising
anti-slavery man, and was matched against some
of the most eminent Democratic speakers of his
State. No man who felt the touch of his blade
desired to be pitted with him again. With all
his eloquence as an orator he never spoke for ora
torical effect, but his words always went like bul
lets to the mark. He is purely American in his
ideas, and is a splendid type of the American
statesman. Gifted with quick perception, a logi
cal mind and a ready tongue, he is one of the
most distinguished impromptu speakers in the
nation. Many of these speeches sparkled with the
rarest eloquence and contained arguments of great
weight, and many of his terse statements have
already become aphorisms. Original in thought,
precise in logic, terse in statement, yet withal
faultless in eloquence, he is recognized as the
sound statesman and brilliant orator of the day.
During the last days of his administration Presi
dent Harrison suffered an irreparable loss in the
death of his devoted wife, Caroline (Scott) Har
rison, a lady of many womanly charms and vir
tues. They were the parents of two children.

ORANGK COUNTY

NEW YORK

a

INTRODUCTORY

HE time has arrived when it becomes the duty of the people of this county to perpetuate the
names of their pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement, and relate the story of
their progress. The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age, and the duty that
men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity demand that a
record of their lives and deeds should be made. In biographical history is found a power to instruct
man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe
vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this country from its
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the great and aged men, who in their prime
entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their graves
The number remaining who can relate the incidents of the first days of settlement is becoming small
indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preservation of events without delay,
before all the early settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time.
To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind from remotest ages. All will be forgotten
soon enough, in spite of their best works and the most earnest efforts of their friends to preserve the
memory of their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion and to perpetuate their memory
have been in proportion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. The pyramids of Egypt were
built to perpetuate the names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhumations made by the
archaeologists of Egypt from buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people to perpetuate the
memory of their achievements. The erection of the great obelisks was for the same purpose.
Coming down to a later period, we find the Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and
monuments, and carving out statues to chronicle their great achievements and carry them down the
ages. It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling up their great mounds of earth, had but
this idea — to leave something to show that they had lived. All these works, though many of them
costly in the extreme, give but a faint idea of the lives and character of those whose memory they
were intended to perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of the people that then lived. The
great pyramids and some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; the mausoleums,
monuments and statues are crumbling into dust.
It was left to modern ages to establish an intelligent, undecaying, immutable method of
perpetuating a full history — immutable in that it is almost unlimited in extent and perpetual in'its
action; and this is through the art of printing.
To the present generation, however, we are indebted for the introduction of the admirable
system of local biography. By this system every man, though he has not achieved what the world
calls greatness, has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, through the coming ages.
The scythe of Time cuts down all; nothing of the physical man is left. The monument v/hich
his children or friends may erect to his memory in the cemetery will crumble into dust and pass
away; but his life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, which otherwise would be
forgotten, is perpetuated by a record of this kind.
To preserve the lineaments of our companions we engrave their portraits; for the same reason
we collect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we think it necessary, as we speak only
truth of them, to wait until they are dead, or until those who know them are gone; to do this we
are ashamed only to publish to the world the history of those whose lives are unworthy of public
record. »

HON. GEORGE CLARK.

BIOGRAPHICAL

HON. GEORGE CLARK, who was the first
Mayor of Newburgh, was a native of this
city, and with its best interests he was close
ly identified. No measure which he believed
would advance the welfare of the city ever failed
to receive his support, and his zealous interest in
such enterprises was always assured. He held
the office of Mayor from March, 1866, until
March, 1870, when he was ' succeeded by his
brother-in-law, Robert Sterling. In 1868 he was
a delegate from his congressional district to the
Republican convention at Chicago, which nomin
ated General Grant for the Presidency. The
General was one of his sincere friends, and upon
the occasion ofthe President's visit to Newburgh,
August 7, 1869, he was the honored guest of
Mayor Clark, who entertained him royally at his
hospitable home, and delivered the address of
welcome at Washington's old headquarters.
At the time of Mr. Clark's death, which oc
curred in 1 87 1, he was President of the Board of
Water Commissioners, President of the New
burgh & Midland Railroad Company, a member
of the Board of Managers of the Hudson River
State Hospital, and also held other positions of
honor and trust. His death was felt to be a pub
lic loss, and the Common Council and various
other bodies to which he belonged 'passed resolu
tions of sincere regret. In all his public and pri
vate relations he endeavored to do his duty with
out fear or favor, and at all times he bore himself
with dignity and self-respect.
The birth of Hon. George Clark occurred Au
gust 6, 1817, his parents being William and
Mary Clark, the former of whom emigrated to
the United States from the northern part of Ire

land in early life, and thenceforward lived in
Newburgh. The only one of his ten children
now living is Mrs. Anna E. Copeland, whose
husband was formerly Mayor of Brooklyn. The
education of our subject was acquired in the com
mon schools and at Goodsell's Academy in this
city. When he was in his seventeenth year, he
commenced serving an apprenticeship to the
painter's trade, and at the end of two years em
barked in business on his own account in part
nership with James S. Young. Two or three
years later this connection was dissolved, and in
1841 Mr. Clark moved to New York City, where
for fifteen years he very successfully carried on
an extensive business. At the expiration of that
time, having accumulated a competency, he re
turned to his native city, and from that time on
ward gave much of his time and attention to pub
lic affairs and to his various financial investments.
In 185 1 he was elected as a member of the As
sembly from the Fourteenth District of New
York City, and was also elected as a member of
the Common Council of the metropolis on the Re
publican ticket. After coming to Newburgh, he
became a member of the Board of Education, a
Trustee in a savings bank, and a Director of the
Quassaick Bank. He was virtually the founder
of Woodlawn Cemetery, as he selected the site,
and purchased and beautified the land, and at
the time of his demise still owned a large share.
It was most fitting that when death released him
from his labors, he was placed to rest upon a
beautiful knoll in this lovely park, where nature
has been but assisted by art. Formerly a mem
ber of the Twenty-third Street Presbyterian

n8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Church of New York City, he afterward united
with the First Presbyterian Church of Newburgh,
of which he was a devoted supporter until death.
January 27, 1840, Mr. Clark married Augusta,
daughter of Jason W. and Martha (Griffith)
Rogers, of Montgomery. She was born on the
banks ofthe Wallkill, in the town of that name,
and in the same house in which the birth of her
father had occurred. Her paternal grandfather,
Daniel Rogers, who was a farmer by occupation
and a soldier of the Revolutionary War, lived to
the extreme old age of ninety-five years. His
wife was a daughter of Judge Wilkin, one of the
old settlers of that region. Jason W. Rogers
won his title of Captain in the War of 18 12, and
was the owner of a beautiful farm of over two
hundred and twenty-five acres 011 the banks of
the Wallkill. His death occurred when in the
prime of life, as he was only forty-two years of
age when the summons came. His wife, who
was a native of New Windsor, was a granddaugh
ter of Robert Griffith, a sea-captain and a native
of Wales. He married a Miss Peck, daughter of
the gentleman after whom Peck Slip was named.
He had a daughter Crissy, who became the wife
of Cadwallader Colden, and his son Robert set
tled near Walden about 1795. The latter was
twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Barnes,
by whom he had six children, among whom was
Martha, who married Jason W. Rogers. The
Griffiths came from a noble family in Wales, and
William, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Clark,
left his native land in 1717 with a Welsh colony,
which located in America. The family came
from hardy stock, and both the grandfather and
grandmother of Mrs. Clark lived to be over
eighty-five years of age. The former was an
officer in the Revolution. The marriage of Capt.
J. W. and Martha Rogers was blessed with
seven children. Lewellin, Edmund G. and Jason
W., Jr., died in Ann Arbor, Mich. Horatio
died on the Pacific Coast". Maria L. , who was the
wife of ex-Mayor Sterling, of Newburgh, died in
this city, as did also Mrs. Martha J. Ostrander.
The girlhood of Mrs. Clark passed quietly in
Montgomery, and in the academy of that place
she obtained her higher education. By her mar

riage with Mr. Clark she became the mother of
four children. Mary Augusta is the wife of T.
Powell Townsend, of Newburgh; George H,
who was a graduate from Princeton College and
the Albany Law School, practiced here until his
death, which occurred in- 1888; Martha L., who
graduated from Newburgh Academy, married
Jonas Williams, and her death occurred in 1879;
Robert Sterling, also a graduate of Princeton Col
lege and the Albany Law School, died in 1876.
Both of the sons possessed marked talents, and the
elder had gained an enviable position as a member
of the Orange County Bar when his labors were
cut short. Mr. Clark was long identified with
the First Presbyterian Church in its various lines
of usefulness, and Mrs. Clark still takes her share
in its enterprises.

_5 — j  •}3-iK®(ffi)©'>ii^»  t-"f-

SHARLES ESTABROOK, the popular and
well informed Librarian of the Newburgh
Free Library, is eminently qualified for the po
sition by his liberal education and wide experience.
He has been connected with the institution for
the past eighteen years, and is the author of many
improvements in its system. He has also been
an active member of the Historical Society of
Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, of which or
ganization he is Secretary. He is particularly
well posted in local history, and has written many
articles on the subject for publication.
The grandfather of Charles Estabrook, Will
iam, was born about 1765, and came from Dev
onshire, England, to take up his abode in Mid-
dletown, Conn., about 1796. His bachelor broth
er, Richard, was in the hardware business at
Tiverton, England, as late as 1830. William Es
tabrook was a ship carpenter by trade, and was
employed by Jonas Wright, who about 1798 com
menced building for the United States Navy the
war frigate "Connecticut," which was launched
Thursday, June 6, 1799, and was placed in com
mand of Capt. Moses Tryon, and ordered to the
West Indies with other armed vessels to protect
our merchantmen from the French and English

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

119

privateers. During her cruise she captured three
French vessels, and finally was sold by the Gov
ernment in 1801, along with twenty-eight other
gunboats, to reduce the expense of the navy. Mr.
Wright's shipyard was at Chatham, now Port
land, on the east side of the Connecticut River.
William Estabrook married Sarah, widow of
James McCleve, and daughter of Jonas Wright,
their marriage being celebrated in Middletown,
Conn., in January, 1797. Afterwards they moved
to Middle Haddam, then again to Middletown,
thence to Tarrytown and Lansingburg, N. Y.
Their family comprised four children. The fa
ther died in Brooklyn, in 1810, and about 1812
his widow married Frederick Schaefer, who died
in 1820, leaving two daughters, who were born
in Lansingburg. The widow then lived with her
son William until her death, which occurred Feb
ruary 11, 1848.
Our subject's father, William Estabrook, Jr.,
was born in Middle Haddam, Conn., November
27, 1797, and in company with his brothers, John
and Thomas, served an apprenticeship to parties
in Rhiuebeck. Supposing that the two syllables,
Esta, formed a middle name, the boys were taught
to call themselves William E. , John E. and
Thomas E. Brooks. It is supposed that the origi
nal spelling of the name was Easterbrook. In
1840 all of the members of the family, with the
exception of the two sons of John, Fletcher and
John S., resumed the old spelling, Estabrook.
Having completed his apprenticeship in 18 19,
our subject's father removed to Oswego, N. Y.,
and in June, 1822, married Laura, daughter of
John and Esther (Davis) Gray, natives and resi
dents of Redding, Conn. The former died in
Newburgh, but the latter, who was a daughter
of John and Eunice Davis, died at Redding. In
1823 William Estabrook moved to Rochester,
N. Y., and afterwards embarked in the shoe busi
ness in Rhinebeck. In 1828 he located on Cherry
Street, New York City, opposite the Brooklyn
Navy-yard, and was there at the time the steam
ship "Fulton" was blown up, in the fall of 1829.
Soon afterwards he was employed by Elisha Hale,
of Hyde Park, in the manufacture of his rotary
pumps, and in 1835 moved with him to New

burgh. Afterwards, in 1844, he went to Newark,
N. J., and succeeded Mr. Hale in business, but,
on account of severe losses by fire, then engaged
in other enterprises. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y. ,
July 13, 1884, and was buried at Poughkeepsie.
His wife, Laura, born April 1, 1794, died De
cember 24, 1847. Mr. Estabrook married for his
second wife Mrs. Hester (Wyman) Taft, by whom
he had two children: Albert, who died in the
West; and Emma, who died in Jersey City.
The own brothers and sisters of our subject
were seven in number. Helen M. married Mathias
Smith, and died in Jersey City. Sarah Jane, a
resident of that city, married C. Perry Stevens.
J. Martin, who died in 1878, was a member of
the Second New York Regiment, having enlisted
in 1861; he served until the close ofthe war, and
was twice wounded, once in the arm, from the
effects of which injury paralysis resulted in 1877.
William Augustin, the third son, lives in New
ark, N. J. Horatio J. enlisted August 15, 1862,
in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New
York Infantry, and was taken prisoner at Chan-
cellorsville, but, being wounded, was returned to
the Union lines; on his recovery he served until
the close of hostilities as a Sergeant, and now
lives in Jersey City. Sanford T. enlisted in the
same company and regiment as did his brother
Horatio. Of him Col. Charles H. Weygant, who
was the last commander of the gallant One Hun
dred and Twenty -fourth, or the "Orange Blos
soms, ' ' as they were facetiously termed, says in re
gard to his conduct at Chancellorsville: "When
at length the order to fall back was given, all our
able-bodied men, save one, moved rapidly off to a
place of safety, followed by a terrific shower of
bullets, shot and shell. Among the wounded
left upon the line where we had stood lay the
bleeding form of Sergeant Horatio J. Estabrook,
and when we began to retreat his brother, Cor
poral Sanford T., instead of hastening back with
the rest out of the range of the death-dealing
messengers, rushed to the side of the suffering
Sergeant, resolved to save him if he could, and
if not to die by his side, or go with him to the
dreaded rebel prison. On hastening from the
field, several who looked back toward the scene

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of our bloody conflicts saw one of the grandest
sights ever witnessed; there amid falling shells,
fire and smoke, loomed up the forms of these two
brothers, the one carrying the other on his back;
but the foe closed upon them and they were both
captured, the wounded one being sent back to
our lines and the other one to prison. But a year
later, at the opening of the Wilderness campaign,
Sanford T., having been exchanged, was again
with us, and in the very front of the advancing
army was shot in the head, which wound, three
months after, caused his death." Samuel W.,
the youngest brother of our subject, died in in
fancy. Charles Estabrook was born in Rochester,
N. Y., October 18, 1823, and with his parents
came to Newburgh in 1835. Five years later he
became a teacher in the city high school, and two
or three years later was made bookkeeper and
cashier of the freighting establishment of Ward-
rop, Smith & Co., holding that position for
twelve years, and afterwards, for about fifteen
years, was in the book and stationery business.
From 1864 to 1867 he was a member of the Board
of Education, and Chairman of the Teachers'
Committee. Since 1865 he has served 011 the
Board of Counselors of the Home for the Friend
less, of which he is Secretary, and also holds a
like position with the Newburgh Cemetery Asso
ciation. He is a man of keen perception, varied
learning and accomplishments, has always been
prominent in temperance work, and has filled the
highest offices in nearly all of the local temperance
societies of the past. For many years he has
been a member of the Masonic fraternity, having
been initiated into the order in Newburgh Lodge
No. 309 in 1854. He was one of the charter
members of Hudson River Lodge No. 607, and
was its first Treasurer. For ten years he was
High Priest of Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A.
M., with which he has been connected since 1864.
For some twenty years he has been Prelate in
Hudson River Commandery No. 35, K. T. He
united with the Second Presbyterian Church of
Newburgh in 1842, and with many of its mem
bers joined its successor, the Second Methodist
(now St. John's) Church in 1852. He was its

first organist, and for more than a quarter of a
century was a member of the Board of Trustees.
During a period of twenty-five years he has been
a local preacher, was the first Secretary of the
Sunday-school of St. John's, and for many years
was Superintendent. Politically he is a Repub
lican. In 1848 Charles Estabrook married Susan E.
Marshall, who was born in this county, and of
the eight children born to them but three sur
vive, namely: Frank E., who is an architect,
and who is represented elsewhere in this work;
Lillie O., Assistant Librarian; and Hattie C, wife
of Clarence W. Deyo, of Mt. Vernon, N. Y.
Mrs. Estabrook departed this life December 27,
1890. The parents of Mrs. Estabrook were Moses
and Lydia (Sands) Marshall, both natives of
Orange County, and the latter a daughter of
Eleazer Sands, also of this county. The grand
father of Mrs. Marshall was Samuel Sands, who
was born in Sands Point, L- I., in 1723, and died
June 20, 1792, having been a participant in the
Revolutionary War. He married Mercy Gedney,
of Mamaroneck, Westchester County, N. Y., and
located in Newburgh in 1750, purchasing the lot
on which the First Presbyterian Church now
stands, and in 1755 bought a two-hundred-acre
farm two miles west of this city. In 1763 he
was Clerk of the town. In 1773 he was First
Lieutenant ofa militia company, and January 20,
1775, was placed on the Committee of Safety.
As he was over age for service in the Revolution,
he was a member of a company of reserves. His
father, Samuel, was born in 1690, and died in
1764., at Newburgh. He married Miss Mary,
daughter of Thomas and Anna Pell, of Pell's
Manor. His father, also named Samuel, was
born in 1666, and died in 1716. The mother,
Dorothy, was a daughter of Simon and Mary
(Thomas) Ray. Samuel was a son of James,
who was born in England in 1622, and came to
the United States about 1638, his death occurring
on Block Island, March 13, 1695. He assisted
in building a house in 1642 for Ann Hutchison,
the noted Quakeress, and the following year was
given a grant of land in Portsmouth, R. I. There

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he married Miss Sara, daughter of John and
Katharine Walker. She was a skillful physician,
the only one on the island, and after her death,
in 1709, it was found that she had made provis
ions in her will for the emancipation of her slaves,
the first occurrence of the kind in America. Capt.
James Sands, as he was known, was one of the
original owners of Block Island, and his tomb
stone can still be seen there. The Sands family
can be traced back to the eleventh century, when
they were of the nobility in England, and had a
coat of arms, bearing the motto, ' 'We repent not
of what is right. ' ' One Edwin Sands, Archbishop
of York, was born in 1519, and his son George
was Colonial Governor and Treasurer of Vir
ginia about 1 62 1. He built the first water-mills,
the first iron works and the first bridge in that
state, and succeeded his brother Edwin as Colo
nial Governor.

3 AMES E. MAGOURTY is agent for Chris
tian Feigenspan's Brewery in Newburgh,
and also conducts branches in Poughkeepsie,
Fishkill, Wappinger Falls, Highland Mills, Cen
tral Valley, Cranstons, Marlboro, Walden, Rose-
dale, and other places. The warehouse is situ
ated near Bridge Street, and is a building two
stories in height, 22x90 feet, with a capacity of
two hundred and fifty barrels. A wholesale bus
iness is transacted, shipments of goods being made
by rail, a switch from the Erie Road running to
the rear ofthe storehouse. Our subject is a man
who thoroughly understands the business, and
under his able management is greatly increasing
the trade of his employer.
Mr. Magourty was born in LaGrange, Dutchess
County, in December, 1857. His father, Owen,
was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and his
grandfather, Owen, Sr., was a well-to-do Irish
farmer. The junior Owen came to America
in early manhood, locating in Ulster County,
whence he went to Dutchess County, where for
a year he engaged in farming in LaGrange.
From there he went to New Paltz, in Ulster Coun
ty, where he conducted a farm. From 1865 to

1867 he lived in the vicinity of Boston, but passed
his last years jn Ulster County. His death oc
curred in 1875, as the result of injuries received
in falling from a haymow. He was then in the
prime of life, being but forty years of age. Po
litically he was a stanch supporter of the Demo
cratic party. His wife, Catherine, was born in
County Antrim, Ireland, and was a daughter of
Patrick McGuire, who was a farmer by occupa
tion. Mr. McGuire came to America, settling
near Boston, but remained only a few years, then
returning to his native land, where his death took
place. Mrs. Catherine Magourty died in 1865,
leaving but one child, our subject. The father
subsequently married again, and the only child
of that union, Sarah A., is now living in New
York City.
The boyhood of J. E. Magourty passed une
ventfully in Ulster County until he was in his
eighteenth year. After completing the public-
school studies he entered Highland Academy, un
der Prof. Peter N. Mitchell. In 1875 he came
to Newburgh, and for nearly five years clerked
for Patrick Cleary, a grocer, after which he en
tered the employ of Quail Bros., grocers, on
Water Street. A year later he opened a grocery
of his own at the corner of Broadway and South
Miller Streets, and conducted the same for nearly
seven years. In September, 1887, he became
agent for the Anchor Brewing Company in New
burgh and continued with that firm until May 1,
1889, when he resigned. Soon afterward he as
sumed the duties of his present office, and has
since represented Feigenspan's Brewery of New
ark, N. J. This plant is run on modern plans,
and the bottling establishment of the brewery is
the "most complete of any in the country. They
keep a full Hue of lager beers, the celebrated In
dian Pale Ale, "Half and Half," and many other
brands of ale and porter. In the fall of 1894 an
addition for ale was built to the old brewery, at a
cost of $80,000. This is to be cooled by ice ma
chines, in order that during the summer months
ale can be brewed in a temperature of fifty-eight
degrees. At Poughkeepsie three men are em
ployed the year round, and a warehouse, 30x75
feet, having a capacity of one hundred and fifty

122

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

barrels, is used for storage, a siding from the ad
jacent railroad offering easy meaiis of transporta
tion. At the Newburgh agency three employes
are kept during the year to deliver goods, and two
men are kept busy in the office.
In October, 1889, Mr. Magourty was married,
in Newburgh, to Mrs. Julia A. Leonard, who
was born in Ulster County, N. Y., and is the
daughter of Lawrence Butler, who was an agri
culturist. Mr. Magourty is a member of the Be
nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the For
esters and the Catholic Benevolent Legion. He
and his good wife are members of St. Patrick's
Church, and possess the good-will and friendship
of all who know them.

©:

(5=

EJte-y

rr\

=0

pQ ALTER W. GEARN is one of the very
\A/ oldest business men of Newburgh, and
V V f°r nearly a quarter of a century has been
superintendent in the factory of D. Powers &
Son, manufacturers of oilcloths, where upwards
of forty-five men are steadily employed. 'He
takes just pride in his home at No. 290 Broad
way, where he owns two or three acres of ground.
The land, which was in a wild state when he
took possession of the place, he proceeded to lay
out in gardens and to improve in various ways,
planting shade and fruit trees to increase its
beauty. He has always been interested in horti
culture, and has been a member of the Fair As
sociation. His garden is certainly the finest in
the city, and the neatly kept walks are macadam
ized. Of late he has given some attention to the
raising of brown Leghorns and Plymouth Rock
poultry. Mr. Gearn was born in Wilton, Saratoga Coun
ty, August 24, 1824, being a son of William and
Elizabeth (Laing) Gearn. The father was born
in Inverness-shire, Scotland, and when eighteen
years of age emigrated to America, settling in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. Later he moved to Sara
toga County, N. Y., and started in business, but
subsequently disposed of his interests and gave
his attention to farming until he retired. He

died at 'the home of our subject, in his eighty-
fourth year. He was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and politically was a Jack-
sonian Democrat. His wife's father, Walter
Laing, a native of Saratoga County, was a farmer,
whose father, William, came from Scotland and
was one of the pioneers of Saratoga County.
Mrs. Gearn died at the good old age of seventy-
three years. But three of her ten children are
now living.
The subject of this sketch lived on a farm un
til twenty-three years old, receiving a district-
school education. In 1847 he came to New
burgh with his uncle, George Gearn, who had
established an oilcloth factory here, his first lo
cation being 011 the site of the West Shore Depot.
Young Gearn entered into business arrangements
with his uncle, with the understanding that he
should manage the plant, the liabilities of which
were $3,150 at the time, and as soon as possible
pay back all the money which had been invested
in the concern by the uncle. At the end of four
years, instead of improving, the business had de
teriorated, and the liabilities now stood $3,500,
but Mr. Gearn was of a plucky disposition and
gave notes for twelve years, though he was then
worth but ten cents. He pursued his onward
course and in a few months had things on a paying
basis. Later he built a part of the present factory
and paid his indebtedness in full. The panic of
1857 came at an untimely period, but he managed
to pull through and continued to build up the
trade, adding two large new factories, which ex
tended from Broadway to First Avenue, a distance
of seven hundred and fifty feet. In 1872 he sold
out to the present proprietor, and has since been
superintendent of the business, his son, George
F. , being his assistant. Two grades of oilcloth are
manufactured, and the works have a capacity of
two hundred and fifty thousand yards per an
num. Mr. Gearn has made many improve
ments, and originated a machine for steam sizing,
but as he did not have the capital to carry out
his idea, it was neglected, and years afterward
some one else took out a patent on it.
The first marriage of Mr. Gearn took place in
this city in 1852, his wife being Mary C. Fowler,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

123

who was born in Alabama, and whose father was
a physician. Her death occurred in this city, in
1886. Five of her seven children grew to ma
turity, and of these Walter R. is deceased; George
F. is assistant in the factory, as previously stated;
Fred A. is a carpenter in Pasadena, Cal.; Frank
F. is a clerk in New York City; and Charles is
employed with D. Powers & Son. In October,
1887, Mr. Gearn married Sarah L-, daughter of
Edward Mapes, who was a farmer near Salis
bury Mills and a merchant tailor by trade. He
retired from business when eighty-one years of
age, having previously conducted a merchant-
tailoring establishment on Water Street. His
death occurred when in his eighty-third year.
Religiously he was a Presbyterian, and in his
political views was a Democrat. His wife, Deb
orah A. , a native of Goshen, N. Y. , was a daugh
ter of Josiah and Nancy Wood. Mr. and Mrs.
Edward Mapes celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary, which they survived for some years,
the former dying in 1887, and the latter in 1882.
Mr. Gearn was a member of the Board of Edu
cation for four years, during which time the li
brary was built. He assisted in the organization
of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of West
Newburgh, and was Trustee ofthe same for some
time, but is now a member of the Union Presby
terian Church, which he has served in' the ca
pacity of Elder. Since the formation of the Re
publican party he has rendered it his unswerving
allegiance. :=^5^i^M*i'*3§i£^'|,*lv-5i'RNfei:^!v~^^~^ — " "v

""•~~o2-
G| LEXANDER JEFFREY is a practical black -
LJ smith and horse-shoer, and for thirty-two
I I years has been recognized as an expert in
the last-named branch of his business. His shop
is at No. 3 Front Street, Newburgh, and two
fires are kept constantly running in the same.
He has been a resident of Newburgh since 1878,
and has taken great interest in the city's prosper
ity and welfare, being prominent in the local fra
ternities, and ranking as one of our best citizens.
He is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Rodgers)
Jeffrey, natives of Scotland and the northern

part of Ireland, respectively. The former was
for some years engaged in the grain business in
County Down, Ireland, but later in life operated
a farm, on which his death occurred when he was
seventy -four years of age. His wife is still living
on the old homestead, and of her six sons and
two daughters our subject is the only one in
America. The birth of Alexander Jeffrey occurred in
County Down, Ireland, in 1849. He was reared
on his father's farm until he was fourteen years
of age, when he commenced serving an appren
ticeship at general blacksmithing near St. Field.
On the expiration of five years, or in 1868, he
concluded to try his fortunes in the New World,
and, going to Liverpool, took passage in a vessel
bound for New York City. From therg he pro
ceeded to Cold Spring, N. Y., where he continued
to work at his trade several years. In 1872 he
entered into partnership with a Mr. Post, the firm
being known as Post & Jeffrey. Two years later,
on account of failing health, he sold out his inter
est in the shop and took a trip to his native land,
visiting his old friends and spending nearly a year
in traveling in Scotland, England and Ireland. In
June, 1876, he returned to America, and, asamem-
ber ofthe firm of Jeffrey & Jaycox, ran a black
smith shop at Garrison for a little less than two
years. A good opportunity occurring, he sold out,
and in 1878 settled permanently in Newburgh.
He bought out Joseph Whispell, a horse-shoer,
and has since given his attention to the same line
of work with good success.
Socially Mr. Jeffrey belongs to Newburgh
Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M., and Highland Chap
ter No. 52, R A. M. He is also an active mem
ber of Acme Lodge No. 469, I. O. O. F., having
passed all the chairs and acted as representative
to the Grand Lodge. With the Knights of
Pythias he holds membership, in Storm King
Lodge No. 1 1 , where he has held various offices.
At present he is an honorary member, and for
merly was an active one, in the Ringgold Hose
Company, and belongs to C. M. Leonard Council
No. 7, Order of American Firemen, in which he
has at' different times held office. He uses his
right of franchise in favor of the Democratic party,

124

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but has never been an aspirant for public offices.
In the Young Men's Christian Association he
takes great interest, and in short is always ready
to do his share in everything which tends to the
betterment of his fellow-men.

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\ **Mi. -^i. -*i£i -*S^ "^A^ -^--,*£.
y-^,&~ "^r^. "^^. -Z5k* "^,t^~ ^5k~

55 EORGE E. DAVIS. In this sketch we pre-
_ sent to the attention of our readers a short
j[ record of the life history of a man who is
well known in the city of Newburgh. He was
born here August 2, 1863, and for several years
past has been engaged in carrying on a thriving
business as grocer.
Thomas H. Davis, the father of our subject,
was a native of Dutchess County, his birth occur
ring in 1841, near Fishkill. His father, who also
bore the name of Thomas, was a native of Wales,
and came to America when a young man, choos
ing as his future home a good tract of land in
Dutchess County, where he carried on farming.
He later came to Newburgh, where he was living
at the time of his decease. The father of our sub
ject, who died in February, 1895, was an expert
in the use of tools, and for thirty -seven years was
in the employ of Thomas Shaw's Sons in the ca
pacity of carpenter. For a number of years he
was foreman of their shops, and was thoroughly
reliable in all that he did. The mother of our
subject, Mrs. Mary (Hanly) Davis, was born in
New York City in 1843, a"d was the daughter of
William H. Hanly. She was orphaned by the
death of both parents when quite young, but was
well cared for by others, and given the opportun
ities for gaining a good education. She is still
living and makes her home with our subject, who
is her only child.
George E., of this sketch, attended the public
schools until a lad of sixteen years, when he be
gan clerking in a grocery store, working for L- W.
Collis for two years. He afterward learned the
art of telegraphy, and was in the employ of the
Western Union for a period of seven years, during
that time giving entire satisfaction by the faithful
manner in whicli he discharged his duties. In
September, 1888, he began in business 011 his own

account, purchasing his present location at No.
188 Broadway, corner of Dubois. He carries a
large and varied stock of both staple and fancy
groceries, also vegetables and fruits in their sea
son. He has a very large trade, and by courte
ous treatment and fair dealing has secured the
confidence and high regard of their many patrons.
Mr. Davis inherited in no small degree the tal
ent of his father in the use and knowledge of tools,
and during the building of his three-story flat he
superintended the construction. This building
is located on the corner of Dubois and VanNess
Streets, and is finished in such a manner as to
make it very desirable and easy to rent. Mr.
Davis is enterprising and progressive, and is well
deserving of the prosperity which has crowned
his efforts.

(JOSEPH VAN CLEFT, of Newburgh, is Vice-
I President of the Columbus Trust Company,
(2/ and is the most extensive wholesale dealer
in agricultural implements and general hardware
in the city. In 1887 his brother, L- A., be
came a member of the firm, which is known as
Joseph Van Cleft & Co. The firm is well known
in all parts of the East, as their salesmen repre
sent them constantly on the road. Our subject
has large real-estate interests in the city, and the
Van Cleft Building, at Nos. 77 and 79 Broadway,
has a frontage of fifty -six feet, and a depth of
ninety feet on Grand Street. The basement,
second and third floors and one-half of the first
floor are utilized in the business. The entire
fourth floor was fitted up expressly for and is
used by the Spencerian Commercial College.
The Van Clefts, as the name implies, are of
Holland-Dutch descent, the founders in the
United States having been early settlers of New
York and Long Island. Our subject's great
grandfather, John, left Long Island, it is believed,
and settled in Minisink, this county, some time
prior to 1750. Joseph, the grandfather, was born
in that vicinity, and by trade was a millwright.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

125

He purchased the old mill at Garnerville, which he
operated in addition to running a farm on the
west bank of Rutger's Creek. He married Eliz
abeth Dunning, whose family can be traced back
many generations, some of its members being
heroes of the Revolutionary War. Some of the
Van Clefts also were enrolled in the old guards.
Joseph Van Cleft died in the neighborhood of
Minisink, about 18 13. His wife, whose death oc
curred about 1850, and who was a devoted mem
ber ofthe Methodist Church, was buried in Mid
dletown. The parents of our subject were Lewis and
Henrietta (Cooper) Van Cleft, the former of
whom was born in Minisink in 1805, and in his
youth learned the manufacture of woolen goods.
First he was at New Hampton for nine years
with a Mr. Phillips, who operated large mills at
Phillipsburg. Then, going to Hamptonburg, he
worked for a Mr. Decker for another nine years.
It had been his intention to engage in the busi
ness for himself, but the financial outlook was
not promising, and at length he purchased a
farm from his father-in-law, the place being situ
ated a mile north of Bethlehem Church, in New
Windsor Town. His last years were devoted to
the cultivation of his farm, and his death oc
curred in July, 1870. During the war he was very
active in support of the Union, giving money
liberally to the cause, and for several years he
was a stanch Republican. In his religious faith
he was liberal, and was identified with the Con
gregational denomination. His wife was born in
Cornwall, being a daughter of Shadrach Cooper,
who was a blacksmith by trade. Subsequently
he moved to Blooming Grove, and at one time
owned a farm where the village of Washington-
ville now stands. His death occurred at Bloom
ing Grove. When he was engaged in running
a blacksmith shop in Cornwall, one Charles New-
bold, who invented the first cast-iron plow, often
joked'with him, saying that with his discovery
the blacksmith's trade would be done away with,
plowshares and mould-boards then being of
wrought iron and forged by the blacksmith.
Mr. Newbold was a very eccentric man, and
though he invented the cast-iron plow and spent

a fortune trying to get the farmers to use it,
was unsuccessful, as the simple-minded country
men believed it would poison their land, and had
other queer notions in regard to it. He was a
man of considerable means, and having purchased
several hundred acres near Cornwall, laid out a
city, which he named the "City of Faith." He
advocated the doctrine of living from the prod
ucts of this country, and was averse to the system
of imports. To those of his family who would
use herbs of certain kinds instead of tea he would
give a lot in his city. Mrs. Van Cleft died about
the same time as did her husband, and left four
children, of whom Henry is a stock-dealer at Vail
Gate; Lewis A. is hi partnership with our sub
ject; and Sarah E. resides in New York City.
Joseph Van Cleft was born near Bethlehem
Church, Orange County, in June, 1836, and at
tended the common schools there until 1852,
when he commenced clerking in a hardware store
in Middletown. Three years later we find him
in New York City, where he was engaged in the
wholesale hardware business until i860, when he
went to Kansas City and engaged in the same
business. Those were wild days in the West,
when Quantrell and his guerrilla bauds were en
gaged in their acts of lawlessness. In the fall of
1 86 1 Mr. Van Cleft returned to Newburgh, and
in the spring of 1862 began clerking for J. C. S.
Hardenburg. In February, 1863, Mr. Van Cleft
entered into partnership with the latter gentle
man, and three years later he bought out the
other's interest, and continued the business at
No 99 Water Street until May, 1877, when he
moved to No. 102 Water Street, which building
he purchased in May, 1880, and remained there
until New Year's Day, 1888, when he moved to
his present location. InFebruary, 1881, Mr. Van
Cleft purchased the building at Nos. 77 and 79
Front Street, and in May, 1882, bought the adjoin
ing building at Nos. 73 and 75. In J*W.
1803 it was more thoroughly remodeled and bet
ter equipped in every way. When the West
Shore Railroad obtained a right of way, it took
off the rear of these buildings, and in part com
pensation the railroad company constructed a
twelve-foot-wide tunnel under the road running

126

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from his .property on Front Street to his other
buildings on Water Street. At present it is rented
by the New York Furniture Store.
One of the originators and stockholders of the
Columbus Trust Company, Mr. Van Cleft has
been its Vice-President from the start, and is also
a Director. He is also a Director of the Palatine
Hotel Company, and a charter member of the
Board of Trade. Politically he is an unswerving
Republican, and once filled a vacancy as Alder
man, being appointed by Colonel Weygant.
In 1870 Mr. Van Cleft married Edwina S.
Smith, a native of this city. Herfather, Orville M.
Smith, was a school teacher here, and her mother
was a daughter of Jonas Storey, an old attorney
of Newburgh. Our subject and his wife became
the parents of five children: Josephine S., who is
a graduate of Newburgh Academy ; Edwin L. , a
clerk in his father's store; Augusta, Alberta and
Barclay The faithful wife and mother died in
1891. The home of the family is a pleasant one
at No. 72 Grand Street, and is fitted out in a com
fortable and refined manner. Mr. Van Cleft is a
member of the Dutch Reformed Church.

EHARLES J. HAYES, foreman in. P. Delany
& Co. 's boiler works of Newburgh, is a prac
tical business man and thoroughly under
stands ever5r department of boiler-making. He
was only sixteen years of age when he commenced
serving an apprenticeship under Patrick Delany,
and made such rapid progress that he was soon
given a responsible position in laying out work,
and in 1892 was made foreman. He has supervi
sion of everything about the plant, especially of
the mechanical part, and has from seventy-five to
one hundred and fifty men under his direction.
Considering the fact of his youth, his success is
truly remarkable, but it is doubtless owing to his
faithfulness to the company ' s interests and his in
dustrious, enterprising characteristics.
Our subject's grandfather, Charles Hayes, was
born in County Tipperary, Ireland, where he
was proprietor of a farm. His son William, the
father of Charles Hayes, was born in the same lo

cality, and married Miss Mary M. Bowe, also of
that vicinity. The father emigrated to America
about 1 86 1, and learned boiler-making in the
Washington Iron Works of Newburgh, under the
direction of Mr. Rantan. In 1870 he became an
employe of Delany & Bolen and for twenty years
gave them his faithful service. He was made
foreman in 1890, but was not long able to hold
that office, for, on account of failing health, he
was obliged to tender his resignation. His death
occurred soon afterward, August 16, 1892, while
he was still in the prime of life, being but five
months over forty-six years of age. He was
known as one of the pioneer boiler-makers of
Newburgh, and possessed the respect of his ac
quaintances. Politically he was a Democrat,
though he was never in any sense an office-seeker.
In 1866 he was married, in this city, to a daughter
of the Emerald Isle, Miss Mary Bowe, a native
of County Tipperary. Her father, James Bowe,
was a farmer in his native land until 1854, when
he emigrated to America and settled on a farm in
Cook County, 111. His last years were passed in
Newburgh, his death occurring when he was
nearly seventy-six. His wife, Bridget Callan
Bowe, was born in Cook County, where also her
death occurred. Her family comprised three chil
dren, two daughters and one son, the latter now
deceased. Charles J. Hayes is the eldest of eight children,
the others being Bridget, Mrs. Knowlden, who
makes her home with him, as do also James and
William, who are both employed in the boiler
works. The others are Mary, Catherine, Nora
and Alice. The mother of these children holds
membership with St. Patrick's Church.
The birth of C. J. Hayes occurred July 28,
1867, in Newburgh, and his early education was
obtained in the primary and grammar schools,
from which he graduated. In 1894 he built a
pleasant home at No. 91 Carson Avenue. Three
years previously, December 28, 1891, he was
married to Eliza Dale, who was born in Rondout,
N. Y. Her father, Peter Dale, is a retired busi
ness man of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes
have one child, a little daughter, Marie by name.
They are members of St. Patrick's Church, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

127

are most estimable people, possessing hosts of
friends. Mr. Hayes is a member of Brewster
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, and uses his
ballot in favor ofthe Democracy.

EAPT. LEANDER CLARK, of Newburgh,
is considered an authority on all matters re
lating to horses, and has been the owner of
many famous trotters. For the past twenty years
he has been the proprietor of the large livery
stables at Nos. 65, 67 and 69 Chambers Street,
the present building having been erected by him
in 1883. He has been very successful as a vet
erinary surgeon, and has invested his means in
city property and in a farm near Middle Hope.
In fraternal circles he is very popular and promi
nent, being Past Commander of Ellis Post,
G. A. R., a member of the Third Corps Union,
and in 1882 he helped to organize the Veterans'
Rights Union. He is one of the oldest Freema
sons in the city, in 1857 having been initiated in
Newburgh Lodge, with which and with Highland
Chapter he is still connected. He is also identi
fied with Hudson River Commandery and King
Solomon's Council. In former years he was an
old-line Whig, but afterward became a member
of the Republican party. For some four years he
represented the Second Ward in the City Coun
cil, and was President of the same one year.
The first of the family to settle in America was
one William Clark, who was born in Plymouth,
Devonshire, England, in 1609. Coming to the
United States in 1630, in the ship "Mary and
John," he settled in Dorchester, Mass., and in
1659 located in Northampton, that state. In
1632 he was chosen one of the Selectmen, and
in 1660 was placed on record as one ofthe seven
members of the first church of Northampton.
He occupied the office of Selectman for nineteen
years, and had the title of "Most Worshipful."
For years he was one of the Judges of the County
Court. In 1 66 1 he organized a military com
pany of sixty men, and was chosen Lieutenant,
that being the highest office in the community.

One of his nine children, Phineas, was taken pris
oner at Shay's Insurrection, and was held for eight
days. He lived at Northampton, and there his
son John, and grandson John, Jr., also resided in
turn. The latter's son, Eliakim, was the great-
great-grandfather of our subject. He served
throughout the War for Independence, and was
in his declining days when he removed to East-
hampton, Mass. By occupation he was a farmer.
One of his three sons, Asahel, was in the Conti
nental Guards, and later served in the War of the
Revolution, being promoted from Corporal to First
Lieutenant. He was in the first, or Lexington,
call, and took part in the battle of Lake George.
In 1788 he was in command ofthe arsenal at
Springfield, Mass. His son Eleazer also re
sponded to the call for troops at Lexington, and
in May, 1778, was commissioned Ensign in the
Sixth Company of the Fifth Regiment of Con
necticut Colonists.
Lucas, son of Eleazer Clark, was the father of
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.
He was born in Easthampton, Mass., October
22, 1778, and died in Bloomiiigburg, N. Y., in
1828. He was a millwright by trade, and set
tled in Sullivan County, N. Y., at an early day.
November 16, 1809, he married Phila, daughter
of Abner Avery, who was also a soldier of the
Revolution. Mrs. Clark died in Newburgh, in
1879, having arrived at very advanced years.
Capt. Leander Clark was born in Blooming-
burg, N. Y., May 13, 1828, and was only three
months old when his father died. He was the
youngest of seven children, and when seven
years old commenced working on a farm for rela
tives at Easthampton. At the end of two years
he returned to his native county, and for one sea
son was employed as a tow-boy on the Delaware
& Hudson Canal. It was in 1839 that he came
to Newburgh and worked for William Stott, a cab
inet-maker. He remained in his employ one
year, and in 1840 went to Buffalo, where he
finished learning his trade, and later followed the
same in Warren, Pa. He also rafted lumber to
Pittsburg and down the Ohio River. In 1850 he
returned to this city, and worked in the old piano
factory owned by Peter Staiibrough. In 1853 he

128

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was appointed the first Police Officer of the city,
and continued to hold that office until August,
1862, when, with the assistance of John Stan-
brough and Isaac Martin, he raised Company I,
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment of
New York Infantry, and went to the front as its
Captain. The following October he was appoint
ed Provost- Marshal of Whipple's division of the
Third Army Corps, and served as such until a few
days before the battle of Fredericksburg, and
there and at Chancellorsville he did gallant serv
ice. Upon a surgeon's certificate of disability
he was honorably discharged, May 13, 1863.
Returning from the South, Mr. Clark bought
the livery business of James Roe, and in Febru
ary, 1865, acted as the agent of Edwin Thorne,
a wealthy retired New York business man, and
purchased a fine farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in the western part of the city, pay
ing therefor $16,000. They erected extensive
buildings, and the farm acquired a national repu
tation, the Captain being the manager of the
place. He has handled the reins over such
horses as "Hamlet," "Thorndale," "Marks
man," "Daisy Dale," "Enigma," and many
other favorites. When the farm was sold and
the stock removed to Dutchess County, the Cap
tain remained with Mr. Thorne for about six
months, or until things were in good running
order, when he resigned and came back to New
burgh. An important part of his business is
breaking and training young trotters, in which
he is an acknowledged expert. In 1857, while
he was assisting the Sheriff of Orange County to
arrest a colored man, he was shot and severely
injured in the face.
In Warren, Pa., the Captain married Mary J.
Olney, July 15, 1848. She also came from a
very old and distinguished family, Thomas Ol
ney having been the first of the name to locate
in the United States. He was born in Hertford,
Hertfordshire, England, and in 1635 came to
America in the ship "Planter," settling in Sa
lem, Mass. A year later, January 16, 1636, he
was made Local Surveyor, and the same year was
styled a Freeman. He was a follower of Roger
Williams, who was his brother-in-law, and with

him, March 12, 1638, was excluded from the stern
old Pilgrim colony on account of holding differ
ent religious views from those of the colony. He
had, however, previously concluded to locate
elsewhere, and, in company with eleven others,-
settled at Providence, R. I. Settlement was
made at Providence in 1638, and he was made
the first Treasurer of that colony. In 1647 he was
on the committee to institute a town government;
in 1648 was chosen Assistant for Providence, which
office he held until 1663, and in 1665 became Judge
of the Justice Court. In 1656 he was commis
sioned to treat with the Massachusetts Bay Col
ony about the land at Pawtucket, in 1663 was a
grantee of the royal charter made by Charles II. ,
and the same year was chosen Assistant under the
new charter. He was one of the founders of the
first Baptist Church in Providence, often acting in
the capacity of pastor, and was very prominent in
secular affairs as well. He was born in 1600, and
died in 1682. His marriage to Maria Small took
place in 1631, and their second son, Epenetus,
who was born in England in 1634, became one of
the leading men of Rhode Island. He was a
member ofthe Common Council, and belonged to
the Colonial Assembly. By his marriage he had
eight children, of whom the fifth, John, was born
October 24, 1678, and lived at Smithfield, R. I.
Of his nine children, the seventh, Stephen, born
August 25, 1717, was also a resident of Smith-
field, and his son Stephen, born December 22,
1752, departed this life December 12, 1841. The
latter enlisted when twenty years of age in the
Revolutionary War, was soon promoted to the
captaincy, and was afterwards breveted Colonel.
He was in all the battles from Long Island to
Yorktown, and led the charge on that siege.
Subsequently, he was granted a pension by the
Government for meritorious service. He was a
warm personal friend of La Fayette, who visited
him on his second trip to America. The Captain
died in Providence. His sixth child, Stephen,
born November 5, 1789, married Nancy, daugh
ter of Capt. James Green, who also served in the
War for Independence. Stephen Olney was a
baker by trade, and first plied his vocation in
Connecticut, then in New York State, and lastly

HON. B. B. ODELL.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

131

in Warren, Pa., where he died. His daughter
Mary J., born October 15, 1831, is the wife of
Captain Clark, of this sketch.
To our subject and his estimable wife were
born four children: Eliza J., who is now Mrs.
William N Owen, of Newburgh; Chauncy L-,
of the firm of C. L- Clark & Co., who lives in
Newark, N. J.; Mary, the wife of Warren S.
Herman, a Professor in Eastman's Business Col
lege of Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; and Martha W.,
at home. Politically Mr. Clark has always been
a stanch Republican.

m

HON. BENJAMIN B. ODELL. In New
burgh there is no man who in a higher de
gree enjoys the confidence of the people than
the subject of this sketch, who is serving his
fourth term as Mayor of the city, and is also en
gaged in the ice business. By his energy and
resolute character, coupled with a genial disposi
tion, he has not only advanced his own success,
but has given an impetus to the growth of the
locality, and is now actively forwarding various
enterprises for its advancement in important di
rections. Before presenting in detail the principal events
in the life of Mr. Odell, a few words regarding
his ancestors will not be amiss. The family is of
French and English descent, but has been repre
sented in America for many generations. Grand
father William Odell was born in New York City,
and there for some years he was proprietor of the
Bull's Head Tavern, which still stands. In 1835
he went to Orleans County, N. Y., where he
bought a tract of land and with the assistance of
two sons improved a valuable farm. His death
occurred there at the age of more than ninety
years .
The father of our subject, Isaac Odell, was born
in Tarrytown, Westchester County, N. Y., and
was reared in New York City, whence about 1820
he and his brothers, Abram and Jonathan, came
to Little Britain, settling on the DeWitt Clinton

Farm. For a few years he engaged in agricult
ural pursuits, but in 1827 came to Newburgh, his
brother Abram about the same time removing to
the West. Jonathan was for years Crier of the
Superior Court of New York City, where he died.
After being in the employ of D. Crawford & Co.
in the freighting business for some time, Isaac
Odell entered the employ of the firm of Powell,
Wardrop & Johnson, freighters, with whom he
remained until his retirement from business. He
died at the age of sixty-five.
Mary A., the mother of our subject, was born
in Westchester County, where her father was a
farmer; she died in New York City, at eighty-one
years of age. Her family consisted of two sons
and two daughters, of whom Benjamin B. was the
second in order of birth. He was born in Little
Britain, New Windsor Town, September 10, 1825,
and was reared in Newburgh, attending the pub
lic schools of this city. His parents being poor,
he was obliged to become self-supporting at an
age when the majority of boys have no thought
beyond their books or sports. At the age of thir
teen he began to work on a farm in Montgomery
Town, remaining there for three years. On his
return to Newburgh in 1843, he entered the em
ploy of B. W. Van Nort in the restaurant and hotel
business, spending four years with that gentleman.
Embarking in business for himself in 1847, Mr.
Odell opened a restaurant on Third Street, but
eighteen months later he disposed ofthe concern,
and then entered into partnership with a Mr.
Clark in the restaurant business on Second Street,
the firm name being Clark & Odell. Two years
later the connection was dissolved, and Mr. Odell
continued alone until 1867, when he sold and
abandoned the business permanently.
The keen and sagacious foresight which has
always been a distinguishing trait in Mr. Odell' s
character enabled him to uiscern a promising field
in the ice business. In 1863 he purchased from
James R. Dixon the ice property now known as
Muchattoes Lake, and conducted the business per
sonally until 1886, when he organized the Mu
chattoes Lake Ice Company. Of this concern he
was the first and has been the only President.
The enterprise was gradually increased, and at

132

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the time of the incorporation in 1886 there was a
capital stock of $110,000. The capacity, which
has been trebled since 1873, is now twenty-five
thousand tons. The ice house on Muchattoes
Lake is 136x200 feet in dimensions and thirty feet
deep, and there is also a house on Crystal Lake
with a capacity of five thousand tons. Muchat
toes Lake, of twenty acres, with three acres of
land surrounding, and Crystal Lake, of eight
acres, with seven acres of land adjoining, are
owned by the company. The ice, which is ex
ceedingly clear and beautiful, is sold both at
wholesale and retail, the products being conveyed
to consumers over a branch of the Erie Railroad.
The city office ofthe company is at No. 14 Water
Street, Newburgh.
In addition to the above-named enterprise Mr.
Odell was one of the organizers and stockholders
in the Columbus Trust Company, and for one
year was President. He was largely instrumental
in its organization in 1892 and was elected Presi
dent, but resigned after one year in office. His
marriage, which occurred in Newburgh in 1850,
united him with Miss Ophelia Bookstaver, a
native of Montgomery Town, and daughter of
Hiram Bookstaver, a successful agriculturist of
Orange County. Eleven children were born of
their union, of whom five are living. B. B., Jr.,
the eldest, is one of the most prominent young
business men of Newburgh, and is President of
the Electric Light Company, and ' Secretary and
Treasurer of the Muchattoes Lake Ice Company.
He is an active worker in the Republican party,
and in the fall of 1894 was elected to Congress.
Hiram B., the second son, is interested in the
electric-light business and is Superintendent of
the Muchattoes Lake Ice Company; he is also
prominent in public affairs and at the present
time fills the position of Alderman. George C.
D., the youngest son, is a graduate of Columbia
College, New York City, in which institution he
is now a professor. The two daughters, Clara
and Ophelia, accomplished and popular young
ladies, are at home with their parents.
Any sketch of the life of Mr. Odell that failed
to make conspicuous mention of his public service
would be very incomplete. Prior to the war he

was a Democrat, but the turn of events at that
time caused him to transfer his allegiance to the
Republican party, which he has since loyally sup
ported. In 1863 he was a Trustee ofthe village,
iu 1865 represented the Third Ward in the Coun
cil, and in 1879 was elected Supervisor of New
Windsor Town. From January, 1880, until Jan
uary, 1883, he held the office of Sheriff, his son,
H. B., being Under Sheriff. The duties ofthe
office necessitated the removal of the latter to
Goshen, the county seat, but upon the expiration
of his term he returned to Newburgh, where he
has since resided.
The first election of Mr. Odell to the office of
Mayor was in 1884, and for the two succeeding
terms he was re-elected, after which, in 1890, he
retired from the office, refusing to longer serve in
that capacity. Four years later, however, he ac
ceded to the wishes of his friends and became the
Republican candidate for the office. As before,
success crowned the campaign, his majority being
eighteen hundred and twenty-one, which was
much larger than the remainder of the ticket.
His increasing popularity is shown by the -fact
that at his first three elections his majorities were
three hundred, seven hundred and three hundred,
respectively, while at the last election it was
nearly two thousand. The responsible and im
portant duties of the office he has discharged with
dignity and faithfulness, and he has retained the
entire confidence of the people, including even the
strongest of his political opponents. While serv
ing in this capacity many important improvements
have been introduced, and it has been an era of
great progress for the city. Many municipal re
forms have been carried out and a large number
of plans have been projected which will undoubt
edly still further enhance the commercial import
ance of Newburgh.
Amid the multiplicity of his public and private
duties, Mr. Odell has never allowed his religious
duties to be neglected. In the American Re
formed Church he has been an official, serving at
different times as Elder and Deacon. He carries
his religious belief into the practical affairs of life,
thereby gaining a reputation for probity, honor
and uprightness which is far too seldom seen

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

133

among business men. He is an honorary mem
ber of the fire department, and was identified with
the old company.
Such, in brief, is a sketch of the life of one of
Newburgh's most influential men, one who has
here gained a large measure of financial success,
and who has at the same time promoted the pros
perity of the city by his progressive spirit and
large enterprise.

*i^p^***^

<^"HOMAS LITTLETON, formerly one of the
| C Almshouse Commissioners, owns a good
\y business location at No. 274 Washington
Street, Newburgh, and enjoys a large retail trade
in staple and fancy groceries and liquors. He has
taken a very active part in Democratic campaigns,
and for twenty years he represented the First
Ward as County Commissioner. In 1883 he was
elected Almshouse Commissioner from the same
ward, and on the expiration of his term, in 1886,
was re-elected. During the six years of his office
' he was Chairman of the Supply and Auditing
Committees, and in the mean time the northern
wing of the Almshouse was erected.
Mr. Littleton was born in Manchester, Eng
land, March 26, 1839, but his father, George,
was a native of Ireland. The family, however,
originated in England, and George Littleton be
came a resident of Manchester in order to pursue
to better advantage his trade as a contractor and
.builder. His wife, Bridget, was a daughter of
Patrick Whalen, a farmer. She was born in
County Kings, Ireland, and passed her last years
in Newburgh, dying at the age of sixty-three
years. Of her two sons and three daughters who
survive, Thomas Littleton is the eldest. He was
reared in County Kings, Ireland, and was de
prived of his father's care and protection when he
was but twelve years of age. In order to assist
his mother, he clerked in a store, and in 1857,
when eighteen years of age, emigrated with the
family from Liverpool to New York City, the
three-weeks voyage being made in the sailing-
vessel ' 'Advance. ' ' Entering the family of Mrs .
(Col.) Ellison, young Littleton was employed as

coachman for three years, and afterwards was
with Major Morton. In 1862 he went to New
York and served as coachman for Mrs. Lawrence
on Fifth Avenue, remaining there for two years,
after which he ran as conductor on the old horse-car
line for three years. Returning to Newburgh,
he started in business for himself and conducted
a store in New Windsor for two years. In 1870
he opened an establishment in the building which
he owns at the corner of Mill and Washington
Streets. In New York City in 1863 Mr. Littleton was
married to Margaret T. Smith, who was born in
the Emerald Isle, and who departed this life in
October, 1894, leaving seven children. They
are as follows: Henry C, who owns a gentlemen's
furnishing-goods store on Broadway, Newburgh;
George A., who is agent for the Anchor Brew
ing Company; Christopher, who is in business
with his father; Frank, now clerking for his elder
brother, George; and Maggie and Thomas, Jr.,
who are at home. The family are members of
St. Patrick's Church.
WILLIAM S. WANDS, one of the honored
and respected citizens of Newburgh, N. Y.,
is now living retired, resting in the enjoy
ment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born
at Dalhousie, New Brunswick, Canada, February
4, 1839. His father, James Wands, was a native
of Scotland, born in the historical old shire of
Stirling, not far from the battlefield of Preston
Pans, and was a son of John Wands, a school
teacher of Scotland, where he spent his entire life.
At the age of nineteen years the father came to
the New World, locating in the province of New
Brunswick, Canada, where he taught school, and
was there married, Miss Margaret Mcintosh be
coming his wife. She was a daughter of James
and Margaret (Burns) Mcintosh, and died in
Newburgh, in 1875. In 1852 the father brought
his family to the United States, making a location
at Newburgh, N. Y., where his death occurred
in 1875, at the age ok seventy-five years. The
parents were both faithful members of the Pres-

134

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

byterian Church. Our subject is the eldest son
in their family of six children, two sons and four
daughters, but three of the latter are now de
ceased. At the age of thirteen years William S. Wands
became a resident of Newburgh, where in the
common schools he received most of his educa
tion. Three years he spent at woodwork in a
cabinet-shop, but in 1857 began learning pattern-
making in the old Washington Iron Works, and
there remained until 1870, becoming a practical
workman. He then secured employment in the
West Point Foundry at Cold Springs, Putnam
County, where he remained as pattern-maker un
til 1880. Returning to Newburgh in that year,
he became Superintendent of the pattern depart
ment of the William Wright Engine Works,
where he continued until they were shut down in
1893, since which time he has lived retired.
In Newburgh Mr. Wands was united in mar
riage with Miss Anna Darby, who was born in
this city, and is a daughter of Capt. Andrew
Darby. Her father was Captain on the river for
many years, and his death occurred in 1859. To
our subject and his estimable wife have been born
two children. George M. is a resident of New
burgh; and Susie E. is the wife of William R.
Perkins, who is engaged in the wholesale and re
tail flour and feed business on Broadway, and
represents the Second Ward as Alderman in the
City Council, where he is serving as Chairman of
the Auditing Committee.
In 1888 Mr. Wands was elected a member of
the Board of Education on the Republican ticket,
and was re-elected in 1892. He is serving on the
Teachers' and Manual Training Committees, and
is Chairman of the Library Committee and the
committee on Compulsory Education. He has
ever taken a deep and abiding interest in educa
tional work, and during his term School No. 6
was built. Mr. Wands is a valued member of St.
John's Methodist Episcopal Church, and has a
wide influence in religious circles. He has served
as President of the Board of Trustees and has
filled many positions in the church. As early as
1859 he was made Assistant Superintendent of
the Sunday-school, and is now, and has been for

many years, Superintendent. He is ever found
on the side of right and justice, and is a citizen
whom any community might feel proud to claim.
He is a pleasing conversationalist, being a well
informed and well read man.

gYRUS D. HOAG. The old saying that in
dustry brings reward as surely as does vir
tue is proven in the life of the young gen
tleman whose name opens this sketch, and who
is one of the prominent and successful business
men of Newburgh. His ancestors were among
the wealthy land-owners of the state, his maternal
great-grandfather being the possessor of over one
thousand acres of land.
Our subject was born in Schenectady County,
N. Y., September 21, 1861. His father, Milton
R. Hoag, was a native of the same place, as was
also his grandfather, Sheldon Hoag, who was a
well-to-do farmer and a Quaker of English de
scent. Upon embarking in life for himself, Milton R.
Hoag established a dry-goods business at Middle-
burg, Schoharie County, where he was successful,
but in his later years retired, and now makes his
home with his son, our subject, though past the
age of threescore years and ten. His wife, for
merly Miss Ruth Briggs, was also born in Sche
nectady County, and is the daughter of Walter
Briggs, a large farmer of that locality. As before
stated, the great-grandfather owned over one thou
sand acres of land in a fertile portion of the state,
and became very wealthy. Mrs. Ruth Hoag is
also a member of our subject's household.
The parental family included seven children,
of whom Cyrus D. was the fourth-born. He was
graduated from the high school of Middleburg,
after which he began clerking in his father's
store, and later settled for a time on the home
farm. He then went to Gloversville, and ob
tained employment in the glove factory at that
place, where he remained for two years. After
his next move we find him in Schenectady,
where he hired out to the Gilbert Car Company,
being assigned to the paint department of this

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

large concern. Upon abandoning that occupa
tion he became an employe in the Edison Electric
Company, remaining with them until 1889, the
year in which he came to Newburgh. Here he
at once engaged in the grocery business, opera
ting for two years on Broadway, when he located
at his present stand at the corner of Lander Street
and Overlook Place. In addition to the stock of
groceries which he carries may be found a neat
and orderly meat-market, where the purchaser is
sure to find what he wants and at popular prices,
Mr. Hoag and Miss Marion Miller were mar
ried in this city, June 6, 1895. The lady was
born in Brooklyn, N. Y. , and is a well educated
and accomplished lady. Socially our subject is
a member of Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. &
A. M.; Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A.' M., and
Hudson River Commandery No. 35, K. T. He
was one of the charter members of Washington
Heights Hose Company No. 3, of which he has
been foreman, and he is at present a member of
its Board of Trustees, of which he has been Pres
ident. Mr. Hoag believes in the principles of the Dem
ocratic party, and gives his vote for the candidates
selected by it. A prominent and influential citi
zen, he is widely and favorably known, and his
sterling worth and strict integrity have won him
the confidence and high regard of all with whom
he has been brought in contact.

135

*+=

=+

pGjlLLIAM B. DOUGHTY. The prosperity
\ A / of a city is due to its business men, those
V V who develop its commercial interests and
increase the magnitude of its enterprises. As
one of this class we present the name and sketch
of William B. Doughty, successor in business to
his father, the late Charles H. Doughty. The
building occupied by him stands at No. 112 Wa
ter Street, and is 18x80 feet in dimensions, and
two and one-half stories in height. Here may
be found a complete assortment of stoves, ranges,
hot-air furnaces, hot-water and steam-heating ap
paratus, and everything that belongs to a model

hardware store.- At the rear of the second floor
there is a workshop in which ironware is manu
factured. The projector of this enterprise, which has long
been one of the most solid of Newburgh, was
Charles H. Doughty, who was born in the town
of Fishkill, Dutchess County, in 1819, being the
descendant of one ofthe nine partners who owned
a large tract of land on which later 011 the village
of Poughkeepsie was built. At the age of fifteen
he came to Newburgh and learned the tinsmith's
trade under Phillips, Lomas & Randall. Upon
the completion of his apprenticeship, he returned
to Fishkill on the Hudson, in 1840, and started a
tinware and stove business, which he conducted
for three years. In 1844 he opened a store at
No. 112 Water Street, Newburgh, forming a part
nership with John Gordon.
During the California mining ' ' epidemic, ' '
when thousands were going to the Pacific Coast,
Mr. Gordon opened a branch house in that state,
and Mr. Doughty, who remained in Newburgh,
shipped him stoves and tinware in large quanti
ties, sometimes $20,000 worth in a single ship
ment. The partnership continued for twelve
years, when it was dissolved, Mr. Doughty tak
ing the Newburgh business, and Mr. Gordon that
in California. After becoming the sole proprietor
ofthe business, Mr. Doughty continued at the
old stand, conducting business until his death,
May 13, 1894. Among the public offices held by
him were those of member of the Board of Health
and Board of Village Trustees. He was a char
ter member of Highland Lodge, I. O. O. F., and
Evergreen Lodge of Fishkill, in which he passed
the various chairs and also served as Deputy De
gree Master for the district. For thirty years or
more he held membership in Newburgh Lodge,
F. & A. M. For sixteen years he was Secre
tary of the Board of Trustees of Trinity Method
ist Episcopal Church.
The mother of our subject, Sarah E. Gubbins,
was born in the town of Newburgh, and is now
(1895) seventy -four years old. Three of her four
children are living, namely: W. B., Mary L-
and Elizabeth. Our subject was reared in New
burgh, and received a good education in Chester

136

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Acad em y . From boyhood he was familiar with
the business in which his father engaged, and at
the death of the latter he succeeded to the pro
prietorship of the concern, which he has since
carried on successfully. Socially he is identified
with Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M.
For fifteen years he was connected with the Na
tional Guard of New York, belonging first to
Company E of the Seventeenth Battalion, and
later to the Tenth Separate Company, in which
he was Sergeant. He is a member of the Veter
ans' Association of the Fifteenth Separate Com
pany. By the people among whom he has passed
his entire life he enjoys an enviable reputation
as a keen, sagacious business man, whose com
mercial success and agreeable social attributes
alike commend him to public favor.

QHILIP McGIVNEY. In these days of
yr modern improvements, sanitary plumbing is
\H looked upon as of more importance than all
others, as on it hangs the health of the communi
ty at large. Mr. McGivney has not lost sight of
this fact, and by his conscientious and practical
work has established a lasting reputation in New
burgh as a good workman.
Born in County Longford, Ireland, about 1840,
our subject came with his parents to America on
the sailing-vessel " Columbia," in 1850, coming
direct to Newburgh. The parents, Patrick and
Catherine (Masterson) McGivnejr, were natives
of Ireland, where the former was an agriculturist.
They had a family of six children, three sons
and three daughters, of whom Philip was the
next to the eldest.
Our subject lived in his native land until he
was ten years old, when his parents set sail from
Dublin, spending more than five weeks on the
voyage. After attending St. Patrick's School
for two years, Philip entered the cotton-mills, re
maining there until i860. In that year, however,
he decided to learn the plumbing business, and
was apprenticed to John Flannagan, under whose
instruction he continued for five years. Later he
entered the employ of McCan & Hays, and after

twenty-five years of faithful service decided to
embark in business for himself. Forming a part
nership with Mr. Drisgill in 1891, under the firm
name of McGivney & Drisgill, business was car
ried on at No. 159 Water Street for one year,
when our subject bought out his partner's inter
est and conducted the business alone.
In 1893 Mr. McGivney changed his location to
his present commodious quarters, No. 146 Water
Street, and here he conducts a remunerative bus
iness. Among the buildings in which he filled
the contracts for the plumbing may be mentioned
the following: Riverside Flats, Lynch House and
the Blackburn and Miller residences. His repu
tation for reliability and thoroughness is wide
spread, as is evidenced by the number of contracts
he has received from adjoining towns.
The marriage of Mr. McGivney occurred in
Newburgh, May 9, 1871, with Miss Catherine
Keenan, who was born in the same country as
was her husband, Ireland. Two children were
born of their marriage: Mar}', who is engaged as
bookkeeper by her father; and John, a plumber,
also employed by his father.
Politically Mr. McGivney is a Democrat. For
two terms of five years he has served as a mem
ber of Neptune Hose Company, Engine No. 2.
Religiously he is indentified with St. Patrick's
Catholic Church.

(JOHN DELANCY enjoys the distinction of
I being the oldest manufacturer in the city of
Q) Newburgh, and has certainly been the long
est located on Front Street, where he has a large
general blacksmith and carriage factory. He
also builds sleighs and trucks, brick carts, etc.,
and year by year his business is increasing, as
the merits of work turned out from his shop be
come known.
The parents of our subject were Michael and
Mary (McNamara) Delancy, both natives of Ire
land. The former was a gardener by occupa
tion, and followed that calling after emigrating
to Goshen, N. Y., in which place his death oc-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i37

curred. His family comprised eight children,
five of whom are still living. John Delancy was
born in Goshen, Orange County, July 9, 1834,
and was educated in the district school and in
Farmer Hall Academy. March 1, 1852, he com
menced an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's
trade under James Degroff, of Newburgh, and
remained with him for four years. At the end
of that time he became a partner of his former
employer, under the firm name of Degroff &
Delancy, and this connection existed until the
death of the first-named gentleman. Afterward
John Martin became a partner in the firm, and
in 1879 they moved to Nos. 7 and 9 Front Street,
where they are to-day. In 1880 Mr. Martin re
tired, and our subject's son, Charles H., for a
time was a member of the firm, but when he
took up medical study Mr. Colvill was admit
ted, the style being as at present, Delancy & Col
vill. The building occupied by them is 40x50
feet in dimensions and four stories in height.
The first floor is utilized for general blacksmith-
ing, the second for the wood-working department,
and the third and fourth for turning and paint
ing rooms. Large numbers of carts and brick
wagons are disposed of along the river, and the
concern probably has the largest trade in trucks
in the country.
In 1856 Mr. Delancy married Cornelia V
Cannon, who was born in Ulster County. The
family residence is at No. 10 Grand Street, and
is a pleasant and commodious dwelling. The
four children of our subject and his wife are Ira
J., who graduated from the Newburgh Academy,
and is now in business with his father; Dr.
Charles H. , likewise a graduate of the academy,
who obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine
from the Bellevue Hospital and College of Phy
sicians and Surgeons in New York City; May E.,
who is a teacher in the Third Ward School; and
Clara E., a teacher in the First Ward Gram
mar School. The daughters are both graduates
of the Newburgh Academy, and from the State
Normal School at Albany, N. Y.
Mr. Delancy is one of the oldest members of
Highland Lodge No. 65, I. O. O. F., of which
he has been an official, and has represented it

in the Grand Lodge of the state. He is also
Grand Patriarch and Past District Deputy of Mt.
Olive Encampment No. 65. Moreover, he belongs
to the Masonic Veteran Association and to Hud
son River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M. For many
years he served with Old Cataract Engine Com
pany No. 3, was Assistant Fireman, and was
First Assistant Engineer for three years under
Chief C. M. -Leonard. Fie is a member of the
Order of American Firemen, and belongs to C.
M. Leonard Council No. 7. In politics he has
been quite active, giving his allegiance to the
Democracy. In his religious faith he is a Meth
odist, and is an honored member of Trinity
Church.

r^ROF. JAMES S. RAFFERTY, organist of"
yr St. Mary's Catholic Church, Newbui-gh, and
fS an efficient instructor in vocal and instrument
al music, was born in this city, February 3, 1859.
His parents, James and Bridget (McGuire) Raf-
ferty, were residents of Newburgh for many
years, and here the father, who was a shipwright
by trade, passed away. The mother still makes
her home at this place.
The youngest of seven children comprising the
parental family, Professor Rafferty passed his
boyhood years in an uneventful manner, much
of his time being devoted to study in the pa
rochial schools. Evincing a fondness for music at
an early age, he was given the best advantages
for the cultivation of the talent for that art which
he so decidedly displayed. For many years his
studies were conducted under the personal direc
tion of Prof. Henry Brinig, after which for three
years he was a student under Professor Francke,
of New York.
Becoming an instructor on the piano and organ,
Professor Rafferty opened a music studio in
Poughkeepsie, but after a short sojourn in that
place he returned to Newburgh, where he ¦ has
made his home since 1884. During this time he
has held the position of organist of St. Mary's
Catholic Church, and prior to his return to this
city was organist of St. Peter's Church, Pough
keepsie. In the composition and compilation of

138

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

music he has displayed ingenuity and originality,
and his work in that line has brought him into
prominence among other musicians. He has
written and published an Ave Maria in E flat,
and one mass in C. For one year he resided in
Wilmington, N. C, where he was organist of St.
Thomas' Catholic Church, but Father Henry,
priest at St. Mary's, wrote urging him to accept
the position of organist in his church, and he re
turned to Newburgh in response to the urgent
appeal of that gentleman. He has charge of St.
Mary's choir of thirty-five members, conceded to
be one of the best in the city. While he has
made a specialty of teaching vocal culture, and
has a large number of scholars in it, he also gives
considerable attention to instrumental music, in
which he is a competent and thorough instructor.
Miss Mary T. Hawkins, who was born in
Brooklyn, became the wife of Professor Rafferty
in April, 1890. Two children, Sebastina Marie
and Gertrude, bless the marriage. Professor Raf
ferty is identified with the Musical Society of
Newburgh, and is interested in everything per
taining to his profession. He was reared in the
faith of the Catholic Church, and worships with
St. Mary's congregation.

=€>*-<!

(s^-

0AVID HENRY WARD was for long years
numbered among the enterprising and pub
lic-spirited citizens of Newburgh. His death ,
which occurred in April, 1895, was felt by his
associates and hosts of friends to be a great gen
eral loss, and his memory is kept by them in all
tenderness. His widow is now in charge of the
grocery business in which he was formerly inter
ested at No. 3 Water Street, and has been a
prominent factor in its success, having kept the
books for fourteen years. She is a lady of great
executive ability, and is thoroughly competent to
undertake and carry commercial enterprises to a
successful issue.
Mr. Ward was born in Newburgh, in June,
1858, being a son of Samuel, and grandson of
Stephen Ward. The latter owned and carried on
a farm at Middle Hope, Orange County, and

lived to a good old age. Samuel Ward from his
boyhood was a sailor, and for years ran on a
sloop. In later life he engaged in buying and
selling wood in Newburgh, and then started a
grocery on Lander Street, subsequently removing
his location to Water Street. He died in May,
1887. His faithful wife, who before their mar
riage was Mary J. Edmonson, was a native of
Newburgh, and she also has been summoned to
the silent land.
The elder of two children, D. H. Ward re
ceived good advantages in the way of an educa
tion, attending both the public schools and the
academy at Newburgh. Believing that the
printer's trade would be most in accord with his
tastes, he worked for E. M. Ruttenber until he
was obliged to abandon the calling on account of
poor health. His father then took him into busi
ness with him, and after the senior's death Mr.
Ward became sole proprietor. He improved the
property, introducing modern appliances, elevator
service, etc., and enlarged the trade. He did
both a wholesale and retail business, and occiu
pied the whole building, 22x90 feet, four stories
and basement, on Water Street. He was always
anxious to meet the wants of his customers, and
never failed to secure their respect and friendship.
He was a member of Washington Steamer Com
pany No. 4, and always used his ballot in sup
port of the platform and nominees of the Repub
lican party.
In July, 1 88 1, the marriage of Mr. Ward and
Emma L- King took place in this city. Mrs.
Ward was born in Newburgh and was a daugh:
ter of John King, also one of this city's native
sons. By trade he was a pattern-maker, and for
many years he was superintendent of John Has-
kins' oilcloth works on Broadway. Since the
death of his employer, Mr. King has been retired,
though still living in this city. His wife, Mar
garet, was a daughter of John McCloy, a pioneer
farmer of this locality and of Scotch- Irish de
scent. Mrs. King, who was born in Newburgh,
departed this life in 1890, aged sixty-eight years.
Mrs. Emma Ward is the third in a family of
seven children, four of whom are living. She
was reared and educated here, and graduated

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i39

from the academy when only fifteen years of age.
Then, passing an examination, she obtained a
teacher's certificate and was employed in the
Newburgh schools for a year, afterwards teach
ing in New Windsor Town for six successive
years. She is a member of Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, and has been a worker in the
primary department of the Sunday-school for sev
eral years.

 •}>K®(f||l®^|-C;<'"

~t-4-

^ /I OSES SLOAN. Probably no man in New-
V burgh is better known to its residents than
(*"} the gentleman whose name opens this sketch
and who is engaged in the grocery business. He
has been remarkably successful in this business,
and owns one of the largest and best stocked es
tablishments in the city.
Mr. Sloan is a native of this city, and was born
August 22, 1855, to John and Martha (Caulfield)
Sloan. They were both natives of Ireland, born,
respectively, in Counties Down and Antrim. The
father followed farm pursuits until he came to
America, in 1853. He located immediately at
Newburgh, where he was employed as truckman
until his decease, in 1893, when seventy-six years
of age. He was a Republican in politics and a
member in good standing of the United Presby
terian Church. The mother came to America
when a young lady with her parents, and here
passed the remaining years of her life, dying in
Newburgh. John Sloan was married, previous
to his union with the mother of our subject, to
Miss Jane Gabby, and after the death of his sec
ond wife he was united with Miss Isabella J.
Carse, who survives him.
Our subject has one sister living, Sarah, who
makes her home in this city. Jennie, the daugh
ter of the third marriage, is likewise a resident of
Newburgh. Moses, of this sketch, was educated
in the public schools of this city, and also attend
ed the academy here until fifteen years of age.
He then began clerking for Alexander Leslie, a
grocer of this city, remaining in his employ for
seven years. He was very industrious and eco

nomical, and in 1878 established in business for
himself, opening a store in the Opera House
Building. For fifteen years he carried on a very
successful business at this stand, and then erected
a brick building almost opposite, at No. 69 Sec
ond Street. This was completed and ready for
occupancy iu 1893. It is three stories in height,
is stocked with staple and fancy groceries, and
contains every delicacy in the way of fruits in their
season. He hires three men to assist him, and
takes and delivers orders all over this city and
the surrounding country. His prices are popu
lar, and the courteous treatment and prompt at
tention given to all customers result in securing
their steady patronage.
Moses Sloan and Miss Carrie Blair were mar
ried in this city, July 12, 1890. The lady was
born here and is the daughter of Samuel H. Blair,
formerly a grocer on Broadway, but who is now
living retired. To them has been born a daugh
ter, Ethlyn. Mr. Sloan has been Trustee and is
now Steward of St. John's Methodist Episcopal
Church, and takes great interest in the work of
the same. He is a Republican in politics, and
socially is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He
owns much valuable real estate in the city, and
is regarded as one of the most influential and
substantial residents of the place.

HON. RUSSEL HEADLEY started out in
life under the fostering care of a brilliant,
cultured and literary ancestor. His father,
having traveled extensively in Europe, and pos
sessing broad knowledge, also by merited suc
cess having acquired fame as an author, could by
these influences place his son upon a brilliant ped
estal, which he has utilized as a stepping-stone
to his present prominence.
Before presenting in detail the events in the
life of the subject of this article, it is fitting and
appropriate that mention should be made of his
father, Hon. Joel T. Headley, whose writings
have brought him into prominence and secured
the warmest praises of the press of this country
and Europe as well. His life began December

140

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

30, 18 1 3, in Walton, Delaware County, N. Y.,
where his father was for many years pastor of
the Presbyterian Church. Selecting his father's
profession as his own, he entered Union College,
from which he was graduated in 1839. Later he
took a theological course in Auburn Theological
Seminary. After having been ordained, Mr. Headley ac
cepted the pastorate of the church at Stockbridge,
Mass. , but failing health soon obliged him to re
linquish his ministerial duties. In 1842 he went
to Europe, hoping that change of climate would
prove beneficial. While on the Continent he
wrote a number of articles that were favorably
received by the people, thus encouraging him to
devote himself more closely to literary work. His
"Letters from Italy," when published, met with
a cordial reception from the general public, and
also won merited praise from the highest critics.
On his return from Europe, Mr. Headley be
came associate editor of the New York Tribune,
accepting the position at the earnest request of
his friend, Horace Greeley. Unable, however,
to stand the confinement necessitated by the posi
tion, he resigned at the end of a year, and since
that time, with rare intervals of other work, has
devoted his attention to literary work. Among
his principal books may be mentioned "Napoleon
and His Marshals," "Washington and His Gen
erals," "History of the War of 1 81 2," "Life of
Cromwell," "Life of Havelock," Life of Scott
and Jackson," "Sacred Mountains," "fc'acred
Scenes and Characters, " " Sacred Heroes and
Martyrs," " Headley 's Miscellanies," "The
Imperial Guard, ' ' ' ' Chaplains and Clergy of the
Revolution," "The Great Rebellion," "Grant
and Sherman, ' ' ' ' Life of Farragut and Our Naval
Commanders," and " History of Great Riots."
Political honors, as well as literary fame, came
to Mr. Headley. In 1854 he was elected to rep
resent the First District of Orange County in the
Assembly, and the following year he was chosen
Secretary of State. In these, as in the other
positions he was called upon to fill, he rendered
the same earnest, faithful, efficient and honorable
service that has characterized him throughout
the varied scenes and associations of his long and

busy life. For about thirty-five years he has re
sided in Newburgh and vicinity, though his sum
mers are usually spent in the Adirondacks, the
beauty of which inspired him in much of his
literary work, while their balmy breezes brought
him renewed health and mental vigor. Devotion
to country has been one of his principal charac
teristics, and the patriotic attempts of the citizens
of Newburgh to secure the preservation of Wash
ington's headquarters received his warm support,
and for many years he has been President of the
Board of Trustees of the headquarters. To him,
more than any other person, is due the inception
and successful carrying out of the centennial cele
bration of 1883.
Turning now to the immediate subject of this
sketch, we find that he was born in Stockbridge,
Mass. , though the family home was at Newburgh.
In 1868 he entered Cornell University, graduat
ing four years later, and in 1874, upon complet
ing his legal studies, was admitted to the Bar.
While at Cornell he was honored by receiving
the commencement appointment, and delivered
the opening oration. The year following his ad
mission to practice, he was elected Clerk of the
Orange County Board of Supervisors, serving
in that capacity for two years. He was a mem
ber of the Seventeenth Battalion, and in 1879
was appointed Inspector of Rifle Practice. In
1881-83 he was Corporation Counsel, and during
the latter year he was elected District Attorney
of Orange County. Two years later he was re
elected, and continued to serve in that office until
1889, discharging the duties of that responsible
position in such a manner as to win the commen
dation of the people.
As an attorney Mr. Headley is an authority
on intricate legal points, and his practice has been
constantly on the increase. Under direction of
the game proctectors he has conducted numerous
suits for the state, and has invariably met with
success. Among the legal fraternity his works,
" Headley' s Criminal and Penal Code" and
" Headley 's Criminal Justice," are accepted as
books of reference upon their special subjects.
In the conduct of a case, he is logical, shrewd
and judicious, seeming at a glance to gain an in-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

141

sight into every detail connected with the matter
in hand. His knowledge of the law is extensive,
in fact almost exhaustive, and the eminent posi
tion he holds among other attorneys is justly de
served. Through his pleasant social connections Mr.
Headley has found a rest from his professional
cares, which otherwise might become onerous.
He is identified with the Manhattan Club of New
York City, the Newburgh City Club, the Powel-
ton Club (in which he is a Director), and the
Sullivan County Game Association, of which he
is Vice-President. March 1, 1894, Mr. Headley formed a partner
ship with Benjamin McClung, and the firm of
Headley & McClung occupies a conveniently lo
cated and elegant suite of rooms in the Brewster
Building on Smith Street. Like his father, Mr.
Headley is interested in matters of local interest,
and he is an active member of the Orange Coun
ty Historical Society and the Historical Society
of Newburgh and Newburgh Bay.
In October, 1888,. Mr. Headley married Miss
Adelia A. Jenkins, of Newburgh, who is a daugh
ter of Charles Jenkins, the well known Presi
dent of the Newburgh Savings Bank. Their
only living child is Allston.

<^»»»»4.»»»»-}.»»^»»»»»»-i*"»»»»'»X>
HZELL SMITH. In May, 1889, Mr. Smith
opened the grocery store at No. 43 Smith
Street, of which he has since been proprie
tor and owner. He has been in this block for
seventeen years, as prior to opening his own es
tablishment he had been in the employ of other
grocers in that block. In his establishment me
carries a full line of staple and fancy groceries,
table delicacies, produce and vegetables. The
reliability of his business transactions has brought
him the confidence of the people and a constantly
increasing trade, while his genial manners have
brought him a large social acquaintanceship.
The family of which our subject is a mem
ber has been identified with the history of the
Hudson Valley for several generations. His
grandfather, Newton Smith, was a soldier in the

War of 18 12 and a farmer of Greene County,
where the father of our subject, Theron Smith,
was born and reared. The latter learned the trade
of an iron-moulder in Dutchess County, and this
occupation he later followed in Ulster County.
In 1865 he settled in Newburgh, and was em
ployed as a foundryman in the Washington Iron
Works for a number of years, after which he re
tired from active work. His death occurred in
Newburgh at the age of seventy.
The mother of our subject, Elizabeth, was born
in Dutchess County, N. Y., where her father,
David Manchester, was a contractor and builder.
The family is of English and French descent on
both sides. Uzell Smith was the next to the
youngest of four children who attained mature
years. He was born in Kingston, N. Y., on
Christmas Day, 1855, and was a boy of nine years
when the family came to Newburgh. His edu
cation was obtained in the Third and Fourth
Ward Grammar Schools and in the First Ward
School. At the age of fourteen he began clerk
ing for Alexander Lendrum, with whom he re
mained for a year. He then spent three years in
the employ of John Reed and one year with Will
iam Hall. Afterward he was employed by James
Greer for one year, and later spent six years in
the employ of T. A. Simonson, until that gentle
man disposed of his store. Next he accepted a
clerkship with Moses Upright, with whom he
spent six years. After one year with D. H. Ward
he embarked in business for himself and has since
carried on a profitable trade. Being a man of
great energy, and having through a long clerk
ship gained a thorough knowledge of the busi
ness, he is prepared for the successful manage
ment of an establishment of his own.
In Newburgh, in August, 1888, occurred the
marriage of Uzell Smith and Miss Elizabeth E.
Cliff who was born in this city and is a daughter
of Benj amin Cliff Two children bless the union
Theron and Benjamin C. Socially Mr. Smith
is connected with the Order of United American
Mechanics. For thirteen years he has been an
active member of Washington Steamer Company
No 4 in which he was foreman two years and
Secretary two years, and is now serving his third

142

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

year as Treasurer ofthe organization. Politically
he advocates Democratic principles. His wife
holds membership in St. George's Episcopal
Church, and he is an attendant at the services of
St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church.

Qz

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|~~ OSTER BLOODGOOD, a progressive and
JM public-spirited young business man of New-
| * burgh, bears the reputation of doing the
finest work in carriage-painting in the city. He
was born near Ellenville, Sullivan County, N. Y.,
August 22, 1861. His father, Samuel Bloodgood,
is a native of New York City, and is a fine me
chanic in woodwork. For some time he was in
business as a wagon-maker in Brunswick, Ulster
County, after which he moved to Walden, this
county, then to Bloomingburg. He remained
in that city for some time and next went to Cir
cle ville, where he also followed his trade of
wagon- maker, working at it until his advanced
years compelled him to cease. He is now living
with his son Foster.
Sarah E., the mother of our subject, was born
in Sullivan County, N. Y., and had five children,
one of whom is deceased. Of these Foster is the
eldest. He was reared in Orange County and at
tended the district schools until sixteen years old,
when his father took him into the shops and there
he learned the art of carriage-painting. When
pronounced thoroughly competent to do fine work,
he went to New York City, and afterward to
Brooklyn, in both of which cities he held good posi
tions. We next find him in New Jersey , but his
stay there was of short duration, as he was called
home by the sickness of his father. He aided
him in his work for a year, then took charge of
the body -finishing department of the Watertown
Spring Wagon Company, continuing with that
firm for thirteen months. He next went to Woon-
socket, R. I. , having been offered the position of
foreman of the paint department of large carriage
shops there. From Woonsocket, in 1890, he came
to Newburgh and at once established in business
for himself, locating at No. 46 Chambers Street.

He makes a specialty of carriage-painting, and
occupies with this business two floors of his
building, which is 25x60 feet, and is furnished
with an elevator. In 1892 he opened a branch
house at Garrison, and has the finest trade in this
line of any house in the county. He has in his
employ five men, but gives personal attention
to the work, so that everything which leaves
his shop is warranted to give satisfaction.
Mr. Bloodgood was married, in Walden, to Miss
Sarah N. Sloat, a native of that place and the
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Sloat. To
them one son has been born, Elmer. Mr. and
Mrs. Bloodgood reside at No. 28 Montgomery
Street, where they have a pleasant and attractive
home. They are members of Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church , and in carrying on the good
work in their community they take an active
and leading part. In politics he is a Republican,
tried and true.

S5~

EAPT. JAMES T. CHASE, one of the old
employes ofthe Pennsylvania Coal Company
in Newburgh, is also Captain of the Fifth
Separate Companjr of the New York National
Guards. He was Chief of Police of the city for
two years under Mayor Shutse, then resigned
from the office on account of a change in admin
istration. Until 1880 he voted with the Repub
lican party, but for the past fifteen years he has
given his allegiance to the Democracy. He en
joys the distinction of being one ofthe oldest meu
in the military service in the state, and received a
beautiful gold medal valued at $80 on the expira
tion of a quarter of a century of. steady military
duty. He has now been in the service for thirty-
eight years, and in 1893 was in command of a
battalion as acting Major at the state encamp
ment at Peekskill.
James Chase, the Captain's paternal grandfa
ther, was of English descent. He died at Sag
Harbor, L. I., where he followed his trade as a
blacksmith for many years. The Captain's fa
ther, George N., was born at Riverhead, L. L,
and learned the trade of ship -carpenter. In 1835

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H3

he came to Orange County and secured work in
the New Windsor shipyards. In the spring of
1849 he located in Newburgh and was employed
as a ship-carpenter, later being Captain of the
night police for five years. Though now in his
eightieth year, he is still hale and hearty, and as
a matter of habit and choice is at his post of duty
every day. His wife, Mary B. Nicholson, was
born in New Windsor, and her death occurred in
May, 189 1 , when she was in her seventy-fifth year.
Her father, Thomas, was a native of Orange
County, and from the time he was nine months
old had the 'great misfortune to be blind, but in
spite of this fact was a fine workman. His wife
was a daughter of Maj. Samuel Logan, who won
his title in the Revolutionary War wheu he went
out with the New Windsor regiment, being cap
tured in a fort and held a prisoner for two years
in the New Jersey prison ship.
Captain Chase is one of three living children,
and is the only son. He was born in the town of
New Windsor, June 17, 1838, and passed his boy
hood in Newburgh , where he obtained a fair edu
cation. When he was sixteen years old he com
menced learning the business of calking ships
under his father's instruction in the Newburgh
shipyards, and has ever since followed the trade,
being one of the oldest employes of the Pennsyl
vania Coal Company. September 22, 1858, our
subject became a member of the Washington Con
tinental Guards under Capt. Isaac Wood, serving
until the war came on, when most of the company
enlisted. The Captain became a member of the
Nineteenth New York Militia, serving for three
months as Sergeant. When the regiment was
' reorganized into the One Hundred and Sixty-
eighth New York, he enlisted in Company G as
First Lieutenant, and was stationed in Virginia
for nine months, during which time he took part
in the battle of Walkertown . Finally the com
pany was attached to the Eleventh Army Corps
and sent to, southwestern Alabama, when, their
term expiring, they were sent home.
February 23, 1865, the Captain re-enlisted in
Company A, Fifty-sixth New York Veteran Vol
unteers, as a private, serving at Charleston, S. C,
Abbeyville and other points until December,

1865. He assisted in fixing up the Confederate
treasury records and sent them to Washington.
He was mustered out at Charleston and received
his final pay in December. In 1866 he re-organ
ized the Continentals in Company D of the Nine
teenth Regiment of National Guards, being made
First Lieutenant, and a year and a-half later,
February 12, 1868, was made Captain. He con
tinued in that position for over ten years, or until
the battalion was disbanded, May 19, 1878. On the
10th of the following October he was appoint
ed Adjutant on the staff of Lieutenant-Colonel
Hayt, of the Seventeenth Battalion, and March
17, 1881, was promoted to be Captain of Company
A of the same battalion, which company became
the Fifth Separate Company, January 1, 1882.
He is well posted in military rules and now has
his fifth system of tactics. For fourteen years he
was a member of Washington Engine No. 4, and
is now on the honorary list.
In Newburgh, in 1861, Captain Chase married
Miss Mary J. Abbott, who was born in this city
and died in 1881, leaving two children: George
N., who is in the employ of the Automatic
Fire Extinguisher Company of New York; and
Bertha, wife of C. W. Mehrer, Jr., of Berkley
Arms, N. J. The Captain's present wife, for
merly Mrs. Anna Vines, was born in Utica, N. Y.
The home of the family is at No. 61 Beacon Street,
Washington Heights.

^^^iSmm*****,

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30HN EGAN, one of Newburgh 's successful
business men, was born in this town May 7,
1847. He is of Irish parentage, his father,
James, having been a native of the Emerald Isle,
where he learned the carpenter's trade, and after
coming to America followed his chosen occupation
for many years in the town of Newburgh. When
advanced in years he ceased his active labor and
came to the city of Newburgh, where he died at
the age of about ninety-two.
The mother of oUr subject, Catherine, was born
in Newburgh, and died in this city at the age of
fourscore years. Her father, Henry Gilmore,
was a native of Ireland and came to America

144

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

early in the present century, his being one ofthe
first Irish families to locate in Newburgh. The
exact time of his emigration is not known, but it
was doubtless about 1810, as the deed to the first
land that he purchased was dated February, 181 1.
By the marriage of James Egau and Catherine
Gilmore there were born nine children who at
tained mature years, our subject and three sisters
being the only representatives of the family in
Newburgh. The energetic disposition which our subject
possessed caused him at a very early age to begin
work for himself. He secured a position as a
farm employe, but not caring to follow agricult
ural pursuits, he learned the moulder's trade in
the Washington Iron Works, and at this he
worked steadily for a number of years. In 1876
he embarked in the milk and cream business in
the vicinity of Newburgh, and about 1883 erected
his present creamery, where the milk is received,
and from which it is delivered throughout the
city. In this way from fifteen hundred to two
thousand quarts are handled daily. In connec
tion with the creamery there is an excellent cool
ing system, by which the milk is kept in good
condition. Four wagons are run for delivery, and
the business is the largest of its kind in the city.
He buys the best and choicest dairy milk in the
vicinity of four or five miles, and handles confec
tionery, cakes and bread, and manufactures some
butter. He has also dealt extensively in real es
tate iu Newburgh.
In St. Mary's Church, Newburgh, 011 the 13th
of May, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of
John Egan and Miss Bridget Uphrasia Shields,
who was born in Ireland, but has spent her life
principally in Newburgh, having been brought
here in infancy. Their family comprised ten
children, namely: Mary C, Anna G., Elizabeth
K, Sarah, James F., John S. , Henry Gilmore,
Raphael, Vincent and Clement. All are living
except Sarah, who died at the age of six, and
Clement, who died when one month old. Mr.
Egan has served as Inspector of Elections, and is
a Democrat in national politics, though in local
matters he casts his ballot independently , support
ing the candidate who in his opinion will best

promote the welfare of the people. His member
ship, religiously, is in St. Patrick's Church, and
he belongs to the Catholic Benevolent League.

life

l!@*@ll

V/llSS LOUISA VIRGINIA GORSE. One
Y of the most potent factors in the progress
(9 of any section of our country is to be found
in the character and influence of its women of
education and refinement. Not only all who
come in contact with them, but all who live in
their vicinity, are insensibly refined and elevated
by their subtle influence. This is doubly true
when such characters add to their influence the
power of a gentle disposition and of superior artis
tic ability.
Among the ladies of Newburgh perhaps none
is better known than Miss Gorse, who is con
ceded to be one of the finest musicians of the city,
and who occupies the position of organist and
director of the choir in the Church of The Cor-
ner-Stone. She was born at Patchogue, Long
Island, where her father, Rev. Charles Gorse,
was at that time pastor of the Methodist Episco
pal Church. He was born in Fulton, Schoharie
County, N. Y., received a thorough education in
the theological seminary at Albany, and was or
dained to the ministry of the Methodist Episco
pal Church. For fifty years he filled different
pastorates, first in the New York Conference and
later in the New York East Conference. Much
of his time in later life was given to public lect
ures, which were conducted under the auspices
of the National Temperance Alliance. Oil retir
ing from the ministry, he settled in Newburgh,
from which place he was frequently called to sup
ply the pulpits at Washingtonville and New Ham
burg. From the time he joined the conference in
1840 until his death, in 1892, at the age of seventy-
seven, he was active in its work. Possessing a
rugged constitution, he was able to work assidu
ously without injury to his health. He was a
man ot fine physique, robust and well propor
tioned, and in every enterprise with which he iden
tified himself he was influential and active. First
a Whig, he joined the Republican party on its

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H5

organization, but afterward his views somewhat
changed, and he became a Prohibitionist, voting
always for his party though its prospects for suc
cess were the slightest.
Robert Gorse, the grandfather of our subject,
was a native of Schoharie County, where he en
gaged in farming pursuits. His brother Ephraim
was a soldier in the War of 1812, and their fa
ther, also named Ephraim, was of English birth
and parentage. The mother of Miss Gorse bore
the maiden name of Eleanor Louisa Ireland, and
was born in Watervleit, near Albany, N. Y.
Her father, Rev. Thomas Ireland, a native of
Schaghticoke, labored for many years in the min
istry of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died
at an advanced age. Mrs. Gorse is still living,
and makes her home with our subject. The
other children are Dr. C. A., a graduate of the
medical department of the New York University
and a practicing physician of the town of Corn
wall, N. Y.; and Eleanor Victoria, wife of Con
rad Ruso, who is engaged in the commission
business in Albany.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Miss
Gorse were exceptionally good. From early child
hood she has devoted attention to music, which
she studied in Brooklyn under Professor Durege
for one year, and then engaged in giving piano
lessons in. Columbia County. In 1879 she en
tered Vassar College, and three years later was
graduated from the musical department, mean
time teaching music at LaGrange in order to pay
her way. From childhood her services have been
in requisition as church organist, and for a time
she sang in the choir of the Baptist Church of
Albany. After graduating, she taught vocal
music in Miss Butler's Classical and Home In
stitute at Poughkeepsie.
In 1883 Miss Gorse came to Newburgh, where
she has since been engaged as vocal and instru
mental teacher, in addition to which, since 1885,
she has been organist and director of the choir in
the Church of The Corner Stone. Anxious to
still further perfect herself in her profession, she
went to New York City in 1892, and there took
a special course both in vocal and instrumental
music under Prof. A. L- Parsons, of the Metro

politan College. There she studied the synthetic
method, which she now teaches. Frequently she
has given musicals and concerts, all of which have
been most successful. She is Second Vice-Presi
dent of the Church Music Association, and in
religious belief is identified with Trinity Meth
odist Episcopal Church.

-*>=->

J^U+

. DWARD STOCKER. That persistent in-
"y dustry and good judgment almost invariably
__ bring success is a fact, the truth of which
has never been disputed, and upon the possessor
of these traits of character fortune usually show
ers her blessings. Doubtless to these qualities,
more than to anything else, is due the prosperity
which has rewarded the business enterprises of
Mr. Stocker, of Newburgh. He is the senior
member of the firm of Stocker & Brill, proprietors
of the largest staple and fancy wholesale grocery
in the city.
This firm, which was established in 1894, car
ries on business in their commodious building at
Nos. 2 and 4 Front Street, on the corner of First.
The store is 40x68 feet in dimensions and five
stories in height, with a basement. All modern
conveniences for the management of the business
have been introduced, and the structure is a
model of its kind. In addition to this building
there is a warehouse on South Water Street 60x80
feet, four stories high, and with a capacity for
storing seven thousand barrels of flour. The fa
cilities for shipping are excellant, both filestore
and warehouse having a railroad switch from the
Erie, so that goods can be rolled to and from the
cars directly without any intermediate handling.
The business is exclusively wholesale, the trade
extending over a radius of two hundred miles, in
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, while
shipments are also made into Pennsylvania.
Seven salesmen are employed on the road, and in

146

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

all the firm has twenty-five men in its employ.
Everything is carried in stock for which there is
a demand in the retail line, and they have a num
ber of fine specialties. Of canned goods they have
the largest stock on the Hudson River, and they
import olives and tea and coffee, having the
largest business in the latter Hue of any firm in
Newburgh. They are agents for the Russell &
Miller Milling Company, proprietors of the Grand
Republic Mill at West Superior, Wis. , one of the
finest mills in the Northwest, and the only one
concerning which a favorable report was made by
the German Commissioners.
Some reference to the life and ancestry of Mr.
Stocker will be of interest to our readers. His
grandfather, Capt. William Stocker, was born in
New Hampshire, of English descent, and was for
many years captain on a vessel plying the waters
of the Atlantic between the Old and New Worlds.
The father of our subject, William, Jr., was born
in Portsmouth, N. H., and in early life was em
ployed as a contractor in Massachusetts, assisting
in buildingthe Boston, Hartford &Erie Railroad,
the Grand Trunk and other eastern roads. In
1867 he located in Newburgh, where he was em
ployed on the Boston, Hartford & Erie, now the
New York & New England Railroad, until the
failure ofthe company. He died in this city June
27, 1887, when within three daj^s of being sev
enty-five years of age. He was a Unitarian in
religious belief, and a Democrat in politics. His
wife, Rebecca Sheldon Towne, was born in the
eastern part of Massachusetts, where her father,
Ansel Towne, a native of Maine, had settled and
engaged in farming pursuit. She died in 1882,
aged sixty-eight years.
The family of William Stocker consisted of
three sons and three daughters. Four arrived at
years of maturity, and three are now living.
William, who died in Newburgh, was supercargo
with a Boston house engaged in the African
trade. The three now living are Mary, Mrs.
Frank Pierce, of Philadelphia; Edward; and Liz
zie, Mrs. George Trimble, of Newburgh. Our sub
ject was born in Chelsea, Mass., March 23, 1854,
and was educated in the schools of Boston. In
1867 he accompanied his father to Newburgh,

and the following year entered the employ of
E. T. Skidmore, for whom, in the spring of 1869,
he began to travel on the road. In the spring of
1876 he resigned that position, and was the first
salesman to start on the road for James A. Town-
send & Co., with whom he remained until 1884.
Forming a partnership with John W. Matthews,
iu February, 1884, Mr. Stocker embarked in the
wholesale business, owning a half-interest in the
firm of J. W. Matthews & Co. The business
was very successful, and Mr. Stocker continued
for ten years with the firm, having charge of the
outside trade and the salesmen on the road. The
partnership expired by limitation January 31,
1894, at which time Mr. Stocker withdrew, and,
with Jacob S. Brill, formed the present firm.
In addition to his other interests, Mr. Stocker
is a stockholder in the Palatine Hotel Company,
and a member of the Board of Trade, also of the
Commercial Travelers' Association. Everything
pertaining to his business receives due considera
tion from him, and he is identified with the
Wholesale Grocers' Association of New York
and vicinity. His religious views coincide with
those of the Unitarian Church. While not active
in politics, he is well posted concerning national
problems and is a firm Democrat. Socially he is
connected with the Orange Lake and Orange
Lake Ice Yacht Clubs and is a charter member of
the City Club.
In this city, October 19, 1881, was solemnized
the marriage of Edward Stocker and Miss Ella
Frances Cavauaugh, who was born in New York
City. Her father, Garrett Cavanaugh, was a
well known confectioner on Water Street, New
burgh, and was also similarly engaged in New
York City. He died March 23, 1893. Her
mother, Sarah A. , was a native of England, and
a daughter of William Hood, who was closely re
lated to the famous English poet, Thomas Hood.
Mrs. Cavanaugh is still living, and now makes
her home in Balmville. Mrs. Stocker was edu
cated in the Newburgh Free Academy, and is a
cultured and amiable lady. Three cliildren have
been born of the union, Edith, Christine and
James, who reside with their parents at No. 159
Grand Street.

'4% ^aA

m

R. V. K. MONTFORT, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

KV. K. MONTFORT, M. D. Doubtless few
of the residents of Newburgh have pro
moted its educational interests in such an im
portant degree as has Dr. Montfort, whose twen
ty-one years of service as Superintendent of
Schools render him thoroughly familiar with the
work, and qualify him for the intelligent manage
ment of affairs. His long retention in the posi
tion, and the advancement which the schools-
have made under his administration, prove his
fitness for the work better than mere words could
do. In addition to this position, he is officiating
as Clerk of the Board of Education, and also en
gages in the practice of his* profession.
The Montfort family is of French-Huguenot
origin. The parents of our subject, James and
Catherine (Odell) Montfort, were natives of
Dutchess County, N. Y., and the former, who was
a fancy weaver by trade, died there when R. V. K. ,
the youngest of his six children, was an infant of
three weeks. The mother, who was a member
of a family once prominent on Long Island, died
in Dutchess County at the age of eighty years.
The Doctor was born in the village of Fishkill,
N. Y., March 23, 1835, and in boyhood attended
Dr. Pingree's private school. At the age of fif
teen he began to teach in the country, boarding
around among the pupils. In 1853 he came to
Newburgh and taught in what is now the high
school, then having but three teachers.
Very soon after his arrival in Newburgh, our
subject began the study of medicine under Dr.
G. C. Monell, and in 1855 he entered the Albany
Medical College, from which he was graduated
the following year with the degree of M. D.
From that time to the present (1895), he has con
tinued the practice of the profession in this city,
though, owing to the other demands upon his
time, he has never been permitted to devote his
entire attention to it. In 1859 he was elected
Clerk and Superintendent of the schools, and re
tained the position until August, 1862, when he
resigned in order to enter the army. Accepting
a commission as Assistant Surgeon of the One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry
(familiarly known as the "Orange Blossoms"),
he went with his regiment to the front, and was
3

on every battlefield of the Army of the Potomac
from Chancellorsville until the end of the war
being one of the five original officers who served
with the regiment during its entire term of serv
ice. In March, 1865, he was promoted to be
Surgeon, the Surgeon-in-Chief of the Third Di
vision, Second Corps, indorsing the numerously
signed recommendation for his promotion with
these words: "There is no medical officer with
whom I am acquainted more worthy or better
qualified for promotion than Dr. Montfort."
This was further indorsed by the Medical Director
ofthe Second Corps, who said, "I fully concur."
Mustered out ofthe service in June, 1865, the
Doctor returned to Newburgh and resumed pro
fessional work In 1866 he was appointed
Health Officer of the city, and served for four
years. 1 11 1865-66 he was physician to the alms
house, and from 1866 until 1882 he was physician
to the Home for the Friendless. He was a mem
ber of the staff of St. Luke's Hospital from its
organization until 1892. In 1868 he was Assist
ant Cattle Commissioner to investigate the out
break of Texas fever in Orange County, and In
spector of the State Board of Health to investi-"
gate the outbreak of supposed typhus fever dur
ing .the construction ofthe West Shore Railroad.
Six or eight life-insurance companies have him
as their medical examiner. He is a prominent
member of the Orange County Medical Society
and has served as its President.
In 1872 Dr. Montfort was appointed Clerk and
Superintendent of the schools, and served con
tinuously until 1883. In 1887 he was again ap
pointed to the position, which he has since held.
There has been a steady growth in the import
ance of and facilities for the work. In 1859 there
were thirteen teachers; in 1895 there are ninety-
two. The buildings have been erected under the
administration of Dr. Montfort, and the excel
lent system of grading now in force was intro
duced by him. Among the educators of New
York he is prominent and influential. In 1894-
95 he served as President of the State Council of
Superintendents, and is a member of the National
Council of Superintendents.
The first marriage of Dr. Montfort took place

15°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in 1 86 1 and united him with Margaret Daugha-
day, a native of Newburgh, who died in 1864,
while he was in the army. She was the mother
of one daughter, who died at the age of about
eight months. In 1870, in Newburgh, he mar
ried Miss Theodosia B. Crowell, who was born in
Coldenham, and is a daughter of a successful
physician of New York City. Two children bless
their union, Helen G. and Clive W., the elder of
whom is a member of the Class of '95, New
burgh High School.
In 1867 Dr. Montfort was a charter member of
Ellis Post, G. A. R., and is still actively iden
tified with the organization. Seven times its
Commander, he is now serving his fifth con
secutive term. He is a member of the Third
Corps Union, which, having been organized in
the field, is the oldest of all army societies. An
Episcopalian in religious belief, he is a member
ofthe Board of Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church.
In his political opinions he is a Republican. In
the work of founding the Young Men's Christian
Association he was active, and for twenty years
he took an influential part in its affairs. At the
time of the centennial celebration he served as
Secretary of the committee having charge of the
work, a position of great responsibility, coupled
with the most arduous labor, but the duties of
which he discharged in such a manner as to
signally promote the success of the celebration.
In every position to which he has been called,
and in every enterprise in which he has engaged,
he has given his time, thought, energy and
ability, with a steadfast devotion that has invari
ably brought success.

mmm&«mmm^

sz

STANTON GLEASON, M. D. In ad
dition to being a skilled practitioner of the
medical profession, Dr. Gleason is also
prominently identified with the educational inter
ests of Newburgh, being a member of the Board
of Education, and an active promoter of the free
schools. Although quite a young man, he has
already gained more than ordinary success, and

possesses large influence in his community, a fact
which is accounted for by his strong principles,
his concern in the welfare of all around him, and
the genial manners which are the crowning
charm of a fine nature.
On the paternal side, Dr. Gleason is of Eng
lish descent, while through his maternal ances
tors he traces his lineage to Holland. The Glea
son family originated in Glastonbury, England,
and their name is derived, with a slight altera
tion, from the name of that town. The father
of our subject, Rev. William H. Gleason, D. D.,
was a son of Rev. William Gleason, a Presby
terian clergyman, and was born in Durham,
Conn., September 28, 1833. At the age of six
teen he entered Yale College, from which he was
graduated in 1853, with the degree of A. B.
Later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon
him. Among his classmates who afterward at
tained national fame were Andrew D. White,
Wayne McVeagh, Senator Gibson and B. K.
Phillips. After his graduation, W. H. Gleason engaged
in the mercantile business at Sag Harbor, Long
Island, but not caring to make that his occupa
tion for life, he devoted his leisure hours to the
study of law, and in 1857 was admitted to the
Bar. He at once began the practice of his pro
fession, in which he soon gained prominence and
success. His first ballot was cast for John C.
Fremont, and in his early years he was an ardent
politician. In 1864-65 he represented the First
District of Suffolk County in the Assembly, and
while in this position delivered an able eulogy
upon Abraham Lincoln, after the assassination of
the President. With others, he took an active
part in the project to build the Long Island Rail
road through to Sag Harbor. In 1868 he was
nominated by the Republican party for Member
of Congress, but the district being strongly Dem
ocratic, he was defeated, though he succeeded in
greatly reducing the majority of his opponent.
By all who knew him it was conceded, and just
ly, that he stood at the head of the Bar in East
ern Long Island.
Nothwithstanding his success in his profession,
Mr. Gleason retired from it to enter the minis-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

151

try, realizing that the latter profession offered
him greater opportunities for doing good unto
his fellow-men than that to which his previous
years had been devoted. He was ordained to
the ministry in the Presbyterian Church of Sag
Harbor, and at once entered upon the pastorate
of the Dutch Reformed Church of Newburgh,
remaining in this city for six and one-half years.
For the ten ensuing years he was pastor of the
Dutch Reformed Church of Newark, N. J., after
which he went to Hudson, N. Y. Owing to fail
ing health, he retired from the ministry in 1889,
and removed to New York City, where he died
February 21, 1891. He was a man of large cult
ure and noble character, one who would have
adorned any profession and been an honor to any
city. In 1881 he received the degree of D. D.
from Rutgers College, and at other times during
his busy life he was the recipient of honors from
his fellow-men. His first wife bore the maiden
name of Ellen Gladwin, and was a daughter of
John Gladwin, a merchant of Deep River, Conn.
She died in Newburgh in 1875, after having be
come the mother of six children, of whom three
are now living. His second marriage united him
with Miss Leila, daughter of Rev. D. S. Seward,
of Yonkers, and they became the parents of one
child. The next to the eldest child born of his father's
first marriage, the subject of this sketch is a na
tive of Sag Harbor, Long Island, his natal day
being July 24,1 860. After completing the studies
of the common schools, he entered Williston
Seminary, at Easthampton, Mass., and later was
a student in Amherst College. In Septem
ber, 1883, he began his medical studies at the
University Medical College, New York, under
the preceptorship of Prof. William M. Thomson.
After a thorough course in that institution, he
was graduated with honors, with the degree of
M. D., in 1886. A term of practical hospital
work followed, and he then opened an office in
Newburgh, where he has since conducted a re
munerative and large practice. In 1893 he pur
chased a very desirable property at No. 1 43 Grand
Street. In 1888 he was united in marriage with
Miss Grace, daughter of Hon. J. W. Hoysradt,

of Hudson, N. Y., and they became the parents
of one child, Charles Billings. The Doctor and
his wife are members of the First Presbyterian
Church of Newburgh.
Socially the Doctor is a member of Hudson
River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M.; Highland
Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; Hudson River Com-
mandery No. 35, K. T., and is also a member of
the Royal Arcanum. The Orange County Medi
cal Association and the Physicians' Mutual Aid
Association of New York City number him
among their members. During the administra
tion of President Harrison he was appointed a
member of the Board of Examining Surgeons
for Pensions, and served as Vice-President of the
Board. In 1893 he was elected a member of the
Board of Education, in which he is now serving
on the Finance Committee, and as Chairman of
the Teachers' Committee. In politics he is an
ardent Republican.

•#->$

>4fe<*

-t*-H

K-*

rgftr*-

pQlLLIAM LYNN, a retired merchant and
\ A I Prominent citizen of Newburgh , was born in
V V County Antrim, Ireland, near Ballymena,
about 18 1 9. His father, Adam Lynn, was a farmer
of that locality, a member of the Presbyterian
Church, and there died at the age of forty-five.
The grandfather, Hugh Lynn, was born in Ireland,
of Scotch parentage, and after serving in the Eng
lish army carried on agricultural pursuits. The
mother of our subject, Mrs. Martha Lynn, was
also born in County Antrim, and was a daugh
ter of William McCrory, a farmer. Accompanied
by her two daughters, she crossed the Atlantic
to America, and spent her last days with her son
William, her death occurring at the age of sev
enty-two. In the family were the following chil
dren • Hugh, who was killed by a runaway
horse; Sarah, who died in Ireland; Margaret
and Elizabeth, who came to this country, but
are now deceased; and William, the only sur
vivor of the family.

152

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Our subject was reared on the farm and at
tended a private school. On attaining his major
ity, he came to America, going from Belfast,
Ireland, to Liverpool, where he embarked on a
sailing-vessel, which after six weeks and two
days reached New York Harbor, April 30, 1841.
His capital at that time was less than $10, and
for a while he worked in New York City. In
July, however, he was taken sick, and was un
able to work for three months. In October,
1 841, he came to Newburgh, and in order to earn
a living hired to work out by the day ; but in
February, 1843, he secured a position with Ben
jamin Mace, an attorney residing in Balmville.
In the spring he engaged with a farmer for a
year, and on the expiration of that period be
came interested in the oil-cloth business in New
burgh. He learned the trade with John Hos-
kins, and afterward worked with W. Gunis,
continuing in that business altogether for about
twelve years as an employe.
In the mean time, in company with two others,
Mr. Lynn established a factory, but later sold
out and conducted a meat-market. He had a
horse and wagon and peddled goods for three
years, after which he opened a store, and so suc
cessful was he that in a short time he was doing
a wholesale business. For some time he was
alone in this undertaking, then admitted to part
nership Mr. Post, who continued a member of
the firm for six years, after which Mr. Lynn was
again sole proprietor. He purchased cattle and
sheep throughout the country, and made exten
sive shipments to New York, carrying on opera
tions along that line for eighteen years with
most excellent success. On his retirement, he
built a number of residences, and for a time did a
limited real-estate business, but has now practi
cally laid aside all business cares, although he
still owns considerable property, including his
residence at No. 21 South Miller Street.
Mr. Lynn married, in County Antrim, Ireland,
in 1841, Miss Mary Duff, who was a native of
that locality, and died in 1873. They had seven
children, of whom four grew to maturity: Mary,
wife of Thomas Nutt, of Newburgh; Mrs. Ma
tilda Brown, a widow living in Newburgh; and

Margaret and Sarah, twins, the former now Mrs.
Theil, and the latter the wife of S. F. Shaw.
For his second wife Mr. Lynn married Miss
Sarah Hilton, a native of the Emerald Isle, who
during her childhood came to America with her
father, Robert Hilton.
Mr. Lynn was formerly a member of the Cov
enanter Presbyterian Church, but has now for
many years been connected with the Reformed
Presbyterian Church. For fifteen years he served
as a Deacon, and for more than twenty years has
been a Ruling Elder. For many years he has
been a member of the Newburgh Bible Society,
and takes a deep and active interest in everything
calculated to uplift humanity. He takes no ac
tive part in politics, but votes with the Repub
lican party. In his business affairs he has pros
pered, and is now the possessor of a handsome
competence. Success is not the result of genius,
as many think, but the outcome of sound judg
ment, close application and perseverance, and
these elements have brought to Mr. Lynn his
possessions, and an honorable, upright life has
gained him the confidence of all.

->¦! fr-*F-« t~t-

~w

ISAAC C. CHAPMAN. Noted for its beau
tiful homes, Newburgh has few prettier resi
dences than the one at No. 164 Grand Street,
where the subject of this sketch resides. Mr.
Chapman is the owner of a large wholesale and
retail drug business at No. 1 1 1 Water Street, and
is one of the successful business men of the city,
having accumulated a large amount of property
through his energy, excellent judgment and fi
nancial ability.
The ancestral history of the Chapman family
extends, in this country, back to the year 1635.
The father of our subject, Paddock Chapman,
was born in the southeastern part of Putnam
County, near the Connecticut line, the year of
his birth being 1790. Grandfather Thomas Chap
man was born in the same place, May 5, 1760,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

153

and died in 1827. His wife bore the maiden
name of Deborah Close. Great-grandfather Isaac
Chapman was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1721,
and in 1740 settled in the southeastern part of
Putnam County, N. Y., where he died about
1780. His marriage united him with Miss Mary
Paddock, who was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1724.
Tracing the lineage back one generation, we
find that the father of Isaac was Isaac, Sr. , who
was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1692, and died in
1776. The father of the latter, whose name was
the same as his own, was born in Marshfield,
Mass., in 1647, and died at Dennis in 1737. He
was a son of Ralph Chapman, the progenitor of
the family in this country, who was born in
Southwark, Surrey County, England, and in
1635 emigrated to America, being then twenty
years of age. He settled in Marshfield, Mass.,
where his death occurred in 1671. His wife,
Lydia Willis, bore him six children, of whom
Isaac was the third child and eldest son. The
latter learned the blacksmith's trade under Col.
James Leonard, who had a forge at Rochester,
Mass. , and whose daughter, Rebecca, became his
wife. About 18 10 the father of our subject came to
Newburgh, where he embarked in business as a
baker and grocer on Water Street. For fifty-five
years he carried on business, and by his honesty
and uprightness in every transaction he gained
the good-will of the people.* In religious faith
he was a Presbyterian, and he worshiped in that
church until his death, April 2, 1865. His mar
riage in 1820 united him with Mary, daughter of
Joseph Hoffman, a native of New York City, and
of Holland-Dutch descent. His birth occurred
about 1773, and in 1793 he came to Newburgh
in the employ of Adolph de Grove, but subse
quently, in company with his brother John, he
purchased the establishment from Mrs. de Grove,
and this he continued as a bakery and confection
ery. He remained with his brother until 1804,
when he erected a building for himself, and con
tinued business until his death. In religious be
lief he was a Lutheran in early years, but there
being no organization of that kind in Newburgh,
he identified himself with St. George's Church

at the time of its organization, in 1805, and was
one of its active and prominent members until
his death. For several terms he served as a mem
ber of the Board of Trustees of the village of
Newburgh, and was also one of the Trustees of
the Glebe. It is said of him that he was a man
who possessed a thorough appreciation of right
and justice, and one whose life was governed by
the highest principles of honor. His marriage
united him with Maria, daughter of Abraham
W. Van Deusen, of New York, and they were
the parents of eleven children. Of these, Mary,
the mother of Isaac C. Chapman, was next to
the eldest. Joseph Hoffman died November 16,
1852, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife passed
away June 4, 1869, when in her ninety-fourth
year. Mary Hoffman was born in Newburgh,
and died in this city in 1866, aged sixty-six
years. Other twelve children, all but one at
tained years of maturity and eight are living, one
in Indiana, another in Brooklyn, and the others in
Newburgh. The subject of this sketch, who was the eldest
ofthe family, was born in Newburgh July 31,
1833, and was graduated from Newburgh Acade
my at fifteen years of age. He then went to New
York City, where from 1848 until 1851 he was
with Dr. James Syme, later was with Dr. Cleve
land in Charleston, S. C, and still later with Dr.
James Syme in New Orleans. In 1853 he re
turned to New York, and two years later came
to Newburgh, where he purchased the druggist's
stock and business of Henry 0. Heustis, and to
this he added, in i860, the stock and business of
Isaac Sebring Fowler, then at the store which he
has ever since occupied. He occupies an entire
building, four stories with basement, and 20x100
feet in dimensions. The building is furnished
with good improvements, including an elevator.
The first floor is utilized for offices and the retail
business, while the balance is devoted to whole
sale and storage purposes. .
In Newburgh, in 1856, Mr. Chapman married
Miss Letitia Kennedy, a native of this city, and
daughter of Washington Kennedy, who was a
carpenter and builder here. They have one son,
John H., of whom mention is made on another

154

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

page. While Mr. Chapman has been obliged to
give his attention mainly to his business affairs,
he also takes an intelligent interest in public af
fairs and is well informed on current topics. Be
sides his other enterprises, he served as a Direc
tor of the Warwick Valley Railroad, in place of
Robert Forsythe, deceased, but resigned when a
change was made in the road. Since 1862 he
has been a Director of the Newburgh Saving
Bank, and since 1882 has been its Secretary. In
1886 he became a Director of The National Bank
of Newburgh, which position he still retains. For
twenty years he has been a member of the Board
of Trustees of the Union Presbyterian Church.
In connection with his business, the name of
Mr. Chapman has become widely known among
others of the same occupation. He is now Vice-
President of the New York State Pharmaceutical
Association, and is a member of the American
Pharmaceutical Association. In Masonry he is
identified with Hudson River Lodge, F. & A. M. ;
Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; and Hudson
River Commandery No. 35, K. T. Politically
he has always adhered to Democratic doctrines.
In 1857-59 he was Clerk of the old town of New
burgh. In 1873 he was chosen Supervisor for
the Third Ward, a fact which indicates his popu
larity, as that ward was strongly Republican. As
a member of the fire department he has been
active and influential, and for six years he was
Secretary of the old hook and ladder company.
'HOMAS SMITH. In this gentleman, Fer
ry & Napier, the well known fur hat man
ufacturers of Newburgh, have a very effi
cient superintendent, one who is versed in all
departments of the business, and is therefore well
qualified for the important position he holds.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, James
Smith, was a hatter in Gorton, England, where
his son, the father of Thomas, was also engaged
in the same business. In '1869, however, the lat

ter emigrated to America, settling in Bloomfield,
N. J., where he continued at his trade until his
death, which occurred in August, 1870. Gorton,
England, was the birthplace of the mother, who
before her marriage was known as Ann Bowker.
Her father, Joseph Bowker, was also a hatter by
trade, as were many of his family before him.
The mother died in New Jersey, in 1887, when
sixty-three years of age.
In the parental family there were five children,
only one of whom, Thomas, was spared to reach
maturity. He was born March 15, 1854, in the
same place as was his father, Gorton, England,
where he lived until he had reached his sixteenth
year, when he emigrated with his father to Amer
ica. Prior to this, however, when twelve years
old, he had begun to serve an apprenticeship to
the hatter's trade under his father, continuing
in his employ until coming to America. After
settling in Bloomfield he finished his appren
ticeship with Hampson & Ellor, hat manufactur
ers of that place. He diligently applied himself
until twenty-one years of age, when he traveled
as a journeyman through* Connecticut, and New
ark and Orange, N. J. Later, in 1880, he be
came foreman of their factory, holding that posi
tion for two years. He .then became one of the
partners of Ellor, Law & Co., and until 1891 the
firm carried on a lucrative business in the manu
facture of hats in Bloomfield. It was at this
juncture that Mr. Smith became identified with
Ferry & Napier, who have been fortunate in re
taining his services up to the present time.
The factory is located on Washington Street,
and has a capacity for turning out three hundred
dozen hats per day. Two seventy-five-horse
power engines and two eighty and three ninety
horse-power boilers are required to carry on the
works, which are heated by steam. Employ
ment is given to four hundred employes, who are
distributed in the following rooms: forming, siz
ing, stiffening, dyeing, blocking, pouncing, fin
ishing, trimming and flanging rooms. The fur
used is shipped from the wholesale rooms, Nos.
21 and 23 West Fourth Street, New York City.
In connection with the factory there is also a box
manufacturing department.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In Bloomfield, N. J., in 1875, occurred the
marriage of our subject and Miss Katie Coons,
who was born in Schoharie, N. Y., and who is a
daughter of Peter Coons. Four interesting chil
dren have blessed this marriage: Bertha, Clara
L, Annie M. and Etta. The home is pleasantly
located at No. 38 Liberty Street, Washington
Heights, and there they entertain their many
friends. Mr. Smith is greatly interested in educational
matters, and while residing in Bloomfield was a
member of the Board of Education. Formerly
he was connected with Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M. ,
of Bloomfield, but now holds membership with
Hudson River Lodge of Newburgh. Since 1873
he has been a member of the Methodist Episco
pal Church, and is now serving as Class-leader
in Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of New
burgh. While in Bloomfield he served as Treas
urer of the Board of Trustees, on the Board of
Stewards and as Class-leader. Politically he is a
Prohibitionist, with Republican tendencies.

^????????????^???????????**>(>
(|AMES F. TEMPLETON, who is numbered
I among Newburgh 's most successful con-
Q) tractors, was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland,
June 28, 1845. As far back as the family record
extends, the ancestors have resided in the ' 'land
of heather, ' ' and have been people of recognized
worth of character and strength of intellect. The
grandfather, John Templeton, was born in Dum
friesshire, where he engaged in agricultural pur
suits. Like the others of his name, he was a con
sistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
The father of our subject, William Templeton,
was born in Wigtonshire, and in the parish of
Glenluce he passed his entire life, dying at the
age of eighty-one. He married Miss Annie Pat-
erson, who was born in Scotland in 1809, and
died March 12, 1895, aged eighty-six years. Her
father, George Paterson, was born in Wigton
shire, and continued to make his home there
throughout life. James F. is one of a family of
seven sons and six daughters, of whom three sons
and three daughters are still living. Two broth

ers, Alexander and William, settled in Newburgh,
where the former followed the business of a con
tractor, and the latter was a carpenter; both died
in this city.
Among the thirteen children James F. was the
eighth in order of birth. He was reared in Glen
luce, where he attended the common schools and
aided his father, who was a contractor and build
er. At the age of sixteen he commenced to learn
the carpenter's trade under the instruction of his
father, gaining a thorough knowledge of every
department of the work. In 1865 he went to
Glamorganshire, South Wales, where he worked
at his trade for three years. On the 19th of June,
1868, he took passage from Glasgow on an Amer
ican-bound steamer, which landed him in New
York on the 4th of July, after a voyage of fifteen
days. For two years after coming to the United States,
Mr. Templeton worked for his brothers, after
which he was in the employ of William Hilton &
Son for thirteen years. In 1881, forming a part
nership with George Usher, under the firm name
of Usher & Templeton, he started in business for
himself, and the connection continued until 1895,
when Mr. Templeton bought out his partner's
interest and has since carried on the business
alone. He has been a successful business man,
and the work that he has done has been entirety
satisfactory to the parties concerned. He has
erected many of the residences in the city, and
while in partnership with Gerge Usher also had
the contract for the City Hall, the McGregor and
Fletcher Blocks, and a number of other important
public office buildings. At different times he has
had in his employ from fifteen to thirty men, hav
ing conducted the business on an extensive scale.
He owns eighty-six feet frontage on Chambers
Street, at Nos. 30-32-34, where he owns two res
idences and has his office and shop.
In Newburgh Town, in 1870, Mr. Templeton
married Miss Jessie McGregor, who was born in
Wigtonshire, Scotland, but was brought from
there to America by her father, John McGregor,
who became a farmer in New Windsor Town.
Four children comprise the family of Mr. and
Mrs. Templeton, namely: George, a graduate of

156

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Newburgh Academy, and now his father's assist
ant; Annie, also a graduate ofthe academy; Mabel,
a member of the Class of '96, Newburgh Acader
my; and William.
Politically Mr. Templeton is a Republican. In
1886 he was elected Alderman from the Second
Ward 011 his party ticket, and two years later he
was re-elected, serving four years altogether.
During his incumbency of this responsible posi
tion he was Chairman ofthe Sewer Committee, and
a member of.the Police, Light, Finance and Fire
Department Committees. In 1894 he was elected
Water Commissioner for five years, his term be
ginning in March of that year. While acting in
this capacity he has been Chairman of the Im
provement Committee, and a member of the Sup
ply Committee. Socially he is a Mason, and a
past officer in the order of Odd Fellows. In re
ligious connections he is a member ofthe Associ
ate Reformed Church on Grand Street.

SHARLES L- C. KERR is Cashier of The
National Bank of Newburgh, and is one of
our most enterprising business men. He
was born and bred in this city, with whose history
and success his own has been thoroughly identi
fied. With all with whom he comes in contact
in any way he is very popular and justly esteemed.
Ever since he entered the business world, which
he did in his seventeenth year, he has been con
nected in one capacity or another with this noted
banking institution, and from time to time has
been promoted, for the past five years serving in
his present capacity and as Secretary of the
Board of Directors.
Our subject is a son of George W. Kerr, who
was born in Warren County, N. J., February 15,
1 8 10. His ancestors were originally from Scot
land, but his father, Jacob, was a native of Free
hold, N. J., and was there engaged in the lum
ber business. In his early manhood, George W.
obtained a position in the Ithaca (N. Y.) branch
of the Bank of Newburgh, and in 1830, when
the Ithaca Bank was established, he became one
of its employes, remaining there until October,

1 83 1, when he accepted a position in the bank of
Newburgh. In 1836 he was promoted to the po
sition of Cashier, and in 1854 was elected Presi
dent to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
John Chambers. When The National Bank of
Newburgh was organized in 1864, he was hon
ored with the Presidency of the new concern,
and continued as such until his death, or for
thirty-seven years. The Directors of the bank
pronounced upon him this just tribute to his
worth: "His sound' judgment, perfect integrity
and eminent ability have been long recognized in
financial circles, and his excellence in all the rela
tions of life will long be remembered in this com
munity. By us, his immediate associates, and
by all in any capacity attached to this bank, his
memory will always be cherished. He has left
to his family and this community, where he has
spent so many years of a long and useful life, a
legacy better than- earthly riches — a good name."
For forty-seven years he was a Vestryman in St
George's Protestant Episcopal Church, and for
thirty-one years was Treasurer of the Board.
Among the resolutions which the Vestry of the
church adopted occurs the following: "It is with
grateful feeling that we remember the steady con
sistency of his Christian walk, his uprightness as
a business man, his value as a citizen, his zeal as
a churchman. We owe him no slight debt for
his faithful servipes as our Treasurer for thirty-
one years, during which time his unflagging at
tention to the affairs of the parish has contribu
ted essentially and in a large degree to its stabil
ity and prosperity." The death of Mr. Kerr
took place June 3, 1890. He was a Trustee and
Vice-President of the village in 1856, and from
1852 to 1854 was a member of the Board of Ed
ucation. George W. Kerr was twice married, his first
union being with Emeline Ross, and his second
with Margaret T. L. , daughter of Rev. John
Brown. The latter was born in New York City
and graduated from Columbia College, afterward
entering the Episcopal ministry. He was the
first Rector of St. George's Episcopal Church,
and under his direction the old stone edifice was
constructed. His services in the Master's vine-

COL. WILLIAM D. DICKEY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J59

yard covered some sixty-three years, as at the
time of his demise he was over ninety-three years
of age. Mrs. Kerr died in 1877, aged about fifty-
four years. In the parental family there were
twelve children, all but one of whom grew to
maturity. Of the sons, John B. is Vice-Presi
dent of the New York, Ontario & Western Rail
way, having his headquarters in New York
City; Walter is Vice-President of the New York
Life Insurance and Trust Company; and George
W. is a well known medical practitioner of the
metropolis. The daughters are residents of this
city. Charles L- C. Kerr was born in Newburgh,
August 27, 1855, and in boyhood attended the
public schools. Later he entered the Newburgh
Academy, from which he graduated when a little
over sixteen years of age. In 1872 he entered
The National Bank of Newburgh as Junior Clerk,
later he was promoted to the position of book
keeper, was Teller for eight years, and for the
past five years has served as . Cashier. In his
political affiliations he favors the Democracy.
In 1884 Mr. Kerr married Miss Mary E. Ward,
of this city, whose father, Luther C. Ward, was
formerly engaged in ship-building, being a mem
ber of the old firm of Ward & Stanton. Two
children have come to bless the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Kerr, Helen and Ludlow. The parents are
members of St. George's Episcopal Church.

, — 1 — O^®)!®®"*'"^ — e~

-s^—

EOL. WILLIAM D. DICKEY. There are
few professions that require the amount of
diligent study and general information which
are essential to a knowledge of law. In order to
master legal terms understandingly one must have
a good education, and, in addition to this, must
have great concentration of thought. Among
the gentlemen who realize the full importance of
the profession, and who add dignity to it, no one
stands higher than does Colonel Dickey, of New
burgh. While he has attained success at the Bar,
his energies have by no means been limited to the

profession, but in many other ways he has gained
eminence and distinction among the residents of
the Hudson Valley.
Briefly, before giving the biographical sketch
of Colonel Dickey , let us glance at his ancestral
history. The family is of Scotch-Irish lineage,
and the parents of our subject, William and Es
ther (James) Dickey, were born in Belfast, in the
North of Ireland, whence they emigrated in early
life to America. The father, who learned the
mason's trade in Newburgh, was engaged as a
contractor and builder here for many years, but
is now living retired. He erected many of the im
portant buildings of the city, including churches
and schools. His wife, who was a Presbyterian.
in religious belief, and a lady of noble character,
died in 1863. They were the parents of six sons
and three daughters, all of whom but two daugh
ters are still living. One of the brothers, Joseph
M., was Captain in the regiment commanded by
our subject, and later served as Representative in
the New York Assembly; he is now one of the
most extensive real-estate dealers of Newburgh,
and a very prominent citizen of the place.
Born in Newburgh, January 11, 1845, the sub
ject of this notice received a good education,
graduating from Newburgh Academy and Mt.
Retirement Seminary, Deckertown, N. J. In
1 86 1 he began. the study of law in the office of
Scott & Drake, but his private interests soon gave
way to matters of deeper importance. The war
broke out, and every patriotic citizen was called
upon to aid in the defense of the Union. Not
withstanding his youth, he was determined to
enlist, and in May, 1862, joined the Nineteenth
Regiment of Newburgh, in which he served,- first
as a private and afterward as Sergeant, for three
months. Returning home, he was commissioned
a week later as Second Lieutenant in the One
Hundred and Sixty-eighth New York Infantry,
and in a short time was promoted to the rank of
First Lieutenant, later receiving the commission
of Captain in the Fifteenth New York Artillery,
Battery M. May 1 1 , 1865 , he was promoted to be
Major and in recognition of .his gallant services
and distinguished valor the President conferred
upon him the brevets of Lieutenant- Colonel and

i6o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Colonel. At the battle of the Weldon Railroad
he was for a time in command of the brigade, all
of his superior officers having been either killed
or wounded. Aside from many skirmishes, he
participated in twenty general engagements,
among which were the battles of the Wilderness,
Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor. He was also in
all of the engagements before Petersburg, and in
all of those up to and including Lee's surrender.
The distinction that he won for gallantry on
many a hard-fought battlefield is especially com
mendable, when the fact is taken into considera
tion that he was only seventeen at the time of en
listment, and less than twenty when he was brev
eted Colonel.
Within a week after his return to New York,
Colonel Dickey entered the Albany Law School,
from which he was graduated in the spring of
1866, and at once opened an office for the prac
tice of his profession in his native city, where he
has since resided. As an attorney, his counsels
are sought by many of the leading men of this
section of the state. His success in private and
public undertakings, and his knowledge of points
involving abstract legal principles, are marvelous.
It is said of him that he has an extraordinary
power of analysis and generalization, and a keen
insight into the technicalities of the law. His
skill in the management of cases submitted to
him has won for him an enviable reputation,
which is not limited to Newburgh, nor indeed to
Orange Count}"-.
June 17, 1868, our subject was elected Colonel
of the Nineteenth Regiment of the State Militia,
and filled the position until the disbanding of
the regiment in 1876. He was a member of the
Committee on Military, having in charge the ar
rangements for the military divisions in the great
procession at the Newburgh Centennial in 1883,
and was Marshal of the Second Division. In
1872, 1878 and 1879 he was Corporation Coun
sel. 'Socially he is identified with the Military
Order of the Loyal Legion, and is a member of
Hudson River Lodge, F. & A. M., and Highland
Chapter, R. A. M. Soon after the formation of
the first post in the United States, he was mus
tered in at Indianapolis, Ind., as a member of the

Grand Army, in which he has since been an in
fluential member.
The connection of Colonel Dickey with public
affairs has been of such a nature as to reflect the
greatest credit upon himself. In 1893 he was
elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention
of New York from the Sixteenth Senatorial Dis
trict, on the Republican' ticket, and was one of
the most active workers in that body, being in
constant attendance for the entire time of the con
vention, nearly five months. He delivered some
of the ablest speeches of the convention, and the
plans and suggestions he brought forward were
pointed, forcible and discriminating. As a mem
ber of the Committee on Corporations and Legis
lative Apportionments, he rendered valuable serv
ice. He introduced the amendments to abolish
the offices of Coroner and Justice of Sessions,
both of which were adopted. He also introduced,
and was active in securing the adoption of, the
amendment permitting Judges who have reached
the age of seventy years to be assigned to duty
by the Governor, if they are qualified. The
measure to do away with the $5,000 limit pf re
covery in damages in death cases was fostered
by him, and he delivered the principal speech in
the case. He was active in securing the anti-
gambling amendment, and voted in favor of sub
mitting the woman-suffrage question to the peo
ple of New York.
No resident of Newburgh has been more active
in building up local enterprises than has Colonel
Dickey. He was a promoter of the Newburgh
Electric Street Railway Company, and the New
burgh & Orange Lake Electric Street Railway
Company, in both of which he was formerly Di
rector, and is still attorney and counselor. In
the Walden & Orange Lake Electric Railway
Company he is serving as Director. With his
brother, Capt. J. M. Dickey, he laid out forty
acres known as Washington Heights, being the
west half of the same, and now one ofthe best resi
dence portions of the city. Here, on the corner
of Bay View Terrace and Overlook Place, stands
his home, a modem and substantial frame struct
ure, the beauty of which is enhanced by the low-
arching piazzas and the well kept lawn.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

161

The organization of the Newburgh Fire De
partment Association is largely due to Colonel
Dickey, who is now its President. It was organ
ized December 8, 1893, with the following offi
cers: President, Colonel Dickey, of the Washing
ton Heights Hose Company; Vice-President, Will
iam H. Hallock, of the Highland Steamer Com
pany; Secretary, John F. Tucker, of the Lawson
Hose Company; and Treasurer, Lewis M. Smith,
of the Washington Steamer Company. October
17-18, 1894, the association held a parade and
tournament, at which prizes to the value of $600
were given. The affair was one of the most bril
liant firemanic displays the county has ever seen,
and the association had every reason to be proud
of its success.
Another local enterprise with which the name
of Colonel Dickey is inseparably associated is the
Palatine Hotel, the finest in the county, and one of
the most elegant on the Hudson River. The en
terprise originated in an unexpected manner. The
Board of Trade of this city, at its meeting March
10, 1892, was discussing the question of holding
a grand banquet, at which all the members and
their friends should meet around the festive board.
Some one presented the objection that there was
no suitable place where such a meeting could be
held. "Let us build a hotel, then," said Colonel
Dickey. "Let it be a structure that, will accom
modate the largest gathering Newburgh can pos
sibly have for a quarter of a century, at least; a
building that shall be an ornament to the city ; a
hotel conducted in first-class style, that will com
pare favorably with anything in the state. ' ' The
idea struck a popular chord. "What will you
give, Colonel, toward such a hotel?" some one in
quired. "One thousand dollars," was the prompt
reply, received with loud and continued applause.
The Colonel was made chairman of the first solic
iting committee, and was one of the incorporators
of the Palatine Hotel Company, which purchased
a suitable site at the corner of Grand and Third
Streets, and erected thereon a magnificent hotel,
costing $125,000. From time to time he advanced
additional money, and is now the largest stock
holder in the hotel.
The marriage of Colonel Dickey in June, 1868,

united him with Kate W., daughter of Theodore
Richmond, of Newburgh. Their only son, Frank
R., a talented young man, is a graduate of the
Newburgh Academy, and completed the course
of the Albany Law School in December, 1894,
when twenty years of age; he will practice in part
nership with his father. The three daughters,
Annie L-, Kate G. and Henrietta E., are accom
plished young ladies, upon whom every advant
age has been bestowed, and who are popular in
the best society of Newburgh .

ll@*@l|

q) ILBERT E. JACOBS is a member of the
_ Newburgh Reed Company, manufacturers
jj of reed chairs and furniture. They have
met with great success in their -undertaking,
which is an infant industry here. They also have
a department for manufacturing rustic work, and
are constantly bringing forward original designs,
which meet with great favor. The products of
the plant find a ready sale, not only in various
parts ofthe United States, but in Cuba, South
America, Mexico and Europe. Mr. Jacobs is
very prominent in many local organizations, ac
tively interested in the Republican party, and be
longs to the Lake Club and the Newburgh Gun
Club. Our subject is of English descent, but his pa
ternal grandfather, Daniel, was a native of New
York City. His father, William H, was born in
Williamsburg, but moved to Newburgh in 1875
with his family. In this city he became a prom
inent business man, and passed away in 1892, at
the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, Lucy A.
Tyler, was born in Center Brook, Conn., and is
now making her home with our subject. Her
father, Kelley A. Tyler, also a native of the Nut
meg State, was a successful merchant and was a
near relative of Colonel Tyler, of Revolutionary
fame. George H., the only brother of our sub
ject, is engaged in business with him. Their
only sister died in infancy.
G. E. Jacobs was born May 6, 1850, in Will
iamsburg, now a part of Brooklyn, New York.
When he was five years of age he removed to

I 62

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Cambridge, Mass., with his parents, and a year
later to Hazleton, Iowa, where he resided four
or five years. Then, returning East, they settled
in Banksville, Conn., where Mr. Jacobs attended
the public schools, later entering Greenwich
Academy. His first business venture was as a
grocer in partnership with hNs father in Mt. Ver
non, N. Y. For a few years he was engaged in
the same business in company with his father in
Newark, N. J., after which for four years he and
his brother were partners in a branch store in
Railway, N.J.
It was in 1875 that Mr. Jacobs and his father
opened a grocery at No. 12 Colden Street, where
they successfully conducted business for about
twelve years. A branch store was started at
No. 92 Water Street, George Jacobs being pro
prietor of the same. About 1884, having obtained
a formula for a reliable baking-powder, the broth
ers engaged in its manufacture, and ultimately
turned their whole attention to the business, hav
ing their headquarters at No. 16 South Water
and No. 15 Colden Streets. At one time ten
salesmen were kept on the road, and the goods
found ready sale in all parts of the country from
Maine to Texas. The business was closed out in
1892, as the brothers had become interested in
their present industry and wished to give their
entire attention to the same.
When our subject started in the reed-manufac
turing business, a factory 36x50 feet in dimen
sions supplied ample room, but from time to time
it was necessary to increase their facilities until
they had a building 36x125 feet in dimensions,
three stories in height, with additional storerooms;
now, however, they occupy a new factory at the
corner of Renwick and Johnes Streets, a three-
story and basement building, with the operating
machinery on the top floor. The basement is
used for the manufacture of rustic work and the
remainder for the regular reed departments. Forty
hands are employed in the works and six sales
men are kept on the road in all parts of the United
States. The reeds used are grown in India and
shipped by way of Hamburg. Mr. Jacobs gives
his personal supervision to every detail of the bus
iness, and it is owing to this fact, no doubt, that

his success has been assured from the start. The
new factory is supplied with all kinds of modern
appliances, and electric power is utilized. Mr.
Jacobs is a stockholder in the arc-light company
of Newburgh.
December 4, 1873, Mr. Jacobs was married at
Newark, N. J., to Mary Ward Munn, a native of
that city. Three children have been born of
their union: Eugene W., who graduated from
Newburgh Academy and is now in his father's
office; and Ada L- and Bessie M. , who are at home.
The family residence is a very pleasant and com
modious one, situated at No. 185 Liberty Street.
Mrs. Jacobs is a member of St. George's Episcopal
Church, and isa lady of delightful social qualities.
Fraternally Mr. Jacobs belongs to Hudson
River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M., of which he
was Master for five years; Hudson River Com-
mandery No. 35, K. T. ; and Mecca Temple, Mys
tic Shrine, of New York. He is also a member of
the Masonic Hall Association of Newburgh, which
has the finest assembly hall in the country. It
is in the Academy of Music and connected there
with are reading rooms, parlors, dining-rooms
and kitchens.

PC**** ????????^????•^??¦s- ???•SOP
EHARLES B. SHAW, who was numbered
among the most prominent and highly es
teemed citizens of Newburgh, and was a
prominent factor in the development of the busi
ness interests of this city, was born at Little Brit
ain July 29, 1827, and was the second son of
Thomas and Harriet (Walsh) Shaw. The latter
was a granddaughter of Samuel Logan, of Revo
lutionary fame. The parents removed to New
burgh during the childhood of our subject, and
at the age of fourteen he went into his father's
shop to learn the carpenter's trade. He applied
himself diligently to his task, mastering the busi
ness in all its details and becoming an expert
workman, so that in his twenty-fifth year he was
admitted to partnership. Long before his father's
death he became the practical head of the firm,
which carried on operations under the name of
Thomas Shaw's Sons. Their* business steadily

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

163

increased in volume until they became the most
extensive contractors in the city, and many of the
finest buildings of Newburgh were erected under
the personal supervision of the gentleman whose
name heads this record.
In 1849 Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with
Henrietta Rodermond, a native of New York
City, and a daughter of Henry Rodermond, also
a native of New York. His parents were of Ger
man birth, and were Protestants in religious be
lief. He engaged in merchandising in New York
City until his retirement from active business life,
when he became an inmate of the home of Mrs.
Shaw, with whom he resided until his death, in
1882, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife,
who bore the maiden name of Anna Maria Si
mon ton, was born in New York, of French par
entage, and there died at the advanced age of
eighty-four. She was a member of the Dutch
Reformed Church. In the family were the follow
ing children : Mrs. Rebecca Brockaway, who is liv
ing with Mrs. Shaw; Piersoll, who died in Tomp
kins County, N. Y. ; Mrs. Maria Bradley, of New
York City; Henry, who is owner of a shipyard
in Tompkins County; and Peter, whose death
there occurred.
To Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were born two children:
Dr. Henry B., who graduated from the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, with
the degree of M. D., and is now practicing his
profession in Harlem, N. Y. ; and Maria Bradley,
wife of Charles Curtis McCain, Auditor of the
Inter-State Commerce Commission of Washing
ton, D. C, by whom she has two children, Cur
tis Shaw and Harold Berrien.
Mr. Shaw led a purely business life, and his
expert judgment and ability to control and direct
important undertakings very largely gave to the
firm the reputation it enjoys. He always de
voted himself untiringly to the work he had in
hand, and cared little for public life. In politics
he was a Democrat, and though solicited to do so
by his friends, refused to become a candidate for
the Mayoralty. He was a member of the Union
Presbyterian Church, to which his wife also be
longs. This worthy couple delighted in doing
good, their help to the poor and needy rising

from a true and sincere interest in their fellow-
men. He died April 22, 1892, mourned by all
who knew him, and we can not better close the
record of his life than by quoting.the words of one
who knew him intimately, and said:
"Outside of his business Mr. Shaw was simply
a modest, retiring citizen. Although a man of
firm convictions and educated judgment, he blew
no trumpet in the market-place nor sought to
control the opinions of others. Wherever one
met him he revealed the traits of integrity.
Beautifying life by his example and by the skill
of which he was the master, he was the tvpe of
a citizen and business man who can be pointed to
with pride as a representative. " 'Such let thy life be-
Not marked by noise, but by success alone;
Not known by bustle, but by useful deeds.' "

- =^m*mm&&mmm

15

QHARLES W. WEED, one of the largest
horse dealers on the Hudson, conducts a
horse exchange and sale stable in Newburgh,
and besides owns a large carriage and wagon re
pository, in which line he is also doing an exten
sive business. He is a native of Orange County,
born in Little Britain, January 19, 1853, and is
the second child in the family of five born to
William R. and Elmira (Doane) Weed.
The father was born in Coldenham, Orange
County, and was a son of Samuel Weed, whose
birth also occurred in this county, and who en
gaged in farming in New Windsor Town. The
paternal grandmother, who bore the maiden
name of Sarah Vail, was a native of Dutchess
County. William R. was the youngest in the
family, and, being reared to agricultural pursuits,
he continued farming throughout his active busi
ness life. In New Windsor Town he purchased
a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres, four
miles from Newburgh, which he continued to
operate until 1891, when he removed to the city,
and there his death occurred April 8, 1893, at
the age of sixty-eight years. For eight years he
has served as Supervisor of New Windsor Town,
and Tor many years was Town Clerk, Notary

164

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Public and Justice of the Peace. He was one of
the prominent members of the Democratic party
in the county, on which ticket he was nominated
for Representative, but owing to the large Repub
lican majority was not elected. At one time he
was also nominated for Sheriff of the county, but
declined the nomination. He was an honest, up
right man at all times, and a consistent member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As a farmer
he was quite successful, and in agricultural cir
cles was quite prominent.
In Ulster County, in 1850, William R. Weed
married Miss Elmira Doane, a native of that
county, and a daughter of David and Jane (Dunn)
Doane, the former a native of New Haven, Conn.
About a year after his marriage, Mr. Doane lo
cated in Ulster County, where he engaged in
farming until his death. In his family were four
children, two sons and two daughters, three of
whom are yet living. A brother of Mrs. Weed,
Dr. William Doane, is engaged in practice in
Union, N. Y. She is the second in order of
birth, and remained in Ulster County until her
marriage, by which she became the mother of
five children. Mary is the widow of Rev. Dr.
H. F. Nichols, a Methodist Episcopal divine, who
died at his residence on Twenty-eighth Street,
New York City, October 9, 1893, leaving two
children, Elmira M. and William R. W. Mrs.
Nichols studied medicine with her husband, and
is now engaged in practice in Newburgh. Charles
W. is the second in the family. Elmira J., who
became Mrs. J. Garlow, died in Pennsylvania,
leaving two sons, Judson C. and Charles G.
Ashton Doane is a salesman in the employ of his
brother Charles W. Edgar V. K. , who died in
Newburgh, December 16, 1893, at the age of
thirty-two years, had married Martha D. Milsom,
of Nashville, Tenn. The latter and her two
children, Martha D. F. and Ollie R., reside in
Nashville, Tenn. The mother of this family is
still living, and is an active member of Trinity
Methodist Episcopal Church of Newburgh.
On the home farm Charles W. Weed was reared,
and in the common schools acquired his educa
tion. At the age of twelve years he was appren
ticed to a tinsmith in Jefferson County, N. Y.,

and later became a clerk in a hardware establish
ment of Watertown. From there he went to Syra
cuse, but later returned to Newburgh and clerked
for L. M. Smith & Co. for two years. Subse
quently he became connected with the Roger Sil
ver Plate Manufactory as traveling salesman,
during which time he visited thirty-three states,
going from the Atlantic to the Rockies, and from
the Lakes to the Gulf. With that firm he re
mained for ten years, when, in 1882, he went to
Texas, where he engaged in buying and shipping
horses, and at one time, while traveling over that
state, spent fifty-six days in the saddle. He
bought ponies, mustangs and bronchos in Mexico
and Texas, shipping the same over the Iron
Mountain route to St. Louis, and from there to
the East, where he auctioned them off. During
the seven years he was engaged in that business,
he handled thousands of horses, and had two men
employed in shipping all the time. For a while
he was located at Newman, Douglas County, 111.
In 1889 Mr. Weed returned to Newburgh,
where he built a barn in the shape of an L at
Nos. 314 to 318 Broadway, the part 011 that street
being 50x210 feet in dimensions, and that on
Robinson Avenue 110x109. It is two stories in
height, and will afford shelter for over one hun
dred horses. In his repository he keeps the Mor
ris Woodhull traps and fine surreys, while his
wagons are from'' the Watertown Spring Wagon
Company. He also carries the Milburn farm
wagons, besides a full line of harness, in which
he is both a retail and wholesale dealer. Besides
his extensive trade in Newburgh, he also ships
quite extensively in carload lots, generally using
about twenty-five cars per year.
In 1875, in Brooklyn, Mr. Weed was married
to Miss Laura S. Kelsey, a native of that city,
and to them have been born six children: Irving
K., who is with his father in business; Emma J.,
Orlena, Charles Freeman, Laurence and Harold.
Besides dealing in all kinds of draft and stand
ard-bred horses, Mr. Weed is interested in fast
horses, and now has a pacer, "Actor," sired by
' ' Almont , ' ' with a record of 2 : 2 2 yi , but which can
show a mile in 2:10, being undoubtedly the fastest
horse in Newburgh. Our subject is a member of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the Retail Harness and Carriage Dealers' Asso
ciation, and also of the Liverymen's Association.
Politically he is a stalwart Republican, and so
cially is a member of Highland Lodge, I. O.
0. F. His pleasant home is located on Gidney
Avenue, where he has a fine fruit farm, compris
ing ten acres. As a business man he is energetic
and reliable, all his dealings being characterized
by fairness and conducted on good business prin
ciples.

G:

&

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s&n

=0

«*TNGHAM STUBLEY, of Newburgh, is Sec-
I retary of the Republican City Committee, is a
X. member of the County Committee, and is
Clerk of the Orange County Board of Super
visors. Thus it can be seen that he is very active
in his party, and enjoys the good opinion of those
who are associated with him in the advancement
of its interests. In Masonic circles he is also
highly esteemed, and for ten years was Secretary
of Newburgh Lodge No. 309. He is also a Past
Grand in Acme Lodge No 469, I. O. O. F.
Mr. Stubley, who was born in Dewsbury, York
shire, England, March 8, 1852, is a stanch friend
of his adopted country, and is a thorough-going
American in all his ideas. His grandfather,
William, and his father, William, Jr., were born
in the same locality in Yorkshire and learned
wool-carding in the mills. During his last years
the grandfather was engaged in the grocery busi
ness in Dewsbury, in which place his death oc
curred. He was a local minister in the Method
ist Episcopal Church, and did valiant service in
the Master's cause. William Stubley, Jr., was
married in England to Miss Mary Ingham,
daughter of George Ingham, who was a fancy
weaver in the Dewsbury mills. Mrs. Stubley died
in England in i860, leaving three children: Sarah
now the wife of Joshua Halliday, of Coffeyville,
Kan.; John, deceased; and our subject. The fa
ther married a second time, but his wife died in
1868, soon after he had brought her to America.
The family settled in Newburgh that year, Mr.
Stubley engaging in his former trade as a carder
in the Hargnmalor Mills. In 1 880, in company

ie5
with his son, he embarked in the business which
is now carried 011 by the latter, that of dealing in
wholesale rags, which are sold to paper mills.
The firm name for several years was William
Stubley & Son. The senior member made sev
eral trips to England, and at the close of a busy
and useful life was summoned to his final rest,
February 1, 1894, aged sixty -nine years. He
was a member of the Episcopal Church, and
politically advocated the principles of the same
party as does his son.
The first sixteen years of the life of Ingham
Stubley were spent in his native land, his educa
tion being acquired in a boarding-school. In his
fourteenth year he entered the woolen-mill under
the employ of his father, and in 1868 left Liver
pool on the steamer "France," reaching New
York City at the end of a thirteen-days voyage.
For a short time he resided in Boston, and later
went to Lowell, where he found employment with
the firm of R. Kitson & Son, to learn the ma
chinist's trade. In December, 1868, he came to
this city and worked in the woolen-mill of Hargn
malor as a carder. At home he took up the studv
of bookkeeping and was soon promoted, being
placed in the office, and for ten years was con
fidential bookkeeper of the firm. Then, going to
New York City, he found a position as a book
keeper there, but at the end of a year and a-half
embarked in business for himself in company
with his father. The location of the old firm of
William Stubley & Son, as it is still known, is at
Nos. 127 and 129 Broadway. The building is
constructed of brick and has a frontage qf forty-
four feet, is fifty-four feet in depth and is two
stories high. The rags are baled with a press for
the purpose and are sold in large quantities to
the trade.
In 1874 Mr. Stubley was united in marriage
with Nancy J. Dickerson, of Newburgh. Both
she and her father, Abram Dickerson, are natives
of Orange County, the latter being the owner of
a good farm. Our subject and wife have a pleasant
home at No. 35 Johnson Street, the residence
having been built by Mr. Stubley. They have
two sons: William, who graduated from the New
burgh Academy, and is now in business with his

1 66

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father; and Charles. Mr. Stubley is entitled to
credit for the way in which he has steadily risen
from a position of poverty to one of prosperity
and influence in the community. In the best
sense ofthe word he is a self-made man, one who
has depended upon his exertions, and is therefore
not indebted to others. He is an active worker
in the Episcopal Church of the Corner Stone, of
which he is serving as Trustee.

<-*-^=§>^-<^=*

i-

3 AMES GORDON, M. D., who is an old
and prominent physician of Newburgh,
stands high in his profession, and has faith
fully served the city in the capacity of Health Of
ficer for the past seventeen years, during this
period accomplishing a great work by instituting
the best sanitary measures. He was born in the
North of Ireland, within ten miles of Belfast, and
crossed the Atlantic prior to attaining his major
ity, making the journey in 1857. His destina
tion was Newburgh, where it was his purpose to
visit friends. His father departed this life when
he was a boy , and as his mother died a short time
after he came to America, he concluded to remain
here. He has one brother and one sister, who
now make their home in Australia.
For a time our subject attended Newburgh
Academy, and subsequently pursued a course of
study at Ft. Edward Institute, in this state. Aft
er completing the course laid down there, he
taught in the public schools of New Jersey for
two years, and during the last year took up the
study of medicine under Dr. Chatties, of Long
Branch. Later he attended lectures at Jefferson
Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he
was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Med
icine with the Class of '66. The following year
we find him located in Newburgh for the prac
tice of his profession, and here he has lived ever
since, with the exception .of six months during
the winter of 1867 and the spring of 1868, when
he made a tour of the Old World. He first vis
ited his old home and friends in Ireland, after
which he went to Edinburgh and Glasgow, where
he took up advanced studies, and later went to

London, and thence to Paris, where he passed the
greater part of the winter visiting the noted hos
pitals. Dr. Gordon was married, in 1872, to Miss Net
tie W. Johnston, the daughter of Philip Johnston,
a prominent business man of Washington, Warren
County, N. J., where he is now living retired.
His eldest daughter is the wife of ex-State Sen
ator J. B. Cornish, and their son, Hon. Johnston
Cornish, is United States Senator from New Jer
sey. Another daughter of Philip Johnston mar
ried Dr. Servis, of Junction, N. J. His sons are
all prominent business men of that state. To
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon there have been born four
children. Bessie L-, a graduate of the Newburgh
Academy and the Albany Normal School, is now
engaged in teaching in the public schools of this
city; Edward J. is attending the College of Phys
icians and Surgeons of New York City; Adeline
and Jennie L. are at home.
Dr. Gordon was one of the organizers of the
Knights of Honor and Knights of Pythias of
Newburgh, and is at present connected with
Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M., of which
he has been a member since 1872. He also be
longs to Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.,
and Hudson River Commandery No. 35, K. T.
He was Pension Examiner for the United States
Government from 1868 until 1892, when here-
signed, and a board was appointed to transact the
business which he had carried on.
In the year 1872 Dr. Gordon was appointed
Health Officer for Newburgh, serving until 1877.
In 1882 he was re-appointed and has filled the of
fice ever since. As Health Officer he has always
been deeply interested in the suppression of nui
sances of every kind, and in every measure that
would improve the sanitary condition ofthe city.
Particularly has he been actively interested in the
building of sewers and the introduction of sani
tary closets in the houses. This has taken a great
deal of hard work and time on his part, but he
has been successful, and the city is now in a
fair way to become one of the best in this line in
the county.
Dr. Gordon was reared in the Established
Church of England and from childhood has been

JOHN JAMES MITCHELL, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

169

associated with the work of the Sunday-school.
After coming to this city he was received into
membership in St. George's Church by letter. He
worshiped with this congregation until St Paul's
Parish was founded, when he transferred his
membership to that church. He has served con
tinuously as a member of the Vestry of this
church since 1873.

->»i^ »¦> »¦¦> 1 ' v

?¦ 1 ' 1 ' inn'

30HN JAMES MITCHELL, M. D. The
family of which this gentleman is an illus
trious member is one of the oldest in Amer
ica, the original representative, Experience Mitch
ell, having come to this country in 1623, in the
ship "Ann," which was the second boat to ar
rive at the Plymouth Colony after the historic
"Mayflower." He was a member of an old and
well known family of England. His grandmoth
er, Ruth Sheffield, was distantly related to John
Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Mul-
grave, whose tomb occupies a conspicuous posi
tion in Westminster Abbey.
Concerning the history of Experience Mitchell,
it is known that he was born in 1609, came to
America in 1623, resided in Plymouth until 1631,
•removed thence to Ducksburg, became one of the
proprietors of Bridgewater, Mass., and died in
1679. His eldest son, Thomas, lived at Dart
mouth until 1677, when he removed to Block
Island and purchased one of the original sixteen
lots there, remaining in that place until his death.
Next in line of descent was Thomas M., a land
holder at New Shoreham, R. I. Following him
were Joseph, Jonathan and Joseph, Jr., all of
whom were residents of New Shoreham. A son
of the latter, Solomon, was our subject's grand
father; he became a minister in the Congrega
tional Church, being thus engaged on Block Isl
and, and his four sons also chose that profession.
The father of our subject, Rev. John Sheffield
Mitchell, D. D., was born on Block Island, and,
after completing his studies, entered the ministry
ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church, joining the
Central New York Conference. For a period of
eight years he represented the American Bible
Society in Baltimore, Md., then went to Norwich,
4

N. Y., later was in Honesdale, Pa., for four years
in Brooklyn, and afterward was pastor of the
First Methodist Episcopal Church of New Haven.
After another sojourn in Brooklyn, he accepted
the pastorate of the Thirty -seventh Street Church
in New York City, and on concluding his work
there, went to Beekman Hill Church, on Fiftieth
Street. ' His next work was that of organizing
the colored people of North Carolina and Virginia
into conferences, and he was engaged in this way
until the death of his wife, which deep bereave
ment unfitted him for active labor. He was a
man of splendid physique and attractive person
ality, whose wide experience and keen insight
into intricate problems brought him into promi
nence among the leaders of his denomination.
The Maryland College conferred upon him the
degree of D. D. , and he was the recipient of other
honors from his fellow-men. His death occurred
in 1882, when he was eighty -two years of age.
The mother of our subject, Alice (Trask) Mitch
ell, was born in Preston, N. Y., and died in New
York City, after having become the mother of
three children. The only daughter died at twelve
years of age. There now survive the two sons,
John James and George B. I., both of whom are
physicians of Newburgh. Our subject was born
in Cortlandville, N. Y., July 28, 1834, and was
reared in New York City. For a time he was a
student in Russell's Academy in New Haven, and
on his return to the metropolis he taught in that
city for two years. In 1853 he began the study
of medicine under Dr. Foote, of New Haven, and
the following year entered New York Medical
(now Bellevue) College, from which he was grad
uated in 1857 with the degree of M. D.
Beginning the practice of his profession in
Williamsburg, situated just east of Brooklyn, he
became City Physician, and remained there for
two years, returning then to New York City. In
j869 he came to Newburgh, where he has since
conducted a general practice. His office is situ
ated at No. 242 Montgomery Street, in a portion
of the city built up and improved by himself.
After graduating he began the study of home
opathy which he carried on for four years, and
afterward filled the position of Professor of Chem-

170

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

istry in the New York Homeopathic Medical Col
lege for five years.
At Schuyler Lake, N. Y., in June, 1863, oc
curred the marriage of Dr. Mitchell and Miss
Philena B., daughter of Norman Rose, a farmer
of that locality. A son and daughter bless their
union. The former, Edgar O. , was born in New
York City, educated at Phillips (Exeter, N. H.)
Academy and Harvard University, and gradu
ated from the Harvard Medical College in 1891;
he is now engaged in practice with his father.
Marion Sheffield, who was born in Newburgh, is
a graduate of Wellesley College, and is now pur
suing her musical studies in Boston. The family
is identified with the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Politically Dr. Mitchell is a Republican, but
pays little attention to politics. His time has
been given almost wholly to his profession, and
he is recognized as one of the most eminent
homeopathists of the state. His contributions to
medical literature have been extensive and valu
able, and his essay on the "Uses of the Ther
mometer in Disease" is perhaps the first on that
subject ever read in the United States. During
his incumbency of the office of President of the
State Homeopathic Medical Association in 1883,
he delivered a very able address before the asso
ciation, which was well received and widely
copied. In the American Institute of Homeopa
thy he has served as Vice-President and member
of the Executive Committee. For several years
he has been President of the Orange County
Homeopathic Medical Association. He took an
active part in the establishment of the State
Homeopathic Asylum, and was one ofthe Board
of Visitors ofthe institution. From this it will
be seen that his connection with homeopathy has
been of a very important nature, and his contribu
tions to the progress of the science have been val
uable and appreciated.

"HE MISSES MACKIE'S SCHOOL. In
the history of our country, nothing affords
greater encouragement than the increasing o
attention given to educational matters and the en

larged opportunities offered to the young. Those
to whom this advancement is due deservedly oc
cupy a high place in the regard of the people.
Their breadth of learning and culture has had an
elevating influence upon those placed under their
charge, and the results have been beneficial to
the race.
Among the instructors to whom New York
State, and especially the city of Newburgh, is
especially indebted, we may mention the Misses
Mackie, who conduct a boarding-school at No.
160 Grand Street. The success of this institution
has been most flattering, and proves the superior
executive ability of those who are at its head.
Having recently completed the twenty-ninth year
of its existence, the school may be numbered
among the old and substantial institutions of the
place. Among the pupils are the daughters of
some of the aristocratic and wealthiest citizens of
the Eastern States.
The location of the school is especially attrac
tive. As above stated, it is at No. 160 Grand
Street, the buildings standing in the midst of a
fine lawn that reaches back to Montgomery Street.-
The view is superb. On the west may be seen
the busy, thriving city, while on the east flows
the majestic Hudson, whose tranquil waters the
pleasure-boats and river steamers gaily ply. The
main building is 80x50 feet in dimensions, being
a brick and frame structure, three stories in
height, and containing recitation and study rooms.
Adjoining the school building, there is a sub
stantial brick cottage of three stories.
The instructors of the school consist of seven
resident teachers, besides the music teachers.
The classical course, which is completed in seven
years, prepares the pupils for the best colleges of
the land, such as Vassar, Wellesley and Smith.
On the completion of the course, diplomas are
granted. There are at present thirty-four board
ing pupils, and about fifty day scholars. The
progress made by the students has always been
satisfactory to their parents or guardians, for each
one receives the personal and affectionate super
vision of their cultured teachers, who take the
deepest interest in the welfare of the pupils.
The school was originally established in 1866,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

171

on Chambers Street, as a boarding-school for girls
and young ladies, there being about thirty pupils
at first. In 1867 it was removed to the present
site of the Leslie House, where it remained for
sixteen years, but the accommodations at that
place becoming inadequate to the needs of the
school, it was removed to its present location in
1884. The Misses Mackie formerly resided in
New York City, where they received exceptional
educational advantages, Miss Mackie also study
ing in Springfield, Mass., and her sisters in Con
necticut. Since completing their studies, they
have given their entire attention to educational
work, being thus engaged in New York City
prior to coming to Newburgh in 1866. They are
highly esteemed by the people of this city, who
place the greatest confidence in their ability and
efficient management of their school.

+-

=+

^ A ARTIN L. KILMER. While much of his
Y time has been spent in the West, where he
(""J has large and valuable mining interests,
Mr. Kilmer has also become identified with a
number ofthe leading enterprises of Newburgh,
and is now in charge of the shipping department
ofthe Kilmer Manufacturing Company, in which
concern he is also a stockholder and Director.
The Kilmer Manufacturing Company, concerning
which mention is made in the sketch of W. A.
Kilmer, on another page, is one of the most im
portant industries of Newburgh and gives em
ployment to a large number of hands. The plant
is situated on Quassaick Creek, near Washing
ton Heights, and in addition to the office in this
city, there is an office on Water Street, New
York, and at No. 21 Quincy Street, Chicago; also
a western warehouse in Chicago. The principal
products of the works are wire rods, bale ties,
barb wire, coiled steel wire, galvanized wire, or
namental fencing and wire staples.
The birth of Martin L- Kilmer occurred at
Howe Cave, near Cobleskill, Schoharie County,
N. Y., March 31, 1844. Prior to the age of four
teen he resided upon a farm, but at that time he

secured a clerkship, and was thus employed in
New York State until 1864. During that year he
went to Montana for the purpose of mining and
prospecting. The trip to the West was a tedious
one. After reaching Atchison, Kan., he trav
eled northwest until he struck the Platte River at
Ft. Kearney, Neb. From that place he jour
neyed along the course of the North Platte,
then up the Wind and Rose Rivers to Yellow
stone Park, and from there to Virginia City,
Mont. Leaving Atchison April 1, 1864, he
reached his destination in Montana on the 10th
of July following. The country was wild, set
tlers few, and he met with all the perils and
hardships incident to life on the frontier, but, per
severing, he met with considerable success.
In 1874 Professor Jenny discovered gold in the
Black Hills. The following year Mr. Kilmer,
with his brother-in-law, Edward Davis, and
others from Montana, went to the new gold re
gion, which the)' reached in advance of an)' other
miners. They took out the first gold on Spring
Creek, near Custer, S. Dak., and later went to
Deadwood, where they were also successful. After
having spent four years in the Black Hills, Mr.
Kilmer returned East, though still retaining his
interests in the South Dakota mines. In 1876,
while in the West, he had become interested, as
a stockholder, in the Kilmer Manufacturing Com
pany, and after coming back to New York he
became actively identified with the concern, tak
ing charge of the shipping department and be
coming a Director of the company. When the
corporation transferred its headquarters from
Schenectady to Newburgh in 1887, he came to
this city, and here he has since made his home.
At Amsterdam, N. Y., in 1884, Mr. Kilmer
and Miss Laura Sheely, a native of Schoharie,
N. Y., were united in marriage, and they are the
parents of a daughter, Adah. A Democrat in
politics, Mr. Kilmer takes a great interest in all
party matters, and few men are better informed
on the topics of the day than he. He has never
held nor sought any political office, yet few men
who are ambitious in that direction would fill a
position of trust more worthily. He has seen
much of human nature, both the cultured product

172

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and the "diamond in the rough," and has gained
a broad, cosmopolitan range of intellectual vision
through his travels. In him the city of New
burgh has a faithful friend, generous in his con
tributions toward any movement tending to the
general advancement.
ig  c:;*'jg.-AJ*gLrJ -c 9
V A ICHAEL F. MULLEN, of Newburgh, was
Y born in County Roscommon, Ireland, Sep-
(**} tember 29, 1853. His father, Thomas, and
grandfather, Patrick, were born in the same coun
ty, and both were farmers by occupation. The
former in 1864 brought his wife and children to
the United States, making the trip from Liver
pool on the steamer "State of Wisconsin," which
landed at New York after a voyage of twenty -
eight days. Locating in Dutchess County, N. Y.,
he first followed agricultural pursuits, but after
ward worked in a woolen-mill for eight years.
His next position was in the print works at Wap-
pinger's Falls, Dutchess County, where he is still
employed. The mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Ann Hunt, and was born in County
Roscommon, Ireland, where her father, John,
was a hotel proprietor. In an early day he
brought his family to the United States and
settled in New York, where he followed the oc
cupation of a drover. His closing years were
spent in retirement, and he died at the advanced
age of eighty-eight. Our subject is one of twelve
children, of whom eight are now living. He
was the eldest of the family, and was reared in
Titusville, where, prior to the age of twelve, he
was a student in the common schools.
The first work Mr. Mullen secured was in the
woolen-mills near his home, and afterward he
was variously employed, following any occupa
tion that would turn him an honest penny. In
youth he learned the dyer's business. At the
age of eighteen he was apprenticed to the horse-
shoer' s trade in Poughkeepsie, where he worked
for Patrick McGee for five months. Afterward
he was with William G. Esser at No. 9 South
Bridge Street, that city, remaining with him for

three years. He then went to New York City,
where he was employed as a journeyman for
three years, and later was with John Graham
for two years. For one year afterward he was
foreman in the Coney Island Railroad shop.
In 1879 Mr. Mullen came to Newburgh, where
he worked as a horse-shoer for Kennedy Bros.
on Water Street for nine months, and then opened
a shop of his own on Front Street, remaining
at that place for one year and nine months. In
1883 he located at his present place of business,
No. 40 Chambers Street, where he has since
continued. He has charge of a large business,
his trade extending throughout the surrounding
country to points where his reputation as a skilled
horse-shoer is well known.
In, Poughkeepsie Mr. Mullen was united in
marriage with Miss Ellen Shortall, a native of
Ireland, who died in New York. In 1882 he
married Miss Margaret E. Laney, who was born
in Ireland, and they are the parents of a daugh
ter, Mary E. For three years Mr. Mullen has
been identified with Chapman Steamer Company
No. 1 , and he is now serving his second term- as
Treasurer of that organization. For two years
he was President of the Catholic Mutual Benefit
Association, and is now District Deputy of Or
ange County for that society. He is Treasurer
of Newburgh Division No. 6, A. O. of H, in
which office he has served for three years. In
St. Patrick's Catholic Church he is a prominent
member. In addition to the societies already
named, he is connected with the St. Vincent de
Paul and the Holy Name Societies. Politically
he favors Democratic principles.

. DWIN M. PEATTIE. There is nothing
*y that shows the innate refinement and gen-
__ tleness of a man's nature more than a care
for the exquisite blossoms that crown the most
patient and diligent efforts at cultivation. A
cruel or unkind man, or a careless or inappre-
ciative man, would never succeed as a florist, for
the tender green things under charge of such a
person are entirely at his mercy, to be starved or

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

173

choked, to be fed and warmed at his will. Nei
ther can an ignorant man succeed in this calling,
for ignorance is stupidity, and one who is so
watchful and intelligent that he can understand
the unspoken language that tells of the needs, or
thankfulness for care, of the green things that
brighten our homes and crown all festive occa
sions, is neither careless nor ignorant, but intel
ligent, humane and tender.
Both by natural tastes and careful training,
Mr. Peattie is fitted for the business of a florist.
From earliest recollections he has been familiar
with the occupation, and his preference for it led
him to select it as his life calling. He is the
superintendent ofthe Peattie Greenhouses, located
on the corner of Dubois and Farrington Streets,
and extending to North Miller Street. There
are nine greenhouses, each from eighty to one
hundred feet in length, together with gardens
and hothouse space. All varieties of flowers are
cultivated, and cut flowers, hanging baskets and
special designs in decorations are furnished for
wedding and funeral purposes. Shrubs and trees
are also propagated, and Mr. Peattie personally
superintends the planting of these in orchards
and gardens.
A sketch of our subject would be incomplete
were no mention made of his father, the late John
Peattie, to whose careful training in youth and
the example of his noble life he owes much of his
success. John Peattie was born on the first day
of the year 1830, at Balcravie Castle, town of
Largo, Fifeshire, Scotland, and was the son of
William Peattie, land steward to Professor Les
lie, of Edinborough. Having a predilection for
the floral business, he learned horticulture and
botanical gardening with a relative, Robert Peat
tie, at Insuire, near Cooper, Fifeshire, and was
employed for a time at Bowhill Castle. In 1850,
with a few sovereigns in his pockets, he went to
London, where he was employed in the botanical
nurseries. November 15, 1851, he sailed for
America, and on his arrival in this country he
was engaged by George Pierce, a wealthy silk
manufacturer, to take charge of his grounds at
Passaic, N. J. Two and one-half years later he
was given charge of Edwin D. Morgan's gardens

in Westchester County. After eighteen months
there he became florist for Judge William Kent
at his beautiful home near Matteawan. From
that place he went to Rhinebeck, and for twenty
years was gardener-in-chief to William Kelly, of
Ellerslie Park, now the home of Gov. L. P. Mor
ton. March 29, 1881, he came to Newburgh
and purchased the gardens of James H. Ricketts,
on the north side of Farrington Street, betwen
Miller and Dubois Streets, where he died Feb
ruary 6, 1895.
In many respects John Peattie was an unusual
character. A typical Scotchman, he dearly loved
the land of his birth, and cherished the deepest
interest in its welfare. Though he was a loyal
American citizen, a stanch supporter of our flag
and the principles of our government, yet he
never forgot the old home beyond the seas. Its
songs were dearer to his heart than any others,
and its poets were his friends from childhood.
Having a wonderful memory, together with a
love for reading, he delighted his friends by re
peating, often for hours at a time, passages from
different authors. ' 'The Ettrick Shepherd' ' and
the "Peasant Poet" were especially dear to him,
and he was thoroughly conversant with their
works. July 8, 1857, at Jersey City, N. J., John Peat
tie married Jane Wilson, a native of Pittenween,
Fifeshire. Her parents, Capt. Alexander and
Jane (Giddes) Wilson, were also born in Fife
shire, and her father was captain of a merchant
coasting- vessel. In. politics Mr. Peattie was an
active Republican. He and his wife were reared
in the Presbyterian faith, but on coming to New
burgh identified themselves with the Dutch Re
formed Church. They were the parents of five
children who attained mature years, namely:
William J., who is employed in the freight office
ofthe Hudson River Railroad, at Troy; Alexan
der M.; Edwin M. ; John K., a pattern-maker,
living in Newburgh; and Jennie, who is mar
ried and lives in New York.
The subject of this sketch was born at Fishkill-
on-Hudson, N. Y., April 14, 1862, and was
reared in Rhinebeck, this state, receiving his ed
ucation principally in DeGamo's Academy. In

174

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1880 he went to New Jersey, and for one year
was in the employ of T. J. Slaughter, an exten
sive rose-grower. He then went to Dinsmore's
place, on the Hudson, where he remained for two
years, and later spent six months as gardener at
Colgate's place, Yonkers, N. Y. In 1887 he re
turned to Newburgh and with his brother Alex
ander took charge of the greenhouses. Since the
death of his father, in February, 1895, he has had
sole charge of the business, which under his
efficient supervision continues most prosperous.
At Albany, N. Y., in 1889, Mr. Peattie mar
ried Miss Hattie Hitchcock, who was born in
that city, her father being Capt. David Hitchcock,
a wealthy ship-owner and captain. Mr. and
Mrs. Peattie are the parents of three children,
Carrie H., Edwin M., Jr., and Madeline M.
Socially our subject is connected with the Im
proved Order of Red Men, the American Mechan
ics, and Lawson Hose Company No. 5, and in
political belief he is a Republican. His attention
is given closely to the details of his business, and
he has taken a large number of premiums for the
superiority of his plants and cut flowers.

RROF. CHARLES E. GRIMLEY, who is
yr well known in Newburgh as a dealer in
1$ pianos and organs, as well as an efficient
instructor in music, was born in Ellenville, Ulster
County, N. Y., on Christmas Day of 1855. The
first representative of the family in America was
his great-grandfather, Thomas, who owned a fac
tor)' in the city of Nottingham, England, and en
gaged in the manufacture of laces and hosiery.
Late in life he emigrated to America and settled
in Ulster County, where his death occurred.
Our subject's grandfather, John Grimley, was
born in Nottingham, England, where he worked
in his father's factory. Accompanied by his fam
ily, he emigrated to the United States and settled
near Ellenville, Ulster County, where he owned a
large farm. For some years he also owned and op
erated a chair-turning factory. In religious belief
he was a Methodist. The father of our subject,

John Grimley, Jr., was born in Nottingham, but
came to the United States in early life and grew to
manhood on a farm near Ellenville. His entire
active life was devoted to agricultural pursuits,
but upon attaining old age he retired from active
work, and his last days were spent in Ellenville.
Politically he was a Republican, and in religious
views advocated the doctrines of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. His wife, whose maiden name
was Deborah Budd, was born in Ulster County,
and was a member of an old New York family
that traced its lineage to England.
The parental family consisted of six children,
of whom four are living, Charles E. being the
youngest of the number. His brother Alfred B.
enlisted in the Union army at the age of sixteen,
becoming a member of the One Hundred and
Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, in which he
served until he was severely wounded in front of
Winchester. Since the close of the war he has
been a contractor and builder at Ellenville. Our
subject had such advantages as the high school
of Ellenvile afforded, and from boyhood has had
a fondness for music. His studies for a time were
conducted under Professor Munson, an able and
skillful musician of New York, and he also studied
under Prof. Louis J. Diemer, of Newburgh.
At the age of nineteen Mr. Grimley began
traveling in the West, and finally located at Col
umbus, Neb. , where he remained about one year,
representing a number of companies. On his re
turn to New York he became a music teacher in
Pine Bush, where he remained for two years. In
1880 he went to Matteawan, where he was simi
larly occupied for seven years. The five follow
ing years were spent as an instructor of music in
Cornwall. In 1892 he came to Newburgh, al
though prior to that time he had been teaching in
this city. Here he has since made his headquar
ters, and in addition to his work as an instructor
he has also conducted a large trade as a dealer in
musical instruments. In fact, his attention of late
years has been almost entirely engrossed by the
latter business, and he is gradually retiring from
the active practice of his profession as teacher.
He has a commodious wareroom in the building
erected by himself at No. 55 Overlook Place, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i75

here he keeps a full line of musical instruments.
In pianos he makes a specialty of Decker Bros. ' ,
Behr Bros.', Krakauer Bros.', and Weser Bros.',
of New York, while the organs that he handles
are manufactured mainly in Bridgeport, Conn.
The marriage of Professor Grimley occurred in
Ellenville, his wife being Miss Jennie Parker, a
native of New York, who was educated in the
schools of that city. She is a daughter of Thomas
Parker, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, em
igrated thence to America and settled in Ellen
ville, where he died. The marriage of our sub
ject and his wife has been blessed by the birth of
three children, William R., Emma P. and Elmer
B. While not taking an active part in politics,
Professor Grimley is a stanch adherent of Repub
lican principles, and always casts his vote for the
candidates of his chosen party.

["\ETER BECKERLE is the efficient Superin-
Y tendent of the Highland Furniture Manu
al) facturing Company, and one ofthe represen
tative business men of Newburgh. He was born
in Fiflicheim, near Worms, Hesse-Darmstadt,
Germany, August 9, 1849, and is a son of Fred
erick Beckerle, who was also born in the same
village. Both he and the grandfather followed
farming, and were members of the Lutheran
Church. Frederick Beckerle married Magdelene
Magenheim, who was born in the same locality,
and was a daughter of Peter Magenheim, a
farmer and miller, who served in public offices
and was a leading citizen. His death occurred
at the age of eighty-two. The parents of our
subject died in the prime of life, leaving two chil
dren: Frederick, who is a cabinetmaker; and
Peter. Our subject was reared in his native village,
and, being left an orphan at an early age, was
reared by his maternal grandfather. He attended
the common schools until the age of fourteen,
when he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker in
the city of Worms, serving for two and a-half
years. At the end of that time, on account of
good behavior and good workmanship, his em

ployer gave him a half-year's time. He then
went to the factory where his brother was serving
as foreman, and worked as a journeyman.
At the age of seventeen Mr. Beckerle came to
America from Hamburg on a steamer which
reached New York ten days later. He then went
to Orange, N. J., where lived his uncle, Henry
Schoefer, who kept a hotel. After three months
he returned to New York, where he was em
ployed as a cabinet-maker in a large manufactur
ing establishment, and also attended night school.
In the fall of 1867 he came to Newburgh, where
he worked as a cabinet-maker for D. M. Selig.
There his splendid business qualifications and ex
cellent workmanship won him promotion, until he
became foreman of the establishment, in which
capacity he served until 1892, when, in connec
tion with Mr. Gilmore, he bought out his em
ployer, and continued the manufacture of chairs.
In connection with John B. Rogers a new firm
was incorporated with a capital stock of $6,000,
known as the Highland Furniture Manufacturing
Company, of which he was President for a year.
In the spring of 1894 a new corporation was
formed, capitalized at $18,000, but the old name
was retained. Mr. Beckerle is a Director of the
company and is superintendent of the extensive
factory. The plant comprises a four-story build
ing, 50x100 feet, with a wing 37x39 feet. It is
fitted with elevators and the machinery is run by
steam, it having a twenty-horse-power engine, and
all kinds of fine chairs and mantels are manufac
tured, and interior wood-finishing is made to or
der. They manufacture rocking-chairs on an ex
tensive scale and ship to all parts ofthe country.
Six salesmen are employed, two agents are upon
the road, and twenty-four first-class mechanics
are in the factory. Mr. Beckerle has entire
charge ofthe business and designs all the work.
Our subject was united in marriage with Ida
Smith, and they became the parents of eight chil
dren; Gussie, Ida, Walter, Henry and Clara, who
are still living; Frederick, who died at the age of
nine months; Emma, who died at the age ot ten
years; and Albert, who died at the age of four
years. ,
Mr. Beckerle is a member of Newburgh Lodge

176

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

No. 309, F. & A. M., of which he formerly
served as Senior Warden; and belongs to Bis
marck Lodge No. 420, I. O. O. F., of which
he has been Treasurer for more than ten years;
he was also Past Grand, and delegate to the
Grand Lodge. He has been President of the
Turn Verein, and holds membership with the
Lutheran Church. His skill and ability in the line
of his business have brought him success, and he
is an enterprising and progressive man and pub
lic-spirited citizen, whom to know is to respect.

DWARD DAVIS is a stockholder in the
'S Kilmer Manufacturing Company of New-
_ burgh, manufacturers of wire, wire rods and
wire nails, one of the largest industries of the
kind in the state. In company with M. L. Kil
mer, our subject was the first man to take gold
out of the Black Hills after Professor Jenny, and
his experiences in the West form an entertaining
chapter in his history. Since 1879 he has been
connected with the above-named manufacturing
company, and with them removed from Schenec
tady, N. Y., in 1887, to their present location.
Our subject's parents were Harmon and Ra-
chael Davis, both natives of Chester County, Pa.
The father owned a farm about three miles from
Kenneth, which he carried on until recently, and
is now passing his declining years on the old
homestead, having attained the ripe old age of
eighty-six years. For many years he has been
a faithful supporter of the Republican party. His
wife, who was brought up a Quaker, died when
about fifty years old, and of their six children,
two are deceased.
Edward Davis was born in Chester County,
Pa., January 15, 1843, and was reared to farm
life. He attended the common schools, and re
mained at home until sixteen years of age, when
he commenced serving an apprenticeship to a
coach-maker in Marthatown. When his term of
three years was finished he Worked at the busi
ness as a journeyman until the outbreak of the

war. At the first tap of the drum he volunteered
in Company A, First Pennsylvania Reserves, and
was mustered in at Westchester, being assigned
to the army of the Potomac. He took part in
every impoitant engagement of the following cam
paign, including the battles of South Mountain,
Antietam, Gettysburg and the Wilderness. At
Weldon Railroad he was captured with a number
of other pickets, and was sent to Belle Isle, thence
to the prison at Salisbury, N. C, where he was
kept for six months. When Sherman's army ar
rived in the vicinity he was released on parole.
Mr. Davis was in the Navy School Hospital at
Annapolis at the time of Lee's surrender. He
was mustered out and honorably discharged in
June, 1865, having served for over four years.
During his army career he had numerous narrow
escapes from death, and several bullets lodged in
his knapsack.
When the war had closed Mr. Davis went West
in search of new adventures, and, in company with
a few others, fitted out a mule-team and wagon.
They started to Montana, by way of Ft. Kearney
and Ft. Laramie, the North Platte route, then by
the Baden route to Virginia City. Leaving St.
Joseph May 3, they arrived at their destination
July 4, at once engaging in mining and prospect
ing. When they arrived at the Big Horn they
were obliged to swim the river, and many of their
experiences were fraught with great danger and
difficulty. About this time Mr. Davis became
acquainted with M. L- Kilmer, and in 1875 they
went to Deadwood, S. Dak. Emissaries of the
Government were in pursuit of the daring miners,
but they managed to keep out of their reach,
though their escapes were sometimes very narrow.
On one occasion the troops passed them only a
few rods away, but their plan of lying perfectly
still, flat on the ground, was successful. The
two friends camped in a deep ravine at the head
of Whitewood, and did not undertake their min
ing exploits until February, when the troops left.
At the placer mines of Deadwood they obtained
in a short time $950, which was divided among
the three, and for a time they were in camp at
Spring Creek. In 1876 Mr. Davis and Mr. Kil
mer returned to visit the Philadelphia Centennial,

COL. CHARLES H. WEYGANT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

179

and during their two months' absence their part
ner succeeded in mining $18,000 worth of gold.
After about three years more of western life our
subject and Mr. Kilmer returned to New York
State, thenceforth to follow regular lines of busi
ness. Mr. Davis helped to incorporate the Kil
mer Manufacturing Company, and has been of
great service in its upbuilding and advancement.
In politics he follows his father's example, and
gives his allegiance to the Republican party.
In 1879 Mr. Davis was married, in Schoharie
County, N. Y., to Luella, daughter of Augustus
Kilene, a native of Howe Cave. Mr. Davis is
thoroughly posted in everything relating to min
eralogy, and is a practical business man. He en
joys the friendship of a host of acquaintances, and
by one and all is pronounced a fine conversation
alist, a man of ability and good judgment, and
an entertaining friend and companion.

EOL. CHARLES H. WEYGANT. In pre
senting to the readers of this volume the
biography of Colonel Weygant, we are per
petuating the life work of one ofthe most hon
ored residents of Newburgh Throughout a long,
influential and honorable career, both as an officer
during the Rebellion and as a private citizen
since that time, he has maintained the energy
and integrity that characterized him in youth.
Nor has his success been merely in accumulating
wealth, but, in the better sense of the word, he
has been successful in doing good and in winning
the esteem of a very large circle of acquaintances.
It being generally believed that heredity has
much to do with the formation of character, and
that our lives are stimulated by the immediate or
indirect influence of our ancestors, a short resume
of the ancestral history of Colonel Weygant may
serve as an index to the liberal and humane im
pulses which mark his daily life, and which have
won for him the regard of those who know him.
Lord Lindley has said, ' 'If the virtues of strang
ers be so attractive to us, how infinitely more so

should be those of our own- kindred; and with
what additional energy should the precepts of
our parents influence us when we trace the trans
mission of those precepts from father to son
through successive generations, each bearing- the
testimony of a useful and honorable life through
their truth and excellence ! ' '
This is forcibly pertinent to the ancestry of
Colonel Weygant. He comes from that German
Lutheran stock in which conscience seems to have
been as hereditary as intelligence, and in which
are apparent the results of many generations of
honest lives. The original progenitor of the fam
ily in America was Michael, son of Rev. George
Herman Weigand, Lutheran minister at Nieder-
chulheim, in the Rhine Palatinate. Michael Wei
gand was born in 1656. Before he was fairly out
of his teens he entered the army, and served
through several disastrous campaigns in defense
of his native land. On leaving the army he be
came a husbandman, married, and settled at Ost-
hofen, near the city of Worms. There his chil
dren, Anna, Maria, Tobias and George, were
born, and there he and his good wife, Anna
Catharena, hoped by industry and wise manage
ment to rear their offspring creditably, and, with
a competence honestly acquired, to spend their
declining years in peace. But in this worthy am
bition they were destined to cruel disappointment,
for their rooftree had been planted in a land to
which peace was an utter stranger.
' 'In the countries intersected by, or lying near,
the Rhine, it would be difficult to find any castles
or fortresses whose battered bastions do not be
tray the vestiges of hostility, any towns which are
not built on the ashes of their former edifices,
any plains which have not been drenched with
blood." During the long reign of Louis XIV.,
which began in 1651, and did not end until 1715,
this unfortunate country, which had for centuries
previous seemed devoted to carnage and con
flagration, experienced anew the horrors of dev
astation. In 1706 an invading army of Louis
with fire and sword swept over and laid waste
hundreds of the most productive farms, and not a
few of villages, adjacent to Worms. Michael Wei
gand, after beholding the incendiary flames de-

i8o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

vour the home which had sheltered his wife and
little ones, and witnessing the confiscation or
wanton destruction of every vestige of the ac
cumulation of years of toil, resolved to quit for
ever the land of his birth and seek a new home
in America.
In this undertaking he was joined by his pas
tor, Rev. Joshua D. Kockerthal, and eight other
families, that, like his own, had been despoiled by
the cruel invaders. This little band fled to Eng
land, which they reached in utter destitution.
There they appealed to Queen Anne, frankly
stating their lamentable condition and petitioning
for transportation to and a grant of land in Amer
ica. The good Queen, after receipt of a favor
able report from the Lord Commissioner of Trade
and Plantations, to whom their appeal had been
referred, granted their request, and in addition
gave them an allowance from her private purse.
The grant of lands given them embraced what is
now the city of Newburgh. The Weigand fam
ily received title to the two hundred and fifty
acres lying between Renwick and Washington
Streets, and running from the river to the west
ern limits ofthe city. The historic Washington's
Headquarters building lies within the limits of
the Weigand farm. A portion of that famous
old stone structure was built by the sons of Mich
ael Weigand, who is supposed to have died there
about the year 1725.
The descendants of this early settler have ever
shown themselves, by word and deed, loyal and
patriotic Americans. Both of his sons, Tobias
and John, who were aged, respectively, seven and
five years when, on the 23d of June, 1708, they
reached these shores, became members of the first
military company organized in the precinct of
Newburgh in Colonial times. At the breaking
out of the war with the mother country, their
sous, without an exception, promptly ranged
themselves on the side of the colonies and un
hesitatingly signed the Revolutionary Roll of
Association, while four of their number, together
with John, Jr., grandson of Tobias, took up arms
in defense of the sacred cause they had espoused.
In the War of 18 12 the family was honorably rep
resented, and in the war for the preservation ol

the Union not a few of its members died on the
field of battle.
About 1745, Tobias, son of Michael, who had
grown up with the settlement, and for two dec
ades had held a prominent place in its social, re
ligious and public affairs, during which he had
served as a Trustee of the Glebe and an officer of
the little Lutheran Church his father had helped
to build in the wilderness, sold out his interest in
the original Queen Anne grant, and removed to a
more extensive tract of land of which he had be
come the owner, and which was located near the
present village of Highland Mills, some fourteen
miles distant. A number of his descendants may
still be found in that locality.
The next in line of descent from Tobias was
John, an agriculturist and a man of prominence
in his community. Following him in descent
was John, Jr., the before-mentioned Revolution
ary soldier, who entered the service as a Sergeant
in Capt. Arthur Smith's company of militia. At
the capture of Forts Clinton and Montgomery by
the British in 1777, Captain Smith was severely
wounded, but by the aid of Sergeant Weygant
managed to escape capture, and by an all-night
journey over the intervening mountains reached
his home. During this journey the stalwart Ser
geant frequently carried him over difficult places
on his back. Subsequently when young Wey
gant asked the hand of the Captain's daughter in
marriage, his suit was not denied. Sergeant
Weygant was a man of influence, and his name
frequently appears in the list of office-holders in
his town. He died in 1830, survived by four
sons and three daughters.
Rev. Francis Weygant, son of the above, and
our subject's grandfather, was a leading Method
ist of the New Windsor Circuit, on which he was
instrumental in building several churches. For
many years he officiated as a preacher, often fill
ing acceptably three, and sometimes four, appoint
ments of a Sunday, but never accepting any re
muneration for such services. He was a mild-
mannered, but unusually energetic business man,
with many interests, including farming, timber
ing, the manufacture of pig iron, and the main
taining of an extensive mail and passenger stage

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i8r

route, which ran through Orange County and
had its terminus in New York City. He died of
cholera, with which he was seized while in New
York on business in 1832.
The father of our subject, James Weygant, was
born in the town of Monroe, which had been the
home of his ancestors for four generations. In
early life he was engaged in a freighting business,
which he conducted by means of sloops, which
plied between Cornwall, Orange County, and
New York City, but the principal part of his life
was spent in Newburgh, where he conducted a
carriage factory and livery business. He was
public-spirited, liberal to a fault, built up a large
circle of business acquaintances and had a host of
friends. But he was especially devoted to his
family, fond of domestic associations, and found
his greatest happiness within the portals of his
home. His death occurred in 1876, at the age ot
fifty-eight. Mary, mother of our subject, was born in the
town of Monroe. Her father, Wines Mapes, was
a farmer and millwright, and at the time of his
death, which occurred in his seventieth year, was
just completing what was said to be the hundredth
mill he had erected in the state of New York.
The Mapes family formerly resided in Long Isl
and, but originated in Great Britain. Their pro
genitor in America was Thomas Mapes, who was
born in Wales about 1628, and in childhood came
to this country, settling in Suffolk, L- L, where
he engaged in farming, and became a surveyor
of land. There he married Sarah, daughter of
William Purrier. In 1662 he was made a free
man at Hartford.
Thomas Mapes, Jr. , was for a number of years
a Justice of the Peace and Captain of Suffolk
County Militia. About 1728 he came to Orange
County and settled in the town of Blooming
Grove. His grandson, James, a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, was born December 16, 1756,
and in 1778 married Anna, daughter of Barnabas
Manny. His death occurred June 3, 1835. The
eldest of their thirteen children, Wines, was born
January 18, 1779, and died in 1849. His daugh
ter Mary died at the age of forty, December 10,
1858, after having become the mother of seven

children that attained years of maturity. Ol
these, one son and two daughters are living,
Charles H. being the eldest of the number. His
brother, Wines E., who was a member of the
same regiment as himself, served as Lieutenant
of Company B, but owing to ill health was obliged
to resign. For some years he was employed in
Jay Cook's National Bank at Washington, D. C,
afterward was Cashier of the Citizens' National
Bank of the same city, but his health again fail
ing, he went to the Pacific Coast and settled at
Cheney, Wash., where he assisted in organizing
a national bank, being made its Cashier. He
died there in 1894.
The subject of this biography was born in
Cornwall, on the Hudson, N. Y., July 8, 1839,
and was reared in Newburgh from early child
hood. He was prepared for college at the Ash
land (N. Y.) and Claverack Collegiate Institutes.
His studies, however, were interrupted by the
opening ofthe Civil War, and in 1862 he assisted
in raising the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth
Regiment of New York Infantry, known as the
"Orange Blossoms." In September, 1862, he
was mustered into service as Captain of Company
A. He took an active part in the battles of
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Beverly Ford,
Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania,
and in every general engagement of the Army of
the Potomac after Cold Harbor until the close of
the war.
At the battle of Gettysburg, Colonel Ellis and
Major Cromwell were killed, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Cummings was wounded, leaving the
regiment in command of Captain Weygant for
about a month. Soon afterward he was commis
sioned Major, his commission dating from July
2, 1863, and later he was made Lieutenant-Col
onel, dating from the same time. Colonel Cum
mings commanded the regiment until the morn
ing ofthe second day's battle ofthe Wilderness,
when he was severely wounded, so much so that he
never resumed duty. The regiment then passed
under the command of Colonel Weygant.
After being commissioned Colonel by his state,
but prior to muster to that grade in the United
States service (a delay occasioned by depletion of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his regiment through losses in battle), our sub
ject was breveted Colonel by Congress as a spe
cial recognition of his services and those of his
regiment, who during the siege of Petersburg
captured one hundred and fifty-five Confederates,
their commanding officer and battle-flag, killing
and wounding thirty others, without losing a sin
gle man on his side. At the battle of Chancel-
lorsville, on the morning of the second day, he was
left with one hundred men to observe and retard
the advance of Stonewall Jackson's twenty thou
sand, while his corps, the Third, fell back to a
new battle line which had been assigned it. Fort
unately, when Jackson's men advanced the next
morning, our subject found that nature had pro
vided a small ravine through which he, after
having performed the duty assigned him, was en
abled to escape with the loss of only eight men.
On that same day of May, 1863, the One Hun
dred and Twenty-fourth suffered a loss of nearly
two hundred men killed and wounded, and he re
ceived a scalp wound which invalided him for a
few days.
The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth was one
of eight regiments which led Hancock's charge
at Spottsylvania, and there Colonel Weygant
was wounded in the limb, while in the act of
planting a Union flag on the enemy's inner line
of works, after his regiment had captured four
guns, over three hundred prisoners and a rebel
flag. His wound was so serious as to keep him
from duty about seven weeks. At the battle of
Boynton Roads, later in 1864, while in command
of a force consisting of the One Hundred and
Twenty -fourth New York and Berdan's Second
Regiment of Sharpshooters, he was again wound
ed, being shot in the left side, but was back on
duty again in a few weeks. His regiment, act
ing as sharpshooters, took a conspicuous part in
Grant's last campaign, skirmishing with the ene
my's rear guard nearly every day from Peters
burg to Appomattox, capturing many prisoners,
guns and wagons, and losing twenty men, killed
and wounded, in the last encounter between the
Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern
Virginia, the day preceding Lee's surrender. At
the close of the war he took part in the Grand

Review, and then returned home, with a record
as a valiant soldier of which he might justly be
proud. Some years after the close of the conflict, Col
onel Weygant wrote a "History ofthe One Hun
dred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, N. Y. S.
Vols.," which comprises a valuable addition to
our war literature, and is a very interesting book,
filled with thrilling adventures and memorable in
cidents connected with that long struggle. Since
the date of its issue in 1877, very few histories of
regiments which served in the Army of the Po
tomac have been written in which it has not been
used as a text-book. Rev. E. P. Roe, in the
battle scenes of his most famous novel, "An Origi
nal Belle, ' ' copies extensively from it, which fact
he gracefully acknowledges in his preface in the
following words: "In touching upon the battle
of Gettysburg and other historical events, I will
briefly say that I have carefully consulted authen
tic sources of information . For the graphic sug
gestions of certain details I am indebted to the
'History ofthe One Hundred and Twenty-fourth
Regiment, N. Y. S. V., by Col. Charles H. Wey
gant.' "
For some years after the war Colonel Weygant
engaged in business as a carriage manufacturer,
but in 1870 disposed of that concern, having been
elected Sheriff of Orange County for a term of
three years. He entered upon the duties of the
office in January, 187 1, and served with efficiency
until January, 1874. In 1878 and 1880 he filled
the office of Mayor of Newburgh. Much of his
time has been given to the real-estate business,
and he has been instrumental in securing im
provements that have been of the most enduring
benefit to the place. In 1866, associated with
Henry T. McCoun, a capitalist of New York
City, he purchased a part ofthe Robinson Farm,
and created the easterly portion of Washington
Heights Addition to Newburgh, which will ever
stand as a monument to his ability and sagacity.
The tract, consisting of forty acres, he had sur
veyed and laid out. Streets were opened and
graded; sewer and water pipes were introduced;
sidewalks were flagged and curbed; road beds
were macadamized and shade trees planted. All

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

183

these and other improvements were made at the
expense of our subject and Mr. McCoun, and no
lot was sold without such improvements, or a con
tract therefor, that was in all cases faithfully per
formed. This undertaking, at the time of its inception,
seemed to many a most hazardous one, and there
were not wanting those who predicted that it
would bring financial ruin to. its projectors. But
such gloomy predictions proved wholly untrue.
From the first the enterprise has met with the
most flattering success, and this is now the most
beautiful spot in the city. The streets are from
'fifty to sixty-six feet in width. The deeds pro
hibit the sale of liquor, and require the build
ings to be placed twelve feet back from the street
lines. This twelve feet of space in front of each
residence, forming a grassy terrace between the
sidewalk and the houses, is a very pretty feature
of the addition. Liberty and Lander Streets,
two of the principal thoroughfares of the city,
were extended through the plot, and other streets
were opened, among them Carson Avenue, Over
look Place, Courtney and Henry Avenues, Bea
con Street and Bay View Terrace, the latter ex
tending along the edge of the bluff on the south
and east sides. Renwick Street was already open
through the property from Bridge Street east to
the river, but commonly only the plot south of
this street is designated Washington Heights.
Over two and one-third miles of streets, and four
hundred and fifty lots were laid out in this
manner. In 1868 Colonel Weygant married Charlotte,
daughter of Samuel B. Sackett, an old settler of
Newburgh. They are the parents of one daugh
ter, Bessie. Socially the Colonel is a Knight-
Templar Mason, and belongs to Kismet Temple,
of Brooklyn. He is connected with the Board of
Trade, and prominent in all public affairs. In
1883 he was chosen as the Grand Marshal of the
Newburgh Centennial parade. He is a member
ofthe Grand Army, and has been Commander of
Ellis Post of that order. In the work of the
Methodist Episcopal denomination he is deeply
interested. For about twenty years he has been
a member of the Official Board, and at present is

serving in the capacity of President of the Board
of Trustees of Trinity Church. He is a member
of the Board of Trustees of the Newburgh Dis
trict Parsonage and the District Board of Church
Location. Possessing literary taste, fluency of speech in
conversation, a generous and magnanimous na
ture, a manly ease and freedom of address, Col
onel Weygant is justly recognized as one of the
most progressive and public-spirited citizens, and
is entitled to the high place he occupies in the es
teem of his fellow-citizens.

el

'AMES N. FIRTH. Among the prominent
and successful business men of Newburgh
we make mention of Mr. Firth, who is the
proprietor of a large establishment for the sale of
sporting goods, bicycles, guns, etc. He is a na
tive of England, having been born in Dewsbury,
Yorkshire, July 28, 1848. His father, Absalom
Firth, and his grandfather, James Firth, were
also born there, the latter following the profes
sion of a music teacher.
The father of onr subject came with his family
to America in 1853, locating at Little Falls, N. J.
By trade he was a shoemaker and woolen- spin
ner, and for seven years followed the first-named
business in New Jersey. At the end of that time
he came to Newburgh and engaged in the manu
facture of woolen goods. He served as a soldier
in the Seventy-ninth New York Volunteer Infan
try during tne Civil War, enlisting first as a mem
ber of Company H. After the expiration of his
term of three months he again offered his services
and participated in the first battle of Bull Run.
He was honorably discharged on account of dis
ability after being a Union soldier for seven
months. His death was caused by an accident,
he being thrown from a wagon in 1890, when in
the seventieth year of his age.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Hannah Sheard. She, too, was born in England,
and was the daughter of Thomas Sheard, a weav
er and manufacturer of fine cloths. He departed

184

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

this life in his native land, but his wife, Mrs.
Hannah Sheard, came to America after his de
cease, and died in New Windsor, this county, at
the remarkable age of ninety-eight years. The
family originally included eight children, and of
these two are now living.
Our subject accompanied his parents on their
removal to the United States, embarking on the
sailing-vessel "City of Washington" at Liverpool.
They were seven weeks on the journey across the
Atlantic, and after being landed in New York
Harbor made their way to Gordinsville, N. J.,
afterward to Marlboro, N. Y., and finally to New
York City, where they lived during the war.
While a lad of eight years our subject began
working in the woolen-mills, and on master
ing this industry learned to be a shoemaker and
later a harness-maker. On removing to Rif-
ton Glen he again entered the woolen-mills, and
was promoted from time to time until he held the
position of woolen-spinner. From there he went to
Yonkers, and thence to Broad Brook, Conn.
In 1885 he returned to Newburgh and was
Superintendent of James Harrison's woolen-mills
for five years. In 1890 he decided to abandon
that occupation, and, buying the stock of goods
formerly owned by Edward Wilkinson, opened
his present business at No. 77 Broadway, in the
Van Cleft Building. The store has been greatly
enlarged since he took possession of it, and Mr.
Firth is now regarded as the largest dealer in the
line of sporting goods in the city. His repair
shops are located in the rear of his store, and he
has appliances for making good all breakages to
bicycles, etc. He carries a full line of electric
goods, and, in fact, everything usually found in a
first-class establishment of this kind. He has a
private telephone, and his building is fitted up
with electric bells and speaking tubes. He com
mands a large patronage and well deserves the
success with which he is meeting. Although his
place of business is at Newburgh, his residence
is on Johnes Street, New Windsor.
Mr. Firth was married in Broad Brook, Conn.,
in 1869, to Miss Jane Peace. She was born in
Yorkshire, England, and came to America with
her parents when a ehild. She was educated in

the Nutmeg State, and by her union with our
subject has become the mother of three children,
two of whom are living, Hannah E. and Joseph
T., both at home. Socially our subject belongs
to Oriental Lodge No. in, F. & A. M., in Broad
Brook, Conn., which he joined when a young
man of twenty-one years. Religiously he is a
member of St. John's Methodist Episcopal
Church, and in politics is a Republican.

~MIL DODERER. Germany has contrib-
fa uted many citizens to the State of New
__ York, but she has given none more worthy
of notice or more highly esteemed than the subject
of this sketch, who is one of the prominent drug
gists of Newburgh. His place of business is lo
cated on Liberty Street, and is well stocked with
a fine line of medicines, perfumes, toilet articles,
and, in fact, everything found in the house of a
progressive and business-like druggist.
Our subject was born in Wurtemberg, near
Stuttgart, July 12, 1848, and is the son of Carl
Doderer, a native of the same place. The latter
was a merchant, and passed his entire life in the
Fatherland. Mrs. Caroline (Weiland) Doderer,
the mother of our subject, was likewise born in
Germany, where she continues to make her home.
She is a Lutheran in religion, in the faith of
which she trained her family of eight children.
Of these, all are living with one exception, and
Emil, our subject, was the third-born. He and
his sister Lydia are the only members of the
family living in America.
Emil Doderer attended the Latin schools of his
native place until fourteen years of age, when he
left school and began clerking in his father's
store, continuing thus for four years, when he
was sent out on the road as a traveling salesman.
He afterwards clerked in a wholesale establish
ment at Stuttgart, and it was while there that he
determined to come to America. Accordingly,
in 1870, he set sail for the New World, and on
landing in New York settled at Brooklyn, where
he soon began the study of pharmacy. He re
mained a resident of that city until 1875, when

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

185

he came to Newburgh and became a clerk foi""
William Doderer, on Water Street. In 1890 he
started in business for himself, putting in an en
tirely new stock of goods. As a prescription
druggist he is second to none in the city, and to
him many of the best physicians send their
patrons for tlieir medicine. His store is finely
furnished, and is located at No. 103 Liberty
Street. Mr. Doderer was married, in this city, to Miss
Emma Borath, who was born in Germany in
1867. They have two children, Charles and
Mamie. In religious affairs our subject is a
member of the German Lutheran Church and as
sists in upbuilding his congregation on every oc
casion. In politics he affiliates with the Demo
cratic party, and is a member of the Germauia
Life Insurance Company of New York City.
Those who know him esteem him for his sterling
worth, and among the business men he ranks
high. ¦SVSAAC COCHRAN, a retired business man
I residing in Newburgh, was born in this
X. town, October 29, 1823. He is the son of
Alexander Cochran, a native of County Antrim,
Ireland, who emigrated to America in early life,
and for a time sojourned on a farm near Walden,
but later located on Gidney Avenue, Newburgh.
After settling here he engaged in the manufacture
of cotton goods for southern markets, being the
only manufacturer in this place. In 1825 he re
moved his plant to the corner of Liberty and
West Streets, where he engaged in the mercantile
business. Removing to New York City in 1839, Alex
ander Cochran embarked in the grocery and tea
business on Broadway and Twenty-first Street.
Desiring, however, a more quiet life than his
business permitted him to enjoy, he disposed of
his establishment and settled upon a farm near
Kensico, Westchester County. About 1858 he
returned to New York City, but did not again
identify himself with any enterprise. His death
occurred in i860, when he was seventy-two years
of age. Being a man of business acumen and

large capabilities, there came to him, in the le
gitimate channels of trade, a large degree of suc
cess, and his last years were passed in the enjoy
ment of all the comforts wealth can furnish. His
religious convictions were firm, and in the Re
formed Presbyterian Church, of which he was a
devoted member, he served as Elder. After he
came to America he married Miss Margaret
Geery, who was born in Ireland, and died in i860,
aged sixty-five years.
There were five children in the family of Alex
ander Cochran, namely: John, Elizabeth, Jane,
Josiah A. and Isaac, all of whom died at an early
age except the subject of this notice. He was
reared in Newburgh and attended the old high
school at this place, and also prosecuted his studies
in the academy. In 1839 he went to New York
City and entered into business with his father,
with whom he remained until i860. He then
embarked in the manufacture of carriages 011
Eighty-first Street and Broadway, New York
City, where for a number of years he carried on
a successful business. Returning to Orange Coun
ty in 1866, ne settled on a farm adjoining the
place where he was born. The grounds were
large, comprising thirty-two acres, and the beauty
of the place was still further enhanced by the
large residence which he erected on Gidney Ave
nue. In 1887 he removed to his present resi
dence, a commodious structure built by Commo
dore Graham, and situated on the corner of
Powell Avenue and North Street, in the midst of
a park of six and one-fourth acres. In addition
to other enterprises, Mr. Cochran assisted in the
organization of the Columbus Trust Company, in
which he has since been a Director. For three
years he was engaged in the tea and grocery busi
ness on Broadway, Newburgh, carrying on that
enterprise in connection with his other business
connections. Miss Rachel Sommerville, who became the
wife of Mr. Cochran in New York City in Janu
ary, 1850, was born near Saratoga, Montgomery
County, and passed away in Orange County in
1 89 1. Five daughters and two sons were born of
the union, namely: Jane McB., who married
Rev. R. Cunningham, a Presbyterian minister

i86

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

now residing in Crawfordsville, Ind. , where she
died in 1890, leaving six children; RachaelA.,
who is married and lives in New York City;
Elizabeth, who is at home; Ella, wife of W. C.
Johnson, of Newburgh; Caroline M., who resides
with her father; Isaac Alex, a real-estate dealer
of New York City; and Walter S., who also
makes his home in the metropolis. An active
worker in the Reformed Presbyterian Church,
Mr. Cochran has been an Elder in that denomi
nation since 1868, and has represented his con
gregation in various meetings of the Synod. For
twenty-seven years he has been Superintendent
of the Sunday-school, and is still serving in that
capacity. To his church he has given long and
faithful service, and he has ever been true and
loyal to its interests and devoted to its welfare.
In politics he has always been a Republican.

REV. GUST AVE DRECHSLER is pastor of
the German Lutheran Church of Newburgh,
and is a young man who has great promise
for the future, judging by what he has accom
plished in the past. He has been in charge of
his present congregation only since April, 1893,
and has already become a power for good in this
community. At the time of his coming here the
church was incumbered with a debt of $1,400.
This, in addition to keeping up the current ex
penses, has been reduced to $800, while valuable
improvements have been made in the building,
and a fine new organ purchased and put in posi
tion. Both the church and Sunday-school show
a healthy rate of increase, and now the former
numbers nearly one hundred families, while one
hundred and thirty-five pupils are enrolled in the
Sunday-school. The various church societies are
in a flourishing condition and the outlook is very
encouraging. The father ofthe gentleman whose name heads
this sketch, Frederick Drechsler, was born in
Saxony, Germany, and took part in the Revolu
tion of 1848. After the defeat of his party he re
moved to Fredericia, Denmark, and engaged in
the manufacture of woolen goods until the war of

' 1864 came on. At that time the fort in the vil
lage was destroyed and Mr. Drechsler's factory,
with many other places of business, was burned.
Though he was naturally despondent over his
losses, he once more set to work to repair his
fortune, and started another factory in Sleswlck,
where he is now a resident. His wife, who be
fore their marriage was a Miss Mary Held, was
born in Sleswick, of German parents. Frederick,
a brother of our subject, is an extensive merchant
in Hamburg, and two of his sisters reside in the
same city. The family have always been Lu
therans in religious faith.
Rev. Mr. Drechsler was born November 21,
i860, in Fredericia, Denmark, and is next to the
youngest in his parents' family. He received a
good common education, and was confirmed at
the age of fifteen years. Then for a year he
studied under private tutors, afterwards passing
an examination for a position as a school teacher,
and held such a position from the time he was
sixteen until he was twenty-three years of age.
Concluding to enter the ministry, he became en
rolled as a student at the theological seminary at
Kropp. In that institution students who are in
tended for service in the German Lutheran Church
in the United States are educated and fitted for
their future work, the seminary being connected
with the General Council of this country. At the
end of six years Mr. Drechsler graduated with
honors. It was in June, 1889, that he emigrated
to America to enter upon his chosen career.
Going to Philadelphia, he passed an examination
before the faculty of Mt. Airy Lutheran Seminary,
and was duly ordained as a minister in the gen
eral council of the German Lutheran Church of
the United States, His first charge was at Mt.
Holly, N. J. , and later he was stationed at River
side, in the same state, in both places serving for
two years. He was then called as assistant to
his father-in-law, Rev. F. D. Leddin, of Sauger-
ties, Ulster County, N. Y., and continued to
serve in that capacity until April, 1893, when he
was assigned to the German Lutheran Church of
Newburgh. He belongs to the New York Minis-
terium of the General Council, and politically is
identified with the Republican party,

HON. WILLIAM FULLERTON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

189

While living in Mt. Holly, N. J., Mr. Drechs
ler was united in marriage with Annie Leddin,
their union being celebrated April 24, 1890.
Mrs. Drechsler was born on her father's farm
near Saugerties, and grew to womanhood in that
locality, receiving a superior education. To our
subject and wife has been born one child, Elsie
by name. Mrs. Drechsler is of great assistance
to her husband in his work and is prominent in
the Ladies' Aid Society and the Young People's
Association of the church.

HON. WILLIAM FULLERTON, whose
pleasant home is in Newburgh, has been a
member of the Bar of New York City for
forty-three years of his active professional life,
and has probably tried more important cases than
any of his legal brethren. By general consent he
has been conceded to be the ablest jury lawyer in
the metropolitan district since the death of the
late James T. Brady. Having a profound knowl
edge of human nature, being quick and ready in
debate, and thoroughly posted on the fundament
al principles of law, he is pre-eminently a great
advocate, and as a cross-examiner is without a
peer. Judge Fullerton was born in Minisink, this
county, May 1, 18 17, of which locality his father,
Stephen W., was also a native. The paternal
grandfather, William Fullerton, emigrated from
Ireland, and was one of the pioneer farmers of
Minisink. His wife, formerly Miss Mary Whit-
taker, of Delaware County, was one of the few
survivors of the fearful Indian massacre at Wy
oming. , When twelve years old she and a young
er brother were captured, and the story is told
that one of the Indians raised her from the ground
by her hair, holding her in that position while
her face was being painted. During the night
she, with her little brother, made her escape, and
after traversing the mountain wilderness from the
Wyoming Valley, reached a point of refuge near
where the thriving village of Port Jervis now
stands. She was a woman of remarkable char
acter, and lived to a ripe old age, respected and

venerated in the community. Stephen W. Ful
lerton married Esther Stephens, who was born in
Minisink, as was also her father, Halloway Ste
phens, though her grandparents came from Long
Island. Mrs. Fullerton outlived her husband
many years, and was a devout member ot the
Baptist Church.
The youth of Judge Fullerton passed quietly
on his father's farm, and in 1837 he graduated
with honors from Union College, having made
his way through school by teaching. Subse
quently he studied law and was admitted to the
Bar in 1840, at once commencing practice in Go
shen. He soon moved to Newburgh, where in
the next few years he was retained on one side or
the other of most ofthe leading cases tried in this
and adjoining counties. In 1852 he was called
upon to try a very important case in the Second
Judicial District of New York, and it happened
that his opponent was Charles O' Conor, then rec
ognized as the most prominent leader of the Bar.
The case was tried in Brooklyn and, though close
ly contested, resulted in the success of the young
advocate, our subject. Mr. O' Conor was im
pressed with the ability of his determined adver
sary, and invited him to become a partner, the
proposition being accepted. He at once joined
Mr. O' Conor -in New York, and took the high
place in his profession which he has since main
tained. Perhaps the most noted effort in the career of
Mr. Fullerton was in the cross-examination of
Henry Ward Beecher, in the great case of Tilton
vs. Beecher, which, on account of the distinction
ofthe parties concerned, was extensively reported,
and excited more public notice perhaps than any
other ever tried in the United States. It was a
combat of intellectual giants, and Mr. 0' Conor
characterized Judge Fullerton' s cross-examina
tion as the ablest ever conducted. But it is futile
to endeavor to give any idea of the great causes
in which the Judge has been interested as coun
sel, and moreover it is unnecessary, as his name
is well known, not only in the East, but in all
parts of the country, as one of the finest jurists of
the times. In 1867, while in Canada on his an
nual salmon-fishing trip in company with Chester

i go

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

A. Arthur and other friends, he was appointed
Justice of the Supreme Court to fill a vacancy in
his district, this being without his knowledge.
The appointment thus made him ex-qfficio mem
ber of the Court of Appeals, and at the following
election the people of this district elected him
without opposition. His services in the Court of
Appeals added to his reputation as an advocate
and jurist.
Perhaps no more just presentation of the esti
mation in which the Judge has been, and is, held
by his associates of the Bench and Bar can be
formulated than that contained in a private let
ter written by Hon. John K. Porter, a distin
guished member of the Court of Appeals, to
Charles O' Conor, then a recognized leader ofthe
American Bar: "Albany, December 30, 1867.
' 'My Dear Sir: — I know that you feel an in
terest in all that concerns the Bench and Bar of
New York, and that you will pardon me for tak
ing the liberty of consulting you on a matter in
regard to which I feel a great deal of solicitude.
I have concluded to resign my office in time to
have a successor appointed before the commence
ment of next term, though I propose to say noth
ing *on the subject till the 3d or 4th of January.
It is with the view of venturing on the doubtful
experiment of practice in New York, in the hope
of being able to do a business a little more remu
nerative than a place on the Bench. I have a
very strong desire that Judge Fullerton should
be appointed my successor, and I have no doubt
that he will be the nominee if he will give his
consent. I have conferred with him on the sub
ject and see clearly that his final decision will be
controlled, as it should be, by your judgment.
Will you permit me to suggest very briefly the
considerations which lead me to hope you will
advise his acceptance of the position? * * *
His opinions at the present term have been strik
ingly clear and able, and I think I did not take
more pleasure and pride in listening to them than
you will in reading them. I shall be disappointed
if you do not concur with me in regard to some
of them when they appear in the Thirty-seventh
New York, as among the very best which have

ever been delivered in the court. A year more
in the Court of Appeals would establish for him a
judicial reputation as enduring as our system of
jurisprudence. He is known now as a brilliant
and successful advocate primus inter partes, and
at the end of a year he would be universally
known as an eminent jurist. He will have no
opportunity to make a record more abiding than
that that of the most successful jury lawyer. He
will return to the Bar with the additional weight
of character derived from his judicial position,
and without abatement of the forensic vigor and
resources which have signalized his past profes
sional career. His relations on the Bench will
give him a more extended influence, which will
be serviceable in after life. The pecuniary sac
rifice would be inconsiderable in comparison with
the resulting benefits, and I think the Bar and the
public would welcome the appointment, and that
it would greatly strengthen the court.
' 'It is refreshing to have questions of law de
termined by judges in the vigor of manhood, with
discrimination enough to appreciate the force of
arguments, and strength enough, not only to
reach clear and undoubting convictions, but to
maintain and defend them in the spirit of genuine
loyalty to the right. Unless I have overlooked
considerations which ought to be controlling, I
hope you will look favorably on the views I have
suggested. If you think otherwise, I should ac
quiesce in your judgment, as I claim to be in some
sort one of your proteges, though not to the same
extent as Brother Fullerton. I find myself very
much in the way of accepting your conclusions,
as I do a presumptio juris et de jure. * * * *
"Very sincerely yours,
"John K. Porter."
Mr. O' Conor was thoroughly in sympathy with
his noted friend, Judge Porter, and sought to in
duce Mr. Fullerton to accept the appointment re
ferred to, but the attractions and emoluments of
his career as an advocate led the latter to contin
ue in his active practice, as he has done ever since.
In 1840 Judge Fullerton married Cornelia M.,
daughter of Henry Gale, an old business man of
Orange County. The only son of the Judge,
William, was a young man of exceptional ability

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

191

and talents of no ordinary degree. He was com
pleting his musical studies in Heidelberg, Ger
many, where he was a great favorite, and many
of his compositions have been published and have
won immediate recognition . He was cut short in
his career by death, while yet abroad, being then
in his thirty-fourth year.

3^c-» .

(T HUDSON BOARD is one of the honored
I sons of Orange County, where his birth oc-
(2/ curred October 11, 1823. He has long been
identified with whatever pertains to her best in
terests, and is the possessor of a truly enviable
name for integrity and fair dealing toward all.
He is the owner of a large and productive farm
in the town of Chester, and his residence, which
is very commodious, is situated just outside the
limits of the village.
Mr. Board was the eldest but one of the family
born to James J. and Huldah (Hudson) Board,
also natives of this portion of the state, where
they passed their entire lives. When a boy the
father was apprenticed to learn the trade of a
tanner, and passed many years of his young life
working at this business. Later, however, he
engaged in farming and speculating, and subse
quently embarked in the general merchandise
business. He was a man of prominence and in
fluence in his community, and ranked high
among the progressive business men. His death
occurred in 1894, at the venerable age of ninety-
two years. His good wife preceded him to the
grave by many years, and both were loved and
esteemed by all who knew them.
Our subject first attended the district school,
but later supplemented the knowledge gained
therein by a course at Professor Rankin's school
at Deckertown, N. J. After completing the
course he returned home and devoted himself to
farming, learning all its details, and about 1850
engaged in this occupation on his own account.
That he has been more than ordinarily success
ful is indicated by stating that his possessions ag
gregate over three hundred broad and well culti
vated acres, all of which lie in the town of Chester.

This property is located at the edge of the thriv
ing little village of that name, so that Mr. Board
may be spoken of as a resident of the suburbs of
that place. The buildings on his estate are mod
ern in construction and comprise all those which
would be found on the place of a first-class and
progressive farmer.
In 1850 J. Hudson Board and Miss Mary E.
Seeley were united in marriage, she being the
daughter of Wicks and Martha Seeley, also na
tives of Orange County. This union resulted in
the birth of eight children, two of whom are de
ceased. Those living are: Huldah, the wife of
Charles Green, of this county; Martha and Liz
zie, at home; Wicks, who married Miss Durland,
and makes his home at Vernon, N. J.; and James
J. and Chester, both still under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Board are members in excellent
standing of the Presbyterian Church, meeting
with the congregation at Chester. In politics the
former affiliates with the Democratic party, and
therefore gives his vote and influence toward the
success of its chosen leaders. He is known as a
man of sterling integrity of character and good
business qualifications, and therefore ranks among
the solid citizens of the county.

WJ

fl>G)lLLIAM HARRISON is one of the lead
ing contractors and builders of Newburgh,
and one of the oldest members of the City
School Board in years of service, as he is now en
tering upon his third term, and altogether has
acted nine years in this capacity. In 1892 and
1893 he was President of that honorable body, and
for some years previous had been Vice-President.
He was Chairman of the Building Committee a
long time, and is still one of its members, besides
being on the City Library Committee and Chair
man of the Committee on Supplies.
In the days of Cromwell, our subject's ances
tors fought for constitutional liberty in his army
in England, of which country they were natives.
The great-grandfather, Matthew, removed to the

192

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

North of Ireland, where he became a large land
owner, as were also his son, William, and grand
son, Robert. The last-mentioned was the father
of William Harrison, of this article. Robert died
in the Emerald Isle, when only forty-seven years
of age, and was followed to the grave a year after
wards by his good wife, known in maidenhood as
Eliza Alexander. Her grandfather, David, was
a native of Glasgow, Scotland, but moved to the
North of Ireland, where he became an extensive
land-owner. Both families were adherents of the
Presbyterian faith.
William Harrison was born in County Ar
magh, Ireland, May 9, 1832, and is the eldest of
seven children, of whom two sisters and a brother
are in America. From the time he was about
twelve years old he has had to make his own
way in the world, and about 1845 emigrated to
the New World. For eighteen months he re
mained in New York, and then worked for farm
ers in Orange County until 1848, when he came
to Newburgh. He is truly a self-made man, and
though he is now exceptionally well informed, it
is owing to his tireless efforts to obtain an educa
tion. He attended night school to some extent
and was a burner ofthe "midnight oil." In 1850
he began an apprenticeship to the bricklayer's
and mason's trade with Gerard & Boyd, and la
ter worked as a journeyman for two years in New
York City.
In 1862 Mr. Harrison commenced building and
taking contracts on his own account. He is still
engaged in the building business and stands ready
to execute any and all contracts in his line he may
be entrusted with. In 1866 he purchased five-
eighths of an acre (then a cornfield) at what is
now the corner of Dubois Street and Gidney Ave
nue, and in 1870 erected the residence thereon
in which he still makes his home. He superin
tended the construction of the new free academy
and many of the buildings of the city and local
ity. His success in business was assured from
the start, and he often has employed forty or more
men in the busy seasons.
The marriage of our subject, which occurred
May 19, 1857, united him with Sarah B. Duke.
She was the youngest daughter of Matthew Duke,

an old resident of Newburgh, -who for many
years carried on a grocery on the corner of Third
and Smith Streets. She died December 14, 1891,
leaving five children: William R., of the firm of
J. W. Matthews & Co.; Edwin H., of Brooklyn;
Charles H., clerk for J. W. Matthews &Co.;
Walter B., clerk in the Quassaick National Bank;
and Joseph, who is studying architecture in the
office of F. E. Estabrook. The children have all
received good educations and are graduates ofthe
local academy. The family is now identified
with Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which our subject has been Sunday-school Super
intendent. He has also served on the Official
Board, and for years was a member of the Orange
County Bible Society.

HON. CHARLES T. DUNNING, ex-Clerk
of the New York Senate, is a man of quick
perceptions, keen judgment and excellent
business qualifications, and at the present is a
member of the Board of Commissioners of Ap
praisal of Carmel, Putnam County, and vicinity,
a position which requires just the traits of charac
ter and business habits which have made him so
successful in all his undertakings. This commis
sion has in charge the appraising of property re
moved for the purpose of preventing the pollu
tion of the water supply of New York City.
Our subject was born in Minisink November
2, 1843, and is a son of Braddock R. Dunning,
whose birth occurred in Goshen. His grandfa
ther, Jacob Dunning, was also born in Goshen,
and was a blacksmith by trade, his shop being
about two miles from his native town, on the
main road. He later removed to Ridgebury, in
the town of Minisink, where his death occurred
when he was fifty years of age. He participated
in the War of 1812, serving faithfully in that
great struggle.
The great-grandfather of our subject, also
named Jacob, was a native of Long Island. He
served in a militia company which was organized
in Goshen, and lost his life in the service, being
killed in a massacre by the Indians at the battle of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i93

Minisink in 1779. The father of our subject was
a cooper by trade, and later in life was engaged
in cultivating the soil, being located on a farm in
Minisink. Subsequently he moved to Goshen,
where he remained until he retired from active
duties, when he removed to Middletown. His
death occurred in 1 88 1 , when he was about sev
enty-seven years of age. In his religious faith
he was a Presbyterian, and politically he affil
iated with the Democratic party.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Harriet L- Walsh. She was born in Lansingburg,
N. Y., and passed away at the age of seventy-
five. She was the daughter of John Walsh, who
was of English birth. The lady whom he mar
ried was a native of Ireland, and they emigrated
to the United States, locating in New York City.
There he dealt in grain and other merchandise,
but was burned out in the great fire in that city
in 1836. Subsequently he became interested in
whaling expeditions, and later purchased a farm
near Ridgebury, this county, spending some time
in agricultural pursuits. It was in the year 1825
that he located on the farm near Ridgebury,
where he remained until retiring from active bus
iness cares, when he returned to New York City,
where his death occurred.
Of the eight children born to B. R. Dunning,
six survive. Charles T. is the youngest son in
the family, and the next to the youngest child.
Reared to manhood near Unionville, he received
his primary education in the common schools
of the Unionville district, attending the public
schools of Middletown, and afterward receiving
private instruction. Having completed his educa
tion, he began clerking in a store in Jersey City,
in the year 1867, however, coming to Goshen
with his father, who purchased the Phineas Rum-
sey Farm near this city.
In 1872 he was elected by the Board of Super
visors to the position of Clerk, remaining in that
capacity seventeen years altogether, and resign
ing when he was chosen Clerk of the Senate. He
was elected to this responsible position in 1892,
and served for two years, in the sessions of ' 92 and
'93. The duties of the office were very arduous,
but were always well and faithfully performed.

The Clerk is the principal administrative officer
of the Senate, and it was his duty to see that all
orders relating to the daily business of the body
were executed. On him also devolved the duty
of defining and directing the work of his assist
ants, who numbered about thirty. That his serv
ices were appreciated, the following resolution
will testify:
' 'Resolved, That the thanks of the Senators are
due, and are hereby tendered, to Charles T. Dun
ning, Clerk of this body, for the able and consci
entious manner in which he has performed his
duties, and for the uniform courtesy which he has
displayed throughout the session." It is needless
to say the resolution was adopted unanimously.
December 6, 1893, he was appointed a member
of the Board of Commissioners of Appraisal, re
ceiving his appointment from Judge Dykeman,
of the Supreme Court, and entering immediately
upon his duties.
The marriage of our subject occurred in Goshen
and united him with Miss Georgia Thompson, a
daughter of the late Martin L. Thompson, who
was a prominent hotelman of this village. Her
death occurred in 1888. Mr. Dunning' s residence
is on Murray Avenue and is a beautiful and com
fortable home. In politics he is a Democrat and
has been a member of the Democratic County
Committee of Orange County for some years,
serving as its Chairman in 1887-88. He has also
been a delegate to the state conventions quite fre
quently, and is a prominent and active worker in
state politics.

¦J.-, u.

»» I I I I I'll'

HENRY Y. LEWIS, of Goshen, conies of very
prominent families on both the paternal
and maternal sides, the Lewises and Youngs
having been identified with the history of the
United States since Colonial days. Our subject
himself went to the defense of the Stars and
Stripes during the late Civil War and lost that
most priceless blessing, good health, in her serv
ice For years he was an invalid, and when he
had partially recuperated it became evident that
he could never engage in sedentary work and that

194

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

it would be best for him to lead an outdoor life as
as much as possible. For over a quarter ofa cen
tury he has made his home in Goshen, and since
1873 has been engaged in the cultivation of ber
ries and in raising fruit for the city market. He
owns one and a-half acres on Murray Avenue and
has acquired a goodly competence by his strict
attention to business.
The great-grandfather of our subject, Ichabod
Lewis, was born on Long Island, and took part in
the War of 1812, as did also his brother, Nathan
iel, Jr. He fought until the last and fired the
final gun at Stony Point, mowing down a row of
the British. He was taken prisoner and sent to the
celebrated Sugar House in New York City, where
he was kept until he died from ill-treatment and
was buried with seven hundred other unfortunate
comrades in Trinity Church graveyard. He was
a son of Nathaniel Lewis, who was a descendant
of one Francis Lewis, a man of wealth and influ
ence, who contributed liberally of his means to
ward the support of the Revolutionary patriots
and who had emigrated to this country from
England. His wife was made a captive and con
fined in a London prison until LaFayette secured
her release. When the Huguenots were being
persecuted, members of the Lewis family escaped
from Bayonne, France, to Wales, where their de
scendants remained for nearly two hundred years.
Our subject's grandfather, Samuel, was born in
Goshen, and was a man of great intelligence and
influence in his community. He served in the
Custom House in New York City for several
years. He never sought elective office, but pre
ferred to attend strictly to his own affairs, though
fully qualified to hold any position of honor and
trust. In the long years spent by him in this vi
cinity he won the esteem and love of every one
who made his acquaintance. He died in Sep
tember, 1872, at the close of a good and useful
life, and his wife, who before her marriage was a
Miss Mary Young, died at the home of our sub
ject on her birthday, April 17, 1884, aged ninety-
eight years. In her early womanhood she was
noted as a beauty throughout the county, and
was considered the finest equestrian in this sec
tion. She was born near Youngstead, in the

town of Goshen, and was a descendant of the
Rev. John Young, who emigrated with a little
company of devoted followers from Southold,
England, and established a colony on Long Isl
and. Many of his descendants were distinguished
for patriotism, and were noted in the professions
and arts. One of these, Henry, settled in this
county, and the farm which he tilled is now owned
by the seventh Henry in the direct line. The
family has always adhered to the Episcopal faith,
and our subject's great uncle, Henry, was a
Vestryman in Trinity Church in New York.
H. Y. Lewis, our subject's father, was one of
five children. His eldest brother, Samuel, was
for forty years a merchant on Broadway, New
York City. He married Caroline, only daughter
of Charles G. Ferris, ex-Member of Congress, the
history of his family dating back to Colonial
times. Samuel Lewis has resided in Goshen
since 1890, in which year his wife died. Oliver,
another brother, died in New York City; the two
sisters were Charlotte, who married Hon. Phineas
Rumsey, and Mary Eunice, who married Judge
B. F. Duryea, and died in this city. Our subject's
father, who was engaged in commercial pursuits
in New York, died when he was less than thirty
years of age. His wife, who was Miss Margaret
E. Cook, was born in this state, and her father
was an officer in the North River Bank in Troy.
Mrs. Lewis' sister Margaret married a Mr. Hall,
who was State Geologist of New York; and an
other sister, Theresa, is the wife of Thomas Bates,
also of this state. Mrs. Lewis died March 12,
1891, in New York City, aged seventy -two years.
Her only daughter, Mary E., was claimed by
death when she was but twenty-three years of
age. Henry Y. Lewis, of this sketch, was born Sep
tember 25, 1842, at No. 130 McDonugal Street,
New York, and was reared there and in this
county. He attended the common schools for
some time in this locality, and in i860 went to a
private academy in New York. In October,
1862, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred
and Sixty-eighth Regiment of New York In
fantry, under Col. William R. Brown, being mus
tered in at Newburgh. He was sent South and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i95

served for fourteen months, or until the regiment
was mustered out. For some time prior to this
event he had been ill with typhoid fever, and
after he returned home was prostrated with lung
fever. For several years afterward he was unable
to engage in active business, but as soon as he was
sufficiently strong he became associated with A. C.
Shepherd at No. 440 Broadway and No. 8 Clin
ton Place, New York City, in the book and sta
tionery business. In 1868 he was obliged to re
tire on account of continued ill-health, and, com
ing to Goshen, located on South Water Street,
where he embarked in the cultivation of fruit, but
subsequently removed to No. 27 Murray Avenue.
He helped to organize F. M. Cummings Post
No. 176, G. A. R. , and on questions of political
moment is always found on the side of the Repub
lican party.
In 1886 Mr. Lewis was married, in New York
City, to Martha, daughter of John Larry, who
was formerly a well known business man of the
metropolis, and whose death occurred in West
chester County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
have two daughters, Ethelinda and Mary Young.
The parents are members of St. James Episcopal
Church.

*=*^+^P*

 9

Q ERNARD KELLY. This name will be at
ITS once recognized by the majority of our
\_i readers as that of a man who served his
country as a soldier for a period of thirty years
and possesses a remarkable record. During the
Civil War he fought in forty-two noted engage
ments, and so fierce was the conflict at times
that his horses were shot from under him and
comrades were falling on every side, yet he passed
through those four years without a scratch. His
discharge from the service bears the names and
dates ofthe battles in which he participated, mak
ing a record of which very few soldiers can boast.
Our subject was born in Ireland in 1843, and
was a lad of thirteen years when he made the
trip across the Atlantic in a common sailing-ves
sel. He was landed in New York Harbor after a
tedious voyage of three months, during which

time he experienced many hardships. His means
were very limited, and his knowledge of America
and its ways was also meager, so he was obliged
to work at whatever he could find to do that
was honorable. He lived for the first year in
New Jersey, after which he visited Florida and
Georgia, remaining in that locality for the suc
ceeding five years. He was very apt in making
use of what knowledge he possessed, and by ob
serving closely became well informed in regard to
the peculiarities of the southern people. At the
expiration of that time he removed to New York
and remained near that city until the outbreak of
the late war. He then enlisted in Company K,
First United States Light Artillery, and with his
comrades went to the front to fight for the honor
of his adopted country. He was a brave soldier,
always ready to do his duty, and as such gained
the esteem and confidence of his officers.
Mr. Kelly saw much of the dark side of the
war. While at Stony Creek, Va. , he was capt
ured and sent to Libby Prison, from which vile
place he was afterward transferred to Anderson-
ville, remaining there until the 20th of March,
1864. The reader knows too well the tortures to
which the Union prisoners were subjected and the
base treatment which they received at the hands
ofthe enemy. While our subject was there the
death rate exceeded three hundred per day. He
miraculously escaped this terrible end, but when
released was little more than a skeleton. He is
highly honored and esteemed by the residents of
this county, and nothing gives him more pleasure
than to relate his experience on the battlefield,
which he tells in a most thrilling and interesting
manner. After the establishment of peace he re
mained in the regular army for eleven years,
after which he was in the Ordnance Department
at West Point. On the expiration of his thirty
years of service he determined to retire to private
life, and accordingly selected Highland Falls as
his future place of residence. His pleasant dwell
ing is beautifully located on an elevation over
looking the city, and here it is his intention to
live quietly and peaceably for the remainder of his
life. Bernard Kelly and Miss Mary McGuire were

ig6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married in Highland Falls in 1873. She was born
in New York in 1850, and has become the
mother ofa daughter, Amelia A., who married
Prof. Odil Brennan, ofthe National Preparatory
Academy at Highland Falls. Socially Mr. Kelly
is a Grand Army man, belonging to Ryder Post
No. 598, and in religious affairs is a devout
Catholic. ¦  g>#P  V.
0ANIEL T. BROWN, M. D., for many
years one of the leading and enterprising
farmers of Orange County, is now living 011
a fine estate in the town of Hamptonburg. He
was born in Dutchess County, this state, Febru
ary 26, 1820, and is the son of Benjamin Brown,
whose birth occurred on Long Island, November
30, 1780. The latter was of Welsh descent, and
when ready to establish a home of his own mar
ried Miss Hannah L. Field.
The parental family included eight children,
namely: Mary T. and Cromlin, deceased; Henry
F., living in Montgomery; Francis H., deceased;
Daniel T., of this sketch; Sarah J., the wife of
John W. Moberly, residing in Ulster County;
Mrs. Palmer, also a resident of that county; and
Hannah H., the wife of Edward W. Walker, of
Goshen, Ind.
The subject of this sketch was born in the vil
lage of Fishkill, and was two years of age at the
time his parents came to Orange County. They
located in what is now the town of Hamptonburg,
where the father purchased a tract of two hun
dred and thirteen acres, on which he made his
home until his decease, May 24, 1854. His wife
survived him until September 23, 1869, when
she, too, passed away. The property which the
father purchased is now the home of our subject.
Here he grew to mature years and here has lived
ever since.
Mr. Brown and Miss Lucretia S. Weed were
united in marriage February 26, 185 1. The five
children born to them were, respectively : Lewis T.
a resident of Duluth, Minn.; Hannah H., de
ceased; Linus W., who resides in New Orleans,
where he is City Surveyor; Mary H., deceased;
and U. S. Grant, at home with his father. The

wife and mother died February 6, 1875, and three
years later Mr. Brown chose for his second com
panion Mrs. Phebe S. (Brown) Smith, the wid
ow of Harvey H. Smith.
When eighteen years of age, our subject en
tered the University of New York, from which he
was graduated in 1841. He then became a stu
dent in the University Medical College of New
York City, from which he received his diploma
two years later. When thoroughly fitted for the
practice of his profession, he returned to the home
farm and has resided here ever since. He carries
on general farming and dairying, and has met
with success in every venture. For the past
twenty years he has held the honored office of
Justice of the Peace, and is well and favorably
known to the residents of this locality. He is a
consistent member of the Presbyterian Church,
with which he has been associated as Trustee for
many years. The Doctor is prominent in local
affairs and never lets an opportunity pass for cast
ing a vote in favor of Democratic candidates.

DWIN L. ROYS is a member of the firm
*y of Mead & Roys, editors of the Goshen
__ Democrat, a paper which has more than a
local reputation. It is recognized as a model
journal of its class, its tone being of the highest
moral quality, and pre-eminently suitable for be
ing read in every home. Mr. Roys is a man of
remarkably good perceptive faculties, fair judg
ment and unusual knowledge of his fellow-men.
He and his partner have raised the sheet to a
high standard of excellence, and are unremitting
in their efforts along the line of progress.
The birth of Mr. Roys occurred in Newark
Valley, Tioga County, N. Y., October 9, 1844,
his parents being Edwin and Hannah (Under
wood) Roys, natives of Berkshire County, Mass.
The father was born in 1797, and was reared on
a farm, but later learned the mason's trade. In
the spring of 1844 he removed to Tioga County,
settling on a farm, which he successfully con
ducted until his death, in the year 1857. His
widow survived him for over thirty years, her

COL. GEORGE A. CANTINE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

199

death occurring at her old home in 1889. She
came from a family of Danish-French extraction.
E. L- Roys is the youngest of ten children, and
on account of his father's death was early obliged
to set forth to make his own living. As one of
his sisters, Mrs. P. Hayne, was a resident of
Goshen, he came to this place in 1859, and began
serving an apprenticeship as a printer under
Charles Mead in the Democrat office. By close
application he soon learned the business, gradu
ally rising until he was made foreman, and in
that capacity he served until New Year's Day,
1892, when he purchased the interest of Charles
Mead and became a half-partner in the firm. In
its political standing the paper is Republican, and
is an able exponent ofthe principles ofthe party.
It is published on Thursday of each week, and is
a four-page sheet, 28x42 inches. It is devoted
to the public welfare, particularly to the various
enterprises of Goshen and vicinity.
October 6, 1869, the marriage of Mr. Roys
and Mary L. Coleman was celebrated in Goshen.
She was born in Amity, Orange County, being a
daughter of Bradner and Prudence Coleman, old
and honored pioneers. Mr. Roys has taken quite
an active part in local Republican politics, and
served for one term as a member of the Village
Board of Trustees. He is greatly interested in
everything which tends to promote the prosperity
of the locality in which he resides, and does his
share toward its upbuilding and success. Re
ligiously he is a Presbyterian.

EOL. GEORGE A. CANTINE. Though a
resident of Newburgh, the reputation gained
by Colonel Cantine is by no means limited
to this city or county, or, indeed, to the state it
self. As an orator, he justly ranks among the
greatest men of the age — Beecher, Talmage, Phil
lips and others whose names are household words.
A ripe scholar and fluent speaker, he captivates
every audience, moving- his listeners to tears by
his pathos, arousing hearty laughter by his wit
and humor, or awakening the highest emotions
by his magnetic eloquence. His repertoire of ad

dresses is large, embracing such themes as "Ger
man Civilization in Europe," "Madame Roland,"
"Soldier and Citizen," "National Civilization of
America, "Money," "Art in History," "Battle
fields," and "The War for the Union: Its Mem
ories and Its Lessons. ' '
The family of which this distinguished gentle
man is a member traces its lineage to Bordeaux,
France, whence Moses Cantine, a Huguenot, fled
to England at the time of the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes in 1685. Coming to America, he
settled at New Paltz, Ulster County, N. Y.,
where he married Elizabeth, widow of Simon
Lefevre, and daughter of Christian Deyo, one of
the original patentees of that French settlement.
One son, Peter, was born of this union in 1693,
and he married Elizabeth, daughter of Matthys
Blanshann and Margaret Schooenhoven, of
Hurley, N. Y., and granddaughter of a Hu
guenot refugee. They had thirteen children, one
of whom, a daughter, died in infancy. Their
son Moses married Maria Slecht, of Dutchess
County. Another son, John, was conspicuous as
a general and legislator during the Revolutionary
period. Mathew Cantine was a member of the
Provincial Congress in 1775-76-77, and also of
the first Council of Safety, in 1777.
Moses I., son of Gen. John Cantine, was Pub
lic Printer of New York for many years, and
founded the Albany Argus. His wife, Christina,
and Hannah, wife of Martin Van Buren, were
sisters, and the latter having died, Miss Christina,
daughter of Moses I. Cantine, presided at the
White House during the administration of Presi
dent Van Buren. Among the other members of
the family were Peter A. Cantine, who in 18 16-
17 represented Sullivan and Ulster Counties in
the New York Assembly; Rev. Albert Cantine,
now a prominent missionary in Syria; Rev. Ro-
maine Cantine, D. D., a very distinguished scholar
and clergyman of San Jose, Cal.; and Frank Can
tine, a prominent attorney of New York City.
The male descendants of the Cantines have been
considerably less than the female. The latter
have married into many of the most distinguished
families of this country and Europe. A Miss
Cantine, a noted belle of New York City, recent-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ly married the second son of the late Jay Gould,
another Miss Cantine married a baronet, and still
another a French prince. The family name was
originally spelled Kantyn.
The grandfather of Colonel Cantine, Abraham
Cantine, was born in Ulster County, N. Y., and
became a large land-owner in Ulster, Dutchess
and Rensselaer Counties. His education was re
ceived partly in France, and he was a man of
broad information and splendid mental capacity.
He was elected Sheriff of Ulster County in 1819,
and filled other offices of trust. During Revolu
tionary War times the family was prominent, be
ing stanch defenders of the colonies. Mathew
was a member of the Provincial Congress of New
York in 1775-77, and was appointed to serve on
the first Council of Safety. John, who was first
elected to the New York Assembly in 1777 from
Ulster County, served in that body for many ses
sions, and in 1789 was sent to the United States
Congress. In 1720-22-25 Peter Cantine was one
of the Trustees of Kingston; one of his descend
ants, Judge Peter Cantine, is a prominent at
torney at Saugerties. Peter Cantine, Jr. , was a
member of the New York Senate for years, and
was a Presidential Elector in 1796. Following
him, Moses I. Cantine was a member of the
Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth and Forty-
first General Assemblies, 1814-18. From 1805
until 1812 he was District Attorney, and later
was chosen Judge of Greene County. Johannes
Cantine was also a member of the New York As
sembly. John Cantine was Sheriff of Tioga Coun
ty in 1804.
The father of our subject, Orrin Cantine, was
born in Ulster County in 1815, and died at Wash
ington in December, 1893, aged seventy-eight.
He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church,
and was well-to-do, owning considerable prop
erty in Broome and Dutchess Counties. His
wife, who was a descendant of one of the promi
nent old Dutch families who settled New York,
bore the maiden name of Lucile Storm and was
born in Dutchess County, N. Y. She died when
fifty years old. They were the parents of six chil
dren, all but one of whom attained years of ma
turity. Charles, who was a member of the

Fourth New York Heavy Artillery during the
Civil War, is now residing in Italy; he is a civil
engineer and railroad contractor, and has gained
wealth in his business transactions. William is
engaged in mining and stock-raising in California.
Orrin T., whose home is in Connecticut, is en
gaged in farming. The only daughter, Alice, is
the wife of Herve B. Jones, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
The subject of this notice was born in New
York City May 26, 1841, and in boyhood at
tended the schools of the metropolis, preparing
for college at Poultney, Vt. In 1861 he enlisted
as a member of Company C, Seventh Vermont
Infantry, and was mustered in at Rutland as
Third Sergeant. In January, 1862, he was or
dered to the front, and, reaching Ship Island in
the Gulf of Mexico, was placed under the com
mand of Gen. Ben Butler. After the capture of
New Orleans, he proceeded with the regiment to
Vicksburg and Baton Rouge and took part in the
second battle at the latter place, Vice-President
Breckenridge commanding the Confederate troops.
After leaving Louisiana the regiment was sta
tioned at various points in Florida, thence to Ala
bama, and from there to Mississippi, Louisiana
and Arkansas. Though participating in a number
of important engagements, he was wounded but
once, that being in the battle of Baton Rouge,
when he was injured by a shell in the ankle.
After remaining a year with his regiment he
resigned, and subsequently became engaged in re
cruiting colored troops. He was attached to the
secret service and sequestration department con
nected with and covering the Gulf States. Shortly
after he was breveted Lieutenant- Colonel, he re
signed, November, 1864, on account of ill-health.
At the time of entering the service he weighed
one hundred and eighty-eight pounds; on leaving
his weight was only one hundred and twenty
pounds. For two years after leaving the army
he was unable to engage in active study or work
of any nature, owing to the delicate state of his
health. In 1 86 1 Colonel Cantine was pursuing his
studies with the view to entering one of the
learned professions. On his return he finished
his college course, graduating with high hon-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

201

ors, and became professor of commercial law,
mathematics and political economy in the Boston
Commercial College. In the mean time he began
the study of law, at the same time contributing to
various newspapers and magazines, a line of work
which he has since continued, and for which he
is by culture, extensive travel and broad scholar
ship especially adapted. From Boston he re
moved to Rome, N. Y., where he engaged in a
general insurance business. After traveling ex
tensively for the New York Life Insurance and
other companies for a few years, he took up his
headquarters in Washington, D. C, as general
correspondent, and also entered the lecture plat
form. As a stump speaker he took an active
part in the campaigns of Presidents Grant, Hayes
and Garfield.
For one year Colonel Cantine was Inspector
General of the Grand Army of the Republic, De
partment of New York, and afterwards traveled
for several years, adjusting insurances in the
South and West. In this way he became ac
quainted with many of the prominent men of the
Western and Southern States, whose friendship
he has since retained and by whom he is highly
regarded. On his return to New York he be
came general agent of the New York Life In
surance Company, with headquarters at Syracuse
and New York City, and in 1887 became general
agent in charge of the Hudson River District.
June 2, 1892, he was appointed Agency Director
in charge of the branch office and clearing house
at Newburgh. He has a large staff of assistants
to look after the interests of several thousand
policy-holders. His territory extends from Al
bany to New York, from Massachusetts and Con
necticut on the east, and from Ulster to Rock
land Counties on the west. The main office is
located at Nos. 98-100 Water Street, Newburgh,
and No. 346 Broadway, New York.
As above noted, Colonel Cantine is a popular
lecturer, and is in constant demand for addresses
from all over the country. He was first married
in Vermont, his wife being Marian J. Cook, who
was born in that state, and died in Syracuse in
1886. Mrs. Cantine was widely known on ac
count of her many estimable qualities of head and

heart. She will long be remembered for the
many works of charity for which she was dis
tinguished. Two sons were born of the union,
the elder of whom, Edward B., inherits his fa
ther's literary and oratorical ability; he is also an
Agency Director for the New York Life Insur
ance Company at Albany, and is one of the prom
inent young men of that city, having formerly
served as Alderman, and being at present Clerk
of the Board of Supervisors. The younger son,
Francis M., is a confidential clerk and stenograph
er in the office of his father. The second mar
riage of Colonel Cantine occurred April 12, 1892,
his wife being Miss Emily S. Edwards, who was
born in Rockland County, and who is the only
child of Thomas Edwards, now of the firm of
Edwards & Forsyth, of Newburgh. Mrs. Can
tine was reared in Newburgh, and is a graduate
of the justly celebrated academy at this place.
Socially Colonel Cantine is a prominent Mason,
being Eminent Commander of Hudson River
Commandery No. 35, K. T., at Newburgh; mem
ber of Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M. ;
Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; and of
King Solomon Council No. 31, R. & S. M., of
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He is a Thirty-second-
degree life member of the Aurora Grata Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite Masons; also a member
of the Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic
Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, both of which
bodies are located in Brooklyn, N. Y. He is a
demitted member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and the Encampment, is a charter
member of the Newburgh City Club, and is a
member of Skillen Post No. 47, G. A. R., at
Rome, N. Y. The Life Underwriters' Associa
tion of New York City also numbers him among
its members, as do several other prominent clubs
and societies. In religious belief he is a Method
ist and is connected with Trinity Church of New
burgh. He is prominent in the Republican party,
but has never held office, although he was nomi
nated as a member of the Assembly of the Third
District of Oneida County. He is always will
ing, however, to give to his party the assistance
of his presence and influence, and has accom
plished much by means of his stump speeches.

202

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He was commissioned by Governor Tilden Cap
tain and Quartermaster of the Fourth Brigade
State National Guard, September 15, 1876, and
was commissioned Brigade Inspector, with the
rank of Major, by Governor Cornell, April 13,
1880. From the facts as given above, it will be seen
that Colonel Cantine has been alike prominent in
times of war and peace. As a soldier, his career
is written in the annals of his country. Brave,
patriotic and devoted, he discharged in the fullest
measure his duties as a loyal citizen. In civic
life he has always identified himself with every
progressive movement for the benefit of the peo
ple. In society he is known and appreciated as
a gentleman of liberal views and generous im
pulses, modest and unostentatious, and whose
high character is worthy of the utmost confidence
on the part of his associates.

REV. STEPHEN F. WHITE, pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Goshen, was
born in New York City, January 2, 1848,
and is descended, through his paternal ancestors,
from honorable Scotch-Irish forefathers. His
grandfather, Daniel White, a native of New York,
served in the American army in the War of 18 12
until peace was declared. His life was spent
principally in the Empire State, and he followed
the trade of a cabinet-maker and the occupation
of a farmer in Westchester County, where he
died at the age of ninety-two.
The father of Rev. Mr. White was Stephen L.,
a native of Connecticut, who for some time en
gaged in business in New York City. From
there he retired to a farm in Westchester County,
and on it continued to make his home until his
death, at the age of seventy-five. During the war
he was an ardent Union man and Abolitionist,
and his support was always given to measures
calculated to advance the welfare of our country.
Twice married, his second wife, the mother of
our subject, bore the maiden name of Rebecca

Carpenter, and was a descendant of English an
cestry. Her father, Mott Carpenter, was a
farmer near White Plains, Westchester County,
where she was born. He was a relative of the
well known Dr. Mott, of New York, and a son of
Samuel Carpenter, who was a native of Long
Island. In religious belief they were Quakers.
Mrs. Rebecca White still makes her home in
Westchester County, and is now (1895) seventy-
five years of age.
Of the first marriage of Stephen L. White there
is one son living, William M. , who is employed
in the postoffice at New York City. Ofthe sec
ond marriage there were three sons, namely;
Edward, formerly an artist of New York City,
where he died; Daniel, a farmer of Westchester
County; and Rev. Stephen F., the subject of this
notice. The last-named was reared in New York
City and Westchester County, and after complet
ing the common-school course, he became book
keeper for a wholesale flour firm, meantime,
however, continuing his studies. Afterward he
taught school in Westchester County for two
years. Deciding to enter the ministerial profession,
Mr. White was in 1873 licensed to preach, and
the following year he joined the New York Con
ference. His first charge was at Armonk, West
chester County, where he remained a year, and
he was located in Putnam County for a sim
ilar period. His next pastorate was at Stock-
bridge, Mass., where he remained three years.
Upon the completion of a four-years theological
course, he was ordained an Elder, in 1878. For
three years he was pastor of the Methodist Epis
copal Church at Lakeville, Litchfield County,
Conn., a beautiful place, often termed the "Switz
erland of America, ' ' where he had as his parish
ioners many people of wealth, culture and prom
inence. On closing his work there he rested for
a year. Resuming ministerial labors, Rev. Mr. White
accepted the pastorate of a church in Westchester
County, and remained in that county for four
years. Going thence to Ulster County, he had
charge of a church at Marlborough two years and
then at Ellenville four years. During the latter

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

203

pastorate, in 1891, he was tendered a vaca
tion trip to Europe by his congregation, but
shortly after starting the ship became unseaworthy
and drifted around for some time, being finally
towed back into harbor. The delay thus occa
sioned obliged Mr. White to abandon his at
tempted journey, but the following year he made
a more successful attempt to cross the ocean.
Embarking on the "City of Paris," he proceeded
to Gre*at Britain and spent two months traveling
through England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales,
visiting almost every point of historic interest.
Accepting the pastorate of the church at Go
shen, Rev. Mr. White came to the city in the
spring of 1893, and has since been the efficient and
successful pastor of the congregation here. The
church at this place is one of the oldest in the
Hudson Valley, having been organized early in
this century. It has been an important factor in
promoting the moral growth of the place and has
aided every progressive and philanthropic enter
prise. In 1885 anew brick edifice was erected on
Main Street, adjacent to the court house, and in
addition to this building the church owns the
parsonage on Greenwich Street, the whole prop
erty being free of any incumbrance. There is an
enrolled membership of three hundred, and the
church has an active Epworth League, as well as
a number of class meetings. The arrangement of
the house of worship is excellent, and besides the
main auditorium there are a lecture-hall and Sun
day-school room.
While the active discharge of his duties as pas
tor engrosses the principal share of Mr. White's
time, he also gives some attention to other lines of
Christian activity. Both of the local and the re
ligious papers he has been a frequent correspond
ent and contributor, and his articles, like his ad
dresses, are pointed, forcible and able. He has
delivered lectures on different subjects, general
and historical, and as a public speaker has the
happy faculty of interesting and instructing his
audiences, and commanding their close attention
from the start to the close of his addresses. In
different temperance societies he has done aggress
ive work. He is a life member ofthe Connecti
cut Bible Society, a Director in the Orange Coun

ty Bible Society, and a member of the Westches
ter County Historical Society. In the conference
to which he belongs, he is serving as Steward and
as a member ofthe Examining Committee.
The marriage of Rev. Mr. White and Miss
Laura J. White was solemnized in New York
City in 1875, and three children bless their union,
namely: Alice F., Howard M. and Edith M.
The summer months are usually spent by the
family in their beautiful summer home near White
Plains, Westchester County, about twenty-five
miles from New York City, where Mr. White
owns a residence and seventy acres, comprising
the old homestead. In politics he is a Repub
lican.

+=

:+

QROF. LOUIS HAMMERSTEIN, one of the
yr oldest and also one of the most successful in-
fS structors in vocal and instrumental music
residing in Newburgh, was born in Palatine, Ba
varia, Germany, near the historic city of Worms,
the date of his birth being October 13, 1840. His
parents, John and Mary (Mapes) Hammerstein,
died in early life and left him, an only child, or
phaned at the age of three years. He was taken
into the home of his godfather and was reared
upon his farm near Worms.
After completing the studies of the common
schools, our subject entered the seminary at
Spier, where he began the study of music. His
tastes inclining him toward that art, he devoted
himself assiduously to its study, and in a short
time became a proficient musician. He was grad
uated from the seminary at Spier, and at the age
of twenty became a teacher near Roxheim, where
he remained for two years. In 1865 he came to
America, and after spending six months in Wash
ington, D. C, he proceeded to Orange County,
settling first in Cornwall, but removing to New
burgh after a short time.
Since coming to this city, Professor Hammer
stein has engaged in giving instruction on the
piano and organ, and he and Professor Gehrig
are among the oldest teachers of the place. For

204

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

five years he was organist in the Catholic Church
at Cornwall, and he held a similar position in the
Calvary Presbyterian Church. He was organist
for the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church for
two years, and the Unitarian Church for two
years. For several years he was leader of the
Maennerchor, and has always taken an active
part in musical affairs. Socially he is a member
of the Knights of Honor, and also belongs to Je
rusalem Temple Lodge, F. & A. M., at Cornwall,
His political views bring him into affiliation with
the Republican party, but he has never been act
ive in public affairs, preferring to give his atten
tion entirely to his chosen profession.

¦^^41

il@®@[|

1^

fi> 6JALTER DUMVILLE, one of the old and
\ A / respected residents of the town of New-
V V burgh, lives on the old homestead, where
his birth occurred May 9, 1843. He is engaged
in general farming and has met with exceptional
success as a dairyman. Under his father's in
struction and training he was reared to habits of
industry and uprightness of word and deed,
which are among his most prominent character
istics. He is respected and held in high regard
by all of his accquaintances, and is always fore
most in everything which tends to advance the
public welfare.
Our subject's father, Benjamin Dumville, was
born in Buckinghamshire, England, January 2,
1807. He emigrated to America on a sailing-
vessel about 1827, and after being tossed to and
fro on the Atlantic for about nine weeks arrived
in New York City. He then proceeded to Hud
son, where he made his home for four years, and
from there came to Newburgh, later moving to a
farm of twenty acres in this town. In 1829 he
was married to Mariam Harris, of Newburgh.
During the early years of his life in America Mr.
Dumville was a poor man with a large family to
support and he experienced many privations. He
had learned the butcher's business in his native
land and would often go with a load of calves
and sheep which he had killed to New York City,
where he found little trouble in disposing of them.

This was before the days of rapid transportation
by rail and the journey was attended by numer-
erous obstacles. He became the owner of about
twenty acres of land, and had acquired a comforta
ble fortune at the time of his death, which oc
curred in 1887. His remains were buried in
Woodlawn Cemetery. He is said to have been
the first wholesale butcher in Newburgh or vicin
ity. To himself and wife were born the follow
ing children: Benjamin; Hannah, who married
Daniel L- Thompson; William; Ada, deceased,
who was the wife of Henry Stevens; Alice;
Emma, wife of Edwin Dumville; and Mary and
Walter. The mother of these children survived
her husband some four years and was interred by
his side in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Our subject attended the public schools of this
locality until he was fifteen years of age, finish
ing his education in Harper's Seminary. He fol
lowed the butcher's business with his father and
remained with him as long as he lived. When
he was about thirty years of age he took charge
of the business, which he has carried on success
fully since in connection with his other enter
prises. In politics he is affiliated with the Re
publican party, but has never been an aspirant for
public office. At one time he served as Collector
of Newburgh Town.
July 16, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Dumville and Josephine O'Brien, who was born
January 19, 1854, in New York City, and who is
a daughter of John and Catherine O'Brien. Our
subject and wife are members of the Unitarian
Church and are always ready to do their share
toward the support of worthy charitable and re
ligious enterprises.

=^>-^<!

¦!^

30HN OSBORN is a self-made man, as he
started out in life a poor boy, without friends
or capital, and has made his present comfort
able fortune by honest industry and well applied
business ability. He has been a resident ofthe
town of Newburgh for many years, and is highly
esteemed and respected by his neighbors and ac
quaintances. He is a veteran of the late war,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

205

having enlisted in defense of the Union soon aft
er attaining his majority, August 15, 1861, as a
private in Company K, Forty-eighth New York
Volunteers. He was mustered into service at Ft.
Hamilton, from there was sent to Washington,
and thence to Annapolis, Md. , the first engage
ment in which he participated being the battle of
Ft. Royal, S. C. Later he was present at the
siege of Ft. Pulaski, and was wounded at the
battle of Ft. Wagner. A bullet passed the entire
length of his left arm above the elbow, and he
was sent to the regimental hospital, where he
remained for a few weeks. He then went with
his regiment to St. Augustine and to Jackson
ville, Fla., taking part in many prominent en
gagements and lesser skirmishes. August 20,
1864, he was mustered out as a private, after hav
ing served faithfully for three years.
Mr. Osborn was born April 1, 1840, near Pleas
ant Valley, Ulster County, N. Y. His father,
William T. Osborn, a native ofthe same county,
is of German descent, and is still in the possession
of good health and activity of body and mind.
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah A.
Underhill, was born in New York, and is still
living, making her home in Newburgh. Both
are now about eighty-four years of age. They
are the parents of five sons and five daughters,
namely: Eliza, Joseph D., John, Smith, David,
Jane, Daniel, Mary, Sarah and Kate.
John Osborn was reared on a farm, and attend
ed the common school of the locality more or less
until he was sixteen years of age. He then left
home to make his own way in the world, and for
a few years was employed by farmers. When he
was nearly twenty years of age he commenced
working at the carpenter's trade, and became
thoroughly conversant with the business in all its
details. Then followed the time when he was
absent fighting his country's battles, and after his
return home he settled in Newburgh, and contin
ued his former vocation as a carpenter from that
time until 1880.. He then moved to the farm of
sixty-six acres which he is now engaged in cult
ivating, and which he is managing with good
ability. He is a member of the Grand Army of
the Republic, and in politics is a Republican.

November 15, 1865 Mr. Osborn wedded An
toinette, daughter of Thomas and Clara (Gard
ner) Edwards. She was born in Ulster County,
May 21, 1846, and by her marriage became the
mother of four cliildren, namely: Frank B., who
died at the age of six years; Harrison, who died
when but three years of age; Charles D., who is
still living with his parents; and Elsie J., who is
also at home. The family are highly esteemed
by all who know them in this locality, and are
honest, industrious citizens.

^^^^^•'^????•^•?•^•'^?????????•»'»»*X>
'HOMAS E. BANKER, of Goshen, is the
son of Abram and Emily L- (Sherwood)
Banker, who were of German and English
descent, respectively. Abram Banker was the
son of John Banker, an agriculturist, who fol
lowed his occupation in the locality of Goshen.
His father was one of the early settlers of Long
Island. Our subject's father was a carpenter by
trade, and also followed the pursuit of agricult
ure on a farm near the village of Goshen. His
birth occurred November 1, 1806, and almost his
entire life was spent in the above-mentioned oc
cupations. He died November 13, 1848, at the
age of forty-two years.
Mrs. Abram Banker was a native of this state,
her birth occurring in Chester, May 2, 1815. Her
father, Joseph S. Sherwood, was a farmer, and
married Miss Hannah Cheney. Mrs. Sherwood's
cousin, Miss Mary Cheney, was the wife of Hor
ace Greeley, and Mrs. Sherwood often spoke of
him and her acquaintance with him. Her death
occurred February 9, 1884, at the age of sixty-
seven years. For further particulars of this fam
ily we would refer the reader to the sketch of
Benjamin C. Sherwood, found elsewhere in this
volume. In the parental family were ten children, of
whom nine grew to years of maturity. Of these
seven still survive, three sons and four daughters.
Ellen, the eldest of this family, died in infancy;
Agnes died in Goshen, in 1876; Hannah, Mrs.
George I. Wood, is a resident of this city, as is
also Frank, the next in order of birth; Louise,

206

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mrs. George W. Weed, makes her home in Con
necticut; Thomas E. is the subject of this sketch;
Joseph S . is a farmer, living near this city ; Laura,
Mrs. Wyatt Carr, resides in Middletown; and
Mary lives in Goshen Township. After the death
of her first husband, Mrs. Banker was again
married, this time being united with James Bank
er, the brother of her first husband. By this
union she had one son, Edward, who is deceased.
Our subject was born May 31, 1842, and the
earlier years of his life were spent on the home
farm, and in attending the public schools. He
began life for himself at a very early age, being
employed at farming in this county for several
years. In the year 1869 he obtained a position
as clerk in the general store of Reeves & Kelsey,
remaining with them until 1881, at which time
he entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Com
pany, with which he has. since been identified.
He is brakeman on a milk train running to Jersey
City, and has been on the same train ever since
the beginning of his service. He has been very
fortunate and has never had a serious accident.
August 16, 1876, our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Eunice J. Case, who was born
in this city, July 6, 1855. She was a daughter of
David Case, Jr., who was a farmer in this local
ity. She died February 6, 1887, leaving one
child, Grace C, who also passed away, at the
age of eleven years. She was an active member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a noble
woman. Mr. Banker is an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and is Steward of
that congregation. In politics he is a Republican.

J ACHLAN STEWART, one of the well-to-
1 1 do and successful agriculturists of the town
[_*y of Newburgh, is a self-made man, having
acquired a fortune and an enviable position
among his fellow-men entirely through his own
independent efforts. His valuable homestead of
one hundred and sixty acres lies just outside ofthe
corporation of Newburgh, and here he is engaged
very extensively in the dairy business, every
thing about his farm showing the careful super

vision of the thrifty owner. Mr Stewart is the
son of Archibald and Margaret (Leach) Stewart,
and was born in Greenup, Scotland, November
19, 1830, being one of four children, of whom
the eldest, John, is deceased; Archibald was
drowned at sea; and Mary, the only sister, mar
ried Jesse Merritt. The father of this family was
a sea-captain. Until he was eleven years of age, Lachlan
Stewart lived in his native village, and then
started on a merchant vessel bound for the West
Indies. After being six months on the voyage, ,
he proceeded to New York City, where he stayed
until 1841, when he returned home. After re
maining there for a short time, or until 1842, he
again crossed the Atlantic, and, coming to New
burgh, he assisted in building the old cotton
factory, and also helped to lay the corner-stone.
After some time he once more went back to his
native land, first sailing to Nova Scotia, and
thence to Greenup. For a few years, or until
1848, he was principally engaged in ship-build
ing, and in the year mentioned- continued to en
gage in the same business in Newburgh, where
he was located for two years. Thence going to
Virginia, he was there employed at his trade for
a year, and finally purchased a schooner, which
he ran from Newburgh to Albany, New London,
Long Island and other points. In 1862 he sold his
vessel, and became foreman in the dockyards of
Homer Ramsdell & Co. , of Newburgh, retaining
that position some seven years. The next year
he engaged in building ships at Newburgh, and
was then employed in a lumber-yard of that city
from 1865 to 1882, when he sold out, with the in
tention of devoting the remainder of his life to
farming. After partially retiring from business
for a few years he removed to his present farm,
which is well adapted to the purposes for which
it is utilized.
April 7, 1853, Mr. Stewart married Julia A.
Lyon , who was born in New Jersey, December
6, 1834, and to them were born eleven children,
namely: Julia, Archie, Annie, Samuel L., Mary
A., Charles W., Margaret J., Jesse E., Alice E.,
John W. and Thomas W. Samuel is engaged
in the lumber business in Newburgh. Mary A.

HON. B. B. ODELL, JR.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

209

became the wife of Robert H. Gretter, a jeweler
and diamond merchant in New York City. Jesse
E. is still single. Thomas W. , who lives at home,
is now taking much of the responsibility from
his father's shoulders; and the other children are
deceased. For about forty-five years Mr. Stew
art has been a faithful member of the Methodist
Church, and always takes an active part in every
thing pertaining to its best interests. He has
never been a politician, but votes for the candi
dates of the Prohibition party.

HON. BENJAMIN B. ODELL, Jr., M. C.
The services which in the past Mr. Odell
has rendered his fellow-citizens of New
burgh, and which he is now rendering the peo
ple of this district as their representative in Con
gress, entitle him to rank among the eminent
men of the state. As an honored member of an
honorable family, connected through many gener
ations with the history of Orange County, he is
adding lustre to the name he bears, and in the
councils of the nation is winning for himself an
enviable reputation as a statesman. It is fitting,
therefore, in a volume dedicated to the influential
men of this county , that considerable mention be
made of his life and public career.
A life-long resident of Newburgh. Mr. Odell
was born here January 14, 1854, being the son of
Benjamin B. Odell, Sr., the present Mayor ofthe
city. He gained the rudiments of his education
in the public schools, and after graduating from
the academy in 1874, became a student in Beth
any College, in Bethany, W. Va. After one year
in that institution he entered Columbia College,
in New York City, where he continued until
1877. While in college he took an active part in
athletics and in boating, and was offered, but de
clined, a position in the Columbia University crew
of 1875.
On leaving college Mr. Odell embarked with
his father in the ice business, and upon the ab
sorption of his father's interest by the Muchattoes
6

Lake Ice Company in 1886, he became the Sec
retary and Treasurer ofthe new company, which
position he has since held. In 1888, in connec
tion with other citizens of Newburgh, he bought
stock in the Newburgh Electric-light and Power
Company, and since then has officiated as its
President. The Haverstraw Electric-light, Heat
and Power Company was organized by him in
1891. Socially Mr. Odell is connected with Newburgh
Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M., of which he has
been Master for a number of years. Under the
administration of Grand Master Vrooman, he be
came the District Deputy Grand Master for the
Tenth Masonic District, comprising the counties
of Orange, Rockland, Ulster and Sullivan. He is
also identified with Highland Chapter, R. A. M. ;
Hudson River Commaudery, K. of P.; Acme
Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; Mt. Olive Encampment;
and Canton Woodward, Patriarchs Militant. In
social affairs he takes a lively interest, being con
nected with the Orange Lake Club, the Newburgh
City Club and the Republican Club of the city of
Newburgh, and similar organizations in New
York City.
Twice married, the first wife of Mr. Odell, who
bore the maiden name of Estelle Crist, met her
death by drowning in a steamboat collision on
the Hudson River in 1888. Afterward he was
united in marriage with Mrs. Linda C. Trapha-
gen, of Newburgh.
Nature bestowed upon Mr. Odell a vigorous
mind. He is quick to see an emergency, and
equally quick to devise means of overcoming it.
His energy is one of the remarkable traits of his
character. To this quality, combined with his
large executive ability, is due his* success in every
undertaking with which his name is connected.
While he has gained success in business and in
his social relations, his prominence is due chiefly
to his participation in public affairs. Reared in
the faith of the Republican party, he saw no rea
son, on arriving at mature years, for changing
his political belief; in fact, the history of our
country during the past few years has made him
even a stronger advocate of Republican principles
than he was before. He instituted the election

2IO

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

district association plan at present in use in New
burgh, and brought the twenty-one associations
which compose the city into harmonious work
ing order.
As State Committeeman for his district Mr.
Odell rendered efficient service. He was one of
the committee to draft the platform of the party
for the campaign of 1890, and served as Super
visor of the Census for the counties of Orange,
Rockland, Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware. As
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
New York State Republican Committee, he gained
the confidence of his political associates and es
tablished a reputation for efficient work in the
party. These influences led to his nomination,
October 11, 1894, for Congressman from the
Seventeenth District. His popularity was proved
by the fact that he was elected to that responsible
position by a majority of more than five thousand
in a district hitherto strongly Democratic, his
plurality being larger than any candidate the
district has ever received. He entered upon the
active discharge of the duties of his office with
the best wishes of a host of friends, and has repre
sented his district in a manner reflecting the
highest credit upon himself. A man of foresight
and profound judgment, firm and immovable in
his opinions when once formed, a safe counselor,
admirably versed in the principles of wise states
manship, he will undoubtedly achieve even great
er success in the future than he has in the uast.

ROSWELL W. CHAMBERLAIN is one of
the progressive farmers and dairymen of
Orange County. His well conducted and
finely improved farm is located in the town of
Chester, and is well adapted for general agricult
ure and dairy purposes, in which lines the owner
is interested to a considerable degree. The farm
is two hundred and eighty acres in extent, and
comprises some of the best land in the county.
Our subject is a native of New York City and
was born March 14, 1843. His parents were
John C. and Mary (Aims) Chamberlain, and he
was the third in order of birth of their family.

The father was a native of Dutchess County, this
state, where he spent his early life. In 1835 he
located in New York City and engaged in the
provision business, which he successfully con
ducted for more than forty years, becoming one
of the best known men in that line in the metropJ
olis. When ready to retire to private life he
turned his affairs over to the management of his
sons, and passed the remainder of his life in ease
and comfort, whicli he so richly deserved. He
was greatly interested in school work in the city,
and served for some time on the board of the
Seventeenth Ward. He died in 189 1 , mourned and
respected by a large circle of friends and acquaint
ances. His wife, who was likewise a native of
New York City, preceded him to the land beyond,
departing this life in 1887.
As soon as old enough, our subject began his
studies in the public schools of New York, and
continued to attend regularly until a lad of six
teen years. About that time it became neces
sary for him to do for himself, and his first em
ployment was as a clerk in a foreign-fruit busi
ness. In this he was engaged until 1861, when,
on the outbreak of the war, the firm, being largely
interested in southern trade, was compelled to sus
pend operations, and young Chamberlain looked
about for another situation. This he found with
Col. Israel Wickham, of Middletown. He re
mained with him just one year when he was taken
into business with his father, and was in his em
ploy until 1873. That year he left home, and,
coming to Orange County, located upon the beau
tiful tract of land of which he is still the owner
It is supplied with modern buildings and ma
chinery, and well stocked with a high grade of
animals. Mr. Chamberlain, however, makes a
specialty of dairy farming, and carries on this in
dustry on an extensive scale.
The subject of this sketch was married, in 1869,
to Miss Elizabeth A., only daughter of Seely C.
and Sarah A. (Moffat) Roe, natives of this coun
ty, and whose descendants were among the ear
liest settlers of this section. To our subject and
his wife there have been born two children: Mary,
at home; and Albert, who is engaged in business
in New York City. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Cham-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

211

berlain closed her eyes in death in 1871, and our
subject was married in April, 1874, to Miss Emily
Durland, the daughter of Edwin and Margaret
(Roe) Durland, of the town of Chester. To them
there have been born four children, namely: Eliz
abeth R., Joseph C, Edwin D. and Benjamin F.,
all of whom are still under the parental roof. Mr.
and Mrs. Chamberlain are members in excellent
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church of
Chester. In politics the former has always affili
ated with the Republican party, and cast his first
Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is
upright and conscientious in every position in
life and is a man of patriotic and public spirit.

G:

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(TACOB S. BRILL, junior member ofthe firm
I of Stocker & Brill, is one of the leading
(2/ wholesale grocers of Newburgh, and is a
member of the Wholesale Grocers' Association of
New York and vicinity. He has been very suc
cessful in his undertakings, and is a tea expert of
exceptional ability. Without doubt, the members
of this firm are the largest jobbers in teas, coffees
and spices on the Hudson.
The Brill family originally came from Holland,
being among the first settlers on the grant of land
in the locality of Beekman, Dutchess County, and
there several generations of descendants riave been
born, including our subject's grandfather, Daniel,
his father, Charles, and himself. The father was
formerly a very active agriculturist, but is now
living retired at his old home at the age of sixty-
one years. He was left an orphan at an early age,
and was the youngest of nine children. On
reaching maturity he occupied many offices of
trust in his township, and has had charge of sev
eral estates, which he has settled with good execu
tive ability. He is a man of sterling integrity
and honesty, public spirited and enterprising,
and no worthy person in need of assistance ever
calls upon him in vain. When the war came on
he responded to the draft, but his services were
not required. His wife, Elizabeth, is a daughter

of Jacob Seaman, and both were natives of East
Fishkill. Robert, father of Jacob Seaman, was
born on Long Island, but lived for many years on
a farm in East Fishkill. The wife of Jacob Sea
man, Claretta, was a daughter of Nathan Slack,
who also owned a farm near the village just men
tioned. Three children were born to Charles and
Elizabeth Brill, namely: Jacob S., Edward C.
and Charles R., the two latter of whom are inter
ested with the subject of this sketch in operating
a large stock farm in Dutchess County.
Jacob S. Brill was born October 29, 1861, and
was educated in the select schools of his native
place, and at Wilburham Academy in Massachu
setts. Then, entering the employ of the Adams
Express Company at Waterbury, Conn., he re
mained with them for about one year, when he
was called home owing to the illness of his par
ents. He assumed charge of his father's farm,
and was also employed in dairying until 1888.
In February of that year he became salesman for
John Oakley, the surviving partner of L. & J.
Oakley, soap manufacturers of Newburgh, and
traveled in New Jersey and New York for about
a year, when the firm's affairs were wound up.
Afterward he became interested with J. W. Math
ews & Co., wholesale grocers of this city, being
placed in charge of their tea trade, and in less
than twelve months had succeeded so well that
he was commissioned to buy all the teas, spices
and cigars, in which the firm dealt, and later,
in addition, managed the coffee department.
In February, 1894, Mr. Brill resigned his po
sition, entering into partnership with the junior
member ofthe old firm, Edward Stocker. In the
short time which has elapsed they have met with
most gratifying success, and now do a larger bus
iness in their special line than any house in the
city. They occupy a large building at Nos. 2 and
4 Front Street, also a warehouse on South Front
Street, and have all the modern improvements
about the buildings, such as electricity, elevators,
etc. , and in these massive structures they handle
a full line of general domestic and imported gro
ceries. In 1892, in company with his brothers, Mr.
Brill purchased about one thousand acres in

212

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Dutchess County, this being known as the Brill
Stock Farm. They have carried off the first
awards at the various stock exhibits, including
those at Westchester County, Orange County and
Dutchess County Fairs, and at Danbury, Conn.
The brothers make a business of breeding Perch-
eron draft and standard-bred trotting horses, and
are also breeders and importers of Holstein and
Freisian cattle.
October 18, 1887, Mr. Brill was married, in this
city, to Harriet B. Oakley, who was born here
September 19, i860. Her father, Lucas Oakley,
was a member ofthe firm of L. & J. Oakley, soap
manufacturers of Newburgh, and is represented
elsewhere in this work. Three children were
born to our subject and wife, namely: Oakley,
who died at the age of nine months; Edward
Hopkins and Ruth Oakley. Mr. and Mrs. Brill
are members of the First Presbyterian Church of
Newburgh. In his political relationship the
former is an ally of the Democratic party.

|J\ICH0LAS DEMEREST, who is living on
I / a fine farm of one hundred acres in the town
| £) of Chester, has been a life-long agriculturist,
as was his father before him. In every detail of
farm life he is thoroughly practical, and the neat
appearance of his place bears testimony to the
thrift and industry of the owner.
Mr. Demerest was born in the town of War
wick, this county, August 10, 1844, being the
eldest of the family comprising the household of
Abraham and Eliza Jane (Smith) Demerest, also
natives of this portion of the state, within whose
bounds they passed their entire lives. The fa
ther, who was a quiet and unassuming man, was
prominently identified with the agricultural inter
ests of the county, and was highly regarded for
his upright manner of living. He departed this
life in 1887, and a year later was followed to the
land beyond by his wife.
Nicholas Demerest first attended the schools of
his district, and later became a student in Chester
Academy. After completing his education, he re
turned to the home farm, and has ever since de

voted himself to the cultivation of his land. His
place is one of the best in point of improvement
in the county, and is classed among the many
beautiful farms of the town . In addition to rais
ing the usual amount of cereals, Mr. Demerest is
interested in the dairy business, making a spec
ialty of this branch of agriculture.
The lady to whom our subject was married in
1864 was Miss Isabelle B., daughter of Daniel
and Sarah (Van Keuren) McNeal, natives of the
town of Montgomery, this county. To Mr. and
Mrs. Demerest there have been born three chil
dren, namely: James S., Isabelle B. and Sarah
Edna. They are all well educated, and at pres
ent are at home with their parents. Although
not members of any religious body, the family
attend services quite regularly at the Presbyte
rian Church.
Mr. Demerest has been for years an enthusias
tic and prominent member of the Masonic order,
having been initiated into the secrets of this fra
ternity in March, 1869, when joining Goshen
Lodge No. 365. He later became identified with
Lodge No. 711, which was organized at Chester,
July 27, 1871, but which is now stationed at Mon
roe. Of this he has been Warden, and for several
years was Master. In 1881 he was appointed
District Deputy of the Tenth Masonic District by
Horace Taylor, Grand Master, and on the expi
ration of his term of office, two years later, was
made his own successor by J. Edward Simmons,
Grand Master. He is also connected with Mid
land Chapter No. 240, R. A. M., of Middletown,
N. Y., is a Sir Knight of Hudson River Com-
mandery No. 35, of Newburgh, and a member of
the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mys
tic Shrine of Mecca Temple in New York City.
In politics our subject is a Democrat, and is an
influential worker in the ranks. He has been
called by his fellow-citizens to fill several import
ant positions of trust, among them those of High
way Commissioner and Inspector of Elections.
In 1889 he was elected Supervisor of his town,
and served creditably for five consecutive terms,
being Chairman of the board during the last
year. He was a very active member of this body
and rendered efficient service as a member of al-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

213

most all the committees of importance. As a
citizen he is progressive, able and honorable, and
the record of his life, both public and private, is
blameless.

HON. GRANT BRADLEY TAYLOR, an
ex -Member of the New York Assembly, is
prominent and popular as a citizen and law
yer, as a public speaker has a wide reputation,
and as a singer is noted. He belongs to one of
the old families of Orange County, his great
grandfather, Jonathan Taylor, having removed
from Tappan, N. J., to Central Valley, this coun
ty, about 1791, and here engaged in farming.
His wife was a daughter of Aaron and Anneke
Jaens Halstead. His farm and homestead are
now owned by Aaron Halstead Taylor, who is
one of the greatest breeders of trotting-horses of
this century. The great-grandfather later went
to Saratoga County, and during the Revolution
ary War served in VanNest' s regiment. His son ,
Isaac T. , the grandfather of our subject, was born
in this county, where he engaged in farming for
many years, and in the War of 18 12 was one of
the valiant defenders of the country.
Peter B. Taylor, the father of Grant B., was
reared to agricultural pursuits, but at the age of
sixteen years went to Oxford Depot, where he
opened a general merchandise store, which he
conducted until 1862, when he came to New
burgh, and has here since made his home. For
many years he served as Justice of the Peace, and
religiously is a member of the Methodist Episco
pal Church. He wedded Lavinia C. Strong, who
was born in Blooming Grove, and is a descendant
of Elder John Strong, who came over in a vessel
that sailed at the same time as did the "Mayflow
er." The Strong family were early settlers of
Blooming Grove, the great-grandfather of our sub
ject, Edward Strong, having located there at an
early day, where he followed the occupation of
farming. Mrs. Taylor is a daughter of Nathan and
Mary E. (Marvin) Strong, the latter a daughter
of Gen. Seth Marvin, who figured in the War of
1812, and the granddaughter of Gen. Seth Mar

vin , Sr. , of Revolutionary fame. Grant Bradley,
son of William Bradley, was the great-uncle of
Mrs. Strong, and for many years was engaged in
business at No 12 Dey Street, New York City.
On the marriage of his sister, Miss Temperance
Bradley, to Gen. Seth Marvin, Jr., in 1793, he
presented her with a silver tea service marked
G. T. B., whicli is now in possession of our
subject. Grant Bradley Taylor is the second in a family
of three children. Nathan S. is a prominent pro
fessor of vocal music in Newburgh; Peter B. is
also a fine musician, and both brothers mentioned
are choir-leaders in Newburgh. The birth of our
subject occurred at Oxford Depot, June 6, 1856,
but from the age of six years he was reared in
Newburgh, where he graduated from the acad
emy in 1872. For one year he was in the employ
of the United States Express Company, and later
was with John A. Wood & Co. for eighteen
months. In 1874 he began the study of law in
the office of Cassedy & Brown, attorneys of
Newburgh, and at Brooklyn, in 1879, he was ad
mitted to the Bar. In 1881 he opened an office
here. In 1890 Mr. Taylor was elected on the Demo
cratic ticket to the Legislature to represent a dis
trict that had always been strongly Republican,
he being the first Democrat elected in seven years.
He was appointed on four committees, those on
Revision, Codes, Villages and Soldiers' Home.
Immediately after the opening of the session he
introduced a bill repealing the law of 1890 re
quiring statements of real-estate mortgages to be
filed every twenty years. The repeal bill was fin
ally passed, becoming a law, and is Chapter 155 of
the Laws of 1 89 1 . He has received a great many
letters of inquiry and congratulation upon his
work in securing the passage of this bill. The
bill of cession of land for the public building in
Newburgh was prepared by Mr. Taylor, it ceding
jurisdiction to the United States over any land
that might be selected for the site. The same
day the bill was introduced it passed the Assem
bly, and became a law two months later. He also
introduced a bill prohibiting the manufacture of
certain articles in the state prisons and peniten-

2I4

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tiaries, and a bill was passed by the Assembly
prohibiting the employment in state prisons of
more than one hundred persons in any one in
dustry, but was killed by a direct vote ofthe Sen
ate. He introduced a bill to select a site for a
state prison to take the place of the one at Sing
Sing, and this was killed by a deadlock in the Sen
ate. He voted to submit the prohibition amend
ment to the vote ofthe people; for the reduction of
the rate of interest ; for the excise bill prepared by
Judge Maynard and Professor Collin of the
Revision Commission; the weekly payment of
wages; the freedom of worship; the World's Fair
bill; and the bill to submit contested elections to
the courts instead of to the Legislature. In the
summer of 189 1 he served on the Canal Investiga
ting Committee, and worked against the large can
al appropriations, but very properly supported the
general appropriation bill for the proper mainten
ance of the canals of the state.
In Newburgh, November 19, 1878, Mr. Taylor
was united in marriage with Miss Jennie June,
who was born in Piermont, N. Y., and is a
daughter of Capt. Charles F. June, a lineal de
scendant of John and Priscilla Alden, of Puritan
times, who are the leading characters in Long
fellow's poem of "Miles Standish." Mrs. Taylor
graduated from the Academy of Newburgh in the
Class of '74. By her marriage she has become
the mother of two children, Gertrude Culver and
Franklin June.
On the 1st of December, 1894, Mr. Taylor
formed a partnership with John M. Gardner, un
der the firm name of Taylor & Gardner; they are
now engaged in a successful geueral practice in
Newburgh. As a public speaker Mr. Taylor has
gained great prominence, and as a singer uses his
talent for the benefit of charities in the city. He
possesses an excellent tenor voice, and for many
years was President of the Orange County Mu
sical Association. He takes an active part in Ma
sonic circles, was for three years Senior Deacon
of Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M., and
is a leading member of Highland Chapter No.
52, R. A. M. ; Hudson River Commandery No.
35, K. T. ; and Mecca Temple No. 1, Nobles of
the Mystic Shrine, of New York City. He is a

member of the City Club and the Newburgh Ca
noe and Boating Association, and is connected
with the Board of Trade. He was one of the or
ganizers and the first President of the Alumni
Association of the Newburgh Free Academy, in
which he still takes an active part. He is an
earnest Christian gentleman, and since ten years
of age has been a member of Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church. In politics he is a firm sup
porter of the Democratic party, and has ever tak
en a prominent and influential part in its affairs,
being County Committeeman for two years,
Chairman of the County Executive Committee
one year, and in 1894 was a member ofthe State
Convention, and Chairman of the Committee on
Credentials. His personal integrity both in pub
lic and private life is of the highest order. He is
endowed with a clear, well balanced intellect,
sharpened by a sound education and keen powers
of observation.

QOBERT JOHNSTON is a shrewd and pro-
k*\ gressive business man of Newburgh, and
r \ is the proprietor of a large hardware estab
lishment, in which may also be found a varied as
sortment of sporting goods. A young man of su
perior business ability and pleasing address, he
ranks high among the substantial residents of the
city. He is an enthusiastic dog-fancier, and one
ofthe best judges of these animals in the county.
William C. Johnston, the father of our subject,
was born in the Old Country, in 1833, and came to
Newburgh when a boy. He is one of the oldest
and most prominent business men of this city,
and his large harness and saddlery establishment,
which was opened in 1857, is located at No. 107
Water Street. There he displays a large stock
of goods, and is well known to the people of this
locality as a reliable business man. He was mar
ried, in 1853, to Miss Margaret L. Campbell, a na
tive of Newburgh, but who died in November,
1882. The subject of this sketch is a native of this

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

215

city, and was born March 4, 1865. After grad
uating from the academy here he took a course
in Eastman's Business College, and then secured
a position as bookkeeper with Charles J. Lawson.
After remaining in his employ for five years, he
resigned in order to go into business for himself,
which he did in 1891, opening a hardware and
sporting-goods establishment at No. 104 Water
Street. The building which he occupies com
prises three stories and a basement, the latter be
ing used for storing goods, while the first three
floors are devoted to his retail trade. His place
is headquarters for all kinds of both heavy and
shelf hardware, and besides the sporting goods
he carries a large line of agricultural implements.
Mr. Johnston is a member of the City Club,
also of the Newburgh Gun and the Newburgh
Canoe Clubs. He is an ardent Republican in
politics, and an influential member of the Repub
lican Club of the city of New York. He has rep
resented his party on numerous occasions as del
egate to its various conventions, and takes great
interest in its recent success. Practical and strict
ly upright in all his dealings with his fellow-
men, he is one of the most popular young men in
the city.

_s  ,  »>^®(® ®H<<«  **—*-

HOWELL H. CARVER is quite extensively
engaged in the dairy business, and has been
a life-long resident ofthe towii of Newburgh,
where he is held in the highest respect, his past
record being unblemished in the slightest degree.
Since he was eighteen years of age the responsi
bilities of the farm which he now cultivates have
rested upon his shoulders, and he has ably met
the duties devolving upon him.
Daniel Carver, father of our subject, was born
February 22, 1810, in Columbia County, N. Y.,
being a sou of John Carver, and grandson of
John Carver, Sr., the latter of whom was a native
of Germany. At a very early period he removed
to the New World, and settled near Binghamton,
Broome County, N. Y., where he passed the rest

of his life. Grandfather Carver moved to Col
umbia County, and died within its boundaries.
Our subject's father grew to manhood in the same
county, and there married Catherine Howell,
who was born October 14, 18 15, in Ulster Coun
ty, N. Y. To this worthy couple were born four
children, namely: Sarah E., October 29, 1839;
DanielS., May 30, 1848; Catherine F., August
29, 1850; and our subject. Sarah was called from
this life May 14, 1840; and Daniel died February
24, 1869. Catherine F. is the wife of Samuel
J. Wait, who owns a farm and is engaged in fruit
growing in this town.
For many years Daniel Carver was engaged in
merchandising, being first located at Carver's
Corners, then in Cuba, but now in Genesee Coun
ty. In 1842 or 1843 he moved to Newburgh,
and for about ten years conducted a general store
on Water Street. He then sold out his interest
in the business and purchased the homestead now
owned by his son Howell H. At the close of a
long and useful life, he peacefully passed away,
January 17, 1867, and is now sleeping his last
sleep in the Cedar Hill Cemetery. He was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
a man whom to know was to love. In his politi
cal faith he was a loyal supporter of the Repub
lican party. His good wife is still living and is
in the enjoyment of fairly good health, though
now in her eightieth year.
Howell H. Carver was born October 11, 1856,
on the farm which his father had purchased about
three years previously. The place is a beautiful
one of some sixty-two acres, and is situated only
a mile west of the corporation limits of New
burgh. From the time he was ten until he was
seventeen years of age he attended private schools
in the adjoining city, and thus acquired a good
education, which he has supplemented by sys
tematic study and wide reading.
March 5, 1874, Mr. Carver was united in mar
riage with Gertrude D. Bloomer, and three chil
dren have come to bless their union, namely:
Daniel, born February 23, 1877; Andrew J. B.,
November 22, 1879; and Gertrude, February 14,
1 88 1. They are all bright, intelligent young
people and are still living with their parents.

2l6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. and Mrs. Carver are valuable workers in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they
are identified as members. Politically Mr. Car
ver is a Prohibitionist and takes much interest in
temperance matters.

i=i

$+$

O-

B~

HERBERT P. RITTER, a young business
man of high standing in Highland Falls, is
the proprietor of a large mercantile estab
lishment, which he has conducted here for the
past three years. He is at all times considerate
of the interest of his patrons, thereby laying the
foundation for a still further . business and still
greater success in the line which he pursues.
Although it has been but a few years since he be
gan his present enterprise, he already ranks
among the prominent and influential business
men of the place.
Charles Ritter, who is the father of our sub
ject, is now a resident of Brooklyn. He was
born in England, whence he crossed the Atlantic
about thirty-two years ago and located in Paines-
ville, Lake County, Ohio. In England he was
married to Mary A. Puttock, the daughter of
John and Mary A. Puttock, all of whom were na
tives of England. To them were born seven sons
and three daughters, of whom we make the fol
lowing mention: Charles is a surveyor and resides
in Brooklyn, which is also the home of Alice E.;
Harry, who is engaged in carrying on a thriving
business as a groceryman, also lives in Brooklyn;
Frank died at the age of eight years; George is a
bookkeeper in the Western Union Telegraph Of
fice in New York City; Herbert P., of this sketch,
was the sixth-born; Maude died at the age of five
years; Arthur passed away when sixteen years of
age; Ralph is a real-estate dealer in Brooklyn;
and Bessie Frances is deceased.
The subject of this sketch was born July ,27,
1869, at Painesville, Ohio, where the first fourteen
years of his life were spent, six years of the time
as a student in the public schools. As he is
very quick and observing, he has become the pos
sessor ofa goodly amount of information acquired
outside of textbooks. When his parents removed

to Brooklyn he accompanied them, and for seven
years remained there clerking in a store. He
then enlisted in the regular army of the United
States, and after one year spent at Willets Point,
went to West Point and was in the hospital serv
ice with the cadets sent to the World's Fair at
Chicago. He was in the service for three years,
and during that time had actual experience in
practical work, not merely theoretical, as we are
apt to think of it. He was honorably discharged
at the end of that time, and, coming to Highland
Falls, engaged in his present business, which he
has conducted successfully from the start.
Mr. Ritter and Miss Ellen Kelly were married
January 29, 1894. This lady is a native of High
land Falls and the daughter of John Kelly, an old
soldier, whose sketch the reader will find in full
on another page in this volume. In politics he is
a Republican, tried and true, and in religious af
fairs he and his wife attend the Catholic Church.
¦  ^*£P  ¦

DWARD FLETCHER BROOKS, M. D.,
*y who is engaged in the practice of medicine
_ and surgery in Newburgh, was born in
Eagle Valley, Tuxedo County, N. Y., in 1871,
and was a son of Fletcher Brooks, who was born in
the same place, and was descended from an old
family of English origin. He was reared on a
farm, and was graduated from Arnell College, of
Ohio, after which he began business as a civil
engineer, but, his health failing him, he abandoned
that and became a professor in an educational in
stitution. He married Hattie Gregory, who was
born in Passaic County, N. Y., and now resides
in Middletown, Orange County. They became
the parents of three children, a son and two
daughters. Mr. Brooks passed to his final re
ward in 1873.
The Doctor is the youngest child in the parental
family. He was reared in Middletown from the
age of twelve years, and in 1891 was graduated
from Wallkill Academy, after which he took up
the study of medicine under Dr. Pillsbury, of that
place. In the fall of that year, he entered the Uni
versity of New York, and was graduated from the

JAMES A. TOWNSEND.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

219

medical department on the 1st of May, 1894, with
the degree of M. D. He then traveled for a time
in order to recuperate, for he had applied himself
closely to his studies, and in the following Octo
ber he located in Newburgh, opening his office at
No. 24 Liberty Street, Washington Heights, for
the practice of medicine and surgery. While in
New York he was in Bellevue Hospital, New
York Lying-in Hospital and the Charity Hospi
tal. He makes a specialty of obstetrics, gynecol
ogy and general surgery, and is especially suc
cessful as a surgeon. He is a young man of deep
research, and his recognized skill and ability have
already won him a place among successful prac
titioners. The Doctor is a member of Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Orange
County Medical Society, and to the Alumni As
sociation of the medical college from which he
graduated. In his political views he is a stal
wart Prohibitionist, and belongs to the Young
Men's Christian Association. Socially he is con
nected with Storm King Lodge, K. of P. ; High
land Lodge, I. O. O. F ; Highland Junior O. U.
A. M. ; and Orange Council, R. T. of T.

"^

(TAMES A. TOWNSEND. In the business
I circles of Newburgh Mr. Townsend is, by
G) universal consent, accorded a high place.
Eminently successful in a financial sense, he has
throughout his entire career exhibited clearness
of perception and soundness of judgment, and
moreover enjoys an enviable reputation for moral
worth and integrity of purpose. He possesses
true public spirit, and uses his influence to en
hance the best interests of the city and county,
and all worthy enterprises for their development
meet with his hearty support. It is the united
testimony of the people that his course is such as
to reflect credit upon the citizenship of Newburgh.
The Townsend family is of French extraction,
and its progenitors in America were identified
with the Society of Friends. The -grandfather of
our subject, Benjamin Townsend, was born in
Ulster County, N. Y., and passed his life there,

engaged in farm work. The father, Jacob P.,
a native of Milton, Ulster County, was a mer
chant by occupation, and died at the age of sev
enty-nine. The mother, Mary A., was a daugh
ter of Absalom Barrett, a farmer of Ulster Coun
ty and a member of a Quaker family.
The seventh among thirteen children, all but
two of whom attained years of maturity, the sub
ject of this notice was born in Milton, Ulster
County, N. Y., February 28, 1830. When he
was fourteen years old, his father lost his entire
fortune and was obliged to begin at the foot of
the ladder again. To assist him in his struggle,
the son remained with him, without receiving
any remuneration for his services, until he was
twenty-six years of age. He had the satisfaction
of knowing that his efforts were not in vain, and
that, when free to begin for himself, the father
was financially independent.
September 1, 1856, Mr. Townsend came to
Newburgh and secured a clerkship in the whole
sale grocery and forwarding house of T. Powell
& Co. (the "Co." being composed of Thomas
Powell, Homer Ramsdall and David Moore). He
was employed at a good salary during the term of
serving with them. During the panic of 1857
the firm suspended business, not because they
were insolvent, but because they could not make
collections nor sell any property. They offered
him the business to run until they could resume,
and as he lacked the necessary capital, he took
into partnership Capt. Charles Lockwood, the
firm name becoming Lockwood & Townsend.
He was at the head of the business, and it pros
pered under his management.
In connection with Homer Ramsdall and George
W. Townsend, our subject, February 1, 1858,
established the firm of Homer Ramsdall & Co.,
in which each member had a one-third interest.
The partnership, formed in one-half an hour,
lasted for eighteen years, during which time the
firm built up the largest wholesale grocery and
commission business in the city. In fact, it has
never been surpassed, in the extent of its trade,
by any business house of Newburgh. This suc
cess is the more remarkable when it is considered
that the business was in a declining and unprofit-

220

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

able condition at the time it was taken up by the
firm. The active management of affairs devolved
upon George W. and his brother, the latter of
whom spent considerable time on the road, selling
a larger amount of goods than any other sales
man. February i, 1876, he sold his interest to
Homer Ramsdall and George W. Townsend, the
latter continuing in the firm until his death.
The wholesale grocery business at No. 10 Wa
ter Street Mr. Townsend carried on for a number
of years, under the firm title of James A. Town-
send & Co., his partners being M. L- Lee and
A. D. Marvin. Since 1880, however, he has
been sole proprietor. He owns a building 20x100
feet, six stories high, with elevator and all mod
ern conveniences. In 1870 he became interested
in the Highland Paper Mill, 'with a capital stock
of $120,000. Erastus Ide, President and Treas
urer, and James A. Townsend, Secretary, of the
corporation known as the Ide Paper Company,
were manufacturing the celebrated Valley Forge
and Highland Mills writing paper. The former
gets its name from the fact that the Valley Forge
of Revolutionary fame is located on land belong
ing to the mill. In September, 1876, he bought
the entire mill property, which he has since re
modeled and enlarged to more than double its
former capacity, so that it is now one of the finest
plants of the kind in the state.
The mill is situated at Moodna, on Murderer's
Creek, upon a seventy-acre tract. Its shipping-
facilities are excellent, connection being had with
the Erie, West Shore and Ontario & Western
Roads, as well as with the Hudson River. There
are ten tenement houses on the property, in one
of which the illustrious General LaFayette had
his headquarters and residence during the Revo
lution. The main building is 60x100, four stories
high. The first floor is utilized for drainers; the
second for a beater-room; the third, calender-
room and office; the fourth, drying loft, with tur
ret. There is an adjacent wing, 60x60, four
stories, upon the first floor of which is the wheel
house; second, spring-water supply room; third,
finishing-room; and fourth, drying loft. The
stock department is a building 50x60, four stor
ies. The machine department, 50x105, two stor

ies, has a boiler and sizing-room on the first floor,
and a paper machine on the second floor. The
carpenter-shop, two stories, 40x60, is devoted to
repairs and the manufacture of cases. There are
also a storehouse, 40x50, and a stone building for
stock, 130x50, two stories. The boiler is eighty
horse-power, and the engine thirty. The water-
power is only exceeded, in the state, by that of
Niagara, being a thirty-eight foot head water-
powei on three turbine wheels, of respectively one
hundred and sixty-five, sixty and thirty horse
power. The principal machinery used in the mills are
a Coburn-Taylor rag-cutter and three dusters, a
rotary boiler 6x12, three fifty -pound beaters,
three three hundred-pound washers, a sixty-two-
inch paper machine with a capacity of three thou
sand pounds per day, four stocks of sheet calen
der, two elevators, and a forty-inch Kent paper
cutter. Employment is furnished to forty hands,
and it requires three weeks from the time the rags
are started in the cutter until they are ready for
packing. The product ofthe plant is unexcelled,
and the best grades of linen and extra superfine
writing paper are manufactured. M. V. Brooks,
a practical and expert paper-maker, is superin
tendent of the mill.
Mr. Townsend owns the old Marvin homestead
of two hundred and twenty acres, and the Seely
homestead of one hundred and eighty-five acres,
both of which are situated near Oxford Depot, in
the town of Blooming Grove. Both farms have
substantial buildings, and during recent years he
has expended a large amount in the erection of
buildings on the Seelv farm. The land is oper
ated by superintendents, and is devoted largely
to pasturage, about one hundred and fifty cows
being kept. Other valuable property is owned
by Mr. Townsend, including his elegant city resi
dence at No. 235 Montgomery Street, Newburgh.
In politics he is a believer in protection of home
industries, and naturally gives his support to
the Republican party. In religious matters he
is connected with Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church. The first marriage of Mr. Townsend united
him with Miss Elizabeth Marvin, daughter of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

221

Van Renssalaer Marvin, a member of one of the
old families of Blooming Grove. Their five chil
dren are George W. ; James Augustus, Jr. , who
is connected with his father in the wholesale gro
cery business; Fannie M., wife of W. F. Cassedy,
of Newburgh; Edwin M., who is also with his
father in the grocery trade; and Bessie. The
present wife of Mr. Townsend was Miss Ida Lena,
daughter of Franklin and Eliza Ann (Van Vliet)
Bull, both deceased, the former having been an
extensive farmer of the town of Blooming Grove.

»'=3=

— =^iji>

(STEPHEN I. WEBB. This prominent agri-
J\ culturist, who is living in the town of Hamp-
Cy/ tonburg, has been Supervisor continuously
since 1886, and for twelve years, or up to 1887,
was the incumbent of the office of Justice of the
Peace. He takes a very active part in local af
fairs, and no worthy enterprise is allowed to fail
for want of support on his part. In 1869 he as
sumed the management of the old homestead and
has made it his home ever since.
Mr. Webb was born in this town, October 7,
1838, and is the son of Hudson Webb, whose
birth also occurred in this town. The grandfa
ther, David Webb, was a native of the town of
Goshen and was well known among the early res-
dents of this portion of the Empire State. The
maiden name of our subject's mother was Per-
melia Ingersoll. She became the mother of sev
en children, of whom Frances is the wife of
Chauncy Hulse, formerly of Goshen, but now de
ceased; James A. and David are deceased; Steph
en I., of this sketch, was the next-born; Sarah P.
married Edgar F. Dill, of Burnside; William H.
is a resident of this town; and Charles E. is de
ceased .
The marriage of Hudson Webb and Miss Inger
soll occurred March 27, 1827. For two or three
years thereafter they resided in New York City,
where the father was successfully engaged in the
grocery business. About 1830, however, he pur
chased the farm where his son Stephen I. now
resides, and continued to live upon it until his
decease, which occurred March 10, 1869. The

estate is one hundred and twenty acres in extent,
and in point of improvement is one of the best in
the town. For five years he was Supervisor of
his town, and in many ways pushed forward
measures calculated to benefit his community.
His wife survived him three years, when she,
too, passed to the home beyond.
The subject of this sketch attended the district
schools until fourteen years of age, when he be
came a student in Montgomery Academy. He
carried on his studies there for two years, then
spent one year in Chester Academy. His mar
riage, in October, 1869, united him with Miss
Sarah H. Breed, daughter of Henry and Margar
et Breed. After his marriage he assumed the
management of his farm, his father having died
about this time, and has been engaged in its im
provement and cultivation ever since. He has
been successful in all his ventures and ranks
among the well-to-do agriculturists of the county.
In politics our subject isa stanch Democrat, on
which ticket he was elected Supervisor and Jus
tice of the Peace. He is honorable and upright in
all his dealings and has won many warm friends,
who hold him in high esteem.

j-5"5"5"°H

j^ •!•*$• .J.*?*.-

~ -J»^.»»'^^'-i"5-»'S-' — r
EORNELIUS J. DECKER. Honored by all
who know him as a progressive agricultur
ist and accommodating neighbor, Mr. Deck
er is worthy of the high regard in which he is
held. For nearly a half-century he has made his
home in Montgomery Town, where he settled
soon after his marriage. In 1876 he purchased a
farm, to the cultivation of which he has since
given his attention. The estate comprises one
hundred and twenty-five acres, and bears first-
class improvements, all of which have been made
by the present owner.
The Decker family is of German extraction,
but has been represented in America for several
generations. Grandfather Decker was a native
of New York, as was also the father of our sub
ject, Jacobus W., who- was born in Ulster Coun
ty, where he engaged in farm pursuits for many
years. A year before his death he came to Or-

222

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ange County, and made his home with Cornelius
J. until his demise, at the age of eighty-four
years. He married Hannah Eckert, who was
born in Ulster County, and died there at sixty -
seven years of age; her parents were natives of
New York, whither her grandparents had come
from Germany. Politically Mr. Decker was a
loyal adherent of the Democratic principles, and
was always interested in public affairs. He was
fairly successful in his business affairs, but as
his family was large, he was unable to give his
children little more than the advantages of a
good education and wise counsel.
The parental family consisted of thirteen chil
dren, of whom Cornelius J. was next to the young
est. He was born in Ulster County, N. Y., July
10, 1826, and, with the exception of three others,
is the only survivor of the large family. He was
reared in Ulster County, whence, shortly after
his marriage, he came to Orange County, and for
several years operated a rented farm in the town
of Crawford. From there he came to Montgom
ery Town, where, after renting for some time, he
purchased a farm, but sold it the same year. For
five years afterward he cultivated a rented farm,
and in 1876 bought the farm where he has since
resided. In August, 1848, Mr. Decker was united in
marriage with Miss Emily Rosecrans, of Craw
ford Town, Orange County. Mrs. Decker is a
daughter of William and Millie (Tice) Rose
crans, natives of Ulster and Orange Counties, re
spectively, and both of whom are now deceased.
They became the parents of eight children, only
three of whom are now living. To our subject
and his wife five children were born, but only one
of the number is still living. Alice Jane, the eld
est, married John E. Kidd, and died at the age of
thirty-eight, leaving two children. George V.,
Emma and Mary died at the respective ages of
thirty-eight, twelve and four. Augustus, the
third of the family, remains with his parents, and
superintends the management of the home farm.
In politics Mr. Decker is an unswerving Dem
ocrat, although his participation in politics is con
fined to the casting of his ballot for the nominees
of his party. He and his family are identified

with the Reformed Church, to the support of
which he has always been a generous contributor.
As one of the old residents of the county, and a
man whose energies have been devoted to the de
velopment of its agricultural resources, he de
serves the high esteem in which he is held by his
associates, and the confidence which his acquaint
ances repose in his integrity and ability.

rS?"1 ~

>#>

(31 LEXANDER BEATTIE is one of the old
Lj and honored residents of the town of New-
I I burgh; and for the past thirty -one years has
lived on this farm. He has held a number of
local offices, discharging the duties of the same
with faithfulness and ability. Among others he
has held the position of Almshouse Commis
sioner and has served as a Justice of the Peace.
He is of English descent, and comes from one of
the old families of New England. His grandfa
ther, Alexander Beattie, was a Sergeant in the
Revolutionary War, and took part in the battle
of White Plains. He was one of the first settlers
of Orange County, settling in the town of New
Windsor, but his death occurred in Ulster County.
The parents of our subject were Alexander W.
and Elizabeth (Moore) Beattie, the former a
farmer by occupation. They had a family num
bering two sons and eight daughters, but only-
three of the number survive. Clara is now in
her eighty-fifth year, and Mary, of the town of
New Windsor, is seventy-one years of age.
January 30, 18 17, occurred the birth of Alexan
der Beattie in the latter town, where he passed
his youth engaged in farm work. After his fa
ther's death, he, in company with one of his
brothers, took charge of the old homestead, and
carried it on successfully. He supplemented his
district-school education by two terms in Mont
gomery Academy, which he entered when he
was twenty-four years of age. He then engaged
in teaching school, and was located for seven
years in Little Britain, where he made a good
reputation in the profession. Then, going to the
city of New York, he engaged in buying and
selling hides for a year, and for a like period

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

223

taught school in New Jersey. Returning to
Orange County, he resumed teaching, and re
mained in Montgomery until the summer of 1855.
In 1855-56 he officiated as Principal ofthe Rural
Academy in the town of Montgomery, and the
following year he was honored by being "appointed
School Commissioner of Orange County, being
among the first to occupy that position. He
filled the latter office eight years, and in the
mean time moved to the farm where he is still
living, and where he has given considerable at
tention to the dairy business. He owns ninety-
seven acres, well improved with good buildings,
fences, orchards, etc.
September 30, 1855, Mr. Beattie and Ellen C.
Caldwell were united in marriage in the village
of Montgomery, and they became the parents of
four daughters, namely: Mary, Ella C, Ann E.
and Louise. Ella C. and Louise have been suc
cessful school teachers of this town . Mrs. Beat-
tie, who had shared her husband's joys and sor
rows for so many years, was separated from him
by death January 28, 1894, when in her seventy-
first year. She was lovingly placed to rest in
the beautiful cemetery at Montgomery. For
years she had been a member of the Presbyterian
Church and active in all good works, and Mr.
Beattie is also identified with that church. In
his political relations he is a Democrat. Upon
the death of Mr. Beattie his branch of the Beattie
family becomes extinct.

(JACOB BRILL PETERS, M. D., a practicing
I physician of Walden, is a man well worthy
CJ/ of the confidence and good-will of the peo
ple, for to natural ability he has added a careful
and thorough medical training and an earnest
desire to benefit his fellow-men. He is a warm
hearted, generous man, of jovial disposition, and
his very presence in a sick-room is the precursor
of coming aid and returning health. He holds a
position in the hearts of his friends held by no
other, and receives the patronage of many of the
best people of Walden.
Dr. Peters is a native of New York, his birth

occurring in Beekman, Dutchess County, Janu
ary 11, 1853. His parents were Theodore and
Mary (Brill) Peters, the former of whom was a
native of the same county. For many years he
resided on the old homestead, but now makes his
home with a son, Thomas E., whose home is in
Dutchess County, in the town of Beekman. The
Doctor and a brother still own the old home place.
Jacob B. remained on the home farm until at
taining his eighteenth year, and attended the
common school. He was subsequently a student
in the Wesley an Academy, located at Wilbraham,
Mass. , and when eighteen began teaching, work
ing his own way through college. He took a
two-years course in scientific and civil engineer
ing at Union College at Schenectady, N. Y., and
continued to teach at Poughquag, Dutchess Coun
ty, for two years. He then went to Tioronda,
where he was Principal of a graded school for
four years. During the last year of his stay
there he began the study of medicine, and at the
close of the school term went to New York City,
and entered the medical department of the Uni
versity of the City of New York, graduating in
the Class of '85, and completing the regular three-
year course in two years. On a competitive ex
amination he was given the third place in the
Workhouse and Almshouse Hospital of that city.
He devoted six months to the position of assist
ant, and then for six months filled the position
of house physician and surgeon, all of which
proved excellent training for his later life. He
received the benefit of association in a profession
al capacity with noted physicians and professors,
and by improving his opportunities gained a
wide experience.
In the month of October, 1886, the Doctor lo
cated in Walden and began practice, succeeding
Dr. Gouverneur Millspaugh, at his death. Here
he has continued in practice, and, as has been
stated, has a large and growing patronage. He de
votes his entire time and attention to his practice,
and has been especially successful in the treat
ment of heart and lung troubles. He is a mem
ber of the Orange County Medical Society, and
is well known in that intelligent body.
In Tuckahoe, Westchester County, occurred

224

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the marriage of Dr. Peters and Miss Adeline
Lewis, the date of the event being October 3,
1878. She is a finely educated and highly ac
complished woman, and before her marriage gave
private instruction in music. Her home was
formerly in Kingston. To this union have been
born three children, namely: Jennie L-, Theo
dore and Lewis. The family are connected with
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are very
prominent in the workings of that body. The
Doctor is a Trustee of the organization, and was
President of the Building Committee, which had
in charge the erection of the new church build
ing. This was completed in 1894, and was ded
icated in April of that year. The building is
very handsome, and was erected at a cost of
$20,000. Dr. Peters is a very enthusiastic Republican,
and can be depended upon to stand by the candi
dates of his party. Besides his office practice
and general patronage he is examiner for several
insurance companies, and has faithfully performed
his duties in this capacity. The family residence,
which is comfortable and hospitable, is located
on Chestnut Street, near the High Bridge, and is
a place where their many friends delight to spend
an enjoyable evening. Socially the Doctor is
identified with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and is also a member of the Masonic
order. He is also connected with the Sons of St.
George, an English order.

e$+$M*

SEORGE R. GRAHAM comes of an old and
well known family of Orange County. He
was born in the town of Greenville on the
30th of July. 1832, and is the son of Hon. Rich
ard Graham, well known in this locality as
"Uncle Dick." Grandfather William Graham
was a native of County Longford, Ireland, while
his wife, Mary Moffatt, was a native of County
Tyrone. They met after coming to America, and
after their marriage in Orange County at once
began farming on a tract of land in what is now
the town of Greenville, where the father died.
Our subject is now the owner of this property.

In his grandparents' family were three children,
of whom Margaret married Samuel S. Stanton,
and is now deceased; William was for many years
Justice of the Peace of his locality, and also en
gaged in farming; he is now deceased. Richard,
the father of our subject, served in the War of
18 1 2, first as Captain of Artillery and later as
Colonel of Militia at Staten Island. He was a
very large, strong man, and after the war engaged
in cultivating the soil, owning a valuable tract
of three hundred acres. At the time of his de
cease, September 1, i860, he was sixty-seven
years of age. He obtained his title of Honorable
as a member of the State Assembly, to which
body he was elected in 1831, serving with credit
to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. By
his marriage with Mrs. Nancy (Pauley) Wood,
the widow of Amza Wood, were born two sons,
the brother of our subject being Daniel, who for
some time was Postmaster of Madison, Neb. , but
is now deceased.
The subject of this sketch was married in Go
shen, September 24, 1857, to Miss Hannah Hol
bert, a native of that city, and a daughter of Ad
rian Holbert, also a native of this county. His
father, Hon. Peter Holbert, was also a native of
Orange County, where he was a well-to-do farmer.
He was elected many years ago to the New York
Assembly, and for a long time was also Justice of
the Peace in the town of Minisink.
Adrian Holbert was successfully engaged as a
former near Goshen, making a specialty of dairy
ing. Later he purchased the Orange County
Milk Association, in the city of New York, whicli
was established by C. J. Westbrook and which he
re-organized into a stock company, of which he
was elected general manager. He built the large
creamery at Middletown, the one at Ft. Plain and
also the one near Goshen. These he operated
until 1887, when he sold out and retired, dying
in 1891, when past eighty- two years of age. He
was a Republican in politics and a member of the
Presbyterian Church.
The mother of Mrs. Graham, in her maiden
hood known as Hannah Sayer, was born in Mini-
sink, and was the daughter of Joshua Sayer, also
a native of that place, where he was for many

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

225

years a farmer. Mrs. Holbert died in 1843, when
thirty-six years of age. She became the mother
of five children, viz.: Charles, who died at Atch
ison, Kan.; Hannah, Mrs. Graham; Marietta,
Mrs. Slater, who resides in Centralia, Kan. ;
Sarah, deceased; and Jesse, living on the home
stead. The subject of this sketch was reared on the
home farm, one hundred and fifty acres of which
are still in his possession. The land is a valuable
piece of property and is devoted principally to the
breeding of Dutch cattle and Hambletonian horses.
In 1883 Mr. Graham and his wife removed to Go
shen, where they are now residing in a comforta
ble home on Golden Hill Avenue. Mr. Graham
holds a life membership in Hoffman Lodge No.
412, F. & A. M., at Middletown, with which he
has been connected for twenty-seven years. For
one term he rendered efficient service as Justice
of the Peace, but aside from this has refused to ac
cept office. In 1875 and also in 1880 he took the
census in the town of Greenville, and was also As
sessor of that town for nine years. Mrs. Graham
is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Go
shen. In politics Mr. Graham is a stanch sup
porter of the Democracy.

Gz

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30HN H. WARFORD, one of the honored
veterans ofthe War ofthe Rebellion, has been
the owner of his present homestead for the
past twenty-seven years, and has given much of
his attention of late years to fruit-growing. His
home is situated in the town of Newburgh, where
he has surrounded himself with many of the lux
uries and refinements of life.
Mahlon Warford, our subject's father, was born
December 14, 1804, and his wife, who before her
marriage was Elizabeth Fox, was born March 16,
1809. They were the parents of six children:
Amanda, Sarah, Redding, John H.. George and
Mary A. .The father was a wheelwright and
wagon-maker by trade, which occupation he fol
lowed until his death, which occurred about 1848.

With her family the widow moved to Ulster
County in 1851, settling on a farm, and about
three years later moved to this town. Her death
occurred May 25, 1888.
John H. Warford is a native of New Jersey, his
birth having occurred December 4, 1841, in Hunt
erdon County. He was but seven years old when
death deprived him of his father's protection, and
thus he was thrown upon his own resources at an
earlier age than he would have been otherwise.
He removed to New York State with his mother
when he was about ten years old, and was only
thirteen when he began working in the Orange
County Powder-mills, where he remained for six
teen years, being considered one of their most
faithful and reliable employes. He was careful
of" his means, and in time had laid aside enough
money to purchase a farm and settle down in
comparative comfort. July 21, 1864, he was mar
ried to Catherine McVeigh, by whom he has had
a son and daughter. The former, Clarence, is a
graduate of the Newburgh Academy, which he
left iu 1891, and then entered the Spencerian
Business College, from which he also graduated.
He is now associated with his father in the grow
ing and canning of choice fruits and vegetables,
the "Warford" brand of canned goods being
classed among the finest on the market. Evalyn,
the daughter, is still living with her parents. The
family are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which they take an active part.
July 12, 1862, Mr. Warford enlisted in defense
ofthe Stars and Stripes as a private in Company A,
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York In
fantry, and was mustered in at Goshen. Thence
he was sent to Washington, and at Fredericksburg
had his first experience in battle. At the engage
ment at Chancellorsville he was wounded, a minie-
ball penetrating his right breast, and he was taken
to the field hospital. For about two months he was
incapacitated for duty, but later rejoined his regi
ment at Frederick City, and participated in the bat
tles ofBealsford, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and
Spottsylvania, in the last-named battle being un
der fire for ten days. Being wounded by a shell,
for a month he was confined in the hospital in
Philadelphia, when he returned home on a fur-

226

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lough and was married. He took up his duties
near Petersburg, where his regiment was then
stationed, and took part in the siege at that place.
He was located in that section for about five
months, during which time he was promoted to
the rank of Sergeant. His last engagement was
at Sailor's Creek, where, April 6, 1865, just three
days before the surrender, he was again wounded,
and was first taken to the field hospital, where he
remained for six days before he received proper
surgical attention. A minie-ball had passed
through his right thigh, and when the wound
was dressed it was found advisable to remove him
to the hospital at City Point, and later he was
transferred to Baltimore, where he remained until
he had fairly recovered. His wife had joined
him and nursed him faithfully for about three
months. His honorable discharge is dated Au
gust 26, 1865. Since becoming a voter Mr. War
ford has given his allegiance to the Republican
party.

3 AMES SCOTT. The life of this gentleman
illustrates what it is in the power of a brave
and energetic man to accomplish for himself.
Orphaned at the age of thirteen, he was taken
into the family of Henry Denton, of Goshen,
where the two ensuing years were passed. He then
began an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade,
and, as his wages were exceedingly small, at
the end of four years, besides clothing himself, he
had saved but twenty-six cents. From that small
beginning he worked his way to prosperity and
success. Though he never gained wealth, he ac
cumulated a competency, and has sufficient to
provide his declining years against poverty and
hardship. Not only this, but, what is better still,
he has been successful in gaining the respect of
his associates and the esteem of his friends.
Though a native of Orange County, Mr. Scott
is of foreign parentage and descent. His parents,
Henry and Eleanor (Bell) Scott, were natives, re
spectively, of Ireland and Scotland, but emigrated
to America early in life and were married in
Orange County, where he followed the dual oc

cupation of shoemaker and farmer. She died at
the age of thirty, when James was four years old,
and he survived a few years only, passing away
when forty years of age.
The parental family consisted of three sons,
namely: David B., who lives near the old home in
Scotchtown; James, who was born in Scotchtown
January 28, 1829; and John, who settled in
Smithville, Monroe County, Ind., many years
ago and has never returned to the old homestead.
Before the death of his father James went to
Goshen, where he made his home with Henry
Denton. May 3, 1843, he came to Montgomery
and was here apprenticed to learn the shoe
maker's trade under Abram Conklin, receiving
$15 and board the first year, with an advance of
$5 per year afterward.
After acquiring a thorough knowledge of the
trade Mr. Scott started in business for himself at
Montgomery, opening a shop and carrying on a
profitable trade until failing health forced him to
seek other employment. About 1868, after hav
ing been in the shoe business for twenty years,
he opened a grocery store, and was thus engaged
until 1876, when ill-health obliged him to retire
from active work. After the election of President
Cleveland he was appointed Postmaster, in 1885,
but served one year only, resigning in favor of
his partner, Charles A. Crist, with whom he re
mained as deputy. His connection with the post-
office continued until the expiration of President
Cleveland's term of office. He is now acting as
local agent for James Dickson & Bro., dealers in
granite and marble monuments, of Jersey City,
but with this exception is practically retired from
business. During the long course of his business
life his health was frequently very poor and for
many years he suffered with asthma, but of this
he was to a large extent relieved after using a
specific made by a Buffalo physician.
In 1858 Mr. Scott was made an Odd Fellow in
Freeman's Lodge No. 170, which was established
in 1845 and was then at Walden. He is an en
thusiast in lodge work, and for twenty -five years
has been a member of the vigilant and sick com
mittees. Politically a Democrat, he has fre
quently represented his party in conventions, and

JAMES CHADWICK

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

229

upon that ticket he was elected Overseer of the
Poor, though the town itself is strongly Repub
lican. At one time he was candidate for County
Superintendent of the Poor and received one
hundred and eighty-three majority in a town
that usually gives one hundred and eighty-five
Republican majority. Many of the state Demo
cratic conventions he has attended, the last one
having been at Albany, when Governor Hill was
nominated for Governor of New York. In 1845
he became a member of the Montgomery Guards,
Company A, Nineteenth Regiment, New York
State Militia, and remained with them until 1859.
He was elected Corporal upon the organization
of the company, and in 1848 was elected Orderly-
Sergeant, which position he occupied until 1859.
The marriage of Mr. Scott, May 19, 1861,
united him with Miss Nettie R., daughter of
Henry and Mary (Parks) Welsh, and a native of
Montgomery. The family of which she is a mem
ber is one of prominence, and her brother, Will
iam J. Welsh, is a noted attorney of Bingham-
ton, N. Y. In religious belief she is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, to the maintenance
of which Mr. Scott contributes, though not iden
tified with any church.

3 AMES CHADWICK, a very liberal and en
terprising business man of Newburgh, is
President of the extensive bleachery here, of
which his brother Joseph is Treasurer. This is
one of the largest and best equipped establish
ments of the kind in the country, and the benefit
which this industry has conferred upon the city
it would be impossible to estimate. Mr. Chad-
wick is a member of the Board of Trade of both
Newburgh and New York City.
Our subject was born January 22, 1830, in
Heywood, Lancashire, England, where his an
cestors had resided since 1558. His grandfather,
John Chadwick, was a farmer and stock-dealer,
and also was the owner of coal lands, which re
verted to his sou Thomas, father of our subject.

The latter, who died in 1885, at the age of eighty-
one years, was a devoted member of the Church
of England, and possessed the esteem of all who
had dealings with |him. His marriage [united
him with Elizabeth B. , daughter of Thomas Mills,
who was an extensive dealer in cattle, and was a
landed proprietor in Rochdale, Lancashire. In
politics he was a Conservative. Mrs. Chadwick
died in 1883, aged seventy-nine years. The old
English home is occupied by her daughter Eliza
beth, now the wife of William Smith. James and
Joseph Chadwick are the only members of the
family in America. Their brother Thomas M.,
and brother-in-law, William Smith, are in part
nership with James and Joseph Chadwick in the
Boarshaw Bleachery, Dye and Print Works at
Middleton, near Manchester, England.
The education of James Chadwick was com
pleted in Townhead Academy, of Rochdale, Eng
land. Choosing a manufacturing career, he learn
ed cotton spinning in the factory of a relative, and
served for three years and a-half at the trade.
After further qualifying himself in a bleaching
and dyeing establishment, he came to America, in
1859, and soon secured a position in the Boiling
Spring Bleachery, near Rutherford, N. J. In
1867 he entered into partnership with his brother
Joseph and George Wylie, leasing the Boiling
Spring Works, but in a short time Mr. Wylie
died, and it soon became evident that greater fa
cilities than Rutherford afforded would be neces
sary, and in 1871 the site of the present establish
ment was purchased. The building, which was
then used for a flouring-mill, was remodeled and
enlarged, and at present there are seven separate
structures, with a total floor space of about one
hundred thousand square feet. Building No. 1
is three stories in height and 60x200 feet ; No. 2,
60x190, three stories, with additions; No. 3, 6ox
150, three stories; No. 4, one story, 60x200; and
No. 5, a two-story building, is 50x80 feet. Mu
chattoes Lake is utilized and the outlets of Quas-
saick River, while they have as a reserve power
Orange Lake, six miles away. The outlet farm,
which controls the outlet of the water at Orange
Lake, is owned by six mill-owners on the creek,
and Mr. Chadwick is a committee of one in charge

230

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the farm. Steam as well as water is used as
motive power. The steam engines furnish four
hundred and fifty horse-power, and the water-
wheels one hundred and forty horse-power. The
added advantages of railroad and water communi
cations are of great value to the concern. One
million, two hundred and fifty thousand gallons
of pure spring water are daily used in the bleach
ing process, and two hundred and forty hands are
employed. The present capacity of the works is
over one hundred and sixty thousand yards daily,
a specialty being made of bleached canton flan
nel. The output of this class of goods here is
more than one-half of the whole production in
this country. The firm has a New York office
at No. 115 Worth Street.
The marriage of James Chadwick united him
with Mary Ellen Hughes, of Philadelphia. They
have a beautiful home at No. 182 Grand Street,
where all of the surroundings bespeak the refine
ment and culture of the residents. They have
two adopted children, Mamie A. Holt and Willie
Pierson. Mr. Chadwick is a Warden of St.
George's Church. Politically he is a Republican,
and fraternally belongs to Hudson River Lodge
No. 607, F. & A. M. He is a Director in the
Newburgh National Bank, is a member ofthe
City Club, and is also President of Lawson Hose
Company No. 5.

m&

|~)ROF. REUBEN FRASER. There is no
yr profession more honored or more honorable
\S) than that of the teacher who has in his charge
the training of the young mind, the develop
ment of the intellect, and the unfolding to recep
tive ears of the wondrous beauties of nature, of
science and of history. Greater praise can be
bestowed upon no one than to say that a man is
a successful, faithful and progressive teacher, and
such commendation deservedly belongs to Pro
fessor Fraser, Principal of the Montgomery Union
School. The history of the institution of which he is

the head is worthy of more than passing mention
by the biographer. The Montgomery Academy,
which was merged into the public school in 1882,
was founded in 1 790. The original frame struct
ure was in 1820 replaced by the present brick
building, from which, during the years that have
since passed, young men and young women have
gone forth to occupy positions of honor in the re
ligious, business, agricultural and social world,
— young men and women, many of whom have
now grown old, but in whose hearts the memory
of their happy schooldays will ever glow with
the freshness of youth.
This institution bears the distinction of having
been the fourth of the kind founded in the state.
It was duly incorporated April 25, 1791, under
the care of the Regents of New York, and its
progress from the first was encouraging. From
1825 until 1845 the Principal was Jacob Tooker,
a man who possessed a master mind, and the ef
fects of whose work are still apparent. About
the middle of the present century, however, the
magic power of the academy decreased and finally
departed. Having lived its day and done its
work, it gave way to the onward march of pop
ular education. Under these circumstances it
was therefore deemed best by the Trustees to
transfer the property to the Board of Education,
who were authorized by law to take it. Novem
ber 11, 1881, the meeting was held which re
sulted in the establishment of the Union Free
School with the academic department.
Under the new management the school was
opened February 6, 1882, with Professor Fraser
at the head, he having accepted a call to the po
sition of Principal. Here he has labored since,
with the exception of the term of 1888-89, when
he was persuaded to accept the supervision of
the academic department of Geneva College, at
Beaver Falls, Pa. The work did not prosper
here during his absence, and in response to the
urgent appeals of his former pupils and the citi
zens of Montgomery, he returned to his former
position, which he has since filled.
Born in Bethel, Sullivan County, N. Y., July
25, 1844, the subject of this notice is the son of
James and Harriet (Alexander) Fraser, natives

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

231

of County Armagh, Ireland. The family is of
Scotch origin, but during the religious persecu
tions of that country the great-grandfather of
our subject, James Fraser, removed to Ireland
and settled in County Armagh. His son Will
iam came to the United States in 1809 with three
brothers, all of whom settled in Sullivan County,
N. Y., at a period so early in its history that his
nearest neighbor was many miles away.
At the time of emigration to America, James
Fraser was a child of six years. He grew to
manhood in Sullivan County, and after his mar
riage to Harriet Alexander he settled on a farm
adjoining the old homestead. There they re
mained until death, he passing away when ninety,
and she at the age of seventy-nine. For fifty-
two years he lived in the same house, a building
which he had erected, and which his son, R.
Alexander Fraser, now occupies.
Reuben, who is the seventh of nine children,
was reared on the home farm, and received an
excellent education in the Liberty Normal In
stitute, which he attended for two years. At the
age of fifteen he. began to teach, and later was a
student in the Delhi Academy, after which he re
sumed teaching. In 1873 he entered Cornell
University, where he prosecuted his studies for
a time. His first position after completing his
studies was as Principal of the Eureka High
School at Mongaup Valley, where he made a
specialty of preparing pupils for teaching. In
his normal class there were about seventy-five
students, who were fitted for professional work
under his supervision. From Mongaup Valley
he went to Barryville, the same county, where he
was Principal of schools for four years, he and
his assistant having about one hundred pupils.
At the request of Hezekiah Watkins, an attor
ney of New York City, and the son of Dr. Wat-
kins who had built the old Liberty Normal In
stitute, Professor Fraser became Principal of that
school, Mr. Watkins promising to erect a new
building if he would remain ten years. He had
been but a year in that position, however, when
Mr. Watkins died suddenly while visiting in Illi
nois, and his plans were therefore materially
changed. In February, 1882, he came to Mont

gomery, at the time the old academy was merged
into the public school. Thereis an enrollment of
two hundred pupils, with five teachers. The
academic department was the third school in the
state to be placed under the State University Re
gents, and fits its pupils to pass the examinations
of the board. The graduating class of '95 con
sisted of fifteen bright and earnest pupils, who
had pursued the regular course prescribed by the
Regents. April 9, 1875, Professor Fraser married Miss
Ella, daughter of William and Sarah (Beattie)
Wear, who live seven miles north of Newburgh,
this county. They have two daughters, the eld
er of whom, Harriet J., is a graduate of the
New Paltz Normal School, and is now employed
in the public schools at Washingtonville; the
younger, Anna M., is a student in the home
schools. The Professor is a member of the prin
cipal educational associations, and is deeply in
terested in everything pertaining to his profes
sion. For twenty-three years he has been an
Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church at
White Lake and Coldenham, and is Superin
tendent ofthe Sunday-school. He is a decided
Prohibitionist, but not active in party affairs.
He is a man of pleasing address, and easily wins
and retains friends.

-*=).

£+£

[•""""""L

("""5~

5JEORGE SENIOR. For many years this
_ gentleman was identified with the business
JJ interests of Montgomery as the senior mem
ber of the firm of George Senior & Co. , later of
the fiim of George Senior & Son; but in 1885 he
retired from the business, being succeeded by his
sons, who have since conducted the enterprise
with efficiency and success. While during the
course of his long business experience he met with
some losses, yet he was fortunate in escaping finan
cial panics and disasters, and was never hampered
by lack of funds. It is a fact worthy of note that
he never sued any one and never had a law case
in court.
In Dorsetshire, England, George Senior was
born February 10, 18 14, being the son of Will-

232

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

iam and Sarah (Harvey) Senior. His father,
who was born in 1785, came to the United States
in 1830, and after having spent three years in Dan-
bury, Conn., he removed to Dutchess County,
N. Y., where he stayed twelve years. His clos
ing days were spent in Montgomery, where he
died in 1863. His wife survived him until 1886,
dying at the age of ninety-three years. They
were the parents of twelve children who attained
years of maturity, three having died in childhood.
William, who settled in Connecticut, engaged in
farming there until his death at fifty-five; John, a
farmer of New Milford, Pa., died when sixty -five
years old; Sarah, Mrs. William Blackman, died
in Danbury, Conn., at the age of seventy; George
was next in order of birth; Thomas, a retired bus
iness man, lives in Montgomery; Christopher is a
farmer near the Mississippi River in Illinois; Ann
married John Houck, and died in middle life; Ed
ward died at the age of twenty-five; Joseph lives
in Bridgeport, Conn. ; Louisa is the wife of John
Ay res, of Middletown; and Henry is living in
Danbury, Conn. Ofthe six now living, three re
side in Orange County.
At the age of twenty-one our subject began to
deal in stock in Dutchess County. In 1844 he
opened a store, and, being prosperous, he contin
ued in business about thirty years. October 6,
1842, he married Miss Mary Ann Lawson, who
was born in Walden, May 30, 18 19, but at the
time of her marriage was residing in Dutchess
County, this state. Her parents, Robert and
Jane (Thompson) Lawson, were borii in Ireland
and emigrated to the United States, he when
twenty-one and she at nine years of age. They
were married in Orange County and spent their
last years in Montgomery, where he died at the
age of eighty-one and she when ninety-one.
Mr. and Mrs. Senior became the parents ofthe
following children : William H., who is a member
ofthe firm of William H. Senior & Co. in Mont
gomery ; Augustus, formerly a merchant of New
burgh, who died April 6, 1892, at the age of
forty-seven; Mary E., who married Cornelius D.
Hawkins, and died at the age of forty -one; Sarah
F., who died in childhood; George Edward, who is
in the store at Montgomery; JohnL., aii attorney

at Waverly, Coffey County, Kan.; and James
Renwick, a merchant of New York City. Since
the organization of the Montgomery & Erie Rail
way Company, Mr. Senior has served as one of
its Directors. For thirty-five years he has been
Trustee of the Presbyterian Church at Montgom
ery, to which his wife also belongs.

-4 — I  •}3+5®^p)®fHI<^t  « — *-

gHARLES J. VAN ALST. The family of
which this gentleman is an honored repre
sentative is one of the oldest of Orange Coun
ty, and the farm which he now owns has been in
possession of some of its members for nearly sev
enty years. He is the owner of one hundred and
seven acres situated in the town of Montgomery,
and comprising a portion of the original home
stead. This was his birthplace and is the only
home he has ever known, and it is only natural,
therefore, that he should feel the deepest attach
ment for the scenes around which cluster so many
happy associations.
The parents of our subject, Bergoone and Jane
(Lowe) Van Alst, were natives, respectively, of
Dutchess County and the town of Crawford,
Orange County; the former died when forty -seven
and the latter at the age of fifty-five. Their chil
dren were four in number, namely: Ebenezer,
who resides in this town; Mary, widow of Moses
Mould; Charles J.; and Daniel, whose biographi
cal sketch, with further particulars concerning the
genealogical history, appears elsewhere in this
volume. Our subject was born May 7, 1829, and
grew to manhood on the place where he still re
sides. He was a small child when his father
died, and afterward he made his home with his
mother until her death, when he inherited a part
of the old homestead.
In 1854 Mr. Van Alst was united in marriage
with Miss Susan A. Wilkin, of this county, who
at her death left six children, named as follows:
Mary, wife of Augustus Burnett, of the town of
Montgomery; Marshall, a grocer of New York
City; Moses, who is a farmer of the town of Craw-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

233

ford, this county; Susan, wife of James Burnett,
a farmer of the town of Montgomery; Cordelia,
wife of Louis C. Andrews, of this town; and
Jane, who died in childhood. The second mar
riage of Mr. Van Alst, which occurred October 22,
1874, united him with Miss Harriet, daughter of
William Decker, of this county, and their union
has been blessed by the birth of one daughter,
Eliza. In all matters of public moment Mr. Van Alst
takes the interest which should be felt by every
public-spirited citizen. He is a man who has de
cided views upon all subjects of importance, and
in his political opinions he is a firm Republican,
always voting for the candidates of the party.
For two years he has represented his towii upon
the County Board of Supervisors, and he has
filled the majority of the other town offices. Re
ligiously he clings to the faith of his forefathers
and holds membership in the Reformed Church.

([OHN E. PHILLIPS was born in Phillips-
I burg, Orange County, March 20, 1805, and
© was one of eight children who attained ma
ture years. His sister Julia married William Y.
Miller, a minister in the Presbyterian Church,
now living in San Jose, Cal., and she died in
Knoxville, 111., February 7, 1857. Henry, the
next in order of birth, died at Honesdale, Pa. ,
Elizabeth, who was the wife of Dr. H. Hornbeck,
died in Phillipsburg, March 2, 1843. Thomas S.,
formerly in the commission business in Chicago,
died in that city. William N. , who died in Feb
ruary, 1895, was a resident of Galesburg, 111.,
where his youngest brother, Dr. Edgar L. , also
makes his home. Nicholas E. , who resided in
Galva, 111., died in January, 1895.
In 1825 John E. Phillips was graduated with
the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Williams Col
lege, being a classmate of David Dudley Field.
Soon afterward he took up the study of law under
the instruction of Henry G. Wisner, and in the
process of time was duly admitted to the Bar.
He formed a partnership with his late preceptor,
and their business connection continued to exist

until the death of Mr. Phillips. His career was
thoroughly honorable, and his life was above re
proach in every particular. He passed from earth
December 17, 1841, when only thirty-six years of
age. The marriage of John E. Phillips united him
with Elizabeth T., daughter of his partner, Henry
G. Wisner. This estimable lady was born in
New York City in 1808, and was reared at Oak-
hill, receiving an excellent education in the Mo
ravian Seminary at Bethlehem, Pa. Religiously
she was connected with the Episcopal Church,
and in her earlier years took a prominent part in
its work. She survived her husband a half-cent
ury, dying in April, 1891. Three daughters had
blessed their union, of whom the eldest died when
young; the second, Anna E., is the wife of J. H.
Conner, of New York City ; and Harriet H. is the
youngest ofthe family.
Rev. George Phillips, the original representa
tive ofthe family in America, emigrated from Rox-
bury, England, in 1630, and landed in Boston,
one of his friends and associates being Governor
Winthrop. He settled in Watertown, Mass.
Wendell Phillips, whose reputation is world-wide,
is a descendant of this branch ofthe family. The
Andover Phillips' line is represented by Judge
Phillips, founder of Phillips Academy. The
grandfather of our subject, Maj. Moses Phillips,
was born in Smithtown, L. I., March 8, 1742.
He migrated to Orange County about 1766, and
settled where the village of Phillipsburg now
stands, it being named in his honor. Buying a
large tract of land there, he engaged in manufact
uring cloth, ran a flourmill, and was interested
in other mercantile operations. In 1779 he was
commissioned Major of a militia company by
Governor Clinton and served in the War of the
Revolution. His wife was Sarah, daughter of
Hon. Henry Wisner, of Revolutionary fame, at
one time regent of the University of New York.
The death of the Major occurred December 29,
18 1 8, after a busy and useful life. His son Will
iam, the next in line of descent, was born at
Phillipsburg, and followed his father's example in
manufacturing cloth and in conducting a farm.
He was well known and prominent in that sec-

234

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tion, and was still in the prime of his usefulness
when he died as the result of an accident, aged
about sixty-four years. His wife, Sarah Evert-
son, was born in Dutchess County, and was a de
scendant of the celebrated Admiral Evertson, of
Holland. Her father, John, resided in Dutchess
County, where members of his family had settled
permanently several generations before. The
great Admiral himself was in command of a New
York squadron, which wrested New York from
England in 1673. He was the eldest son of Ad
miral Cornelius Evertson, who was killed in battle
with England in 1666.

EHARLES I. BULL, of the town of Chester,
is a descendant of William Bull, an old pio
neer in this section, who came to Orange
County in the middle ofthe eighteenth century.
Our subject was born upon the farm on which he
now lives in i860, and was next to the youngest
child born to Ira and Phoebe (Hawkins) Bull,
both of whom were born in Orange County. Ira
Bull was born in 1809, on the same farm upon
which our subject lives, and spent his life there.
He was prominently engaged in agricultural pur
suits during his lifetime, and was also engaged in
milling to some extent on his home farm. He
was a quiet, honest citizen, attending strictly to
his own affairs, and in his death, which occurred
April 3, 1887, when seventy-seven years of age,
the community lost a valued citizen and friend.
His estimable wife, the mother of Charles, is still
living and enjoying good health at the age of
seventy. The subject of this sketch attended the district
school during his youth, later attended the school
at Goshen, and subsequently those at Brooklyn.
He was reared upon a farm and has always fol
lowed the life of an agriculturist. His farm com
prises three hundred and thirty acres of nicely
improved laud, which lies picturesquely between
the hills. A lake of about ten acres in extent
furnishes excellent water for his stock, and con

tributes large quantities of trout for the family
table. His residence and outbuildings are mod
ern, few homes in the county being more invit
ing. Mr. Bull is quite extensively engaged in
the dairy business, having seventy-five head of
milch cows.
Mr. Bull was married, August 26, 1886, to Miss
Mary E. Green, a daughter of William R. and
Mary (Howell) Green, natives of Orange County
and early settlers here. This union has been
blessed by the birth of three children: Lillian,
William G. and Phoebe. The parents are mem
bers of the Presbyterian Church at Chester. In
politics he is a Republican and has an abiding
faith in the principles of his party. He has never
aspired to official honors, but has served his fel
low-citizens in the capacity of Road Commis
sioner. Comparatively a young man, there are
but few men in the community that are better or
more favorably known. The farm upon which
he lives was purchased in 1 800 from Peter Van
Helton by Richard Bull, the father of Ira.

f&3G&C20_

i."v?l"lsv"$!k^5a=w'fc-

'HERON B. ABRAMS was born in the town
of Newburgh March 2, 1823, and is the son
of Samuel and Sarah (Wood) Abrams, the
former of whom was a son of John Abrams, a
soldier in the Revolutionary War. The parents,
who were born in Orange County, became the
heads of a family comprising six children, namely:
Jane, our subject, Charles, Nancy, George and
Thomas. The subject of this sketch began life for himself
at the early age of thirteen, at which time he was
deprived of the care of his father. Being the eld
est son, the management of the homestead fell
upon him and he was obliged to assume the re
sponsibilities of caring for the family, remaining
with his mother until 1853. In 1861 he located
on his present farm, a valuable tract of land,
ninety acres in extent, whicli is devoted largely
to dairy farming. For three years he was em
ployed in the navyyards at Brooklyn, and for
five years following he resided 011 the old home
stead.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

235

Mr. Abrams was married, November 13, 1844,
to Miss Sarah S. Abrams, daughter of John and
Ann Abrams, natives of New York. She was
born in New York City, August 10, 1823, and by
her union with our subject became the mother of
ten children, of whom five died in infancy. The
others are Charles, Fred, David, Ada and Samuel,
the latter of whom died at the age of twenty-three
years. Mrs. Abrams is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. In political matters our sub
ject never fails to cast a vote in favor of Demo
cratic candidates and principles, and for a period
of fifteen years was Commissioner of Highways,
also serving for some time as a member of the
School Board. The family is one highly esteemed
in the community.

~" DWARD WHITEHEAD, President of the
'j Walden Knife Company, is a man who, by
__ perseverance, energy and keenness of judg
ment, has become one of Walden' s much esteemed
citizens. His success cannot be a matter of won
der to his acquaintances, who know that it has
been won by unusual ability and careful attention
to his business interests, and the place which he
occupies in business circles is deservedly a prom
inent one.
The Walden Knife Company, of which our
subject is now President, was organized in Wal
den, N. Y., in 1870, as a co-operative company,
and became an incorporation in 1874, at which
time William G. Gowdy was elected President,
and Edward Whitehead Secretary. The capital
stock of the corporation is $20,000. The pres
ent organization is as follows: Edward White
head, President, Secretary and Treasurer; George
Weller, Vice-President; and Samuel Andrews,
James M. Walker and John S. Taylor, Board of
Directors. All of the interested parties are resi
dents of Walden.
At the present time the members of the Wal
den Knife Company have about $100, 000 invested
in the business, and the establishment has a ca
pacity of $200,000 worth of goods annually, and

in one year has been known to make that amount.
The company employs about two hundred and
twenty-five hands, many of whom are skilled
workmen. They give employment to about
twenty-five girls, and their pay-roll amounts to
from $2,000 to $2,500 per week. They make a
specialty of pocket-knives, and do some very fine
work in this line of their trade, selling to jobbers
all over the United States.
Our subject is a native of Halifax, Yorkshire,
England, where his birth occurred November 5,
1845. At the age of three years he came to the
United States, in company with his parents, John
and Sarah (Hill) Whitehead, the former of whom
was a spinner by trade, and was employed in
woolen-mills. When fifteen years of age he
learned the cutlery trade.
At the time of the organization of the present
company, our subject took charge of the detail
work. As has been said, it was at first a co-op
erative company, and consisted of eighteen mem
bers, and ever since it became a stock company,
in 1874, Mr. Whitehead has had the management.
The business has been very successful, and he
has steadily pushed forward, gaining in favor
with the company and all its patrons. He gives
his entire time to the business, and is the only
one ofthe original company now interested.
October 14, 1874, occurred the marriage of our
subject and Miss Ella C Barkley, who was born
and reared in New York City. Mrs. Whitehead
has in the truest sense of the word been a help
mate to her husband, and is a woman much be
loved by all those with whom she is associated.
Mr. Whitehead is a Republican in politics, and re
ligiously he is a member of the Reformed Church.

-*?-?

(31 SMITH RING. Identified with the his-
f I tory of Newburgh throughout his entire life,
/ I Mr. Ring was well known to the citizens of
the place, and was especially prominent in finan
cial circles, having been connected with the New
burgh Savings Bank for many years. The latter

236

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

part of his life was spent in retirement from ac
tive business pursuits, though he still found suffi
cient to occupy his attention in the management
of his large property interests. He was a man
who held a high place in the regard of his asso
ciates, and a sketch of his life will therefore be of
interest to our readers.
A. Smith Ring was born in Newburgh, March
. 17, 1838, his parents being Thomas C. and Cath
erine (Speir) Ring. He was educated in this
city, entering Newburgh Free Academy, where he
continued his studies until graduation. At an
early age he entered the Powell Bank, where his
father was employed, and when the latter became
Treasurer of the Newburgh Savings Bank, the
son went with him, continuing an employe ofthe
bank, and financially interested in its success, un
til a few years before his death.
The father of our subject, Thomas C. Ring,
who for more than a half-century was one of New-
burgh's most prominent citizens, was born in
Cornwall, Orange County, October 21, 1804. At
the age of thirteen he left the parental roof, and
with no other capital than willing hands and a
determined ambition started out in life. His
first position was that of clerk in the general store
of Oliver G. Burton, at West Point, where he re
mained until the death of that gentleman three
years later. He then returned home, and for
several months assisted his father in his brick
yard In 182 1 Thomas C. came to Newburgh and se
cured a clerkship in the employ of Matthias G.
Miller, a general trader. The firm was subse
quently changed to Miller & Smith, and in addi
tion to carrying on a general mercantile business,
they ran a sloop, known as the "Neptune," be
tween Newburgh and New York. In 1822 this
vessel capsized in the Highlands, and between
twenty and thirty persons were drowned. About
1825 Mr. Ring was appointed to a clerkship in
the Newburgh Bank, which he filled for two
years. In 1831 he became a clerk on the steamer
"Albany," plying between New York and Al
bany, and in 1832 he was clerk on the "New
Philadelphia, ' ' running between the same ports.
In 1833 he returned to the "Albany," where he

remained a short time. He secured the position
of Cashier of the Highland Bank of Newburgh
in the fall of the same year, and as such served
until 1838. In the following year he became
Cashier of the Powell Bank of Newburgh, and
held that responsible position until the year 1864,
when the concern went out of business. In 1858
he was appointed Treasurer of the Newburgh
Savings Bank, in which capacity he served until
his death. From 1858 to 1864 he was superin
tendent of the ferry running between Newburgh
and Fishkill.
When Mr. Ring first entered the Savings Bank
the total deposits amounted to only $28,000, but
since then they have increased to millions. While
not seeking public office, he accepted the posi
tions which his fellow-citizens urged him to fill,
believing him especially qualified for official serv
ice. From 1854 until 1864 he was Treasurer of
the village. He was one of the members of the
first Board of Education under the state law.
From 1867 to 1881 he was Secretary ofthe New
burgh Gas Light Company. Among the other
positions which he held were those of Treasurer
ofthe Cedar Hill Cemetery Association, and Pres
ident of the Newburgh & Cochecton and the
Newburgh & New Windsor Turnpike Compan
ies. In the year 1823 he participated in the re
ception to General La Fayette. In 1826 he was
a member of a uniformed company of the state
militia, under Capt. John D. Phillips, and of this
company he was the last survivor.
The first wife of Mr. Ring was Miss Mary Ann
Osborne, who died in 1833, the year after their
union. His second wife was Miss Catherine
Speir, whom he married in 1837, and who died
in 1869. By the latter union there were three
children, A. Smith, Mrs. Anna R. Muir and
Clara Belknap, all of whom are deceased.
The subject of this notice was united in mar
riage, Octobers, 1881, with Miss Frances Lud
low, daughter of the late George W. Kerr. One
child was born of the union, a son named Thomas
Ludlow. A great lover of sports, Mr. Ring was
a leader in that line in his younger years, and his
love for fishing and skating continued up to the
time of his death, though he was unable to take

JOHN DALES.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

239

an active part in them. Politically he was a
Democrat, and his party had no champion more
stanch than was he. He was a member ofthe
Ringgold Hose Company of Newburgh, and was
Treasurer of the Washington Headquarters Trus
tees, also of the Newburgh Skating Association.
In 1875 he was elected City Treasurer, which po
sition he held for two years. A man of chari
table disposition, much of his leisure time was
devoted to philanthrophic work, and he was par
ticularly interested in the Board of Associated
Charities, being one of its managers. His death
occurred at his summer home, "Wood Lake,"
July 8, 1893. ^he remains were brought to New
burgh for interment, and the funeral services
were held athis residence, No. 196 Grand Street.
He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and
one whose liberality of disposition and kindness
will long be remembered by the recipients of his
bounty. .  ^*iP 
30HN DALES, one of the oldest and most
highly respected citizens of Newburgh, is
senior member of the real-estate and insur
ance firm of John Dales &.Co., and has also been
identified with numerous enterprises calculated to
benefit this community. His business career has
been remarkably successful, but at no time has
he overstepped the boundaries of absolute integ
rity and fairness to his fellows. He was one of
the original members of the Board of Trade, is a
Director in the Quassaick National Bank, Secre
tary of the Woodlawn Cemetery Association,
and held a like position in the Newburgh & Mid
land Railway Company in former years. He is
an apt example of what may be accomplished by
a young man, provided he possesses requisite in
dustry and a determination to succeed.
At a very early day in the history of this coun
try, three brothers by the name of Dales emi
grated from Wales, one settling in South Caro
lina, another in New York, and the third go
ing further west. Our subject's great-grand
father was the one who located in Orange Coun
ty, N. Y., and here many of his descendants are
still living. His son John died on his farm in

this county, and John Dales, Sr., father of our
subject, was born at' Little Britain in 1775.
When he was twenty years of age he moved to
Delaware County, N. Y. , where he married, and
improved a farm. There he took up a tract of
one hundred and six acres of wild land, for which
he paid twelve and a-half cents per acre. This
property is now owned by our subject, who also
possesses adjoining farms, amounting in all to
three hundred and thirty-six acres. The old
lease, dated 1795, is a most remarkable relic of
old days, and according to the old agreement he
has to pay an annual rental of a shilling per acre
on the land. The senior Mr. Dales died in 1831,
and his wife, who was formerly Miss Sarah Cavin,
survived him until 1847, when she passed away,
aged sixty-six years. The parents were mem
bers of the old Scotch Seceders Presbyterian
Church, now called the United Presbyterian.
Mrs. Dales was born in Little Britain, and was a
daughter of the earliest settlers of Delaware Coun
ty. Her father died in early manhood, but her
mother, Sarah Cavin, reared the family, and lived
to be one hundred and five years of age.
In 1839 John Dales came to Newburgh and
entered the employ of Crawford, Mailler & Co.,
wholesale and retail merchants, and proprietors
of a line of boats running between this point and
New York City. At the end of a year young
Dales became connected with the retail dry-goods
house of George Cornwall, with which he con
tinued for three years. In 1843 he went to
Memphis, Tenn., and for two years was employed
in a general store, then for a similar period was
in a New York City wholesale dry-goods house.
In the spring of 1847 he located in Jordan, N. Y. ,
where he successfully engaged in business in
company with Henry Cornwall, son of his old
employer, but now an Episcopalian minister. At
the end of six months the partnership was dis
solved, Mr. Dales continuing alone for four years.
He then purchased a mill and engaged in the
manufacture of flour for fifteen years.
In 1865 Mr. Dales sold out his other in
terests in order to take up his residence in New
burgh. In company with W. O. Mailler, he en
gaged in the wholesale grocery and freighting

2 40

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

business for several years, but since 1869 has
given his principal attention to the real-estate
and insurance business. He has represented the
Home, the North American and the Phoenix
Companies here for over a quarter of a century.
In 1877 he was made ticket agent for the Erie
Railroad, and still transacts the company's busi
ness. In 1884 he took into partnership with
him his son-in-law, C. D. Robinson, and has
gradually withdrawn from arduous duties, though
he is in the office every day.
In 1845 Mr. Dales married Susan Oakley, a
native of Newburgh and daughter of Jacob Oak
ley, the latter of whom was born in this county
and was by trade a tanner. Mrs. Dales departed
this life in 1890, and their only son, William,
who was Cashier of the Millerton National Bank,
died in 1882, aged thirty-three years. Mary, the
only daughter, is the wife of Charles D. Robin
son, previously mentioned, and one of the Alder
men of this city. In April, 1843, John Dales be
came a member ofthe Old Presbyterian Church,
of which Calvary Presbyterian Church is a branch,
and in the latter congregation he has been a Rul
ing Elder, a Trustee and Treasurer for many
years. The last-named office he has honorably
filled twenty-six years, and for a long time he
was Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Since
the close of the war he has been an active Re
publican. Fraternally he is a charter member of
Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M.,is a
Royal Arch Mason, and also belongs to Hudson
River Commandery No. 35, K. T. He has trav
eled extensively in various parts of the United
States, and is a man of wide information and
liberal ideas.

+z

=>4~

SHAUNCEY BROOKS. No one contributes
more to the improvement of a city than the
man to whose artistic skill is due the erec
tion of beautiful and substantial residences.
Doubtless in this line of work Mr. Brooks has
done as much toward the improvement of Mont

gomery as has any resident of the place. He
came to this village in 1867 and, purchasing a
tract of land in connection with James Vanderoef,
platted town lots, and erected a number of resi
dences thereon. He takes contracts for the erec
tion of houses, doing the work from the ground
up and giving employment to ten or twelve men.
A practical, original architect, he has drawn
many plans for private residences and public
buildings, and has a shop in which he prepares
the finer grades of hardwood finishing.
The subject of this sketch was born in Eagle
Valley, Rockland County, N. Y., June 26, 1842,
being the son of Jonah and Emily Bethia (Conk-
lin) Brooks. His maternal grandmother, Emily
Conklin, attained to the advanced age of ninety-
four, dying in Monroe, the place of her birth.
The paternal grandparents were John and Mary
(Potter) Brooks, the former born November 10,
1755, and the latter October 12, 1759. They
were married at Perth Amboy, N. J. , and' died
and were buried at Sattletown, Orange County.
They had ten children, of whom Jonah was next
to the youngest.
Born in Sattletown May 21, 1798, Jonah Brooks
grew to manhood in the locality of his birth. He
first married Eliza Bloom, their union being
childless. At Bakertown, Orange County, he
married Miss Conklin , and they became the par
ents of seven children, namely: Mary E. , who
died at the age of seven years; Juliet, wife of
Eugene Gregory, of Rockland County, N. Y. ;
William G. , a resident of Monroe, Orange County;
Fletcher B., who married Hattie Gregory, sister
of Eugene, and died at the age of thirty-six;
Chauncey; Mahlon J., who makes his home in
Eagle Valley, Rockland County; and Frances
Emily, Mrs. George Van Dine, of Paterson, N. J.
At the age of eighteen our subject went to
Monroe, where he served a three-years appren
ticeship to the carpenter's trade under Isaac
Thompson, receiving his board and twenty -five
cents per day the first year, fifty cents per day
the second, and seventy-five the third. At the
conclusion of his apprenticeship he worked as a
journeyman and did some job. work. In 1867 he
came to Montgomery, where he has since followed

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

241

his chosen occupation. One of the finest resi
dences he has erected is that which he owns and
occupies and which is commodious, cosey and
neatly arranged.
December 3, 1868, Mr. Brooks married Miss
Martha Wait, daughter of Thomas and Mary
(Mould) Wait, who still reside in Montgomery.
Mrs. Brooks was born on a farm in the town of
Montgomery June 3, 1847, and is an estimable
woman and a faithful member of the Reformed
Church. Her elder daughter, Alida Waite, at
present a teacher in the high school at Norwich,
Chenango County, is an elocution specialist and
a graduate of the Emerson College of Oratory of
Boston, and of the Albany Normal School; she
also took a post-graduate course in the Emerson
School of Oratory. Charles Winchester and Min
nie M. are students in the high school of Mont
gomery, the former being a member of the Class
of '95-
There is no subject upon which Mr. Brooks
has taken a firmer stand than that of prohibition,
and he is a prominent member of that party. He
was a delegate to the Indianapolis and Cincinnati
conventions and an elector on the St. John Presi
dential ticket. Believing that the liquor traffic is
the greatest evil of the age, he refuses to support
any minister who does not denounce this foe to
the prosperity and happiness of mankind, and
advocates the idea that the church should not
permit in its membership any who oppose prohi
bition. Though not a public speaker, he is al
ways willing to argue this question and never has
the least hesitancy in expressing the positive con
victions that he holds. He is now (1895) serv
ing his third term as President of the Village
Board, and is President of the Board of Water
works.

E ONR AD DIEHL is an old resident of Goshen,
and for many years has been proprietor of
the International Hotel. He was born in
Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 12, 1837,
and is the son of Peter Diehl, who lived and died

in the Fatherland, where he was for many years
actively engaged in farming. His wife, formerly
Elizabeth Milbeck, was also a native of that em
pire, and was the daughter of John Milbeck.
She was a Catholic in religion, while her hus
band was a devoted member of the Lutheran
Church. Their family included two children,
the brother of our subject, John Diehl, residing
in Scotchtown, Orange County.
The subject of this sketch passed the first six
teen years of his life on his father's farm in Ger
many, and until thirteen years of age attended the
common schools, where he acquired a fair knowl
edge of the common branches. He was then
apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade, at which
he worked in his native land until 1854. That
year he determined to try his fortunes in the
New World, and accordingly engaged passage on
a sailing-vessel leaving Bremen in the month of
July. He was forty-nine days in making the
voyage, and on being landed at New York City
made his way directly to Orange County, set
tling in Hamptonburg September 20. In the
vicinity of that place he found work on a farm,
and continued there until 1858, the year in which
he came to Goshen. His first work here was in
the employ of William M. Sayer as foreman of
his lumber and coal yards. He was thus en
gaged for two years, when he was married, and
from that time until 1881 was variously employed.
That year he embarked in the hotel business,
running the Erin Hotel for two years. In 1883,
however, he purchased the land on which his
present house now stands, and under his super
vision the building was erected. It is nicely lo
cated and its accommodations are first-class. Mr.
Diehl is a jolly, good-natured gentleman and re
ceives his share of the patronage of the traveling
public. He is a great lover of horses and has in
his stables some fine animals, among them being
"Billie D.," whose record at five years was 2:35.
He also has several colts by "Beecher," and sev
eral standard-bred horses.
Our subject was married, in Goshen, to Miss
Ellen Keenan, who was born in Ireland in 1837.
Their seven children are James, who resides in
Fishkill; John, a mason of Middletown; William,

242

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a member of the fire department in New York
City; and Jennie, Allie, Conrad, Jr., and Charles,
at home with their parents.
Mr. Diehl has been Trustee of the village,
serving for two years on the Democratic ticket.
He was also Poormaster for three years, for the
same length of time was Commissioner of Water
Works, and for three years was Commissioner
of Highways. In religious matters he is a devout
Catholic, in the faith of which his children were
reared.

0ANIEL SUTHERLAND "MAPES, agent
for the Erie and West Shore Railroads, and
also for the National and Wells Fargo Ex
press Companies, is located at Montgomery,
N. Y., where he arrived in 1874. For five years
he served as clerk under J. C. Mould, who be
came agent at this place, but in February, 1879,
our subject succeeded him. While clerking he
had also been agent for the Wallkill Valley Rail
road, now the West Shore line. His long reten
tion in office clearly indicates his prompt dis
charge of all duties, and he has the entire confi
dence of his employers.
In Beaver Brook, Sullivan County, N. Y., Mr.
Mapes was born on the 22d of March, 1845, and
is a son of Robert M. and Elizabeth (Mould)
Mapes. The Mapes family was founded in Amer
ica about 1640, by three brothers, two of whom
located on Long Island, and the other in New
Hampshire. In England the family was quite
prominent, Walter Mapes, who was closely identi
fied with the throne, representing the King in
a council in France; he was an ecclesiastic of
great learning. Samuel Mapes, a descendant of
one of the brothers who settled on Long Island,
removed to Monroe, Orange County, and later lo
cated at Howell's Depot, where he owned a sec
tion of land. This was before the Revolution,
and the land was at that time entirely unculti
vated. The family was well represented in the
War for Independence, and was noted for its
valor. Nathaniel Mapes, the son of Samuel, was the

grandfather of our subject. In 18 18 he left
Howell's Depot, removing to Mt. Hope, where he
owned a good farm, and there his death occurred
in 1854, at the age of seventy- two years. After
the death of his first wife, Millie Mapes, who was
the grandmother of Daniel S. , he wedded Ann
Corwin. Robert M. Mapes married Elizabeth
Mould, who was reared three miles south of
Montgomery, and was a daughter of Philip and
Nellie (Sutherland) Mould, who belonged to one
of the oldest families of the state. In 1840 the
father located in Sullivan County, N. Y., but
after a residence there of about twenty-eight
years, returned to Orange County, settling on a
portion of the old farm belonging to his father-
in-law, three miles south of Montgomery. After
carrying on agricultural pursuits there for some
three years, he became agent for the Susquehan
na & Western Railroad, being located at Little
Ferry, N. J., where he remained for seven years.
In 1880 his wife died in Butler, N. J., after which
he came to Montgomery, where his death occur
red on the 1st of January, 1894, at the age of
eighty-two years.
At the age of twenty-six years, Daniel S.
Mapes left the home farm, which he had assisted
his father in operating, and for two years worked
at the carpenter's trade. In 1874, as before stated,
he entered his present office as clerk, arriving in
Montgomery before the completion of the roads.
He holds a peculiar and responsible position, be
ing employed by two railroad companies, but has
given the utmost satisfaction to both, and the
business of the office has so increased that he
now has two assistants.
Mr. Mapes was united in marriage on the 8th
of December, 1869, with Miss Ann E. Crans, a
daughter of Nathaniel and Catherine (Puff)
Crans. The lady was born near Montgomery,
November 7, 1844, and by her marriage became
the mother of three daughters. Mary Elizabeth,
who for six years has been employed in the office
with her father, is also an operator; Ann Villette
attends to the duties of the home; and Lina Leah
is still in school. After a short illness of only
ten days, Mrs. Mapes was called to her final rest,
on the 23d of January, 1892, and her death was

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

243

deeply mourned by many friends as well as by
her immediate family. She was an active mem
ber of the Reformed Church, to which her hus
band and eldest daughter also belong. Mr. Mapes
uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket,
but has all the business he can attend to without
desiring to take upon himself the responsibilities
of political office. Socially he is a member of
the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge in
Walden, and is held in universal esteem by the
community.
_^=^)#P  1 ¦

0R. DAVID L. KIDD is a member of the
firm of D. L- Kidd & Son, wholesale and re
tail dealers in stationery, cigars and tobacco.
They cater to the best trade, and have the finest
and largest establishment of the kind in New
burgh. The Doctor is a dentist by profession,
but was obliged to give up the work on account
of ill health, the effects of his army life.
The genealogical tree of the Kidd family indi
cates that they are of Irish descent; A branch
of the family sailed for American shores from
the North of Ireland before the War of the Rev
olution. Among them was Alexander, the great
grandfather of John, the Doctor's father, and the
great-great-grandfather of our subject. He be
came the proprietor of a large tract of land in
Montgomery Town, Orange County, during the
year 1736, a portion 0/ which passed into the
hands of Andrew, the Doctor's grandfather, and
finally to John, his father. This tract of land
was known as Kiddtown.
John was born on this farm near Walden, and
there he passed his entire life, dying at the good
old age of eighty-three years. Andrew, John's
father, was also born on the same farm, and there
his death also occurred. The farm is still in the
Kidd name, having passed to the fourth genera
tion. John Kidd, who was a Town Commissioner
for eighteen years, was a member of the Dutch
Reformed Church, and politically was a Repub
lican, and a strong supporter of the war for the
Union. He was a Director of the Walden Nation
al Bank, and Vice-President of the Walden Sav

ings Bank. His wife, Cornelia, a native of the
town of Montgomery, was a daughter of Charles
Haines, who was of Scotch descent, and who set
tled on a farm in Montgomery Town. Mrs.
Kidd, who lived to reach her seventy-fifth year,
was also a member ofthe Dutch Reformed Church.
Of the six cliildren born to John and Cornelia
Kidd, five are still living, those beside our sub
ject being Andrew, Mirza W., John E. and
Margaret J. John E. was in the same regiment
as was our subject during the war, and was
wounded at Gettysburg.
The birth of Dr. Kidd occurred near Walden,
March 20, 1843, his boyhood being passed 011 the
farm. In September, 1861, he came to New
burgh and took up the study of dentistry with
Dr. P. M. Stansbrough. When he was about
nineteen years of age he enlisted in Company I,
One Hundred and Twenty -fourth New York Reg
iment, the "Orange Blossoms," being mustered
into the Union service for three years at Goshen,
August 6, 1 862 . He participated in the battles of
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. On the
forced march to the latter engagement he met
with an accident. He was marked for a discharge
from service, but was transferred to the veteran
reserve corps, and remained on duty at Washing
ton until the close of the war, taking an active
part in the last scenes of the great rebellion. He
participated in the Grand Review, and also heard
Lincoln make his last public address. He was
sent in pursuit of Booth immediately after the
President's assassination, assisting in the capt
ure. He was acquainted with both Booth and
Spangler, and was one ofthe assassins' guards in
the penitentiary during their trial. His lecture
on "The Scenes and Incidents of the Assassina
tion of Lincoln, and the Capture and Trial of the
Assassins" has been highly spoken of by the
press. He was honorably discharged from the
service July 28, 1865, and returned home to re
sume his profession. In 1867 he opened an office
at No. 74 Water Street, and for two summers
spent one day a week at Walden, his old home.
In 1879, on account of poor health, he moved his
office to his home, and for a short time did work
for his friends and old clients at his residence.

244

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

For several winters he attended special courses in
clinics in New York City. He was able to com
pete with any one in his line, being an expert in
the transplanting of teeth and in correcting
irregularities. In the fall of 1891, his health not
improving any, he was compelled to give up
dentistry entirely, and with his son opened the
store at No. 76 Broadway. He has been a mem
ber of Ellis Post No. 52, G. A. R. (of which he
is Past Commander), for twenty-five years; also
Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M., and the
Newburgh Veteran Masonic Association. He was
initiated into the order in Washington, D. C,
while a soldier, and was demitted to Newburgh
Lodge on his return from the army. He has
attended the Grand Army national encampments
at Washington, D. C, and New York City, being
aide on the staff of Commander-in-Chief Maj.
William Warner, of Kansas City, besides attend
ing a great number of state encampments. He
has also been on the department staff of New
York State, and always takes a great interest in
all soldiers' and Grand Army gatherings. In the
Republican party he has been active, serving as a
delegate to the conventions of the county, state
and city. His first vote was cast for Lincoln
(second term), and he has never missed a vote
since. The Doctor has always been a temperance
man, and in May, 1867, was instrumental in
starting Newburgh Lodge of Good Templars,
which is still in existence. He was District Dep
uty, State Deputy, and the first County Chief
Templar of Orange County.
At Vails Gate, Orange County, in 1867, Dr.
Kidd was married to Sarah, daughter of Henry
McCormick, who was of Scotch descent and the
owner of a cooperage. Mrs. Kidd was born in
Highland Mills, and by her marriage has become
the mother of two children: Cora E. , who gradu
ated from the Newburgh Academy, and is now
the wife of Edwin H. Harrison; and John Hamp
ton, who is in business with his father, and whose
wife was formerly Carolyn Terwilliger, of New
burgh. Mrs. Kidd's brother, Dewitt, was also
in the army. The Doctor and his wife have been
members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church
for twenty-seven years. He was Class-Leader

for a number of years, and has always taken great
interest in the welfare of the church. In no or
der or society outside of his church does he feel
more in touch than with the Grand Army of the
Republic.

1^-

L-****-

_s

=c)

PJlCTOR M. DRAKE, late editor of the Go-
\/ shen Independent Republican, departed this
V life at his residence here in June, 1894, pre
vious to which event he had been retired from
newspaper work for several years. He was a na
tive of Pennsylvania, having been born in Mil-
ford, March 20, 1813, and his father, Rufus J.,
was the son of Francis Drake, of Blooming Grove.
The family are among the very earliest settlers in
Orange County, having located here in the first
part of the seventeenth century. The great-grand
father of our subject, Joseph Drake, who died in
England in 1794, is supposed to have been a
lineal descendant of Sir Francis Drake.
The grandfather, Francis Drake, had nine chil
dren by three wives, Rufus J. being the only
male child of the last marriage. His mother,
who was in maidenhood Rhoda Pierson, was the
daughter of Rachel Bull, whose mother was a
De Witt, and sister of Mary De Witt, the mother
of De Witt Clinton. The grandfather of our sub
ject was taken prisoner when Ft. Montgomery
was captured by the British in 1779, while serv
ing in Colonel Drake's regiment. Rufus J. served
for two years in the War of 1812, as a volunteer
in the Eighty-first Pennsylvania Regiment. He
departed this life in 1828, leaving a widow and
five children. His wife survived him until 1866,
when she, too, passed away.
The subject of this sketch was placed in a print
ing-office to learn the "art preservative" when a
lad of eleven years, and the knowledge gained
therein was about the only schooling he ever re
ceived. He worked for eleven years in the office
ofthe Independent Republican, in the various ca
pacities of apprentice, journeyman, editor and
proprietor. In 1846 he removed to Sussex, N. J. ,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

245

where, until 1865, he was connected with the
New fersey Herald as reporter, editor and pro
prietor, making of it one of the most influential
political journals in the state. He was active in
instituting reforms and advancing the welfare of
the public, materially, socially and morally. Aft-
ter severing his connection with the Herald, Mr.
Drake returned to Goshen, where he assumed the
editorship of the Independent Republican until
1869. He subsequently went to Honesdale, Pa.,
and assisted B. F. Haynes in starting the Inde
pendent. Our subject's son, Frank Drake, as
sumed the management of the Independent Repub
lican (which is Democratic in its politics) in 1883.
He is a young man of strong convictions, and does
not hesitate to express them frankly and freely,
and with all the vigor that he can command. His
father devoted his best energies to the work of
making a newspaper that should educate his con
stituency, and be a potent factor in the upbuild
ing of the city and county . This he accomplished ,
and the journal, which owes its strength and high
position to his genius, is read far and wide and
has helped to mould public opinion on many of
the important questions of the day.

^????????????^????????????**X>
3 AMES W. BROWN. Within the limits of
the town of Montgomery there is probably
not a gentleman who stands higher in its
social and business circles, or who has been more
upright and energetic as a farmer, than the sub
ject of this notice. A man of intelligence and
wide information, he is one with whom an hour
may be spent in a pleasant and profitable manner.
Some years ago he retired from active participation
in agricultural affairs, and now makes his home
with his daughter and son-in-law, who minister
to his comfort and surround his declining years
with affection.
In Little Britain James W. Brown was born
November 28, 1822, being the third among the
eleven children of John T. and Nancy (Lowers)
Brown. He and a sister, who lives in California,
are the only survivors of six sons and five daugh
ters comprising the family. His father, a native

of Ireland, was brought by his parents to Amer
ica in early boyhood, and settled with them in
Sullivan County, N. Y., where he was reared on
a farm. When a young man, he came to Orange
County and purchased some farming land in this
town, where he continued to reside until his
death, at the age of fourscore years. As a farmer
he was successful, his enterprises meeting with
flattering success. He was a member of the
Covenanter Church, to which his wife also be
longed. She was a native of Ireland, and at the
age of six years accompanied her parents to the
United States, remaining in Orange County un
til her death.
Such educational advantages as were common
to his day our subject received in the common
schools of the home locality. In the spring of
1852, attracted by the splendid opportunities of
the West, he went to California, the voyage
thither being made via Cape Horn. For fifteen
months he engaged in mining, but the results
not being as good as he had hoped, he transferred
his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he
followed in the Calaveras Valley for fifteen years.
At the expiration of that time he returned East,
disposing of his property in California and pur
chasing a farm in the town of Blooming Grove,
Orange County.
In April, 1859, Mr. Brown was united in mar
riage with Miss Mary Jane Burnett, who was
born in the town of New Windsor, this county, in
October, 1828, and died in April, 1892. Their only
daughter, Anna C, was married, January 22,
1891, to Jonathan N. Hawkins, who was born in
this town, September 20, 1850. He was the
fourth among six children born to Lewis and
Mary (Blake) Hawkins, the former born in the
town of Crawford in 18 15, and died in 1885. The
grandparents were born on Long Island, the grand
father serving as a private in the War of 1 8 1 2 . The
family is of English extraction. The mother of
Mr. Hawkins was born in Orange County and is
still living in Coldenham, at an advanced age.
The family of Lewis and Mary Hawkins con
sisted ofthe following children: Frances A., wife
ofS. V. Cooper, of North Dakota; Elizabeth, who
married James Twomley, and lives in Grand

246

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Forks, N. Dak.; William B., who died at the
age of forty-four; Pliny, a farmer of this county;
Jonathan N.; and Jonas, who is engaged in agri
cultural pursuits in this county. Mr. Hawkins
was reared on a farm in this county, where he re
mained until twenty-eight years of age. He then
went to Dakota and was manager for a large real-
estate man there for four years, after which he
was foreman on a stock and grain ranch of three
thousand acres, managing his own farm at the
same time. After having spent five years in
that manner, he went to Johnstown, N. Dak.,
where he took charge of an elevator, bought
stock, and was also ticket agent for the Northern
Pacific Railroad at that place. A year later he
went to Montana and bought stock for the Prouty
Live Stock Company for a short time. Return
ing to Orange County, he purchased our subject's
farm of one hundred acres, where he has since
carried on a general farming and stock business.
For about a quarter of a century Mr. Brown
has been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, of
which he is an earnest and consistent member.
While he has never been a politician in the or
dinary acceptance of that term, he is, nevertheless,
an ardent champion of Republican principles,
which he upholds now with as much firmness as
he did during the early years of the history of
the party.

ROBERT FULTON SOARE, of Walden, was
born in West Newburgh, now called New
Mills, November 8, 1839, and is a son of
William Hunt and Sarah Ann (Fulton) Soare,
the former a native of England, and the latter of
the Empire State. (See sketch of the father on
another page of this work.) The Fultons are
old residents of Orange County, and trace their
ancestry back a great many years. Thomas Ful
ton, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born
October 3, 1763, and died October 26, 1814. He
married Jemima Frost, who was born November
5, 1767, and died June 26, 1846. Their son,

Robert J., was born January 31, 1788, and died
September 3, 1834. He was the father of Sarah
Ann Fulton, the mother of our subject.
Mr. Soare, of this sketch, was reared in his na
tive county, received his education in the com
mon schools, and remained at home until reach
ing his twenty-first birthday, when he commenced
life for himself as a clerk in the hardware store
of J. C. S. Hardenbergh, of Newburgh, where he
remained for one year, and then engaged in clerk
ing for a general house-furnishing company, a
retail branch of C. Lockwood & Co. He was
afterward employed by James E. Horton, who was
in the crockery business, and remained with that
gentleman until his health failed, when he went
to England, where he spent twenty-one months,
resting and visiting old friends of the family.
Returning home, Mr. Soare clerked for the hard
ware firm of Patterson Bros., of Park Row, New
York City, for a time, after which he removed to
a farm near St. Andrew, in Ulster County, where
he joined his uncle, Thomas Fultom He worked
on his farm for one year and a-half, assisting in
its management.
While residing there, Mr. Soare became ac
quainted with Miss Wilda Louisa Relyea, of New
Hurley, whom he married on the 21st of Novem
ber, 1867. She is a daughter of Benjamin and
Mary Ellison (Griffith) Relyea. They remained
upon the farm but a short time after their mar
riage, removing to Newburgh, Where Mr. Soare
again engaged as a clerk, securing employment
with William A. Moore. Subsequently severing
that connection, he purchased a horse and cart,
and for four years engaged in the transfer busi
ness. At this time he was not in very good
financial circumstances, and on disposing of his
transfer business he purchased a small farm two
and a-half miles north of St. Andrew, continu
ing its operation for about eleven years. His
health again failing, he came to Walden, in March
1888, where he has since lived a retired life. His
home, which he purchased soon after his removal
to this place, is situated on Ulster Avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. Soare are the parents of two
children. Robert Ellison, born September 14
1868, resides on his father's farm, one and three-

JOSEPH A. SNEED.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

249

quarter miles from Walden. He married Carrie
Mary Walker, a daughter of Rev. James S.
Walker, of Walker Valley, Ulster County. Will
iam Denniston, born December 25, 1871, is liv
ing at home. Both sons received good educa
tions and are practical business men. Mr. and
Mrs. Soare, who are members of the Dutch Re
formed Church, are sincere Christian people, and
their son Ellison has been a Deacon in the church
for a number of years. Politically our subject is
a Republican, but not a politician, and has re
peatedly refused office.
£ ~~=,*~-S] *""*""? T "^Tla^ *"" o
30SEPH A. SNEED, Postmaster of New
burgh, and one of the most successful busi
ness men of the city, was born here June 7,
1839. The family of which he is a member orig
inated in England, and was first represented
in the United States by his grandfather, Joseph,
a native of Yorkshire, who, some years after his
marriage, brought his family to America and set
tled in Newburgh. Here, in addition to being
engaged in real-estate speculations, he followed
the occupation of a drover and butcher until his
death, at seventy years. Three of his sons fol
lowed the business in which he had so successful
ly engaged.
Born in Yorkshire, Edward Sneed, our subject's
father, was there apprenticed to the machinist's
trade, and the greater portion of his life was de
voted to that business. For years he was chief
engineer in a cotton factory, but later engaged in
a provision business. After a time he entered
the employ of a firm in New York, by whom he
was sent to Callao, Peru, for the purpose of put
ting up a mill there. He died in South America,
but his family were unable to secure any particu
lars in regard to his death. His wife, Laura
(Allen) Sneed, was born in Putnam County,
N. Y. , and spent her last years in Brooklyn, where
she died at the home of her daughter.
The parental family consisted of three children
who attained mature years, and of these two sur
vive, namely: Joseph A., the elder; and Charles,
of Brooklyn, N. Y. The former was educated in

the common schools of Newburgh, which he at
tended until fourteen years of age, and afterward
for seven years held a clerkship with a dry-goods
firm of this city. Immediately after the outbreak
of the Rebellion he enlisted, April 19, 1861, as a
member of Company B, Third New York Infant
ry, which was mustered into the service at Albany
for two years. He was sent South to Camp Ham
ilton, took part in the battle of Big Bethel, then
was in camp at Baltimore, Ft. McHenry and Suf
folk. At the expiration of his period of service
he was mustered out as Orderly-Sergeant, and re
turned to his home in Newburgh.
A few months later, in the fall of 1863, Mr.
Sneed again enlisted in the service of the Union,
and assisted in raising a company, which became
Company C of the Ninety-eighth New York In
fantry. He was made Second Lieutenant, in
which capacity he participated in the battles of
Chapin's Farm, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.
In the fall of 1864, owing to failing health, he
was obliged to resign his commission, and was
mustered out at Chesapeake Hospital, Fortress
Monroe. On returning home, Mr. Sneed began in busi
ness for himself, opening a meat-market, which
he carried on four years, and then sold at a profit.
For three years afterward he was engaged in the
live-stock business, and then went to Illinois,
where for one year he was located in Polo, baling
and shipping hay to New York. On coming back
to Newburgh he started in the provision business
on Water Street, first alone, but afterward taking
a partner, under the firm name of Sneed & Math
ews. Purchasing the lot and building at No. 139
Water Street, he remodeled the structure, which
is now 20x80 feet in dimensions, containing three
stories and basement, and stocked with general
produce. The business is both wholesale and re
tail, and the profits are remarkably encouraging
to the owners of the house.
For five years Mr. Sneed was in the employ of
the Armour Packing Company, of Chicago, for
whom he opened a business and built a house on
Front Street, but in January, 1892, he resigned
from their employ in order to devote his entire at
tention to his present enterprise. At the time of

250

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

receiving his commission as Postmaster of New
burgh, in January, 1892, the office was second-
class, but the business has increased to such an
extent as to warrant the change to a first-class
office. Six clerks and thirteen carriers are em
ployed, and the work is carried on in a system
atic, methodical manner, that gives the utmost
satisfaction to all concerned.
In addition to these interests, Mr. Sneed is a
Director in the Highland National Bank, and the
Newburgh Building and Loan Association, hav
ing assisted in the organization of the latter. His
first ballot was cast for President Lincoln at his
first election, and from that time to this he has
been a steadfast supporter ofthe Republican party.
For two years he was Alderman from the Third
Ward, and during the latter year, 1885, he was
President of the Board. His services in the in
terest of free schools have been important and
valuable, and for nine years he has been a mem
ber of the Board of Education. In 1886 he was
elected to the Board of Education on the free text
book issue, and in the spring of 1891 was re
elected for four years. During his incumbency
on the Board of Education he has rendered con
spicuous service to the schools, and among the
important resolutions that he introduced and fos
tered was that which provided for the waving of
the United States flag over the school buildings
every school day. He is an active member ofthe
Teachers' Committee, and was on the Build
ing Committee when School No. 6 was erected.
Socially he is identified with Hudson River
Lodge, F. & A. M., and Highland Chapter,
R. A. M., and is also actively connected with
Ellis Post, G. A. R. He contributes gener
ously to religious projects, and especially to the
support of the Union Church, of which his wife
is a member.
In Newburgh, in 1868, occurred the marriage
of Mr. Sneed and Miss Christina Blacklaw, whose
father, James, was born in Scotland, emigrated
thence to Orange County, and for many years
has been engaged in business in Newburgh. Five
children bless their union, namely: Joseph B., a
graduate of the Newburgh Academy, now book
keeper and cashier for the firm of Sneed & Math

ews; Fred M., also a graduate of the academy,
and at present a student in Columbia College,
where he is making a specialty of architecture;
Anna J., a member of the Class of '93 of the
academy; and Robert B. and Charles W., who are
students in the academy.

^ A ARCUS K. HILL. Few citizens of Orange
Y County are more deserving of representa-
(9 tion or special notice in this volume than
Mr. Hill, who, although deceased, still lives in
the memory of the people of Walden, in which
place he was for years one of the prominent mer
chants. He was born in the town of Montgom
ery, April 12, 18 1 5, and when an infant was
brought to Walden by his parents, Peter and
Margaret (Miller) Hill, who were also natives of
this state. The father, who served acceptably in
the War of 18 12, departed this life when in his
forty -first year.
Our subject attended school for some time and
when a boy began clerking in a general store in
Walden, which was at that time a very small
place. On attaining his majority he engaged in
business for himself, and continued to grow in the
confidence and esteem of its residents until his
decease. He was very successful in all his under
takings and although beginning in a very modest
way, on the savings he had laid by from his sal
ary as clerk, he was prospered, and in later years
erected a substantial brick edifice, in which he
placed a large and varied stock of goods. For for
ty years he held the office of Justice of the Peace,
was also Postmaster of Walden for many years,
and while the incumbent of the office of Super
visor gave entire satisfaction to all concerned.
Marcus K. Hill was married, September 24,
1868, to Miss Mary Knapp, who was born in this
town, on the old homestead, in 1842. Her parents
were Samuel and Elizabeth ("Miller) Knapp, the
former of whom was born in Dutchess County,
whence he came to this town when a young man,
remaining on a farm here until his decease, which

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

251

occurred when he was eighty years of age. For
a great many years he was a member of the Re
formed Church, which he served in the capacity
of Elder. Mrs. Knapp, who was likewise con
nected with this denomination, departed this life
when fifty years of age.
By his marriage with Miss Knapp Mr. Hill be
came the father of three children. William M.,
who is engaged in the livery business in Walden,
married Maggie Williams, of this place, and they
have a daughter, Lottie. Margaret is still at
home, as is also Mabel K.
The death of Mr. Hill occurred July 16, 1877.
He was a gentleman of genial manners, honor
able in all his dealings, kind to those in distress,
and was warmly in sympathy with progressive
measures. For a complete history of the ances
try of Mr. Hill, we refer the reader to the sketch
of his cousin, Augustus Hill, which will be found
on another page in this volume.

r0#&

EEORGE W. COLE was born in Hudson,
Columbia County, N. Y., August 16, 1845,
and is a descendant of worthy Holland an
cestors. His father, Jacob I., who was likewise
a native of Columbia County, was a son of John
Cole, a prosperous and thrifty farmer. In youth
he learned the shoemaker's trade, but after fol
lowing it for a short time he embarked in agri
cultural work and settled on a tract of land near
Hudson. There he died in 1863, at the age of
sixty-five, his birth having occurred in 1798.
Politically he adopted old-line Whig principles,
which he enthusiastically supported until the or
ganization of the Republican party, when he be
came a supporter of the latter.
The mother of our subject, Elizabeth Whit-
more, was born in Columbia County in 1802, be
ing the daughter of a farmer and school teacher
of that county. She was a devoted member of
the Reformed Church of America, and in that
faith she died in'1872. By her marriage ten
children were born, all but one of whom attained
years of maturity, George W. being the young
est. One brother, W. H., was a soldier in the

Union army for three years, being a member of
the Fourteenth New York Infantry. At present
there are four sons and three daughters living.
Alternating work on the farm during the sum
mer months with attendance at the common
schools in the winter, George W. Cole passed the
years of boyhood. At the age of nineteen he
began teaching school, which he followed until
the close of the war. Then, in company with
his brother W H. , he removed to Georgia, and
engaged in farming and jobbing at Madison.
After three years in the South, he returned to
New York, and from 1876 until 1880 he taught
school. During the latter year he became a
machinist in the Allen Paper Car-wheel Com
pany at Hudson, and fifteen months later, in
1881, he went to Pullman, 111., as foreman ofthe
paper department of the works, remaining there
until the financial depression of 1884, when he
returned East.
After carrying on the flour and feed business
at Catskill for one year, Mr. Cole went to New
York as a well-driller for the Pierce Artesian and
Oil Well Company, having charge of drilling
wells in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Isl
and, Connecticut and New Jersey from 1886 to
1893. In May of the latter year he was ap
pointed superintendent of the works in Goshen.
These works were first established in New York,
later were removed to Long Island City, and in
1892 were brought to this city, where the com
pany owns one hundred and twenty acres. The
building is a substantial frame structure, 50x500
feet in dimensions, and in it is manufactured
everything pertaining to the well-drilling busi
ness. There is a complete outfit of iron and
wood- working machinery, operated by steam-
power, the boiler being eighty-horse power.
Steady employment is furnished to twenty-five
men, and shipments are made to all parts of the
United States, also to Moscow, Africa, Japan,
Java, Cuba, South America, and in fact to almost
every portion of the globe. The success of this
enterprise is very largely due to the indefatigable
efforts of Mr. Cole, who was formerly a stock
holder of the corporation.
In Hudson, N. Y., in 1880, Mr. Cole and Miss

252

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Anna Lisk, who was born in that place, were
united in marriage. They are the parents of two
children, William H. and Lillian J. Mrs. Cole
is connected with the Congregational Church,
while our subject was reared in the faith of the
Reformed Church. In politics, though not a
partisan, he is a firm Republican, and invariably
votes for the candidates of his party.

*^{

m

M

3 AMES KIDD, who died March 23, 1893,
was a life-long resident of Walden. His
birth occurred August 10, 18 15, in the old
stone house near the site of the present family
residence. The old home was a landmark for
many years, and was one of the first, if not the
first, erected in Walden. It was built by his
grandfather, and stood for over one hundred
years before it was destroyed, which was done
for the purpose of opening up a street. The pres
ent dwelling was erected near the site of the old
one, which is now in the heart of the village.
Going back over a century, it is ascertained
that three brothers came from Ireland and se
cured a large tract of land around Walden, and
all reared families. The village was once called
Kiddtown, and the old schoolhouse, built where
the railroad crossed the old Walden wagon road,
southeast of the village, is remembered by Mrs.
James Kidd as the Kiddtown Academy. Henry
Kidd, father of James, was also born in the old
stone house, which he used as a hotel. He served
in the War of 18 12, and was by occupation a
farmer. The farm was later made a part of the
village, and was platted by him. He married
Elizabeth Topping, of Long Island, who is well
remembered by the older settlers as "Aunt Betsy
Kidd." The father died at the age of eighty-six,
as did also his wife. A maiden sister, Elizabeth,
spent the last years of her life with her brother,
and her death occurred at the same age. The
family of Henry and Elizabeth Kidd comprised
four children: Gloriana, who never married and
lived with her parents on the old homestead un
til her death, which occurred at about the age of
seventy; Christiana, who married William Bay

ard, of New York, and died in 1894, at the age
of eighty; James, the subject of this sketch; and
Henry, who died several years ago.
James Kidd and Susan M. Haines were mar
ried October 17, 1843. She is a daughter 01
John S. and Sarah (Miller) Haines, who lived
about two miles from Walden. The farm on
which they resided was first purchased by the
great-grandfather of Mrs. Kidd. Our subject and
his wife adopted a child, Susan Kidd, now the
wife of Sumner Bull, of Walden.
Mr. Kidd was a carpenter and contractor, and
erected many of the buildings in the village of
Walden. He sold a portion ofthe old farm, which
was platted, and is now included within the vil
lage limits. He was in quite poor health for sev
eral years prior to his death, which occurred
March 23, 1893, in his seventy-eighth year. His
death was mourned not alone by his family, but
by a large circle of friends. Politically he was a
strong Republican, and during the Rebellion did
much in raising and forwarding troops to the
field. Mrs. Kidd is a member of the Reformed
Church, and is a lady of refinement, one who is
esteemed by all who know her.

— i *"-

^m>^<i

-— 4-

pGJlLMOT A. DURLAND. Like many of
\ A / the representative and much esteemed cit-
V V izens of Orange County, Mr. Durland is a
native of this state, his birth occurring in the
house where he still makes his home, in 1831.
He was the third in order of birth in the parental
family, and in carrying out the precepts of his
parents' early teachings is filling an honorable
position in life.
Albert and Phebe Ann (Swan) Durland, the
parents of our subject, were born in Orange
County, and spent their entire married life on the
estate which our subject now owns. The father
was a prominent agriculturist, progressive and
industrious, and met with signal success in tilling
the soil. He died in 1884, at the venerable age
of fourscore years. His estimable wife followed
him to the better land two years later, dying
when eighty-three years old.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

253

Wilmot Durland had only the advantages of
the district school, but by regular attendance and
earnest application to his studies gained a good
fund of useful information. When eighteen years
of age he began teaching school, following this
vocation for several years with success. He had,
however, a preference for farming, and this voca
tion he has since followed successfully. His farm
of one hundred and seventy acres is situated on
the Florida Road, four miles south of Goshen,
and here he is engaged quite extensively in dairy
farming. On this place there is a full line of neat
and substantial farm buildings and a comfortable
and commodious residence.
Our subject is a stanch Republican in politics,
and has an abiding faith in the purity of that par
ty's teachings. Although he is at all times ready
and willing to do what he can to further the ad
vancement of his community, he has never as
pired to official honors. Mr. Durland has never
married, and his sisters, Sarah A. and Hannah
J. Durland, reside with him and share the profits
of the homestead. All are members in excellent
standing of the Presbyterian Church in Florida,
to whose support they contribute, and number as
their friends the best people in the county.

¦i-z

=+

pGJlLLIAM H. FAULKNER, M. D. Per-
\ A / haps there is no professional man who
V V comes nearer to the home circle and wins
its love and respect sooner than does the trusted
family physician. Too much can 11 ot be said of
our subject, for by his genial, cheery ways and
his generous, sympathetic heart he has won the
confidence of the entire community. The Doctor
is a native of this state, his birth occurring in
Middletown July 3, i860. His parents, James
and Rebecca (Tucker) Faulkner, both of whom
are still living, make their home in Middle-,
town, passing their declining years in the peace
ful consciousness of a well earned rest.
Until sixteen years of age William Faulkner
made his home on the farm, attending the district

schools in their season, and making himself gen
erally useful about the farm the rest of the time.
Later he attended the Middletown High School,
and at the same time read medicine under the in
struction of Dr. C. M. Conant. Upon attaining
his seventeenth year he entered the New York
Homeopathic College, located on Twenty- third
Street in New York City, and completed the
course, graduating in the Class of '81, with the
degree of M. D.
Having completed his college training, the Doc
tor at once began the practice of his profession,
locating at Liberty, Sullivan County, and re
maining there for eighteen months. Deciding to
change his location, however, he came to Walden
in October, 1882, and has here been engaged in
active practice for a period of thirteen >ears. He
gives his whole attention to his profession and is
especially interested in surgery. He has a fine
practice, which extends not only over his own
locality, but embraces the country for ten miles
around. March 15, 1883, occurred the marriage of our
subject and Miss Ida Kniffin, of Liberty, this
state. This union has been blessed by the birth
of two daughters, Nellie and Mabel. The home
is one of brightness and great hospitality, and
those who have once been welcomed to its hearth-
side never forget its courtesy and thoughtful en
tertainment. The mother is a valued member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and does all in
her power to advance the cause she loves. The
Doctor, although not a member of any church or
ganization, is always ready to aid in any good
cause, and his purse is ever open to the needy.
The Catholic priest, Rev. C. A. Meredith, found
in him the only man to extend the hand of fellow
ship to him when he first came to Walden to
open services, and some of the Doctor's warmest
friends are among the Catholics, who are op
posed, however, to his cherished Masonic tradi
tions. Dr. Faulkner is connected with a great many
social organizations, in all of which he is an in
fluential member. For four years he has been
Master of Wallkill Lodge No. 627, F. & A. M.;
is a member of Midland Chapter at Middletown;

254

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Hudson River Commandery, K. T., of New
burgh; and is identified with Mecca Temple of
the Mystic Shrine at New York City. He also
belongs to the Foresters, having been physician
of that order for nine years, and is identified with
the Sons of St. George, a benevolent order, and
the Knights of the Maccabees.
A Republican in politics, the Doctor was elected
President of the village in 1892, and was Treas
urer of the Water Board at the time the water
works were established. March 4, 1895, he
was elected a member of the Board of Excise
Commissioners, which investigates the case of the
rum-seller. He is one of the leading members of
the fire department. He has often been sent as a
delegate to conventions, and always faithfully
represents his constituents. He is medical ex
aminer for the New York Life Insurance Com
pany, the Travellers' of Hartford, and the North
western of Milwaukee, and finds his time com
pletely occupied with his various duties.

(^TAMES DILL is classed among the foremost
I of the successful farmers of Orange County.
Q) His interest is centered in the town of Hamp-
tonburgh, where he has one of the best managed
farms in this part of the state, and where for many
years he has been engaged in general agricultural
pursuits with good success. He was born on the
place where he now lives, March 16, 1825, to Jo
seph H. and Jane (Crawford) Dill. His father,
who was likewise born on this farm, May 29, 1790,
was the son of John Dill, whose birth took place
May 9, 1755. The latter's father bore the name
of Caleb, and was the son of Caleb, Sr. , who came
to America from Ireland very many years ago,
and at once took up his residence in Orange
County, in what is now the town of Hampton-
burgh. Here he purchased a large tract of land,
containing about one thousand acres, and here
engaged in farming until his decease. The prop
erty was then divided among his children, and
has been handed down from father to son ever
since, and a portion of it is now occupied by our
subject. On this estate on the banks of the Otter

Kill River, the great-grandfather erected a tan
nery, which was one of the first in this section.
His son John had five children, four sons and one
daughter. Robert, born January 14, 1786; Ann,
January 7, 1788; Joseph H., May 29, 1790; James,
August 2, 1792; and John, May 8, 1796. There
are no descendants living of the foregoing except
ing those of Joseph H. and James. The descend
ants of the latter's family are very wealthy, and
are residents of New York, having a summer
home on Staten Island.
Joseph H., the father of our subject, was a sol
dier in the War of 1812, and served with the title
of Lieutenant. His marriage, October 14, 1820,
united him with Miss Jane Crawford, and to them
were born four children, namely: David Craw
ford, born September 28, 1821; John H., whose
birth occurred May 8, 1823, and who served as a
soldier in the late war, where he was killed in
battle; James, of this sketch; and Ann B., who
was born January 13, 1828, and who became the
wife of Micah Hawkins, who is now deceased.
In addition to carrying on his large farm, the fa
ther ran a sawmill, and derived a handsome in
come from this branch of business. He was a
good financier, and during his long and busy life
accumulated a goodly sum of money. He died
November 29, 1829, while his good wife survived
him until April 14, 1877.
The subject of this sketch was reared to mature
years on the home farm, which he has continued
to make his home ever since. His education was
acquired in the schools of the vicinity, and he is
well informed regarding the topics of interest at
the present time. November 20, 1855, he was
married to Miss Lettie E. Genung, whose birth
occurred August 2, 1836. This union resulted
in the birth of four children, namely: Joseph L-,
who died July 16, 1893, aged thirty-seven years;
Anna M., the wife of William R. Green, and who
died May 27, 1894; Amelia G. and James Herbert.
When a lad of fifteen years our subject assumed
charge ofthe home place, and with the exception
of about four years has followed the vocation of a
farmer through life. The estate which he owns
contains one hundred acres, and is devoted main
ly to dairy farming, as Mr. Dill believes he can

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

255

derive the largest income from this branch of ag
riculture. His children make the sixth genera
tion which have been born on this place.
In politics Mr. Dill is a strong Democrat, and
his influence is used at all times to advance the
cause of his party. He belongs to the Presbyte
rian Church at Goodwill, Montgomery Town, as
do also the other members of the family, and he
is highly esteemed in the community where he
has passed his entire life.

1 — »  '>3^®^^e<*C^»-

-*-H-

30HN H. GRAHAM, one of the representa
tive farmers and dairymen of the town of
Montgomery, was born September 17, 1822,
in the house in which he now resides, and is the
eldest in a family of nine children born to William
and Hannah (Houston) Graham. The remain
ing members of the family are James R., a Pres
byterian minister in Winchester, Va. ; Mary, who
married Rev. J. W. Blaine, of this county, and
whose death occurred when about fifty years old;
Helen E. , residing in New York City; William,
a lawyer in Dubuque, Iowa; Frances, residing in
New York City; Gardner S., a farmer residing
near Hudson City, Wis.; and Margaret, who also
lives in New York City. The three sisters, Helen
E. , Frances and Margaret, conduct a private sem
inary for young ladies on Seventy-second Street
in the latter city. Henry B., the youngest ofthe
family, was a Lieutenant in the One Hundred and
Twenty-seventh Volunteer Infantry, and died
from sun-stroke on Morris Island while in the
service. William Graham was born in this town and
here he spent his entire life, dying at the age of
sixty -six years. He was an active Democrat, and
served his town as Assessor and Supervisor. He
was also a member of the Legislature, and was
nominated for State Senator, but refused to accept
the office on account of ill-health. In the Good
will Church he served as Elder for about thirty
years. He also participated in the War of 1812.
His father, James W. Graham, was born in the

North of Ireland, and came to the United States
when a young man. He purchased the farm that
our subject now owns in 1804. His mother, Eliza
(Hunter) Graham, was born in this town, but
was also of Irish descent. She was likewise a
member ofthe Goodwill Church.
The subject of this sketch remained at home
with his parents until the death of his father,
when he inherited a part of the old homestead,
and subsequently purchased the interest of the
other heirs. He now owns about two hundred
acres of valuable land, which is well improved.
On the 31st of December, 1856, he was united in
marriage with Isabelle Young, of this county.
She has made him a true helpmate, and, as al
ready stated, they reside in the house in which
Mr. Graham was born. In political views he is
an old-line Democrat and has always taken an
active part in local politics. He was once nom
inated as a member of the General Assembly, but
was defeated, as the district is very strongly Re
publican. He is not a member of any church, but
aids in the support of several.

r\ATRICK HANDERHAN, who was for
yr many years a well-to-do agriculturist of the
[3 town of Montgomery, departed this life July
4, 1893. He came of good old Irish stock, and was
born in County Limerick March 17, 1844. When
in his twenty-fifth year, he determined to seek his
fortune in the New World, and accordingly ar
ranged for his passage across the Atlantic. He
first located in Otisville, this county, where for
some time he was employed in working in the
mines. As he was very industrious and saving
of his earnings, in 1885 he was enabled to invest
in farming land, purchasing the property on which
his widow now resides in this town. This tract
comprises one hundred and sixteen acres of some
¦ofthe finest land in Orange County, all of which
Mr. Handerhan earned himself by hard work.
His death occurred very suddenly and was deeply
mourned by the many warm and true friends
whom he had made since locating here. In politics
he was a firm supporter of Democratic principles,

256

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but had no time to engage in public affairs, as
every moment was spent in improving and culti
vating his estate. In religion he was a devout
Catholic. The lady to whom Mr. Handerhan was married
February 26, 187 1, was Miss Johanna Ryan, also
a native of the Emerald Isle, her birth occurring
in County Tipperary. She was about twenty -two
years of age when she came to America, and in
this county met and married our subject. Mrs.
Handerhan is quite a business woman and is su
perintending the management of the home farm
in an able and profitable manner. She, too, is a
Catholic, and numbers her friends by the score in
this locality.

-I *y~ »**» »-J» *J« \*,

BENEZER VAN ALST is pursuing his call
's ing, that of a farmer, with zeal and intelli-
_ gence, winning from the soil abundant crops
of the various grains, and securing for himself and
family all of the comforts and many of the luxu
ries of life. He is one of the representative citi
zens of the town of Montgomery, and the estate
which he owns was purchased by him in 1849.
It is one hundred and fifty acres in extent, and in
point of improvement is one of the best in this lo
cality. Mr. Van Alst was born November 16, 1823, in
this town, and was the eldest in the family of Ber-
goone and Jane (Lowe) Van Alst. The ances
tors of the family originally came from Holland,
and settled on Long Island at a very early period.
The grandparents of our subject were born in
Dutchess County, to which place the great-grand
father emigrated from Long Island.
Ebenezer remained at home on the farm until
he became of age, in the mean time being well
educated in the district schools. Upon starting
out for himself he rented a farm for the first two
years, and in 1849 became the proprietor of his
present fine estate. This he devotes largely to
the dairy business, in which line he has met with
remarkable success. He was married, Novem
ber 6, 1845, to Miss Eve, daughter of John
Mould, of this town. To them were born five

children, namely: Mary Jane, who died when
thirteen years of age; George, also deceased;
Anna, the wife of Henry B. Sedam; Ella, now
Mrs. George H. Miller, of the town of Wallkill,
this county; and George, at home with his parents.
Mr. Van Alst is a Republican in politics and
takes quite an active part in public affairs, doing
whatever seems best to advance the welfare of the
community. He possesses many social qualities,
is a man of sterling habits and is well liked by the
entire community. The greater part of his prop
erty represents his own earnings, which he gained
by judicious investments. He is well-to-do, and
now in his declining years is enabled to live at
ease, surrounded by all the comforts which he
may desire. The family is connected with the
Reformed Church.

ClX.

Lrr

^

=0

gEORGE MORROW, Jr. For many years a
prominent position among the citizens of
Orange County was held by this gentleman,
formerly an influential agriculturist of the town
of Montgomery, but now deceased. He was born
August 16, 1813, on the old homestead, where he
spent his entire life, and where his death occurred
March 26, 1889. The parents of our subject were
George, Sr., andLydia (Beemer) Morrow, natives,
respectively, of Ireland and Germany. After com
ing to America they located in the town of Mont
gomery, where they resided until their decease.
The father died at the age of ninety years, while
his wife was one hundred and three years old at
her death, which occurred in 1868. They were
well-to-do in this world's goods, and trained their
son to a full knowledge of farm work, so that
when he took possession of the old home he was
thoroughly competent to manage it in a profitable
manner. The marriage of our subject with Miss Nettie
Conklin, of Ulster County, occurred December
18, 1875. She was the daughter of Cornelius
and Sarah (Smith) Conklin, the former of whom
was born in Ulster County, where he still resides

HIRAM B. ODELL.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

259

on a fine farm. He is of Scotch extraction, but
his parents were born in one of the New England
States. He became the father of thirteen children,
ten of whom are living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Morrow there was born a
son, George, a lad of sixteen years, who is now
attending Siglar's College at Newburgh. At
his demise Mr. Morrow left his widow and son
well provided for, and they make their home on
one of the best improved farms in the county.
Since the death of the husband and father the
management of the estate devolves upon Mrs.
Morrow, and under her able supervision it is kept
under the highest state of cultivation. In politics
he was a supporter of Democratic principles, and
in religious affairs was an attendant at the Dutch
Reformed Church.

NIRAM B. ODELL, now serving as Alder
man from the Third Ward, is a son of the
Hon. B. B. Odell, the present Mayor- of
Newburgh, and is a brother of B. B. , Jr. , who is a
Member of Congress. One of the most enterpris
ing young business men ofthe city, Mr. Odell is
Superintendent, Director and General Manager
of the Muchattoes Lake Ice Company. From his
boyhood he has been interested in this branch of
business, and is thoroughly acquainted with it in
every detail. In addition to his other interests,
he is the business manager of the Newburgh
Electric Light and Power Company.
H. B. Odell was born in this city August 21,
1856, and was educated in her public schools.
His father was in the ice business, and on com
pleting his studies the youth found employment
with him. The concern was incorporated in 1885,
under its present title, his father being made
President; his brother, B. B., Jr., Secretary and
Treasurer; and H. B. was appointed Superin
tendent and a Director. The company has two
icehouses, one built in 1872, and the other five
years later. One is a substantial brick building
200x136 feet in dimensions, and has a capacity
of over twenty-five thousand tons. The ice is all
cut by horse-power, and three elevators, run by

steam, are used in filling the buildings. The
company keeps eleven wagons in constant use to
deliver ice in the city, and during the summer
employs thirty-five men.
In the spring of 1893 Mr. Odell was nom
inated and elected on the Republican ticket
to serve as Alderman of the Third Ward, and
besides being Chairman of the Sewer Committee
is a member of the Committee for Auditing Ac
counts. He was a charter member of Company
E, Seventeenth Battalion, National Guard of
New York, next was a Corporal, later Second
Lieutenant, and finally First Lieutenant of the
same. After seven years he resigned his position
and is now a member of the veteran organization
of old Company E, and the Tenth Separate Com
pany. For many years he has been a member of
Ringgold Hose Company No. 1, and for two
years was its Secretary. His connection with
the company ended at the close of seven years,
but he is now an honorary member. He is much
interested in the success of the Republican party,
in which he is an active worker, is a member
of the City Club, and often attends conventions.
In 1880 he was appointed Under Sheriff of the
county by his father, who was then Sheriff, our
subject having charge of the business at Goshen,
serving from 1880 to 1882, inclusive.
In April, 1886, Mr. Odell was married, in
Kingston, N. Y., to Edith, daughter of James
Booth, proprietor of the Blue Stone Quarries.
Mr. and Mrs. Odell have a pleasant residence at
No. 83 South Street, and their only child, Mil
dred, is the joy and delight of their home. Mr.
and Mrs. Odell attend the Episcopal Church.

?**

(ni LEXANDER WRIGHT. Although he has
J I gone from among us, the memory of Mr.
I \ Wright's upright life will always be a source
of inspiration to those who are left behind. To his
children has fallen the heritage of a good name,
than which there is no more valuable inheritance.
Robert Wright, the father of Alexander, emi-

26o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

grated to this country from Ireland, making the
journey with his father about the time of the
close of the Revolutionary War. They settled
in Pennsylvania, where the elder Mr. Wright
soon died. After his death Robert returned to
his native land, where, in 1793, he married a
lady of wealth, and in 1795 they returned to
America, locating in Newburgh, N. Y. There
they continued to reside until the death of Mr.
Wright, which occurred in 1835, at the age of
sixty-six years. Mrs. Wright survived her hus
band some years, dying in 1851. They attended
the Associate Reformed Church.
In the parental family were nine children.
William, who was born in 1797, was a success
ful business man of Newburgh, and died in 1865,
at the age of sixty-eight years. . Jane, formerly a
resident of Newburgh, is also deceased. Mar
garet, Mrs. Robert W. Boyd, died in Hampton-
burgh. John was a leather manufacturer of New
York. Frances and Robert died on the home
farm. James was a prominent business man of
Indiana, and died in New Albany. Alexander
is the next in order of birth; and Susan resides
in Orange County.
The birth of Alexander Wright occurred June
6, 18 13, and during his boyhood he received a
practical business education in the common schools
and in the private school conducted by James R.
Wilson at Coldenham. At the age of eighteen
he became a clerk in the general store of Judge
Robert Deninston, at Salisbury Mills, in the town
of Blooming Grove, where he remained for three
years. There he earned a reputation for integrity,
and upon the recommendation of the Judge ob
tained a situation as clerk in the Highland Bank,
located at Newburgh. He entered the bank im
mediately after its organization in 1834, and re
mained with it until 1839, when he went to Mid
dletown and organized the Middletown Bank,
now the National Bank of Middletown, of which
he was chosen Cashier. He continued in this
capacity until 1844, and two years later organ
ized the Chester Bank at Chester, of which he re
mained Cashier until 18^50. The following year
he organized the Goshen National Bank, of
which he was elected President, with William

L. Beakes as 'Cashier. He continued with this
bank until 1857, when he sold his interest and
retired from the more active duties of a business
life. Mr. Wright was always deeply interested in all
movements for advancing the educational inter
ests of his town, and was one of the prime movers
in founding Wallkill Academy. He secured the
subscriptions for the erection of the brick build
ing which is now standing, and collected and
disbursed the money. Upon coming to Goshen
he was elected a member of the Board of Trustees
of Farmers' Hall Academy, and officially and
otherwise labored earnestly for the continuation
of that institution of learning, keeping in view
under all discouragements the fact of the benefits
to be gained thereby.
«Our subject was always a promoter of church
interests, and of all projects for enhancing the
value and increasing the prosperity of the places
in which he made his home. He was a success
ful financier, was careful and upright, and was
one of the most progressive men of this city. His
death occurred May 29, 1891, and in this event
the community suffered an irreparable loss.
The marriage of Mr. Wright occurred in Mid
dletown, January 10, 1844, and united him with
Miss Mary Beakes, who is a native of Middle-
town. Her father, Henry S. Beakes, was also
born in that city, and her grandfather, Stacy
Beakes, was one of the very early settlers of
Middletown. He was of English ancestry, and
married Mary Smith. The father of Mrs. Wright
was a merchant, and after retiring remained in
Middletown, where he died at the age of sixty-
seven years. An extended sketch of the Beakes
family is given elsewhere in this work.
Mrs. Wright's mother was known before her
marriage as Laura Gardner Genung. She was
also born in Middletown, and was a daughter of
Ichabod Genung, whose birth occurred near
Madison, N. J. He married Mary Pierson, of
Morristown, N. J., and was for a time engaged
in blacksmithing at that place. Later he re
turned to Middletown, where he spent the re
mainder of his life. He was of French descent,
and his wife's ancestors were English and Scotch.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

261

Mrs. Wright is the second in a family of four
children. William L-, the eldest son, is deceased,
Cynthia is now the widow of C. C. McQuoid,
formerly an influential attorney. Jane is the
widow of Dr. Winfield; and Mrs. Wright com
pletes the number. The mother of this family
died in Middletown, where her family was reared
and educated. Mrs. Wright received her ad
vanced education in Wallkill Academy, and is a
well informed and entertaining conversationalist.
She is the mother of four children, of whom we
make the following mention: Mary B. W., Mrs.
Sayer, resides at home, and her son Robert W.
is engaged in business in New York City; Rob
ert, the second child, died at the early age of nine
years; Frank Alexander is at home, as is also
Jauie Laura, who is now Mrs. Hulse. She has
one son, Stacy Beakes Hulse. In politics Mr.
Wright was a stanch Democrat, and was active
in the interests of his party. He was also a mem
ber of the Presbyterian Church.

1^+^

¦"""=-

0ANIEL C. CHANDLER is a prominent and
representative farmer of Orange County,
now occupying the estate which has been in
the family for one hundred and forty-five years,
and on which he was born October 24, 1824. His
father, David Chandler, whose birth occurred
October 21, 1795, and his grandfather, Enos
Chandler, whose birth occurred about 1760, were
both born .on the same farm. The latter's father,
Nathaniel, the great-grandfather of our subject,
was a native of New Jersey and of English de
scent, and moved to New Windsor between the
years 1750 and 1760, locating on the estate which
our subject now occupies, and which included
about one hundred and fifty acres. On this farm
he passed away, as did also his son Enos and
the father of our subject. Our subject's mother
was in her maidenhood Elizabeth Clemmence,
and was the daughter of Daniel and Anna Clem
mence. Her family included two children, the
sister of Daniel C. being Elvira S., who married
Samuel Smith, and died November 14, 1886.
The subject of this sketch was married, June 3,

1857, to Miss Mary Jane Roberts, whose birth
occurred in this county, September 3, 1825. She
was the daughter of James and Elsie Roberts,
and became the mother of three children, namely:
James R., who died July 10, 1880; David H., a
practicing physician of Monroe County, N. Y. ;
and Oren H., who remains on the home farm
with his father. The estate comprises in all one
hundred and fifty acres, but of this tract only one
hundred acres form a part of the original Chand
ler farm. Here our subject has passed his entire
life engaged in farm pursuits, making a specialty,
however, of dairy farming, which he finds is a
very profitable branch.
In religious affairs our subject is a member of
the Presbyterian Church, in which he holds the
office of Elder. In politics he is independent,
reserving his right to vote for the man who in
his judgment will best perform the duties of the
office, regardless of party lines. His family is
highly connected in the neighborhood, and he is
most affectionately regarded in the community.

f?i ALBERT KNAPP comes from one of the
I ( old and most respected families of the Em-
U pire State, some of his ancestors having par
ticipated in the Colonial Wars, and having in
other ways been identified with the early settle
ment of America. He has long been engaged in
the management of a valuable farm in the town
of Goshen, and has made a success of his busi
ness undertakings. Of late years he has been
engaged in dairy farming, which he finds very
profitable. He has given especial attention to
stock-raising, and has made entries and carried
away premiums at most of the prominent fairs in
the state.
Virgil Knapp, father of our subject, was born
in New York State, and died in Orange County,
where he had resided for many years. In early
manhood he was clerk in a general mercantile
store, but subsequently took up farming, to which
he gave the remainder of his life, his death occur
ring about 1887. His wife, who preceded him
in death, was in maidenhood Miss Emily Gale,

262

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and was born in this county . Her father, James,
was also born here, and was a son of James, Sr. ,
a pioneer of this locality , who was killed by the
Indians in the battle of the Minisink, and whose
descendants are numerous throughout this sec
tion. The parental family comprised two children,
the other besides our subject being Dollie, wife of
Walter Mapes, ofthe village of Florida. C. Albert
Knapp was born in Goshen, December 27, 1847,
and in boyhood attended the district schools. Un
der the wise direction of his father, with whom he
remained until the death of the latter, he learned
habits of industry and perseverance that have
proved most useful to him since starting out for
himself. In November, 1873, Mr. Knapp was united in
marriage with Mary Clark, daughter of William
and Elizabeth Clark, natives of this state. She
died less than four years after her marriage,
leaving two children, Jesse and Lewis, who are
with their father. In 1879 Mr. Knapp married
Mrs. Emma Houston, daughter of Harry and
Mary Lindeman. They are the parents of a
daughter, Mabel. Mr. Knapp is a Democrat
politically, and with his wife belongs to the Pres
byterian Church of Goshen.

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C|OHN VALENTINE, a prominent citizen and
I farmer of Orange County, was born upon the
(2/ farm in the town of Goshen on which he is
now living. He gives his principal attention to
dairying, in which branch of agriculture he has
been very successful. His buildings are of mod
ern construction, and his beautiful fields, which
comprise some ninety-four acres, class the place
among the most inviting to be found in this region
of thrifty farms.
Our subject is one of nine children born to
Stephen and Elizabeth (Knapp) Valentine, the
former of whom was also a native of this town,
and was identified with her best enterprises dur
ing his lifetime. He was a man who was loved

and esteemed by all who knew him, and his death,
which occurred August 3, 1859, when seventy-
two years old, was felt to be a public loss. His
wife was also a native of this town, and after sur
viving him a number of years was placed to rest,
December 21, 1872. She was a daughter of John
Knapp, who, with her husband's father, Ananias
Valentine, was numbered among the landmarks
of this region and was a leader in agricultural af
fairs. John Valentine was born February 9,
1820, and received only the advantages ofa com
mon-school education, but he was studious and
made rapid progress in the acquisition of knowl
edge. He was brought up to farm life and while
yet a lad became thoroughly acquainted with
every detail of the work.
When in his twenty-sixth year Mr. Valentine
began to make his own way in the world, though
prior to that time he had charge of his father's
business for several years, but had not been en
tirely independent. He has given his attention
solely to agriculture, and, notwithstanding the
fact that he is now seventy-five years of age, is
very active, still superintending the management
of his farm.
January 30, 1845, John Valentine married
Eliza Bailey Wood, daughter of Alfred and Ros-
etta (Dunning) Wood, likewise natives of this
county. Our subject and wife have only one
child, Clara Evelyn, who is the wife of Henry
Sinsabaugh, a well known business man of
Goshen. They have always lived at the home of
Mr. Valentine, and have a bright family of seven
children, namely: John, Mary E., Kittie E.,
Clara E., Henry, Margery and Kenneth. Jan
uary 30, 1895, Mr. Valentine and his estimable
wife celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their
marriage, and on that pleasant occasion were sur
rounded by hosts of friends and well-wishers.
They are passing their declining years at their
lovely home, where they are surrounded by all
the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
For fifty-five years Mr. Valentine has been a
member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife
for a still longer period. In 1840 he united with
the Denton Church on confession, and served as
Elder of that congregation from 1850 to 1857.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

263

During the latter year he transferred his member
ship to the Goshen Church, in which he has of
ficiated as Elder since December 21, 1858, and
Clerk and Treasurer of the Session since Novem
ber 7, 1869. He was elected Commissioner to
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
which met in Madison, Wis., in May, 1880. For
twenty-six years he has been Clerk of the Pres
bytery sessions, in which capacity he has served
with credit to himself. Though not actively
identified with public affairs, he is in sympathy
with Republican principles, and for several years
has held the clerkship of the school district. In
temperance work he is deeply interested, and
gives his support to all worthy and progressive
projects.

-*=¦*.

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QAMUEL H. THOMPSON is a highly re-
?\ spected agriculturist ofthe town of Goshen,
\yj and, with the exception of five years spent in
California, has resided on the old homestead all
his life. Here his birth occurred November 22,
1822, he being the fifth in order of birth of the
seven children born to Henry W. and Frances
(Robertson) Thompson. The father was like
wise born on the old farm in this town, and here
he passed his entire life, engaged in its cultiva
tion. He served as a soldier in the War of 18 12,
and was widely and favorably known through
out the community as an upright and honor
able man. His demise occurred in 1873. James
Thompson, our subject's grandfather, with four
of his brothers, took part in the Revolutionary
War, on the side of the Colonists. During the
storming of Ft. Montgomery, he was held a
prisoner on the ship ' ' Jersey ' ' and was nearly
starved to death.
Our subject's mother, who was born in New
Jersey, was a descendant of an historic family.
Her father, Dominick Robertson, was private
secretary to President Washington, and was a
man prominent in his day. Mrs. Thompson
died in 1874.
Our subject first attended the district school
near his home, and after completing the few

studies taught there became a student in the
schools of Chester. In 1849, by way of Cape
Horn, he went with the stream of emigrants to
California, seeking his fortune in the Golden State,
and after remaining there three years, during
which time he was principally engaged in min
ing, he returned home and visited for six months.
At the expiration of this time he again went to
California, this time going by way of Nicaragua,
and followed his previous business for two years
longer. At the end of this time he was ready
and willing to return to his home in Orange
County, where he has lived ever since. He at
once began farming on the old homestead, sixty-
five acres of which he owns. On this he has
erected modern buildings and made such other
improvements as he has deemed necessary, and
has the satisfaction of knowing that his farm
ranks among the most productive in the town.
Mr. Thompson's eldest sister, Frances Emily,
makes her home with him, and, although over
fourscore years of age, enjoys the best of health.
Our subject has never married. He is a member
of the Presbyterian Church of Florida, to the
support of which he gives regularly and liberal
ly. In using his right of franchise he has always
supported Republican nominees, and is interested
in the success of his party. He is upright and
conscientious in every position in life, and is a
man of much public spirit, honored and es
teemed by all who have the pleasure of know
ing him.

*>=3%^>*

RENWICK GILLESPIE. Among the old
settlers of Orange County, may be men
tioned the subject of this sketch, who has
for many years been identified with the progress
and growth of its agricultural and financial inter
ests. He is a native of the town of Montgomery,
where he was born January 1 , 1825. His prop
erty is a portion of the Gatehouse Patent, and is
also a part of what is known as the Wallkill Ex
tent, which consisted of ten thousand acres, and
reached one mile back along the stream. This

264

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

grant was made many, many years ago, in fact
before the Revolutionary War, and Gatehouse,
who lived in England, secured its settlement
through the agency of other parties.
The Gillespie family are able to trace their an
cestry back for a great many years. They were
-among the old Scotch families, strict Covenanters,
who left Scotland on account of persecutions in
their native land, and came to America, hoping
to start a church here where they could worship
peacefully. Our subject's great-grandfather was
David Gillespie, and his son Samuel and two
other families, the Hills and McBurneys, can trace
their ancestry back to the days of Wallace and
Bruce. These three families located near Pine
Bush, in Orange County, where Samuel married.
Samuel Gillespie, our subject's grandfather,
was a Captain in the Revolutionary War, and
was located at West Point. Just before the capt
ure of that fort he went to his home to get re-in-
forcements, mustering his negroes into the serv
ice. With this company he started to return to
West Point, but while at Newburgh, fifteen miles
away, he heard that the fort had fallen. His en
tire time of sendee was passed in Orange County.
He had several brothers who also served in the
war, one of whom, Stausberry, lived at Hopewell
Church, and there his death occurred in June,
1894, at the age of seventy-seven years. His
wife, son and daughter still reside there. An
other brother, Robert, was Supervisor of the town
of Crawford. Samuel married Esther Rainey,
and they were the parents of six children, one of
whom, Abram, was our subject's father. Grand
father Gillespie passed away at the age of seven
ty -five years.
The father of our subject, Abram Gillespie, had
a family of five children, three sons and two
daughters. One of the brothers, Stansberry, was
a resident of the town of Crawford. Jonathan
was a minister in the Associate Reformed Church,
and preached at Campbell Hall, in which place
his death occurred at the age of twenty -six. His
widow, who in maidenhood was Anna Beveredge,
is now the wife of John Hanford, a retired mer
chant of Middletown. Mary Jane is now Mrs.
William Swinton, of Franklinville, Cattaraugus

County. Her first husband was Daniel McVean,
a minister of the Associate Reformed Church.
Sarah Ellen married Duncan Cameron, of Cale
donia, N. Y., and died in that city at about the
age of seventy-three years.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Mary Crawford. She was a native of Orange
County, her birth having occurred in Hopewell.
At the time of her marriage she settled with her
husband about three miles above Montgomery,
in what is now the town of Hamptonburgh,
where the latter owned a farm. His death oc
curred at Crawford, this county, April 3, 1864, at
the age of seventy-six years. He was an Elder
of the original church for twenty years, but final
ly united with the Associate Reformed Church.
Our subject's mother dying when he was only fif
teen years old, his father was a second time mar
ried, this ceremony uniting him with Crissie
Crans, of New Vernon, this county. Her death
occurred after her husband's decease.
When a boy , Ren wick Gillespie removed to the
town of Crawford, where he continued to reside
until his marriage, which important event oc
curred February 20, 1851. His wife's maiden
name was Caroline Augusta Smith, and her
grandfather, David Smith, was the very first set
tler on the Gatehouse Patent. His son William,
who was Mrs. Gillespie's father, succeeded to the
estate. She had one sister, Elizabeth, who mar
ried Egbert Millspaugh; they had a daughter,
who is now the wife of George Weller, of Walden.
From the time of his marriage until the date of
his father-in-law's death, which occurred Feb
ruary 14, 1858, Renwick Gillespie was engaged
in business with him. He died at the age of sev
enty years, and his two daughters came into pos
session of the property, which consisted ofa farm
of one hundred and forty acres, and which was
equally divided between them. A part of the
farm on which Mr. Gillespie resides was owned
by the Walden Company , whicli was composed of
very prominent New York capitalists, and which
purchased the water privilege for two miles along
the Wallkill River. About 1859 Mr. Gillespie
purchased about seventy-three acres ofthe above-
mentioned land, paying $70 per acre for it. Ten

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

265

years later he erected his present comfortable and
commodious residence, which is beautifully lo
cated on the hill, and which overlooks the entire
city. Here he now makes his home and enjoys
the rest and quiet which he has so justly earned.
He is the father of four children. Mary Eliza
beth, who is a graduate of the collegiate institute
of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., is the wife of James M.
Walker, a merchant of Walden. William H.
has the management of the farm. George is a
druggist of Rochester, N. Y. Anna D. died in
childhood; and Cornelia Felter resides at home.
The latter is a graduate of the academy at Mont
gomery and of the New Paltz Normal School.

H WISNER WOOD. Orange County is one
of the most fertile and productive counties
in the state, and its farmers are enterpris
ing, self-reliant and progressive. Among these
Mr. Wood occupies an important place. The
farm which he owns, and upon which he engages
in general agricultural pursuits, is one of the larg
est in the town of Chester, consisting of over four
hundred acres of land. Here he has erected a
number of substantial buildings, which greatly
enhance the attractiveness of the place.
In the town of Minisink, this county, Mr.
Wood was born February 11, 1826. He is the
youngest child of John D. and Phoebe (Board)
Wood, natives of this state and life-long residents
here. The father, who in early life worked as a
clerk in a mercantile store, later engaged in farm
ing. During the War of 18 12 he served as Cap
tain of a company, and he was well known
throughout this community as an athlete. He
died in 1834. His wife, who survived him for
many years, was eighty-six at the time of her
death. Between the ages of twelve and eighteen H.
Wisner Wood attended school during the winter
months. As soon as old enough, he began to
help on the home farm, and the training he re
ceived in boyhood has been of great help to him
since. At the age of eighteen he went to New
York City, where he first held a position as clerk,

but afterward became agent for Orange County
farmers, disposing of tlieir products and collect
ing moneys for the same. Five years were spent
in New York, after which he returned to Orange
County and resumed work at the occupation to
which he had been reared. He is extensively
engaged in dairy farming, and also has some fine
horses on his place. He is one of the most in
dustrious farmers of the town, and his home is
provided with all the comforts of a city residence.
The marriage of Mr. Wood to Miss Sarah L-
Durland took place February 26, 1852. Mrs.
Wood was a daughter of Samuel and Amelia
(Vernon) Durland, natives respectively of Orange
County and Long Island. She died February 6,
1883, when fifty years of age. Her elder daugh
ter, Emma, is the wife of John T. Thompson, a
prominent hardware merchant of Chester, N. Y. ;
the younger daughter, Miss Laura, resides with
her father; and the son, Henry W., Jr., was
married, February 26, 1895, to Miss Helen Lott,
of Canada. On the 1st of April, 1895, Mr. Wood
retired from the active management of his farm,
though he still continues to make his home here,
while his son has supervision of the place.
Mr. Wood is a member of the Methodist Epis
copal Church of Chester. In politics he is a Re
publican and casts his ballot for the candidates
of this party. He has never aspired to official
honors, having his time occupied in looking after
his extensive interests. Throughout the county
he is well and favorably known, and is accounted
a man of liberal spirit, ever ready to assist in all
matters pertaining to the welfare of the people.

EHANCY HULSE, who died May 20, 1895,
was, at the time of his death, the oldest jew
eler and business man of Goshen, and was
the proprietor of a fine establishment, now carried
on by his son, L- W. Thoroughly reliable in his
dealings, he won the esteem and regard of all
with whom he had business relations, while in
society his standing was equally high. In addi-

266

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tion to the jewelry business, he was interested iii
the Hulse Wagon Company, which was estab
lished in the fall of 1884, and of which he was the
senior member and largest stockholder. The
company carry a full line of wagons, carts, car
riages, etc.', all of the latest pattern and best
makes, and their trade is large and remunera
tive. Blooming Grove, this county, was our subject's
native home, and he was born in May, 1827. He
was the son of Meads T. and Dollie (Stewart)
Hulse, the former a native of the town of War
wick, and a well-to-do farmer, who departed this
life in Blooming Grove at the age of ninety years.
The wife and mother, also a native of this county,
was a descendant of Scotch ancestors, and died
many years ago. Our subject was reared on his
father's farm, and after securing a fair education
began to clerk in a store. At the age of seven
teen he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a
watch-case manufacturer, at which he served four
years and a-half, then secured a position in New
York City, where he remained for ten years. He
then settled in Washingtonville, Orange County,
where he resided until 1866. The following year
we find him in Goshen, where he purchased a
jewelry business on Main Street, and from that
time forward success crowned his efforts. During
the last fifteen years of his life the business was
conducted under the firm name of C. Hulse & Son.
In 1884, together with his son, L. W., Mr.
Hulse began dealing in wagons and carriages,
under the style of the Hulse Wagon Company.
The large repository is situated on West Main
and High Streets, and contains road vehicles of
almost every imaginable style. Politically Mr.
Hulse was a stanch Republican, and for several
terms he served as Trustee of the Village Board.
He was enterprising and public-spirited, and it
was due to his influence and progressive spirit, in
a great measure, that this place attained its pres
ent prosperity.
The first wife of Mr. Hulse was Susan Jane,
daughter of George and Susan (Cooley) McKin-
ney, natives of Orange County, and now deceased.
To them were born two children. The son, Lew
is W., who is his father's successor in business,

married Janie L. , daughter of Alexander Wright,
one of the old and well known citizens of Go
shen, and they have one son, Stacy B. The
daughter is Susie, wife of S. D. Evans, of Salt
Lake City, Utah. The mother of these children
died in 1865, and for his second wife Mr. Hulse
. married Frances C. , daughter of Hudson Webb,
of Hamptonburgh.
*£> ¦ ""-S^T1 "> 1=1 '5 "©
HS. CHARD AVOYNE is the proprietor of a
fine livery and boarding stable located on the
corner of Grand Street and Murray Avenue,
Goshen. His buildings cover an area of 150x200
feet, and are both commodious and convenient.
He keeps about twenty -five horses for driving
purposes, and has accommodations for about
thirty-five. He is very popular and has estab
lished a lucrative trade, which is constantly in
creasing. Our subject is a native of Warwick, and his
birth occurred July 15, 1867. He is a son of
W. D. Chardavoyne, who was a native of New
Jersey, and whose father, Henry, was a farmer of
that state, where his death occurred. The fam
ily was of French descent, emigrating to this
country and settling in New Jersey. Our sub
ject's father was a farmer, and also engaged in
distilling liquors near Warwick. He died at the
age of forty -six years.
The mother of our subject, who still survives,
was known before her marriage as Caroline A.
Wood. She was born near Warwick and is the
daughter of Joel Wood, who was an agriculturist,
and Who lived to attain the advanced age of ninety
years. She comes of an old and prominent fam
ily of this county, and now makes her home on
the old farm. She is the mother of three sons.
Fulton W. is a merchant, having a grocery es
tablishment in Eatonville. Frank is the propri
etor of a hotel in Westtown; and the third is our
subject. Until attaining his sixteenth year the
latter remained at home and improved his time
by attending the public school. At the expira
tion of this time, however, he went to Paterson,
N. J., where he obtained employment in a gro-

^HjjSp* y

LEANDER CLARK, JR.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

269

eery establishment. After one year spent in this
way he returned to his home and engaged in
farming for two years.
February 10, 1886, Miss F. E. Post became the
wife of Mr. Chardavoyne. She is the daughter
of D. C. Post, an agriculturist near Pine Island.
After his marriage our subject continued farming
for one year and then located in Paterson and ac
cepted a position as clerk in a shirt factory, re
maining there one year. Later he went to Eaton-
ville, where he clerked in a store for two years,
and then bought a store iii Pine Island, operating
the same for three years. In the spring of 1893
he sold his store, and, coming to Goshen, bought
out Church's livery business, continuing at the
old location. He is finely situated for this line of
business and is centrally located. He keeps a
great variety of vehicles, and the public, appre
ciating his ability, gives him a liberal patronage.
Wherever Mr. Chardavoyne has made his home
he has been a popular and enterprising citizen.
He has always been interested in the progress of
education, and while residing in Pine Island
served as School Director. He belongs to the
Knights of Pythias, and is identified with the
lodge in Goshen. Politically he is a member of
the Democratic party and is active in supporting
its candidates. Mrs. Chardavoyne is an honored
member of the Presbyterian Church, to which our
subject contributes of his means.

j EANDER CLARK, Jr. , comes from a prom-
ML inent old New England family, which was
LJ descended from one of the Pilgrim Fathers.
The records of the family are found in the history
of Connecticut and Massachusetts, whose war
records show that they were loyal to their adopted
country. Lieut. William Clark, who was born
in England in 1609, emigrated to New England
March 30, 1630, in the ship "Mary and John."
He had nine children, one of whom was Deacon
John Clark, who had twelve children. One of
the latter, Deacon John Clark, Jr., who was born

December 28, 1679, had eleven children, and one
of his children, Eliakin Clark, also had eleven
children, Asahel Clark being one of the number.
He was born February 17, 1737, was married
to Submit Clapp, daughter of Maj. Jonathan
Clapp, and died February 17, 1822. Asahel had
twelve children, one of whom, Eleazer Clark, had
nine children. One of the latter, Lucas Clark,
born October 22, 1788, married Phila Avery,
November 16, 1809. She was a daughter of Ab-
ner Avery, a soldier of the Revolution.
Lucas Clark and his wife, Phila, had seven
children, one of whom was EdsonH. Clark. The
latter, who was born January 2, 181 3, at East
hampton, Mass., and died at his home in New
burgh, April 9, 1885, was the father of our sub
ject. He came to Newburgh when a mere lad,
and spent a portion of his youth in Blooming-
burg. About 1828 he came to this city and be
came an apprentice to Thornton M. Niven, who
was engaged in the marble trade. Although his
health was somewhat impaired, he took a posi
tion with the dry-goods firm of Oakley & Davis,
of Newburgh, and represented them at New Mil-
ford, N. Y. In 1840 he again came to Newburgh,
superintending the building of the Newburgh
Cotton Mill, and in 1843 the firm of Stanton,
Clark & Co. was formed and a foundry and ma
chine-shop started at the foot of South Street,
the establishment being known as the Highland
Furnace. In 1851 this business connection was
dissolved, and, in partnership with Samuel G.
Kimball and James Robinson, Mr. Clark built
the iron works on Washington Street, which for
many years were known as Clark & Kimball's
Iron and Brass Foundry. Mr. Robinson died be
fore the works were completed.
In 1854 Mr. Clark was elected a member of
the Board of Village Trustees, was again thus
honored in 1865, and the following year repre
sented the Third Ward as a member of the first
Common Council. He had the welfare of the
city at heart, and his opinions and advice always
had weight with his associates. In 1875 he re
tired from business, having sold out his interest
to his partner, Mr. Kimball, and spent the re
mainder of his life in the quietude of his home

270

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and the society of life-long friends. He was a
life member of the United States Pomological So
ciety, and also belonged to the Newburgh Bay
Horticultural Society, which was subsequently
merged into the Orange County Agricultural So
ciety. Much of his time was spent in the study
of his favorite science upon his city lot, which
was fifty by one hundred feet in size. Upon the
premises more than sixty varieties of grapes,
ninety varieties of pears, and two hundred varie
ties of apples were in bearing. A single apple
tree produced these two hundred varieties, and
all this was the result of his applied scientific
knowledge. Our subject's mother was known in maidenhood
as Ruth Ann Clark, though she was not a rela
tive. Her birth occurred January 14, 1814, and
she died April 19, 1871. Of the parental family
we make the following mention: Ruth Ann died
at the age of forty-six years; Edson died in his
ninth year; and Jane Louise, who was the wife
of John W. Shaver, deceased, died in her thirty-
second year. George Stanly Clark, who was a
member of a Pennsylvania regiment, was taken
sick and died while at home in 1864. The sur
viving members ofthe family are: Mrs. Elizabeth
Upright; Mrs. Albert Coutant, of New York City;
and our subject.
Leander Clark, Jr., though of New England
ancestry, was not born at the homestead of his
father in Easthampton, Mass., but at Beatties-
burg, Sullivan County, N. Y., April 10, 1837.
He was a resident of that burgh but a short time,
however, for his parents moved to Orange Coun
ty when he was six months old. Newburgh has
been his home for the greater part of his life, and
in private and public schools he received his early
education, graduating in 1853 from the Newburgh
Academy. At his father's foundry he became a
master mechanic, but close application to his trade
was making serious inroads on his health, and
what he thought would be his vocation for life
was abandoned for a position as corresponding
secretary and bookkeeper for Dr. C. W. Grant,
an eminent horticulturist at Iona Island, in the
Hudson River, remaining there until the break
ing out of the Civil War.

In March, 1862, Mr. Clark received an ap_-
pointmeut as paymaster's steward on board the
United States gunboat ' 'Somerset, ' ' Earl English
commander. On the nth of April the "Somer
set" was ordered to sea, with instructions to re
port to Rear- Admiral Bailey, commanding the
East Gulf Squadron flagship at Key West. The
"Somerset" cruised for nearly a year in the Gulf
of Mexico, and during that time captured one of
the largest blockade-runners used during the
war, the steamer "Circassian." In the spring
of 1863 Mr. Clark was promoted to paymaster's
clerk, which position he held when honorably
discharged from the service in August, 1864.
After leaving the navy he was in the employ of
his father for two years, as foreman of the iroii
and brass foundry. In the fall of 1866 the ap
pointment of Superintendent of the Newburgh
Water Works was accepted, and he retained this
position until the spring of 1869, when he ten
dered his resignation in order to engage in the
manufacture of brick. His plant was located at
Clark's Dock, a station on the West Shore Rail
road, and here, by means of modern machinery,
he manufactured from four to five million brick
per annum. For seventeen years he was thus en
gaged, but during all of this time he did not lose
his great interest in agriculture and horticulture,
and he was a member of the Newburgh Bay Hor
ticultural Society until it became a part of the
Orange County Agricultural Society. For eleven
years he has been the genial and efficient General
Superintendent of that society, as well as one of
its Directors. Much time and energy has he de
voted to the upbuilding of this institution, and
great praise is due him for the success it has at
tained during his management. He is an author
ity on horticultural and pomological affairs, as
was his father before him. He was fortunate in
having for his instructor the late Charles Down
ing, who was a co-worker with the senior Mr.
Clark. In 1888 Mr. Clark practically retired from act
ive business, leaving his county residence at Bay
View, town of Newburgh, and taking up his res
idence in the city of Newburgh, where he occu
pies the most of his time looking after his real-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

271

estate interests. A portion of his time, however,
is spent at the Quassaick National Bank, of which
he is a Director.
In Middle Hope, in 1865, Mr. Clark was mar
ried to Juliett Weed, who was born in that village,
and whose father, Daniel T. Weed, was a brick
manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three
children: Edson L. , who is engaged in the plumb
ing business; George Avery, who is learning his
trade with his brother; and Florence Bird, the
widow of C. R. Stevenson. Mr. Clark is a mem
ber of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, and
in his political belief is a Republican.

ft) G)ILLIAM J. BAILIE is proprietor of the
1 A/ Commercial Hotel at Goshen, formerly the
Y V Diamond House. A long experience in the
business of hotel-keeping, added to a cordial and
accommodating manner, has particularly fitted
Mr. Bailie for the vocation he follows. He is a
native of the old town of Newburgh, and was
born June 19, 1852. His father, James Bailie,
was a native of Ireland, born in County Down.
The grandfather, John, was also a native of Ire
land, though, like so many of the residents of
that part of the island, of Scotch descent. He
followed the occupation of farming, but his son
James was a lineu-weaver by trade, manufactur
ing some of the beautiful fancy fabrics in that
line for which Ireland is so famous. The latter
married in his native country, his wife, the mother
of our subject, being Miss Agnes Boal, also born
in County Down, and the daughter of a farmer
in the neighborhood. In 1848 the parents emi
grated to this country, settling in Newburgh,
where, as above stated, William J. was born.
After arriving in Newburgh, the father worked
at his old trade, but later, on account of the fail
ure of his health, he gave up that employment,
and for twenty years was employed there by the
Pennsylvania Coal Company as a weigher. Now,
at the age of eighty-four, he is living retired,

though still hale and hearty for one of his years.
His birth occurred May n, 181 1. The mother
died at the age of seventy-seven years. In re
ligion both were Presbyterians. Their only other
surviving child is George H., who is engaged in
business at Toronto, Canada.
W. J. Bailie was reared in Newburgh, and at
tended the common schools there. Later he
graduated from the grammar school, and at the
age of sixteen was apprenticed to a butcher, with
whom he remained until he was nineteen, when
he started in business for himself. His shop was
located at No. 158 Broadway, Newburgh, and in
that business he continued for twelve years.
After disposing of his meat-shop and interest, Mr.
Bailie removed to Milford, Pa., where he began
his first experience as a hotel-keeper. He did
not remain there long, however, at the end of the
year removing to Port Jervis. After remaining
there one year, he went to Phillipsburg, in this
county, where he started the first hotel in the
place, and carried it on successfully for some
years. In 1887 he located in Goshen, leasing the
old Diamond House, the oldest' hotel in the place,
having been in existence since 1839. On becom
ing proprietor of this hotel, he changed its name
to the Commercial Hotel, under which name it
is still continued. In connection with the hotel,
Mr. Bailie has a well arranged and convenient
livery, situated on the corner of Greenwich and
New Streets, a feature which is much appreci
ated by the townspeople as well as by the trav
eling public. The New Hampton Hotel, which
he also owns, is rented and run by other parties.
While living in Newburgh, Mr. Bailie was
married to Miss Louisa Griffiths, a native of
Johnsville, Dutchess County. She died in New
burgh, leaving one son, Joseph G., a telegrapher,
who resides with his father. Mr. Bailie's second
marriage took place in Wurtsboro, and united
him with Miss Hannah Brown, by whom he has
one daughter, Alice A.
Both here and in Newburgh Mr. Bailie has
served several times in the Town Council, and in
1890 he was elected Census Enumerator of Go
shen. He is a Knight of Pythias and a member
ofthe Order of Foresters, being Treasurer ofthe

272

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

latter organization. When the Goshen Liquor
Dealers' Association was organized, he took a
prominent part, and is now its Vice-President.
In politics he is a Republican.

C<@3il^l"[*$-li>2^*^|

RICHARD WISNER, a farmer in the town
of Warwick , was born upon the farm where
he now resides February 4, 1824. Heisthe
fifth child born to Jefferson A. and Elizabeth
(Armstrong) Wisner, both of whom were natives
of Orange County, where they spent their entire
lives. For many years Jefferson Wisner was
Justice of the Peace, and was also Colonel of the
militia. He died at the advanced age of eighty -
six, and his wife followed him to the grave some
eight years later, at the age of seventy-six.
Richard Wisner received his education in the
common and select schools, and from early child
hood he has followed the occupation of a farmer,
though not giving his entire attention to that pur
suit. In 1885 he engaged in the lumber and coal
trade, also dealing in general supplies for carpen
ters and masons at Warwick, and was thus suc
cessfully engaged for some four years. On ac
count of age and defective eyesight, he retired
from that business, and has since been living at
his magnificent home one mile from Warwick,
where he is surrounded by every luxury. He
has always lived an active life, and enforced idle
ness with him is unbearable.
In 1854 our subject married MissEphelia Well
ing, a daughter of Thomas and Annie Welling,
natives of Orange County. Three of their chil
dren are living. Charles Edward, who is married,
is a prosperous farmer on the old homestead;
Annie E. and Mary E. are yet at home with their
father. The mother died in 1880, and two years
later Mr. Wisner married Sarah Van Duzer, of
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wisner, Annie and
Mary are members ofthe Reformed Church of
Warwick. In politics our subject is a Republican and has
affiliated with that party since its organization,
previous to which time he was a Whig. Politi
cal honors with him rest easy, and he has neither

sought nor accepted public office. He was for
merly Director of the Lehigh & Hudson Railroad,
and at present is Director in the First National
Bank of Warwick. He is a Trustee and General
Superintendent of the Warwick Cemetery and
holds the same office in the Warwick Valley
Milk Association. In his dealings with his fel
low-men he ever endeavors to live up to the
Golden Rule, and therefore enjoys the respect
and confidence of all who know him.

r^lERSON E. SANFORD, a prominent farm-
yr er and dairyman residing in the* town of
\Z) Warwick, was born on the farm where he
now resides in 1832, and has here spent his entire
life. He is the son of Ezra and Adeline (Terry)
Sanford, who were also natives of Orange Coun
ty. The father was a farmer, miller and tanner,
and was active in all measures which tended to
improve or benefit the county. On the breaking
out ofthe war with Great Britain in 181 2, he en
listed, doing valiant service in his country's be
half. His death occurred about 1885. His good
wife preceded him to the other world.
In his early life the subject of this sketch at
tended the district school, but he regrets the fact
that he did not make better use of his advantages;
but the lack of book knowledge has been made
up to a great extent by practical observation and
the reading of current literature. His younger
life was spent at home under the parental roof.
In 1856, when twenty-four years of age, he en
gaged in farming for himself and has since been
successfully engaged in that calling. In 1864 he
embarked in the dairy business, buying milk and
selling cream, butter and cheese in New York
City. After continuing thus for five years he or
ganized the Producers' Milk Company. Later
the firm of Omstead & Sanford was organized,
this being succeeded by Sanford & Woodhall,
which continued about three years. In 1879, Mr.
Woodhall having died, Mr. Sanford purchased
his interest, and the business has since been con
ducted under the name of P. E. Sanford & Co.,
the company consisting of Mr. Sanford and his

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

273

two nephews. They do a wholesale and retail
business, and their trade reaches as far south as
Florida in the United States, and to London,
England. They own quite extensive buildings,
which were built by the senior members of the
firm. Their place of business in New York City
is at No. 138 West Thirty-first Street. Few men
in Orange County have had more extensive busi
ness experience, and his success is attributed to
his energy and push.
Mr. Sanford was united in marriage, in 1855,
with Miss Annie S. Burt, a daughter of Stephen
A. and Pauline (Fairfield) Burt, the former a na
tive of the town of Warwick and the latter of the
state of Maine. Three children were born unto
them, two of whom are yet living: Pauline, the
wife of W. W. Wendom, a prominent physician
of Warwick; and Edward B., who is now study
ing law.
In politics Mr. Sanford is independent, voting
for such men as he thinks will best serve the in
terests ofthe people. In religion he is liberal,
and contributes of his means to the support of the
various churches in his community.

EHARLES G. ELLIOTT is President of the
Goshen National Bank, which is capitalized
at $110,000. This well known and stable
financial institution was organized in 1850, and
about 1864 was started under its present policy as
a national bank. At intervals since 1850 Mr.
Elliott has been a public official. He entered the
County Clerk's office under his uncle, Nathan
Westcott, who was then Clerk of Orange County,
continuing in one clerical capacity or another in
this office until 1865, and after three years was
made Deputy Clerk at Goshen. During his
three-years term he made a study of abstracts,
and subsequently conducted an office in this line
of business for six years. Again he became Dep
uty Clerk, and is now serving his thirty-fifth year
in this office. In the fall of 1888 he was nomi
nated and elected on the Democratic ticket to the

County Clerkship, a great victory, as he was the
only one of his party's candidates to win a major
ity. He took the oath of office in January, 1889,
and served until January, 1892, when he became
Deputy. For years he has been a Town Trus
tee, and is now acting as Treasurer of the village
for his eleventh year.
Our subject is a descendant of John Eliot, who
came as a missionary to America soon after the
landing of the Pilgrims. He was a native of
England, and on his demise was interred in the
cemetery at Roxbury, Mass. The great-grandfa
ther, Aaron Elliott, who was an iron manufact
urer in Connecticut, was a son of Jarrod, grand
son of Joseph, and great-grandson of the origi
nal John Eliot, before mentioned. Our subject's
grandfather, Dr. William Elliott, was the first of
the name to adopt the present orthography. He
was born in Connecticut, and at an early day
came to Goshen, where he was a practicing physi
cian until his death.
Judge Horace W. Elliott, father of C. G. was
born in Killing worth, Conn., and came to this
place about 1802. From that time until his death
he was engaged in business here as a druggist.
He was a hero ofthe War of 18 12, was an ardent
Democrat, and held the offices of Justice of the
Peace and Associate County Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas. At the close of a long and useful
career he died, in 1863, when in his eighty-third
year. His wife, Charlotte, a native of Goshen,
was the daughter of Hon. David N. Westcott,
who was a member of the New York Constitu
tional Convention, was Colonel of a company of
state militia, and served in the Legislature. For
several years he was also County Clerk of Orange
County. Financially he was well-to-do, possess
ing valuable tracts of land and other property.
He died when about seventy years of age. Mrs.
Charlotte Elliott, who was a faithful member of
the Presbyterian Church, departed this life in
1880, when about threescore and ten years of age.
Charles G. Elliott is one of six children who
grew to mature years and is now the only sur
viving son. He was born in Goshen, March 8,
1837, and received his education in the local
schools and in Farmer's Hall Academy. When

274

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but thirteen years of age he began serving an
apprenticeship, if it may so be termed, in the
field where he has so nobly acquitted himself, that
of a public officer. His maternal uncle, Mr.
Westcott, was of great assistance to him at that
stage of his life, and trained him in methodical
and systematic ways of doing business, which
have been of inestimable value to him. At the
close of the war he went to New York City and
obtained a clerkship in the American National
Bank, but gave up the position in 1867 to return
to his boyhood home. The next few years were
occupied in the several official positions referred
to at the opening of this sketch. He was always
at the post of duty and was a credit both to him
self and to his political constituents. When the
Goshen National Bank was re-organized in July,
1892, he was tendered the cashiership and re
tained it until March, 1893, when he was further
honored by being made President of the institu
tion. Since 1857 Mr. Elliott has been an able and
efficient member of the fire department and for
the last twenty-one years has served as Chief.
The pleasant and hospitable home of Mr. Elliott
on Church Street is built in modern style and
furnished in excellent taste. He was married in
Goshen, in 1883, to Miss Frances L- Strong, a
native of the place. She is a daughter of Benja
min Strong, formerly a merchant of New York
City, but now deceased. Mr. Elliott is an Elder in
the Goshen Presbyterian Church and takes com
mendable interest in its several departments of
activity and usefulness.
© QlLLIAM H. WYKER is one of the lead-
\ A / hi£ members of the Bar of Orange Coun-
V V ty, and has held the office of Justice ofthe
Peace since 1875. He takes a very active part in
Democratic campaign work, and has done so
for nearly twenty years, under the auspices of
the State Committee. In the last campaign he
made speeches during a period of six weeks in
various parts of the state, awakening popular en
thusiasm, and won renown for himself. In the
fall of 1 894 his friends brought his name forward

as a candidate for the Second District Assembly.
For many years he has served as Chairman of
the local Democratic committee, and has been a
member of several others.
Dr. Alfred Wyker, father of the above-named
gentleman, was born in Sussex County, N. J., as
was also the grandfather, Henry Wyker, the lat
ter a farmer and of German descent. Alfred
Wyker graduated from the Jefferson Medical Col
lege of Philadelphia, and afterward practiced in
Niles, Mich., until the war broke out, when he
was commissioned Surgeon of the Fourteenth
Michigan Infantry. During the progress of the
war he moved his family East, and continued his
services until he was obliged to retire on account
of ill-health, incident to exposure, and his death
resulted in 1863. In his political faith he was a
Republican of the most unswerving type. His
wife, Julia F. Ludlum, also a native of Sussex
County, N. J., was a daughter of Thomas I.
Ludlum, who was born in Goshen, and who
afterward operated a farm in Sussex County,
owning upwards of one thousand acres. He was
a very prominent citizen, and was elected Clerk
of Sussex County, discharging the duties which
rested upon him with ability and to the full sat
isfaction of his constituents. He owed a number
of fine standard and thoroughbred horses, which
he kept for his own private use. He was called
to his final rest in 1854, his death being consid
ered a public calamity. He was a son of William
and grandson of Isaac Ludlum, who were num
bered among the extensive land-owners of the
town of Goshen from a very early day.
William H. Wyker was born in Sussex Coun
ty, N. J., August 8, 1853, and is an only child.
He resided in Michigan until the outbreak of the
war, when he went with his mother to Sussex
County. He attended Mt. Retirement Seminary
and Rankin Seminary, at Mendon, N. J., and in
1870 graduated from the state normal at Trenton,
N. J., after which he taught school for two years
at Hampton Junction, N. J. In 1873 he came
to Goshen and took up the study of law with
Messrs. Sharpe & Nanny, being admitted to the
Bar in 1876, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He at
once located for the practice of his profession at

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

275

Goshen, where he has since been located, and
has been very successful in his chosen field of
work. He bought the office building on Main
Street, opposite the court house.
In 1888 Mr. Wyker joined the Sons of Vet
erans and was the first Captain of Major Murray
Camp No. 120. of this city, having helped to es
tablish the same. He continued as Captain until
1890, when he was elected Commander of the
Division of New York State, holding the place
for a year, and was the first -Commander in the
state to receive the silver cross of the order. In
August, 1890, the gold cross was conferred upon
him in Minneapolis. He was Commander of the
local camp until 1894, when he saw fit to tender
his resignation. Ofthe Cataract Hose Company,
one of the best drilled companies in the state and
composed of the best citizens of Goshen, he is
now serving as President and Drill Master. He
is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, be
ing Past Chancellor of the order, and belongs to
the Goshen Club. In the Goshen Electric-light
Company he is a large stockholder, is one of the
Directors, and is also Vice-President.
June 25, 1884, Mr. Wyker was united in mar
riage with Elizabeth Howell, a native of this
place and a daughter of Ogden Howell, who is an
employe of the Erie Railroad. One child has
been born to our subject and wife, a son, who is
named in honor of his grandfather, Alfred. Mr.
and Mrs. Wyker are members of the Episcopal
Church.

+=

=-*-

HOMAS J. RANDALL, proprietor of the
Wawayanda House at Warwick, was born
in New York City in 1835. He is the son
of Culver and Sophia (Provost) Randall, the for
mer a native of Florida, this county, and the lat
ter of New York City. In early life Culver Ran
dall was apprenticed to a pianoforte manufacturer,
and after learning the trade engaged in the man
ufacture of pianos in New York City until 1841.
He then returned to his birthplace, where he con
tinued the business in connection with the manu

facture of lumber. He was an energetic busi
ness man, and died in Florida, N. Y., in 1887, at
the age of eighty-two. His wife died two years
previously. The subject of this sketch spent his early life
in his father's factory and in the schoolroom at
Florida. In 1864 he located at Warwick and en
gaged in the manufacture of axe and pick handles
for the Brazilian market, which business was con
ducted in connection with the manufacture of
hardwood lumber. Four years later he engaged
in the hotel business, and has been engaged in
that occupation from that time to the present.
In 1869 Mr. Randall was married to Sarah J.
Ball, daughter of James and Mahetable (Webb)
Ball, who were prominent citizens of Orange
County. Three children survive this union:
Emma, James B. and Charles A. Mrs. Randall
died in 1882, and five years later Mr. Randall
married Miss H. B. Smith, of Paterson, N. J.
Mrs. Randall is a member of Calvary Baptist
Church. In politics Mr. Randall is a Democrat.
He is a man respected by all who know him, and
is well and favorably known throughout the en
tire section of the country where he resides. His
hotel is a popular one and he has ever had a sat
isfactory business.

=&*•"«"!

^H

03/

11*^

¦} ENJAMIN F. EDSALL, former President
C\ ofthe Goshen Savings Bank, and now Vice-
_J President of the Goshen National Bank, is
one of the old and honored citizens of Orange
County. His memory calls back instances of life
in early days, and it is a great pleasure to listen
to his accounts of days so long gone by. He is
wonderfully well preserved and is hale and hearty,
bidding fair to enjoy many years of activity.
The Edsalls are of English origin, and our
subject's father, Jesse, was born in Sussex Coun
ty, N. J. He early settled in Goshen, where he
engaged in the hotel business and ran a stage
between New York and Albany, having a con
tract to carry the mail between those points. The
stage passed through Goshen, and Mr. Edsall
also owned a line running from here to New-

276

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

burgh. He was well known as the genial pro
prietor of the Orange Hotel, and at one time
served as Under-Sheriff. When well along in
years he retired from business cares, and died in
Goshen, aged about seventy-eight years. His
wife, whose maiden name was Temperance Wil
son, was born in Orange County, and lived to
attain her seventy-sixth year. Of their seven
children, only two are living, John S., our sub
ject's brother, who resides in Nebraska, being
now ninety years of age.
The birth of B. F. Edsall took place in Goshen,
May 1, 1812. He attended the old-fashioned
subscription schools of the period, and continued
to dwell at home until reaching his majority, in
the mean time learning the tinsmith's trade. In
1835 he went to Plattsburg and embarked in the
wholesale manufacture of tinware and notions,
also doing a large business as a dry-goods mer
chant. His partner, Samuel F. Vilas, was later
one of the wealthiest men in Clinton County,
N. Y. Their connection was dissolved at the end
of eleven years, Mr. Edsall selling out and return
ing to Goshen. He was one of the organizers of
the national bank here, and has ever since been
a Director, and also was a promoter of the sav
ings bank, in which he has been a Director from
the start. Formerly Vice-President, he was made
President of the institution upon the death of
Mr. Post, which position, however, he resigned
in 1894. P°r some years, or until his resigna
tion, he was President of the Orange County
Mutual Insurance Company, which is not now in
existence. In 184 1 Mr. Edsall was married, in this place,
to Miss Mary Rowe, who was born in Chester,
and whose father, David, was a well-to-do and ex
tensive farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Edsall have had
five children, but lost their two sons, George and
Frank, each dying when about ten years of age.
The daughters, Mary, Clara and Lillian, are all
at home.
Prior to the war Mr. Edsall was for one term
County Treasurer, having been elected on the
Democratic ticket. He has always affiliated with
that party, and has often been sent as a delegate
to county and state conventions. He was a dele

gate to the convention which assembled at Charles
ton, S. C, and which, on the adjournment ofthe
delegates to Baltimore, nominated Stephen A.
Douglas. He has held local offices, and was
Trustee of the village at one time. For years he
was President and a member of the Board of
Trustees of the State Hill Cemetery Association,
finally tendering his resignation. He distinctly
remembers the day in 1822 when the victims ofthe
Minisink massacre were re-interred at the court
house. One of his brothers, Thomas, in partner
ship with a Mr. Robinson, assisted in starting
and building the railroad from Warwick to Ches
ter. In politics Mr. Edsall has always been a
consistent Democrat.

-*>=$fe=<^

6>GJlLLIAM H. STRONG, one of the enter-
\ A / prising dairy farmers of the town of Go
lf V shen, is favorably known in this com
munity, where he has dwelt during his lifetime.
He was born in Goshen, June 21, 1858, and is
the third and youngest child of Benjamin B. and
Frances (Benton) Strong. The father, who was
also born in Goshen, was a successful agricultur
ist, and besides being well posted in military
tactics was a man of wide information on various
topics. He was called to the silent land in No
vember, 1871, and his wife did not long survive
him, dying the following year. She was a na
tive of Ulster County, but removed to Goshen
with her parents in childhood and there spent
the remainder of her life.
The boyhood of W. H. Strong passed in an
uneventful manner, his main business being to
acquire a good general education in the district
schools of his neighborhood. In order that he
might better fit himself for business, he took a
course in Eastman's Commercial College at
Poughkeepsie. His home has always been upon
his present farm, which is the old homestead of
his parents, and which is a beautiful tract of land,
improved with modern buildings and comprising
some one hundred and twelve acres. Of late

HON. CLINTON WHEELER WISNER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

279

years he has been specially successful as a dairy
farmer, and finds a ready market for the products
of his place in the neighboring towns and cities.
May 16, 1888, Mr. Strong was united in mar
riage with Mary J. Bennet, who was born in this
locality, and has become the mother of a bright
little daughter, Annie May, born July 16, 1893.
Mrs. Strong's parents, William H. and Ann
(Smith) Bennet, are likewise natives of Orange
County, and come from some of her good old fami
lies (see sketch of Mr. Bennet elsewhere in this
volume). As far back as Mr. Strong can trace
his ancestry, his progenitors have been adherents
ofthe Presbyterian denomination. Both he and
his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church
of Goshen. In politics Mr. Strong is a Republi
can and has an abiding faith in the wisdom of
his party's principles.

-SI.

"SI

^f^

(******T

HON. CLINTON WHEELER WISNER is
now serving his third term as Mayor of the
thriving little village of Warwick . He comes
from a distinguished old family, representatives
of which have been prominently connected with
the history of Orange County since 171 5. In
1890, at the Republican convention, he was hon
ored by being brought forward as a candidate for
Assemblyman from the Second District, but was
defeated after a close election, the district at that
time being strongly Democratic. He has always
been a stanch supporter ofthe party, and is Chair
man of the Executive Committee of the Central
Republican Club. He has also served as a mem
ber of the Board of Trustees of Warwick, and in
each of his official capacities has fully met the
requirements of the position. His character is
above reproach in every relation of life, and by
his superior judgment and genuine integrity he
has won the confidence of the leading business
men of this locality.
The progenitor of the Wisner family in Amer
ica bore the name of Johannis Weesner. He
was born in Switzerland, and fought under the
Prince of Orange against Louis XIV. of France.
He emigrated to America with his wife, Eliza

beth, and settled in Orange County, near Mt.
Eve, June 23, 1715. His death occurred in this
county, in May, 1744, when he left but one
child, Hendrick. The latter, who changed the
spelling of the name to Wisner, was born in
Switzerland. He married a Miss Shaw, of New
England, and died in Orange County. Their two
children were John and Henry. The former was
Captain of the Orange County minutemen dur
ing the War of the Revolution, and died at the
close of the year 1788. Henry was born in
1720, and in 1740 married Sarah Horton, of
Queens County. He served in the Colonial As
sembly from 1759 to 1769, and was chosen by the
Provincial Convention which convened in April,
1775. to go as a delegate to the Continental Con
gress, and he subsequently voted for the Declara
tion of Independence. He died in September,
1790. Henry, son of John Wisner, from whom
our subject is descended, was born July n,
1742, and died May 29, 1812. He married Su
sannah Goldsmith, who was born in 1743, and
died in 181 1, and to them were born ten children,
namely: Gabriel, William, Mary, Abigail, Henry,
Anna, John, Jeffrey, Susannah and Richard.
The father was Captain of Hathorn's regiment
during the War of the Revolution, and in Febru
ary, 1778, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel.
The grandfather of our subject, Jeffrey Wisner,
was born April 20, 1769, and was called to his
final rest April 11, 1855. By his wife, who bore
the maiden name of Elizabeth Armstrong, he had
six children: Gabriel, Rensselaer Jay, James,
Richard, Jeffrey Amherst and Mary. Our sub
ject's father, Jeffrey A., was born October 18,
1827, and married Mary Wheeler, whose birth oc
curred October 8, 1824. Both parents were na
tives of Warwick, but after their marriage they
removed to West Pittston, Pa., where the father
engaged in the milling business for five years.
His estimable wife died about that time, and he
removed with his family to New York City,
where he was successfully engaged in the whole
sale grocery trade for thirty years. In 1890 he
retired from business, and is living at his pleas
ant, home in Brooklyn. His two children were
Clinton W. and Grace Aguilla, the latter of whom

28o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was born in October, 1854. By his second wife,
Sophronia Pierce, the father has two daughters
and one son living, viz. : Kate, Sophie and Ho
ratio S.
Clinton W. Wisner was born at West Pittston,
Pa. , July 30, 1856, and received his primary learn
ing in the district school at Warwick, as he had
come here to live with an uftcle when he was
only four years of age, continuing a member of
his household for eight years. Then, going to
Brooklyn, he was a student in the public schools
there for three years, after which he accepted a
position as office boy in the wholesale dry-goods
house of Bartlett, Berry, Reed & Co. , of New
York, receiving a pittance of $1.50 per week.
He then entered the employ of George C. Chase
& Co. , importers of tea, and at the end of three
years associated himself with his father in the
wholesale grocery business, representing the
house in Pennsylvania and Michigan for the suc
ceeding twelve years.
In 1888, on the death of one of the wealthiest
bankers of the Keystone State, H. S. Pierce, of
Scranton, Pa., Mr. Wisner became executor of
the estate, which reached into the millions, and
has since cared for the same. He has been very
successful in the management of this immense
capital, and has an office in the Stewart Build
ing in New York City. He is a Director in the
First National Bank of Carbondale, Pa., in the
Seranton Electric- light Works, and in two large
coal mines.
In 1884 Mr. Wisner built the handsome resi
dence in Warwick which he has since made his
home. In October, 1879, he married Martha,
daughter of Thomas and Caroline Van Duzer
Welling, who are both living in Warwick. Our
subject and his wife have had three sons and
two daughters, namely: Grace Ethel, born De
cember 31, 1880; John Welling, August 24,
1883; Jeffrey Amherst, Jr., December 2, 1886;
Thomas Welling, twin of Jeffrey; and Marjorie
Pierce, born August 14, 1891, and who died
March 7, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Wisner are mem
bers of the Dutch Reformed Church, of which
our subject is one of the Deacons. He is a mem
ber ofthe Society of the Sons of the Revolution,

and is considered one of the representative and
patriotic young men of this section. From his
ancestors he inherited love of his country and a
high sense of obligation towards his fellow-men.

-i — *"  •3>r^®^S)®e*^<  -4— -fr-

(TACOB M. PRICE. The life of this gentle-
I man, of which we give a brief outline, af-
Q) fords an illustration of the power of courage
and industry in enabling a man to overcome early
difficulties. Mr. Price is the architect of his own
fortune, and is the proprietor of one hundred and
seventeen acres of valuable land in the town of
Goshen, which he devotes to general farming and
dairy purposes.
Our subject is a native of this county, and was
born in the town of Goshen, February 3, 1847.
His parents, George W. and Hester Ann (Sanford)
Price, reared a family of eight sous and daugh
ters, of whom he was the fifth-born. The grand
father, who was born in Ohio, brought George
W. to this county when the latter was a boy, and
here he passed the remainder of his life. He was
an agriculturist and became well known among
the substantial residents of his community. Dur
ing the late war George W. rendered his country
efficient service as Provost-Marshal of Hampton-
burgh. He departed this life in 1870, when fifty-
two years of age, and his loss was greatly felt in
the locality where so many years of his active
life had been passed. His good wife was born in
Warwick, this county, and lived until the year
1886, when she, too, passed away.
Jacob; of this sketch, was given every oppor
tunity for attending the district school during his
earlier years, and thus acquired a good fund of
useful information. He very naturally chose ag
riculture as his vocation in life, for it was to that
pursuit that he had been trained, and he is now
the possessor of one of the most productive tracts
in the town, it being rich bottom land. Although
he does not neglect the growing of the various
grains, yet he devotes the greater part of his time
and attention to dairy farming, which is an im-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

281

portant industry in this community. In the year
1894 he gathered in twenty-five hundred sacks of
onions, which on an average he sold for more
than $1.50 per sack.
In February, 1870, Mr, Price was united in
marriage with Miss Helen Coleman, a native of
this county, and the daughter of Edson Coleman.
Their union has been blessed by the birth of two
children, namely: Edson C. and John A. The
elder son is a graduate of Eastman's Business
College at Poughkeepsie, and for the past five
years has been a deputy in the County Clerk's
office. John A. is still at home, although he
contemplates entering college this fall. Mr. and
Mrs. Price, together with their elder son, are
members of the Presbyterian Church of Goshen.
In politics Mr. Price is a true-blue Republican.
He has never sought office, it being his ambition
to live a quiet life, free from the cares and excite
ments which attend office-holders. He has many
warm friends throughout the section where he re
sides, and in every respect deserves the high es
teem in which he is held.

3 •£¦•$• *£t*£t^j

|~"RNST M. BAHRMAN, one of the promi-
Yy nent German citizens of Orange County,
LL was born in Germany, April 28, 1838, and
is the son of John Godfreit and Johanna Rosanna
(Klingel) Bahrman, who were also natives of
Germany. The mother died some years ago, at
the age of seventy -eight, but the father is yet liv
ing, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
He was educated for a physician, but never prac
ticed. He followed farming, however, and for a
time was also extensively engaged in railroad
matters. Ernst Bahrman attended the schools of his na
tive country until the age of fourteen, and after
his confirmation engaged with an uncle in the
tannery business. After remaining with him
three years he determined to emigrate to the New
World, and therefore, in 1855, set sail for the
United States, landing in New York. Soon after
ward he located in- New Milford, town of War
wick, where he has since been engaged in the

tannery business. When the war broke out he
showed his love for his adopted country by en
listing in Company D, One Hundred and Twen
ty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, and was
mustered into the service at Goshen. With his
company he went to the front and participated in
many engagements until May, 1863, when he
. was transferred to the Fourteenth Veteran Re
serve Corps, with which he was actively engaged
until the close of the war. During his entire
service he was neither wounded nor captured.
On receiving his discharge, Mr. Bahrman re
turned to Warwick and soon after entered the
employ of William Sanford. In 1869 he em
barked in his present business, which by industry
and fair dealing on his part has become a very
satisfactory one, and he has won the confidence
and esteem of his fellow-citizens. In 1889 he vis
ited the Fatherland and spent a most enjoyable
season with his many friends.
In 1869 Mr. Bahrman was united in marriage
with Miss Martha E. Clason, daughter of Webb
and Mary J. (Ellis) Clason. The former was a
native of Connecticut, but came to Orange Coun
ty when a young man, and the latter was a na
tive of Orange County. Four children were born
to our subject and his wife, two of whom are de
ceased. Those living are Harry and MaryTher-
ese. Mrs. Bahrman died February 25, 1894.
In his religious views Mr. Bahrman is a Luther
an and in politics is a Republican. He is a strong
advocate of the public-school system and is at
present serving as School Trustee.

Qz

(d

?^j

¦G)

¦c;

iAMUEL S. VAN SAUN, a leading druggist
of Warwick, is one of her best citizens, and
for the past ten years has been Chief of her
efficient fire department, before which he served
in the same for fifteen years. He has always had
the welfare of the place deeply at heart, and has
acted in many local public positions in a capable
manner. For eight years he was Village Clerk,
has also served as Clerk and Treasurer on the

282

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Board of Education, and is now holding the last-
named office. Athletic sports have been particu
larly congenial to him, and for three years he
served as President of the Warwick Athletic As
sociation. Born March 13, 1849, in the city of New York,
our subject is the only child of Samuel J. and
Ellena (Van Houten) Van Saun, both natives of
New Jersey. The former was a successful stair-
builder, which calling he followed for a great
many years. His death occurred in the village of
Warwick in 1873. His good wife had passed to
the better land in 1849, when her son Samuel
was but six months old. The subject of this
article obtained his primary knowledge in private
schools in his native city, and later attended the
Dutch Reformed School, of which his parents
were strong supporters. At the age of twelve
years he came to Warwick, and for the next three
years attended school here, then returning to
New York, where he was in a commercial col
lege for about twelve months. When seventeen
years of age, in October, 1866, he entered the em
ploy of a druggist in this village, and learned the
rudiments of the business.
April 9, 1867, Mr. Van Saun established his
present store, and has been since successfully en
gaged in the drug business. He is to-day among
the oldest druggists in Orange County, and
stands high in the estimation of all, both as a
business man and socially . Politically he has al
ways voted with the Democratic party, and for
seven years held the office of Town Clerk. Fra
ternally he is a member of Highland Chapter No.
52, R. A. M., of Newburgh, and also belongs to
the consistory of Middletown. He is a member
of Warwick Lodge No. 544, F. & A. M., of
which he has been Past Master, and is the owner
of an elegant gold jewel, which was presented him
on leaving the office. In 1881 he served as Treas
urer ofthe Orange County Agricultural Society,
and held the same position in 1893-94.
May 8, 1872, Mr. Van Saun married Sara A.,
daughter of Samuel C. and Clara (DeKay) Well
ing, natives of New York and New Jersey, re
spectively. Mrs. Van Saun, however, was born
in Warwick, and has here passed the greater por

tion of her life. The union of our subject and
his wife has been blessed by the birth of one son
and one daughter, bright and interesting chil
dren, who are still at home with their parents,
and who are named Samuel Welling and Clara.
Mrs. Van Saun is a member of the Reformed
Church, and is a lady who is universally beloved.

REV. WILLIAM H. S. DEMAREST is the
faithful, much-loved pastor of the (Dutch)
Reformed Church of Walden, with which he
has been connected for a period of about seven
years. His birth occurred May 12, 1863, in Hud
son, Columbia County, N. Y. Rev. Dr. D. D.
Demarest, the father of our subject, is a native of
New Jersey, and was for years pastor ofthe church
at Hudson. He now occupies the chair of Pas
toral Theology in New Brunswick Theological
Seminary, at New Brunswick, N. J., of which he
has been the incumbent for many years. Our
subject's mother, whose maiden name was Cath
erine L- Nevius, was also a native of New Jersey,
and was the daughter of Judge James S. Nevius,
late Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Demarest passed his early years in New
Brunswick, and there attended the college pre
paratory school. He later entered Rutgers Col
lege, from which he graduated in 1883 with first
honor, receiving the degree of A. B., and com
pleting the regular classical course. He then
taught three years in the Rutgers Preparatory
School, where he received the degree of A. M. in
1886, and finally entered New Brunswick Semi
nary, graduating in 1888. He is a member of
the Delta Phi fraternity.
September 27, 1888, our subject was ordained
by the Classis of Orange, in the church at Wal
den, and was at the same time installed as its
pastor. He has taken a very active part in all
church work, both that of his own locality and
of his denomination in general. The church here,
which was organized in 1838, has made steady
advances under his ministry, and has kept pace
with the growth of the community in its increase
of numbers. The pastor is Stated Clerk of the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

283

Classis of Orange, which is composed of the min
ister and one elder of each church in the Orange
District. He is the Regents' Examiner for the
Walden public school, and much interested in the
educational interests of his locality. He is an at
tractive and interesting speaker, and a wise and
sympathetic pastor, highly appreciated by the
people of his congregation.

^••teii,

[~DWIN G. PARKER, D. D. S. No repre-
rt) sentative of the dental profession in Goshen
I has met with more flattering success than
that which has rewarded the efforts of Dr. Park
er, who has justly gained the reputation of a re
liable, thoroughly informed and competent den
tist. It was on the 1st of December, 1885, that
he came to this city , and here he has since re
mained, carrying on a large practice, and also
gaining many friends in social circles.
To be descended from those who took a promi
nent part in the early history of our country,
those who contributed to the development of its
material interests, and who aided in the estab
lishment of the Government, is something of
which one may well be proud. Dr. Parker is a
descendant in the eighth generation of that illus
trious Puritan, John Alden, and his no less fa
mous wife, Priscilla. He is also a relative,
through the Mosley family, of one of the early
Presidents of the United States, John Q. Adams.
The Parker family is of Scotch origin. The
great-grandfather of our subject, James Parker,
was a native of Vermont, but removed thence to
Watertown, N. Y., where he entered Govern
ment land. A part of the tract purchased by him
was formerly owned by our subject's father, and is
still in possession of the family. It originally con
sisted of one thousand acres, but at various times
portions of the place have been sold, so that the
farm is now of only ordinary size. Grandfather
Alexander Parkerwas born near Rutland, Vt. , and
was a soldier in the War of 18 12. For. a time he
served as a county official, always taking an in
terested part in public affairs. He died at eighty-
four years of age. His wife was a daughter of

Colonel Bartholomew, who was of French descent,
and gained his title by service in the Revolution.
The father of our subject, James A. Parker,
was born in Watertown, N. Y., and in early life
was a farmer on the old homestead, but later had
a drug store at Theresa, Jefferson County, N. Y.
On retiring from business, he purchased the
old home, and there he remained until his death,
January 17, 1890, at which time he was fifty-
nine years of age. Socially he was a Mason.
He was a man who possessed considerable in
fluence, and held a high place in the esteem of
his acquaintances. He married Cornelia Bur
nett, a native of Watertown, whose parents,
David and Aseneth (Mosley) Burnett, were born
in Connecticut, and became settlers of New York,.
where they owned a farm.
Mrs. Cornelia Parker still resides on the old
homestead. By her marriage she had eight chil
dren, of whom five are living, namely: Clinton
B., a practicing dentist of Brooklyn; Julia F. ,
who is with her mother; Edwin G.; Virgil F., a
successful dentist of Brooklyn; and DeWitt L., a
physician and dentist, also of Brooklyn. The
subject of this notice was born in Theresa, Jeffer
son County, December 15, i860, and was reared
in Watertown, where he attended the public
schools. At the age of seventeen he was gradu
ated from the high school, and the following year
began to teach, which profession he followed for
four years in Jefferson County. In 1883 he en
tered the department of dentistry in the Univer
sity of Pennsylvania, from which he was gradu
ated in 1885, with the degree of D. D. S. After
graduating he went to Brooklyn, where he be
came assistant to Dr. Colton, one of the promi
nent dentists of that city. He remained with him
almost one year, and then, in the latter part of
1885, came to Goshen and opened an office.
At Three Mile Bay, Jefferson County, Dr.
Parker married Miss May, daughter of G. R.
Wilcox, a merchant of that place. They are the
parents of four children, Marie Antoinette and
Edwin Harold (twins), Donald Greenleaf and
Dorothy Burnett. The family residence is situ
ated on South Street. In everything pertaining
to his profession the Doctor feels the warmest in-

284

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

terest. He was a member of the Dental Pro
tective Association of the United States, and is
identified with the Second District Dental Society
of New York, being the representative of Orange
County on the Law Committee. He is a Past
Chancellor in the Knights of Pythias, and he is
connected with the Social and Athletic Club. In
all enterprises calculated to advance the growth
of Goshen he takes an active part, and he is now
Vice-President of the Goshen Board of the Na
tional Building and Loan Association. Possess
ing the firm religious belief which goes to make
up a full-rounded character, he belongs to the
Presbyterian Church, and is an ex-President of
the Young People's Society of Christian Endeav-
pr. Just in all his dealings with his fellow-men,
genial and warm-hearted, it is natural that all
who know him should respect him, and that he
should win, to an unusual degree, the friendship
of his associates. In politics he is independent.

0EWITT C. DURLAND is one of those pro
gressive, wide-awake farmers who find both
pleasure and profit in cultivating the soil,
and by means of dignity and ability tend to raise
the standard of their chosen occupation. He is
one of the most prominent farmers and dairymen
of Orange County, his splendid estate being lo
cated in the town of Goshen. On this place he
was born, May 1, 1835.
Our subject was the seventh in order of birth
of the nine children born to Jonas and Abbie
(Little) Durland, both of whom were also born
in this county, where their entire lives were
passed. The father was prominently identified
with agricultural pursuits during his lifetime, and
made a signal success of this vocation. He was
a quiet and unassuming man, and departed this
life in 1865, respected and honored by all who
knew him. His estimable wife survived him un
til 1876, when she, too, passed away.
The subject of this sketch attended the district
schools during his early boyhood days, and sub

sequently took a course at Seward Institute, at
Florida, and in Goshen Academy. He was thor
oughly trained to farm life, and when ready to
begin for himself chose this for his life vocation.
His home is known as Durlandville, and dur
ing recent years the settlement has grown quite
rapidly, there now being about seventy-five fami
lies in the immediate vicinity. Mr. Durland' s
home includes one hundred acres of 'some of the
finest land in the county, which he has made more
valuable by the erection thereon of neat and sub
stantial buildings of every description.
The lady to whom our subject was married,
December 30, 1858, was Miss Marietta, daughter
of George S. and Mary (Seely) Conkling, also na
tives of this county. To them were born four
children, of whom George Murray departed this
life when ten years of age. Those living are: J.
Howard, a prominent young farmer of this com
munity; Bradford C, engaged in the banking bus
iness at Chester; and Clara M., the wife of Wil-
lard H. Bull, a farmer of this county.
In 1872 Mrs. Marietta Durland departed this
life, and three years later our subject was married
to Theresa McCain, a daughter of Samuel and
Anna (Ward) McCain, citizens of Hoboken, where
the mother is still living. This union resulted in
the birth of four sons and daughters, those sur
viving being Mellie M., DewittC, Jr., and Or-
pha J. Mr. and Mrs. Durland are members in
good standing of the Presbyterian Church of Go
shen, in the work of which they take a prominent
and active part. In politics the former is a Re
publican, and has an abiding faith in the purity
of that party's teachings. He has never held
office, nor has he desired to do so, as his farming
interests occupy his entire time and attention.

£WE

HAMES E. MLLLSPAUGH. For fifty years,
I or during his entire life, this esteemed citizen
Q) and progressive farmer of Orange County
has lived upon the old homestead, which lies in
the town of Goshen. The estate comprises one
hundred and twelve acres, and is a model one in
every respect, being well cultivated and kept in a

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

285

neat and orderly condition. In addition to rais
ing the usual amount of grain, he devotes the
greater part of his time and attention to dairying,
and has a number of the best breed of milch cows
on the place.
Our subject was born in June, 1845, and is the
eldest child of Edward A. and Martha (Durland)
Millspaugh, natives of this county. His father,
who was born on the same farm where our sub
ject is now living, is seventy-seven years of age,
and although having led an industrious life is
hale and hearty. He has always been engaged
in agricultural pursuits, and is widely and favor
ably known, always ready and willing to aid
those who come to him for assistance, and up
right in his dealings with all. During his early
years this now thickly populated and rich farm
ing district was little more than a wilderness,
and in the work of its development and advance
ment he has taken a very prominent part. His
good wife, who has journeyed through life with
him for so many years, is now sixty-nine years
of age.
James E. Millspaugh passed several months of
each year in attendance at the district school,
and on entering his teens became a student in
the Seward Institute at Florida, where so many
of the residents of this county were educated.
Knowing farming to be a very profitable and pleas
ant business in which to engage, he chose this
industry for his life work, and is now successfully
operating one hundred and twelve acres of the
old homestead. This is a well improved property
and is devoted principally to dairy purposes, al
though he is interested in the growing of onions
to a large extent. He has lived in this com
munity all his life, and is well known and highly
esteemed, and has many sincere friends among
its best residents.
The marriage of our subject occurred in Au
gust, 1887, to Miss Mary J., daughter of Robert
and Mary (Carey) Hughes, both of whom were
born in this county. Their daughter's birth took
place in the town of Warwick in 1866. The
union of Mr. and Mrs. Millspaugh resulted in the
birth of three children, one of whom died in in
fancy. Grace E. and Marion G., bright and in

teresting daughters, make their home with their
parents. The wife and mother is a devoted mem
ber of the First Presbyterian Church of Florida.
In politics our subject supports by his ballot
the Democratic party, and is therefore opposed to
all monopolies. He has never sought office, yet
has been prevailed upon at various times to ac
cept positions of trust and responsibility. Up
right and honorable in all his business transac
tions, he has ever borne a most enviable name
for fairness and justice, and stands high in the
affections of a wide circle of friends and acquaint
ances.

REV. FATHER PATRICK BRADY, late
rector of Santa Maria Catholic Church of
Montgomery, was born in Killeshandra,
County Cavan, Ireland, and died August 13,
1894, at about the age of sixty years. His father,
Terence Brady, was a farmer. Rev. Mr. Brady
was well educated in Cavan College, and from
early boyhood manifested great aptitude in his
studies, surpassing many of his classmates. His
family intended him for the ministry from early
life, and as a boy he assisted at the Mass, thus
becoming very familiar with that part of the
church service. Having completed a classical
course in college, he crossed the ocean to Mobile,
Ala. , where he had an uncle living, James Deriue,
a merchant of that city. Father Brady finished
his college and theological course in Spring Hill
College of Mobile, and his first pastoral work was
in connection with the church at St. Louis, Mo.,
where he was ordained. After some years he
came to the New York diocese.
While on a visit to his family in Ireland Rev.
Mr. Brady met Bishop Hughes of New York,
who took a deep interest in him and induced him
to come to the Empire State. He at once took
charge of St. Andrew's Church of New York City,
and was then sent to Yonkers to take charge of
the Easter service, after which he was made as
sistant to Rev. Father Mooney, of St. Bridget's
Church, New York City, in the diocese over

286

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

which Bishop Hughes presided. While there
Cardinal McCloskey succeeded Bishop Hughes
and transferred Father Brady to St. Peter's Church
of Rosendale, N. Y. He was next located as pas
tor of Santa Maria Church in Montgomery.
The congregation was then small and weak
and the church was heavily in debt, and when he
asked for the keys the old lady who had them
refused to give them up, thinking that he might
be the sheriff come to attach the property. Dur
ing the twenty-years pastorate of Father Brady
the membership of the church was largely in
creased and within a few dollars of all its indebt
edness was paid off, he personally paying the in
terest. He improved the property, enlarged the
house, built a commodious barn, renovated the
church and secured fine statuary for church dec
oration. At the time of his death there still ex
isted a debt of $1,700, which he made possible to
cancel by his will. He had purchased village
property, set out trees, and was always making
improvements upon it. He was ever progressive
and anxious for advancement along all lines. His
death occurred in the hospital in Paterson, and
his loss was deeply mourned.
Always a close student, in early life he began
to collect a valuable library, and as the years
passed he became the possessor of several thou
sand volumes, all standard works and many rare
and valuable ones. He had one thousand rare
works on history, covering every period, from
ancient to modern times. There were also many
works on church history, philosophy and the
writings of dramatists and poets. He read ex
tensively, and probably no man in the state pos
sessed a broader information or was better in
formed. He also collected rare and beautiful
paintings from the best masters, several of them
being valued at thousands of dollars, including
"St. Peter," "The Gardens," and others on
church historical subjects. He refused $10,000
for one of these. His will provides that his val
uable library and art collection shall go to St. Jos
eph's Seminary of the city of New York, located
near Yonkers. He was devoted to his church and
was one of its most prominent and influential
clergymen. His brother, Bernard Brady, in con

nection with Rev. Father Corrigan Patterson and
Monseigneur Farley, of New York City, was
made executor of the estate. His funeral was the
largest ever held in Montgomery, and he was laid
to rest in Santa Maria Cemetery, which burial-
ground he presented to the church.

gEORGE R. WOOD, the genial landlord of
the Warwickshire Inn, of New Milford, was
born in the town of Warwick in 1841. He is
a son of Samuel G. andElsy A. (Rhodes) Wood,
both of whom were also natives of this town. By
trade the father was a blacksmith, spending many
of the best years of his life at the forge. He was
a quiet, unassuming man, and died in 1848.
The mother lived until 1872, when she, too,
passed to the better land.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his na
tive town and was educated in its public schools.
At the age of seventeen he left school and for the
next two years was engaged as a farm laborer, at
the end of which time he commenced to learn the
carpenter's trade and served an apprenticeship of
three years. Not content with the knowledge he
acquired as an apprentice, he worked under in
struction for seven years more. He then en
gaged in contracting and building, continuing in
this line until October 15, 1893, when he engaged
in his present business. Many of the best resi
dences in this section of the county were erected
by him.
In 1866 Mr. Wood was united in marriage with
Miss Mary E. June, a daughter of W. H. and
Clara (Mapes) June, both of whom are natives of
Orange County. One daughter was born of this
union, Hattie J., wife of George H. Quacken-
bush. Mr. Wood is a member of the Masonic
fraternity and of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and has passed through all the chairs in
both bodies. For many years he was lodge dep
uty, and was complimented by the Grand Master
as being the most efficient deputy in the state of
New York. In politics he is a Democrat, with
which party he has affiliated his entire life.
Though not an office-seeker, he has served his

EREDERICK W. SEWARD, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

289

town as Highway Commissioner and Collector.
As proprietor of the Warwickshire Inn, he gives
satisfaction to the guests of the house, doing all
in his power to make each and every one com
fortable.
¦ — 9§*K

r~REDERICK W. SEWARD, M. D., who isa
Yy specialist in nervous diseases, is the proprie-
I ' tor of Interpines Sanitarium at Goshen, one
of the most beautiful homes for invalids which
can be found in any part of the country. In
short, it is a princely mansion, constructed on
modern plans, finely equipped with electric lights,
gas, steam heat, etc., and is situated in a park of
grand old forest trees, in which the pine predom
inates. Goshen is the county seat of the historic
and lovely Orange County, and is celebrated as
the most beautiful inland village in the state.
The air is dry and bracing, as the elevation is
nearly eight hundred feet above the sea level, and
excellent country roads lead from the village in
all directions, affording drives amid ever varying
scenes. Dr. Seward is a man of wide experience
and scientific training, and possesses a knowledge
of the value of good nursing and pleasant environ
ments, which are absolutely necessary to the cure
of patients suffering from nervous troubles. He
has been President of the Orange County Home
opathic Medical Society, is a member of the New
York Homeopathic Medical Society, and has been
President of the Board of Health for years.
Samuel S. Seward, grandfather of the Doctor,
was born in New Jersey, graduated from a med
ical college, and subsequently established himself
for practice in Florida, Orange County. At one
time he was the County Judge, and his business
interests were very extensive. He owned large
tracts of land, a distillery, a large storehouse,
and a fleet of sloops, which plied between New
burgh and southern ports. These vessels carried
distilled liquors and other produce southward and
returned with cotton and flax. His son, Edwin
P., looked after these varied commercial under
takings for many years, while the father devoted
himself chiefly to his medical practice. Samuel
Seward was over eighty years of age at the time

of his death, which occurred in this county in
1849. He was a son ofa Scotchman, who settled
on Long Island, and brother of Col. John Seward,
who resided in New Jersey, and who was a par
ticipant in the War of the Revolution. In relig
ious faith the family were all Presbyterians.
Edwin P. Seward, father of our subject, was
born in Florida, Orange County, and was one of
four sons. His eldest brother, Benjamin J., was
a minister in the Presbyterian Church. He was
accidentally killed, and at his death left two sons:
Augustus, who was a minister; and Clarence, an
attorney of New York City. The next younger
brother of our subject's father was William H.
Seward, who was well known in the history of
our country, as he was Secretary of State under
Lincoln during the troublous days of the war.
His three sons are Augustus, who was Paymaster
in war times; Frederick W., Assistant Secretary
of State under his father and under Everett; and
William H., a banker of Auburn, N. Y., occu
pying the old home of his father. George W. ,
the youngest brother of E. P. Seward, and whose
residence was in Florida, died some years since,
leaving four sons, namely: Rev. Samuel S., pas
tor of a Swedenborgian Church in New York;
George F., for some years Consul-General and
minister to China, and now President of the Fi
delity and Casualty Insurance Company of New
York City; William H., who is engaged in busi
ness with George F. ; and Dr. John L. , a medical
practitioner in Orange, N. J.
As previously mentioned, Edwin P. Seward
was reared in Florida, in this county, and early
took charge of his father's business. Upon the
latter's death he went to reside on a farm in the
vicinity, continuing to cultivate the place for four
teen years. Subsequently returning to the vil
lage of Florida, he died there in 1872, when in
his seventy-third year. He was a quiet, unas
suming man, and a faithful member of the Pres
byterian Church. He was twice married, his first
wife being Rachel, daughter of George Armstrong,
who was in the War of 1812, and who was one
of the enterprising farmers in the locality of Flor
ida, whither he had emigrated from the North of
Ireland. One of his sons, Rev. Robert Arm-

10

290

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

strong, is a prominent minister of Newburgh.
Mrs. Rachel Seward, who died in 1847, became
the mother of nine children, only four of whom
are now living. Mary A. is the wife of Dr. D. C.
Jayne, of Florida; William Edwin died in Florida
in 1892; Frances A. married C. H. Scharff, who
was a prominent attorney of Newark, N. J., and
his widow now lives in New York City ; Thurlow
W. has been with the American District Tele
graph Company of Brooklyn since the organiza
tion of the same; Jasper A. died in Florida in
1894. The second marriage of Mr. Seward was
with Ellen Terry, of Craigsville, N. Y., who bore
him four daughters. Those who survive are Mrs.
Hotchkins, of Kansas; Mrs. Thompson, of Brook
lyn; and Mrs. George Jayne, of Florida.
Dr. F. W. Seward was born in the town of
Goshen, this county, August 22, 1845, and after
attending the district schools for some time en
tered Seward Institute, which had been founded
by his grandfather. In i860 he entered the Soph
omore Class of Union College, and graduated
three years later with the degree of Bachelor of
Arts. Thence going to New York City, he took
two courses in Bellevue Hospital, later went to
the Vermont University at Burlington, being
graduated therefrom in June, 1866, with the de
gree of Doctor of Medicine, and subsequently re
turned to New York, entering the Homeopathic
Medical College as a student. In January, 1867,
he located at Middletown, where he built up a
large practice and remained for nine years. His
health failing, he went to New Mexico in 1876,
and spent three years in the West, obtaining a
new lease of life. During this period he was lo
cated principally near Trinidad, Colo. , where he
owned a ranch and devoted himself to sheep-
raising. In 1880 he traveled in California and
Arizona in every kind of a vehicle, living in the
fresh outdoor air, and giving much of his time
to hunting. At length, in 1882, he returned
East, well and hearty. Settling in Goshen, he
built up a large practice in a very short time, but
in December, 1889, was seriously stricken with
rheumatism, and once more gave up his practice,
traveling in South Carolina, and in other states of
the South and West. In 1892 he made another

trip to New Mexico, and derived great benefit
from his stay at Las Vegas, Hot Springs. In
1890 he bought his present property and opened
the sanitarium known as "Interpines." This
venture has proved very successful in every way,
and is meeting the needs of a large class of people.
December 27, 1866, Dr. Seward was married in
Florida, Orange County, N. Y., to Ella Arm
strong, who died three years later, leaving two
children: Edwin P., who is a ranchman and real-
estate dealer in New Mexico; and Ella, who is
at home. October 31, 1873, the Doctor married
Matie Cory, of Plainfield, N. J., and of this union
three children have been born, namely: Frederick
W., Jr., who graduated from the local seminary,
and is a member of the New York Homeopathic
Medical College, Class of '98; Matie, who is now
in the Virgil School of Music in New York City;
and Bertha. The family are members of the Pres
byterian Church of this village, and move in the
best social circles of the place. Dr. Seward has
been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many
years. He has always been interested in the cause
of education, and is President of the Goshen
School Board. For a number of years he served
on the Committee of School Construction, and
formerly, when in Middletown, was also connect
ed with the Board of Education.

(JOSEPH B. VAN DUZER, a native of the
| town of Warwick, was born July 21, 18 17,
Q) and was the eldest son and fourth child born
to John and Nancy (Benedict) Van Duzer, who
were also natives of Orange County. John Van
Duzer was quite a prominent man in his day,
representing his county as a member of the Gen
eral Assembly. Although a farmer, he took an
active interest in all public affairs and was well
posted in the affairs of state and nation. E[is
death, which occurred in 1858, was mourned not
alone by his family, but by the entire community
as well. The mother of our subject followed her

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

291

husband to the grave in 1861. Christopher Van
Duzer, the grandfather of our subject, was also a
native of Orange County, and engaged in the mill
ing business. He was Captain in the Continen
tal army and faithfully served his country during
the struggle for liberty. On one occasion when
the British were coming up the Hudson River,
Captain Van Duzer and a fellow-officer were
standing where the British could see them. They
fired on the Captain and his companion, but the
ball whizzed by them, struck a chestnut tree, and
then a rail, which was broken. Captain Van Du
zer picked up the ball and retained it as a relic.
His wife was Julia Tusten, a sister of Major Tus-
ten, who was killed by the Indians at the battle
of Minisink.
Joseph B. Van Duzer received but a limited
education. In his youth the schools were quite
inferior, and the growing family of his father
made it necessary for him to begin' work on the
farm at a very early date. With the exception
of the short time that he assisted his father in the
lumber business at Monroe, he has spent his en
tire life in agricultural pursuits. On his present
farm, which comprises seventy six well improved
acres, he has made his home for forty years, and
for several years he has been extensively engaged
in the milk business.
In 1 85 1 Mr. Van Duzer was married to Miss
Ann Maria Sly, a daughter of Col. John Sly, who
was born in the town of Warwick. Three chil
dren survive that union:' Sarah, wife of Edward S.
Hasbrouk, of Goshen, who has two children,
Joseph B. D. and E. Augustus; and Jennie H.
and James C, at home. Alice died in infancy;
and John S., the third-born in the family, died
December 30, 1883, aged about twenty-four years.
His wife survived him about four years, leaving
one son, named John S. Mrs. Ann M. Van Du
zer died in 1866, and in 1870 our subject mar
ried Margaret Van Buskirk, of Bergen County,
N. J. She is a member of the Lutheran Church
of that county, while Mr. Van Duzer affiliates
\jrith the old-school Baptist Church. Up to a
short time ago he always cast his vote for the
nominees of the Democratic party; now, however,
he is a Prohibitionist, and will henceforth use

every honorable means in the destruction of the
liquor traffic. He is a kind husband, a fond and
indulgent father, an accommodating neighbor
and a worthy citizen.

OQlLLIAM H. WISNER, of the town of
\KI Warwick, was born upon the farm where
W he now resides, August 23, 1822, and is
the second child of William and Hannah (Wood
ruff) Wisner, both of whom were natives of
Orange County. The father was born not far
from where our subject now lives. Politically he
was an old-line Whig, and a great admirer of
Henry Clay. He died in 1845, at the age of six
ty-three years. His father, Henry Wisner, the
grandfather of our subject, was quite a prominent
factor in Orange County in an early day, and rep
resented the county six consecutive terms in the
General Assembly, and also served as a Lieuten
ant-Colonel in the Revolutionary War. The good
mother of our subject followed her husband to
the grave in 1854.
The subject of this sketch received his primary
education in the district schools, and subsequently
attended the academy at Newburgh for a time. He
was reared on the farm and has always followed
the occupation of a farmer. The place on which
he lives is known as Evergreen Farm. His resi
dence, which is situated in the midst of pictur
esque scenery, was built from the timber sawed out
by his own hands, and much of it from his own
lands. The farm comprises two hundred and
forty acres, and in addition to general farming he
is engaged in the dairy business.
William H. Wisner was united in marriage, in
1855, with Miss Phcebe A. Houston, a daughter of
James C. and Annis B. (Wood) Houston, the
latter of whom is still living, at the age of eighty-
five years. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wisner
was blessed with eight children, all living: James
H., of this county; Mary H., wife of George Van
Alst, of Montgomery; Kate and Annie E., at
home; Nellie, wife of Robert L. Higby, of Brook
lyn, N. Y.; H. Elizabeth, wife of W. W. Buck-

292

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bee, of Stone Bridge; Emma W. and William H.,
at home. Mrs. Wisner died in 1884.
In politics Mr. Wisner is a stanch Republican.
For a time he was a member ofthe Governor's
staff, having a commission issued by Governor
Bout. He has held several local positions, but
has never aspired to local office.

BYRON EARL. This name will be at
once recognized by our readers as that of one
of the prominent and successful young mer
chants of Turner, where his birth occurred May
9, 1865. He attended the public school until
twelve years of age, when he went to work in his
father's store. He has advanced step by step
until he is now at the head of a large and paying
business, which he conducts after the most ap
proved business methods.
The parents of our subject were Thomas R.
and Euphemia T. (Rumsey) Earl, the former of
whom was born near Monroe, July 10, 1834, and
departed this life January 7, 1886. He was
reared to mature years on a farm in this county,
and about 1864 entered into partnership with
Charles Ostrander in the mercantile business.
They succeeded in their undertakings, but two
years later Mr. Earl purchased the interest of his
partner, and from that time until the day of his
death was regarded as one of the substantial bus
iness men of Turner.
Having learned all the details of managing a
large business, our subject was thoroughly com
petent to take charge of affairs on the death of his
father. For two years thereafter he remained at
the old stand, then changing his location to his
present business block, where he has a good estab
lishment, well stocked with the articles used both
in the city and country household; and as his
prices are popular and he gives prompt atten
tion to all orders, he commands a goodly share of
the patronage of the people of Turner and vicinity.
The grandparents of our subject were Daniel
and Esther S. (Sands) Earl, farmers of the town
of Monroe, in which locality the former was born
April 20, 1789, and died August 25, 1855. He

in turn was the son of Peter Earl, also a native of
the town of Monroe, who married a Miss Bull. Es
ther S. Sands was the daughter of Benjamin Y.
and Amy (Hallock) Sands, natives of Marl
borough, Ulster County, who were of Scotch de
scent, while the Earls were of English origin, and
almost without an exception were members of the
Society of Friends.
Euphemia T. Rumsey was born at Central
Valley and was the daughter of Courtland and
Michael (Thorn) Rumsey. Her father was a
blacksmith by trade, and moved to Turner when
Mrs. Earl was an infant. T. Byron, of this
sketch, was married March 22, 1888, near Sloats-
burg, Rockland County, to Miss Fannie E. Greg
ory, who was born near West Milford, N. J. The
lady was the daughter of Eugene R. and Juliet
(Brooks) Gregory, natives also of New Jersey.
Mrs. Earl was one in a family of seven children
born to her parents, and by her union with our
subject has a son, Leroy G., who was born June
18, 1889.
In politics Mr. Earl never fails to cast his vote
and influence in favor of Prohibition candidates
and has done much toward extending the good
work in his community. He sustains a most en
viable reputation for strict integrity and firmness
of purpose, and in carrying on his chosen busi
ness not only gains a handsome income, but the
good-will of the community at large.

I II Hi >J | 1 | I || I 1

(TOHN WEYANT FORD, who owns a com-
I modious and handsome residence near High-
Q) land Mills, was born in Southfield, Orange
County, September 3, 1853, being a son of
Charles T. and Martha (Weyant) Ford. When a
year old he was taken by his parents to Sterling,
where he remained until he was eighteen, mean
time attending the schools of that place until six- .
teen years old. He spent one year as a student
in the Seward Institute at Florida, Orange Coun
ty, and when seventeen attended a private school
taught by Dr. L. P. La Due, at Cornwall Heights,
remaining there one year.
About that time the family moved to a farm

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

293

opposite our subject's present home, and there
he resided .until the ist of April, 1891, when he
moved to the place he now owns. For a number
of years after his marriage he engaged in farm
ing in partnership with his father, and upon the
death of the latter, in 1887, he received the old
homestead of one hundred and thirteen acres.
From that time until 1895 he continued the cult
ivation of the property, but in the spring of the
year last named he built a large summer boarding-
house, which he has since carried on.
The father of our subject, Charles T. Ford,
was born March 14, 18 15, and on the 13th of
April, 1840, at Central Valley, he was united in
marriage with Miss Martha Weyant, the cere
mony being performed by Rev. Eli Dennison.
The wife and mother was born September 12,
1 8 17, and passed from earth September 16, 1890,
about fifty years after her marriage. Our subject
was united in marriage, in the town of Wood
bury, October 14, 1874, with Miss Elizabeth
Smith Rider, a native of New York and a resi
dent of Orange County from the age of seven
years. Her father, King Rider, was born in the
town of Cornwall, December 7, 1820, and died
August 15, 1871. December 7, 1848, he mar
ried Hannah Turner Smith, who was born near
Turner, December 7, 1827. They became the
parents of six children, one of whom died in in
fancy unnamed. The others were as follows:
Charles and Stephen, who died at the ages of
eighteen and twenty-two months, respectively;
Elizabeth S. , wife of our subject; James Ashael,
who resides on the old homestead; and Edward
Powell, who lives in Central Valley.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Ford -were
James and Nancy (Campbell) Rider, the former
born in Cornwall, the latter in Scotland in 1800,
being brought to America by her parents at the
age of seven years. James was a sou of King
Rider, Sr., and his wife was a daughter of
Charles and Isabella (Campbell) Campbell, who
were distantly related to each other, and became
residents of this country about 1807. The mater
nal grandparents of Mrs. Ford were Ashael and
Elizabeth (Turner) Smith, who were married in
1816. Grandfather Smith was born about 1795,

and was a son of Clark and Susan (Davenport)
Smith. He was a soldier in the War of 1812,
and died in March, 1867.
The union of our subject and his wife has been
blessed with three children, Emma S., Irving K.
and Clara L- The family attend the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Highland Mills, to which
Mr. and Mrs. Ford belong. Politically he ad
heres to Republican principles, and in his frater
nal relations is connected with Schunnemunk
Lodge No. 276, K. P., at Highland Mills. The
excellent judgment which he displays in carrying
on his boarding-house will cause it to prove
financially profitable to him.

-^=^>^<!

(Q>^

3USTUS CLARK. Of the farmers in the town
of Minisink none are more thoroughly ac
quainted with its development and growth,
or more deeply interested in its progress, than the
gentleman named. The farm where he was born
and upon which he still makes his home con
sists of one hundred and fourteen acres of well
tilled land. Assuming the management of this
place when he was twenty-five years old, he soon
afterwards purchased it and has since engaged in
its cultivation. A man of good mental calibre,
energetic and capable, his honesty and enterprise
as a farmer have won for him the esteem of his
fellow-townsmen. The birth of Justus Clark occurred October 30,
1826, his parents being Samuel and Hannah
(Van Fleet) Clark, natives of Orange County
and New Jersey, respectively . Grandfather James
Clark was the first representative of the family
who located in Orange County. Our subject is
the next to the youngest of a family of five chil
dren, the others being Uriah, deceased; Rebecca,
Benjamin and Mary. He was reared on the
home farm, and on arriving at man's estate estab
lished domestic ties by his marriage to Miss Elsie
J. Clark, who, though bearing the same name,
was not related to him. Three children came to
bless their union, concerning whom we note the
following: Mary J. is the wife of Emmett Mc-
Bride, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits

294

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in this county; Sarah L- was united in marriage
with Charles W. Elston, a farmer living in Sus
sex County, N. J.; Samuel, the youngest of the
family, died in boyhood. A heavy sorrow befell
the family when the loving wife and mother was
called from earth, in April, 1890, at the age of
sixty years. Her body was laid to rest in the
Unionville Cemetery, but though she herself has
gone, the memory of her true and consistent life
cheers her husband in his declining years, and
her children "rise up to call her blessed."
In all his dealings with others Mr. Clark has
acted upon the noblest Christian motives, striv
ing to carry out in his daily life the principles
of the Golden Rule. His membership is in the
Christian Church, the doctrines of which he ad
vocates because they are the nearest in accord
with the apostolic teachings. He takes a com
mendable interest in public affairs and is especi
ally interested in matters pertaining to the wel
fare of his immediate locality. In politics he is a
Democrat, unswerving in his allegiance to party
principles. He has held the office of Assessor
and other local positions of trust, and in these
posts of responsibility, as well as in private af
fairs, he has discharged to the best of his ability
every, duty devolving upon him.

+=

=*

fi> GjlLLIAM H. WILLCOX, of the town of
\ A / Warwick, is numbered among the solid
V V men of Orange County. He comes of an
old and representative family, his father, John
Willcox, also being a native of this town, to which
the grandfather of our subject, Joseph Willcox,
had come from Long Island. The father married
Hannah Howell, and the couple spent their entire
lives in Orange County. The father died at the
advanced age of eighty-five, while the mother is
yet living, at the age of ninety-three years. She
is in fair health and her voice is as clear as in
youth. The Willcoxes are pioneers of this coun
ty and no family is more highly respected.
William H. Willcox was born on a farm near

where he still resides, in 1837. His primary ed
ucation was received in the district schools, and
was supplemented by one term in Eddy town,
Yates County, this state. His entire life has
been spent upon a farm, and he now owns two
hundred and forty-four acres of fine land, under a
high state of cultivation. He is engaged in mixed
farming, but gives much of his attention to the
cultivation of peaches, which form one of his
principal crops. He has eleven hundred trees in
one orchard and fifteen hundred in another, and
cultivates principally the late and early Craw-
fords. The fruit is of such fine quality and fla
vor that a ready sale is found in the home mar
kets of Orange County. During the harvesting of
the crop about twenty-five capable hands are en
gaged constantly, gathering and conveying the
fruit to market. A walk through his fine or
chards at the picking season is worth a journey
of many miles to accomplish. He also deals to a
limited extent in milk, which is shipped direct to
New York City.
In 1861 Mr. Willcox married Miss Frances M.
Waterbury, a native of the town of Warwick,
where her parents were also born. Nine chil
dren were born unto them, five of whom have
passed to the better world. Those living are:
Lizzie, yet at home; John, who is the genial pro
prietor of the Amity House, and whose sketch
appears on another page of this work; and Han
nah and Lewis, now residing at home.
Mr. Willcox is a member of the Masonic order.
In politics he is a Republican, in all national and
state affairs voting his party ticket, but in local
affairs voting for such men as he thinks best
qualified for the office.

NS

m

it^-

«VSAAC H. THOMPSON, one of the prominent
I farmers of the town of Woodbury, was born
X on the old homestead in this county, which
is now occupied by his brother Alexander, April
11, 1827. He attended the schools at Turner,
near which place the tract is located, until nine
teen years of age, when he was apprenticed to
learn the carpenter's trade, serving as a helper

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

2*95

for two years; he then learned drafting, and for a
period of about thirty years worked throughout
the county. For five years afterward, or from
1862 to 1867, he was employed by a Mr. Parrott,
having charge of two furnaces at Arden, and had
under him two hundred and fifty workmen. For
a period of five years he was also in the lumber
and coal business at Turner.
Mr. Thompson retired from working at his
trade in April, 1871, and located upon his present
fine estate, which he had purchased the year be
fore. It is one hundred and eighty-five acres in
extent, and is all cultivated. He has it well stock
ed with fine cattle and horses, wintering about
seventy-five head of the former, and he also sells
yearly about forty tons of hay from his land.
The estate is watered with five springs. He is
also interested in the dairy business, giving spe
cial attention to this department of farming, and
ships about thirty thousand gallons of milk each
year. He is progressive and enterprising, and it
was mainly through his influence that the cream
ery was established at Turner.
Mr. Thompson was united in marriage, on the
farm where he now resides, January 18, 1852, to
Miss Elizabeth Earl, who was born at Turner,
and who was the daughter of Elmer and Sarah
(Earl) Earl. Her mother died at the age of
eighty- six years, and her father departed this
life in November, 1869, when in his sixty-third
year. To them was born a family of five chil
dren, three of whom survive: Elizabeth, Mrs.
Thompson; William, who is engaged in farming
near Oxford; and John G., a farmer near High
land Mills. For a complete history of the par
ents of our subject, we refer the reader to a sketch
of his brother, Alexander Thompson, which ap
pears elsewhere in this volume.
Ofthe five children born to our subject and his
wife, Rachel and Sarah are deceased; Ehxier E.
is employed on a railroad at Hoboken, N. J. ;
Lizzie married E. H. Welling, the proprietor ofa
meat-market at Monroe; and Virgil Y., who is
engaged in farming with his father, married Lucy
Brush, of West Point.
Mrs. Thompson is a devoted member of the
Presbyterian Church at Monroe. In politics our

subject is a stanch supporter of Democratic prin
ciples in national affairs, but during local elec
tions casts a ballot in favor of the man who in his
opinion will best fill the office. He is prominent
in public affairs, and for a period of nine years
held the office of Highway Commissioner in the
town of Woodbury.

m-

•*-

30HN C. BOYD, M. D., deceased, was born
in New Jersey, December 2, 1819, and at an
early age removed with his parents to Mon-
ticello, N. Y., but later went to the village of
Monroe to make his home. In Deckertown, N. J. ,
he studied medicine, and in Philadelphia took
a course of medical lectures. About 1840 he
began the practice of his profession in Monroe,
and continued in the discharge of the duties in
cident to his chosen occupation until failing health
obliged him to relinquish active work. His death
occurred in 1893.
Dr. Boyd was the only son of Rev. John Boyd,
who was born in America of Irish parentage and
who, entering the ministry of the Presbyterian
Church, held pastorates in New Jersey and Mont-
icello, N. Y. He died in Monroe about 1838.
By his marriage with Margaret Gaston, of New
Jersey, six daughters and one son were born.
In Deckertown, Sussex County, N. J., March 2,
1843, occurred the marriage of Dr. Boyd and
Miss Nancy Evans, who was born in that place.
Her parents, Hon. James and Catherine (Haines)
Evans, were born in Sussex County, where her
father was a prominent mill-owner and manufact
urer; he served his district three terms as a mem
ber of the Legislature and was a man of influ
ence. His wife, Catherine, was a daughter of
Peter Haines, and by their union they had six
children, Mrs. Boyd being next to the youngest.
Seven children were born to Dr. and Mrs.
Boyd. Of these we note the following: Joseph
T. lives in Idaho; Evans is an upholsterer in New
York; Elizabeth is deceased; Emma married
Michael M. Kane, a lawyer of Warwick; Clara is

296

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

next in order of birth; Agnes is the wife of Al-
mon Seeley, who resides near Oxford, Orange
County; and William T., a railroad man, has
charge of all operators between New York and
Port Jervis.

1=1

"SI

€+^[

[TMMET SEWARD ELMER, M. D., a re-
TtJ tired physician residing in Central Valley,
|__ was born in Unionville, this county, Decem
ber 30,- 1849. He remained in the village of his
birth, meantime attending school, until twelve
years of age, when he accompanied his father to
Chester, and there continued his studies. On
leaving school, he was engaged in different occu
pations, principally clerking, until twenty, when
he commenced to read medicine under Dr. A. P.
Farries, of Florida, N. Y. For several years aft
erward he carried on his professional studies in
the medical department of the State University of
Michigan, graduating in 1873.
On the completion of his medical studies, the
Doctor began practice in the town of Hampton-
burgh, where he remained a year, but the illness
of a brother caused him to discontinue profes
sional work and travel with him through the
West, in the hope that a change of climate might
prove beneficial to the invalid. During this trip,
in the spring of 1874, the brother was drowned
in the Red River of the North. In the fall of the
same year the Doctor entered the University Med
ical College of New York, where he remained for
a time. In the winter of 1874-75 he held a posi
tion on Blackwell's Island, and in the fall of 1875
received an appointment to the Hartford Hospital.
Again returning to this county, the Doctor
opened an office in Monroe in the spring of 1876,
and there he remained for four years. In 1880
he went to Dakota, where he remained for two
years on a farm near Fargo, superintending the
management of the place. On his return East
he came to Orange County and began the prac
tice of his profession in the village of Cornwall,
remaining there until the death of his father-in-
law, Morgan Shuit, in July, 1884. In the settle
ment ofthe estate, he bought the Shuit residence

and came to Central Valley, where he has since
made his home, and since that time he has re
tired from the profession.
October 18, 1878, Dr. Elmer married Miss Sa
rah M., daughter of Morgan and Mary Ann
(Titus) Shuit, and one child blesses their union,
a son named Morgan Shuit. Dr. and Mrs. El
mer are members of the Presbyterian Church of
Monroe, and occupy an honored position in social
circles. He still takes an active interest in his
profession, notwithstanding his inability to en
gage in active practice, and is connected with the
Orange County Medical Society. Politically he
votes the Republican ticket.
The parents ofthe Doctor, Henry D. and Julia
Ann (DeKay) Elmer, were natives, respectively,
of Goshen, N.Y., and Franklin, N.J. Hisfather,
who was born in 1 8 1 2 , was employed as a harness-
maker at Unionville for more than thirty years,
and died at Chester, in 1869. He was the son of
Micah and Elizabeth (Allison) Elmer, the former
of whom inherited a valuable farm, but failed to
increase his possessions, being a good-natured,
easy-going man, liberal-hearted and generous to
a fault. The parents of Micah were Dr. William and
Mary (Allison) Elmer, of Goshen, and the former
was a son of Dr. Nathaniel Elmer, of Florida,
N. Y., who was born February 17, 1732, in Wil
ton, Conn., and departed this life in December,
1797. In 1775 he was Captain of a company
of Florida soldiers, under Col. John Haythorn,
of Warwick. Mary Allison was a daughter of
Gen. William and Mary (Jackson) Allison, the
former of whom was born in Chester in 1738, be
ing a son of Joseph Allison, who came here from
Southold, L. L, in 1725, and died thirty years
afterward. Gen. William Allison was a delegate to the.
First Provincial Congress, also served in the
Second and Third Congresses, and in the Fourth
until May, 1777, when he went to the front to
take an active part in the struggle with England.
On the organization of a Goshen regiment in
1775 he was commissioned Colonel, and in April,
1777, he and his men were in constant action to
prevent the opening of the Hudson by the British

JAMES M. CRANE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

299

General, Burgoyne, on the north, and Clinton on
the south. He and his son Micah were in the
army when the British captured Ft. Montgomery,
October 5, 1777. Taken prisoner by the British,
he was held in captivity until December, 1780,
when he was allowed to rejoin his friends. In
1783 he was commissioned Brigadier-General,
and in 1788 he was again commissioned, but the
latter papers he never saw, as they were in the
possession of Lieutenant-Colonel Tusten, who
fell in the battle with the Indians in Minisink.
The commission, however, was afterward recov
ered, and is now in the possession of Mrs. Mary
Knight, of Monroe. In 1783 he was elected to
the State Senate, which position he filled with
efficiency and distinction until 1786. -At the
close of the war he resumed farming, and ulti
mately became a very wealthy man, being the
largest tax-payer of his town. His death occurred
here in 18 14, bringing to a close an honorable,
useful and more than ordinarily brilliant life and
career.

-?— » — »>K®i§iii®H<i — » — 5-

QAMES M. CRANE, A. M., Pd. M., one of
I the most able educators of this section of the
Q) state, was born in Circleville, Orange Coun
ty, January 13, 1842. His father, Josiah Crane,
was born in the town of Wallkill, of the same
county, and the grandfather, Benjamin Crane,
was a native of Morristown, N. J. The great
grandfather, Josiah Crane, was also born in Mor
ristown, and was a son of Edward Crane. The
latter married Abigail Kitchel, and settled in
Morris County, N. J., in the early part of the
eighteenth century . The great-grandfather of our
subject, Capt. Josiah Crane, was born June 26,
1745. He was a hatter and furrier of Morris-
town, and during the Revolutionary War served
as a Captain in the Colonial army. The writer
had the opportunity of examining a transcript
from the office of the Adjutant-General of the
state of New Jersey to the effect that Capt. Jo
siah Crane served as a Lieutenant in Capt. Is

aac Halsey's company, Eastern Battalion, Morris
County (N. J.) Militia, August and September,
1776; he also served as Captain ofthe same dur
ing the balance of the Revolutionary War. In
1783 he removed with his family to the town of
Wallkill, and, settling in the midst of a forest,
built a log cabin and began to clear and improve
a farm. He married Abigail Hathaway, March
28, 1768, and they had five children, of whom
Benjamin aforesaid was the eldest, born Febru
ary 12, 1769. The latter operated his father's
place for a time, and then removed to Susque
hanna County, Pa., where he spent his last days.
The father of Professor Crane was in early life
a teacher and farmer near Circleville, but later
gave his attention entirely to agricultural pur
suits. For some years he served as Justice of
the Peace. In politics he was a Democrat, and
was one of the founders and an Elder of the
Presbyterian Church of Circleville. He was born
in 1795, and died at the age of seventy-five. His
wife, who bore the maiden name of Keziah S.
Sturgis, and was also a native of Orange County,
died in the eightieth year of her age. In the
family were eight children, six of whom grew to
mature years, while five of the number are yet
living, namely: William H., a farmer ofthe town
of Wallkill; Josiah M., a contractor of Jersey
City; Mrs. Elizabeth Leebody, a widow, residing
in Susquehanna County, Pa. ; Mrs. Phcebe Wolfe,
of Hoboken, N. J. ; and James M. , of this sketch.
Professor Crane was reared on the old home
farm, began his education in the district schools,
and took a preparatory collegiate course under a
private tutor and in a private school in Circle
ville. At the age of seventeen he began teach
ing in the latter place, and was thus employed
until entering the Albany Normal School, from
which he was graduated in 1863. In 1890 he re
ceived the honorary degree of A. M. from Union
College, and in June, 1893, on completing the
course of study in the University of New York
City, received the degree of Master of Pedagogy.
On leaving the normal school, he resumed teach
ing, which he has followed continuously since.
He was first Principal of the school at Roslyn,
on Long Island, and after a year accepted a sim-

3oo

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ilar position at Walden, N. Y., where he re
mained for three years. In the fall of 1866 he
came to Newburgh as Principal of Grammar
School No. 4, and after serving in that capacity
for two years accepted the position of first assist
ant ofthe Newburgh Free Academy.
Professor Crane's connection with this school
has since continued, and for eighteen years he
was the instructor of the graduating class, serv
ing in that capacity until 1886, when, on the re
tirement of Professor Doughty, the Board of Edu
cation made him Principal of the academy. He
was the first to occupy the position after the com
pletion of the new academy building in the au
tumn of 1886. The school has had a steady
growth since 1866, but its greatest improvement
has been within the last ten years, under the able
leadership of Professor Crane. There are now
over five hundred pupils under the care and in
struction of fifteen teachers, not including Pro
fessor Crane, who teaches mathematics and Latin.
In 1886 the manual training department was
added, and the work in its various departments
is now very complete. The graduating certificate
of this academy will admit the holder to Cor
nell, Union College, the Albany Normal School,
and other institutions of merit, and many of the
graduates upon examination have been admitted
to Yale, Columbia and Princeton Colleges. Pro
fessor Crane has long made a study of pedagogy,
and is still continuing post-graduate work in the
University of the City of New York.
In 1872 the Professor married Miss Elizabeth
P. Murray, a native of Irviugton, N. Y., and a
daughter of John and Margaret (Patterson) Mur
ray. The latter were natives of Scotland, and
soon after their marriage they emigrated to the
United States. The father was a carpenter and
contractor by trade, and died in 1894. The
mother has also passed away. The Professor
and Mrs. Crane have two children: Edith E.,
who graduated from the academy in 1889, at the
age of fifteen; and James T., who graduated from
the academy in 1894, and will graduate from
Yale College in 1898.
Professor Crane is a stalwart Republican, and
in 1885 he was elected on that ticket to the Board

of Water Commissioners to fill a vacancy, was
re-elected in 1886, serving six years in all, and
was acting President of the Board for three years.
During this time the Newburgh service reservoir
was built, and many other improvements made.
He always takes a deep interest in anything per
taining to the progress and advancement of the
community. He is a member and Trustee of
Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M., and is
also a Trustee of Calvary Presbyterian Church.
In his school work he has been most successful,
and has attained a high reputation, which only
merit could secure, winning a place among the
able educators of the state, and placing the in
stitution with which he has so long been con
nected on a very advanced plane.

j*****

^?•{'?•{•l-

3*****§ii(gg'>{.*'{.*F

Gl RCHIBALD McBRIDE. For many years
LA Mr. McBride was numbered among the hon-
/ I ored citizens of the town of Minisink. His
death, which took place August 22, 1888, awoke
expressions of profound sorrow, not only from the
inner circle of his intimate friends, but also from
all who had admired the integrity of his charac
ter and the strength of his nature. In the man
agement of his interests he displayed soundness
of judgment. His farm of one hundred and
twenty acres he placed under good cultivation,
and its substantial buildings proved his industry
and perseverance.
The record of the life of Mr. McBride, which
was filled with deeds of quiet helpfulness rather
than striking novelty, may be briefly told. He
was born in the town of Greenville, May 5, 1825,
being the son of Henry and Mary McBride. He
grew to manhood in the same neighborhood, and
at the age of twenty-four, January 2, 1847, he
was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Clark.
Two sons came to bless their union, the elder of
whom, Wellington, resides in New York City
and is proprietor of a laundry there; the younger,
Nelson, lives on Long Island and is a druggist
by occupation.
' Though reared upon a farm, Mr. McBride de
cided, upon attaining an age when it became nee-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

301

essary to choose an occupation, that he would
prefer a trade, and accordingly he learned the
cooper's trade. Upon completing his apprentice
ship he began work at his chosen occupation and
was thus engaged for eighteen years. He did
not, however, wholly relinquish farm work, but
made his home upon a farm and had his shop
near his dwelling. In 1852 he removed to a farm
in the town of Minisink and gave his attention to
the cultivation of the one hundred and twenty
acres comprising this place. Here he continued
to reside until his death, and here his widow still
remains. In his political views Mr. McBride was a stanch
Democrat, and to that party he always gave his
ballot and active influence. While he began life
in very moderate circumstances, such were his
industry and force of character that he attained a
large share of this world's goods, and in his last
days he was surrounded by every comfort. His
widow, who was his faithful companion and help
mate for more than forty years, continues to make
her home upon the old place. She is an exemplary
woman, worthy of the respect called forth by her
kindness of heart and other attractive personal
qualities.

Gz

(zJ

-G)

Tl)

j EWIS LEE is one of the oldest surviving
I C citizens of the town of Minisink and, in view
[ifU of his age and prominence, it is fitting that
• a record of his life should be inserted in this vol
ume. He was born December 22, 18 14, upon
the farm where he now resides. Having spent
the greater portion of his life here, he has had
the advantage of witnessing the progress of the
county, and his name is connected with many a
worthy enterprise to promote the welfare of the
community. He has a wide acquaintance, and
the conduct of his life has been such as to com
mend him to the regard of the people.
The parents of our subject were Daniel and
Sarah (Aber) Lee, the former of whom traced
his lineage to France. They spent their lives

upon a farm, and devoted themselves to the work
of training their children for positions of useful
ness and honor. Seven sons and four daughters
were born to them, and of that number five sons
and one daughter still survive, namely: Lewis;
Ellen, who married Nelson Hatch; Charles M.,
Henry B., John L. and William C.
The advantages offered our subject in boyhood
were greatly inferior to those enjoyed by the boys
of the present generation, but he was a sturdy,
rugged lad, inclined to make the best of every
thing, and possessing a fund of perseverance and
determination that proved a splendid capital. He
grew to manhood on the home farm and early in
life established domestic ties, being united in mar
riage, in 1842, with Miss Experience Teasdale.
Their marriage was solemnized at Deckertown,
N. J. , where he was engaged in keeping a leather
store. Four children were born to their union,
one of whom died in childhood. The others are:
Martin E., a farmer by occupation; Isabella, who
married John R. Tryou, and who died in June,
1895; and Frances E., who is at home. Mrs.
Lee died in June, 1890.
In early manhood Mr. Lee spent a year in
Indiana, but concluding that the East was a bet
ter place to live in, he returned to New York.
For six years he resided in Deckertown, N. J.,
but with these two exceptions he has known no
other home than the place of his birth and the
scene of his youthful activities. He learned the
tanner's and currier's trade, at which he found
employment until 1848. The death of his father
in 1849 caused a change in his plans and he re
turned to the old homestead to assume its man
agement. The property comprises one hundred
and forty acres, upon which first-class improve
ments have been made, and which is devoted to
dairying and farming. Notwithstanding his ad
vanced age, he is still quite vigorous, and is able
to superintend the cultivation of his place, as well
as to take an interest in current events.
During the existence of the Whig party, Mr.
Lee championed its principles, and upon its dis
integration he allied himself with the Republican
party, to which he has since adhered. He is proud
of the fact that he voted for General Harrison,

302

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and also for that famous soldier's grandson for the
Presidency. In religious belief he is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, to which he contrib
utes and in the welfare of which he takes a deep
interest. Many years have passed by since he
was graduated from the little seminary at West-
town, and time in its rapid flight has witnessed
many changes wrought by the hand of man; it
has seen him a vigorous youth, preparing to be
gin the battle of life; a sturdy, energetic man,
taking his part in the progress of his community ;
and now it sees him, an aged man, looking back
upon a life well spent in the service of his fellow-
men and his God.

¦^????????????^???????????**X>.
(JOHN NELSON BULL has passed almost his
I entire life upon the farm in the town of Mon-
\~) roe where he now resides. He is therefore
well known among the people of this vicinity,
and stands high in their estimation by reason of
his perseverance, energy and strict attention to
business. His specialty has always been dairy
farming, for which he has a decided preference
and in which he has met with considerable suc
cess. Perhaps no resident, of the district has
aided in the promotion of its educational affairs
more than has he, and during the twenty-six
years in which he has served as School Trustee
he has advanced the standard of scholarship
and in other ways benefited the schools of the
locality. The family of which our subject is a member
has been long established in America, and his
great-grandfather was a soldier in the War ofthe
Revolution. Grandfather Isaac Bull was a mason
by trade, and married a Miss Mapes, establishing
his home in the town of Blooming Grove, where
he continued to reside until his death. His son
Franklin, our subject's father, was born in that
town, and in early manhood adopted the calling
of a farmer, which he made his life work. He
married Mahala Clark, whose mother was a Miss
Crabtree, and who was a native of the town of
Blooming Grove. They became the parents
of nine children, of whom only four survive,

namely: Hiram, who is engaged in farming in
the town of Blooming Grove; Harrison, whose
home is in the -village of Monroe; John N., of
this sketch; and Sarah Maria, wife of Benjamin
Edsall, of Milford, N, Y.
When a child of one year our subject was
brought to the farm where he now lives, and
since then he has remained here continuously,
with the exception of two years during the war,
when he was employed in Cold Springs, Putnam
County. In the town of Blooming Grove, Octo
ber 28, 1865, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Dough
erty, widow of James C. Dougherty, and daugh
ter of James and Rebecca (Raymond) Hall. Her
father was a son of John and Elizabeth Hall,
and her mother a daughter of John Raymond.
In religious belief Mrs. Bull is connected with
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his politi
cal relations our subject is a Republican. By
his marriage three children have been born,
namely: Edward; Henry, who married Nellie
George; and Fred, who is with his parents.

QATHANIEL R. FEAGLES, of the town of
fy Warwick, comes of German ancestors, his
I LD grandfather, Jacob Feagles, having emigrat
ed from Germany at a very early date and settled
in Orange County. Here he reared his family,
and here Jacob H. Feagles, the father of our sub
ject, was born. He married Susan Roe, who was
also a native of Orange County. The father,
who was an attorney by profession, was engaged
in the practice of law for some years and at the
same time carried on a farm, in the work of
which he took a great deal of pleasure. He died
in 1862, but his wife, the mother of our subject,
survived ten years, dying in 1872. She was of
an old and influential family of Orange County.
Nathaniel R. Feagles was born near where he
still resides, in 182 1. His education was obtained
in the common schools of his native town, while
his brothers attended college and studied for pro
fessions. He persevered in his farm pursuits
and has spent nearly his entire life in this line.
About the age of thirty years he went to New

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

3°3

York City, where for five years he was engaged
in the butcher business, but since returning to
the farm has given it his earnest attention, and
now has over two hundred acres of land under a
high state of cultivation. His dwelling and out
houses are of modern construction and he is sur
rounded by every comfort calculated to make
home happy.
In 1858 Mr. Feagles was united in marriage
with Miss Elizabeth Ryerson, a native of New
Jersey. Of their family of children, one died in
childhood, and four sons and four daughters are
yet living: Mary, at home; Daisy, wife of Harry
Salkill; Annie, wife of Ezra Sanford; Libbie; Ja
cob, a farmer residing near his father; Charles;
Nathaniel, who is a merchant of Amity, and who
also farms the old homestead; and Henry. Mrs.
Feagles is a member of the Presbyterian Church
at Amity. In politics Mr. Feagles is a Republi
can, but has never aspired to official honors, al
though he has served his fellow -citizens in several
local positions. For thirty years he has been a
Director in the Chester Bank. Success has
crowned his every effort in life, and he is to-day
numbered among the well-to-do citizens of Or
ange County. In his lovely home, surrounded
by his family, he is spending the declining years
of a well spent life.

EAPT. JAMES WOOD BENEDICT, of War
wick, was born in New Canaan, Conn., Jan
uary 30, 1830, and is a son of Jonathan B.
and Fannie Benedict. The father was also a na
tive of New Canaan, and was there engaged in
farming. In the public affairs of his native state
he was quite popular, having creditably filled a
number of local positions. About 1834 the fam
ily came to Orange County and located in War
wick, where the father spent the remainder of
his life, dying in 1841. The mother, who was a
native of the town of Warwick, died in 1880, at
the age of ninety years. Her family were among
the pioneers of Orange County, locating here as

early as 1765. James Benedict was the first of
the name to come to Orange County, and was the
first Baptist minister in this section of country.
The subject of this sketch had very limited ad
vantages for obtaining an education, the schools
being very inferior to those of the present day.
After he was eleven years of age he received
four months' schooling, but as his father died at
this time it became necessary for him to devote
his attention to farm work, and from the age of
fifteen he had almost the entire charge of the
home place. He was successfully engaged in
farming from that time until the breaking out of
the Civil War. When the news reached War
wick that Ft. Sumter had been fired upon he
walked with a companion to Gray Court, the
nearest railroad point, to get New York papers.
This was on Sunday, and on the following
Wednesday a mass-meeting was held in War
wick, at which fifty loyal citizens enrolled their
names to go to the front. When it came to the
selection of a leader, however, no one wished to
take that honor, and the company was disbanded.
A little over a year later Company D, of the One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Volun
teer Infantry, was organized at Warwick, and at
their earnest solicitation Mr. Benedict became
Captain of the company.
The first engagement this company partici
pated in was at Fredericksburg, under General
Buruside. It was in every battle, skirmish and
march with the Army of the Potomac until May
12, 1864, Captain Benedict being with the regi
ment all the time. Owing to a wound received
at Spottsylvania C. H. on that day, he was sent
to the hospital, first to the rear of the army. The
day following an ambulance took them to Fred
ericksburg, where he remained a week, and was
subsequently removed to the Armory Square
Hospital at Washington, in which institution he
remained until sufficiently recovered to be sent
home. In September, 1864, he returned Jo his
company, and the next prominent engagement
in which he took part was at Hatcher's Run.
Subsequently he was promoted to be Major, Jan
uary 11, 1865, but to date from September, 1864.
He was mustered out June 3, 1865, and returned

3Q4

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Warwick battle-scarred and a cripple. He
had participated in twenty-eight engagements in
the Army of the Potomac from the time of his re
turn to the company until the final surrender of
the Confederates. He was hit thirteen times, but
was seriously wounded only once.
Captain Benedict was united in marriage with
Miss Harriett Durland February 28, 1866. She
was a daughter of Thomas E. and Mary Ellen
(Booth) Durland, natives of Orange County and
descendants of the first white people of this sec
tion. The marriage of Captain and Mrs. Bene
dict has been blessed by the birth of six children.
Mary Ellen, the second-born, died in Missouri
at the age of three years. Those living are
Fanny, Jessie A., Antoinette Bell, Hugh and
Sarah, all at home with their father, the mother
having died June 5, 1884.
Soon after his marriage Captain Benedict and his
bride moved to Missouri, where they lived eight
years and then returned to Warwick. Four years
later he went to Ohio and there resided thirteen
months, but again returned to Warwick, and in
1 88 1 located upon the farm where he now resides.
The farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres
of land, and the stone residence in which he lives,
though it was erected in 1 78 1 , is quite well pre
served. In politics Captain Benedict has nearly
always associated with the Republican party.
Few men in Orange County are more favorably
known or more highly respected.
¦ — ^asp — ¦

HENRY TUSTEN VAN DUZER, a leading
citizen of the town of Goshen, has passed
his entire life upon the home farm, where
he was born January 13, 1827. His life has been
a happy and successful one, and the obstacles
with which he met in his earlier years he bravely
overcame. His estate includes one hundred
broad and well tilled acres, which he devotes to
general farming purposes and dairying, making
a specialty of the latter business.
Our subject was the eldest son of John and
Margaret (Jennings) Van Duzer, who spent their
entire lives in this county. John was in turn the

son of Isaac, who was prominent in the early
history of Orange County, where he died upon
the farm which is now the property of Henry T.
The father was a well-to-do agriculturist and be
came widely known for his progressive methods
and the advance which he made in this in
dustry. He was prominent in local politics, and
during his incumbency of positions of trust and
responsibility discharged his duties in a satisfac
tory manner. At the time of his death, in 1873,
he was widely mourned by a large circle of friends
and acquaintances. His good wife, the mother
of our subject, died in 1867.
Henry T. , of this sketch, had only the advan
tages of the district school when a boy, but later
satisfied his thirst for knowledge by attending
school in the village of Goshen, and subsequently
by a course in the academy at Deckertown.
After attaining his eighteenth year, and when he
had completed his education, he returned to the
parental roof, and has ever since resided on the
home farm. On the death of his father he pur
chased the interest in the estate of the other heirs
and is now sole owner. As before stated, it is
one hundred acres in extent, and since the erec
tion thereon of modern buildings it presents to
the passer-by a very neat and inviting appear
ance. December 13, 1865, Mr. Van Duzer and Miss
Sarah C. Bradner were united in marriage. The
lady is the daughter of Colvill and Sarah (Den
ton) Bradner, natives of this county and state,
within whose boundaries they passed their entire
lives. Colvill Bradner was a descendant of Rev.
John Bradner, who went with his parents to
Long Island, and in 1821 came to Goshen as the
first pastor of the Presbyterian Church. His fa
ther, John Bradner, eloped with Miss Christian
Colvill, the daughter of a Scotch earl. After
their marriage they set sail for America, the trip
occupying over a year, and during the voyage
Rev. John Bradner was born.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Van Duzer are members of
the Presbyterian Church, and are active in all
good works in their neighborhood. In politics
the former is a stanch Democrat, and is conse
quently opposed to monopolies of all kinds. He

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

3°5

is a man universally respected in his community,
and carries lightly the almost threescore years
and ten which the Creator has seen fit to bestow
upon him.

(TOHN L- RUT AN is one of the energetic
I young business men of Goshen. In the fall
G) of 1893 he erected a fine brick market, with
refrigerators and all modern appliances, which is at
the corner of Greenwich and Main Streets, a good
location for business. The proprietor became in
terested in the retail ice business some five years
ago, and is making a success of that line as well.
He deals entirely in natural ice, and has store
houses situated on Main Street. Altogether there
are three separate ice-houses, with a capacity of
seven hundred tons.
Our subject comes from an old New Jersey
family, and is of French descent. His father was
born in West Milford, that state, and by trade
was a wagon-maker. For several years he re
sided in Sparta, N. J., and then settled in War
wick, where he is now living a retired life, being
in his sixty-second year. He is a member ofthe
Methodist Episcopal Church, and enjoys the re
spect and confidence of all who know him. His
wife, whose maiden name was Adelia Lanterman,
was born in New Jersey, coming from one of the
good old families of that state, and died in Sparta
in 1863.
John L- Rutan was born in Paterson, N. J.,
October 29, 1855, an& is the eldest of four living
children. He was reared in Ogdensburg and
Sparta, that state, receiving the benefits of a
practical business education. When he was in
his twentieth year he came to Goshen, and in
1874 commenced learning the butcher's business
with Frank Martin. He was careful of his means,
laying aside a large share of his salary, and at
length concluded to embark in business on his
own account. Though but seven years have
passed since he carried out this resolution, he is
now in comfortable circumstances, and, judging

by his success in the past, will eventually be
come well-to-do. He brings to bear upon his va
rious enterprises good judgment, perseverance in
whatever he undertakes, and careful attention to
details, which characteristics are generally re
warded with prosperity.
Mr. Rutan was married, April 18, 1895, to Miss
Laura Conklin, daughter of Daniel Conklin. So
cially he is identified with the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, and in his political relations he
is a Democrat.

SEORGE F. KETCHUM, editor of the War
wick Valley Dispatch, was born in Brook
lyn, N. Y., September 23, 1856. He is a
son of George W. and Elizabeth Strang (Wright)
Ketchum. His father is living in Brooklyn, at
the age of seventy-five. His mother, who was a
member of a prominent Westchester County fam
ily, died in 1892, at the age of sixty-seven years.
George W. Ketchum is a son of Enos, who was
a son of Samuel, one of the early settlers of Or-
range County, and in his time a prominent citi
zen. In this connection Rutterber, the Orange
County historian, says: "The names of Burt,
Benedict, Coe, Sanford, Welling and Ketchum
are household words in local history. * * *
Benjamin Burt married Elizabeth Ketchum, of
the early resident family of that name. * * *
The Ketchum stock represented in this line is
from Samuel, of Long Island, where he was a
resident prior to 1683." Samuel Ketchum, of
Orange County, served in the Continental army
during the Revolution, and after the war received
a pension. He was for many years a large land
owner in the towns of Warwick and Monroe.
He died in Ohio in 1843.
George F. Ketchum, who is the only living
male representative of the family of the same
generation, was educated in the public schools of
Brooklyn, at Wesleyan Academy, Massachusetts,
and Warwick Institute. During 1870-78 the
family lived at Bellvale, this town. Having
learned the printer's trade, in 1885 he estab-

306

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lished the Warwick Valley Dispatch, an aggress
ive Democratic paper and an important factor in
Orange County politics.
In 1893 Mr. Ketchum was appointed Postmas
ter at Warwick by President Cleveland. He is
a member of the present Board of Education,
having served since 1889, and took an active in
terest in the building of the new Warwick Insti
tute, and in promoting the development of the
local educational system. He is one ofthe Trus
tees of the Warwick Athletic Association, Treas
urer of Excelsior Hose Company, and Trustee of
the Woodbury, Monroe & Chester Building and
Loan Association. In 1876 he married Eve
lyn Grace, youngest daughter of the late Samuel
Wilson, of Bellevale. They have two daughters,
Jennie Burt and Florence Louise, who are at
home.

(TAMES H. LEWIS, whose farm is situated
I near Queensborough, in the town of Wood-
(2/ bury, was born on the farm where he now
resides, January 31, 1834. With the exception
of a few years, he has spent his entire life at this
place. In his boyhood, schools were few and of
very inferior quality, and his educational advan
tages were limited to a brief attendance at schools
taught by itinerant teachers, who "boarded
'round." When a young man, he worked for ten
months in a nursery at Arden, and later for about
two years, during which time his mother rented
the farm, he worked for neighboring farmers by
the month. Upon his marriage he received the
old home farm, and here he has since resided.
The first marriage of Mr. Lewis was in 1853,
when he was united with Mary Elizabeth Thorpe,
who was born in the mountains near Central Val
ley. She was a daughter of Abraham and Eliza
(Brooks) Thorpe, and a granddaughter of John
and Mary Brooks, the former of whom was an '
Englishman by birth. Four children were born

of this union, concerning whom we note the fol
lowing: William Henry aids our subject in the
cultivation of the farm; Ann Eliza married John
Cook, of Highland Falls; Ruth Etta, Mrs. Enoch
Rose, lives in Ft. Montgomery; and Mary Agnes
is the wife of Charles H. Weyant, whose sketch
is presented on another page of this volume. The
second wife of Mr. Lewis is Lavinia Etta Thorpe,
a sister of his first wife, and one child blessed
their union, a daughter, Almina, now deceased.
The father of our subject, Henry Lewis, was
born upon the farm now owned by our subject.
From his tract of one hundred and twenty-five
acres he cleared the timber, selling part of it as
wood to the vessels on the Hudson at Ft. Mont
gomery, and converting a portion into charcoal
for the furnaces at Forest of Dean. Our sub
ject's grandfather, William Lewis, was born near
Slaughter's Pond, and was probably of English
extraction; he died at a very advanced age. His
wife, whose Christian name was Mary, was of
Dutch descent, and our subject remembers her as
a good old lady, in appearance very short and
stout. Grandfather Lewis was a coal-burner and
also manufactured staves, barrels and cooper's
products. Ruth, our subject's mother, was a daughter of
JohnandMary (McClelland) Swim, whoweremar-
ried in Highland Falls. Grandmother Swim was
a daughter of Joseph McClelland, of this county.
Of the family of four children born to William
Lewis, Henry was next to the eldest, and was the
only son. By his marriage he had eight children,
namely: Ann Maria, Mary Elizabeth, James, Will
iam, Henry and Naomi and Eunice, the two latter
dying young. The parents of Mrs. Lewis had nine
children, namely: William, Samuel, Mary E.,
Amelia A., Sarah D., Lavinia Etta, George B.,
Susan M. and Charles R.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis hold membership in the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Ft. Montgomery,
but usually attend services held in the Queens-
borough schoolhouse. Politically he is a decided
advocate of the Republican party, and is one of
its local leaders. For many years he has served
as School Trustee and Road Overseer, and at dif
ferent times he has held other local offices of trust.

JOHN J. PERROTT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

309

(lOHN JAMES PERROTT, Coroner of Orange
| County and superintendent of St. George's
Qj Cemetery of Newburgh, is one of the most
popular and highly respected young men of the
city. He is of Irish descent, his grandfather,
Richard, and father, David, both being natives of
County Cork, Ireland, where the former carried
on agricultural pursuits until his death. For
some time the father served as clerk in an attor
ney's office, and was then appointed steward of
Wilson's Hospital for old men and boys, where
he remained until coming to America. In his
native land he married Catherine Fife, who was
born in County Longford, and was a daughter of
Edward Fife, who was Sergeant of the police
force. Bringing his wife to America in 1850,
David Perrott located at Salisbury Mills, where
for two years he engaged in farming, but at the
end of that time came to Newburgh, where he
was appointed superintendent of St. George's
Cemetery and sexton of St. George's Episcopal
Church, holding the latter position from 1852 un
til 1887. At the time of his death, which oc
curred April 30, 1892, at the age of seventy-two
years, he was also serving as Senior Warden of
the Church of the Good Shepherd. Mrs. Perrott,
who is still living, has attained the age of seventy
years. By her marriage she became the mother
of nine children, five of whom yet survive: Ed
ward, an undertaker of Newburgh; Martha, now
Mrs. Alex Mitchell, of Brooklyn; Richard W., a
carpenter of Newburgh; Sarah, wife of David H.
Flansburg, of Williams Bridge, Westchester Coun
ty; and our subject.
John James Perrott was born in Newburgh on
the 6th of March, 1866, and was there reared to
manhood, while his education was obtained in
the common schools and academy. During boy
hood he assisted his father in his labors, and in
1882 was regularly appointed his assistant, which
position he filled until his father's death, when he
succeeded him as superintendent of St. George's
Cemetery, which office has now been filled by
himself and father for forty -two consecutive years.
The beautiful appearance of the grounds denotes
the care and labor expended upon them, and
shows, that the management is in excellent hands.
11

Mr. Perrott is an intelligent, well informed man,
and possesses superior business tact and sound
common sense, which make him an invaluable
member of the community. He has ever taken
an active part in political affairs, being Inspector
of Elections since he attained his majority, and in
the fall of 1894 was nominated on the Republican
ticket for the office of County Coroner, to which
he was elected by the handsome majority of forty-
one hundred, and in January, 1895, he took the
oath of office. He is quite prominent in social as
well as political circles, belonging to several civic
societies, in which he takes an active part. He
is a member of Hudson River Lodge. No. 607,
F. &. A. M. ; Highland Lodge No. 65, I. O. O. F. ;
Mt. Olive Encampment No. 65; Olive Branch
Lodge No. 133, K. of P.; Court Newburgh No.
7,256, A. O. F. of A.; Muchattoes Tribe No. 54,
I. O. R. M. ; Newburgh Lodge No. 247, B. P.
O. E.; and Highland Council No. 5, Jr. O. U.
A. M. He is a member of the Church of the
Good Shepherd, in which he is serving as clerk
of the vestry, and is also a member of the choir.

HON. AUGUSTUS DENNISTON. The
Highland National Bank is one of the old
established institutions of Newburgh, having
been chartered April 26, 1834, with a capital
stock of $200,000. In a few weeks nearly double
the capital required had been subscribed, and a
pro rata distribution of the stock was therefore
made. The bank was organized July 21, with
Gen. Gilbert O. Fowler as President, and James
Belknap Cashier. January 1, 1865, the capital
was increased to $350,000 ($100,000 surplus and
$50,000 new stock), and in April following the
bank was reorganized as a national bank, with a
capital of $450,000. In 1888 the capital was re
duced to $300,000.
From the inception of the enterprise to the
present time, the bank has retained the confidence
of the public to an unusual degree, all its. trans
actions having been marked by prudence and
probity. From 1834 to 1843 Gilbert O. Fowler
served as President; from 1843 to 1867, George

3io

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Cornwell; from 1867 to 1882, Alfred Post; from
1882 to 1892, M. C. Belknap; and from January,
1892, to the present the position has been held
by Hon. Augustus Denniston, who has fully
maintained the high character gained by the in
stitution in former years.
Before presenting the biographical sketch of
our subject, it may not be amiss to give a few
facts concerning his father, Hon. Robert Dennis-
ton. He was born in the town of Blooming
Grove in 1800, being a son of James Denniston,
a native of the same place and a farmer by occu
pation, his death occurring in 1825. Great
grandfather James Denniston was born in Orange
County, where he owned large tracts of land.
The family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and its
progenitors in this country came here with the
Clintons, Mr. Clinton and Alexander Denniston
being brothers-in-law, and they settled in Little
Britain, on adjoining homesteads.
During his day Hon. Robert Denniston was a
very prominent man and possessed large influ
ence in the county and state. Among the posi
tions which he held were those of Justice of the
Peace, County Judge, Member of the Assembly,
Member of the State Senate for several terms, and
Comptroller ofthe State in 1860-61. After serv
ing in the Assembly for three years, he was State
Senator for seven years, and from 1840 to 1846
he was Chairman of the Committee on Canals.
In politics he was first a Democrat, but after the
formation of the Republican party he joined its
ranks. For years he was a Director in the High
land National Bank, in which he was one ofthe
original stockholders. He served as Elder in the
Presbyterian Churches at Washiugtonville and
Bethlehem. In 1849 he was President of the
Orange County Agricultural Society, and alto
gether he was one of the most influential men of
his generation. His death occurred in 1867.
The marriage of Hon. Robert Denniston united
him with Miss Mary Scott, who was born in
Elizabethtown, N. J., and who is still living.
Her father, William Scott, was born in North
umberland County, England, and in 1798 re
moved to America and settled in Elizabethtown,
N. J., of which he was a pioneer. He came with

his father, Gavin Scott, they having left England
on account of religious persecution. They were
Presbyterians in their belief. Late in life Will
iam Scott came to Newburgh, and here he died
in 1846.
There were eleven children in the family of
Robert and Mary Denniston, of whom seven are
living. Henry M., one of the sons, has been in
the United States navy since 1861, having at that
time been appointed Paymaster by President Lin
coln, a position which he has held ever since.
Rev. James O., a Presbyterian clergyman, who
is at present residing in Washingtonville, was
First Lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry, and was
wounded at Gettysburg, receiving his discharge
on account of disability. William Scott, M. D.,
was a surgeon in the Union army, and died in
Virginia in 1862. Robert, Jr., who was in the
United States navy during the war, was honora
bly discharged from service, and died soon after
ward at Oakland, Cal.
In the town of Blooming Grove, the birth of
Augustus Denniston occurred May 25, 1842. He
was reared upon a farm, and early in life became
familiar with the work incident to that occupation.
During his father's administration he was clerk
in the Comptroller's office. In June, 1862, he
was appointed by Governor Morgan, on recom
mendation of Colonel Ellis, to be Quartermaster
of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New
York Infantry. In September he went with the
regiment to the front, but after a few months'
service he was taken ill and spent several weeks
in the hospital. His health becoming greatly
impaired, he resigned and returned to Orange
County. In 1873-74 Mr. Denniston represented this dis
trict in the Assembly. In 1877 he was elected
First Vice-President of the Orange County Agri
cultural Society, and two years later, upon the
death of the President, Rev. L- L. Comfort, he
was elected to that office, and this position he has
since held. His interest in agricultural matters
has always been great, and he has witnessed the
development of the society with much interest,
and has himself greatly promoted its progress.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

3n

In addition to being President of the Highland
National Bank of Newburgh, Mr. Denniston is a
Director in the Newburgh District Telegraph
Company, and is President of the Washington-
ville Farmers' Creamery Association. Fraternally
he is identified with the Grand Army of the Re
public, and in politics is a Republican. He is a
life member of the New York State Agricultural
Society. His membership is in the Presbyterian
Church at Washington ville, of which he is a
Trustee. He is a good judge of horses, fond of a
fine animal, and once owned two Hambletonian
horses. His home he makes upon a farm near
Washington ville, and comes to Newburgh daily.

+=

=+

"HOMAS JOHNSTON, one of Newburgh's
most genial and jovial citizens, is the Su
perintendent of the Chadborn & Coldwell
Manufacturing Company. He was born in Coun
ty Antrim, Ireland, August 25, 1843, and is the
son of James and Ann (Hartley) Johnston, na
tives, respectively, of Scotland and Ireland. The
paternal grandfather, James Johnston, Sr., was a
Scotchman by birth, while the maternal grand
father, William Hartley, was a native of the
Emerald Isle, but of Scotch descent, his family
having been well known Orangemen.
Luring the period of his service in the English
army, when he was but twenty-one years of age,
our subject's father was one of the guards who
conveyed Napoleon to his desert home on the
Isle of St. Helena. While in the service he also
came to the United States and Canada, and for a
time was stationed in England, then was sent
to Ireland. He died in County Antrim in 1844,
when sixty-three years of age. After his death
his widow came to America, where her last years
were spent.
Of the family of James and Ann Johnston we
note the following: William, who at one time
was an officer in the British army, died in
Brooklyn in 1890; Edward, who entered the Brit
ish army when fourteen years old, was graduated
from a military school in the East Indies, and

during the period of his service took part in the
Sepoy War and the China War, but afterward
came to the United States, and is now a machinist
of Newburgh; Henry, who was on the Confed
erate side during the Civil War, served as Captain
of a Southern company until he was wounded
and taken prisoner by the Federals, but was re
leased and died in Arkansas after the close ofthe
rebellion, having accumulated considerable prop
erty through speculation; James died while at
tending the military school in Dublin, Ireland;
Jane, Mrs. Williamson, resides in Middletown;
and Thomas completes the family.
Brought to America at the age of three years,
our subject was reared in Matteawan, N. Y., un
til he was nine, when he came to Newburgh.
His education was conducted in the public schools
and academy of this city. At the age of fourteen
he began to work in the marble-yard, and a year
later secured a clerkship in a grocery, where he
remained for three and one-half years. He then
went to New York City, where he learned the
brass-finishing trade. In the spring of 1862 he
volunteered in the Union service, becoming a
member of Company L, Nineteenth New York
Infantry, which enlisted for ninety days. With
his regiment he marched to Baltimore, and his
service was principally in that locality. At the
expiration of his term of service he was mustered
out in Newburgh.
Returning to New York, Mr. Johnston com
pleted his trade, at which he worked six years
altogether, but he was finally obliged to abandon
it on account of ill-health. Going back to Mat-*
tea wan, he worked at the machinist's trade for a
year and a-half. His next position was with
Robert Whitehill in Newburgh, with whom he
remained for three years. He then went to Hart
ford, Conn., in the employ of the Pratt & Whit
ney Manufacturing Company. Later he built
the file machine for the American File Company,
and took charge of the file-shop for two years as
superintendent, but the iron business failing, the
file trade became so dull as to force them to shut
down the works.
For one season Mr. Johnston was employed as
inspector for the Hill Archimedean Lawn-mower

312

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Company, of Hartford, Conn, after which he was
with the Hartford Compressed-air Pump Com
pany for a year. For two years he was in charge
of the tool room for Robert Whitehill at New
burgh. November i, 1878, he was appointed
superintendent ofthe Chadborn & Coldwell Man
ufacturing Company (manufacturers of lawn
mowers) , which responsible position he has since
held. At the time he took the place the com
pany built only thirty-five hundred machines a
year, while now they build twenty-five thousand,
and have in their employ about seventy men.
All the machines have been designed by himself,
and he has originated and secured several patents
on lawn mowers. The "Excelsior," "New
Model " and " Rival," all standard mowers, were
designed by him, and he also improved the horse
mower, and secured letters patent on a Steam
beef cutter.
At Nos. 80 and 82 Carson Avenue, Mr. John
ston erected the residence which his family now
occupy. He married, in New York City in 1864,
Miss Mary Hall, who was born in Westchester
County, N. Y., and was reared in Haverstraw.
Her father, John Hall, a native of Lancashire,
England, emigrated to America after his marriage
and engaged at the carpenter's trade in West
chester County. Later he went to Haverstraw,
where he manufactured soda water. He died
there at the age of seventy-four. His wife, Sarah
Lee, who was born in England, was a faithful
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in
.which belief she died at the age of fifty-five.
There were ten children in the family, of whom
five attained mature years, but only one is now
living, Mrs. Johnston, who was the second in
order of birth.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston was
blessed by the birth of si-x children, namely:
Samuel H., who died at the age of six years
and nine months; Ida, a graduate of the academy
and an accomplished and talented young lady;
Joseph, who is with his father, being an expert
machinist; Edwin, who died at the age of seven
teen years and nine months; Thomas, who was
drowned in the Hudson at Catskill when thirteen
years old; and Florence, who is with her parents.

Mrs. Johnston is an active member of St. John's
Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr.
Johnston is a Republican. He is a member of
J. W. Fullerton Post No. 582, G. A. R., and for
twenty years has been a member of Highland
Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he has served as
Past Grand. For a time he was identified with
Mt. Olive Encampment. He is a man whose
friends are many, for he possesses such a genial
disposition, that he easily wins the admiration of
his associates. As a business man he is ener
getic, capable and efficient, and his success is
fullv merited.

¦ >»>>»¦>¦ >

(TOHN T. HOWELL, M. D., physician and
I surgeon of Newburgh, is a member ofa family
(2/ that originated in Wales, but was identified
with the early history of Long Island. From
Southampton Edward Howell and his_ three broth
ers removed to Orange County and settled in the
vicinity of Goshen. A son of Edward, Josiah,
was a farmer in the town of Wallkill. The next
in line of descent was our subject's father, Abram
P., who was born in Middletown, this county,
and followed agricultural pursuits in Wallkill
Town, adjoining Middletown. When advanced
in years he retired from that occupation and re
moved into the city, where he now resides, at the
age of seventy-four years (1895). In religious
belief he is a Presbyterian, adhering to the faith
of his forefathers'
The marriage of Abram P. Howell united him
with Hannah Smith, who was born in the town
of Goshen and was a daughter of Joshua Smith,
a farmer and a member of an old family of vOrange
County. In the parental family there were five
children, and all but one ofthe number are still
living, John T. being the next to the youngest.
He was born near Middletown, April 23, 1862, and
received a high-school education in his native city.
His medical studies were conducted under T. D.
Mills, M. D., of Middletown, and in 1862 he en
tered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of
New York (the medical department of Columbia
College), from, which institution he was graduated

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

3i3

in 1884 with the degree of M. D. He afterward
received the appointment of surgeon in Bellevue
Hospital, where he remained for two years.
On leaving the hospital Dr. Howell opened an
office on the corner of Grand and South Streets,
Newburgh, which property he purchased and im
proved. Soon after coming to this city he received
the appointment of surgeon to St. Luke's Hos
pital, and has since served in that capacity, also
becoming consulting surgeon to the hospital. In
1892 he was elected to the office of President of
the Medical Society of the County of Orange, and
is still actively connected with that association.
He is a member of the Medical Society of the
State of New York, the New York Academy of
Medicine, and. the Society of Alumni of Bellevue
Hospital. While conducting a general practice
he has made a specialty of surgery, and his suc
cesses in that department of his profession have
been notable.
Politically the Doctor is a Republican, and in
religious belief is a Presbyterian, holding mem
bership in the First Church of Newburgh. His
marriage, which took place in this city in 1889,
united him with Miss Sarah T. Steele, daughter
of Robert Steele, of Newburgh. They are the
parents of three children named Mary T., John
T., Jr., and Josephine C.

! AWRENCE C. BRENNAN is a pilot on the
It Newburgh & Fishkill Ferry and is an ex-
12 pert and well known river man. He has
always been very fond of hunting and is a mem
ber of the West Newburgh Gun and Rifle Club.
On account of his reputation as a fine shot, he be
came acquainted with the Ramsdalls, in whose
employ he has since worked up from a humble
capacity to his present responsible position.
Our subject's father, Capt. Lawrence Brennan,
was born in England and when nine years- of age
came with his mother to Newburgh. He learned
the trade of a ship-carpenter and later embarked
in the liquor business Enlisting as a private in
Company F, he served until the close of the Re

bellion, winning honors and commendation for
his bravery. His title of Captain was won with
the gallant One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Vol
unteers. In 1867 he moved to Alton, 111., where
he conducted a restaurant and a liquor store for
about two years. In 1869, while out riding, his
horse became frightened, and he was thrown from
his carriage. In his fall he struck the ground in
such a manner as to break his neck, and death
followed immediately. His wife, formerly Lavina
Clark, survived him many years, dying in New
York in 1888. She was born in Orange County,
but her father, John Clark, was a native of Dub
lin, Ireland. He was among the early settlers of
this region, cultivating a farm in Montgomery
Town. L. C. Brennan was born in this city, May 8,
1863, and is the eldest of three children. His sis
ter, Mary E., died in Newburgh; and Lavina, the
youngest, is now living in New York City. When
four years of age he went to Alton with his par
ents, but after his father's death returned to New
burgh, and for two years lived with his maternal
grandfather on the farm and attended the district
school. When in his nineteenth year he com
menced sailing the river as a deck hand in the
employ of the Ramsdall Company. After serving
on different boats he was finally placed on a ferry
as wheelman under Capt. Harry Mail, acting as
such for three years. In November, 1887, he was
granted a pilot's license, and then for a year was
extra pilot for the same company, and he has
made numerous trips up and down the river be
tween Albany and New York on the East River.
In 1887 he took a position as pilot on the New
burgh & Fishkill Ferry and was then transferred
to the "James T. Brett," running two seasons
between Troy and New York Harbor. He then
returned to the ferry line, and now runs either on
the "Fishkill on the Hudson" or "City of New
burgh." In 1890 Mr. Brennan and Bridget McDowell
were united in marriage in Newburgh. She is a
daughter of Patrick McDowell, one of the old res
idents of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Brennan have
two sons, Lawrence and John P. They have a
pleasant summer home, situated in the midst of

3H

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

twenty -five acres, a portion of the old homestead
on which the grandfather formerly resided. In
politics Mr. Brennan is a Democrat of the stanch-
est type.

^+^|

&_

a *°" .1 — *l
pQlLLIAM CRAWFORD is one of the old
\A/ residents of Newburgh, and has been suc-
V V cessfully engaged in business here since his
youth. He makes a specialty of selling to deal
ers various kinds of stone, which is shipped from
Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Warsaw, N. Y.
In the busy season from ten to twenty men are
given employment in handling this product,
which finds ready sale not only in Newburgh and
adjoining cities, but also in more distant points.
Mr. Crawford is a business man of good ability,
keen foresight and good judgment, and has
wrought out for himself a comfortable fortune.
Our subject's grandfather, Edward Crawford,
and his father, William, were natives of County
Down, Ireland, and were farmers by vocation.
The latter, with his wife and six children, sailed
for America from Liverpool in the good ship
"Empire," in 1854, and arrived'in New York
City after twenty-seven days' voyage. He came
to Newburgh, where he was employed on public
works until shortly before his death. His wife,
who was a Miss Mary A. Turner before their
marriage, was also from County Down, and died
in Newburgh. Of their seven children, five sur
vive. The birth of William Crawford occurred Au
gust 2, 1843, m County Down, where he passed
the first eleven years of his life. Since 1854 he
has been a resident of Newburgh, where for a
short time he attended St. Patrick's School. He
was early set to work, and engaged in clerking
for four years. When he was in his seventeenth
year he began serving an apprenticeship as a
stone-cutter, finishing his trade in New York
City. There he made his home for three years
in succession, and at intervals for several years
afterward. In 1871 he embarked in business for
himself, starting a stoneyard on Broadway and
Lander Street, where he was located for ten

years. He then moved to his present place, Nos.
18-22 Lander Street, where he has a frontage of
seventy -five feet, the yards extending back one
hundred and ten feet. His office is in the rear.
In 1875 the marriage of William Crawford was
celebrated in Newburgh, with Miss Bridget Quirk.
She was born in Ireland, and came to the United
States when seventeen years of age. Mr. and
Mrs. Crawford have four living children, three
sons and a daughter, namely: William, Harry,
Mary and Joseph. William graduated from St.
Patrick's School and from Spencer's Business
College, and is now engaged as stenographer by
the court to note proceedings. The family at
tends St. Patrick's Church. Mr. Crawford is a
member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Associa
tion, and politically is associated with the Dem
ocracy.

DWARD McEWEN. In March, 1894. Mr.
^ McEwen purchased from Thomas Buchanan
__ the business which he has since successfully
conducted, and for which his previous experience
had especially fitted him. His store is situated
at No. 191 Broadway, Newburgh, and contains a
full equipment of stoves, ranges and house-fur
nishing goods, two floors being occupied and em
ployment furnished to five hands. A specialty
is made of plumbing and tin roofing, and Mr.
McEwen has the distinction of being next to the
oldest tinsmith in the city.
The first representative bf the McEwen family
in the United States was our subject's grandfa
ther, Duncan McEwen, a native of Scotland, who
after his marriage emigrated to America and set
tled in Ellenville, N. Y., working there at his
trade of a tanner. During the War of 1812 he
rendered active service in the United States army.
The father of our subject, Jesse McEwen, was
born in Ellenville, and under his father's instruc
tion learned the trade of a tanner. For a time he
was employed as a gardener in Ulster County, but,
abandoning that occupation, he became an em
ploye in the Walden Shawl Factory. Late in life

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

3i5

he came to Newburgh, and here he died in 1884,
aged eighty-four.
The mother of our subject, Sarah A., was born
in Ulster County, near Pine Bush, and died at the
age of eighty-four. She was of German descent,
and was the<daughter of David Rheiuhart, a farm
er of Ulster, his native county, and a soldier in the
War of 18 1 2. In her religious connections Mrs.
Sarah A. McEwen was identified with the Dutch
Reformed Church. She was the mother of thir
teen children, of whom nine attained years of
maturity, and six are now living. One of the
sons, Lorenzo, was a member of the Nineteenth
New York Heavy Artillery during the Civil War,
and was wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg,
dying two days afterward. Theodore, another
son, was a member ofthe Seventeenth New York
Heavy Artillery; he is now a resident of Jersey
City. In Walden, N. Y., where he was born March
1, 1846, the subject of this notice passed the ear
lier days of boyhood, and he also resided for a
time in Tuthilltown, where he attended the com
mon schools. In 1861, at the age of fifteen, he
was apprenticed as tinsmith under Root & Shaef-
fer, on Water Street, Newburgh, with which firm
he continued for twenty- one years and three
months. In 1882 he entered the employ of C.
H. Doughty, on Water Street, remaining with
that gentleman for twelve years, or until 1894.
These two places of business were but a block
apart, so that for thirty-three years he was in
practically the same place. In 1894 he purchased
his present place at No. 191 Broadway, where he
gives employment to five persons. He has been
employed to finish some of the finest residences
of the city, as well as public and private buildings
in other places. He makes a^specialty of hot-air
furnaces, which mode of heating he believes to
be vastly superior to any other.
In Newburgh, in 1865, Mr. McEwen married
Miss Eleanor Lowe, who was born in New Hur
ley, being the daughter of Rulf Lowe, a carriage-
trimmer of Dutchess County. Their five chil
dren are named Fred, Drusilla, Clara, Lena and
Ora, the eldest of whom is a florist in Newburgh,
and the others are with their parents. In his re

ligious belief Mr. McEwen is a Unitarian, and
politically he gives his support to the principles
of the Republican party. It has never been his
ambition to occupy public office, and he has de
voted himself exclusively to his business affairs.
He is known as a man of careful and sound judg
ment, one whose habits of self-reliance have been
of service to him in every step in life, and whose
business transactions have been conducted in such
a manner as to enhance his reputation for up
rightness and honor.-  ^)#P  ' .

f~ RANK A. JACOBSON, M. D. Of the nu-
|W merous and varied professions in which men
I may rise to eminence, there is none known to
the civilized world that claims a higher place in
the esteem of all than does the science of medi
cine. From the earliest times down to the pres
ent, there has never been a class of men in whom
greater confidence has been placed, and who have
occupied a higher place in the esteem of man
kind than does the physician. No one more
successfully and fully proves the truth of this as
sertion than Dr. Jacobson, who is recognized as
one of the leading and rising young physicians
of Newburgh.
As the name indicates, the Jacobson family is
of Swedish origin. The grandfather of our sub
ject, Joseph, was born in Stockholm, and in early
manhood came to America, settling in New York.
For a number of years he was engaged in a
wholesale business in New York City, and there
his death occurred. Frederick, our subject's fa
ther, was born in New Brunswick, N. J., and for
some time dealt in woolen goods in New York,
carrying on a wholesale business in that line.
He died in Hackensack, N. J., when sixty-three
years of age. In religious belief he was a Swed-
enborgian. A man of firm convictions and ex
cellent judgment, he was actively connected with
a number of local enterprises, both in Hacken
sack and New York.
The mother of our subject, Sarah (Hunter)
Aikens, was born in Windsor, Vt, where her
father, Asa Aikens, was a successful attorney.

3i6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He was a graduate of West Point Military Acad
emy, and during the War of 1812 took part in
the battle of Plattsburg and the siege of Quebec.
On resigning from the army, he studied law,
graduating from the law department of the Uni
versity of Vermont. He attained eminence in
his profession and was chosen to fill the import
ant position of Judge of the Supreme Court of
Vermont. After a time he resigned and removed
to Hackensack, where he died. Politically he
was^ Whig. His second wife was a Miss Hunt
er, a descendant of English ancestors, and a
member of the Baptist Church. Our subject's
mother is still living and is a resident of Hacken
sack. Of the parental family of three sons and three
daughters, all living, Dr. Jacobson is the next to
the youngest. He was reared in Hackensack,
N. J., and after spending some time in the acad
emy at that place entered Columbia College,
where for two years he devoted his time to a
chemical course. From boyhood it had beeii his
desire to study medicine, and in 1885 he entered
the New York Homeopathic Medical College,
from which he was graduated in 1888 with the
degree of M. D. He then became connected with
a homeopathic dispensary in Brooklyn, where he
had an office and remained one year.
In August, 1889, Dr. Jacobson came to New
burgh, a stranger. He opened an office here,
succeeding to the practice of Dr. Sheldon, who
had just removed from the city. From the start
he met with success, and the excellent results at
tending his efforts caused him to receive an in
creasing share of the public patronage. He has
his office at No. 269 Grand Street, and is busily
engaged in the duties incident to his profession.
In 1893 he was appointed a member of the Board
of Health, to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna
tion of Charles H. Doughty. The following year
he was re-appointed to this position for a term of
three years.
At Rochelle Park, N. J., occurred the marri
age of Dr. Jacobson and Miss Mary Romaine, a
native of that place. Their home is pleasantly
located in Newburgh. Socially the Doctor is
identified with Hudson River Lodge, F. &

A. M., in which he has passed the chairs. For
a time he was Secretary of the Orange County
Homeopathic Medical Society, and he is also con
nected with the New York State Homeopathic
Medical Society. His political opinions bring
him into active co-operation with the Democratic
party, the principles of which he upholds with
fidelity. In religious belief he is an Episcopalian,
holding membership with St. Paul's Church in
this city.

[DQlLLIAM H. HALLOCK, who occupies
\ A / tke responsible position of Superintendent
VY °f Streets in Newburgh, is also Vice-Pres
ident of the City Fire Department Association,
having served as such since its organization. For
some eighteen years he served as a member of
Highland Engine Company No. 3, and belongs
to C. M. Leonard Council No. 7, Order of Amer
ican Firemen. He has always been a very active
worker in the Republican party.
W. H. Hallock was born in Newburgh, Feb
ruary 25, 1855, his parents being Charles L- and
Rachael A. (Wiley) Hallock, natives of New
burgh and New York City, respectively. The
paternal grandfather was also a native of Orange
County. Charles L. was a civil engineer by
profession, but did net follow his business, en
gaging in agricultural pursuits instead. He died
in 1867, when nearly eighty-seven years of age,
and to the last held firmly to the faith of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife lived to
be but forty-seven years of age, and left two chil
dren, one of whom, John H, is also a resident
of Newburgh.
As his mother died when he was only twelve
years old, W. H. Hallock was early thrown on
his own resources to a great extent. He was a
mere lad when he obtained a position on a steam
er of the Anchor Line, under Captain Fellows,
and by gradual promotions finally worked his way
to be wheelman, running on the Lakes between
Buffalo, Chicago and Milwaukee. Then return
ing to New York, he was for four years engaged
in the Harbor and Long Island Sound service.
In 1876 he came back to his old home in New-

BENJAMIN CLIFF.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

319

burgh and engaged in a teaming business, mak
ing a specialty of moving heavy goods, stich as
safes, vaults, etc., and has four wagons and three
extremely large and heavy trucks. He trans
ported the twenty-two-ton vaults in the National
Bank of Newburgh, and the City Hall safe,
which weighed eight and a-half tons. In addi
tion to this business he engages in general con
tracting, and in the spring of 1894 was appointed
Superintendent of Streets by Mayor Odell, receiv
ing his second appointment in April, 1895, and
having under his jurisdiction from ten to forty
men. In September, 1877, the marriage of Mr. Hal
lock and Sarah J. Scott was celebrated in New
burgh. The lady is the daughter of James Scott,
who is also engaged in the teaming business.
The union of Mr. arid Mrs. Hallock is graced by
two daughters, Margaret J. and Mamie, and the
present family residence is at No. 382 Washing
ton Street. They attend Grace Methodist Epis
copal Church, to the expenses of which they are
liberal contributors. Mr. Hallock belongs to the
Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias, and
is now for the fourth term First Lieutenant.
gENJAMIN CLIFF, one of the worthy old
settlers of Newburgh, served acceptably as
Alderman for two terms, having been elected
on the Democratic ticket to represent the First
Ward in 1 876. He served on several committees,
being Chairman of the ones on Police and Lights.
During the years 1889 and 1890 he was Super
visor from the First Ward, acting on different
committees. He is an honored and active mem
ber of Washington Engine Company No. 4, and
was Treasurer of the same a number of years,
also representing the company in the Firemen's
Department Fund.
Mr. Cliff was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng
land, in 1829, in whkh locality both his father,
Samuel, and grandfather, Isaac, were also born.
The latter was a woolen manufacturer and came
from a long-established Yorkshire family. Sam
uel Cliff followed the same occupation in Leeds,

where he died when about fifty-six years of age.
His wife, Rachael, was a daughter of John How-
gate, who was a manufacturer of woolen cloths
in Leeds. Mrs. Cliff was born in that city, and
died when seventy-eight years of age. One of
her brothers, who was in the English army, died
in the East Indies.
Our subject is one often children, all but three
of whom are living, but is the only one residing
in Orange County. He was reared in his native
city until twenty years of age, and there obtained
a public-school education, and learned the details
of woolen manufacture. In 1850 he left Liver
pool in the sailing-vessel "New World," and
landed in New York City on the expiration of a
thirty-two-days voyage. Going direct to Somer
set County, N. J., he worked in a woolen-mill
for nine months and afterwards in one in Pater-
son for a short time. It was in December, 1851,
that he came to Newburgh, where the industry
was still in its infancy. He first became an em
ploye in Bradley Mill, and some years later,
when the Quassaick woolen-mills by the bridge
were started, he was placed in charge as Super
intendent, acting in that capacity until 1878, and
also owning an interest in the works. During
this time he also superintended a mill owned by
Hodge & Miller, blankets being the principal
product of the concern. In 1878 Mr. Cliff em
barked in the grocery business, to which he has
since given his energies, his location being at No.
286 Washington Street, in a brick building, 22x54
feet, which he erected. He also owns two stores
a short distance below on the same street. Fra
ternally he belongs to Newburgh Lodge No. 309,
F. & A. M.
In 1853 Mr. Cliff married Miss Mary Bradley,
who was born in England. They became the
parents often children, of whom four are deceased.
George W., who died in Newburgh, was engaged
in the grocery business. Elizabeth E. , deceased,
was the wife of Uzell Smith. Mathew B. is in
business with his father, and is a member of
Highland Fire Company No. 3. Rachel, widow
of J. Harvey Brown, is a dealer in dry goods.
Susan married F. C. Kidd, a grocer. Benjamin,
Jr., and Samuel are assistants in their father's

320

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

business; and Mary is the wife of Frederick
Stevens, of Brooklyn. The family are members
of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Mr. Cliff,
who was one of the organizers of the congregation,
served on the Building Committee, and has been
several times chosen Vestryman. He possesses
the confidence and high regard of all who have
the pleasure of his acquaintance.

RENSSELAER HOWELL, who now lives
retired, has been one of the most successful
educators in Newburgh. Though he had
only the advantages of a district school and one
term at an academy, by assiduous study he quali
fied himself for admission to the Albany State
Normal, from which institution he graduated in
1854. From that time onward he engaged in
teaching in various schools and academies, al
ways meeting with gratifying success in his chosen
work . He was elected to the office of Justice of
the Peace, serving for a term of four years, and had
his office in the Bigler Building. Of late years he
has turned his attention to looking after his real-
estate interests, and passes much of his time in
reading and research at his pleasant home, No.
1 2 1 Lander Street.
At a remote period our subject's paternal great
grandfather emigrated from Wales to Long Island,
being accompanied by three or more of his broth
ers. His son Silas, grandfather of Rensselaer
Howell, was born in Long Island, but moved to
Orange County at an early day. He was a mill
wright by trade, and was the owner of a large
tract of land in the town of Newburgh, where he
reared his family, his home being on the old Cos
hocton Turnpike. His children were Jonas,
Charles, Rensselaer, Sr., and a daughter, Mrs.
Oliver, all of whom are now deceased.
Rensselaer Howell, Sr., was born in Orange
County, and on arriving at man's estate bought
one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the old
homestead. He made several improvements on
the place, building the substantial stone house
which is still standing about a half-mile from his

ancestral home. He married Olive Belknap, and
settled in the forest, where he built his house and
proceeded to clear the land. To-day the once
wild land is as fine and well cultivated a farm as
can be found in the county. All but one of his
children grew to maturity. David B. resides
near Salisbury Mills. Rensselaer is next in or
der. John Colvin is on the old homestead; and
Mary F. is deceased. The father was a Demo
crat of the Jefferson school. His wife was born
in the town of Newburgh, and was a daughter of
David Belknap, a farmer.
Our subject was born February 1, 1826, and
until reaching his majority lived a quiet agricult
ural life, his education being pursued in the
mean time in the local schools. Then followed an
interval when he dropped his studies, but he
finally concluded to obtain a higher education,
and to that end attended the Rural Academy of
Coldenham, subsequently entering Albany State
Normal. After his graduation he began teach
ing on Long Island, and then for two years car
ried on schools in his home district. Going west
ward, he next taught in Middlebury, Ind., and
also traveled in Illinois with the idea of perma
nently settling there. He did not do this, how
ever, but returned to Middlebury and started a
private school. As the town was small and there
were various other obstacles in his way, he ac
cepted the position which was tendered him as
Principal at White Pigeon, Mich. , and from there
went to Cold water, in the same state, where he
was engaged in the grocery business for a time.
In 1858 he returned to the Empire State, and
that winter taught in Washington Square, Or
ange County. In the spring he became Princi
pal of the schools at Fishkill Landing, but gave
up the position at the end of a year. We next
find him in charge of the New Mills (now West
Newburgh) School, which he conducted for two
years, and the following year he occupied a posi
tion in Dixon's Mill. In 1861, when the war
came on, he clerked in the Commissary Depart
ment, being stationed at Beaufort, S. C, one
summer. While in the South he was taken sick,
but after returning North he soon recovered. In
October, 1864, he was elected Principal ofthe old

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

321

high school on Grant Street (now the Second
Ward Grammar), and did effective service in that
capacity for ten years. During this period he
also had charge of evening schools, which were
carried on in the same building. In September,
1874, he was appointed assistant teacher to the
Free Academy, where he remained some four
years, when he resigned. His next experience
as a teacher was at Mountainville, where he was
located for two terms, but as he disliked to be ab
sent from home, gave up the place and took pri
vate pupils until he retired from teaching. He
owns stock in the Quassaick Bank and property
in the city, and is comfortably well off.
February 17, 1856, Mr. Howell was married to
Frances, daughter of Moses Nichols. She was
born in New York City, and died in 1883, leav
ing three children. Two of the number are de
ceased, and Rensselaer N. is a clerk in a clothing
establishment in New York City. Mr. Nichols,
who was at one time a farmer in New Windsor
Town, was also engaged in the shoe business,
and after leaving New York City settled in Mat-
teawan. The second marriage of Mr. Howell
took place at Fishkill Landing, August 6, 1885,
his bride being Anna R. Lester, a native of that
place and a daughter of Thomas S. and Rebecca
Lester, the former of whom was a merchant tailor.
Mr. Howell is a member of the First Presbyte
rian Church, and now one of the Ruling Elders.
For many years he has been Secretary and Treas
urer of Bethel Mission Sunday-school. In his
political affiliations he is a stanch Democrat.

gENJAMIN McCLUNG, an attorney of New
burgh, was born in the town of New Wind
sor, October 29, 1867, and is the son of
Samuel and Margaret (Upright) McClung, the
former a native of Ireland, and the latter of the
town of Wallkill. William McClung, the grand
father of our subject, came from Scotland, and
located in Newburgh in 1826, where he resided un
til his death. The father of our subject was
reared in Newburgh, and for many years was en

gaged in the lumber trade, both wholesale and
retail. He was also a contractor and builder, and
had the first planing-mill ever erected in New
burgh. His lumber-yard was located first on
Front Street, and later on Broadway, and he
erected many of the prominent buildings ofthe
city. His death resulted from a fall in 1888, at
the age of seventy-four years. He attended the
Presbyterian Church. The mother of our subject
was a daughter of Moses Upright, a farmer ot
Orange County, but later engaged as a brick
manufacturer on the Hudson, above Newburgh.
He subsequently removed to the city, where he
died at the age of seventy years. He was a mem
ber of the Dutch Reformed Church.
The subject of this sketch is one of a family of
eight children, five of whom are now living:
Samuel, Vice-President of the Newburgh Lum
ber Company; Sarah, Mrs. Holdredge; Alex, a
resident of Indiana; Frank, who lives in Osceola
County, Mich.; and Benjamin. The deceased
are John, who was a contractor and builder, and
who died in Newburgh; Mary, who passed away
in childhood; and Jennie, who became the wife of
Hon. Thomas Fulton, of Blooming Grove. The
latter is also now deceased.
Benjamin McClung received his education in
the public and high schools, together with a par
tial course in Siglar's Preparatory School. After
being engaged with his. fa ther in the lumber bus
iness for two years, he entered thelaw department
ofthe University of New York City, in 1885, and
was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in June,
1889. He then entered the office of his preceptor,
John H. Strahan, in New York City, where he-
remained until February, 1891, when he located
in Newburgh, and formed a partnership with J.
Lewis Strahan, under the firm name of Strahan &
McClung. This connection continued for one
year, when it was dissolved and our subject
formed a partnership with George C. Smith (the
latter now Professor in the New York Law
School), under the firm name of McClung &
Smith. Seven months later it was dissolved, and
January 1, 1894, Mr. McClung became associated
with Hon. Russel Headley, ex- District Attorney
of Orange County, and an eminent counselor.

322

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

This connection yet continues, with offices in the
Brewster Building, at Nos. 44 and 46 Smith
Street. In March, 1894, Mr. McClung was united in
marriage with Miss Marie K. Adams, a native of
Newburgh, and a daughter of Frederick Adams,
now living a retired life. They reside in a pleas
ant residence at No. 27 Dubois Street.
Politically Mr. McClung is a Democrat, and in
the fall of 1894 was nominated for the Assembly.
He is a member of Newburgh Lodge No. 309,
F. & A. M., and Highland Chapter No. 52,
R. A. M. He is also a member of the Elks,
Foresters, City Club, Newburgh Canoe and
Boating Association, Phi Delta Phi (of New York
City) and of the Alumni of the University of New
York. He has been a member of the city and
county committees of his party, and in Demo
cratic councils he stands high. He is yet a
young man, but already has taken high rank as
an attorney, and has built up an extensive prac
tice, which is being continually extended.

*N#^*

5JUSTAV GARTZMANN, M. D. This prom-
_ inent physician of Newburgh, whose office is
J located at No. 116 Grand Street, served as
Assistant Surgeon in the German army in the
Sleswick-Holstein and the Austro-Prussian Wars
prior to his emigration to America. He was born
near Berlin, September 1, 1842, and his father,
Christian Gartzmann, was likewise a native of
that empire. He was a noted surgeon of Egeln,
Prussia, where his death occurred about 1882,
firm in the faith of the Lutheran Church. The
grandfather, Christian Gartzmann, was a farmer
in the Fatherland, and served as a soldier during
the wars with Napoleon.
Augusta (Rose) Gartzmann, the mother of our
subject, who was born in the same vicinity in
Prussia as was her husband, became the mother
often children, of whom five are now living. Of
this family Dr. Gustav is the only member living
in America. During his boyhood days he reg
ularly attended the model schools of Germany,

and when seventeen years of age had completed
the course in the Latin School. Later he entered
the Berlin Medical College, it being his determi
nation and aim in life to become a physician, and
carried on his studies there for two years, when he
was drafted into the army and appointed Assistant
Surgeon of the Second Regiment Guards, Com
pany Nine. He served through the Sleswick-
Holstein War, and later was Assistant Surgeon
in the Berlin Army Hospital, where he gained by
practical experience what it would have taken
years of study to have acquired. On the close of
this conflict he returned home, but was there only
a short time when he was called out by the Ger
man Government to participate in the Austro-
Prussian War. He was appointed Assistant Sur
geon ofthe Light Field Hospital of the First Divi
sion of Guards, serving from 1866 until the estab
lishment of peace, when he was honorably
discharged. Our subject then accepted a position as ship
surgeon in the empfby of the Hamburg- American
Steamship Company, with which he remained for
three years, making thirty-one trips across the
Atlantic. He then decided to locate on terra
firma and continue his medical studies. Accord
ingly, he entered Bellevue Medical College of
New York, and after one year became a student
in the Bellevue Hospital College, from which he
graduated in 1873, with the degree of Doctor of
Medicine. He then located in Newburgh, where
he opened an office and has been engaged in
practice ever since. In the summer of 1894 he
spent several months in Berlin and Carlsbad,
where he went for his health. He took advant
age of the opportunity thus afforded him for vis
iting some of the hospitals of the Old World, and
returned to his home here a much wiser and
healthier man.
Dr. Gartzmann and Miss Charlotte Reeve were
united in marriage at Cornwall, this county, in
1883. The lady was born there, and was the
daughter of Reuben T. Reeve, an old and wealthy
resident of that place. Three children have been
born to them, Pauline, Reeve and Marion.
The Doctor is a stockholder in the Palatine
Hotel and has been a member of the Board of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

323

Trade. He is the possessor of considerable val
uable real estate in the city, and with his family
occupies a very beautiful residence. Socially he
is a Mason, belonging to Newburgh Lodge No.
309. He also belongs to the Orange County Med
ical Society, of which he has been Vice-President.
In politics he is a firm believer in Republican doc
trines, and never loses an opportunity to cast his
vote and influence in favor of its candidates.
¦ ? ¦ >¦ — »>5HK®(|||)®t*C-> — ~* — s~—

I OUIS E. HANMORE, M. D., is a promi-
1 1 nent and popular young physician of New-
|_2J burgh, and in addition to his regular prac
tice is proprietor of the Academy Pharmacy, on
the corner of Grand Street and Broadway. This
is one of the finest, drug stores in the city, partic
ularly in point of location, as it is situated in the
Academy of Music Building. The Doctor has
prospered in his practice and is recognized as a
leader in his profession. He has paid a great
deal of attention to special branches, and has
taken post-graduate courses.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, who
bore the Christian name of Peter, was of Scotch
descent and was in the Government navy during
the War of the Revolution. The Hanmores were
early settlers in this county, and Peter Hanmore
passed his entire life in the vicinity of Newburgh,
where he engaged in farming. He was also a
hero of the War of 1812. The Doctor's father,
Benjamin, a native of this place, was for forty
years engaged in the wholesale grocery and liquor
business at No. 115 Water Street. He was Sher
iff of Orange County for one term during the
war, and had so much responsibility resting upon
him then that he afterward refused all political
honors. He was always a stanch supporter of
the Democratic party. In his line of business he
accumulated a fortune, and was highly respected
by all who knew him. He took great interest in
the upbuilding of the city, and had large invest
ments in real estate. His demise occurred about
1889, when he was sixty-five years of age. His
wife, Gustenia, was a daughter of John VanNort,

formerly of Newburgh. Mrs. Hanmore was born
here, and is a cousin of George VanNort, of New
York City. She is still living, her home being
on Smith Street, and two of her four sons yet
survive. Dr. L. E. Hanmore was born in Newburgh,
May 29, 1859, and was reared and educated here.
He graduated from the Newburgh Academy in
1876, after which he took a post-graduate course
of a year. In 1877 he engaged in the drug bus
iness, and in 1878 entered the College of Phar
macy in New York City, receiving his degree of
Graduate of Pharmacy in March, 1881. In the
mean time he had entered the College of Physi
cians and Surgeons, and graduated in 1884 with a
degree. Going to Europe in the spring of 1884,
he spent three months in the university at Got-
tingen, Germany, and then for a like period prac
ticed in the hospital at Berlin. In order to ob
tain yet further practical experience, he entered
the Allgeminus-Kranken Haus in Vienna, where
he studied for six months. After traveling to
some extent on the Continent, he returned to this
city, where he has since engaged in practice, with
the exception of one year, 1890, when he once
more took a European tour. This time he trav
eled extensively in England, Ireland and all parts
ofthe Continent, visiting the celebrated hospitals
and making a study of their system. For six
months he was a student at the same place in
Vienna where he had been a few years before,
receiving a certificate for having completed sev
eral special branches of work.
In 1 89 1 Dr. Hanmore was married, in Notting
ham, England, to Miss Florence Sudbury, a na
tive of that place, her father, Charles F. Sud
bury, being an extensive manufacturer. Mr. and
Mrs. Hanmore have one child, a little daughter,
Gladys. The parents are members of St. George's
Episcopal Church.
Dr. Hanmore's office is at the corner of South
and Grand Streets, and his large general family
practice occupies his entire time and attention.
For eight years he was physician at the City Jail
and for three years was surgeon at St. Luke's
Hospital. He is a member of the Alumni Asso
ciation of the College of Pharmacy, and belongs

324

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to the Orange County Medical Association. He
uses his right of franchise in favor of the Demo
cratic party, in which his father was formerly
prominent.

-<"-»» I

1]@®©II

3|8^

NENRY KOHL is one of the rising and suc
cessful young attorneys-at-law of Newburgh.
He is very popular in many of the local
clubs, takes great interest in whatever pertains to
the good of his fellow-citizens and the improve
ment ofthe city, and is actively concerned in the
success of the Democratic party. His office is in
the Brewster Building, and though he is a young
man , both in point of years and actual practice, is
rapidly coming to the front, and it is safe to pre
dict for him a brilliant future.
The father of our subject, Valentine Kohl, who
was born at St. Martins, on the Rhine, in Ger
many, was a shoemaker by trade and plied that
vocation for a few years after his arrival in Amer
ica, which was shortly after his marriage. Later
he became interested in the mercantile business
at Middle Hope, remaining thus engaged until
his death, which occurred in 1890, while he was
serving as Postmaster. He was first appointed
to the office by President Arthur, and later by
Harrison. His term of service in this capacity
extended from 1883 until 1890, and he was ac
counted not only a thoroughly trustworthy of
ficial, but one of the best citizens of Middle Hope.
He was reared in the Catholic faith, but in ma
ture life became convinced of the truth of Protest
antism and inclined toward the Methodist Epis
copal tenets, being a regular attendant at the
services of the church. His wife, who was a Miss
Mary A. Ziegler, was also born in Germany, and
is still living on the old homestead. Their fam
ily numbered six sons and one daughter, all of
whom are living. The eldest, Frank J., is a
merchant at Middle Hope and is also proprietor
of a stage line.
The birth of Henry Kohl took place Septem
ber 27, 187 1, in Middle Hope, where he received
a good common-school education. From his boy
hood he worked on a farm, but did not take very

kindly to that occupation, and intended to fit
himself for a teacher. He studied alone, making
good progress, and at length took an examination
and obtained a teacher's certificate. However,
he at length chose the legal profession, and in
October, 1889, took up legal work with A. H. F.
Seeger, under whose instruction he continued un
til May 14, 1894, when he was admitted to the
Bar in Poughkeepsie. He is well posted on ev
erything relating to his profession and is becom
ing generally and favorably known.
September 27, 1894, on the twenty-third anni
versary of his birth, Mr. Kohl was united in mar
riage with Lizzie McMillan, of this city, and
daughter of Archibald McMillan, deceased. Mr.
Kohl is an active member of the Young Men's
Christian Association, and still holds membership
with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Middle
Hope. He is serving as attorney for the Board
of Excise Commissioners of the town of New
burgh. Socially he belongs to the iEtna Boat
Club of Orange Lake, being one ofthe Trustees
of the same. He is very fond of cycling and is a
member of the Newburgh Wheelmen's Associa
tion. Politically he uses his right of franchise in
favor of the Democratic party.

"S^PE

—^=7.11'"

["REDERICK J. A. SCHAEFER, a promi-
rj) nent florist of Newburgh, has been longer
I engaged in the business than any other per
son here and transacts an immense business. He
is the proprietor of the finest conservatories on the
Hudson River, and besides owns one hundred
feet frontage on Broadway , and other property in
the city. He began his operations on a small
scale, and year by year has increased the dimen
sions of his greenhouses and general facilities un
til he now has an establishment three times as
large as any other in the city.
The birth of our subject occurred in Magde
burg, Saxony, February 19, 1833. His grandfa
ther and his father, who both bore the Christian
name of Andrew, were natives of the same locality,
and the latter, who was a tailor by trade, died on
the farm where he had lived for many years. His

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

325

wife, who in her girlhood was Mary Tiege, was
born in Sillsdorf, and by her marriage became
the mother of four children: Andres, who died
in St. Louis; Mrs. Minnie Miller, of this city;
Henry, who died in Germany; and our subject.
Until he was fourteen years of age young
Schaefer attended the schools of his native city,
after which he was apprenticed to a florist and
served for three years. Afterward he engaged in
journeyman work until 1853, when he concluded
to seek a home in America. He was the first of
the family to leave the Fatherland, and, starting
for New York by way of Hamburg, arrived in
that city safely at the end of a six- weeks voyage.
For a time he was employed by a Mr West on
Long Island, and at the end of three months be
came his florist. The following spring he accept
ed a position with a Mr. Schenck, of Matteawan,
where he continued for a few years. Then he
formed a partnership with a Mr. Lent and em
barked in business at Tarenda, near Matteawan.
About this time, or in 1857, he wedded Sabrian,
daughter of Wilhelm Van Voorhees, who was a
shoe merchant. The following year Mr. Schaef
er moved to the vicinity of Garnertown, N. Y.,
where he purchased a farm of ten acres, and en
gaged in gardening and raising flowers.
It was in i860 that Mr. Schaefer settled in
Newburgh and bought the ten acres on Stone
Street which he now owns. In 1862 he pur
chased four acres more, and in 1863 a quarter of
an acre on Broadway. In 1865 he built the sub
stantial residence which has since been the family
home. At present he has some twenty-eight or
thirty greenhouses of modern design, heated by
steam, with three large tubular or locomotive
steam boilers, and fully two acres of land are cov
ered with glass. Mr. Schaefer employs about
ten men the year round, and when necessary em
ploys other help. About 1890 he started in the
seed business, and has a large trade in flowers,
vegetables and grass seeds. He deals in whole
sale and retail flowers and furnishes decorations
for parties and weddings. Although he has sold
a portion of his land for building purposes he still
retains over eight acres.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer has been

blessed by five children, of whom the eldest, Fred
erick Wilhelm, is a gardener in Little Britain and
now has associated with him his youngest brother,
Joseph. Charles H. and Frank H. are in busi
ness with their father; and Sarah Ann, the only
daughter, is at home. The family are members
ofthe Calvary Presbyterian Church. Since Lin
coln was first elected Mr. Schaefer has been a
stanch adherent of the Republican party.

QROF. ISAAC COLLINS. This talented and
yr well known musician of Newburgh is Di-
[3 rector of the Collins Orchestra, and of the
Newburgh City Band, and is also a popular in
structor on the violin and piano. He is a native
of England and was born in Staffordshire, De
cember 9, 1841. His father, Isaac, and his
grandfather, Isaac, Sr. , were also born there, the
latter being a mechanic. The father, who was a
blacksmith by trade, brought his family to Amer
ica in 1854, and settled at Cold Spring, Putnam
County, N. Y., where he followed his chosen oc
cupation. His death occurred in Newburgh, and
his wife, Mary Ann, died in Cold Spring.
At the age of thirteen years the subject of this
sketch accompanied his parents to the United
States, making the journey via Liverpool and
New York to Cold Spiing, where he learned the
blacksmith's trade. He was ambitious, however,
and having a natural taste for music, he was de
termined to cultivate his talent in that art. At
the age of seventeen he came to Newburgh, and
soon afterward, his talents attracting the attention
of musicians, he acquired prominence in musical
circles. While at Cold Spring he had commenced
the study of music, and this he continued until
he had acquired proficiency in the profession. In
1862 he volunteered as a member of the West
Point Military Band, and was mustered into the
service, remaining with the band as a cornetist
for three years. In the mean time he studied the
violin, violoncello and other stringed instruments,
upon which he became a skilled performer.
Returning to Newburgh at the close of the war,
in 1865, Professor Collins began to teach music,

326

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and he has sjnce continued as an instructor on
the piano and orchestral instruments. About 1 875
he organized Collins' Orchestra, composed of fif
teen pieces, of which he is leader and director.
He is also musical director of the Newburgh City
Band of twenty pieces. In composing, arranging
and compiling band and orchestral music, he is an
expert, and his skill is acknowledged by the best
critics ofthe day. The orchestra is his specialty,
and as a leader he is unexcelled.
The first wife of Professor Collins was Cathar
ine E. Davenport, a daughter of Cornelius and
Mary A. (Low) Davenport. They had one son,
George E., who is now a resident of Chicago,
where he is a leader of an orchestra. The sec
ond wife of our subject was Pamelia Davenport,
a sister of his first wife, and whose birth occurred
in Cold Spring. By this marriage six children
were born, all of whom have been trained under
the instruction of their father, and are accurate
musicians. Isaac, Jr., is a member of Collins'
Orchestra, and teaches the violin and clarionette.
John, who is an instructor on the flute and drum,
is also a member of Collins' Orchestra. Arthur
and Everett are also musicians, the former being
a skilled pianist, and the latter a violinist. Wal
ter and Pamelia, the two youngest members of
the family, also evince musical talent, and will
be given the best advantages in due time. The
pleasant home of this family is at No. 47 Carson
Avenue, and they attend St. John's Methodist
Episcopal Church.

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GlDDISON C. ORMSBEE, LL. B., is one of
I I the most promising young attorneys of New-
/ 1 burgh and is a son of Dr. Clarence Orms-
bee, a well known medical practitioner of the
town of Newburgh. Young Ormsbee is a grad
uate of Cornell University, having obtained a de
gree from the law department in June, 1894. He
enjoys the great honor and distinction of having
been one of the seven orators who participated in
the commencement exercises of his class, which
comprised over three hundred graduates. He and

his colleague, Fred Gladden, of Ohio, were se
lected after competitive tests to deliver the law
addresses. His treatment of his chosen subject, ,
"The Despotism ofthe Press," was masterly, and
bore evidence of unusual discrimination and re
search. In May, 1894, he was admitted to the
Bar of New York at Poughkeepsie, and after his
graduation opened an office of his own in the
Brewster Building on Second Street, Newburgh.
The grandfather of our subject, Nathaniel
Ormsbee, was born in Greene County, N. Y., on
a farm near Windham. He was somewhat of a
politician, and was Sheriff of the county, besides
holding other local offices. His life work was
that of farming, and his last years were spent in
retirement in the village of Matteawan. Dr.
Clarence Ormsbee was likewise born near Wind
ham, Greene County, and is a man of good
ability and general information. About 1865 he
graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine
from the University of New York City, and, set
tling at East Coldenham, has since been engaged
in the practice of his profession there. In 1865
he was appointed Assistant Surgeon, but before
he was sent to the front the war was brought to a
close. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Crawford be
fore their marriage, and of tlieir union two chil
dren were born , Lucie B. and Addison C. Mrs.
Ormsbee conies from one of the long established
families of this section, and is a native of the vil
lage of Searsville. Her father, John A. Craw
ford, was an agriculturist, and was born in the
town of Crawford, which was named after one of
his ancestors.
Addison C. Ormsbee was born August 19,
1871, in East Coldenham, and passed the first four
teen years of his life in that locality, receiving a
common-school education. He then attended
Montgomery Academy for two years, after which
he was employed as a clerk in the hardware store
of Charles J. Lawson, of this city, for two years.
About this time he began the study of law, and
for a year attended Siglar's Academy in New
burgh. In September, 1891, he was enrolled as
a student at Cornell University, pursuing a spe
cial course for a year, and in 1892 entered the
law department, from which he was duly gradu-

N. F. FITZPATRICK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

329

ated at the close of the course. He is a member
ofthe Sigma Chi, and while in college was one of
the editors of the Cornell Sun. He has always
taken great interest in educational affairs, and
helped to organize and was the first President of
the Orange County Club of Cornell University,
composed of students and graduates of that cele
brated institution. Politically he is a Democrat
and belongs to the Newburgh City Club. Judg
ing by the success he has already achieved and his
popularity with his fellow-students, teachers and
other friends and acquaintances, it is safe to pre
dict for him a bright and prosperous future.
JJjICHOLAS F. FITZPATRICK, United
Yf States Deputy Collector of Customs for the
| fo Port of New York in the District of New
burgh, was born in this city in November, 1857.
His father, John, who was born in County Meath,
Ireland, learned the trade of a blacksmith and
horse-shoer under his father, and at the age of
eighteen came to America, settling in Newburgh,
where he found employment at his trade. He
was an expert in that line, and was conceded to
be the finest horse-shoer in the county, com
manding larger wages than any one else who fol
lowed the occupation. When reaching advanced
years he retired from active labor, and now makes
his home with his son, Nicholas F. , in Newburgh.
In religious belief he has always been a devout
Catholic, and reared his family in that faith.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Mary Brown, and was born in County
Tipperary, Ireland, being a lineal descendant of
Daniel O'Connell. Early in life she was or
phaned by the death of her parents, and soon
afterward came to America in company with a
sister. She, too, was a faithful Catholic and a
liberal supporter of the church. Her death oc
curred in Newburgh in 1881. Of her eight chil
dren, five are now living, Nicholas F. being the
fourth of the number. He was reared in this city,
and prior to the age of twelve years was a student
in St. Patrick's parochial school. The family
being large, however, he was early obliged tobe-
12

come self-supporting, and so became an appren
tice to the butcher's trade under Smith & Snead,
with whom he continued for four years. At the
age of sixteen he apprenticed himself to John
Flanagan, with whom he served four years, gain
ing a practical knowledge of plumbing and gas-
fitting. Embarking in business for himself in Novem
ber, 1879, Mr. Fitzpatrick opened a meat-market
at No. 71 Second Street, where he remained some
time, and later removed to No. 81, the same street.
As a business man he is energetic and industrious
and through shrewd investments and sound judg
ment in financial transactions has become well-to-
do. His residence at No. 81 Second Street is
presided over by the lady who became his wife in
October, 1880, and who was formerly Miss Mary
Ryan. She was born in Newburgh, and by her
union has become the mother of seven children:
John, Ella, William, Nicholas, Joseph, Mary and
Francis. In December, 1893, Mr. Fitzpatrick received
the appointment of Deputy Collector of Customs,
by James T. Kilbreth, of New York, and at once
entered upon his duties, which consist of the in
spection of all cargoes for the district of New
burgh. At the age of eighteen, in 1875, hejoined
the Chapman Hose Company, of which in due
time he became foreman. Later he was elected
by the fire department of Newburgh to the posi
tion of Assistant Chief Engineer, under James
Cunningham, serving for a term of three years.
He still retains his membership in the Chapman
Engine Company, and is prominent and active in
the fire department of the city. In the New
burgh branch of the Order of American Firemen
he formerly officiated as Trustee.
In St. Patrick's Catholic Church Mr. Fitzpat
rick is an earnest and active worker, and one of its
most honored members. The Catholic Benevolent
Legion numbered him among its charter members
and he has taken a leading part in other societies
connected with the church. Politically a Demo
crat, he has frequently represented his party in
local conventions, and in its success is always
warmly interested. Aside from his other inter
ests, he is a stockholder in the Columbus Trust

330

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Company and the Palatine Hotel Company. The
prosperity which has rewarded his efforts is the
result of his indefatigable exertions, together
with the exercise of good judgment and unerring
discrimination in his business transactions.

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""""""""¦)

QROF. JOSEPH J. ELSEN, a gifted violinist
yr and a successful and proficient teacher of
\3 that art in Newburgh, was born in Olden
burg, Germany, November 12, 1823. His par
ents, Joseph and Gertrude (Wiechman) Elsen,
were natives of Germany, where they spent their
entire lives, the former being a skilled musician,
of considerable local fame. The family consisted
of four children, of whom J. J. is the next to the
eldest and the sole survivor. His brother
Gerard, who came to this country, was a mem
ber of the West Point Military Academy Band
until his death.
In the gymnasiums of his native land Pro
fessor Elsen gained his literary education, and
subsequently, entering the Academy of Music in
Oldenburg, he took up the study of the violin
under Professor Koen. He remained in the
academy until his graduation, and then, in 1846,
came to the United States, taking passage at
Bremen and reaching New York after a voyage
of six weeks. The first six months of his sojourn
in this country were spent in New York City,
and in the fall of 1846 he came to Orange Coun
ty, enlisting as a member of the United States
Military Academy Band at West Point. By con
tinued re-enlistments he remained a member ofthe
band until 1884, when he was retired, under the
thirty-year law, upon three-fourths pay. While
with the band he was acting Drum-Major and
assistant leader.
The first marriage of Professor Elsen took place
at West Point, in 1852, his wife being Miss Mary
Ward, who was born at that place. Two chil
dren were born of the union, namely; -Joseph, a
resident of Highland Falls; and William, who is
connected with a mercantile agency in New York
City, though he resides in Brooklyn. The sec
ond wife of the Professor was Sarah Ward, a half-

sister of his first wife. She was born in West
Point and died in Newburgh in 1895, after hav
ing become the mother of four children. Of
these, one died young; Eliza, who became the
wife of Rand Howell, died at Newburgh in 1895;
Matthew also died here; and Lewis makes his
home in this city.
Politically Professor Elsen is a Democrat, al
ways adhering to the principles of that party.
He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church
and a regular attendant at its services. Through
out life his chief interest has centered in music,
and the natural ability which he possessed has
been developed by close study and broad culture.
Not only is he skilled as a violinist, but he is
equally familiar- with twelve or more different
band instruments, and his knowledge of the
science of music is extensive and thorough.
- — g)»e=^.

eAVID GIBB, who occupies a responsible po
sition in the employ of the Pennsylvania
Coal Company at Newburgh, was born in
Amherst, on Lake Ontario, Upper Canada, May
10, 1835. Through his paternal ancestors he is
of Irish descent, his grandfather, whose name was
the same as his own, having emigrated from the
Emerald Isle to the United States, where he set
tled in Newburgh, N. Y. In this city he followed
the occupation ofa weaver until his death.
The father of our subject, John Gibb, was born
in County Antrim, Ireland, and in early life ac
companied the other members of the family to
Newburgh, having learned the trade of a fancy
linen weaver prior to his emigration. After a
brief sojourn in Newburgh, he went to Balmville,
where he carried on a linen-weaving business.
From there he went to Canada, where he spent a
number of years, and then came back to New
burgh, where he died at sixty-six years of age.
He was a man of firm religious belief, and be
longed to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Through his mother our subject is a descendant
ofthe Gidney family, who are among the oldest,
most prominent and influential families of Orange
County. His mother, Eliza, was born here, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

33i

was the daughter of Daniel Gidney, a farmer by
occupation. She continued to reside here until
her death, when past sixty years of age. The
Gidney family originated in England, but has
been represented in America since Colonial days,
and some of its members served in the Revolu
tionary War and the War of 18 12.
Of the pai ental family of twelve children , seven
are now living. Our subject was reared on a
farm near Central Valley, making his home with
his uncle, David Gibb. At the age of fifteen he
went to sea, shipping as a sailor from New York,
and going to North and South Carolina and Vir
ginia, where the ship was engaged in the coasting
trade. He remained at sea for four years, at differ
ent times being in the employ of various vessels,
and on retiring from marine life held the position
of second mate.
In 1854 Mr. Gibb came to Newburgh, where his
uncle, Samuel Gibb, who had persuaded him to
abandon his seafaring life, taught him the car
penter's trade. Later he was with William Hil
ton for five years, and then engaged as foreman
for P. S. Haines, with whom he remained four
teen years. In 1861 he raised a company of
twenty-five men for active service in the army,
and, enlisting in the Federal service, he became
Second Lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry. With
his regiment he proceeded South and took part
in the battle of Fredericksburg and in other en
gagements of minor importance. After having
been with the regiment for six months, he re
turned home on account of injuries received,
having been honorably discharged on account of
physical disability.
From the time of returning home until 1876,
Mr. Gibb was with Mr. Haines, after which he
entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal
Company, and is now foreman ofthe general repair
department. Under him there are forty or fifty
men, whose work he superintends, and who are
employed in building bridges, docks, sheds and
trestles. Mr. Gibb built the large mill at New
burgh that was formerly occupied by P. S. Haines
and later became the property of the Newburgh
Woolen Company. In addition to this he has

superintended the erection of a large number of
public and private buildings, all of which reflect
credit upon his skill as a workman.
In Newburgh, in 1857, Mr. Gibb married Miss
Lettie C. Sager, a native of this city. They oc
cupy and own a pleasant residence at No. 67
West Street. By their union they have had five
children, viz.: William, a graduate of the free
academy, and now a clerk in the Pennsylvania
Coal Company's office; Mary C, who is with her
parents; Joseph N., a machinist with Babcock,
Lary & Co., general contractors; Alzemora, who
died in childhood; and Elizabeth, Mrs. Robert
H erman , of Newburgh .
Politically Mr. Gibb is a Republican. In his
fraternal relations he is identified with Ellis
Post, G. A. R., and is a charter member ofthe
West Newburgh Fire Department, Highland
Steamer Company No. 3. A Methodist in relig
ious belief, he was at one time a member of
Trinity Church, then joined St. John's Church,
and on moving to West Newburgh became one
of the founders of Grace Methodist Episcopal
Church, with which he is now connected. At
the time of the erection of the new edifice he was
a member of the Building Committee. He has
served his congregation as Steward, and for years
has been a Class-leader and teacher in the Sun
day-school.

Q ROTHER ALOYSIUS, Brother Director of
rT\ St. Patrick's Institute of Newburgh, -is
d/ not only a scholar of wide learning and in
formation, but possesses unusual executive ability
and is very popular with his pupils. Under his
supervision the school has nearly doubled in num
bers attending, as when he came here there were
two hundred and twenty boys enrolled, while now
there are four hundred and twelve.
The birth of Brother Aloysius occurred June
30, 1857, in New York City. His education was
obtained in Manhattan College and in the Chris
tian Brothers' Training School of Westchester
County, N. Y., where he remained for two years.

332

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He then taught in the parochial schools of Hart
ford, Conn., and Utica, N. Y., until 1887. At
that time he was appointed Director of St. Pat
rick's Institute in Newburgh, which had been
started as a parochial school, and continued as
such until 1886, when the Brothers took charge.
Since Brother Aloysius was placed at the head
of the school he has inaugurated a different sys
tem, which now comprises not only an element
ary, grammar and higher departments, but has a
commercial course included in the curriculum, in
order to fit young men to take their places in the
business world as competent bookkeepers, finan
ciers, etc. He is assisted by seven teachers,
while Prof. Theodore Gehrig is in charge of the
musical department. As for himself, besides su
perintending the whole school, he teaches the
classics, higher mathematics and bookkeeping.
For those who desire to take physical culture
work or to take part in local entertainments,
there are efficient teachers provided. Each year
there is an exhibit at the county fair of work
done by the pupils, and three diplomas have been
awarded for excellence. The commercial de
partment has been a feature universally com
mended, as a complete banking system is in
vogue, whereby the pupils can be trained in the
use of notes, drafts and all other forms of general
banking business.

qJEORGE W. SHAW, an honored and re-
_ spected citizen of Newburgh, was born at
J Little Britain, in the town of New Windsor,
on the 30th of July, 1824, and is a son of Thomas
Shaw, who was at the head of the firm of Thomas
Shaw's Sons (see sketch of Elkanah K. Shaw
elsewhere in this work) . He learned his trade in
his father's shop, and in 1852 was admitted to
partnership. He has now retired from active
business, but still remains a member of the firm,
which is composed of himself and brother El
kanah K.
At the period when boat-building was a branch
of the firm's business, Mr. Shaw had immediate

oversight of that work, building boats for many
of the prominent oarsmen and clubs of that time,
and for eight years, dating from 1857, did little
else. He built boats for Yale College, for all the
Albany crews, and crews in Boston, New York,
Newark and Poughkeepsie, and among these were
some that were thirty feet long and did not weigh
more than thirty -five pounds. One boat was sent
as far as China.
Mr. Shaw was himself an oarsman of the first
class, being Joshua Ward's partner in many races,
and was also a member of the celebrated four-
oared crew composed of Joshua and Henry Ward,
Oscar Teed and himself. He also rowed in sev
eral double-scull races with his brother Charles as
partner. In i860 he was a member of the six-
oared crew composed of Joshua Ward and others,
which at Lake Quiusigamond rowed three miles
in the Gersh Banker in eighteen minutes and
thirty-seven seconds, the fastest time on record,
and when he returned home the citizens turned
out to welcome him. He and Joshua Ward took
a great many prizes everywhere and were never
beaten but once, that being done by a trick.
Mr. Shaw has ever been fond of all sorts of
athletic sports, and in his younger days was a
great skater, in speed being equal to any in the
country. Shooting also claimed his attention, and
he is to this day considered a good shot. In these
latter years of leisure his love for refined outdoor
sports is as strong as ever. He is a member of
the Newburgh Canoe and Boating Association,
and an enthusiastic yachtsman. He is also a
member of the Newburgh Gun Club, making a
good score at the target. In early life he was a
member and assistant foreman of the Washington
Engine Company, and was one of the organizers
ofthe Ringgold Hose Company, of which he was
its first foreman, and still continues an honorary
member. The early life of Mr. Shaw was passed in New
burgh, where he attended the high school, thus
acquiring a good education. He was in partner
ship with his father until the latter's death, when
he and his brother Charles B. composed the firm.
After the death of the latter in 1892 his other
brother, Elkanah, became connected with him.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

333

They are the proprietors of the Newburgh Mould
ing and Planing Mill, which manufactures all
kinds of trimmings and supplies for house build
ing, and all the work turned out is first-class.
During the thirty-seven years that Mr. Shaw has
been connected with the business the firm has
prospered, and has been extensively engaged in
contracting and building. They have construct
ed about nine hundred naval gun-carriages, be
sides many other boats, of which our subject had
personal charge. He is also a stockholder in a
lawn-mower manufactory.
On the 7th of January, 1847, in Newburgh,
was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Shaw and
Miss Rhoda Alexander, who was born in Little
Britain in 1827, and is a daughter of James Alex
ander and a sister of Joseph K. Alexander. To
them were born five children: Thomas, who is
a scroll-sawyer and general machinist in business
with his father; Mrs. Catherine Howard, of New
burgh; Charles, who is also in his father's employ,
and is an expert carpenter; Jennie, who died at
the age of seven years; and Harry, who is at
home and is a natural mechanic. Mr. Shaw is a
member and liberal supporter of the Union Pres
byterian Church, while in politics he is identified
with the Democratic party. He is public- spirited
and progressive, and there are few men more pop
ular in Newburgh than George W Shaw.

&$+»

GEORGE H. ROSS, senior member of the
a firm of Henry Ross' Sons, millers, of New
burgh, is a native of this city. His father,
Henry Ross, was born in County Antrim, Ireland,
and came to America when fourteen years of age,
and located at Newburgh. He there grew to
manhood and for some years was a successful
farmer, owning two or three farms. In 1858 he
again took up his residence in the city, where he
purchased the flouring-mill of William H. Beede,
which he continued to operate until his death, in
1881, at the age of sixty-six years. For several
years he was a Director of the Quassaick Bank,
and was one of the first Aldermen of the Second
Ward of the city. He was Superintendent of the

Newburgh Almshouse for three years, and was
an Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church
He married Jane Cleland, a native of Little Brit
ain, Orange County, and daughter of Samuel
Cleland, a native of Ireland. Her father was by
trade a shoemaker, but for many years was en
gaged in farming in Orange County. Religiously
he was a Presbyterian. The Ross family consist
ed of five children: Mary C, who married Rev.
R. H. Hume, and now resides in Springfield,
Ohio; Lizzie, who married Henry Wells, and lives
in Newburgh; George H., John D. and Edward
C. , all of Newburgh.
The subject of this sketch was born in New
burgh, February 14, 1857, and received his pri
mary education in the public schools of that city,
completing the course in the academy. From
boyhood he engaged in the milling business with
his father, and on the death of the latter the pres
ent partnership was formed, under the firm name
of Henry Ross' Sons. The mill is located on
Quassaick Creek, and is run by water power.
Since putting in the roller process a large busi
ness has been done, and the mill is one of the
most popular ones in this vicinity.
Mr. Ross was married in Newburgh, in 1884,
to Miss Lillian K. Fickle, a daughter of Milton
Fickle, and a native of New York City. Three
children have been born to them, Kate, Harry
and William. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members
of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. For
some years he has been a Director in the Quas
saick Bank, and is recognized as one ofthe lead
ing business men of Newburgh.
Edward C. Ross, brother of George H., was
born in Newburgh, January 11, 1864, in the old
home on Broadway, where he now resides. He
graduated from the academy in 1880, and then
took a course in Eastman's Business College at
Poughkeepsie. When his father died he returned
to Newburgh and became associated with his
brothers in the milling business. He was mar
ried in 1887, in Newburgh, to Miss Jennie M.
Caldwell, a native of this city, and daughter of
Thomas Caldwell, President ofthe Coldwell Lawn-
mower Company. They have two cliildren, Cle
land C. and Carroll Adams. Mr. Rossis a mem-

334

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ber of the First Baptist Church, of which he is a
Trustee, and is also a Trustee of the Memorial
Baptist Church. He is a prominent member of
the Board of Trade, and a successful business
man.

PHRAIM BULLIS, Justice ofthe Peace, is
^ a member of the wholesale lumber firm of
_ Ephraim Bullis &Son, one ofthe old estab
lished business concerns of Newburgh. He has
always taken great interest in promoting the pub
lic welfare, and has been a strong Republican
since the organization of the party, prior to which
time he was a Whig and cast his first vote for
Henry Clay. Though now nearly seventy-five
years of age, he is well preserved, and is active
both in body and mind.
The birth of our subject occurred at Ballston
Spa, Saratoga County, N. Y., October 13, 1820.
His father, Robert, and his grandfather, Allen
Bullis, were both natives of Columbia County,
N. Y. , being descendants of one of three brothers
who^ emigrated from England at a very early day
and settled in Dutchess County, east of Pough
keepsie, at a point named in their honor Bullis
Pond. The name is an old Spartan one, appear
ing in classical history, sometimes spelled with
one "1" and sometimes with two. Our subject's
grandfather was a farmer by occupation, and died
at his home in Saratoga County, N. Y. Robert
Bullis was born in 1800 and died in 1882. He
was also a farmer by occupation, and during his
last years lived near Mechanicsville, N. Y. Like
his son, he was a stanch Republican, and was al
ways in favor of all measures which promised
good government. His wife, Theresa, was a
daughter of Rev. Ephraim Harris, who was a
hero of the battles of Stillwater, and was present
at the capture of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga in
the War ofthe Revolution. He was of English
descent, and was a clergyman in the Baptist
Church until shortly before his demise, which
took place in Rensselaer County, N. Y. Mrs.
Bullis was born in that county, near the village
of Schodack, and became the mother of five sons

and two daughters, four of whom survive. She
was summoned to the home beyond in 1865,
when in her sixty-eighth year. One of her sons,
William I., enlisted in a New York regiment at
Poughkeepsie and served throughout the war,
going with Sherman on his march to the sea.
He was taken sick and sent home, dying from
the effects of his service a few years later.
Ephraim Bullis is the eldest in his father's fam
ily, and was reared on the old farm near Mechan
icsville. His district-school education was sup
plemented by four years of study at Stillwater
Academy, from which he graduated. He then
taught school for four or five years in his native
county, and in 1845 came to Newburgh and com
menced clerking for Capt. W. A. Bullis, his uncle,
who kept a general freight and produce store, and
also ran a line of ships between Newburgh and
Albany, having docks and storehouses at the foot
of Fourth Street. In 1848 our subject embarked
in the retail lumber business on the dock at the
foot of Fourth Street, where he was located until
1862, and then for a few years operated a farm
in Montgomery Town. Thence moving to Corn
wall on the Hudson, he was there engaged in the
retail coal trade for ten years, during which time
he was Justice of the Peace for eight years, and
for two terms was Justice of the Court Sessions,
under Judge Thomas George. In 1875 he sold
out, and returning to this city once more turned
his attention to the lumber business, selling whole
sale lots to dealers in New York, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. His son, Theodore D., who is in
partnership with him, is a fine salesman, and to
his efforts much of the success of the firm is due.
In 1893 Mr- Bullis was honored by being elected
to the position of Justice of the Peace, which office
he still holds.
In Montgomery, Orange County, in 1847, our
subject was united in marriage with Effie Decker.
Both she and her father, Jacob P., who was a
farmer, are natives of Montgomery. Of the six
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bullis, two died in
infancy, and Charles in 1893, when about thirty-
six years of age. The others are Theodore D . ,
Adelaide T. and Eugenia. The family are mem
bers of the Baptist Church at Cornwall, with

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

335

which they have been connected for several years.
While a resident of Mechanicsville Mr. Bullis was
a member of Mott's Guards, Forty-first Regiment
of State Militia, first serving as Second Lieuten
ant and later as Captain. He has always en
deavored to discharge his duties toward his fel
low-men with the utmost fidelity, and enjoys the
esteem of all who know him.

(TAMES P. KIRBY. It may truthfully be
I said of this well known citizen of Newburgh
(2/ that he is one of the most active and experi
enced surveyors in the country. He is an expert
at drawing maps, and his services have been called
into requisition in this line for years, he having
executed maps of every town in Orange County,
as well as many other sections of the state, and
the leading villages and cities of this locality.
He is skilled as a mathematician, and in former
years was very successful as a school teacher.
Edward, father of J. P. Kirby, was born in
Buckinghamshire, England, and at the age of
nineteen years was pressed into the British serv
ice. He was on a man-of-war when it ran
aground on the coast of Virginia, and he and sev
eral others ofthe crew managed to effect their es
cape. In the hunt for them which ensued, an
American ship was fired upon, thus indirectly
bringing on the War of 1812. Coming to New
York, Mr. Kirby settled in Westchester County,
soon afterwards located in Orange County, and
later removed to Sullivan County, operating farms
in each county. In 1843 he moved to West Vir
ginia, where he likewise engaged in agricultural
pursuits. When the war came on his sympathies
were with the North, but he quietly pursued the
even tenor of his way, as he was too old to enter
the service. In 1862, while going to the mill
with grist, he was taken prisoner by a band of
rebels, and though nearly eighty years of age and
almost blind, was sent to Richmond, being con
fined in the prison there, and later was transferred
to one at Newbern, N. C, where he died. His
devoted and bereaved family would probably have
never known of his fate had it not been for Colo

nel Cochran, who was in the same prison, and
who learned of the old hero's death and notified
his relatives. His wife, Annie, was a daughter
of James Piatt, who was born in England, and
about the time of the Revolutionary War settled
in Westchester County, N. Y. On his farm in
that locality Mrs. Kirby 's birth occurred. She
died in West Virginia, and only two of her eight
sons and two daughters are now living, namely:
J. P. and William, the latter of New Jersey. Two
of the sons were participants in the Civil War.
Our subject was born May 1, 1823, in Sullivan
County, N. Y., and remained in that locality on
a farm until sixteen years of age. He attended
the old-fashioned log schoolhouse of the period,
where he mastered the elementary branches of
his education. On leaving the parental abode he
obtained work 011 a farm in Ontario County, near
Geneva, and went to school during the winter
terms for several years. He spent one season in
traveling in the West, visiting various parts of
Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. In 1846 he began
his career as a teacher in the western district of
Ontario County, the following year went to Ulster
County, and while conducting schools there took
up practical surveying, as he was fond of mathe
matics. For many years he carried on both pur
suits, and in 185 1 became Principal ofthe Walden
schools. About thirty years ago Mr. Kirby came to
Newburgh, being made Principal of Grammar
School No. 4, but at the end of fifteen months re
signed to give his whole attention to civil engi
neering. For the eight years following he held
the office of Assistant City Engineer, and then
opened business on his own account. During the
years 1877-78-79 he taught for several terms in
this county, and in 1882 located at Ulsterville,
where he not only taught, but carried on a farm,
and also conducted a mercantile business for sev
en years. For five years of this period he was
Postmaster, but resigned the position in 1890.
Then for a year or two his home was in Cornwall,
and for the past three years his location has been
at No. 186 Broadway, at the corner of Dubois
Street. He is the oldest teacher in the county,
and during a period of fifty-one years has been

336

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

engaged in this work for forty years. He now
devotes all his time to civil engineering, his field
of employment being the counties of Ulster,
Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Sul
livan and Orange. In 1871 he officially laid out
the village of Walden, and helped survey many
of the principal streets of Newburgh, Cornwall
on the Hudson, Fishkill and Matteawan.
The first marriage of Mr. Kirby was with Miss
Margaret Craver, a native of Ulster County, their
union being celebrated in 1848. Her death oc
curred many years ago, and only two children of
the six by that marriage are now living, namely:
Mrs. Jennie Humber, of Branch Port, N. J.; and
Mrs. Mary Darnett, of New York City. May 24,
1869, Mr. Kirby was married, in Newburgh, to
Sarah Garrison, who was born in this county and
whose death occurred in Ulster County. Three
of their four children are living and all are resi
dents of Philadelphia. They are: Charles, Ella
May and James H.
In 1856 Mr. Kirby voted the Republican tick
et, being one of two to support the nominees
of that party in the district of Showngunk, Ul
ster County, where he was then living. Since
that time he has been a true and able supporter
of Republican principles, and always has near to.
his heart everything which is calculated to benefit
the public at large.

-i — »  ?>2+ie'^p)®i+^»  *"— -1

|"\ETER HOFFMANN has the reputation of
y< turning out the finest furniture of any cabi-
(^ net-maker in Newburgh. He not only sup
plies the handsomest residences, but also furnishes
offices, stores, clubs and public buildings. Per
haps the best of his work outside of the city
was the church furniture which he made for a
house of worship in Bay City, Mich. He has
been very successful, and his work invariably
gives full satisfaction.
Our subject is a native of Germany, having
been born in the village of Butsbach, near
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Ober-Hessen, February

12, 1838. His paternal grandfather was in the
army during the Napoleonic wars, and his life
occupation was that of farming. Jacob, our sub
ject's father, was born in Munster, and was head
clerk in a hotel at the time of his death, which
occurred when he was in the prime of early man
hood. His wife was Miss Maria Repp before their
marriage, and she was likewise a native of Mun
ster. After the death of her first husband she
wedded Wilhelm Diehl, and died in her native
land. Peter is the only child of the first mar
riage, though four were born ofthe second.
The youth of our subject passed in a quiet man
ner, his education being pursued in the German
schools until fourteeu years of age, according to
the law in that country. He was then appren
ticed to the cabinet-maker's trade with his step
father, Mr. Diehl, who was a contractor and
builder, and who had a shop and factory. At
the end of four years young Hoffmann started
forth as a journeyman, working in different cit
ies and provinces of the Fatherland. Later he
went to Holland, and finally to London, Eng
land, where he remained for a twelvemonth. In
1861 he concluded to come to America, and after
a fifty-nine-days voyage in the sailing-vessel
' 'Christiana, ' ' landed in New York. Two months
elapsed, and he then came to Newburgh, being
for one year in the employ of William Bartells as
a cabinet-maker. Next he was employed at his
trade in the metropolis for nearly a year, in the
mean time carefully laying aside as much of his
salary as was possible. In 1863 he returned to
Newburgh and bought out his old employer, lo
cating at No. 48 Colden Street, where he was in
business for about six years. His next venture
was to build a shop on South Water Street,
where he prospered for two years. A good op
portunity then presenting itself, he sold the build
ing and business to D. N. Sellig, but managed
the concern for three years. Once more he started
in business for himself as a manufacturer, and
erected a shop at No. 185 First Street, where he
is at present located. The building is 35x168
feet, and well provided with modern machinery
and appliances for turning out fine custom work.
He furnished the office finishings and furni-

PROF. CHARLES RUPP.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

339

ture for Clemson Bros., of Middletown; the hotel
and office equipments for W. C. Bastian, of the
same place; fitted up the office of Jacob Kaadel, of
Port Jervis; and in Newburgh, among many
others, has done work for Joseph Skelley, P.
Nugent, Thomas Rigley and Ed Earnest. He
regularly employs five or six men, and sometimes
more. In New York City Mr. Hoffmann was married,
in 1862, to Maria Spangenberg, who was born
in Detmold, Germany. The only son of this
worthy couple, William, a clerk in the office of
the County Clerk, is a young man of recognized
ability, a graduate of the Newburgh Academy,
and for some time attended Lehigh University.
Mr. Hoffmann is identified with a number of
fraternities, having passed all the chairs in Bis
marck Lodge No. 420, I. O. O. F. , and is a mem
ber and ex-President of the Turn Verein. He
served his time in Cataract Company No. 3, aft
erward was with Company No. 1, and- is a char
ter member of Lawson Hose Company No. 5;
thus he is one of the oldest firemen of the city,
and an honored member of the veteran associa
tion of the Lawson Hose Company. On ques
tions relating to politics he is independent, as he
prefers to use his own judgment as a voter, and
does not wish to be bound by party lines.

r^ROF. CHARLES RUPP, teacher, of piano
yr and violin music, and leader of Rupp's
^3 Orchestra and Rupp's Military Band, was
born in Baden, Germany, in 1843, and is a son
of Jacob and Louisa (Schwartz) Rupp, both of
whom were also natives of Baden. In 1835 his
father came to America and located at West
Point, N. Y., where for two years he was in the
employ of the Government in the erection of the
buildings ofthe Military Academy. He later re
turned to Germany, however, and in 1854 brought
the family to America, locating at Highland Falls,
where he remained for a time, and then moved to
Long Island, where he engaged in farming for
two years. He then returned to Highland Falls,
where his death occurred.

The Professor is the youngest of six children
who grew to maturity, five of whom are yet liv
ing. One brother, Jacob, has from its organiza
tion been a member of Gilmore's Band. Charles
was but eleven years of age when he came to
America with the family, and on the 13th of No
vember, 1854, he enlisted in the United States
Drum Corps at West Point as drummer-boy. He
served in that capacity for two and a-half years,
in the mean time studying music, and was then
transferred to the band. Besides his study of the
violin and piano, he has taken up several brass
instruments. In 1881 he was appointed Drum
Major ofthe West Point Military Band, and held
that position until 1886, when, athis own request,
he was retired under the thirty-years act of Con
gress, having served in all a period of thirty-two
years. During the last year he was leader ofthe
band. On his retirement from governmental service,
Professor Rupp removed to Newburgh, where he
engaged in teaching on the violin, piano and
brass instruments. He also founded an orchestra
here and has since continued its leader. In 1893
he formed the Rupp Military Band of eighteen
-members, which has attained a reputation sec
ond to none in this vicinity.
Professor Rupp was married in West Point,
N. Y., in 1864, to Miss Catherine Moore, a na
tive of Ireland. Four children were born unto
them, three of whom are now living. Mary, who
was educated at West Point, resides at home;
Lulu E., who was educated at the Holy Cross,
New York, also resides at home; Prof. Charles S. ,
who was educated at Mt. Pleasant Academy,
Sing Sing, is engaged in teaching music, and is
organist of St. John's Church, Fishkill; John
died at the age of eighteen years. Professor and
Mrs. Rupp are members of St. Mary's Catholic
Church, and politically he is a straight Republi
can. Professor Rupp came naturally by his musical
ability. His grandfather, Charles Rupp, was an
eminent musician in the city of Baden, and was
a teacher on the violin for many years. Few
musicians are better known than the subject of
this sketch. As has already been stated, for

340

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

over thirty years he was connected with the West
Point Military Band, and has made the study of
music his life work. He is a man universally es
teemed for his many good qualities of head and
heart.

EAPT. CHARLES F. JUNE, once famous as
the champion skater and oarsman of the
East, was born September 6, 1824, in New
burgh, where he now resides. He is a repre
sentative of a family that was identified with
the early history of this city, to which place his
grandfather, Phineas June, came in early man
hood from Rochelle, France, his birthplace. Set
tling here, he embarked in the merchant-tailor
ing business, and became one of the prominent
men of the place. He was the first chief en
gineer of the fire department, and filled other
local offices of trust. In religious belief he was
a Lutheran. His wife, whom he met and mar
ried in Newburgh, bore the maiden name of
Fannie M. Coffin, and was a direct descendant
of John and Priscilla Alden, of Puritan fame.
The history of the Coffin family is traced back
to 1 6 10, when, under King William IV., Tris
tram Coffin served as an Admiral in England.
The marriage of Phineas and Fannie M. Coffin
was solemnized in the New Windsor Church in
1790, and among the children born of their union
was Jacob, whose birth occurred in Newburgh.
In early life he gained a thorough knowledge of
the boating business, and for a time he sailed on
sloops between Newburgh and New York, under
Capt. Alden Belknap, who gave him his time
two years before he attained his majority. He
at once became first mate in charge of a vessel,
receiving a salary of $50 per month, which was
a larger amount than had ever been given on the
Hudson to a first mate.
When Captain Belknap gave up the business,
Captain June sailed a sloop as Captain for two
years, and then opened a tavern on Front Street.
There, and on adjoining property, he had an
hotel and oyster-house for many years. His
death occurred in Newburgh in 1891, at the age
of ninety- one. During his early boating days,

18 16, he ran a sloop up Quassaick Creek to the
point now occupied by the Kilmer Iron Works,
where at that time stood a Government foundry.
The boat was loaded with guns, which were
taken to Government and Staten Islands.
The mother of our subject, Maria Penny, was
born in Orange County. Her father, John Penny,
a native of Long Island, became an early settler
of the town of Goshen', and for a time was in
charge of the jail. Later he removed to New
burgh, where he died. During the Revolution
ary War he served in the Colonial army. At the
time of Major Andre's escape he was sent after
him, and hastening through Westchester Coun
ty was intercepted by the two Hessians who
were concerned in his flight. They attempted
to assassinate him, and succeeded in severely
wounding him with a cutlass, but he, being a
large man and a splendid fighter, killed both of
them. Fearing he might again be attacked, he
hid in a swamp for three days and three nights,
after which he walked back to West Point and
had his wound treated, but it never entirely
healed. He died at the age of seventy years.
The Penny family was of Huguenot lineage,
but fled from France to England during the
days of the persecution of the Huguenots. From
England our subject's great-grandfather, Josiah
Penny, emigrated to America and settled on
Long Island, where he died at the age of one
hundred and five years. His wife also attained
a great age, passing away when one hundred
and eleven years old. It is related of him that,
during the Revolution, when he was attempting
to put a torpedo under an English man-of-war,
he was discovered and at once taken prisoner by
the enemy. He was sent to the Tower of Lon
don, where he was confined for four years, and
during that time he kept a diary, a portion of
which was written with his own blood. He suc
ceeded in returning to Long Island when it was
still in the hands of the British. His wife, see
ing him come to the house, but not recognizing
him, received him with a musket, having forti
fied herself, as she supposed, against an enemy.
The family of which our subject is a member
consisted of nine children who reached years of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

34i

maturity, and five of the number are still living.
The mother died in Newburgh at the age of sev
enty-two years. The Captain, who was the eld
est of the family, attended the old Glebe School,
later was a student in the high school under Dr.
Tarbel and O. M. Smith, then carried on his
studies in the free academy, under Professor
Brown, and afterward was a pupil in Professor
Griffin's private school. He learned the baker's
trade under Mrs. Hamilton and Thomas Garvey,
but, with the exception of a short time in New
York, never followed that occupation.
In 1838 our subject took charge of one of his
father's sloops and engaged in dealing in prod
uce, and also carried on a transportation busi
ness between Newburgh and Albany. From
that beginning he built up a large trade, and
ran a large number of boats. For fifteen years
he was thus engaged, owning and running the
large sloop "Oregon," which is still sailing the
river. In 1855, as the result of overwork, he
became totally blind, but fortunately regained
his sight after six months. While he was blind,
he started a hotel on the Newburgh and Chester
Road that was known as Old Bull's Head Tav
ern, but upon entirely regaining the use of his
eyes he resumed boating.
Becoming an employe of the Erie Railroad,
Captain June was master of their barge "Pil
grim," between Piermont and New York, for
three years. Later he went to Castle Garden,
using the same boat for the landing of passengers.
For two years afterward he had full charge of
the passenger, freight and ticket business at Port
Monmouth for the Raritan & Delaware Railroad.
Returning at the expiration of that time to New
burgh, he accepted a position as foreman in the
Washington Iron Works, where he remained
nine months, resigning in 1865 to enter the
yachting business. For one season he was in
charge of a pleasure boat, and then for five years
was on the barge "Newburgh."
During 1873 Captain June went to Detroit,
Mich., where he engaged in the restaurant busi
ness on Griswold Street for five years. He was
similarly engaged in Toledo, Ohio, for eighteen
months, returning from that city to Newburgh.

His home is still in this place, where he is agent
for the Mercantile Co-operation Building Asso
ciation of New York and the National Mutual
Association of New York. He has been twice
married, first in Newburgh in 1843, when Miss
Margaret White, a native of New Windsor, be
came his wife. She died in Newburgh after hav
ing become the mother of three children, namely:
Charles, who is in the provision business in Lin
coln, Neb.; Thomas, a caterer of Detroit, Mich.;
and Mary, who died in childhood. The second
wife of Captain June was Miss Henrietta, daugh
ter of Daniel Chapman, and a native of New
burgh. She is an estimable lady, and a de
voted member ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church.
By this union two children were born, namely:
Georgiana, who died at the age of one year; and
Virginia, a graduate of the Newburgh Academy,
and now the wife of Hon. Grant B. Taylor, of
this city.
In politics Captain June advocates the old Jef-
fersonian Democratic principles. While at Port
Monmouth he spent thirteen days and nights in
transporting troops to the front in defense of
Washington. There were two engines on the
train, and he was constantly on duty for the en
tire time. In 1835 he entered Washington En
gine Company No. 4 as a volunteer, in which he
served for fifteen years. From boyhood he has
been fond of athletics and sports, particularly
skating, rowing and swimming. When only
seven years of age he steered a boat in a race at
Newburgh. Both in yachting and rowing he
has won many prizes. At one time he owned
the yacht "Jennie J.," which took fifteen out of
seventeen prizes in contests on Lakes Erie and St.
Clair, although it was a third-class boat, while
its contestants were of the second class. This
boat was built under his supervision in Detroit,
and was run by himself.
It is, however, especially as a skater that Cap
tain June has become best known. When only
sixteen he won third prize in a speed contest,
and his performances were considered remarkable
for one of his age, his competitors in the race
having been men. At the age of seventeen he
entered into a race at Cornwall, in which he was

342

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the winner. In 1849 a match was arranged be
tween him and Moshier, in which he won. Event
ually he became the acknowledged champion. A
challenge was published in the New York Her
ald in i860, to the effect that he would skate any
man in the United States or Canada from one to
to ten miles, for $1,000 to $10,000 a side. The
challenge remained open three weeks, but was
not accepted. About the same time he skated a
mile in one minute and fifty-eight seconds on
Rockland Lake, which record has never been
beaten anywhere. When skating in Central
Park, New York, was opened, he tested the ice
and set the danger signals. For many years he
has held the position of Lieutenant in the New
burgh Skating Association, and has been one of
the managers of the national amateur races held
in this city, having greatly encouraged the pas
time by precept and example.

HON. JOHN J. S. McCROSKERY is Presi
dent of The National Bank of Newburgh,
which is one of the strongest financial insti
tutions of the state. In 1875 he was elected May
or of the city, to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Mayor Leonard, and in the spring of
1876 he was re-elected for a full term. In every
way he has been liberal and prominent, always
having the welfare of the city and vicinity at
heart. At one time he was First Assistant Chief
Engineer of the fire department; served on the
Board of Education for seven years; and at pres
ent is a member of the Board of Park Commis
sioners. Though a resident of a strong Republi
can ward, the Third, he was elected by a large
majority as a Democratic Alderman from the
same, acting as such for four years.
Our subject's grandfather, James McCroskery,
was born in County Down, Ireland, and there fol
lowed the tailor's trade. While the War of 18 12
was in progress, he sailed for America with his
family, which consisted of his wife and three chil
dren . The vessel on which they were passengers
was captured by a British cruiser and taken to
Halifax, where Mr. McCroskery remained about

two years, and at the end of that time came to
Newburgh. Here he was employed at his trade
for many years, and died when nearly fourscore
years of age. One of his children, John, became
the father of our subject. He was born in Coun
ty Down, Ireland, in 1798, and was married, in
Newburgh, to Catherine Shields, who bore him
three children. Mary A., now deceased, was the
wife of John B. Farrington; Agnes E. has also
passed from this life; and J. J. S. is our subject.
The father was for several years engaged in the
grocery business on Water Street, at one time
occupying the site next to the National Bank,
but later removing to the corner of South and
Water Streets. He was very active in the Pres
byterian Church, as were his ancestors before
him. He departed this life inNewburghin 1855,
when fifty-eight years of age. Mrs. Catherine
McCroskery was born in Newburgh, and died in
[880, when in her eighty -first year. Her father,
John Shields, was born in the northern part of Ire
land, and came to the United States just after his
marriage, settling in Newburgh, where he en
gaged in building and stone-masonry work. He
died here when over sixty-two years of age,
strong in the faith ofthe Presbyterian Church.
J. J. S. McCroskery was born in Newburgh,
February 14, 1834, and received a good education
in the public schools and in the local academy,
from which he graduated in 1849. He then
clerked for his father about a year, and in Febru
ary, 1850, took a position with George Cornwell
& Son, dry-goods merchants, at the corner of
Third and Water Streets. In 1853, the firm hav
ing closed out their business, young McCroskery
accepted a clerkship with the Bank of Newburgh,
with which he has ever since been connected.
Owing to his diligence and strict attention to his
duties, he was promoted to be bookkeeper, then
teller, and in 1864, when The National Bank of
Newburgh succeeded the old establishment, Mr.
McCroskery was inaugurated as Cashier. This
position he ably filled until 1890, when, on ac
count ofthe death of George W. Kerr, at the age
of eighty-one years, he was elected President in
his stead. By a peculiar coincidence he served
as Cashier for a period of twenty-six years to the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

343

day, and altogether has had his business head
quarters in this building for forty-one years. This
structure was erected in 1 8 1 1 for the Bank of
Newburgh, which was the first in the county,
and one of the first in the state. The building
has been remodeled twice in the mean time.
A brief sketch of the history of this well known
financial institution may possess interest for many
and is given below:
The bank was incorporated by an act of Legis
lature, passed March 22, 181 1, on petition of Ja
cob Powell, John McAulay, Chauncy Belknap
and Jonathan D. Fisk. The capital named was
$120,000, in shares of $20 each, the state re
serving the right to subscribe for the stock any
amount not exceeding one thousand shares. The
stock was all taken soon after the passage of the
act of incorporation, and June 15, 1811, the cor
ner-stone ofthe present banking house was laid.
The bank was duly opened for business Septem
ber 9 following, with Isaac Belknap, Jr., Presi
dent, and John S. Hunn Cashier. The first char
ter continued until 1830, when, the stock held by
the state being withdrawn, the bank was reorgan
ized under the Safety Fund Law, and the capital
increased to $140,000. In 1851 the capital was
further increased to $200,000 and the bank reor
ganized under the general banking law. Again,
in September, 1852, the capital was increased to
$300,000. The old bank was later wound up and
The National Bank of Newburgh organized. Bus
iness was commenced July 5, 1864, with a capital
of $800,000. June 3, 1890, the stockholders vot
ed to reduce the capital one-half, and according
ly $400,000, with the addition of forty per cent.,
$160,000, as profits, was divided among the stock
holders. The bank has always been recognized
as one ofthe strongest in the state, and bore such
a good reputation that during the "wild-cat"
days the issue of the old Bank of Newburgh was
always at par, and was collected everywhere dollar
for dollar.
In 1859 Mr. McCroskery married Henrietta
Young, a native of this city and daughter of
Lewis W. and Margaret R. (DuBois J Young.
The father, who began his business career as a
clerk, worked his way upward to success and

prominence, ultimately becoming one of the most
prosperous dry-goods merchants in Newburgh.
His wife was born in Ulster County, N. Y., and
was a direct descendant of the famous French-
Huguenot DuBois family, who were the first set
tlers of the county. Mrs. Young's grandfather,
Col. Lewis DuBois, was a member ofthe Provis
ional Congress, and won his title in the War of
the Revolution. The two children born to our
subject and wife are Lewis W Y., an attorney -at -
law and City Recorder; and John, a promising
young physician of New York City and a gradu
ate of Bellevue Medical College. For main-
years our subject has been Treasurer of the New
burgh Bible Society, and for thirty-seven years
was one of the Trustees of Union Presbyterian
Church, and for the past twenty-nine years has
been Superintendent of the Sunday-school. In
politics he has always been a stanch Democrat.

-*— J  »>3hK®(®)®^<!«  "«—*-

(Tames Cunningham was chief ot the
J Fire Department of Newburgh from 1884 to
•2/ 1893, having been re-elected on the expira
tion of his first term. He has always taken great
interest in the matter of protection from fire, and
is a member of the Order of American Firemen,
being a Director of the Newburgh branch of that
organization. His service in an official capacity
was of great benefit to the city, and several im
portant changes were then inaugurated, among
which was the new fire-alarm system. Every
three years a tournament of the ' 'fire laddies' ' was
held in Newburgh, and in this manner new and
practical ideas were more effectively disseminated.
During his term another company was formed,
and a new house for their accommodation was
built and equipped with a steamer, etc. It is
now twenty-six years since Mr. Cunningham
joined Brewster Hook and Ladder Company
No. 1 , serving as Assistant Fireman for many
years, and during his long and faithful service he
acquired a justly deserved reputation as a fire
fighter. Our subject's father, James Cunningham, was

344

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and there learn
ed the mason's trade. At an early day he came
to the United States, and after a year spent in
New York City, went back to the Emerald Isle,
where he engaged in contracting and building
until his death, which occurred at Dungannon,
when he was about thirty -eight years of age. His
wife, whose maiden name was Charlotte Moore,
was likewise a native of County Tyrone. After
her husband's death she brought her family to
America by way of Quebec, settling in West
Troy, N. Y. She lived to a good old age, dying
at the age of ninety-four years, at her old home
in West Troy. She was a faithful member of the
Presbyterian Church. Of her two sons and five
daughters, all but one survive. John, the eldest
son, is a resident of San Francisco, where he is
engaged in contracting and building.
James Cunningham, of this sketch, was born
in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1843, and his first
recollections are of West Troy, N. Y., where he
received his early education. Afterward he at
tended the New York City schools until he was
in his sixteenth year, when he commenced serv
ing an apprenticeship in a wall-paper factory, on
the corner of Ninth Avenue and Twenty -second
Street. He remained there until the war came
on, and about that time went back to West Troy,
where he clerked in a liquor store until 1867.
He then came to Newburgh and entered the em
ploy of his brother-in-law, Michael Corkins, and
subsequently bought out that gentleman's interest
in the saloon. For three years he engaged in the
manufacture of root beer at No. 6 Colden Street,
and then sold out his plant. Going to New York
City, he resumed his old employment as a stainer
or printer in a wall-paper factory for a year, but
as he did not find it to his liking, returned to this
city and re-embarked at the old location in the
manufacture of root beer, to which he has given
his principal attention since 1876. For two years
he was situated on Front Street, but of late has
been at No. 94 Broadway, where he has a whole
sale and retail trade, running two delivery wag
ons to adjoining towns.
In 1869 Mr. Cunningham married Kate Kig-
her, who was born in Ireland, and whose death

occurred in Newburgh. She left three children,
of whom but one, James J. , now in business with
his father, survives. In 1888 our subject married
Mrs. Elizabeth Powers, a native of this city, and
a daughter of John Quaid, who formerly conduct
ed a grocery here. Of this marriage five children
were born, one of whom is deceased, the others
being May, Fred, Edward and Florence. The
family are members of St. Patrick's Catholic
Church. Politically Mr. Cunningham is affilia
ted with the Democratic party.

(JOHN KLEMMER, a contractor and builder,
I located at No. 91 Front Street, Newburgh,
Q) is a good representative of the German citi
zens of this place. Born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger
many, August 5, 1832, he was a lad of nineteen
years when he crossed the ocean in the sailing-
vessel "Nicholas Biddle," in 1851. Previous to
coming to America, however, he went to Worms,
Germany, where he industriously applied himself
to the cabinet-maker's trade for two and a-half
years, and after he had mastered it worked as a
journeyman for three months. This brings us to
the time of his embarkation at Havre.
After an ocean voyage of twenty-eight days,
Mr. Klemmer landed at New York City, whence
he went to Rondout, Ulster County. There he be
gan work at the carpenter's trade, carrying on a
good business in this line until the war broke out.
Patriotism for his adopted country forced him to
lay aside all else and enter with his whole heart
and strength into her affairs, and in 1864 we find
him a member ofthe Twentieth New York State
Militia, having enlisted for three years, or during
the war. In the Army of the Potomac, under
General Patrick, he at first did provost duty.
Later he took part in the engagement at Appo
mattox Court House, and in numerous smaller
skirmishes. After a faithful service of two years
he was discharged, being mustered out at Norfolk,
Va., in February, 1866.
For a short time after his return from the army
Mr. Klemmer carried on his trade in Rondout,
but in the fall of 1867 he came to Newburgh, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

345

here he has since made his home. At first he
was employed by McClung & Deoey, carpenters,
then by William H. Hilton until 1888, and finally
worked for Samuel Hilton, staying with him un
til he retired "from business in March, 1894. This
date also marks the time when our subject started
in business for himself as a contractor and builder,
and as success has attended his efforts he has no
reason to regret the step he then took.
The father of our subject, Jacob Klemmer, was
likewise a contractor and builder. He is also a
native of Germany, and although now ninety-one
years old still enjoys good health. He attends
the Reformed Lutheran Church. His wife, for
merly Margaret Shad, was born in Hildesheim,
Germany, and passed away when forty-four years
old. In the parental family there were five sons
and three daughters, but of this number only two
sons are living.
Rondout, N. Y., was the scene ofthe marriage
of Mr. Klemmer and Miss Catherine Stabler, in
1859. Her birth occurred in Holzgerlingen,
Wurtemberg, from which place she came with her
parents to America. They later settled at Rond
out, where her father, John G. Stabler, was a
carpenter. To our subject and his wife were born five
children. John is proprietor of a barber shop;
Jacob, a carpenter, works for his father; George
is manager of the Importers' Tea Company; Fred
also works for his father; and Margaret, formerly
the wife of George Cook, died in 1889. Car
penters' Union No. 301 claims Mr. Klemmer as
one of its members, and politically he isa Repub
lican .

j LKANAH K. SHAW, one of the most
*y prominent business men of Newburgh, is a
__ member of the firm of Thomas Shaw's Sons,
proprietors of the Newburgh Moulding and Plan
ing Mill, the largest and oldest establishment of
the kind in the city. The founder, Thomas
Shaw, was the father of our subject. He was
born at Clinton Farm, in the town of New Wind

sor, June 12, 1799, and was a son of Thomas
Shaw, whose birth occurred in Ireland, and who
came to America with his brother John in 1790,
taking up land near Clinton Farm, where his
death occurred at the age of seventy years.
Thomas Shaw learned the carpenter's trade,
and early in life commenced business on his own
account. It was the practice in those days for
the carpenters to go to the woods and hew and
saw their own timber. Mr. Shaw carried on
business in Little Britain until 1832, when he
came to Newburgh, and among the first build
ings he erected were the old Powell Storehouse,
the storehouses of D. Crawford & Co., Benjamin
Carpenter's, and the one now occupied by S. M.
Bull; he also erected the United States Hotel.
His first shop was on Ann Street, but later he re
moved to Front Street, and his next place of
business was at the old Red Storehouse, on the
dock at the foot of Washington Street. In 1852
he admitted his sons to partnership, and they
later erected a large shop on South Water Street,
at the foot of Little Ann Street, and subsequently
added to their plant a planing-mill, but about a
month later, on the 15th of December, 1865, the
whole establishment was destroyed by fire.
The firm then erected a large planing-mill at
the corner of South William and South Water
Streets, and they not only manufactured their
own material, but supplied smaller builders as
well. During the Civil War they built a large
number of naval gun-carriages for the United
States Government, some of which cost as high
as $3,000 each. Having never seen one, E. K.
Shaw, of this sketch, went to the navy-yards,
where he made a drawing of one, and on his re
turn the firm manufactured about nine hundred
in all. They also did the joiner work ofa num
ber of naval vessels and other boats, and have
erected many of the most important buildings in
Newburgh. On the death of the father, Febru
ary 6, 1877, the sons still continued the business.
In 1882 they built their present moulding and
planing-mill at the corner of South William and
Johnes Streets, where they manufacture sash,
blinds, doors, stair-rails, balusters and newels,
and furnish all kinds of trimmings and supplies

346

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

for house-builders. They employ usually about
one hundred expert mechanics, who can always
be relied upon for first-class work.
Thomas Shaw was three times married, his
first union being with Eleanor Bennett. To them
was born one son, Samuel Crawford, a carpenter,
who died in Detroit, Mich. After the death of
his first wife he wedded Harriet Walsh, who was
born in New Windsor Town, Orange County,
and was a daughter of John, and a granddaugh
ter of Samuel Logan Walsh. She died at an
early age, leaving the three sons who comprised
the firm, George W., Charles B. and Elkanah K.,
but Charles died in April, 1892. The third mar
riage was with Jane Walsh, the sister of his sec
ond wife. In political sentiment Thomas Shaw
was a Democrat, and religiously was a member
of the Union Presbyterian Church, of which he
was Trustee for many years.
On the 27th of December, 1834, Elkanah K.
Shaw was born in the Blizzard House on Front
Street, Newburgh, where his parents then re
sided. He attended the village schools, and at
the age of sixteen began a regular apprenticeship
in his father's shop. In 1857 he began the study
of architecture under John W Priest, who was
then one of the foremost architects of the country.
His young pupil and assistant made excellent
advancement, and acquired an intimate knowledge
and practice in the essentials of his art. He later
studied draughting for three years under Samuel
Stanton, an expert in that line, and in 1864 he
resumed his connection with Thomas Shaw &
Sons. He has ever since been the architect of
the firm, and is the foremost man in his profes
sion in this section ofthe state.
On the 23d of July, 1863, Mr. Shaw wedded
Miss Elizabeth McCoun, the marriage ceremony
being performed in the old Union Presbyterian
Church of Newburgh. The lady was born in
Little Britain, and is a daughter of Samuel Mc
Coun, a native of Vail Gate, and a carpenter and
builder of Little Britain. He died of heart dis
ease in 1864. Her uncle, Henry T. McCoun,
and Colonel Weygant were the original promoters
of Washington Heights. The McCoun family
was of Scotch-Irish descent, and Mrs. Shaw's

mother, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca
Alexander, was a daughter of James and Cath
erine Alexander. Mrs. Shaw is the eldest in the
family of eight cliildren, only three of whom are
still living, the others being Joseph, a carpenter
in the shop of our subject; and Helen, now Mrs.
Rockwell, of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Mr. Shaw succeeded his father as Trustee in
the Union Church, which office he has now held
for twenty-eight years, and of which church he
has been a member since childhood. He is Vice-
President and Trustee of the Academy of Music,
and Superintendent of the Building Committee.
With the Masonic order he holds membership,
belonging to Hudson River Lodge No. 607,
F. & A. M.; Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.;
and Hudson River Commandery No. 35, K. T.
Mr. Shaw is a member of the Board of Trade,
and in 1893 was made Trustee and President of the
Chadborn & Coldwell Manufacturing Company,
which positions he still holds. He has been a
trustee and active member of the Ringgold Hose
Company since its organization in 1854, and was
assistant foreman one year and foreman nine
years. He has been connected with the fire de
partment longer than any other man in the city,
and now belongs to C. M. Leonard Council, Or
der of American Firemen.

*#>

gEORGE S. WELLER. Although young in
years, this gentleman is one of the most en
ergetic and enterprising business men of
Newburgh, where he deals extensively in coal,
being located at the corner of Lake Street and
Broadway. His birth occurred in that city on
the 30th of July, 1871, and he is a son of A. Y.
Weller, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this
volume. Mr. Weller received good educational advan
tages, being a graduate of the academy, belong
ing to the Class of '88. On leaving school, he
entered the employ of J. W. Matthews & Co.,
wholesale grocers, where he was shipping clerk
until starting in his present business. In connec
tion with D. S. Warring, he purchased a coal-

ERNEST H. GILMAN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

349

yard, which was carried on conjointly until 1891,
when Mr. Weller became sole proprietor, having
bought out his partner's interest. His yards oc
cupy four hundred and ten feet on Lake and two
hundred and twenty-eight feet on Broadway, and
the capacity of his sheds and buildings is about
six thousand tons. He deals in Pitston hard coal
of all sizes for family use, and also George's
Creek soft coal for business purposes. He has
been quite successful in this undertaking, meet
ing with a liberal patronage.
In Hebron, Conn., was celebrated the mar
riage of Mr. Weller and Miss Constance Farrar,
a native, of the Empire State, and a daughter of
Rev. J. A. Farrar, pastor of St. Peter's Episco
pal Church of Hebron. They now reside at No.
168 Grand Street, where they have a pleasant
home, in which they delight to entertain their
many friends.
Mr. Weller is a member of Highland Steamer
No. 3, and is Secretary ofthe company. He be
longs to the City Club of Newburgh, and in poli
tics he affiliates with the Republican party, feel
ing that within its tenets lies the safest guide to
our national progress. Religiously he holds mem
bership with the Union Presbyterian Church.
He is one of the popular and representative
men of the city, and makes friends of all with
whom he comes in contact.

*>^£=v»

. RNEST H. GILMAN, superintendent of the
'y Grove Paper Mills of Newburgh, was born
__ in Kingsey Falls, Quebec, Canada, Septem
ber 7, 1862, and is a son of George and Sarah
(Pope) Gilman, both of whom are natives of Dan
ville, Quebec. His grandfather, Hayes Gilman,
was born in Providence, R. I. , and was of Eng
lish descent. He was a miller by trade, and lo
cated at Danville at an early day, there engaging
in running a flouring-mill. The father also
learned the trade of a miller, and operated a mill
both at Danville and Kingsey Falls, Canada, un
til he retired from business. He now resides at
13

Laconia, N. H., and is fifty-four years of age.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, but is liberal in all his views. The
mother was a daughter of Lemuel Pope, a native
of Clermont, N. H. The latter was a millwright
by occupation, and died in Canada.
Our subject is the eldest of four living children.
He grew to manhood in Kingsey Falls, where he
was educated in the public schools and academy,
and when thirteen years of age was apprenticed
to learn the trade of a paper manufacturer in the
Dominion Paper Company's mills at Kingsey
Falls. He learned the trade in all its branches,
and when eighteen years of age took charge of
the chemical department of the mills for the man
ufacture of wood pulp, and later was made fore
man of the pulp department, continuing in that
capacity for four years. He then became super
intendent ofa paper-mill in Richelieu, Canada,
where he remained eighteen months, and then
entered the employ of P. C. Cheney & Co., of
Manchester, N. H, remaining with that firm for
ten months, after which he went to Burnside,
Conn. , where for fifteen months he served as as
sistant superintendent in the paper-mills of F. R.
Walker & Sons.
In July, 1891, Mr. Gilman came to Newburgh
as assistant superintendent of the Grove Mills,
and served in that capacity until the death of Mr.
Grosset, when, in January, 1895, he was elected
superintendent. The mills are located at Quas
saick Creek, being among the best equipped in this
section ofthe country. The main building has a
pulp engine room, machine room and steam room,
and adjoining are the boiler room, carpenter shop,
offices and two storehouses, all of which are
heated by steam. The main engine is a three
hundred and fifty horse-power and there are two
other engines, each of two-hundred horse-power.
The capacity of the mill is nine tons per day, and
it is usually run night and day during the entire
year. All kinds of super-calendered book and
writing papers are manufactured here.
In October, 1885, Mr. Gilman was united in
marriage, in Canada, with Miss Annie Grosset,
daughter of A. S. Grosset, late superintendent of
the Grove Mills. She was reared in her native

35o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

country and educated in its public schools. Three
children have been born to them, Alex, Annie
and Lizzie.
While residing in Danville, Canada, Mr. Gil
man was made a Master Mason, and yet affiliates
with that body. Religiously he is a member of
the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and
politically is a Republican . As a citizen he stands
high in the estimation of the people, and as a
paper manufacturer thoroughly understands his
business in every department, having served two
years in the machine-shops that he might be qual
ified in all the work. He is an accommodating
man, practical in all things, and is popular with
all classes of people.

EARL J. LUNDGREN, who holds the respon
sible position of foreman of the wire depart
ment of the Kilmer Mills in Newburgh, is a
practical workman in this line, and is regarded
by the company as a valuable employe. He was
born in Justrickland, near the city of Djeole,
Sweden, January 6, 1857. His father, P. J.
Lundgren, was likewise born in that place, and
was a carpenter by trade, although for some time
he operated a flouriug-mill. One year after our
subject came to America he was induced to make
his home here, and is now living in Worcester,
Mass. , retired from business of any kind. He is
a true Christian gentleman and a worthy member
ofthe Lutheran Church.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Johanna Katherine Sjoblom; she, too, was born in
Sweden, and now makes her home in the Bay
State. Our subject has one brother, Gustav A.,
who is employed in a wire mill at Cleveland,
Ohio. Carl J. attended the public schools of his
native place, and as soon as old enough began to
work in the roller-mills there. He learned this
business thoroughly, and in 1879, the year after
attaining his majority, he set sail for America.
After landing in New York City, he made his
way to Worcester, Mass., and later to Troy,
N. Y. , where for three months he worked in the
mills. At the end of that time he was offered a

better position in the mills of Worcester, and, re
turning thither, worked in the wire mills of Wash
burn & Moen, and later was finisher in the roller-
mills of the same company.
In 1889 Mr. Lundgren went to Cleveland, Ohio,
and was made foreman of the American Wire
Company in their continuous rod roller-mill, be
ing the incumbent of this position for two years
following. He then accepted a position in Baak-
er's Mill in that city, being in the wire depart
ment there until coming to Newburgh, in 1892.
Here he was made assistant foreman of the roller
mills of the Kilmer Company, but after five
mouths, so efficient was he in his work, he was
promoted to be head of the department. Un
der him there are fifty men, by all of whom he is
respected and esteemed.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Anna
Elizabeth Hedlund occurred in Worcester, Mass. ,
in 1880. The lady was likewise born in Sweden,
in the same vicinity as was our subject, and by
their union have been born two children, Ruth
Elizabeth and Carl M. They have also an adopted
daughter, ten years of age, bearing the name of
Florence Esther Lundgren. In religious matters
Mr. Lundgren is a member of the Congregational
Church, with which he united while living in
Worcester. Although in no sense of the word a
politician, yet he never fails to cast a vote for Re
publican candidates, and is interested in the suc
cess of the party of his choice.
6 wo~~^<' T">*S~ s>
pQlLLIAM W. TERWILLIGER. Asa rep-
\ A / resentative of the energetic and efficient
V V business men of Newburgh, who in various
departments of activity have gained well merited
success, we present the name of Mr. Terwilliger,
the well known undertaker and funeral director
of this city. He was born in High Falls, Ulster
County, N. Y., April 4, 1840, and is of Holland-
Dutch descent, his grandfather, Tejerica Terwil
liger, having been born in the Netherlands,
whence he emigrated to America and became one
of the pioneer farmers of Ulster County.
The father of our subject, Isaac D. Terwilliger,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

35i

was born in Stone Ridge, Ulster County, and fol
lowed the blacksmith's trade there until his death,
at sixty-two years of age. His wife, Maria Auch-
moody, born in Loyd, N. Y., died at the age
of seventy-two. She was a daughter of Abraham
Auchmoody, and a descendant of German ances
try. There were thirteen children in the parental
family, nine of whom arrived at years of matu
rity, and four sons and three daughters are now
living, William W. being the third in order of
birth. Reared at High Falls, the boyhood years of our
subject were passed in school, and in assisting in
the routine of home work. In 1858 he began to
learn the carpenter's trade, and was thus engaged
uninterruptedly until October 16, 1862, when he
entered the Union Army, becoming a member of
the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania
Infantry. Later he was transferred to Captain
Hubble' s independent company for guard duty in
the vicinity of Philadelphia. At the expiration of
nine months, when his term of service expired,
he was honorably discharged, August 14, 1863.
Returning to New York, Mr. Terwilliger began
carpenter work for Thomas Shaw's Sons in New
burgh, remaining in their employ until 1874,
when he formed a partnership with C. S. Gibbs,
and bought the undertaking establishment that
for many years had been owned by the latter's
father, Samuel Gibbs. The business was con
ducted under the firm name of Gibbs & Terwilli
ger, until the death of the senior member, April
19, 1891, since which time Mi. Terwilliger has
been the sole proprietor. The building which he
occupies is situated at No. 81 Smith Street, and
has a frontage of thirty feet. Two hearses are
kept in connection with the business, both of
which are new and handsome. In the embalm
ing business and as a funeral director Mr. Ter
williger has few equals, and his tact, efficiency
and dignity of manner adapt him peculiarly for
work in this line.
In Newburgh, in 1873, Mr. Terwilliger was
united in marriage with Miss Margaret Gibbs,
daughter of Samuel Gibbs, and a native of this
city. She died here, February 22, 1875, leaving
one son, Cornelius, a graduate of the Newburgh

Academy and Eastman's Business College, who
is now employed as check clerk in the Irving
National Bank. The second marriage of Mr.
Terwilliger united him with Miss Martha J.
Fancher, who was born in Newburgh, her father,
Darius Fancher, being a piano manufacturer of
this city. They have one son, William F., a
student in the academy. Socially Mr. Terwilli
ger is a charter member of the Knights of Honor,
and politically he advocates the principles set
forth in the platform of the Republican party,
though he goes a step in advance of that organi
zation and favors prohibition. He is a Trustee
of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, and a
generous contributor to the enterprises carried on
by that denomination.

HJHZ

=+

(3AMUEL J. GIBSON, proprietor ofthe Oak-
Nk ley Bottling Works, and one of the rising
Q) young business men of Newburgh, was born
in this city October 1, 1870, being of Irish par
entage and Scotch descent. His father and
mother, Thomas and Sarah (Eager) Gibson,
were born in the North of Ireland and came
to America in early life, settling in Newburgh,
where they continued to make their home until
death. Their family consisted of five children,
four of whom are living, namely: Thomas, a res
ident of Walden, Orange County; William, whose
home is in Newburgh; Hugh, of New York City:
and Samuel J.
Reared in this city, our subject was for a few
years a student in the public schools, but the
necessity of earning his own living obliged him
when still quite young to discontinue his studies
and secure employment. At the age of seventeen
he entered the employ of C. R. Owen, for whom
he worked here and at Tarry town. Later he was
with the Old Bridge Tile Company at Old Bridge,
N. J., and on his return to Newburgh he became
an employe in the bottling works then owned by
Mrs. Oakley. He remained with her successors,
Ensminger & Huffman, until November 15, 1893,
when he purchased the works and continued the

352

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

business under the name of the Oakley Bottling
Works. The plant is located at Nos. 95 and 97
Front Street, where the finest grades of sodas,
Saratoga water and mineral water are manufac
tured. In addition he also deals in soda fountains
and carries everything in that line, supplying the
trade. The marriage of Mr. Gibson, which was sol
emnized June 19, 1895, in Newburgh, united him
with Lillian Pembelton, a resident of Newburgh.
Socially Mr. Gibson is identified with the Ancient
Order of Foresters of America, belonging to the
Shepherds of America No. 8364. He is a young
gentleman of marked ability, for whom the future
undoubtedly holds increasing success.
• — £)#&=!_.

Gl LBERT JOHNSON, who has the distinction
LJ of being the oldest engineer on any railroad
/ I running out of Newburgh, was born Jan
uary 6, 1829, on the grounds used for the Cen
tennial of 1876 in Philadelphia, Pa. His father,
Jacob, and grandfather were also born on that
place, and the latter owned nine hundred acres
now belonging to Philadelphia and included
within the present limits of Centennial Park.
From this place he marched out in defense of the
colonies during the Revolutionary War, but he
never returned home, "being killed at Valley
Forge, Pa. The family is of French and Ger
man descent, and its representatives in the United
States have always been known for patriotism,
honesty and perseverance.
Following the patriotic- example set by his fa
ther, Jacob Johnson enlisted in the service of the
United States during the War of 1812, and three
of his brothers also went forth to do service in
their country's behalf. His life occupation was
that of a farmer, and he tilled the soil of the old
homestead in Philadelphia. There his death oc
curred at the age of eighty-two years; his wife
died eighteen years after his demise. It is a fact
worthy of note that their eleven children were
present at his funeral and followed his remains to
the burial-ground, and that they were also pres
ent at her funeral eighteen years afterward and

witnessed the interment of her body beside that
of her husband. Of these children, nine are now-
living, our subject being the seventh son. The
mother, Elizabeth, was born in Germantown,
Pa., and was a daughter of John Fox, a farmer
and an early settler of Germantown, who for con
venience changed his family name of Mack to
that of Fox.
In the subscription schools of Philadelphia the
education of our subject was mainly received.
At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed as ma
chinist in the Sutton & Smith Locomotive Works,
where he remained for seven years. At the ex
piration of his term of apprenticeship he entered
the employ of Isaac P. Morris, proprietor of the
Morris Marine Engine Works, remaining in that
position for two years. Afterward he secured a
position as fireman, later as engineer, on the
Erie Railroad, between Susquehanna and Seneca
Lake, filling this position for two years. His
next position was as first engineer on the steamer
"S. S. Lewis," and in that capacity he made one
trip to Liverpool and returned to Boston. He
then ran a switch engine on the Pennsylvania
State Road, in the shops at Parkesburg, Chester
County. In i860 he became engineer on the
passenger train running between Piermont and
Port Jervis, on the Erie Railroad.
Coming to Newburgh in 1868, Mr Johnson
ran the first passenger train ever run over the
short cut from Newburgh and Newburgh Junc
tion and Turner. Since that time he has con
tinued as engineer on a passenger train, and is
now the oldest engineer in the employ of the Erie
at Newburgh. The only serious accident he
has ever had was at Piermont, when the boiler
of the engine exploded, killing the fireman and
flagman, but he was miraculously saved, and re
mained on the engine until the train was stopped.
At present he runs the passenger between New
burgh and Greycourt, making three round trips,
a distance of one hundred and twenty miles,
daily. At Philadelphia, Pa., June 19, 1853, Mr. John
son married Miss Mary C. Mecutchen, who was
born in Wilmington, Del. Her grandfather,
John D., was born in Scotland, and after coming

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

353

to this country engaged in farming in Maryland.
Her father, Samuel M., was born in Maryland,
but spent the most of his life in Philadelphia,
where he followed the trade of a millwright. His
death occurred in that city in January, 1881, when
he was seventy-eight years old. Her mother,
Mary M., who still resides in Philadelphia, was
born in Germantown, Pa., in 1810, and was a
daughter of John Fox, a carpenter by trade.
Samuel M. and Mary M. (Fox) Mecutchen were
the parents of ten children, all but one of whom
attained mature years and eight are now living,
Mrs. Johnson being the eldest. She has three
brothers, namely: John F., who was in the navy
as engineer, and is now a resident of Philadelphia;
Jesse G., also an engineer in the navy, and now
living in Philadelphia; and Benjamin F., a mem
ber of a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil
War, and now a resident of Philadelphia.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of four
children, as follows: Samuel N. , a graduate of
the Ft. Washington Military School; Elizabeth,
Mrs. James Dixon, of Newburgh; Mary N.,
who married Edwin D. Jordan, and lives in Pitts
burg, Pa.; and Charles S., who resides in Port
Jervis, and is an engineer on the Erie Railroad.
Socially Mr. Johnson is a Master Mason, and is
also identified with the Brotherhood ot Locomo
tive Engineers, belonging to the Jersey Division,
which is one of the old established organizations
of the kind in the United States. While not a
member of any religious organization, he con
tributes to the support of St. John's Method
ist Episcopal Church, to which his wife belongs.

WILLIAM H. KAY. Among the residents
of Newburgh who are prosecuting their
work successfully we make mention of Mr.
Kay, the proprietor of the Steam Kindling Wood
Works, who has a large trade in supplying the
residences and stores of the city with kindling
wood. He was born in New York City, Novem
ber 23, 1849, and is the son of Charles Kay, a na
tive of England, who was of Scotch descent, and

who, while in his native land, followed the spin
ner's trade. In 1848 he came with his wife and
family to the New World, and, landing in New
York City, continued to live there until 1851, the
date of his advent into Orange County. He first
located at Milo, but soon thereafter removed to
Walden, where he obtained employment as spin
ner in a woolen factory. He became well known
to the residents of that place, and there made his
home until his decease, in January, 1890. He
was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, aud took a leading part in the work of
extending the Gospel in his neighborhood. His
wife was formerly Miss Susanna Ogden, a native
of England. She accompanied her husband on
his various removals, and died in Walden, N. Y.
The parental household included ten children,
and of this large family only four are now living.
On the death of his first wife Charles Kay was a
second time married, this union being with Miss
Susannah Dawson, who became the mother of
one child. William H., of this history, spent his
boyhood days in Walden, and after gleaning a
fair education in the common schools, went to
work in the carding-room of the woolen factor)'.
He worked his way through the various depart
ments until, at the age of eighteen, he was pro
nounced a practical spinner. After this he went
to work in a cutlery shop and learned to grind
table blades. From the latter place he went to
Camden, N. J., where he was employed in the
woolen-mills, and later to Philadelphia and Phce-
nixville, Pa. Subsequently he returned to Wal
den and was given his old position in the knife
works as grinder. He remained thereuntil 1872,
when he came to Newburgh and began work as
a spinner in the factory here. After holding his
position for seven years he left and worked for
other firms for a time, but returned to his first
employer, remaining with him until engaging in
peddling vegetables, fish, etc., through the city.
He followed this for a period of three years, when
he abandoned it in order to start a milk route,
having his office located at No. 345 Broadway.
He continued in this for two years, when he
opened up a woodyard at the same place.
In 1891 Mr. Kay erected new buildings on Ful-

354

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lerton Avenue, near Broadway, which he now
occupies. It has fifty feet of frontage and contains
all the machinery used in his kindling wood
works. He runs two wagons, and has built up a
paying business in the latter line.
Miss Mary C. Van Ambergh became the wife
of our subject October 20, 187 1, She was born
in Phillipsport, Sullivan County, and by this
union has become the mother of a daughter, An
nie G. They also have an adopted son, Willie.
Socially Mr. Kay is a member of Muchattoes
Tribe No. 54, I. O. R. M., and belongs to the
Order of the World. He never fails to cast a vote
in favor of Republican candidates. He works
perseveringly and faithfully, and is regarded as
one ofthe enterprising men ofthe city.

MEORGE BARBER, Chief Engineer of the
I— Pennsylvania Coal Company, and one of the
V_>| oldest employes of this prominent business
concern of Newburgh, was born in Rondout,
N. Y., March 23, 1845. The family is of English
and German descent, but has been represented in
this country for a number of generations. His
grandfather, Charles Barber, was a farmer by oc
cupation, and participated in the War of 1812.
The father of our subject, Luman Barber, was
born in Hudson, N. Y., and engaged in the mer
cantile business at Rondout until his death, which
occurred at the age of seventy-five. For some
time he was Captain of a New York militia com
manded by Governor Clinton. His wife, Emma,
was born at Hudson, and was a daughter of
Nathan Sansburg, who engaged in farming pur
suits in Columbus County. She died when sev
enty-four years of age. Her family consisted of
five children, four sons and one daughter, of whom
two of the sons and the daughter are now living.
George, who is the youngest son ofthe family,
was given good educational advantages in youth,
first attending the Rondout High School, and aft
er his graduation from that institution carrying
on his studies in the Kingston Academy. His
first work was that of fireman on the steamboat
"Norwich," between Rondout and New York

City, which position he filled for several years.
So capable was he, that his ability received mer
ited recognition, and he was promoted to the po
sition of assistant engineer of the boat, later be
coming chief engineer of the steamer "Harold."
During the winter seasons, when navigation was
closed, he worked in a machine-shop at Rondout,
and devoted his evenings to mechanical drawing
and mathematics.
On leaving the "Harold," Mr. Barber became
assistant engineer on the "Thomas Cornell," and
afterward was chief engineer ofthe "Frank Car
ter," also of the steamer "North," and various
other boats owned by Thomas Cornell. He made
many river voyages, but never had an accident of
any kind, this fact being due largely to the watch
fulness ofthe engineer. March 1, 1873, he entered
the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company
of Newburgh, and has since been chief engineer
of the works, having control of all the motive
power, which includes seven stationary engines,
one floating steam pump and one floating pile-
driver, besides all of the locomotives. Under him
are four assistant engineers and three firemen.
The comfortable home of Mr. Barber is situated
at No. 8 Overlook Place, on the Heights, and was
erected by him in 1891. He was united in mar
riage, at Saugerties, N. Y., with Miss Helen
Garland, who was born in Kingston, N. Y., be
ing a daughter of George Garland, who operated
a tannery in Kingston. One child, Minnie, blesses
the union. Socially Mr. Barber is in demand,
and he is identified with a number of prominent
secret organizations. Since 1870 he has held
membership in Aretas Lodge, I. O. O. F., at
Rondout. He is Past Chancellor of Olive Branch
Lodge, K. P., at Newburgh, Past President of
H. D. Cozzen's Association of Stationary Engi
neers in Newburgh; Past Commander of Ellis
Post, G. A. R., of Newburgh; and a charter
member of the Marine Engineers' Association of
New York City, No. 56. His religious connec
tions are with the Methodist Episcopal denomina
tion, his membership being in Trinity Church.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Barber has al
ways been a stanch defender of all measures tend
ing toward the progress of the community in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

355

which he lives, or our nation. In August, 1862,
he volunteered in defense of the Union, be
coming a member of Company H, One Hundred
and Twentieth New York Infantry, under Gen
eral Sharpe. He was mustered in at Kingston
for three years, and marched at once to the front,
taking part in the battles of Fredericksburg and
Antietam, as well as a number of engagements of
minor importance. For some time he was ill,
unable to leave the hospital, and on account of
disability he was honorably discharged from the
army in April, 1864.
For two years after returning home, Mr. Bar
ber was unable to engage in active work 011 ac
count of delicate health. As soon as his strength
permitted, he resumed engineering, and has since
given his attention uninterruptedly to his chosen
occupation, although he still suffers from ill-
health on account of his army service. He is a
man whose honesty of purpose and strength of
character have brought him the respect of the
company in whose employ he has so long re
mained, while his genial social qualities win for
him the friendship of his associates.
- >• >¦ — »>3hK®^s)®£*C;»  * — {-—

fD GjlLLIAM HENRY MAPES, who is one of
\ A / the leading photographers and prominent
VV citizens of Newburgh, was born in this
city March 12, 1861. With the exception of two
years spent on the river and in New York City,
he has always made this city his home. He is
proud of having been an "Old Academy" boy,
from which institution he was graduated with the
Class of '78.
Our subject comes of an ancestry in which is
the combined blood ofthe Anglo-Saxon, Norman-
Frenchman and Hollander, and is descended on
his mother's side from the Warren family, noted
in the early history of Massachusetts.
Thomas Mapes, the great-great-grandfather of
our subject, emigrated to America early in the
eighteenth century, becoming one ofthe earliest
settlers of the town of Monroe, and serving as
Sheriff of Orange C°unty during the closing

years ofthe Revolution. The great-grandfather,
James Mapes, served as a soldier in that conflict,
and is known to have aided in the defense of the
Highland forts against the British and to have
fought under Wayne at the storming of Stony
Point. The grandfather of our subject, Robert B.
Mapes, was a prominent resident of Marlboro,
Ulster County, N. Y., and his birth occurred in
Monroe. He was a wheelwright by trade, and
during the latter years of his life built and con
ducted a hotel. He was an officer in the cavalry
and a prominent figure in the militia in that sec
tion. George W. Mapes, the father of the subject of
this history, came to Newburgh from Marlboro
in 1850, and died very suddenly in 1884. He is
remembered by most of the old residents of the
city as conducting a restaurant and market in the
old building on the northwest corner of Front and
Third Streets, which under his management was
a popular resort. He was a Knight of Honor, and
for several years served as a member of the Co
lumbian Hose Company. His marriage united
him with Miss Mary J. Sarvis, who is still living
and resides with her son, our subject. For a full
history of her family we refer the reader to the
sketch of James H. Sarvis, elsewhere in this
volume. William H. Mapes is a natural artist, and from
his early childhood drew with a pencil whatever
objects he saw around him. A number of his
paintings have found ready puchasers, but since
1885 he has given the greater part of his atten
tion to photography. Always striving to excel,
he has already been recognized by high authori
ties and takes rank among the foremost men in his
profession in the state. He takes pictures with
the flash light, and has all the latest appliances
and improvements used in his art. He makes a
specialty of reproducing views and photographs
for the press, which require a high grade of skill
and untiring patience, as he has often copies
brought to him which require great pains in re
modeling. Mr. Mapes is an Episcopalian in religious be
lief and a member of St. George's Church. In

356

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

debating societies he is very prominent, and since
1882 has been connected with the Young Men's
Christian Association, being the first teacher in
the gymnasium of this body. He is a member of
the Tenth Separate Company, N. Y. N. G. , also
of Ringgold Hose Company No. 1 .
The lady to whom our subject was married in
1885 was Louise D., daughter of William R.
Greene, of Balmville, the latter of whom is now
deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Mapes have been
born two daughters, Sidney and Helen.

'HOMAS GOGARTY, the leading horse-
shoer of Newburgh, is also the owner of
several fine horses of the Hambletonian
breed. A practical workman, in the business
which he follows he has built up a splendid trade.
He is both pleasant and accommodating, and is a
man of upright life, high morality and good-will
toward all.
Our subject is a native of this state, and was
born in 1857, in Wurtsboro, Sullivan County. His
father bore the name of James Gogarty, and was
born in Ireland. He was a well-to-do farmer in
his native isle, hut hoping to profit by the better
opportunities offered in almost every line of busi
ness in the New World, he came hither in - 185 1,
locating at once in Orange County, in the town of
Crawford. He made his home there for a time,
engaged in agriculture, but afterward moved to
the town of Wurtsboro, later to Wallkill, and
finally to the town of Montgomery, where he is
now residing.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Bridget McGinnis, and she is still living in Mont
gomery. Of her four children, Thomas is the eld
est but one. He passed several years' of his life
on the farm in Wallkill, and then went to Mont
gomery, where he attended school until eighteen
years of age. He then began in life for himself
as an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade under
Dick Samuel. He worked for him nine months,
and for two years afterward was in the employ of
Frank McEwen. After this he went to Walden,
thence to Kingston, and subsequently to Stony-

ford Stock Farm, near Goshen, owned by Charles
Backman. He was employed by that gentleman
to shoe his horses and remained with him for two
years. In 1883 Mr. Gogarty established in business
for himself at Newburgh, conducting a shop on
Chambers Street until the following year, when
he erected his present commodious quarters. Very
soon he became well known to the farmers of the
surrounding country, and now gives employment
to four men and keeps burning three fires. He
is a man of good business principles and high
sense of honor, and his work never fails to give
satisfaction. He is a lover of fine horses, and has
in his possession several very fine animals, among
them being "Sheldon," by "Young Winfield,"
he by "Major Winfield" and dammed by "Cizer,"
by "Old Hambletonian." He also owns the
mare "Lillie G.," by "Paloma," by Hambleton
ian No. 10, and her dam by "Ottawa."
Miss Lizzie McCormick became the wife of our
subject April 20, 1881, their marriage being sol
emnized in Goshen. She was born in New Wind
sor, and has become the mother of two daughters,
Lillie and Helen M. Mr. Gogarty is a member
of the Foresters, the Catholic Benevolent Legion
and Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He is
a Catholic in religion, and in politics he affiliates
with the Democratic party.

j EIGH OAKEY, whose success in garden
ia ing has brought his name into prominence
|_J among the citizens of Newburgh, was born in
the village of Norton, Gloucestershire, England,
April 15, 1 83 1. His father, John, and grand
father, also named John, were natives of England,
where they followed the trade of stone-mason and
contractor. The former was an Episcopalian in
religious belief, but the latter indentified himself
with the Baptist Church. The mother of our
subject, Susan, daughter of John West, was born
in England, and there continued to make her
home until death. 1
The parental family was composed of two
daughters and six sons, of whom both daughters

ROBERT WILSON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

359

and three of the sons are still living. Leigh was
educated in the public schools of England, and in
boyhood learned surveying and the stone-mason's
trade. He continued to reside near Cheltenham
until 1869, when, accompanied by his wife and
their ten-year-old child, he crossed the Atlantic,
from Liverpool to New York, proceeding from
the latter city to Newburgh, where he had a
brother-in-law, Mr. George.
For about eight years after coming to this city,
Mr. Oakey followed the stone7mason's trade, but
having a taste for flower-gardening he took it up
as an occupation and has since carried it on with
commendable success. For twelve years he had
charge of the gardens of A. Y. Weller, and at
the present time is employed as gardener for T.
S. Quackenbos, Rev. Mr. Merritt, E. C. Barnes,
Dr. Gleason, and Messrs. Doughty, Chapman,
Smith, Merrit and Dobbins. For nineteen years
he was sexton of the First Baptist Church, but
resigned the position in May, 1894. He is a
member of that church, and interested in 'every
thing calculated to promote its interests.
In 1857, twelve years prior to coming to Ameri
ca, Mr. Oakey was united in marriage with Miss
Ruth Moulder, an estimable lady, who with him
enjoys the esteem of their acquaintances. They
are the parents of one son, Thomas M., a graduate
of the academy, now employed in the manufact
ure of stained glass at Kansas City, Mo. Politi
cally, since coming to America, Mr. Oakey has
supported the Republican party.
¦  gg£P  ¦

QOBERT WILSON, one of the leading Grand
1^ Army men of Orange County, has been a
T \ resident of Newburgh for many years. Dur
ing the late war he was one of the most gallant
defenders of the Old Flag, his active service cov
ering nearly four years, and since the battle
clouds rolled away he has been very deeply inter
ested in matters relating to his late comrades,
particularly in reference to pension measures. As
his father also participated in the War of the Re
bellion, he is thus entitled to membership in the
society of the Sons of Veterans and belongs to

Cassedy Post No. 18. In 1867 he became a
member of Ellis Post No. 52, G. A. R., and held
various official positions in the same until April,
1886, when he was the principal organizer of S.
W. Fullerton Post No. 589, and at its first regular
meeting was elected Commander, serving as such
for two consecutive terms. As aide-de-camp on
the Department Commander's staff, he also acted
one term, and was then honored with a similar
appointment on the staff of the Commander-in-
Chief, and finally, February 3, 1888, received the
high honor of being elected Junior Department
Commander. On Decoration Day of the same
year, he was Marshal of the day in this city, and
was presented with a handsome medal badge in
recognition of his services. He has always taken
a very active part in the local campaigns of the Re
publican party, and is esteemed one of our best
citizens. David Wilson, grandfather of our subject, was
born in Paisley, Scotland, and was a weaver by
trade. His son, Robert, Sr. , also a native of that
place, followed the same occupation, and was a
member of a Scotch Highlander regiment, the
Forty-second, or the "Black Watch." About 1834
he emigrated to Lowell, Mass. , where he contin
ued to work at his calling, and after his marriage
located in Matteawan, N. Y. There he was em
ployed in a cotton-mill as a dyer, of which art he
was master, being a practical chemist as well. An
uncle on his mother's side, Alexander Wilson,
was a poet and an ornithologist of great ability.
At an early period he traveled in the wilds of
America and obtained a fine collection of speci
mens, but died in Philadelphia before his work
was finished, it being completed by Audubon, a
Frenchman. Another uncle, a brother of the
latter, Gloud Wilson, located in Lowell, Mass.,
and there started the first power loom in America.
In 1844 Robert Wilson, Sr., settled at Fishkill
Landing, later becoming superintendent of the
dyeing department in the Leonard cotton-mill at
Moodna. After the war came on he moved to
Newburgh, and was later employed in a woolen-
mill at Glenham, N. Y., until December 21,
1863, then leaving his business to volunteer his
services in Regan's Seventh New York Independ-

3°o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ent Battery. As Ft. Sumter was fired upon he
became very anxious to go to the front, but his
family opposed his wishes. He served until Lee's
surrender, however, when he was mustered out as
a Corporal. From 1865 until 1873 he conducted
a dye-house on Chambers Street, his death occur
ring in the latter year, when he was sixty-three
years of age. He was a member of Ellis Post
and was a stanch Republican. Religiously he
was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His
wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Brown
Wilson, but was not a relative, however. She
was likewise a native of Scotland, and died in
1865. Her father, like most of the inhabitants of
Paisley, was a weaver by trade. He never left
his native land. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had seven
children who grew to mature years, namely:
James, who was killed on the New York Central
Railroad, soon after its completion; Alexander,
deceased; Robert, Jr.; John, a resident of Brook
lyn; Catherine, who died in Matteawan; Eliza
beth, deceased; and Maggie, Mrs. Masten, a res
ident of this city.
The birth of Robert Wilson , of this sketch, oc
curred in Lowell, Mass., August 2, 1843. He
was reared in Newburgh and vicinity, and was
only eighteen years of age when, on the 26th of
September, 1861, he enlisted, under Captain Re
gan, in the Seventh New York Independent Bat
tery. He was mustered in at Camp Van Wyck,
November 9, 1861, as a private, and was assigned
to the Army of the Potomac and James. With
his battery he fought bravely at the following bat
tles: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fair
Oaks, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill,
Harrison Landing, sieges of Suffolk and Peters
burg, and was on the line of defense between Ap
pomattox and the James River, under General
Butler. Upon the organization of the battery he
was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and May
11, 1863, was made Sergeant. In the fall of that
year he veteranized, and July 22, 1865, received
his honorable discharge. He was always at the
post of duty, and though he necessarily was often
under fire and in very dangerous situations, es
caped injury. A warm place in his heart has
always been held for the boys who wore the blue,

and this has led him to be very greatly interested
in Grand Army organizations.' When Fullerton
Post went in a body to the Grand Army National
Encampment at Washington, in 1892, he helped
to form the Orange County Association and was
in command of the post. He was initiated into
the Masonic order in 1869, joining Newburgh
Lodge No. 309; after passing the three degrees he
was elected Master in 1877 and 1888, and is still
a Mason in good standing. For a number of
years he has been successfully engaged in busi
ness as a grocer at No. 89 Liberty Street, and is
a stockholder in the Granite City Soap Works.
Mr. Wilson was married in this city, in 1868, to
Miss Mary Anna Murphy, a native of Kilkenny,
Ireland. They have a pleasant home at No. 89
Liberty Street, Mrs. Wilson presiding over the
same in a most charming and womanly manner.

_2S.

C[OHN E. HERBERT, United States Revenue
I Gauger, is a successful business man of New-
(2/ burgh, being the proprietor ofa large grocery
establishment, centrally located. He is a native
of this city, and was born March 11, 1858. His
father, Thomas, was born in Ireland, County
Tipperary, in which country Grandfather James
Herbert was also born. He emigrated to Amer
ica in August, 1852, locating in Newburgh,
where he reared his family.
Early in life Thomas Herbert learned the busi
ness of a contractor and builder, which industry
he still follows in this city. He is also a brick
mason, and work in this line, when placed in his
hands, is always sure to give satisfaction. He
married Miss Sarah Guinan, also a native of
County Tipperary, and they became the parents
of three children, two of whom are now living.
Of these, John E. is the younger child and only
son. He attended St. Patrick's Parochial School
until a lad of ten years, when he began clerking
in the store of George Barrett, and later worked
for Philip Mulligan, a groceryman. He was em
ployed in working for others for four years, and
when only fourteen years of age established in the
grocery business for himself on the opposite cor-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

361

ner from Mr. Mulligan. He remained there until
1884, when he moved to his present commodious
quarters at No. 230 First Street, near City Ter
race. He carries a complete line of both staple
and fancy groceries, and by his courteous treat
ment of customers and fair and honest dealing
commands a large patronage from the best resi
dents of the city.
John E. Herbert was married in this city, April
23, 1895, to Miss Mary E. O'Neil, who was born
in Cold Spring, Putnam County, this state, in
1865, and was well educated in the schools of
this city. Mr. Herbert has been Almshouse
Commissioner for six years, serving as such on
the Democratic ticket from 1888 to 1894. During
that time he was on various important committees
of the Board, being Chairman of the Auditing
Committee for five years, the Children's Home
Committee for one year, besides others of con
sequence. January 1, 1895, he was appointed
United States Revenue Gauger for the Fourteenth
District of New York, by Lewis W. Pratt, of
New York, the United States Revenue Collector,
his district embracing ten counties, including Or
ange, Rockland, Sullivan, Putnam, Westchester,
Dutchess, Greene, Columbia, Ulster and a part
of Kings. He has a competent manager to take
charge of his grocery establishment and gives
one-half of his time in traveling from one county
to another, transacting the business of Revenue
Gauger. He is a charter member of the Benev
olent Protective Order of Elks and also belongs
to the Farmers' Society. He is a Catholic in re
ligion, holding membership with St. Patrick's
Church. As before stated, he is a Democrat in
politics, and is prominent in the various city and
county conventions.
61 NDREW DELL is the genial and popular
Ll proprietor of the Dell House of Newburgh,
I I this well known hostelry being situated on
the corner of Second and Front Streets. It is
much patronized by people of moderate means,
and is the best $1.50 a day house in the place.

Since Mr. Dell took charge of the hotel some five
years since, he has remodeled the building and
furnished it throughout.
Mr. Dell is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger
many, and was born in the village of Lanzenhain
Louderbach, March 17, 1847. His parents were
Henry and Catherine (Yackel) Dell, both natives
of the same province. The father was engaged
in agricultural pursuits during his lifetime and
never left the Old Country. Mrs. Dell was a
daughter of Casper Yackel, who was also a farm
er. Our subject is the fifth in a family of seven
children, three of whom are deceased. He re
ceived a good public-school education in the Fa
therland, and was practically trained in business
ways. In June, 1864, when a youth of seventeen
years, Andrew Dell left Bremen on the sailing-
vessel "Stella," and at the end of a voyage of
forty-four days landed in New York City. Com
ing direct to Newburgh, he learned the barber's
trade under Adam Loubenheimer, with whom he
remained for two years. Then, going to Cold
Springs, he was located there for two years, after
which he started in business on Third Street. In
, 1870 he located on Front Street, and for six years
was successfully engaged in running a barber
shop. In 1876 he sold out and went to the Centen
nial. In the spring of the following year he en
gaged in the butcher business in the Philadelphia
Market, and later carried on a barber-shop on
Front Street, near Carpenter, this city. From
1878 until July, 1890, he was again located at his
old stand on Third Street, but finally abandoned
the trade. Having bought out the interest of
Mrs. Keywood, he turned his attention in another
direction, that of keeping a hotel, and has met
with good success in this enterprise. In connec
tion with the hotel he runs a feed stable.
In 1873 occurred the marriage of our subject
and Miss Katie Eckert, who was born in Ger
many, and four children have come to bless this
union. Lillie is the wife of Samuel Hodges, of
this city; George* is in business with his father;
the two youngest daughters, Flora and Ethelinda,
are at home. The family are members of the
German Lutheran Church and number among

362

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

their acquaintances a host of friends and well-
wishers. Mr. Dell belongs to Newburgh Lodge
No. 309, F. & A. M., and is a member of Bis-
niark Lodge No. 420, I. O. O. F. In his polit
ical relations he is very independent, choosing to
use his ballot in favor of men, rather than party
machines. For several years he was a member
of the fire department, belonging to Engine
House No. 4. Like most of his countrymen, he
he is very fond of music and is a member of the
Mannerchor. :  ^#P 

REV. DANIEL O'CONNELL. From a very
early period in the history of Christianity
the Catholic Church has been foremost in
religious work and enterprises, and to its highest
offices it has called men of erudition, culture and
wisdom. This is especially true of these closing-
years ofthe nineteenth century, when the priest
hood is notably intelligent and energetic. The
gentleman whose name introduces this sketch
has gained a position of prominence which, con
sidering his youth, is remarkable. He is regard
ed as one of the most learned priests of the Hud
son Valley, and his deep literary researches have
brought him the admiration of his associates and
the respect of those who know him, even though
they may be of a different faith.
A native of New York City, Father O'Connell
was born May 19, 1868. He is the son of Patrick
O'Connell, a native of Limerick, Ireland, who
emigrated to the United States in early manhood,
and, settling in New York City, engaged in the
retail feed business on Beach Street. He still
makes his home in the metropolis, though for
some years he has been retired from business.
By his marriage with Margaret Maher, also a na
tive of Ireland, he had four sons and two daugh
ters, Daniel being the youngest ofthe family.
Reared in New York City , Father O' Counell was
given a good primary education in the public and
parochial schools. At the age of eleven years he
entered Mt. St. Clements College, near Baltimore,
Md., where he remained for two years. On the
removal ofthe college to the vicinity of Erie, Pa.,

he attended another year. Later his studies were
for five years prosecuted in St. Francis Xavier's
College for Jesuits in New York City, from which
he was graduated in the classical course with the
degree of A. B. This was in 1887, and he was
then nineteen years of age. His education was
completed at St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary at
Troy, N. Y., where he studied philosophy for
two years, and theology for three and one-half
years, graduating in 1892.
On the 17th of December, 1892, Father O'Con
nell was ordained to the holy priesthood by Bishop
McNierney, formerly Bishop ofthe Albany Dio
cese, but now deceased. A few days later, on
Friday, December 31, he was appointed assistant
rector to St. Mary's Catholic Church of New
burgh. He commenced his duties with the be
ginning of 1893, and has since served in this re
sponsible position, proving himself, by his energy
and ability, worthy of any honors that may in aft
er years be conferred upon him. He has charge of
the Holy Rosary Sodality of Holy Angels, for the
training of little girls, and is also in charge of St.
Aloysius' Boys' Sodality and League of the Sacred
Heart. To him is due the organization of the St.
Aloysius' Cadets, now numbering more than a
hundred, who receive a thorough drill in military
tactics under competent instructors. He also has
charge of the altar boys. In addition to his other
duties he is filling the position of chaplain of the
Sisters of St. Dominic Convent of Mt. St. Mary's
Academy.

(JOHN B. DICKERSON occupies the respon-
I sible position of Superintendent, Secretary
(2/ and Treasurer of the Cornwall Electric-light
and Power Company. He is truly a self-made
man, and the knowledge which he has acquired
of electrical machinery has been gained entirely
through his own efforts, by reading and observa
tion, as he never had any special training in that
particular line. The plant was organized and
put in primarily by Thomas Taft. When it be
came necessary to find some one to handle the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

363

details of the business, he selected our subject,
who has proved to be the right man for the place.
He has full control and management of the plant,
and under his supervision it is meeting with suc
cess. The father of our subject, who bore the name
of Abraham Dickerson, was a native of Orange
County, N. Y., while Grandfather Dickerson was
born in Ireland. The former was engaged in
cultivating a fertile farm in this county for the
greater part of his active life, but he retired to
Newburgh one year prior to his decease, when he
was in his fifty-fourth year.
Mrs. Ann (Goodjoin) Dickerson, the mother
of our subject, whose birth occurred in this coun
ty, is still living at Newburgh, and is eighty -one
years of age. Of the six children of whom she
became the mother, we make the following men
tion: Laura is now Mrs. Griggs, of Newburgh;
Elizabeth is deceased; Adam M. and Margaret
also make their home in Newburgh, the latter
being the wife of Thomas Purdy; John B., of this
sketch, was the fifth-born; and Nancy, now Mrs.
Ingham Stubley, is a resident of the above place.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town
of Crawford, January 27, 1846, and was brought
up on a farm. During his boyhood days he was
compelled to walk three miles to the temple
of learning, and the knowledge gained therein
was afterward supplemented by a course in the
Montgomery Academy. When a lad of seven
teen years of age he began working in a sash and
blind factory at Newburgh, giving considerable
attention to becoming familiar with the machinery
used in the mill. He subsequently took up en
gineering in the factory, and soon became a trust
ed and excellent man in this position, remaining
with the same company for a period of seventeen
years. At the end of that time he entered the
employ of Mead & Taft, of Cornwall Landing,
and was recognized as a valued acquisition to
their force, having charge of the extensive wood
working machinery and engine for fourteen years.
It is no wonder, then, that when Mr. Taft desired
a good man to run his electric plant he chose Mr.
Dickerson. To him was left the task of selecting
the machinery, which he accomplished with rare

skill and good judgment, and in the management
of the concern he has given entire satisfaction.
He has often been sought to place in operation
many other electric plants, he being thoroughly
qualified to place and regulate the machinery
properly. Mr. Dickerson and Miss Louisa Lisle were
united in marriage in Newburgh in 1870. The
lady was the daughter of William and Caroline
(Phillips) Lisle, natives of this county. To them
have been born two daughters: Daisy, now en
gaged in teaching school; "and Laura B., both of
whom are finely educated and accomplished young
ladies. In politics Mr. Dickerson formerly affil
iated with the Democratic party, but for the past
eight years has cast his vote for prohibition can
didates. Socially he is a Mason, and has been
Master of Jerusalem Temple Lodge No. 72. Al
though not a member of any religious body, he
attends the Presbyterian Church, to the support
of which he is a liberal contributor.

I EONARD B. WOODS, D. V. S., who is the
I C proprietor of the Veterinary Infirmary at
l*V Newburgh, is a man of wide experience in
his chosen profession, and, with the exception of
but two others, is the oldest in the line in New
York State. In 1861 he was appointed Veterin
ary Surgeon of Burnside's artillery, and later was
made Government Inspector of Horses in Wash
ington and Annapolis, serving with the rank of
Major until 1866.
Dr. Woods was born September 3, 1820, in
Boston, Mass., and is a son of Daniel and Sarah
(Hinckley) Woods, natives of Hubbardston and
Oakham, Mass., respectively. The father was a
cabinet manufacturer in Medway, that state,
where he died at the ripe old age of eighty-four
years. The mother was a daughter of James
Hinckley, who fought in the Revolutionary War,
and who was a farmer by occupation. He de
parted this life when he had reached the extreme
age of one hundred and two years. Both Mr.

364

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Mrs. Woods were of English descent, and
the latter died when eighty-six years of age. Of
their six children, all but one survive. Amos,
now seventy-six years old, resides in Newburgh;
Charles lives in Medway; Daniel is in Framing-
ham, and Sarah is in Medway.
On completing his common-school education
Mr. Woods studied in Hollister's Academy, and
then, in 1846, entered the Boston Veterinary
College, being under the instruction of Dr. Dado
until the institution was closed for want of patron
age. The next four years our subject was with
Dr. Otis Kilton, after which he attended the
Agricultural Society Veterinary College of Phila
delphia one year.
In 1856 the Doctor began practicing in Chi
cago, where he stayed about three years, and
then entered the employ of Levi J. North's
Menagerie and Circus Company as veterinary
surgeon, traveling with the same three years.
Subsequently he became connected with Seth
Howe's "European Show" in the same capacity,
and a year later commenced a ten-years term in
the service of Van Amberg's "Golden Show."
It was in 1869 that our subject came to this city,
where he practiced three years, and then was em
ployed by P. T. Barnum two years, since which
time he has been engaged in regular practice. In
1854 he graduated from the American Veterinary
College at New York City, receiving a degree.
With the exception of Oregon and California, he
has visited every state in the Union, besides
various parts of Canada, and, more than this, he
has seen most of the leading cities and towns.
In fact, he was on the road continually for a
period covering sixteen years. In 1869 he opened
an infirmary at Newburgh, his office being at
No. 29 Chambers Street, and besides this he owns
other valuable real estate here. During his long
practice he has invented many kinds of remedies
for horses, such as condition powders, salves,
etc. , which have become known far and near for
their excellence.
In Kenosha, Wis., in 1859, Dr. Woods was
married to Kate Almot, a native of Pittsburg,
Pa. This worthy couple have a pleasant home on
one of the handsome residence streets of the city,

and always give a warm welcome to their hosts of
friends. In his political faith the Doctor is iden
tified with the Democratic party.

RLAS E. LAURELL, foreman of the barb-
wire department of Kilmer's Works at
Newburgh, is a practical workman and
thoroughly acquainted with all the details of his
business. He was born in Carlstad, Sweden, Oc
tober 20, i860. His father, Lorentz Laurell, was
likewise a native of that country and was a civil
engineer and surveyor, serving in the capacity of
Chief Surveyor of Vernland until his death there
in 1867, when fifty-eight years of age. He was
a Lutheran in religion. The grandfather of our
subject, Carl Laurell, was likewise born there,
and was a surveyor, ranking high in the profes
sion. The ancestors went to that country from
Scotland during the fifteenth century, and Mr.
Laurell has the record of the family, tracing their
history back to the sixteenth century.
Mrs. Anna (Oberg) Laurell, mother of our
subject, was a native of Sweden, her father being
Doctor of Philosophy in Carlstad. After the
death of Mr. Laurell she was a second time mar
ried, becoming the wife of Elof Tegner, who was
a brother of Esaias Tegner, the Swedish poet.
She died in her native land at the age of fifty-
eight years. Her union with Lorentz Laurell
resulted in the birth of eight children, all of
whom are living. Of this family our subject is
the youngest. His brother, Carl A., is a Captain
in the Swedish army ; Gustav is a civil engineer
in Sweden; John is engaged in farming near Gay-
lord, Mich.
The subject of this sketch first attended the
common and later the high school of his native
land, being graduated from the high school of
Carlstad. The year after graduation he was em
ployed as clerk in a wholesale hardware establish
ment, then began clerking in the retail store in
Jonkoping, where he remained until 1885. He
was a member of the Athletic and Rowing Club
of that place, in which organization he was prom
inent. In the year 1885 he went to Stockholm

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

3^5

and was engaged as traveling salesman for a
wholesale sheet and wrought-iron firm, selling
their goods all over Sweden. For two years he
remained with this company, then determined to
come to America. Leaving Guttenburg, he em
barked on a vessel and after several days spent
on the Atlantic landed on the shores of the New
World. He first went to Boston, then to Wor
cester, where he entered the factory of Wash
burn & Moen, the largest manufacturers of barb
wire in the United States. He worked his way
up through the various departments and proved
a very valuable man to the company . In the
spring of 1892 he was sent for by the Kilmer
Manufacturing Company to come to Newburgh
to take charge of this department in their factory,
and he has been engaged by them ever since.
Mr. Laurell was married, in Worcester, Mass. ,
to Miss Sigrid Fahlander, a native of Stockholm,
Sweden, who, however, was reared and educated
in Worcester. By her union with our subject
there has been born a son, Archibald. In relig
ious affairs Mr. Laurell is a Lutheran, and in pol
itics he always votes the Republican ticket.

+>-

m

•*«—

I EONARD P. CLARK. Throughout this
I i. portion of New York few residents of Orange
\mJ County are better known than Leonard
Clark, a resident of Cornwall on the Hudson,
and at this writing (May, 1895) President ofthe
Village Board. He is an expert in the art of boat
building, and is proprietor of what may be termed
a "boat livery," making it a business to rent
boats during the summer season.
Moses Clark, the father of our subject, was
born in Cornwall about 1810, and was by trade a
tanner. He was widely and favorably known
throughout this community, and lived to be sev
enty-seven years of age, departing this life at
Cornwall in 1887. He married Miss Eliza String-
ham, whose demise occurred when in her seventy-
sixth year. The grandfather, Reuben Clark,
was an old-time freighter on the Hudson River,

and also bore the distinction of building one of
the first gristmills in this portion ofthe county,
which structure was located on Idlewild Creek.
On his mother's side our subject is of German de
scent. Her father, Peter Stringham, an old Quaker
farmer of Dutchess County, was very tall and of
commanding presence, and although belonging to
the Society of Friends, entered the American
army as a drummer. At the battle of Long Isl
and he led the charge, his tall form, made doubly
conspicuous by his intrepid and fearless advance,
towering above his fellows. The family owned
at one time an immense tract of land in what is
now Dutchess County, embracing some fifteen
hundred acres.
Our subject was the elder of two children, born
to his parents. His sister, Sarah F., now lives
on the old homestead, and is the wife of William
Southwell, an English gentleman. Leonard P.
was born in Cornwall, February 27, 1836, and up
to the time of attaining his seventeenth year was
in attendance at the common school. Not find
ing farm work congenial, he secured a position as
cook on a sloop on the North River,. where he
had plenty of hard work and very little pay. It
was his ambition, however, to work his way up
to become owner of a vessel, which he did after
many years He continued to ply the river for a
period of nineteen years, during which time he
was the possessor of several good schooners. In
1872 he purchased his present location in Corn
wall from his father and started in the business
which he still carries on. His first duty was to
erect substantial buildings and prepare to run an
extensive enterprise, in the operation of which he
has met with good success.
Mr. Clark was married, in 1859, to Miss Anzo-
nette D. Buckmaster, a native of Long Island,
and to them have been born two children, Min
nie W. and Alice D. In politics he is a Republi
can on national issues, but in local elections votes
for the man best qualified for the position. He
is a firm believer in the principles of protection,
and is unable to see any good reason for the de
monetization of silver in 1873. The change at
that time from silver to gold as the unit of value
has occasioned shrinkage in values and made it

366

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hard for the debtor class. He takes an active in
terest in all public affairs, and is at present Treas
urer of the fire department, besides holding the
position of President of the Village Board.

-S.

I^HM

ft) GjlLLIAM A. MARVIN, the leading wagon
\ A / and carriage-maker of Newburgh, is an in-
Y V dustrious and highly esteemed citizen, who
is well acquainted with all the details of his busi
ness. He was born in Plattekill, Ulster County,
N. Y., September 10, 1848, and is the son of
Grant Marvin, also a native of this state, who
followed the trade of a blacksmith all his life.
His wife was Elizabeth Fowler, a native of Ulster
County, who is now living in Newburgh.
The parental family included four children, of
whom William A. is the eldest now living. He
remained in the vicinity of Plattekill until 1864,
in the mean time acquiring a fair education.
When seven, however, he began doing for him
self, working on the farm of William Garrison,
performing light duties until thirteen, when he
apprenticed himself to learn the horse-shoeing
business at New Hurley. Two years later, in
1864, he came to Newburgh and was given a po
sition with Isaac Martin, a carriage manufacturer
and blacksmith. He afterward worked succes
sively for L. J. Bazoni, Martin & Delaney and
John H. Martin, in the blacksmithing and car
riage-making business.
In March, 1866, Mr. Marvin started in business
with W. O. Abbott, the firm name being WT. O.
Abbott & Co., at No. 67 Broadway, doing repair
work on wagons and carriages. Having dis
solved his partnership with Mr. Abbott, in 1890
he came to his present location, and associated
with himself Robert Carr. The business, under
the firm name of W. A. Marvin & Co., was thus
continued until April, 1895, when his partner, Mr.
Carr, died, and since that time he has been alone.
His shops are located at No. 46 Chambers Street,
and are 25x100 feet in dimensions.
The property occupied by our subject in his
business is owned by his wife, whose maiden
name was Delia Relyea, and whom he married in

Newburgh, June 29, 1881. She was born in Ul
ster County and was the daughter of Tjerck and
Mary Relyea, well-to-do residents of this commu
nity. Our subject and his wife have one child
living, a son, William A., Jr. Wilhelmina died
when two years of age. In politics he affiliates
with the Republican party, whose principles he
upholds on every occasion. During 1870 he be
came interested in the grocery business in New
burgh, at No. 155 Water Street, in company
with his brother Erastus C. , and this enterprise he
carried on profitably for six years. He was
also at one time interested in boating on the Hud
son River. His family occupies a pleasant home
at No. 71 Campbell Street, which is neat and at
tractive in appearance and in which they enter
tain among their friends the best people in the
city.

(DQlLLIAM HEARD, who for many years
\ A / was engaged in business in New York
V V City, is now living retired in the beautiful
city of Newburgh. He was born in the metrop
olis and is the son of James Heard, a native of
Woodbridge, N. J. His grandfather bore the
name of William Heard, and was likewise a na
tive of the above place in New Jersey. The
great-grandfather of our subject, also William
Heard, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary
War, and during the conflict took part in many
noted engagements, acquitting himself bravely.
James Heard was engaged as an importer of
dry goods, his place of business being located on
Hanover Square, New York City. He was very
successful in this industry and was well known
to the old residents of the city, where his death
took place in the year 1847. He married in early
manhood Miss Maria, daughter of John Sickles.
She was born in Red Hook, N. Y., and died sev
eral years after the death of her husband, in New
York City. She became the mother of four
daughters and three sons, who grew to mature
years, our subject being the youngest member of
the household.
William Heard was reared in the metropolis

COL. JOSEPH M. LEEPER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

369

and was graduated from Columbia College with
the Class of '35, receiving at that time the degree
of Bachelor of Arts. For eight years thereafter
he was engaged in clerking in a wholesale dry-
goods establishment, after which he went into
business for himself. He carried on a large
trade as wholesale dry-goods merchant until 1849,
when he closed but his stock of goods and retired.
In 187 1 he came to Newburgh and has made his
home here since that time, although he has never
engaged in business. In politics he is a strict
Republican. He and his wife are members of St.
Paul's Episcopal Church of Newburgh.

EOL. JOSEPH M. LEEPER. Many veterans
of the Union army reside in Orange County,
and Newburgh has its full share of those
brave men who look back with pleasure and
honest pride upon the service which they render
ed their country in the hour of need. They great
ly enjoy a chat together about the old days when
they went campaigning, and their recitals of their
experiences are inspiring to the generation that
has grown up since war days.
Among these old soldiers is Colonel Leeper,
now an attorney-at-law and pension agent. He
was born June 6, 1835, in Pittsburg, Pa., upon
the present site of the Dollar Savings Bank.
Among his playmates in boyhood were Andrew
Carnegie and Oliver Ripply. The family of
which he is a member is of French-Huguenot
origin, its early representatives having gone to
Scotland, thence to the North of Ireland, and
finally to America. The celebrated poet, Edgar
Allen Poe, belonged to this family.
The grandfather of our subject, William Leep
er, was born in Virginia, but removed to Penn
sylvania, and settled near Shippensburg, where
he became proprietor of a number of fiourmills.
He married a Mrs. Reynolds, whose first husband
was a relative of both Generals Reynolds and
McPherson. Our subject's father, George R.,
was born near Shippensburg, Pa., and in boy
hood served in the War of 1812, belonging to a
troop of cavalry of which his step-brother, Dr.
14

Reynolds, was in command. Settling in Pitts
burg, he engaged in the manufacture of iron and
salt near that city, owning a furnace and salt
works. The free-trade measures of 1845 proved
demoralizing to his business, which he closed,
and became an accountant for a Pittsburg firm.
He held a clerical position until his death in 1861,
at the age of sixty-three.
The maternal ancestors of our subject were
Pennsylvanians. His mother, Julia, was born
near Lancaster, Pa. , and was a daughter of Sam
uel and Julia (Buchanan) Galbraith, the latter a
cousin of President Buchanan. The family was
also related to the Pattersons of Baltimore, one
of whom was married to Jerome Bonaparte, and
on the maternal side was related to James G.
Blaine. Mrs. Julia Leeper died in Pittsburg, in
1846, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, to
which she belonged. She was the great-grand
daughter of Col. Bartram Galbraith, one of the
three commissioners on supplies for the colony of
Pennsylvania during the Revolution, later Sur
veyor-General of Pennsylvania, and at one time
the owner of sixteen hundred acres of land along
the Susquehanna. His father, James, was also
a man of great patriotism and valor. During
the French and Indian War he rendered active
service and commanded a company at the taking
of Louisburg. Though advanced in years at the
opening of the Revolution, his patriotic ardor
impelled him to enlist in the defense of the colo
nies, and he held the rank of Colonel until the
infirmities of age forced him to resign from the
army. His home was in Lancaster County, and
he had the distinction of being the first man who
took packhorses over the Alleghenies. He mar
ried Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. William Bar-
tram, a Presbyterian minister, who came from
Scotland, and settled at Paxton. Col. Bartram
Galbraith owned a large farm, which is now the
home of Don Cameron.
The children of George R. Leeper were six in
number, of whom all but one attained mature
years and three are now living. Our subject is
the only surviving son, his sisters being Mrs.
David Khune, of Norwalk, Ohio, and Elizabeth
H. Leeper, of Pittsburg. When twelve years of

370

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

age our subject was orphaned by his mother's
death, after which he came Newburgh and made
his home with his uncle, Rev. Joseph McCarrell,
D. D., then pastor of the Associate Reformed
Church and President of the theological semina
ry at Newburgh. His studies, commenced in
Pittsburg, were continued under the guidance of
his uncle and in Seminary Hill Academy.
At the age of seventeen Mr. Leeper began to
study law with Hon. Thomas McKissock, and
later was with E. A. Brewster, finishing with
Hon. W. C. Hasbrook. In 1857 he was admitted
to the Bar, Hon. A. S. Cassedy being admitted at
the same time. In 1858 he was elected Police
Magistrate, which position he held for three years,
and then went South, intending to locate in Mem
phis. The climate, however, being too warm to
be healthful, he returned as far north as Louis
ville, where he enlisted in Company F, First
Kentucky Infantry, being mustered in at Camp
Clay, Ohio, as Second Lieutenant. In the fall
of 1 86 1 he took the first detachment of Confeder
ate prisoners to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.
In January, 1862, he was made First Lieutenant
of Company G, in the same regiment, and took
an active part in the campaigns in West Virginia,
and later in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and
Shiloh. During the latter engagement he was
in command of the skirmish line of the extreme
left of the Union army, and on the morning of
the second day his command captured three pieces
of artillery.
After the fall of Corinth, our subject was taken
ill with typhoid fever, and his brother, Bartram
G., who was Lieutenant- Colonel in command of
the regiment, secured his discharge, unknown to
him. Soon afterward the command was ordered
elsewhere. On recovering sufficiently, our sub
ject read the acceptance of his resignation. About
the same time he received a commission from
Governor Morgan as First Lieutenant of New
York Volunteers. He then went to General
Buell and asked the withdrawal of his resigna
tion, but was told that he needed rest and should
report to the Adjutant-General of New York.
Traveling by easy stages, as his weak physical
condition permitted, he reached the destination to

which he had been ordered, and finally went out
again as First Lieutenant of Company A, One
Hundred and Fortieth New York Infantry. At
the battle of Fredericksburg he was made Cap
tain, being assigned to Company E of the same
regiment. In the battle of Chancellorsville, Colonel Leep
er narrowly escaped death by the concussion of a
shell. He was wounded early in the morning,
and was carried insensible from the field to the
hospital, where he remained for a month, though
even after rejoining his regiment he suffered se
verely as the result of the injury to his head.
At Gettysburg he and his command occupied Lit
tle Round Top, and in that engagement he was
slightly wounded. In consequence of the trouble
with his head, he resigned in March, 1864.
After remaining at home for a number of months
Colonel Leeper received a letter from General
Hancock requesting him to accept a captaincy
of a veteran corps. He accepted the offer, be
coming Captain of Company G, Second Regi
ment Hancock Veterans. The company was
mainly engaged in guard duty and was mustered
out at Washington, in August, 1865. At the
Grand Review in Washington he was one of the
officers ofthe day, and sat on a horse throughout
the entire parade, lasting all day. On his return
home, realizing that it would be difficult to re
sume professional work while his head troubled
him so much, he engaged in farming in Mont
gomery Town, where he remained for four years.
His physical strength, however, obliged him to
seek work less exhausting and arduous, and he
therefore began legal practice in Montgomery,
where he remained until 1889. While there he
served two terms as Justice of the Peace, being
the first Democrat elected in that Republican
stronghold. On his return to Newburgh in 1889,
he began the practice of law at No. 100 Water
Street, having, in addition to his general practice,
considerable work as a real-estate dealer and pen
sion attorney.
In Brockport, Monroe County, N. Y., October
12, 1859, Colonel Leeper married Miss Mary G.
Decker, who was born in Blooming Grove, this
county. Her father, Jonah Decker, was at one

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

37i

time a well known farmer and successful stock-
raiser of this locality. By their marriage they
have four children. Anna D., a graduate of
Montgomery Academy, is the wife of J. V Jor
dan, of Newburgh. Bartram G., also a graduate
of the academy, is a manufacturer of rods and
reels at Poughkeepsie. Jean M. is at home.
Mary G. died at the age of eighteen months.
Socially Colonel Leeper is a demitted member
of Freeman's Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Walden,
and is a charter member of Chester Judson Post
No. 536, G. A. R., at Montgomery, of which he
was the first Commander. His wife is connected
with Calvary Presbyterian Church. Prior to
1876 he was a Democrat, but since then has been
a Prohibitionist, and at one time was the nomi
nee ot his party for Congress.

<*<???? ???????* ^???* ???* ??•MOP
•JjAVIN R. MCGREGOR, a highly esteemed
— and honored citizen of Newburgh, who has
^\ been prominent in public affairs and active
in advancing the best interests of the community,
was born in Wigtownshire, Scotland, in sight of
the Isle of Man, in August, 1833. His father,
Douglas McGregor, was also born there, and the
grandfather, Douglas McGregor, Sr. , removed to
that place from the Highlands. The father was
superintendent of the home farm belonging to
Mr. Stewart, a landed proprietor, and there died
at the age of sixty-two years. His wife, Mrs. Mary
McGregor, was a native ofthe same locality, and
a daughter of Daniel Shearer, who was a farmer,
and whose people also came from the Highlands.
After her husband's death Mrs. McGregor came
to America, residing in Newburgh for a time, and
then removing to Wisconsin, where she lived
with a daughter until her death, in 1879.
Tn the family were ten children, all of whom
grew to mature years. Elizabeth, Mrs. Magill,
resides in Wisconsin; her husband died in Ar
kansas, while a member of the Union army. Mrs.
Ann Wade is now deceased, as is also Mrs. Jes
sie Wilcox, who died in Newburgh. John is a
farmer of Little Britain. William is engaged in
the manufacture of boilers and engines in Chicago.

Mrs. Jane Scott makes her home in Chicago.
Gavin "R. is next in order. Mrs. Mary Mitchell
resides in Chicago. Douglas, who for a long
time was an engineer in Cuba, later became ad
ministrator of a large estate; he was arrested at
the time of the Rebellion and put in a dungeon,
but the American minister succeeded in obtaining
his release, and he returned to New York. His
health was so impaired, however, that he died in
Newburgh. Peter is foreman of the foundry de
partment of the Ramapo Iron Works of Hillburn,
N. Y.
The gentleman whose name heads this record
was reared in Scotland until the age of seventeen,
when, in May, 1850, he sailed to Liverpool, and
embarked on the "Olive Branch," a sailing-vessel
bound for the New World. He made the voyage
alone, but William, Elizabeth and Jane were all
living in this state. After his ocean voyage he
landed at New York City, July 13, 1850, and the
following day reached Newburgh. He served
an apprenticeship as moulder in the Highland Iron
Works, owned by Stanton, Clark & Co., and
then worked in the Washington Iron Works for
two years as journeyman, when he was made
foreman of the foundry. The firm carried on an
extensive business, some days casting forty-five
tons of iron. Three hundred men were employed
in this department, and Mr. McGregor remained
iu charge for twenty years, when the company
sold out. In 1869 he became a partner with
Messrs. Clapp, Blezgard, Robert Leach and Hugh
Hamilton in the ownership of the Washington
Iron Works, with which he was connected for
eighteen months, after which he spent six months
in Jersey City. Then, in connection with Robert
Whitehill, he cairied on the Newburgh Steam
Engine Works, of which he was foreman for
twenty-two years, when, in the fall of 1893, he
resigned and has since lived retired. He has in
vested his capital in real estate, and has erected
five residences on Liberty Street, two on Wash
ington, one on William and one on Edward
Street. Mr. McGregor was married, in Newburgh, to
Miss Deborah A. , daughter of Jacob Wilson, who
was with General Wadsworth at Stanton Island

372

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the War of 1812. He was a farmer in Orange
County. His son William was consulting engi
neer for the H. Lockwood Company of New York,
and, being an expert in his line, published several
articles on engineering in the Trade fournal. His
health failing him, he went to Denver, California
and Arkansas, and then returned home, where he
died March 27, 1893, at the age of thirty-four.
In 1869 Mr. McGregor was elected Alderman
from the First Ward, on the Democratic ticket,
and served until his removal to New Jersey. For
three successive terms of three years each he was
elected Almshouse Commissioner, faithfully dis
charging his duties and winning the commenda
tion and confidence of the public. His life has
been well and worthily passed, and all who know
him respect him for his genuine worth.

30HN R. CONVERY, who is the Newburgh
representative of the Joseph Fallert Brewing
Company of Brooklyn, is a young man of
push and energy, and looks well to the interests
of his employers in this community. He was
born in County Derry, Ireland, October 1, 1863,
and is the son of Daniel Convery, also a native
ofthe Emerald Isle, where he is still living, en
gaged in the grocery business. The mother's
maiden name, was Ellen Martin, and she was
likewise of Irish birth and parentage.
The parental family included six sons and
daughters, of whom John R. was the fourth, and
four make their home in America. Our subject
was educated in the public schools of Ireland,
and when old enough assisted his father in the
grocery store until 1878, when he left home and
made his way to Belfast, where he was employed
in clerking until deciding to try his fortune in
the New World. Accordingly, in 1882, he took
passage for this country, and for four years there
after traveled through Georgia, the Carolinas and
Louisiana, engaged iu various occupations.
At the exrjiration of that time Mr. Convery
came to Newburgh, and, having learned the
trade of a moulder, entered the employ of the

Washington Iron Works, remaining there for
four years. He then opened a saloon business
on the corner of Washington and Liberty Streets,
but two years thereafter was appointed repre
sentative of the Joseph Fallert Brewing Com
pany in this place. The company have built a re
frigerator at Ramsdell Dock, and are in command
of a splendid business, which has been worked
up through the enterprise and good judgment of
our subject. The storehouse will accommodate
three carloads of liquors, which are shipped from
this place through the surrounding counties.
Mr. Convery was married in this city, in 1890,
to Miss Mary McCloy, who was born in County
Derry, Ireland, in 1868, and who is the daugh
ter of Daniel and Mary (McPeck) McCloy, farm
ers of that country. To them has been born a
son, Robert Emmett. Socially our subject is a
member of the Order of Foresters, and belongs to
Robert Emmett Association of Newburgh. Re
ligiously he is a Catholic and holds membership
with St. Patrick's Church. He is a member of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and is con
nected with Chapman Steamer Company No. 5,
Newburgh Fire Department.
QENGT PEHRSON SALLANDER, one of
Yji the most popular merchant tailors of New-
d/ burgh, is quite influential in the Odd Fel
lows' society, being a charter member of Bismarck
Lodge No. 420, which he represented in the
Grand Lodge, that met at Jamestown August 20,
1895. In 1888 he held the office of Noble Grand
in that lodge. February 9, 1865, he joined Mt.
Olive Encampment, being its Chief Patriarch in
1878, and has represented the same in the Grand
Lodge. August 7, 1889, he was one of the fif
teen Patriarchs who organized Canton Woodward
No. 32, was Patriarch Militant, and is at present
its Lieutenant.
Mr. Sallander was born in the city of Lund,
Sweden, May 13, 1835. His* father, Peter Sal-
lander, was a native of the same place, and fol
lowed agricultural pursuits there during his life
time. His wife, Mary, also lived and died in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

373

Sweden, and both were devoted adherents of the
Lutheran faith. Their family comprised six chil
dren, four of whom are living. The early days
of our subject passed uneventfully, his education
being mainly acquired at home under private in
struction. When fourteen years of age he com
menced serving an apprenticeship to a tailor in
the city of Lund, and five years later he went to
Roskilde, Denmark, where he was employed as a
journeyman tailor for three years. Then, going
to Germany, he spent about three years in travel
ing and widening his field of knowledge, and
plied his trade in the cities of Hamburg, Han
over and in Frankfort-on-the-Main, principally.
Next, going to London, England, he plied his vo
cation in the great metropolis for four years suc
cessfully. In the year 1865 Mr. Sallander embarked on a
steamer at Liverpool, and proceeded direct to
New York City. There he remained for four
years and a-half, engaged in tailoring, and com
pleted a course of training in Roebeil's cutting
school, after which he became a cutter for James
H. Clark, a merchant tailor of New York. In
the fall of 1872 he came to Newburgh as cutter
for Sterling & Owen, with which concern he con
tinued for ten years. Afterward he was employed
by S. J. Owen, ofthe latter firm, for two years
and a-half. In March, 1885, he embarked in bus
iness at No. 64 Water Street, under the style of
Sallander & Bower, in 1890 he removed to his
present location at No. 74 Water Street, and
since 1891 has managed the business alone. He
carries a full line of domestic and imported goods,
attends to all of his own cutting, and is noted for
the elegance of his styles, fit and workmanship.
The residence of Mr. Sallander is at No. 289 Du
bois Street.
In London, England, in i860, Mr. Sallander
was married to Miss O. A. W. Schysler, a native
of Germany. Five children were born to this
worthy couple, but only two daughters survive,
namely: Amelia, Mrs. D. H. Bower, of Canton,
Mich. ; and Carrie, who is at home. Mr. Sallan
der is a member ofthe German Lutheran Church,
of which he is now Trustee and Treasurer, and
was one of the organizers of the German-Lutheran

Society in Newburgh. A member of the Maen-
nerchor, he acted as President of the same for two
terms. In matters relating to politics he is a true
and tried Republican.

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Gl M. COOK, a popular citizen and successful
Ll business man of Newburgh, is proprietor of
f | the Newburgh Horse Exchange His birth
occurred in Little Britain, September 24, 1843,
and he is a son of Thomas Cook, and a grand
son of Thomas Cook, Sr., both of whom were
also natives of this county. The great-grandfa
ther, who was a Protestant, came from Ireland
and settled in Orange County during the Revo
lutionary War. The grandfather and father car
ried on agricultural pursuits, and the latter died
at the age of forty-six years. His wife, who bore
the maiden name of Sarah McDowell, was born
in Little Britain, and died in 1873. In the par
ental family were four children: Isaac, who lives
in New Haven, Mich., and who was a soldier in
a Michigan regiment during the Civil War; Mar
garet, who died in Michigan; Mrs. Catherine
Ennis, of Newburgh; and A. M., of this sketch.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm,
and acquired his education in the district schools.
After arriving at years of maturity, he was mar
ried, June 28, 1866, to Miss Sarah Conkling,
who was born in Little Britain, and is a daugh
ter of Abraham Conkling, a farmer and distant
relative of Roscoe Conkling. Foui children
graced this union: William and Frank, who are
engaged in business with their father; and Fan
nie and Margaret. All are graduates of the
academy. After his marriage Mr. Cook purchased a farm
of one hundred acres near his childhood home,
and afterward bought and sold considerable farm
property in that locality. He engaged in gen
eral farming and stock-raising, and in buying
and killing cattle, which .he shipped to the city
markets for some years. In 1875 he located in
Newburgh. For some years he has been en
gaged in dealing in horses, and on locating here

374

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

opened a livery barn on Front Street, which he
operated for eighteen years. He also bought
and sold horses, and as this line of his business
steadily increased, in 1893 he established what is
known as the Newburgh Horse Exchange. It
is located on the Balmville Road, adjoining the
city, where he has forty acres of land and fifty
head of horses. He buys western horses, those
which are well broken, and usually purchases
three carloads at a time, which he disposes of
at auction in Orange and adjoining counties. He
is an excellent judge of the animal, and has made
this a profitable business, which yields to him
an excellent income. His pleasant home is lo
cated at the corner of South Miller and First
Streets. He is a member of the Board of Trade,
and in his political views is a Republican.

m>-$£-<{

EAPT. BENJAMIN GARRISON is assistant
superintendent of the brick works of John
C. Rose & Co., the yards being located at
Rosetou, where over four hundred men are em
ployed. An idea of his responsibilities here may
be gleaned from the fact that this establishment
is the largest of the kind 011 the Hudson, and
turns out about fifty million bricks per annum.
For many years the Captain ran on the river in
various capacities, being promoted from one po
sition to another, and for a long period has made
his home and headquarters at Newburgh. He is
noted as a man of strictly temperate habits.
Benjamin Garrison, Sr. , grandfather of our
subject, was born in this county and died in New
burgh, when in his eighty -third year. Davis
Garrison, the Captain's father, who was a fisher
man and boatman, running on steamers plying
between Newburgh and New York, died in 1884,
having attained his seventy-fifth year. His wife,
Frances, a native of Goshen, was a daughter of
ex-Sheriff John Penney, who was of French-Hu
guenot descent. He was born in Sag Harbor,
Long Island, and at an early day removed to
Goshen, later coming to this city. Mrs. Garri
son is hale and hearty, and still enjoys life,
though she is now in her seventy-ninth year.

She was the mother of twelve children, all but
four of whom grew to maturity, but only five
now survive. Capt. William H., who is engaged
in a banking business in Newark, N. J., served
with the Seventy -first New York Volunteers on
the second enlistment, and afterward was third
assistant engineer on the man-of-war "Vander-
bilt." John D., who died in this city in 1893,
was for two years a member of Company B, Third
New York Infantry, and afterwards was with
Regan's Battery. Isaac enlisted in the One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York Infantry,
and died in Ohio during his army life.
Captain Garrison was born in Newburgh, Jan
uary 5' 1838, and was reared here, receiving- his
education in private schools. April 10, 1849,
when he was but eleven years of age, he became
cook on the sloop "Oregon," receiving a salary
of $5 per month. At the end of the season he
became a member of the crew of the sloop ' 'John
Jay, ' ' and continued as such for fourteen years,
being promoted from cook to first mate, and run
ning between Albany and Providence, R. I. Be
ing careful of his earnings, he managed to lay
aside a snug little sum in the bank and at length
bought a half-interest in the schooner "Samuel
Coddington," and for two years commanded her
as captain, running on the river and in New
York Harbor. Then for two years he was part
owner and captain of the schooner "Jane Ann,"
which was sunk some years after, but without
loss of life. The Captain returned to Newburgh,
after which he was for three years on the ferry
boat "Union," running between Newburgh and
Fishkill. The schooner "Jane Ann" having been
rebuilt, he purchased and ran it for four years on
the river, then was on the schooner "Fancy"
for six years, and the "William A. Ripley" two
years. Having been injured by a fall, however,
he lived retired for the two years following, but
at length was given the position of private de
tective in the Hanover National Bank of New
York City, and served faithfully for some two
years in that capacity. Another twelve months
found him running as a pilot on ' 'Coe F. Young, ' '
a propeller. He next ran the barge "Isaac C.
Ogden' ' between Albany and Sing Sing for fou*-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

375

years, and then became captain of the barges of
the Rose Brick Company. His connection with
this company dates from July, 1887, but for the
last three years he has supervised the yards. In
1 89 1 he was made Deputy by Sheriff Goodale,
and afterward held the same position under Mr.
Alexander and the present Sheriff, Mr. Beekes.
The home of the worthy Captain is at No. 46
Carson Avenue. His wife, who was formerly
Miss Phcebe Mead, was united in marriage with
him near New Brunwick, N. J., January 1, 1861.
The lady was born in Cornwall on the Hudson,
and is a daughter of William Mead, likewise a
native of this county, and a stationary engineer
by trade. His death occurred in New Jersey,
where he had been located for several years.
The only son of the Captain, Edward, a bright
lad, died at the age of twelve years, and the
daughter, Eleanor, is the wife of G. A. Embler,
a grocer of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Garrison
are members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church. Until a few years ago the Captain was
a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist. It
has fallen to his lot to save sixteen lives threat
ened with watery graves, the first of these in
stances occurring when he was a boy of only
twelve years.

GlLANSON Y. WELLER, junior member of
/ I the firm of Schoonmaker & Weller, dry-
/ I goods merchants of Newburgh, is also Di
rector of the National Bank of that city. He
comes of an honorable Orange County family, and
was born in Montgomery, that county, Septem
ber 21, 1837. His father, Alfred Weller, was a
native of the town of Crawford and was born in
1800, while Grandfather Henry Weller was of
German descent. The latter was an extensive
farmer, and the owner of four hundred acres of
valuable land, which was divided between his
three sons.
Alfred Weller farmed the old homestead nearly
all his life, but several years before his death,
which occurred in 1866, when in his sixty-seventh
year, lived retired in the town of Montgomery.

In politics he was a true-blue Republican, after
the formation ofthe party, and for many years
was Trustee of the Presbyterian Church. His
wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Dicker-
son, and was also a native ofthe town of Craw
ford. Her father, Adam Dickerson, was a native
of this county, and spent his entire life in this lo
cality on a farm.
Our subject was one in a family of eight chil
dren, all of whom grew to mature years with one
exception, and four are now living, those besides
himself being James H., engaged in the dry-goods
business at Yonkers, N. Y. ; Eliza, Mrs. John
Harris, of Middletown, this county; and Celia,
the wife of Milton Bull, of the town of Craw
ford. Alanson Y. Weller remained on the home farm
until nineteen years of age, after which he took a
course of study in the Montgomery Academy. In
1856 he came to Newburgh as clerk for A. K.
Chandler, a dry-goods merchant of this city, re
maining in his employ for six years. At the ex
piration of that time, January 25, 1863, he formed
a partnership with John Schoonmaker and S. C.
Mills in the dry-goods business. The three
young men, who were at that time clerking in as
many different stores in the city, bought out the
gentleman for whom Mr. Schoonmaker was work
ing and continued in the old location at the cor
ner of Third and Water Streets from 1863 to 1878.
In the latter year they purchased their present
site and erected thereon a large brick building,
three stories and a basement, 30x80 feet in di
mensions. The first floor is devoted to general
dry goods, while on the second may be found a
complete line of cloaks, shawls, etc. The next
floor is stocked with blankets, curtains of every
variety, and drapery. The basement is used for
muslin and wool underware and in it the citizens
of Newburgh may find many bargains in ready-
made articles. The building is fitted out with
every known convenience, including a passenger
elevator. The firm give employment to about
thirty people and carry on the most extensive
business in this line in the city.
Mr. Weller was married in Newburgh, in 1863,
to Miss Mary A. Simpson, who was born in this

376

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

city in 1838. She was the daughter of Joseph and
Amelia Simpson, the former of whom was of
Scotch-Irish extraction. To our subject and his
wife there have been born three children , of whom
Frank S., a graduate of the academy, is in the
wholesale grocery business; George S., who is
also completing his education in the academy, is
engaged in the coal business 011 the corner of Lake
Street and Broadway ; May is carrying on her
studies in the Misses Mackie' s school.
During the war our subject was a member of
the Union League. A stanch supporter of Re
publican principles and candidates, he takes a
great interest in the success of his party. He is
a member ofthe Board of Trade, and since 1892
has been Director in the National Bank of New
burgh. In the Union Presbyterian Church, of
which he is a member, he also holds the office of
Trustee. Mr. Weller and family occupy one of the
most beautiful homes in the city, it being located
at No. 168 Grand Street.
-—5 — i — »}>K®l^^®"+^»- — **—-«——

(SAMUEL J. HILTON, Alderman from the
7\ Fourth Ward of Newburgh, is in every re-
\~) spect a self-made man. He was born in
this city, July 4, 1850, being the fourth in the
family of William Hilton. Our subject was
reared in his native city, and received his educa
tion in the public schools, together with a short
term in the academy and in the private school of
Mr. Chapman. In 1871 he began to learn the
carpenter's trade, which he followed as an ap
prentice and journeyman until June, 1887, when
he began contracting and building for himself,
his office and shop being at Nos. 95 and 97 Front
Street. He became a most successful contractor
and builder, and among the many buildings he
erected may be mentioned the Imperial Flats,
the Skidmore Mercantile Company building, the
Newburgh Music Hall, residence of T. H. Skid-
more, Jr., and two houses for F. E. Estabrook,
he employing as many as fifty men in the prose
cution of his work. He continued in this busi
ness until March, 1894, when he disposed of it

and became active as a member and Director of
the Skidmore Mercantile Company, which was
formed in 1890, Mr. Hilton at that time pur
chasing a few shares of its stock, and one year
later becoming a Director of the company. Jan
uary 21, 1895, Mr. Hilton and Mr. Howard
bought out the Skidmore Mercantile Company,
and the firm is now known as Hilton & Howard.
The business of this company is quite extensive,
and Mr. Hilton has proved that he is well
adapted to the business. He is a member of the
Newburgh Building and Loan Association, of
which he is also a Director.
In 1893 Mr. Hilton was nominated and elected
on the Republican ticket as Alderman from the
Fourth Ward. The ward had always been
strongly Democratic, and for many years had
never been served by a Republican, but our sub
ject was elected by a majority of thirty-eight
votes, thus proving his popularity. Asa member
ofthe Board of Aldermen, he was made Chair
man of the Police and also of the Light Commit
tee, a member of the Fire Department and of the
Auditing Committees. He has always been an
active and straight Republican, having served his
party as a member of the City Central Commit
tee, and ofthe County Central Committee for a
number of years. He has also been sent as a
delegate to the state convention of his party, and
is ever ready to do all that he can to advance its
interests. Socially he is a member of the Royal
Arcanum, and religiously he is a member of the
First Presbyterian Church.
In 1883 Mr. Hilton was united in marriage
with Miss Sarah Wilson, a native of Newburgh,
who was born in the same house in which her
wedding ceremony was performed. She is a
daughter of Robert and Eliza Wilson, the former
a native of Ireland, but who died here some years
ago. The latter is still living and makes her
home with the subject of this sketch.
Few men in Newburgh are more popular than
Samuel J. Hilton. He is a well built and fine
looking man, honest and upright in all his deal
ings, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all
with whom he is associated. He is an old fire
man, not in years of life, but in years of service,

HORATIO B. BECKMAN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

379

and, like all persons who have at any time been
connected with the volunteer fire department, his
interest is with the boys who so often risk their
lives to save the property of their fellow-men,
and he is ever ready to extend to each and every
one a helping hand.

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3*++*'*^(^'<.^.<.+"=

HORATIO B. BECKMAN. The scientific
researches and investigations made by this
gentleman, together with his skill as a ma
chinist and his useful inventions, have brought
him into prominence among the citizens of New
burgh and the people of Orange County. He
dates his residence here from February, 1 8 65, when
he came to Newburgh as an expert in engines and
boilers, under special employ of Alexander Cald
well, who was a boiler manufacturer, and superin
tendent of the steammills. Mr. Beekman was
placed in charge of the machinery of the mill as
master mechanic; subsequently he was promoted
to be assistant superintendent, and in 1869 be
came superintendent and agent, which position
he has since filled.
In 1880 the mill was rebuilt, its capacity nearly
doubled, and a seven-hundred horse-power Cor
liss engine introduced. The entire length of the
building is now three hundred and forty-three
feet, with seventy-seven feet on the wings. In
front of the mill stretches a large and well kept
lawn, adding greatly to the neat appearance of
the place. Employment is furnished to about
four hundred hands, and the finest quality of
products is turned out. A private room has been
fitted up by the superintendent with everything
necessary for a well equipped mechanic's work
shop, and here he spends much of his time in de
vising and constructing tools and apparatus for
facilitating the work of the factory.
The Beekman family is of Swedish origin.
Our subject's grandfather emigrated to this coun
try prior to the Revolutionary War, in which he
participated, taking part in the battle of Bunker
Hill. He was a farmer in New Hampshire,
where he died at the age of ninety-nine years.
The father, Israel R., was born in the Granite

State in 1780, and was a man of far more than
ordinary ability, being a mechanical genius. On
his farm he had a machine-shop, and much of his
time was devoted to that work. His death oc
curred at the age of sixty-seven. His wife, Bet
sey Eaton, was born in Saybrook, N. H., and
died at the age of eighty-four. Her father, Capt.
Reuben R., was a sea-captain, and for many
years was captain of a brig that ran between the
United States and West Indies.
The youngest of eleven children, Horatio B.
Beekman was born in Sanborntou, N. H., July
30, 1831. He received an academic education,
and after leaving school taught for a short time.
In boyhood he learned the machinist's trade, and
added to that, by regular apprenticeship to his
brother in Amesbury, Mass. , the trade of a pat
tern-maker. For one year he was employed in
building scales at Concord, N. H., and also
worked in a cotton- mill for a short time. About
the same time he invented the first electric motor
that he ever made. Returning to Massachusetts,
he closed up a protective-union store, and for one
year was chief engineer on a steamer on the coast
of Massachusetts, when he engaged in pattern
work at Newburyport, Mass. , also doing business
as a machinist. In 1851 he went to Lowell,
Mass. , where he perfected machinery for the man
ufacture of spoke shaves.
Returning to Newburyport, Mr. Beekman was
employed as a machinist in the Bartlett Cotton-
mills for a year, and was then raised to the post
of engineer-in-charge. During the period of his
residence there he became an intimate friend of
N. C. Greenough, the chronometer-maker, and
his evening hours were devoted to learning watch
making. Later he was expert machinist for Cor
liss & Nightingale, of Providence, R. I. In i860
he accepted a lucrative offer from Carr, Brown &
Co.,. comb-makers, as an inventor and builder of
comb machinery, and in that capacity introduced
machinery that revolutionized the entire trade.
All the machinery used at that time in the man
ufacture of combs was the result of his inventive
skill. His next enterprise was the starting of a
hoopskirt factory, in which he projected and car
ried out a number of his inventions. The years

38o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

between i860 and 1865 were devoted entirely to
inventing, and in 1861 he originated the Torsillian
pipe and the Torsillian condenser. His feed-
water heater and precipitator for steam genera
tors, also invented in 1865, is an apparatus for
purifying the water for steam boilers and for
equalizing the temperature throughout the boilers,
so as to preserve them from the effects of unequal
expansion and contraction. He invented an
ejector condenser, the principle of which he ap
plied to the gas ejector. From 1857 until i860
he made a special study of the causes of boiler
explosions, the reason for which he found in the
unequal expansion of iron, and in order to pre
vent that he constructed his device for boilers by
which they are fed from the top instead of the
bottom. This plan is now universally adopted.
In the organization of the Newburgh Edison
Electric Illuminating Company, Mr. Beekman
was a prominent factor, being the electrician of
the company, and now its President. Of the
works with which he is connected as superintend
ent he is also a Director and stockholder, and to
his efforts the success of the mills may be attrib
uted. The manufactured product, a fine quality
of print cloth, is handled by Garner & Co., of
New York City. As a stockholder of the Muchat
toes Lake Ice Company, a stockholder and Di
rector of the Columbus Trust Company and the
Academy of Music, and a stockholder in the Arc
Light Company, he has contributed to the suc
cess of these several enterprises.
At Newburyport, Mass., in 1850, occurred the
marriage of Mr. Beekman and Miss Susan C.
Dow, a native of that city. Seven of their nine
children are living, the two sons being Charles
A., a graduate of Eastman's Commercial College
of Poughkeepsie, and bookkeeper for the New
burgh Steam Mills; and Horatio B. , Jr. The latter
graduated from Newburgh Academy, was a stu
dent in Cornell College, and subsequently gradu
ated from Eastman's Business College at Pough
keepsie. He is a talented young man, with a
natural genius for mechanics. The youngest
daughter, Bertha, is a fine musician, and has
been given the best advantages for the study of
that art.

For three years, beginning with 1876, Mr.
Beekman was a member of the Board of Water
Commissioners. From Mayor B. B. Odell he re
ceived his appointment as a member of the Civil
Service Commission of the city of Newburgh,
serving several years, and being President of the
board. During the administration of Mayor Mi
chael Doyle he also served two years. A Demo
crat in politics, he was, in 1887, elected upon that
ticket to represent the Fourth Ward in the Com
mon Council. During his six years' service in
that position, he took an active part in municipal
affairs, and served as Chairman of the Street
Committee and a member of other committees. For
years he has been County Commissioner. He is,
in addition to his other lines of work, a Notary
Public. Socially he belongs to the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the
encampment. In 1857 he was made a Master
Mason in St. Mark's Lodge, Newburyport, and
in 1866 joined Newburgh Lodge. He is a mem
ber of Highland Chapter, R. A. M.; Hudson
River Commandery, K. T. ; and also of the An
cient Scottish Rite of Northern Jurisdiction, in
which he has received the thirty-second degree.
Before Edison gained his present fame, he was
acquainted with him, and he was also associated
with Professor Doughty, of Newburgh, in his
scientific researches. Many other well known
scientists have been his personal friends. In his
chosen field of activity he has achieved remark
able success, and the practical inventions in me
chanics due to his ingenuity and skill entitle
him to the esteem and admiration of all who de
sire the promotion of the common welfare and the
advancement of the general good.

+=

>f-

3 AMES E. O'MALLEY, A. B., M. D. The
name of this gentleman is well known in
the city and town of Newburgh, where he is
regarded as a skilled physician, accurate in the
diagnosis of intricate cases and judicious in their
treatment. During his residence here he has ac
quired an increasing and remunerative practice,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

38i

which now demands his entire time and atten
tion, affording him little opportunity for taking
an active part in matters of a public nature.
The anniversary of Washington's birthday is
of especial interest to our subject, for upon that
day in 1861 he made his advent into the world,
his birthplace being in Binghamton, N. Y. His
father, Edward, was born in County Limerick,
Ireland, the youngest of five brothers, and the
first of the number to come to America, emigrat
ing hither in early manhood. In Binghamton
he learned the tanner's trade, and for a time was
foreman of a tannery, but afterward entered the
grocery business, which he carried on at Deposit
until his death, in 1891. After his demise the
store was conducted by his sons, Michael and
Edward, until the death of the former, since
which time Edward has managed it alone.
The Doctor's mother, Bridget Halpin, who was
born in County Limerick, Ireland, emigrated to
America in girlhood, and was married in Bing
hamton to Mr. O'Malley. She died in 1890, two
weeks before the death of her husband. They
were the parents of three sons and three daugh
ters, of whom two sons and two daughters sur
vive, . James E. being the eldest. He was reared in
Binghamton and Deposit, graduating from the De
posit High School at fifteen years of age. Later,
entering the Niagara University at Suspension
Bridge, N. Y., he was graduated from that in
stitution in 1 88 1, with the degree of A. B.
During his college course he was ecfitor of the
Niagara Index, the college journal. On com
pleting his literary studies, he spent a few months
in Eastman's Business College, graduating in
188 1. He then accepted a position as local edi
tor on the staff of the Binghampton Evening
Leader, with which he remained for three years.
Having in this way gained the means neces
sary for the prosecution of his professional studies,
our subject entered the department of medicine
and surgery of the University of New York, and
after a thorough course he was graduated with
the degree of M. D. For eighteen months after
ward he held the important position of physician
and surgeon of Bellevue Hospital, being first on
the medical staff and later on the surgical force.

In April, 1888, he came to Newburgh, where,
equipped with the practical knowledge of his
profession gained through his hospital work, he
at once entered upon practice. For three years
he was attending physician and surgeon to St.
Luke's Hospital, but this position he resigned in
May, 1894, and since then has allowed no out
side inducements to draw him from his general
practice. The lady who in 1892 became the wife of Dr.
O'Malley was Miss Mary F. Donahue, a native
of Newburgh and daughter of Michael Donahue,
a well known undertaker of this place. Mrs.
O'Malley was reared and educated here, and is a
graduate of Mt. St. Mary's Seminary. The Doc
tor's office is located at No. 179 Liberty Street.
He is a charter member and medical examiner of
the Catholic Benevolent League, and is serving
the Order of Foresters, of which he is a member,
and the Ancient Order of Hibernians in a similar
capacity. An active worker in St. Patrick's
Church, he is a Director in Columbus Hall,
opened by the Catholic Benevolent League.
Everything pertaining to his profession receives
his cordial support, if in his belief it will prove
beneficial to the cause. He is a member of the
County Medical Society, the meetings of which
he attends whenever possible. His political af
filiations are with the Democratic party.

II®

"JjEORGE USHER is a very successful and
_ practical contractor and builder, whose home
JJ is in Newburgh. In February, 1895, he
erected a brick shop on Mill Street, near Has-
brouck. The structure is two stories in height,
25x50 feet in dimensions, and is provided with
an electric motor. Mr. Usher is a member ofthe
Carpenters' Employers' Union, and stands well
among the builders of the city. Socially he is a
Mason, being identified with Newburgh Lodge
No. 309.'
The grandfather of the above gentleman, also
George Usher, was born in Northumberland,
England, and was a descendant ofa distinguished
old Saxon family. He followed a peaceful agri-

382

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cultural life and died at a ripe old age. Our sub
ject's father, Mathew, was born in the same lo
cality, and was a gunsmith by trade. His last
years were spent in the southern part of Scotland,
where he had a good position as gamekeeper for
a landed proprietor. He died when but fifty -four
years of age. His wife, Jane, was a daughter of
Christopher Auburn, also of Saxon lineage, and
a gamekeeper by occupation. Mr. Auburn and
his daughter were natives of the same shire as
was Mr. Usher. They were all adherents of the
Episcopal Church, and were straightforward,
honorable people in all their dealings with their
fellow-men. George Usher was born iii Newcastle, North
umberland County, England, April 24, 1840, be
ing one of four children. His brother Christo
pher runs a grocery in Philadelphia. Our sub
ject was reared in his native land until six years
of age, when with his parents he moved to Scot
land, settling in Roxbury shire, on the banks of
the Tweed River. He was educated at the Kelso
schools, and when he was in his seventeenth year
was apprenticed to a carpenter, for whom he
worked some five years. In 1861 he enlisted in
the Royal Horse Guards, and was always found
at his post of duty during the five years of his
connection with that famous organization. In
1866 he left Liverpool on the steamer "Damas
cus," and sixteen days later set foot in Portland,
Me. After his arrival in Newburgh, Mr. Usher en
tered the employ of Samuel & William Martin,
by whom he was esteemed as one of their most
faithful and reliable men. For eleven years he
continued with this well known firm, and then
concluded to set up in business for himself. Un
der the style of Usher & Wilson, business was
conducted until the death of his partner, William
Wilson, after which Mr. Usher was alone for a
couple of years. Later J. F. Templeton became
interested in the business, but in the fall of 1894
the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent,
since which time our subject has been alone. In
addition to his regular line of work he is an arch
itect of no small ability and has drawn up plans
for many handsome buildings. It would be futile

to attempt to mention one-tenth of the many
structures he has put up in Newburgh and vicin
ity, for the number of these would reach over
three hundred, but we would state that he as
sisted in building the City Hall, Fletcher's Block,
the Wilcox Lawn-mower factory, McGreggor's
Building, the Coldwell Lawn-mower factory and
the residence of Charles E. Williams.
In 1870 Mr. Usher was married, in this city, to
Charlotte Lees, who was born in Manchester,
England. The worthy couple have four children,
three daughters and one son, namely: Estella,
Lottie, Flora and George, Jr. , the latter of whom
is in business with his father. The family resi
dence is a pretty and cozy one at No. 61 Mill
Street. Mr. and Mrs. Usher are members of St.
George's Episcopal Church, and are always great
ly interested in measures which tend to uplift and
benefit humanity. In his political faith Mr.
Usher is a true-blue Republican.

•©GjlLLIAM W. COLLINS, Superintendent
I A/ °^ ^e Almshouse at Newburgh, is an effi-
Y V cient incumbent of this position and is pop
ular with all. He is very progressive, and since
taking this responsible office has caused an addi
tion to be built to the Almshouse, which now has
over one hundred inmates. In politics he is an
active Republican, and is interested in every move
ment pertaining to the improvement of his com
munity .
Our subject was born in the town of Newburgh,
March 14, 1858, but his father, James Collins,
was born in the North of Ireland. The latter was
of Scotch-Irish parentage and the son of James
Collins, Sr. , who set sail for America when the
father of our subject was a lad of five years. Aft
er being employed as carman in New York City
for some time he removed to Sullivan County,
and from that time until his decease gave his at
tention to farm work. He was a devoted member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which
he had been connected for many years.
James Collins, Jr., lived in the metropolis until

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

383

sixteen years of age, when he came to the town
of Newburgh and began to do for himself by
working out as a farm hand. He was married
some years later, and purchased a tract of land on
which he has made his home ever since. It is a
valuable piece of property and is pleasantly lo
cated three miles from Newburgh. Mr. Collins
is now in his sixtieth year.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Caroline E. Wilbur, a native of Dutchess County,
this state, and the daughter of Clark Wilbur,
who was also born there. He was a Quaker in
religion and a well-to-do farmer. The parental
family included two children, the sister of our
subject being Anna, now Mrs Constable, of New
burgh. The subject of this sketch was given a good ed
ucation, and graduated from Newburgh Academy,
receiving his diploma from this institution in
1875. He then engaged in teaching school, but,
not liking that vocation, abandoned it after one
term and engaged in farming on a tract of land
which he purchased three miles from the city. It
is seventy-one acres in extent, and when he lived
upon it he devoted it to th#: raising of vegetables
for the market, and also to dairy farming.
May 17, 1893, by the committee selected for that
purpose, our subject was appointed Superintend
ent of the Almshouse, to fill out a vacancy. So
well did he discharge every duty devolving upon
him that on the expiration of the term he was ap
pointed for the full time. The Almshouse is lo
cated on a tract of land seventy acres in extent,
within the city limits, and aside from transacting
the business which his position as Superintendent
ofthe poor for both city and town demands, Mr.
Collins gives his entire time and attention to the
institution. He finds no time for outside duties,
though he is faithful in the discharge of all that
devolves upon him as a good citizen.
Mr. Collins was married in Newburgh, Febru
ary 25, 1885, to Miss Eleanor J. Lowe, who was
born in Saugeities, Ulster County, this state, Jan
uary 2, 1864. Her parents were William S. and
Mary E. (Moran) Lowe, the former of whom is
engaged in business in New York City. To Mr.
and Mrs. Collins were.born a son and daughter,

Everette L. and Mary C, the latter of whom died
June 12, 1894, aged five years and three months.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins are both members of the
Gardner Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
he is serving as Steward. In politics he is a true-
blue Republican.

^

GJlDAM SCHAAD is superintendent of the
F I H. F. Taintor Manufacturing Company of
(I Green Point, Brooklyn, N. Y., with which
concern he has been connected in his present ca
pacity for thirty-two years. About 1875 he
started in the cooperage business in Newburgh,
the location of his plant being No. 131 Broadway,
and he still carries on a large business in this
line. He commenced at the bottom round of the
ladder and has worked his way upward by his en
ergetic and industrious qualities. Personally he
is a man who is universally esteemed and re
spected. Mr. Schaad was born in Oppenheim, Hesse-
Darmstadt, Germany, April 18, 1835, his par
ents being Christian and Julia (Weber) Schaad.
The father was a farmer by occupation, and was a
soldier in the French Revolution. The mother
was a daughter of Adam Weber, a native of the
same province and an agriculturist. Mrs. Schaad
died in the Fatherland, leaving four children, of
whom our subject is next to the youngest, and
the only one in America. He received a good
common-school education, and remained on the
old homestead until December, 1853,. when he
left Havre, France, on the sailing-vessel "Ophir,"
landing in New York City January 13, 1854.
Going to Rochester, N. Y., young Schaad learned
to manufacture paint in the Commercial Paint
Works, of which he later became superintendent.
In 1857 Mr. Schaad moved to Poughkeepsie,
continuing in the employ of the old concern, and
in 1866 came to Newburgh. Here the Commer
cial Paint Works conducted a plant on Front
Street until 188 1, when H. F. Taintor became
proprietor of the business. In 1 887 it was moved
to Green Point, where it has since been located,
the firm being known as the H. F. Taintor Man-

384

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ufacturing Company. The products of the fac
tory are shipped to all parts of the world, and the
establishment is one of the largest of its kind in
America. The home of Mr. Schaad is at No. 201 Third
Street. He was first married in Rochester to
Mary Ramsteder, who was born in Bavaria. Of
their children, Elvina died in Newburgh; Mathew
is a night foreman at the manufactory; Kate, Mrs.
Powell, is at home; Adam, Jr., is employed by
the company of which his father is superintendent,
as is also the next younger son, George, who is a
shipping clerk; Annie, Lizzie and Mary are at
home; Barbara and Johnny are deceased; Joseph
is bookkeeper in his father's cooperage; and Rob
ert is in the operating department of the same.
May 28, 1879, Mr. Schaad married Louisa Maf-
fert, who was born in Wurtemberg. Her father,
John Maffert, a soldier in the French Revolution,
was a tailor by trade, and followed that business
after his emigration to Newburgh. His wife died
soon after their arrival in America. To our sub
ject and his present wife there were born four
children, namely: Eva, Agnes, Lulu and Julia,
the latter of whom is deceased.
Politically our subject has been very active in
the Democratic party, has attended several of its
conventions, and was President of the German
Democratic Club of Newburgh at one time. He
is a prominent member of St. Mary's Catholic
Church, to which he gave liberally of his means
for the erection ofthe present noble church edifice.

EAPT. HIRAM F. HATHAWAY, the gen
ial and well known collector on the New
burgh & Fishkill Ferry, is one of the old
residents of Newburgh. In July, 1861, he en
listed in the defense of his beloved country as a
member of Company A, Tenth Legion, or Fifty-
sixth New York Volunteers, being mustered in
at Washington's Headquarters July 31. He was
sent to the front and took part in the Pennsyl
vania campaign, the manoeuvres in South Car
olina, the engagement at Morris Island, was pres
ent at the battles of Newbern, N. C. , and Beau

fort, S. C, and, in short, was in all ofthe actions
in which the Fifty-sixth was concerned. He en
tered the service as a private and was mustered
out in November, 1864, as a Corporal. Grand
Army affairs have always been of great interest
to him, and he is a member of Ellis Post.
Born in Newburgh, August 7, 1842, the Cap
tain is a son of Col. Odell S. Hathaway, a native
of Morristown, N. J. The Colonel's father emi
grated from Scotland to New Jersey and after
ward came to Newburgh. O. S. Hathaway was
reared in this city, and learned the shoemaker's
trade, later engaging in business as a leather and
hide merchant, and running a tannery at the foot
of South Street, first in partnership with a Mr.
Sneed and later alone. He also had a large
wholesale hardware store on Water Street, near
Third, and for many years, or until his resigna
tion from that place of honor, was President of
the Quassaick Bank. For three years he served
as a member of the Legislature. His title of Col
onel was won in the early days of the New York
State Militia. Politically he was first a Whig
and subsequently a Democrat, the only public
office which he ever held being that of Supervisor,
in which he acquitted himself with ability during
a five-year term. He was a Trustee and one of
the pillars of St. George's Episcopal Church.
His wife, Miss Helen Birdsall prior to her mar
riage, was a native of Newburgh, and her grand
father, Colonel B. Belknap, was a Quartermaster in
the Revolutionary War. Colonel Hathaway and
his wife had ten children who grew to mature
years, and six of the number are still living.
William was Adjutant in the Nineteenth New
York Regiment, and later was Major of a com
pany of the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Vol
unteers. Josiah was in the United States navy
during the Civil War.
Captain Hathaway, of this sketch, was reared
in this city, and here attended the public schools.
His father had purchased about two hundred
acres at Balmville, which he improved and oper
ated as a farm. In his honor Hathaway's Glenii,
the present home of J. A. P. Ramsdell, was
named, and in that locality our subject passed his
childhood. On his return from the war he de-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

385

cided to go westward, and in 1866 went to Racine,
Wis., obtaining a position as baggagemaster on
the old Western Union Railroad, between Racine
and Rock Island, 111. Later he was promoted to
be conductor, and served the company faithfully
for nearly seven years. In 1873 he returned to
Newburgh and engaged in farming near Gedney 's
Mills for some six years. In 1887 he was offered
his present position and decided to accept it. He
makes from thirty-three to thirty-six trips in
twenty-four hours, and is one of the steadiest and
most reliable collectors of the ferry line.
December 4, 1878, our subject married Carrie
Maston, of Newburgh, but a native of Kingston.
Her father, Captain M. Maston, was formerly in
charge ofthe steamer "Alida," running between
Rondout and New York City. His death oc
curred in February, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Hath
away are members of St. George's Episcopal
Church, and are active in religious and charita
ble enterprises. The former belongs to the Royal
Arcanum, and has held several positions in the
lodge, and in Ellis Post, G. A. R.

HUGH McLERNON, a well known business
man of Newburgh, has established himself
in the confidence and good-will of the peo
ple of this city and locality by his uniformly
fair and upright dealings. He has been success
fully engaged in contracting and building for
many years, and is regarded as one of the self-
made men ofthe community, in whose prosperity
he takes great interest.
Like many of the best residents of Orange
County, Mr. McLernon is a native of Ireland,
his birth occurring in 1853 in County Derry,
where his father, James McLernon, was a farmer.
His mother, who in her maidenhood was Mary
Shannon, was also of Irish birth and parentage.
In 1872 Hugh determined to come to America,
and on his arrival here made his way to New
burgh, where he first obtained employment in a
soap factory. One year later he became an ap
prentice to Thomas Dobbin, a brick mason, con

tinuing in business with him for four years, or
until engaging in business for himself.
In 1879 our subject engaged in building and
contracting in partnership with James Stewart,
but in 1 891 the partnership was dissolved. For
sixteen months thereafter Mr. McLernon resided
in Yonkers, but since that time has made his
abode in Newburgh. He is a reliable and trust
worthy business man, and has erected many of
the largest public buildings and finest residences
in the city, among them being the City Hall and
the Arno Building, besides numerous flats. He
employs each season from twenty-five to thirty
men. Mr. McLernon married in this city, in April,
1880, Miss Mary Nelson, a native of Ireland,
her birth occurring in County Cavan, in 1858.
She has become the mother of five children , name
ly: Mary, Jennie Maude, Nelson, Robert and Flor
ence. In religious affairs our subject is a member
of the American Reformed Church, and in pol
itics gives his allegiance to the Republican party.
He is not an aspirant for office, much preferring
the duties of civil life to the turmoil of politics, and
he is always just and considerate of the rights of
all with whom he is brought in contact, and con
scientious in his observance of all the proprieties
of life. Thus he has made many friends, whose
respect grows stronger with more intimate ac
quaintance.

!"""¦¦""¦_

I-^HHN

j- RANK M. TUMA, general foreman ofthe
Yy roundhouse and engine-dispatcher of the
| Erie Railroad at Newburgh, was born in
Rutherford, Bergen County, N. J., August 1,
1865. His father, John Tuma, who was a Catho
lic in religious belief, was a native of Germany,
who emigrated when a young man to New Jer
sey, locating in the town of Rutherford, where
he engaged in contracting, and there died March
14, 1893. Soon after his arrival in Rutherford,
he married Ann Raftry, a native of New Jersey.
Ten children were born unto them, four of whom
are now living, our subject being the eldest of the
family.

386

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Frank M. Tuma was reared and educated in
the common schools of Rutherford, and when
fourteen years of age was apprenticed as a ma
chinist in the Erie shops of Jersey City, serving
in that capacity from May, 1880, until 1884. He
was then made fireman on an engine running on
the main line of the Erie Railroad, between Port
Jervis and Jersey City, continuing in this capaci
ty until 1889, when he was given charge of an
engine, and for the next two years ran trains on
every division and branch of the Erie Road.
In September, 1891, Mr. Tuma was promoted
and made general foreman and engine-dispatcher
at Newburgh, being given charge of the round
house, which has a capacity of seven engines,
together with the car and machine shops adjoin
ing, in which about sixty-five men are constantly
employed. As a railroad man, he thoroughly
understands his business, and is popular with all
the employes and with those having business
with his office.
Mr. Tuma was married, in Suffern, N. Y., to
Miss K. A. Regan, a native of that city. They
now reside in a pleasant residence at No. 25
High Street, where they extend a welcome to all
their friends. Mr. Tuma is a member of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, holding
membership with Hudson Division No. 135, of
Jersey City. In politics he is entirely indepen
dent, voting for the man of his choice to what
ever party he may belong.

"HOMAS McKENZIE, one of the wide-a
wake young business men of Newburgh,
who carries on operations as a contractor
and builder, came to this county in May, 1884.
He was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1862, and
belongs to one of the old families of that locality.
His father, Murdo McKenzie, was engaged in
hotel-keeping, and spent his last days in Inver
ness. He married Bella Gollan, who was born
in the same county, where her father, Thomas
Gollan, followed farming. She also died in In
verness.

Thomas McKenzie was the second in a family
of five children, and was reared and educated in
Inverness and Ross-shire. At the age of seven
teen he was apprenticed to a carpenter in Ding
wall, and when his term of service had expired
he worked as a journeyman for eighteen months.
He then decided to try his fortune in America,
and in April, 1884, left Glasgow on the steamer
"Divonia," reaching New York City on the 2d
of May of that year. After working there for
two months he went to Cornwall on the Hudson.
He knew no one at that place, but he sought and
obtained employment with Mead & Taft, and
continued in their service for five years, serving
as foreman for a part of the time.
In 1889 Mr. McKenzie purchased two lots at
Washington Heights, Newburgh, at the Dickey
sale, and built thereon a residence which he later
sold. He then purchased land at the corner of
Benkard Avenue and Clark Street, 60x150 feet,
and built thereon a double house, a two-story
brick residence and a shop. He also built and
owns another double house adjoining his home.
He began contracting and building here in 1889,
and has erected some of the best buildings in the
city, including the James Taylor residence on
Grand Avenue, two houses for Mr. Garrison, five
for Mr. Armstrong, the St. John's parsonage,
the home of Dr. Townsend, two for Mr. McClu-
gan on Grand Street, seven for Colonel Dickey at
Washington Heights, the Herbert Graves resi
dence in Marlborough, and the McGarth residence
in Chester. He has an excellent reputation, and
an extensive business has come to him as the re
ward of his faithful service.
Mr. McKenzie is a lover of fine horses, and
owns some excellent ones, including "Lizzie
M.," which was sired by "Chester Chief," and
has a record of 2:35^, and can show a mile in
2:20. His chief source of recreation he finds
with his horses, for which he has a genuine love.
Mr. McKenzie was married in Highland Falls,
N. Y., in 1887, to Miss Barbara St. Clair, who
was born in that place, and who is a daughter of
George St. Clair, who is head carpenter for J.
Pierpont Morgan. They have one living child|
Belle. Aggie and Letitia, aged respectively three

GEORGE A. PRICE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

389

and four and a-half years, died in 1894. The
parents regularly attend the Covenanter Presby
terian Church, and Mr. McKenzie is a Republi
can in politics.

1 I m > 1 f 1 » >¦

gEORGE A. PRICE, for the last three years
Librarian of the Second Judicial Law Li-
* brary of Newburgh, and Crier for the courts
of Orange County, was born in New York City,
February 15, 1834, and is a son of William and
Eliza (Dobbs) Price, the former a native of Put
nam County, N. Y., and the latter of New York
City. The Dobbs family is of English descent,
the great-grandfather of our subject coming from
England and locating at what is now known as
Dobbs' Ferry. He returned to his native land,
however, during the Revolutionary War. The
grandfather, William Dobbs, who was a soap
chandler, served in the War of 1812. His birth
occurred in New York City, and he died there
when about eighty years old. The father of our
subject, William Price, who was reared in Putnam
County, was a shipbuilder by trade, and for a
time resided in New York City. There his mar
riage occurred, and there he died in 1838, at the
age of forty-five years. He was a member of the
Baptist Church. Grandfather Price and two un
cles served in the Revolutionary War under Gen
eral Putnam. Our subject's mother died in 1881,
at the age of eighty-one years. In the parental
family were eleven children, nine of whom grew
to manhood and womanhood, and six of whom
are now living. John H. served with distinction
during the Civil War as a member of the Ninth
and also of the Seventy-first New York Infantry.
He was by profession an attorney, and was lost on
the steamboat "Atlantic," off Nova Scotia, in
1873. William, who was for many years a large
contractor and builder in Brooklyn, N. Y., died
in 1894.
The subject of this sketch was reared in New
York City, receiving his education in its public
schools. When fourteen years of age he was ap
prenticed as a housesmith with S. B. Althouse &
Co., and continued in their employ for five years.
J5

He then engaged in carting until i860, when he
came to Orange County and located at Stony Fort,
where he kept a hotel in connection with the rais
ing of fine horses, principally of the Hambleton
ian breed. In 1861 he went to Blooming Grove,
where for a short time he was engaged in the ho
tel business. From 1861 to 1865 he resided at
Salisbury, and from 1865 to 1869 he made his
home in Washingtouville. During the war he
was known as a war Democrat.
In 1869 Mr. Price removed to Cornwall, where
he still resides. On his removal to that place he
opened the Sagamore Hotel, and afterward ran
the Ellen Park Hotel, and continued in business
there until 1890. In 1889 he was appointed Crier
of the second division of the Court of Appeals,
and held that position for four years, when the
court was suspended. In 1893 he was appointed
Librarian by the Board of Trustees of the Second
Judicial Law Library, which position he has since
continued to hold. Some twenty years prior to
this he was appointed Crier of the County Court
by Judge Brown, and held that position under
that judge for five years. He was re-appointed
by Judge Wilkins and served under him for six
years. His next appointment to the office was
made by Judge Beattie for six years, when by the
unanimous voice ofthe Bar he was re- appointed ,
in January, 1895, for another six-years term. He
is Crier for all the courts in Orange County.
The law library of which Mr. Price is librarian
was started by private subscriptions among the
attorneys of the county and was continued as
such for some years. In 1886 it was made a state
library, and in 1893 our subject was instrumental
in having bills introduced and passed in the Leg
islature ofthe state for the appointment of a libra
rian. Our subject was selected by Judge Brown
for that position, and the selection met with the
approval of every attorney in Orange County.
The library contains over four thousand volumes
and is one of the best managed in the state of
New York.
In 1854 Mr. Price was united in marriage, at
Goshen, with Miss Harriet E. Wood, a native of
that town and a daughter of Abner Wood, a
prominent old settler and a survivor of the War

390

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of 1812. She died i". 1887, leaving four daugh
ters: Ella L- , now Mrs. Couser, of Cornwall;
Alice J., now Mrs. H. M. Ryder, of Syracuse;
Susan E. and Hattie E., who reside at home.
In educational matters Mr. Price has for many
years taken an active interest. He has been
President of the Board of Education, and was the
first man to introduce the free circulation of books
in the public schools of any place in the state, and
was the first to introduce steam heat in a pub
lic schoolhouse. He was Clerk of the Board of
Education for years, and has very advanced ideas
on educational matters. Politically a Democrat,
he has served on the County Central Committee,
and has been a delegate to both county and state
conventions. He was one of the organizers ofthe
Storm King Fire Department at Cornwall on the
Hudson, and was foreman for several years, and
is now an honorary member of the company.
Socially he is connected with the Knights of
Honor, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of
Pythias. Few men are better known in Orange
County and none stand in higher esteem than the
subject of this sketch.

(Tames Hastings, one of the oldest and
I most prominent business men of Newburgh,
(2/ takes great interest in the school matters of
his community and is at present the incumbent of
the office of School Trustee. He commands a
large and paying business, and is well known
throughout the county as a man of honorable
character and upright dealings with all with whom
he is brought in contact. He is very fortunate
in having in his employ James Neal, his efficient
bookkeeper and business manager, who greatly
relieves him and enables him to take trips which
would otherwise have to be deferred. Mr. Has
tings has one of the largest plumbing establish
ments in the city, and to this is added a large
stock of stoves, furnaces, etc. He also fills con
tracts for roofing, sheet-iron and tin work, and
keeps in his employ only the best and most re
liable workmen.
Our subject is a native of Ireland, and was

born in Londonderry, in 1837. His father,
Thomas Hastings, and his grandfather, who also
bore that name, were both born in that country,
where the latter was a farmer by occupation.
The Hastings family is of English descent, hav
ing lived in England before the Norman conquest.
Thomas Hastings, the father of our subject,
came to America when a boy, and in Newburgh
began clerking for the firm of Crawford, Mailler
& Co. Some time thereafter he returned to the
Emerald Isle and was married, returning to
America in 1838. He was then employed by
Hiram Falls, on Water Street, and afterwards was
for some time in John K. Lawson & Bros.' hard
ware store. Failing health, however, compelled
him to give up all forms of active business life,
and he lived retired until his death in 1888, when
about seventy-six years of age.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Jane Parker. Her father, John Parker, was a
native of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Eng
land. He served in the English army for a peri
od of thirty-two years and was present at the bat
tle of Waterloo. For many years he was a pen
sioner of the English Government. Mrs. Has
tings is also deceased, passing away in 1847.
The subject of this sketch, who was the eldest
in the parental family of eight children, was rear
ed in Newburgh, and until attaining the age ot
seventeen years he was a student in the public
schools. He was then apprenticed to learn the
trade of a tinsmith in the shop of John Lomas &
Co. , a prominent firm of the village, and soon
became an expert in the business. He was a
member of the Home Militia, and in 1861, at the
first tap of the drum, he volunteered and enlist
ed in Company I, Seventy-first New York Regi
ment, and was present at the first battle of Bull
Run. His term of enlistment expiring at the
end of three months, he re-enlisted in the same
regiment. On receiving his honorable discharge he re
turned home and began in business for himself
in a block on Broadway. In 1865 he erected a
four-story and basement edifice, 25x100 feet in
dimensions, in which he carries on his business.
The basement and first floor are devoted to the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

39i

stoves and tinware, while the other portions of
the building are devoted to the furnaces, plumb
ing goods, roofing materials and sheet iron. He
gives employment to about ten men and carries
on the largest business in this line of any mer
chant in the city.
Mr. Hastings has been a member of the School
Board since 1886, being re-elected at the expira
tion of his term every four years. His services
are greatly valued by the other members of the
board, and he renders them much aid as Chair
man of the Building and Manual Training Com
mittees. Socially, he is a member of Newburgh
Lodge No. 308, F. & A. M.
The lady to whom our subject was married in
this city in 1864 was Miss Mary Brown, a native
of this place and the daughter of William Brown,
an old resident of Newburgh. To them have been
born five children, namely: Jennie, now Mrs.
John A. Wilson, of Brooklyn; W. George, Dep
uty Postmaster of this city; T. James, engaged
in business with his father; M. Ellen and Harriet
B. , at home.
In politics Mr. Hastings is an ardent supporter
of Republican principles and candidates and has
represented his party on various occasions as
delegate to county conventions. He belongs to
Fullerton Post No. 58, G. A. R., and Acme
Lodge No. 469, I. O. O. F. Religiously he is
a devoted member of the Union Presbyterian
Church, to the support of which he is a regular
and liberal contributor.

~sz

fTEPHEN M. BULL. There are few of the
residents of Orange County to whom this
gentleman is not known, either personally or
by reputation. As a successful business man,
and the sole proprietor of a large wholesale gro
cery house, he is well known in the Hudson Val
ley, and has built up an extensive trade through
out this section of the state. The building in
which he carries 011 business is situated at the
corner of Front and Fifth Streets, Newburgh, and
extends four hundred feet on Front Street, and
two hundred and fifty feet on Fifth. The three

floors and basement are stocked with everything
belonging to the grocery trade, and as the goods
are bought for cash from first hands, the custom
ers have the advantage of inside prices.
The life which this narrative sketches began
in Little Britain, this county, July 14, 1844, in a
house where, nearly a hundred years before, De-
Witt Clinton had first opened his eyes to the
light. The father of Stephen M. was John Spring-
stead Bull, who was born in the town of Monroe,
this county, November 26, 1809, and died No
vember 17, 1876. The grandfather, Isaac, also
a native of Orange County, followed the occupa
tion of a farmer, together with the trade of a car
penter, and died in the town of Monroe. The
great-grandfather, John, was born in Hampton
burg, N. Y., and was a farmer.
The founder of the family in Orange County
was William Bull, a native of Wolverhampton,
England, born in February, 1689. In early man
hood he accompanied his father to Dublin, Ire
land, where he was apprenticed to learn the ma
son and stone-cutter's trade. At the expiration
of his term of apprenticeship, he, with a friend
who followed the same trade, contracted to build
the arch of a large bridge which was then in pro
cess of erection in the vicinity of the city. Had
they succeeded, the future history of the family
might have been different; but just as they were
closing the arch and finishing the job, the struc
ture fell, burying beneath it the brightest hopes
of success on the part of the builder.
Feeling that further effort in that community
would be useless, Mr. Bull determined to emi
grate to America. He had five guineas, which
the captain of a sailer told him would be sufficient
to pay his passage to the New World, but on ar
riving in New York and tendering that sum he
was told by the captain it was not enough. In
dignant at the trick played upon him, he declared
that he would return to Ireland rather than be
sold to pay his passage. At this juncture Daniel
Cromline, who had an interest in the Wawayanda
Patent, was at the port and wanted to employ
some workmen for the patent. He advanced the
money, so the young emigrant accompanied him
to the patent to erect a building. He did the

392

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mason work on the dwelling, and on a stone in
the chimney cut the year 1716. This was one of
the largest houses outside of New Jersey, and be
came a popular public inn, as the road on which
it was situated was the one generally used by
emigrants. While making his home with Mr. Cromline,
William Bull became acquainted with Sarah Wells,
and they were married in 17 18, in the double log
cabin of Christopher Denn, theirs being the first
marriage within the old town of Goshen. Sarah •
Wells was born in New Jersey, opposite Staten
Island, and being orphaned when about sixteeji
years old, was adopted by Christopher and Madam
Denn, who then lived in New Jersey. In many
respects she was a remarkable girl. She attend
ed to the marketing of the produce in New York
and Staten Island, and although slender was
very strong and agile. In disposition she was
fearless. When Christopher Demi decided to settle
in Wawayanda, he sent her with the carpenters
and three Indians to the patent. They journeyed
up the Hudson to New Windsor, then twenty
miles through the wilderness to the Otterkill, the
site chosen for the settlement, reaching their
destination in safety, and at once building a log
structure for immediate use.
It had been the intention of Christopher Denn
to join his adopted daughter in five or six weeks,
but after she started on her perilous journey he
began to fear for her safety, and before sunrise of
the morning after her departure he and his wife
were on their way overland through New Jersey,
and finally reached her as she was preparing the
evening meal of the third day in the wilderness.
Sarah Wells was therefore the first white woman
on the patent, and the wife of Christopher Denn
was the second. Her adopted father promised her
one hundred acres of land from the patent from
the company, who were selling it, for her share
in settling it, and this land is in possession ofthe
family at the present time. Her experiences in
those early days were remarkable, and her adven
tures thrilling and dangerous. She often went
to Brett's Mill, at the mouth ofthe Fishkill, rid
ing on horseback to the Hudson, then rowing
across the river. Reaching the mill, she would

have the grist ground, then row back and re
turn home, the trip taking from one midnight
to the next.
After the marriage of William Bull and Sarah
Wells, they located in what is now Hampton
burg, making their home in a log house from
1719 until 1727, when he built a stone house that
is still standing. The town was named by him
Hamptonburg in honor of his old English home.
Although the Indians were unfriendly to white
settlers, and frequently performed acts of depre
dation, yet they were never molested, for they
had often done favors for the savages, who appre
ciated their kindness and never disturbed them.
The one hundred acres to which Sarah was en
titled s'he eventually received. Their house, be
ing of stone, was used by their neighbors as a
place of refuge during the French and Indian
War and the early part of the Revolution. Will
iam Bull died in February, 1755, aged sixty-six.
His wife, who was born April 6, 1694, died April
21, 1796, aged one hundred and two years and
fifteen days. They were buried at "Burying
Hill," Hamptonburg, in the grounds he gave
for that purpose. In their family were thirteen
children. The father of our subject, in boyhood, entered
the employ of David H. Moffatt, a merchant at
Washingtonville, who afterward became his broth
er-in-law. In 1832 J. S. Bull purchased the bus
iness and continued until 1840, when he bought
the Clinton homestead. He remained there until
his death, November 17, 1876, at the age of nearly
sixty-seven, his birth having occurred November
26, 1809. He was a member of the Independent
Church at Blooming Grove. His wife, Currence
B., was a daughter of Samuel Moffatt, both being
natives of Blooming Grove. He was a farmer
and merchant at Washingtonville, and a member
of an old and honored family of this locality. His
father, Samuel, who was a farmer, died young,
and the grandfather, Samuel, Sr., a native of
County Antrim, Ireland, and a farmer there, emi
grated to America with two brothers, one of whom
was a preacher and the other a lawyer. He and
his wife Anna, who was born in the Emerald Isle,
were buried in the Bethlehem Churchyard, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

393

on their gravestones are recorded the dates of
their births and death, with the peculiarity of the
change in recording at that time, so that they are
quoted as being born "old style" and dying "new
style." The mother of our subject was born Oc
tober 15, 1815, and died September 2, 1889.
In the parental family there are five daugh
ters and three sons, four of whom reside in New
Windsor, two in Washingtonville and two in
Newburgh. Our subject was reared on the home
farm and attended both the public and private
schools. March 28, 1864, he came to Newburgh,
and secured employment in the grocery store at
No. 102 Water Street. Later he was with the
same employer in the flour and feed business on
Front Street until March 6, 1865, when he entered
the employ of Johnson & Alsdorf, forwarding
merchants and freighters. After clerking for
them two years, he became clerk for Thomas H.
Skidmore & Son, and by them was promoted to
the position of manager.
February 1, 1879, Mr. Bull formed a partner
ship with Thomas H. Skidmore, under the firm
name of Skidmore & Bull, in the wholesale gro
cery business, continuing the connection until
February, 1891, since which time he has been
sole proprietor. He employs fifteen hands in the
building, and has five salesmen on the road, sell
ing their goods in the counties of Ulster, Orange,
Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Greene, Colum
bia, Sullivan and Rockland, N. Y. , Pike County,
Pa., and Sussex County, N.J. He is the sole
agent in this vicinity for the celebrated flour of
Washburn-Crosby, of Minneapolis, as well as oth
er western millers. Four steamers land at his
dock. May 26, 1869, Mr. Bull and Miss Martha M.
Oakley were united in marriage. Mrs. Bull is a
daughter of Samuel Oakley, late of this city,
where he engaged in the mercantile business.
They are the parents of two children, namely:
Emily Grace, a student in Wellesley College; and
John Springstead, who is attending the Pennsyl
vania Military College at Chester, Pa. The fam
ily residence is at No. 192 Montgomery Street.
Socially Mr. Bull is a gentleman of many pleasing
attributes, which have won for him the friendship

of those with whom he is brought in contact. Of
a genial, cheerful disposition, his jovial nature
makes him a delightful companion and also en
ables him to take an optimistic view of affairs in
general. He is identified with the Wholesale
Grocers' Association of New York City and vi
cinity, and is one ofthe original members of the
Board of Trade. Politically he is a Republican.
He is an active worker in the Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, and for years has served the
congregation as Treasurer and Trustee.

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V A ICHAEL J. DWYER. Since embarking in
y business at Newburgh in 1890, Mr. Dwyer
(3 has been enjoying marked success as well as
a constantly increasing trade. The yards which
he owns are situated on the corner of Front and
Fifth Streets, with a frontage of forty feet on the
former street, and extending back to the Hudson.
A large supply of Connecticut brown stone is
kept on hand, as well as blue stone from Ulster
County, and freestone from Ohio, Wisconsin and
Connecticut. Steady employment is given to
forty or fifty men, and in addition to furnishing
stone for many ofthe finest buildings in the city,
large contracts for flagging are also taken. He
superintended the paving of Front and North Wa
ter Streets, putting in asphalt blocks, and furn
ished the stone for Columbus Hall, the City Club
Building and the building occupied by J. Mc-
Clugham & Bro., besides taking contracts for
buildings in other cities.
Cornwall on the Hudson is the native town of
our subject, and May 18, i860, the date of his birth.
His parents, Michael and Mary (FogertyJ Dwyer,
were born in Ireland, and emigrated to America
prior to their marriage. The father was firat a
gardener in Newburgh and later was similarly en
gaged in Cornwall on the Hudson, where he died
in March, 1895. His widow still makes her
home in that place. Our subject was the fourth
among seven children, of whom all but two are
living. His education was gained in the common
schools of his native town, but was quite meager,

394

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

as he was early obliged to earn his own liveli
hood. Between the years of eight and twenty-
one he was employed as a gardener for E. P. Roe,
the famous novelist. Upon attaining his major
ity he was apprenticed as a stone-cutter under
John Day, of Newburgh, in whose yards he re
mained from 1 88 1 to 1885. Upon the expiration
of his term of apprenticeship he did journeyman
work, and for a time was employed at the resi
dence of Whitelaw Reid, in White Plains, N. Y. ,
also for six months worked at the summer home
of John Rockefeller, at Tarry town. Later he was
employed at West Point and other places.
Coming to Newburgh in 1890, Mr. Dwyer
formed a partnership with James Cathcart, under
the firm name of Cathcart & Dwyer. This con
nection continued until February, 1894, when he
purchased Mr. Cathcart' s interests, and since
that time he has conducted the business alone.
His pleasant residence at No. 15 William Street
is presided over by his amiable wife, whom he
married in New York City in January, 1891.
She was Miss Nellie Reiley and was born in New
York City, where she continued to make her
home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer
are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and
regularly attend its services.
— ~4 — s — ^-iK®(lilH+c{« — <•—< -

fl OHN McNEAL is a mason contractor and
I builder who thoroughly understands his bus-
Q/ iness and is one of the most successful work
men in Newburgh. It is now twenty-five years
or more since he began business in this city, and
during this time he has constructed hundreds of
handsome residences and substantial business
blocks. On the Heights he erected three resi
dences, but sold them as soon as completed. His
cosey home is located at No. 13 Henry Avenue.
Our subject is a native of Paisley, Scotland,
his birth having occurred December 22, 1840.
His father, John McNeal, Sr., was a tailor by
trade, and was likewise a native of Paisley. In
1843 he emigrated to the United States with his
family, but on the voyage his young wife died,

and he landed in New York with his three moth
erless children. A few years later he removed to
Newburgh and continued to work at his trade
steadily until shortly before his death, which oc
curred in 1877. In the parental family were two
sons and one daughter, the latter of whom is de
ceased. Peter, a resident of New York City, was
a member ofthe Seventy-ninth State Militia dur
ing the war.
Since he was twelve years of age John McNeal
has been a resident of Newburgh and attended
the public schools for some time. In his early
youth he was engaged at the butchering business
for a few months, then worked at tailoring for
a while, and subsequently clerked in a grocery
store for four years. In the spring of 1862 he
enlisted in Company I, Seventy-first New York
Militia, for over three months being on guard duty
in Washington, which was threatened by the en
emy, and was mustered out with his regiment at
New York City, at the close of his term of service.
Then he turned his attention to bricklaying and
plastering under Kernehan & Bro., and about
1870 became a member ofthe firm of Harrison
& McNeal, doing a general contracting and build
ing business for a few years, since which time he
has been alone. Among the buildings he has put
up are the beautiful Catholic Church at Middle-
town, a business block in Warwick, and innum
erable stores, warehouses, public buildings and
private dwellings in Newburgh and adjoining
towns. Fraternally he belongs to Fullerton Post
No. 58, G. A. R. He has never been an as
pirant for political honors, though he discharges
his duties as a citizen by voting the Republican
ticket. The first marriage of Mr. McNeal united him
with Elizabeth Wiseman, who was born in this
city and who died here in 1876, leaving five chil
dren, one of whom is now deceased. The others
are Margaret, who is a dressmaker in Brooklyn;
Susan, wife of Homer Warden, of New York
City; Archibald, head of the muslin department
in Macy's dry-goods house in New York City;
and Joseph, who is in business with his father.
The lady who now bears our subject's name be
came his wife in 1878. She was formerly Miss

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

395

Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Cameron,
and was born and reared to maturity in this city.
Mr. McNeal was for twenty-five years a member
ofthe Presbyterian Church, but now attends the
Congregational Church, of which his wife is also
a member.

(TAMES K. KERNOCHAN, the leading liv-
I eryman of Cornwall 011 the Hudson, funiish-
G) es a good line of buggies and carriages to
the traveling public, and keeps a fine grade of
horses on hand. He is well and favorably known
in this county as the proprietor of the Brookside
Stables, and is a man of good business ability and
a high sense of honor.
William Kernochan, the father of our subject,
was a resident of Coldenham, this county, where
for many years he was a farmer. He later carried
on a hotel and was the proprietor of a well fur
nished house at the time of his decease, Decem
ber 17, 1891, aged fifty-nine years. He married
Miss Celia Kent, who was born in Montgomery,
this county, and was the daughter of Thomas and
Juliette Kent. At the time of her decease, De
cember 17, 1894, she was fifty-six years of age.
The parental family included eight children, of
whom we make the following mention: William
is deceased; George W. is the proprietor ofa ho
tel at Coldenham; Joseph is engaged in the hard
ware business at Patterson; James K., of this
sketch, was the fourth-born, Frank D. is book
keeper for the Au Sable Horse Nail Company in
New York City; Thomas is salesman in a boot
and shoe house at No. 202 Church Street, New
York City; Sadie is deceased; and Andrew is en
gaged with our subject in the livery business.
The original of this sketch was born in Colden
ham, July 6, 1867. He passed his youthful days
attending school in Montgomery, and was for
some time employed around his father's hotel.
He remained at home until 1891, in which year
he came to Cornwall on the Hudson, and for six
months was proprietor of the Elm Park Hotel.
This venture not proving a very successful one,
he sold out and invested his capital in the livery

business, having for his first partner a Mr. Kent.
In April, 1892, however, he severed his connec
tion with that gentleman and has since been
alone, locating at that time at his present place.
His establishment is known as the Brookside
Stables, and his livery is well equipped in every
respect. Mr. Kernochan is the architect of his own fort
une, having acquired his handsome property en
tirely through his own efforts. In politics he is
now a Republican, although for many years he
was a stanch supporter of Democratic principles.
Socially he is a Knight of Pythias, while his hon
ored father stood high in Masonry.

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(3 6JILLIAM TWEED is, with perhaps one or
\ A / two exceptions, the oldest builder and con-
V V tractor in Newburgh in point of years that
he has been engaged in the business. Many of
the handsomest residences and public structures
in the city and vicinity stand as evidences of
his ability and good workmanship. At one time
he was Secretary of the Newburgh Carpenters
and Builders' Employers' Association, and is a
charter member and Director in the Builders'
Loan Association.
The parents of the above gentleman, Thomas
and Sarah (Magill) Tweed, were both natives of
Ireland. The father owned a farm in County
Antrim, and died thereon in 1846, when in the
prime of life. His wife brought her five children
to America in 1859, the voyage being made by
way of Liverpool and New York on the steamer
"Vigo," which covered the distance in twelve
days. Mrs. Tweed died in Newburgh when in
her sixty- sixth year.
William Tweed was born in County Antrim,
Ireland, in 1844, and as his father died when he
was two years old, he has no recollection of him.
His education was attained in the national schools
of the Emerald Isle, which he attended until he
was thirteen years of age. Having come to New
burgh with the other members of the family, he
attended the public schools here for a few years,
and when seventeen commenced serving au ap-

396

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

prenticeship under Samuel McKee. At the end
of four years he bought out his employer's busi
ness, the new firm becoming Tweed & Eaton.
This partnership continued to exist for fourteen
years, when it was dissolved by mutual consent.
In place of Mr. Eaton our subject afterward
admitted C. W. Woodruff, his brother-in-law,
into the partnership, their office being located at
No. 31 Lutheran Street. Among the dwellings
they have put up in the city are those of Mr.
Covert, Mr. Bradley, the two owned by Mr.
Fowler, that of Mr. McEwen, Mr. Frew, Mrs.
Chambers, William Henderson and Colonel Can
tine. They also erected Columbus Hall, a num
ber of offices, storehouses, etc., at West Point,
and numerous public buildings here. Altogether
Mr. Tweed has been engaged in contracting for
over a quarter of a century, and at present owns
a residence on Dubois Street and one on City
Terrace. The principles of the Prohibition party
coincide with those of Mr. Tweed, and in the Re
formed Presbyterian Church, of which he is a
member, he is holding the office of Deacon.
Mr. Tweed was married, in this city, to Martha,
daughter of Robert Barclay, of Ireland, but for
years a resident of Newburgh. Mr. and Mrs.
Tweed have four children, namely: William, Rob
ert, John and Jean. They are much esteemed
by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and
we take pleasure in adding their names to the roll
of our leading citizens. At this writing, August,
1895, the parents are visiting their old home iu
Ireland.

(JOHN S. WADDINGTON is a professional
I stair-builder, and has few, if any, equals in
(2/ the East in his chosen line of business. His
well equipped shops and office are at the corner
of High Street and Broadway. Evidences of his
handiwork and skill are to be seen in all parts of
the city and surrounding towns, his reputation
having brought him in more than a local trade.
He makes a specialty of all kinds of turned new
els, rails, balusters and cabinet-finished staircases,
first-class work always being guaranteed.

Our subject was born in Lincolnshire, England,
January 20, 1863, being a native of Rawtenstall,
of which village his father, William, and grand
father, John, were early residents. The latter
was a carpenter and builder by occupation, and
the former was a cabinet-maker by trade. He
was born in the same town as was our subject,
and is now living in Clitheroe, Lancashire. His
wife was in maidenhood Mary Spencer, and her
father was a farmer in Lancashire. Mr. and Mrs.
Wadding'ton have five children, of whom John S.
is the youngest and the only one in America.
Our subject attended the common schools for a
few years during his boyhood, and was in his
thirteenth year only when he commenced serving
an apprenticeship to a stair-builder iu his native
place. He was thus employed for nine years,
thoroughly mastering -every detail of the trade,
and later worked as a joiner about two years.
March 17, 1886, he arrived in New York, having
made the journey from England on the steamer
"Arizona" in nine days. The young man pro
ceeded direct to Newburgh, and for a year was
employed as a carpenter with the firm of Mead &
Taft. The following year he engaged in contract
ing in this city, and then went back to New York,
where he resided for a year and a-half. It was
in 1889 that he started in business for himself in
Newburgh, and in the few intervening years his
progress has been rapid. His large shops are
run by an engine of ten-horse electric-power.
Among the many buildings on which he has been
employed to furnish cabinet or stair work, are
the City Hall, Columbus Hall, the officers' quar
ters at West Point, the residence of Colonel Can
tine, and M. E. Johnson, on Smoke Hill Turnpike,
and scores of others. He is also employed fre
quently to put in finishings in residences of Cold
Spring, Warsaw, Goshen and many other towns
within a radius of fifteen miles.
In 1888 Mr. Waddington returned on a visit to
his friends and relatives in England, and while
there married Elizabeth Ellis Boothman, who was
born in Yorkshire. The young couple have three
bright children, William, Frank and Alice, and
have a happy home at No. 235 First Street. Mr.
Waddington is a man of wide information, and

PROF. THEODORE GEHRIG.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

399

has made a study of higher mathematics and ge
ometry, in which he is very proficient. Since be
coming a citizen of the United States, he has used
his ballot in favor of the Republican nominees.
He and his wife are members of the Church of
the Good Shepherd, which he helped to organize.
Formerly he was President of the Sons of St.
George, but is now Trustee.

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f * * II ' k-^«C*»

QROF. THEODORE GEHRIG is amostcom-
yr peteut and efficient instructor in vocal and
\H instrumental music at Newburgh, and comes
from a race noted for its musical qualities. He
was born in Gurkheim, Rhenish Bavaria, June
9, 1837, and his father, George C. Gehrig, M. A.,
was born in Wurtemberg. The latter graduated
from a college in Switzerland, and became editor
of the Gurkheim Daily News. He was a man of
fine literary ability, an excellent musician, hav
ing a superior bass voice, and gave concerts in
connection with Mendelssohn in various parts of
Germany. During the Revolution of 1832, he
was one of the followers of Sieben Pfeifer, and
for a year served as Burgomaster. He died in
his native city in 1868. His father, John Gehrig,
who was also a fine musician, was born in Wur
temberg, near Halbfon, and there engaged in
school teaching. The family was founded in
Germany by three brothers who emigrated from
England and settled in different parts of the Fa
therland. The mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Caroline Heigenell, and was born in
Rhenish Bavaria. She was a member of the
Catholic Church, and died at the age of sixty-
five. In the parental family were six children.
Franc, who served in the French army as Lieu
tenant, and took part in the Crimean War, was
shot at the capture of Molicoff; Csesar, a printer
of New York, died in 1893; John, who graduated
in Rome, is now a Catholic priest of Spier, Ger
many, and ranks very high in church circles;
Theodore is the next of the family; Emma is
living in Spier; and Armond died in Germany.
Professor Gehrig, of this sketch, was reared in

his native town, and was graduated with honor
from the seminary at Spier, being third in the
class of sixty-five. He then spent three years as
a teacher in Ausbach, Bavaria, and in i860 came
to America, sailing from Havre, France, on the
"Fairfield," which dropped anchor in New York
City after a voyage of thirty-seven days. He
later went to Easton, Pa., where he engaged in
teaching for six months, and then accepted a
position in the military academy at Poughkeep
sie, where as teacher in music and German he
remained for fourteen years. He also acted as
organist of St. Peter's Church.
In September, 1861, Professor Gehrig enlisted
in the Ninth Connecticut Regiment as assistant
leader of the regiment band. Under the com
mand of General Butler, that was the first regi
ment to land at New Orleans. Stricken with
yellow fever, Mr. Gehrig was honorably dis
charged by a special order in November, 1862,
and returned at once to Poughkeepsie, where he
remained until coming to Newburgh, in 1874.
Here he has since engaged in private teaching,
and has served as organist of St. Patrick's Church.
He is also Director of the Maennerchor at Port
Jervis, and was Director of a similar society in
Newburgh for twenty years, when he resigned.
He has led choirs in various conventions where
they have contested for prizes and has never failed
to secure a prize, an almost unprecedented record.
He has five times selected the choirs to head the
sangerfest of the state, and throughout New York
and the surrounding states has a high reputa
tion for his musical ability, which is of a very su
perior order.
Professor Gehrig was married in Poughkeep
sie, in 1862, to Miss Josephine, daughter of Jacob
Corman, a merchant-tailor of New York City,
which is the place of her birth. They now have
five living cliildren: Emma, Josephine, Annie,
Allie and Theodore. Edward, who was a grad
uate of Siglar's Academy, died in 1892, at the
age of twenty-one. Professor Gehrig is a mem
ber of Ellis Post, G- A. R., of Newburgh, and
is an honorary member of the vocal societies of
Utica, Port Jervis, Albany, Scranton, Phila
delphia and New York. In politics he is a true-

400

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

blue Republican, unwavering in his support of
the party. His work has made him widely
known, and he is acknowledged as a musician of
high order, and also is numbered among the es
teemed residents of Newburgh.

KNOX LITTLE, proprietor of the New-
V) burgh Bottling Depot, at No. 10 South Wa-
__ ter Street, Newburgh, is one of the leading
business men of the city. His birth occurred
here on the 22d of June, i860, and he is of Irish
descent. His great-grandfather, John Little, who
was a fancy weaver in Belfast, Ireland, settled in
Newburgh at an early day, and here he followed
the same occupation. Samuel Little, the grand
father, brought his family from Belfast in 1824,
and, on locating at Newburgh, first engaged in
weaving, but later removed to a farm adjoining
the city, where his death occurred at the age of
seventy-six. His wife, who bore the maiden
name of Margaret Templeton, and who was also
a native of the Emerald Isle, also died here. In
their family were six sons, James, John, Andrew,
Samuel, William and Robert, three of whom are
deceased, James, Samuel and John. Andrew and
William make their home in Newburgh, and
Robert in New York City.
The father of our subject, Andrew Little, was
born in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, in 1819,
but most of his youth was passed in Newburgh,
where he learned carpentering and building. As
a member of the firm of Little & Kelley he
began contracting, their shop being located on
Front Street, and they erected many important
buildings, including Trinity Methodist Episco
pal Church, the Cranston Hotel, William E.
Dodge's residence at Riverdale, N. Y., the court
house at Riverhead, L. L, and the Westmin
ster Church of Newburgh, besides rebuilding
St. Patrick's Church, and remodeling the New
burgh Steam Mills. They were given the first
contract for the Catholic Cathedral on Fifth
Avenue, New York City, but gave it up, and
erected the buildings for the Ringgold Hose Com
pany, and also for the Brewster Hook and Ladder

Company. Besides the numerous residences they
built in Newburgh and vicinity, they had the
contracts for thirteen churches, and were ranked
among the leading contractors and builders of
Orange County.
Andrew Little has been three times married,
his first union being with Miss Nancy Peck, a
native of Newburgh, and to them were born two
daughters: Susan, who died in New Jersey; and
Sarah L- , a resident of New York. His second
wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann J. Jami
son, was also a native of Newburgh, where her
death occurred. Later he wedded Emily Will
iams, who was born in Middletown, and to them
were born four children, two of whom are still
living: Andrew R. T. , who is connected with the
United States Express Company of New York
City; and E. Knox. After engaging for fifty
years as a contractor, the father retired in 1888,
and during the construction of the West Shore
Railroad he was superintendent of the buildings.
In early life he was connected with the Brewster
Hook and Ladder Company and the Columbia
Hose Company, in both of which he served as
foreman. He is the only charter member of
Westminster Church still living, and is now act
ing as one of the ruling Elders. Politically his
support is given to the Republican party.
After completing his education in the academy
of Newburgh, E. Knox Little began clerking, at
the age of sixteen, in the dry-goods house of C.
Brink, and later served in the same capacity with
Gilles, Needham & Sands. In 1879 he started
in business for himself in the dry-goods line, be
ing located at No 54 Broadway, near Johnston
Street, and a year later admitted his brother to
partnership, the firm becoming Little Brothers.
At the end of one year, however, he sold out to
his brother, and went to New York City, where
he engaged iu contracting and building for eight
years with good success, during which time he
erected the Morning Side Flats, the Phoenix
Building, at the corner of Wall and Water Streets,
and the Woman's Medical College. On leaving
New York he returned to Newburgh, and for
three years served as collector and salesman for
the Charles K. Licht Highland Brewery. In Oc-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

401

tober, 1893, he started his present business, the
Newburgh Bottling Depot, at No. 10 South Wa
ter Street, and his sales amount to two carloads
per week. He handles the Bartholomew Brewing
Company's beer, of Rochester, N. Y., and the
Saratoga Victoria Water, running four delivery
wagons. Iu Newburgh, in 1881, was celebrated the mar
riage of Mr. Little and Miss Eva Lena Bushfield,
a native of Orange County, and a daughter of
John W. Bushfield, an insurance agent and sur
veyor of Leptondale, N. Y. Socially Mr. Little
is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belong
ing to Crescent Lodge No. 402, F. & A. M., of
New York; assisted in the organization and was
the first Exalted Ruler of Elk Lodge No. 247, of
Newburgh, and for three terms continued to fill
that office; is a member of the Grand Lodge of
Elks; and also belongs to North River Lodge No.
1218, K. ofH. He holds membership with the
Orange Lake Club and the Newburgh Gun Club,
in which he takes an active interest, while in
politics he is a stalwart Republican. He is a
worthy representative of one of the old families of
Newburgh, and on account of his genial social
qualities makes many friends.

.•""""¦¦I

"SJ

^H^

t=

KOBERT A. BERARD. In giving the his
tory of this county, as told in the lives of
its citizens, mention should surely be made
of the gentleman above named, who, during the
years of his residence in Highland Falls, did
much to aid the section of country in which he
lived. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits
until about thirteen years ago, when he retired
from business, living in his pleasant home in the
suburbs of the city until his death, which occurred
July 27, 1892.
Claudius Berard, the father of our subject, was
of French extraction, and was professor of that
language at West Point. He was a native of
Bordeaux, France, whence he came to this coun
ty when nineteen years of age. Later he was
married to Miss Mary Nichols at West Point,
where they both resided until their death. His

demise occurred about forty-five years ago, his
wife surviving him about fifteen years. To them
were born six daughters and one son, five of
whom are living at the present time.
Our subject was born March 11, 182 1, at West
Point, where he was reared to man's estate, and
where he received a good education. At the time
his father was appointed Postmaster he was made
deputy, and gave his entire attention to the duties
of that position, assuming the responsibility and
management of affairs. He lived at West Point
altogether twenty-five years, and when he came
to Highland Falls in 1845 at once engaged in the
dry-goods business.
Our subject and Miss Harriet W. Mearns were
united in marriage December 12, 1842. The
lady was born March 10, 1820, in Highland Falls,
her parents being Alexander and Catherine Gar
rison (Niles) Mearns. She is now living in a
pleasant home in this place where she has num
erous warm friends. A very refined and intelli
gent lady, she was of great assistance to her hus
band through their life-long journey together.
To Mr. and Mrs. Berard there was born a family
of six children. Claude has been in the employ
of Tiffany, of New York City, for a period of
twenty years; he married Miss Ariadna Cressay,
of New York, and their four children are named,
respectively, Emile, Ralph, Victor and Blanche.
Grace married Lieut. H. M. Harrington, who
was one of the victims of the Custer massacre; she
has two children, Aline and Harry B. Walter,
who is a resident of Highland Falls, married
Helen Whitney in 1891. Julia is now the wife
of Deese Longstreet, and makes her home in
Georgia; she has been twice married, and by her
first husband had a daughter, Pansy. John H,
who is a civil engineer, was formerly a West Point
cadet, and for twenty years lived in the South,
but is now in Seattle, Wash. Minnie married
Edward Matthews, and has been a resident of
Texas since 1878; her four children are Edwe,
Berard, Jack and Harriett.
Although in no sense of the word a politician,
yet our subject was a true-blue Republican, and
for a time was a member of the United American
Order. He took an active and commendable in-

402

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

terest in public affairs, and possessed much in
fluence in mercantile, religious and social circles.
Besides being one of the pillars of the Presbyterian
Church, he was also an Elder, and for some time
was Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He
was a Christian in every sense ofthe term, and in
Highland Falls, where his name was the synonym
for love and charity, his place can never be filled.

HON. HOWARD THORNTON, A. B.,
LL. B. All who are familiar with the his
tory of Orange County will recognize the
above name as that of an eminent member of the
Bar of Newburgh, a stirring political worker, and
the occupant of positions of public trust and re
sponsibility. He belongs to one of the oldest
families of the state, many of whose members
have gained distinction for intellectual ability and
patriotic devotion to country.
A number of the ancestors of Mr. Thornton
were identified with the early struggles of the Re
public in acquiring its independence. His great-
uncle, Matthew Thornton, was one ofthe signers
of the Declaration of Independence. His paternal
grandfather, John Thornton, was a Major of in
fantry in the Continental army; the paternal
grandmother was the daughter of Gen. Samuel
Clyde, of Cherry Valley, and was one of the few
children saved at the time of the Indian massacre,
the mother covering her with her apron and hid
ing her in the woods. The maternal grandfather,
Dr. Gilbert Smith, was a prominent physician of
New York City, and the maternal grandmother,
Helena De Witt, was a member of a family prom
inently connected with the organization of the
state of New York.
The father of our subject, Gen. William A.
Thornton, U. S. A., was born in Albany, N. Y. ,
and in 1825 was graduated from West Point Acad
emy, after which he served in the regular army.
Under General Scott he took part in the Black
Hawk War, also participated in the Seminole
War, the conflict with Mexico and the Rebellion,
being breveted Brigadier-General in recognition
of his valor. Shortly after the close of the Civil

War he died, April 6, 1866, aged sixty -four years.
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Helen
Smith, is also now deceased.
On Governor's Island, where nis father was
then stationed, the subject of this notice was born
February 25, 1849. Familiar from infancy with
military affairs, he early cherished an ardent am
bition to enter the army, but by reason of his fa
ther's death he failed to secure the coveted ap
pointment to West Point. He therefore turned
his attention to the legal profession, and on the
conclusion of his literary studies in Union College,
Schenectady, N. Y., in 1872, he entered the law
office of Eugene A. Brewster, of Newburgh, un
der whose preceptorship he gained a rudimentary
knowledge of Blackstone. Subsequently, enter
ing the Albany Law School, he was graduated
with the Class of '74. He remained with Mr.
Brewster until 1883, when he opened an office at
No. 41 Third Street, and has since conducted a
large general practice in all the courts.
A stanch Republican, Mr. Thornton takes a
lively interest in the political questions agitating
the minds of the people, and has a decided in
fluence, by reason of his mental ability, good
judgment and pleasing personal qualities. In
November, 1891, he was elected a member of the
Assembly, by a plurality of eight hundred and
seventy-six, defeating Grant B. Taylor, who, al
though a Republican, had carried the district in
the fall of 1890. The following year he was re
elected by a plurality of eighteen hundred and
ninety-two, again defeating Mr. Taylor, while in
1893 his plurality over Edward D. Woodhull, the
Democratic candidate, was two thousand, six
hundred and eighty-three, the largest majority
ever polled for Assemblyman in this district up to
that time. He served as a member of the Com
mittees on Codes, Cities and Education, and was
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. His work
in the Assembly was of a most important nature,
and he was active in introducing and securing
the passage of many bills and measures.
Fraternally a Mason, Mr. Thornton became a
member of Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. &
A. M., May 15, 1872, and in December, 1876, he
was elected Master, serving in that capacity for

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

403

one year. He is also connected with Highland
Chapter, R. A. M., and Hudson River Com-
mandery, K. T. The Chi Psi fraternity num
bers him among its members, and he is a Trustee
of his Alma Mater, Union College. He is a Trus
tee and Director of the Newburgh City Club,
Director of The National Bank of Newburgh,
attorney and Counselor for the Newburgh Build
ing and Loan Association, one of the Counsel
ors of the Home for the Friendless, an honor
ary member of Lawson Hose Company No. 5,
also a member of the University Club of New
York City, and the Loyal Legion of the United
States. As would be naturally supposed, Mr. Thorn
ton chose for his wife an educated and refined
lady, one who could enter into his plans and sym
pathize with him in his undertakings. He was
united in marriage, May 23, 1876, with Miss
Anna L- , second daughter of the late George W
Townsend, of Newburgh. In their cosey home
at No. 314 Grand Street, they draw around them
a pleasant circle of friends.

r^=i

I^BH

EALEB W. WOODRUFF, a member of the
firm of Tweed & Woodruff, of Newburgh, is
one of the most successful contractors and
builders ofthe city. Though it is but five years
since he started in business on his own account,
he has met with unusual encouragement, and is
rapidly coming to the front. He built his shop
at No. 31 Lutheran Street, which is 50x150 feet
in dimensions and three stories in height, and
the two upper stories of which are used as flats.
Storage rooms and sheds for lumber are in the
rear. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a
farmer, as was his son Harmon, the father of
C. W. The father owned about sixty-five acres
in the town of Wallkill, near Circleville, but
died while still in the prime of life, being in his
thirty-sixth year. His wife, Hannah Miller, was
a native of the same locality. Her father, who
served in the War of 181 2, owned a farm in
Orange County, and later took up his residence

in Montrose, Pa. , where he passed his last years.
Mrs. Woodruff died when sixty-two years of age,
leaving four children, two others having died in
infancy. The eldest son, Nelson, now living on
a farm near the old home place, was in a New
York regiment during the Civil War; our sub
ject is next in order; and Ransler lives in Mattea
wan, as does also Josephine.
The birth of C. W. Woodruff occurred in Wall-
kill, N. Y., April 10, 1845, and from the time
he was ten years old he was obliged to ' 'paddle his
own canoe, ' ' owing to the fact of his father's early
death. He went to school during the winter and
worked on farms the remainder of the year until
the war broke out. In the fall of 1863, when a
youth of eighteen years, he volunteered in Com
pany G, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, as
a private. He was mustered into the service at
Elmira, N. Y., and joined the regiment at Ft.
Ethan Allen , Va. , taking part in the battles of
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Williamsburg,
Reeves Station and Deep Bottom, besides numer
ous skirmishes. After Lee's surrender he partici
pated in the Grand Review at Washington, be
ing honorably discharged, and was mustered out
at Hart's Island in August, 1865.
For a year after his army life had terminated
Mr. Woodruff worked on the farm, but in 1866
came to Newburgh, and for three years served an
apprenticeship under Samuel McKee, a carpen
ter. Then, entering the employ of Thomas Shaw's
Sons, he remained with that firm for a period
of twenty years, being foreman for a long time.
A few years ago he met with an accident, his
left leg being broken by the fall of some timber,
but in time he recovered, and five years since, as
previously stated, started in business in partner
ship with his brother-in-law, Mr. Tweed. The
firm has erected numerous Government buildings
at West Point— the cavalry works, the commissary
department offices and several of the officers'
headquarters. In Newburgh they put up a large
addition to one of the prominent tailors' establish
ments, built Columbus Hall, the Lyon's Build
ing on Broadway, the residences of Mr. Gavey
and Colonel Cantine, besides others.
The residence of Mr. Woodruff is at No. 39

4°4

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Lutheran Street. His marriage was celebrated
in this city, November 25, 1867, with Matilda
Tweed, who was born in Ireland, and came to
Newburgh with her parents. (A sketch of the
latter will be found in the biography of their son,
William Tweed.) Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff have
five children: Annie L-, who is at home; Samuel,
a member of Washington Engine Company No.
4, and who with his next younger brother, Nel
son, follows the carpenter's trade; William, a ma
chinist; and Charles, a silversmith . Socially Mr.
Woodruff belongs to Fullerton Post No. 58,
G. A. R. , and his ballot he deposits in favor of
Prohibition principles and candidates. For twen
ty years he has been one of the active members
of the First Presbyterian Church.

fDGjHlTFlELD CREVLING is one of the
\ A / active and prosperous young business men
V V of Newburgh, and is rapidly forging his
way to the front among our leading contractors
and builders. He is something of an architect,
and has drawn capital plans for many private
residences and public structures as well. In the
busy season he gives employment to as many as
eighteen men and has all the work he can possi
bly attend to.
Our subject is of English descent, and his
grandfather, Henry Crevling, a mason contractor,
was a native of Hamilton County, N. J. His son
George, a native of the same county, was a life
long agriculturist there, and died in 1891, at the
close of a busy and prosperous life, when in his
eighty-fourth year. He was a stanch Methodist
and a man who was beloved and respected by
every one. His wife, formerly Miss Anna Lance,
was likewise a native of Hamilton County. In
the parental family were eleven children, all but
two of whom survive.
Whitfield Crevling was born in the same coun
ty as were his ancestors for several generations,
the event occurring in December, 1862, He was
next to the youngest in his father's family, and

remained on the old homestead until fifteen years
of age, receivined the advantages afforded in the
public schools. When in his sixteenth year he
determined to learn the carpenter's trade in Ox
ford, N. J., and served faithfully for three years,
after which he found employment at Westfield,
Union County, that state, for a time. In Au
gust, 1887, he came to Newburgh and worked for
W. H. Hilton and for Mr. Bates until 1890. In
the year last mentioned he started in business for
himself as a contractor and builder, with his office
at No. 234 Broadway, and from the beginning he
has met with gratifying success. Among the
specimens of his handiwork are Captain Wool-
sey's two flats; the Washington Heights House;
the residence of Mrs. Ford 011 Third Street; the
additions to the West Newburgh School; the
Almshouse and many of the handsome and well
arranged flats and private houses of the vicinity.
In 1893 Mr. Crevling and Ella Lent were
united in marriage in this city. She was born in
Orange County and is a daughter of Henry Lent,
who was a soldier in the Civil War. One child,
Raymond W., has come to brighten the home ot
the young couple. Mrs. Crevling is a lady of
good education and social attainments and takes a
very active part in the work of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Fraternally our subject is a
member of Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A.M.,
and since attaining his majority has been identi
fied with the Odd Fellows' society, belonging to
the lodge of Minerva, N. J.

EHARLES BURANT is the Newburgh agent
for the C. H. Evans & Sous Brewery of
Hudson, N. Y. During the six years of
his connection with this firm he has done them
able service, having increased their trade to an
amazing extent, and in the first two years brought
to the firm over $40,000 as the result of his
energetic efforts.
Our subject's father, August Burant, was born
in Alsace, and was the owner of over one thou-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

405

sand acres there, also dealing extensively in cat
tle. In the war with Denmark in 1861 and 1862
he was an officer in the German army. He died
in 1875, in the faith ofthe Lutheran Church, to
which he had long adhered. His wife, Lucinda
Bauer, was born in Alsace, and is still living in
Germany. Of her six sons and two daughters,
seven are still living, but Charles is the only one
in America.
Our subject was born September 9, i860, in
Dansich, Prussia, and was reared on a large farm,
receiving an excellent education. December 4,
1877, he left his old home and sailed- for America,
soon after his arrival locating in Hudson, N. Y.
He found employment with the firm of C. H.
Evans & Son, April 22, 1878, as their local sales
man and collector. In 1880 he went out on the
road, visiting points along both sides ofthe Hud
son, and thus passed the next nine years. In
1889 he was located here as the agent ofthe con
cern, succeeding Mr. McCabe, and in 1893 was
also made representative of all towns lying on the
east side of the river between Fishkill and Wap-
pinger's Falls and between Haverstraw and Mil
ton on the west side of the river, having agencies
at Walden, Goshen, Middletown, Highland Falls
and Ft. Montgomery. This city is the head
quarters of the large traffic along the river, ship
ments being made by boat during the summer,
and in winter by freight trains. The storehouses
have a capacity of eighteen hundred barrels and
are two in number, being located at Nos. 7
and 9 Water Street, where they have all mod
ern appliances for refrigerating, etc. Two truck
wagons, drawn by fine draft horses, are used for
delivering. They have fine stables near Broad
way, where they have a good location for the
purpose. When Mr. Burant took charge ot the business
in 1889, in company with Charles Mapes, the
local trade reached scarcely five barrels per week,
and these goods were little known, as they were
sold in three places only. At present about two
hundred barrels a week are distributed from this
point, and the products of this well known brew
ery have a wide and increasing reputation. Mr.
Burant is a member of the Newburgh Liquor

Dealers' Association. He also belongs to Hudson
River Lodge No. 12 18, to the Turn Verein, and
to the Maennerchor. Politically he is identified
with the Democratic party.
. ¦ — g#^

p QlLLIAM SIRRINE, a life-long resident ot
\ A / Ft. Montgomery, was born in this place
V V September 2, 1838, being the son of Ben
jamin and Sarah (Mandigo) Sirrine, natives,
respectively, of Scrub Oak Plains, Westchester
County, and Orange County. The latter was a
daughter of Luke Mandigo, and died at the age
of sixty-three years. The former, while still a
resident of Westchester County, learned the shoe
maker's trade, which he subsequently followed
at West Point and Ft. Montgomery. His death
occurred here at the early age of thirty-six years.
The parental family consisted of four children,
of whom William is the eldest. Peter, next in
order of age, is deceased; John is captain of a
propeller, and lives in Tompkins County; Mary
Eliza, the youngest of the family, is the wife of
Townsend Drew, of Highland Falls. After
spending a few terms in the schools of the neigh
borhood, our subject began boating on the Hud
son, and, being prospered in his undertakings,
he at one time owned two sloops. Orphaned by
his father's death when he was a lad of nine
years, he was early obliged to assist his mother
in the maintenance of the family, who were de
pendent upon her for support. Having no re
sources, she began in the poultry business, to
which, as her capital increased, she devoted more
attention, and from it she derived a sufficient
income to keep her family in comfort. Our
subject, while assisting his mother, became
familiar with the business, and has since had a
fondness for raising chickens. On his place he
now has an incubator, which has proved a
success, hatching a large number of chickens.
For thirty years Mr. Sirrine was engaged in
boating, principally on the Hudson River, but
of late years he has transferred his interests to
the land. His marriage, August 10, 1861, united
him with Miss D. Ann Owens, of West Point.

406

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Six children comprised their family, as follows :
Charles W. , a resident of Orange County; Annie,
who married Louis N. Shelden, and has two
children, Lulu and Clarence C. ; Sarah, Mrs.
Samuel Cronk, whose children are named Arthur,
Flora, Annie and Sadie; Mathias, who married
Jennie Serras, and at his death left one child,
Allen; May, who is in New York City; and
Margaret, who is with her parents. Mr. Sirrine
is a stanch defender of Republican principles,
which he believes will be most conducive to the
prosperity of our country and the welfare of the
people. His life has been au honest and upright
one, and in all his actions he has been guided by
principles of truth and honor.

EAPT. THOMAS S. MARVEL and John De
lany comprise the firm of Thomas S. Marvel
& Co. , proprietors of the iron ship-building
and engineering works at the foot of William
Street, Newburgh. Ship-building has been one
of the leading industries of this city from its ear
liest years. Situated on the great river of the
North, accessible from the ocean, and convenient
to the great commercial centre of the country, it
has every advantage for the business. Soon after
the failure of Ward, Stanton & Co., Captain
Marvel, who had been superintendent of their
shipyards, formed a partnership with Mr. De
lany, a member ofthe old firm, and began busi
ness on his own account, securing for the purpose
a site near by. The members of the new firm
combined for this common end large experience
and ability iu their calling. Each is a master of
his respective branch, Captain Marvel being a
marine architect and constructor of hulls, and Mr.
Delany a designer and constructor of marine en
gines. Their yard has been enlarged as it be
came necessary, and numerous buildings have
been erected from time to time. Included in the
equipment is a substantial marine railway, con
structed at a cost of $10,000, and capable of haul
ing out boats of the largest size. Among the
boats they have built are the ferry "Bergen,"
the steamers "Homer Ramsdell," "Orange,"

"Montclair," "Bremen," "Hamburg," "Pier
mont," "Whitehall" and "Moutauk;" the pro
pellers "R. H. Rathburn," George W Wash
burn," and the yacht "Maria."
Captain Marvel was born in New York City,
May 16, 1834, and is a son of Thomas S. Marvel,
who was born at Newport, R. I., in 1808. The
grandfather, who also bore the name of Thomas,
was a native of Rhode Island, and by trade was a
ship carpenter. He laterjoined the United States
navy, but died in the service, the vessel on which
he sailed being lost. The family is of English
descent, and- the name was originally spelled Mar
ble. The father of our subject was also engaged
in ship-building in New York City, and in 1839
came to Newburgh, where he followed the same
occupation until removing to Cornwall. Later he
went to Haverstraw, where he was engaged at his
trade until his death, at the age of sixty -three.
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amelia
Fitzenreiter, was born in New York City, and is
of German descent. She is still living, making
her home with our subject, at the age of eighty-
seven years. In the family were six children,
all of whom are now living.
The Captain was educated in the schools of
Newburgh, and at the age of thirteen commenced
work as a ship-carpenter. He began at the low
est round of the ladder, but he has worked his
way up by industry and untiring energy, until he
is now at the head of one of the most important
enterprises of Orange County. At the age of
twenty he began business for himself as successor
to his father, conducting a shipyard until 1861.
At the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion
he was Captain of the Continental Guards of
Newburgh, and he then raised Company A of
the Fifty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, of
which he was made Captain. The company was
mustered in at Newburgh in July, 1861, after
which it was sent to Washington, D. C. It par
ticipated in all the battles of the Peninsular cam
paign, but in the fall of 1862 Captain Marvel
resigned and returned home.
Until 1865 the Captain then carried on a ship
yard in Newburgh, but at that time went to Sta
ten Island, where for a time he engaged in the

ALEXANDER S. GROSSET.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

409

same business. Later he went to Maryland, but
subsequently returned to Staten Island, where he
remained until 1877. He then came to New
burgh, and was employed in the shipyard of
Ward, Stanton & Co. until their failure, when
the present firm was organized. They now em
ploy three hundred hands and are doing a paying
business. The Captain is also President of the
Newburgh Dredging Company, an incorporated
company, of which Capt. George Fields is mana
ger. They have an Osgood Dredge, which has a
capacity of fifteen hundred yards per day.
In 1861, at Newburgh, Captain Marvel wed
ded Miss Hallie Burns, who was born in the
town of Monroe, Orange County, and is a daugh
ter of John Burns, a mason and builder. To
them have been born four children, all of whom
are graduates of the Newburgh schools. Jennie,
who graduated from the academy, is now teaching
in the public schools; Harry, a draftsman, is con
nected with his father in the building of steel ves
sels; Gertrude is now Mrs. Miller, of Newburgh;
and Thomas is also a draftsman with his father.
The family now resides at No. 53 Ann Street.
The Captain is a member, of the Society of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers, and Newburgh
Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M. He uses his right
of franchise in the support of the Republican
party. He is a wide-awake citizen of liberal
views, and heartily in sympathy with every move
ment that in any way will add to the prosperity
ofthe citv or benefit his fellow-men.

6JLEXANDER S. GROSSET, who until Jau-
LA uary 10, 1895, was the efficient superintend-
I | ent ofthe Grove Paper Mills, and one ofthe
most influential and esteemed business men of
Newburgh, was born in Penicuick, Mid-Lothian,
Scotland, February 19, 1840. His parents, Will
iam and Ann (Shaw) Grosset, were also natives
of the same country, and the father was a paper
manufacturer. From a boy of ten years our sub
ject was connected with the same business, which
he learned in the parish of Currie with Mr. Bruce,
16

of the Kinleith Paper Company. He began at
the very beginning, thoroughly mastering every
detail of the business and steadily working his
way upward.
In that parish, in 1863, Mr- Grosset married
Miss Janet Finlay, who was born in the parish of
Currie, as was her father, James Finlay, an agri
culturist. He emigrated to Canada, and was
connected with the Windsor Mills of Quebec for
some time. His last years were spent in retire
ment from active business, and he died at the age
of sixty- four, firm in the faith of the Presbyterian
Church. His wife, who bore the maiden name
of Elizabeth Hunter, was also born in the parish
of Currie, Scotland, and died in Quebec at the
age of eighty-three. In 1864, with his wife and
one child, Mr. Grosset sailed from Glasgow 011
the steamer "St. George," and after seventeen
days landed in Quebec. He located in Valley
Field, in the province of Quebec, and was em
ployed as a machine-tender with the Alex Buntin
Paper Manufacturing Company. He was thor
oughly qualified for this work, and he afterward
entered the employ of the Canada Paper Com
pany at Windsor Mills in the same capacity, and
was then in Wareham, Mass., on Cape Cod, with
George Wheelwright, a large paper manufacturer.
In Lawrence, Mass., in Rainbow, Conn., and iu
Kingsey Falls, Canada, he was employed in
paper-mills, in the latter place acting as general
manager for the Dominion Paper Company for
fourteen years.
On the expiration of that period Mr. Grosset
began in business for himself by purchasing the
mills at Richelieu, Canada, which he operated for
two and a-half years; but not achieving the suc
cess he anticipated, he sold out in 1890, and in
September came to Newburgh as superintendent
ofthe Grove Mills, owned by the firm of Adams
& Bishop. His successful management made this
a very profitable undertaking, and within four
years he had doubled the capacity of the mill and
put iu all modern improvements, manufacturing
the finest grades of paper. He also became in
terested in real estate, and erected fourteen flats
on Renwick Street, besides three stores and one
flat on William Street. He became Trustee in

410

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the Grove Mills and was quite prosperous in his
undertakings after coming to Newburgh, secur
ing a comfortable competence.
To Mr.- and Mrs. Grosset six children were
born. Elizabeth F. , who graduated at Danville
Academy and also at Richelieu College, is a young
lady of superior ability, and was of great assist
ance to her father in business. Anna is the
wife of E. H. Gilman. Alex, who graduated
after completing a commercial course from the
College of the Sacred Heart, is now residing in
New York City. James F. is machine-tender in
the Grove Mills; and Philip and Garnet are at
home. Mr. Grosset was a member of the Presbyterian
Church, to which his family also belong, and in
his political views was a stalwart Republican.
He was recognized as an honorable, upright bus
iness man, and won the confidence and respect of
all with whom business or social relations brought
him in contact. He died after a short illness,
January 10, 1895, and the community lost one of
its valued citizens. His family reside at their
pleasant home at No. 220 Renwick Street, and
in social circles they hold an enviable position.

(Tames j. Dougherty, wholesale and re-
I tail dealer in groceries, wines and liquors of
Q) Newburgh, is now serving as President of
the Board of Almshouse Commissioners. His
birth occurred in Newburgh, June 6, 1854, and
he is a son of John Dougherty, who was born in
County Donegal, Ireland, where he was reared
on a farm. 'On leaving his native land he went
to Scotland, being there employed until coming
to America, when still a young man, and located
in Newburgh in 1845, where he secured a posi
tion with W. O. Mailler in his wholesale grocery
house. Later he opened a meat-market on Broad
way, which he conducted until 1868, when
he started in the grocery business on Water
vStreet, carrying on the same until his death. In
1849 he wedded Susan Scanlan, who was also a

native of the Emerald Isle, and on her arrival
in America came direct to Newburgh, where
their marriage was celebrated. Mr. Dougherty's
death occurred in 1882, at the age of fifty-eight
years and three months, and she survived him
about four years, dying in 1886. They were
charter members of St. Mary's Catholic Church,
though formerly Mr. Dougherty had been a Trus
tee in St. Patrick's Church for many years.
In the parental family were eleven children,
ten of whom grew to manhood and womanhood,
and James J., of this sketch, is now the eldest of
the six surviving members. His education was
mostly acquired in the common schools of New
burgh, but he also took a course in mathematics
and bookkeeping in the private school of O. M.
Smith. On leaving school he entered his father's
grocery, and 011 the latter's death became his suc
cessor. His trade has steadily increased, until he
is now one of the leading merchants in his line of
business. In 1891 he erected his fine brick block
at the corner of Fifth and Water Streets, 26x100
feet in dimensions and four stories in height, with
a basement. He conducts a wholesale and retail
trade and carries a full and complete Hue of gro
ceries, making a specialty, however, of imported
wines, liquors and cigars.
In Newburgh was celebrated the marriage of
Mr. Dougherty and Miss Anna F. McCabe, who
was born iu that city, and who was a daughter of
Francis McCabe. The latter, who is now de
ceased, was formerly a grocery merchant of New
burgh. Our subject and wife have three children,
John, Catherine and James. The parents hold
membership with St. Mary's Catholic Church, in
which they are active workers, while our subject
is also a member of the Holy Name Society.
In March, 1886, Mr. Dougherty was elected
to the Board of Almshouse Commissioners, and
re-elected in 1889 and 1892. He served as Chair
man ofthe Children's Home and House Commit
tees until made President ofthe board in' 1890, to
succeed C. J. Lawson, who was then elected Mayor
of the city. Since his connection with the board a
wing has been added to the Almshouse at a cost
of $5,000, and the grounds have been greatly im
proved, making it a beautiful place. Mr. Dough-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

411

erty is prominent both in social and political cir
cles, being a member ofthe Orange Lake Club,
and one ofthe influential men ofthe Democratic
party- in Orange County, attending as a delegate
the state and county conventions, and has served
as a member of the County Democratic Central
Committee. He belongs to the Board of Trade of
Newburgh, in which he has served as Committee
man, and is now on the Finance Committee.

IS"

EAPT. GEORGE M. ROSS, a member of
the Board of Education, is also a manufac
turer of cigars and a wholesale and retail
dealer in tobacco of Newburgh. His birth occur
red in Edinburg, Scotland, in 1842, and his fa
ther, John, and his mother, Isabel Ross, were also
natives-of the same country. They had a family
of four children, three sons and one daughter,
Alex, John, George M. and Isabel. In 1843 the
family came to America, locating at Troy, N. Y.,
where the parents soon afterward died.
On the death of their parents the children were
scattered, and the whereabouts of each of the
children were unknown to the others for many
years. Our subject was taken by a farmer of
Saratoga County, N. Y. , and remained there
until i860. About this time his brother Alex
learned of his location and persuaded him to go
to New York, where he was engaged in the man
ufacture of tobacco, and with him George began
to learn the trade. He continued to work for his
brother until the breaking out of the Civil War,
when he enlisted in Company A, Eighth New
York Volunteer Infantry, and saw his first serv
ice at the first battle of Bull Run. He was mus
tered out at the expiration of his three months'
service, and proceeded at once to Saratoga Coun
ty, N. Y., on a visit to old friends.
While in that county the Seventy -seventh New
York Volunteer Infantry, known as the Bemus
Heights Regiment, was in process of formation.
In this regiment Mr. Ross enlisted in November,
1861, and was assigned to Company G, of which
he was appointed Third Sergeant. Its service in
the three years following was most commendable,

and the Lieutenant-Colonel, iu speaking of Mr.
Ross, praised him in the highest terms for brav
ery displayed in the following engagements:
Lee's Mill, Williamsburg, Golden' s Farm, Me
chanicsville, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp,
first and second battles of Fredericksburg, Frank
lin's Crossing, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Sta
tion, Mud River, and the battles of the Wilder
ness and Winchester. In many of these engage
ments the Seventy-seventh Regiment took a
conspicuous part.
On account of bravery, Mr. Ross was promoted
from time to time, until, at the battle of Spottsyl-
vania, he was commissioned Captain of his com
pany. At Winchester, on September 19, 1864,
while his regiment was manceuvering for position,
Captain Ross was shot through the right arm
near the shoulder. His first wound, however,
was received at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864,
when he was knocked senseless by a minie-ball,
which fractured his skull. He was carried at
once to the rear, and was iu the hospital for
about three months. In the Shenandoah Valley
he rejoined his regiment, and in the very first
battle received the wound through the arm
which has already been spoken of". This inca
pacitated him for service for four months, when
he again rejoined his regiment in front of Peters
burg. He commanded his company at Sailor's
Creek, which was the last fight just before the
surrender of Lee. At this time his regiment was
a part of the Sixth Army Corps, which was then
transferred to Danville, Va., to protect property.
It remained in that vicinity but a short time,
however, and was then ordered to Washington,
where it participated in the Grand Review, and
in July, 1865, was mustered out at Albany,
N. Y.
On the conclusion of his term of service Captain
Ross returned to New York City, and soon' after
ward engaged in the tobacco business, but re
mained there only until 1867, when he located in
Newburgh. At present his place of business is
No. 20 Colden Street, where he has built up an
extensive trade in tobacco, and in the manufact
ure and sale of cigars. He had never visited
Newburgh prior to his location here.

412

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

On his removal to Newburgh, Captain Ross
was still a bachelor, but here he formed the
acquaintance of and married Caroline Lawson,
a native of New Brunswick, N. J., daughter of
Robert Lawson, who is now living a retired life
in this city. Five children have been born unto
them: Robert L-, now attending Yale College,
in the Class of '96; Isabel, at home; George M.,
Jr., engaged with his father in business; Albert,
clerk for the Pennsylvania Coal Company ; and
Charles A. The family resides at No. 52 Ann
Street. In 189 1 Captain Ross was forced to accept the
nomination of School Trustee on the Republican
ticket. He was elected for a term of four years,
and is now Chairman of the Finance Committee
and member of the Building Committee, of By
laws and of Conference with the City Council. He
is a member of Hudson River Lodge No. 607,
F. & A. M. ; and of Fullerton Post, G. A. R.
Politically he is a Republican. His war record
was a brilliant one, and his private life is such as
to make him greatly esteemed and popular with
all who know him.

^m>-^<i

/gb-.

LQ>—

HENRY WHITE. Not less for his person
al integrity of character and uprightness of
life than for the success which has rewarded
his efforts, is Mr. White esteemed among his ac
quaintances in Orange County. In 1862 he set
tled upon a farm in New Windsor Town, where
he has since continued to make his home. Al
though his attention for some years has been
devoted mainly to agriculture, he is a mason
by trade, and in former years gave his entire time
to that occupation.
The parents of our subject, James and Betsey
White, were born, reared and married in Ireland,
and there his birth occurred April 28, 18 19, in
the county of Queens. He was the next to the
youngest of seven children, the others being Fan
nie, Elizabeth, Susan, John, James and Thomas.
The family came to America in 1823, but the
mother died during the voyage across the Atlan
tic and was buried at sea. The father, on land

ing in New York, proceeded to Orange County,
and settled in the town of Blooming Grove,
where he continued to reside until his death.
Coming to America when four years of age,
our subject knows no other home than Orange
County. He was reared in Blooming Grove
Town, and in the district schools received a fair
education. At the age of nineteen he appren
ticed himself to learn the mason's trade, serving
three years, and then began to work at the occu
pation which he has followed the larger part of
the time since. He is an industrious, energetic
man, and while he has not accumulated a fortune,
he has become the possessor of a comfortable
home and a well improved farm.
The first marriage of Mr. White, in 1842,
united him with Esther Benjamin. They had
three children, two of whom died in infancy.
Mary married John DeGrote, and lives in Go
shen. The mother of this family died in 1848.
The second marriage of Mr. White occurred in
1855, at which time he was united with Miss
Eunice Clarke. Their five children are named
Mary, Susan, Emma, Sarah and Charles. The
family is held in high esteem by the people of the
town of New Windsor, among whom they have so
long resided. While Mr. White is not a partisan
and does not take an active part in politics, he is,
nevertheless, a firm adherent of Republican prin
ciples, and rejoices in all the successes achieved
by the party.

OWNSEND DREW. The gentleman
whose name appears at the head of this
sketch is one of the prominent residents of
Highland Falls, where, with the exception of in
tervals of a few years, he has resided since 1848.
He was formerly one of the most successful of its
business men, but is now retired from active bus
iness life, and is residing in a beautiful home on
Church Street, which is in a beautiful part of the
village. The father of our subject, who also bore the
name of Townsend, was born in New Jersey,
whence he came to this state when a young man,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

413

living first iu Monroe, afterward in Cornwall
and later in Highland. He was an extensive
land-owner and lumber merchant, and at the time
of his decease, which occurred when he was past
seventy-one years, he was the possessor of a tract
of four hundred acres.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Sarah Jane Babcock. She, too, was a native of
New Jersey, and lived to be sixty-six years old.
Of her ten children, our subject was the young
est. William died at the age of sixty years.
Ezra, who for a number of years has been Jus
tice of the Peace, occupies a fine estate located
four miles from Highland Falls. Jeremiah, who
was a very prominent politician, and who was
the recipient of many Governmental positions of
trust and responsibility, died about ten years ago.
For some time he was Yardkeeper at Sing Sing,
was later Harbor Master in the port of New
York, and was United States Weigher in the Cus
tom House in New York. For seven years he
was Supervisor of Highland Falls, and for over
a quarter of a century was the moving power in
all political conventions, being a man of great
influence in the community. John, the fourth in
order of birth, makes his home in this place.
Eliza Jane married Moses Clark, and is living at
Ft. Montgomery. Ellen married Luke Wood, of
Cornwall. Huldah, who is now deceased, mar
ried E. H. Taylor, who is also deceased. Albert
was a carpenter by trade, and died in 1877. Sam
uel is also deceased.
Our subject was born September 22, 1839, in
the town of Monroe, but what is now the town
of Woodbury. He was brought up to work on
the farm, and lived with his parents until twenty-
five years old, in the mean time securing such an
education as could be gained in the district schools.
After leaving home he went to Sing Sing, hold
ing the position of keeper in the prison for two or
three years. We next find him in New York
City, where for seven years he was an employe in
the Weigher's department of the Custom House
with his brother.
In 1878 Mr. Drew came to this place and en
gaged iu the livery business, conducting the sta
bles of the Cranston Hotel very successfully for

many years. He was married, in 1879, to Miss
Mary E., daughter of Benjamin Morgan and Sa
rah (Mandigo) Sirrine, natives of Westchester
and Orange Counties, respectively. She was
born December 6, 1844, in Ft. Montgomery, and
by her union with our subject became the mother
of three children: Percy Ross, who died at the
age of four years and five months; and Fanny
Herrick and Mabel E., now attending school.
Mrs. Drew is a devoted member of the Presbyte
rian Church, which Mr. Drew also attends. He
is identified with the Republican party in poli
tics, frequently attending the congressional and
other conventions as a delegate, and is highly re
spected in the community in which he lives.

¦**•*-=

ZHJH

G| LOYSE OBERLE. This young gentleman
Ll is numbered among the live business men
/ l of Highland Falls, where for several years
he has been established in the grocery business.
In addition to this he now has a thriving coal
trade, and is one of the leading boot and shoe
merchants of the place.
Our subject was born in that part of the
German empire which was formerly owned by
the French (Alsace-Lorraine), November 23,
1852, and was a lad of eighteen years when he
crossed the Atlantic and made his home in the
New World. Prior to coming to America he
attended the model schools of his native land,
thus gaining a good common-school education.
Upon landing in New York Harbor, after a very
slow and tedious voyage, young Oberle made
his way directly to Highland Falls, -where for a
period of eleven years he worked in the general
store of Daniel Zint. He was very observing,
and during this time became fully acquainted
with the method of carrying on a large business,
so that when ready to engage in business for
himself he was capable of conducting it success
fully. He was very frugal and industrious, and
though his wages were by no means large, he
made it a point to save the greater portion of
them, and in this way secured the means to em-

414

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bark in a business of his own. At first he began
in a modest way, but by paying strict attention
to affairs and by fair and honest dealing, his
trade rapidly grew, until to-day he has his share
of the patronage of the best residents of the place.
Mr. Oberle was married, on the 5th of June,
1 88 1, to Miss Mary Halpin, a native of Highland
Falls, who departed this life March 26, 1889,
leaving a daughter and two sons, Mary, Joseph
and James. She was a most worthy and pleasant
lady and had numerous friends in Highland Falls.
Mr. Oberle is a member of the Catholic Benevo
lent Legion, and is regarded as one of the ener
getic and progressive citizens of this community.

-3 — »-¦

¦•>H«

!)©*>•<••

-t — f-

* BENEZER W. GREATSINGER. When
^ our country's liberties and stability were
__ threatened, this gentleman was one of the
first to go to her defense and fought long and
valiantly for the Stars and Stripes, taking part .
in many of the most disastrous and notable bat
tles of the great Civil War. He is the owner of
a valuable farm in the town of New Windsor,
about three miles from the city limits of New
burgh and not far from Little Britain, but on ac
count of poor health was obliged to give up the
arduous duties in connection with its manage
ment, and since 1892 has been a resident of New
burgh. He is in warm sympathy with the Grand
Army of the Republic and Veterans' Association,
and at present is Junior Vice-Commander of
Ellis Post No. 52.
Our subject's parents were Stephen and Emma
(Dayton) Greatsinger, both natives of Ulster
County, the former born in the village of Esopus.
Stephen Greatsinger, Sr. , the grandfather of our
subject, was born in the same section and was of
German descent. In his early life he enlisted as
a private in the War ofthe Revolution, and after
the young Republic's future was assured settled
down to quiet agricultural pursuits. Stephen,
Jr. , was also a farmer, and dealt to some extent
in lumber. He cleared a farm in Chemung

County, which was a wilderness when he first saw
it. At the time of the war he located in Craw
ford, and carried on agricultural pursuits until
he retired. He is now living in Newburgh, at
the ripe old age of eighty-four years. His wife
was a daughter of Jacob Dayton, a native of
Ulster County, and of German-English descent.
He, too, was one of the Revolutionary War
heroes, and was also a tiller of the soil. Mrs.
Greatsinger died when fifty-six years of age, and
of her eight children all but two grew to ma
turity, one having since died.
E. W. Greatsinger was born April 3, 1837,
near Elmira, Chemung County, and passed his
boyhood on his father's farm, his time being
spent in the usual manner of lads of that day.
His school advantages were somewhat meager,
and he was trained in useful and practical methods
by his worthy parents. As soon as he had
reached suitable years he assisted his father in Tun
ing a sawmill, being thus employed when the war
broke out. In June, 1861, he enlisted as a private
in Company D, Thirty-fifth New York Volun
teers, and was assigned to the Army of the Poto
mac, afterwards serving in the Virginia campaign.
He took part in many small engagements and
skirmishes with the enemy, and was in the noted
battles of White Sulphur Springs, Va. , Rappa
hannock, second engagement at Bull Run,
Manassas, Antietam, South Mountain and Fred
ericksburg. He had not long been in the serv-
ice„before he was promoted, and at the time of
his honorable discharge, in June, 1863, was mus
tered out as Fourth Sergeant.
On his return from the South Mr. Greatsinger
visited for some time in the town of Crawford,
and then went to Ulster County, where he had
charge of a farm for a year. The following four
years he operated a large homestead in the town
of Crawford, and in 1869 purchased one of seven
ty-three acres in the town of New Windsor,
beautifully situated on the shores of Washington
Lake. This place, which is improved with good
farm buildings, fences, orchards, etc., the owner
now rents to good paying tenants. In Novem
ber, 1892, he was appointed janitor of Pri
mary School No. 6, at the corner of Liberty and

PORTRAIT AND* BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

415

Renwick Streets, and is still holding the charge.
He is a stockholder in the Anglo-American Build
ing and Loan Association. While a resident of
the town of New Windsor, he was honored with
the position of School Trustee, and for fifteen
years was Sunday-school Superintendent. In
politics he is a straight Republican.
September 7, 1864, Mr. Greatsinger mar
ried Sarah E. Fowler, who was born in Cold
Spring, N. Y. They have become the parents
of three children, all daughters, named in order
of birth, Emma E., Mary J. and Anna E. The
parents are members of St. John's Methodist Epis
copal Church, and are highly regarded by all
who know them as honorable, upright citizens.

***Bi&:

RROF. JEROME DENNA has done much
yr good for the county, materially, morally and
[S educationally, and his life furnishes an ex
ample worthy of the emulation of the rising gen
eration. He is Principal of the public schools of
Highland Falls, which responsible position he
has held for the past nineteen years. His birth oc
curred in Sing Sing, this state, September 15,1849,
and he is the son of Peter and Catherine (Fer
ris) Denna, the former of whom was born in Put
nam County, in 1805, and departed this life at
the age of eighty-one years. Mrs. Denna, who
was born in Putnam County, was sixty-eight
years old at the time of her demise, in 1863. In
the parental family where seven children, of
whom Allen, Mary, Eliza and Calvin are deceased.
Jerome, of this sketch, was the fourth-born, and
the others are Hester and Elizabeth.
Our subject attended private schools until a lad
of thirteen years, after which his parents moved
onto a farm in Putnam County. Not being well
fitted for working on a farm, he took a course in
Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, and
later became a student at Mt. Pleasant Acade
my, Sing Sing, N. Y., where he graduated fourth
in a class of twenty members. His education,
however, was completed in the State Normal at
Albany, after which he was given a school at
Oregon, a small village three miles from Peeks-

kill. He also taught one year at Ft. Montgom
ery, N. Y., with excellent success, but being
offered a position in the schools of Highland
Falls, came hither in 1876. Remarkable success
has attended his efforts as a teacher, and he is sur
passed by none. He has been an indefatigable
worker and student all his life, and although set
ting his mark high, has reached the desired goal.
He has devoted twelve years to coaching candi
dates for the United States Military Academy at
West Point, during this time also keeping his
school foremost among those of Orange County,
and it is said that as a coacher for the United
States Military Academy he stands excelled by
no other instructor in the business, getting in a
general average of ninety per cent, of his candi
dates. Professor Denna and Miss Mary Potter, of
Highland Falls, were united in marriage in June,
1878. The lady was born February 15, i860,
in Orange County, and is the daughter of George
and Nancy Potter, also natives of this county. To
them has been born a daughter, Grace, -an accom
plished young lady, who is now pursuing her
studies in the state normal. In politics our sub
ject votes for Democratic candidates, and in social
affairs is a member of the Knights of Pythias
and the Free Masons. The Methodist Episcopal
Church finds in him one of its most valuable at
tendants and liberal contributors. A gentleman
of culture and refinement, he is genial and cor
dial with all, and is very popular among the stu
dents of the school and with the citizens of
Highland Falls.

,*+++i

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EHARLES W. HULL, Town Clerk of Bloom
ing Grove and Village Clerk of Washing
tonville, was first appointed to the former
position to fill the unexpired term of Sanford Hal
lock in 1874, and has been chosen for the position
at every successive election since that time. Feb
ruary 18, 1895, upon the organization ofthe mu
nicipality, he was appointed Clerk of the village,
in which capacity he is rendering efficient serv-
vice. As a business man he is well known, hav-

416

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing carried on a large hardware trade since De
cember 5, 1876, when he opened a store in
Washingtonville. The Hull family is of English extraction. Our
subject's father, Wager Hull, was born in Ulster
County, N. Y., and there died when in the prime
of life. His marriage united him with Miss
Keziah Cooley, of Pleasant Valley, who was a
member of a prominent Quaker family ; she died
at the age of fifty-seven years. They were the
parents of five children, namely: James C, de
ceased ; William F. , a resident of New York City ;
Mrs. Mary H. Haviland, a widow residing in
Yonkers; Edward H., deceased; and Charles W.
In Westchester County, N. Y., the subject of
this sketch was born September 23, 1840. His
boyhood days passed uneventfully on his father's
farm, and in youth he attended the common
schools and a collegiate school at Cornwall,
N. Y., where he enjoyed excellent educational ad
vantages. At the age of sixteen he went to New
York City and secured a position as clerk in the
dry -goods house of Haviland, Lindsley & Co., at
Nos. 80 and 82 Chambers Street. During the
eleven years that he remained in that position, he
gained an accurate and complete knowledge of
the business in all its details, thus being fitted
for the management of a concern of his own.
For a few years after coming to Washington
ville, Mr. Hull was engaged in the lumber and
coal business with Charles Cooper as partner.
There being no hardware store in this place, he
determined to embark in the business, and this he
did, though discouraged in his attempt by many
of his friends. The venture, however, proved
the wisdom of his judgment, for it was suc
cessful from the outset and has proved remunera
tive up to the present time.
The marriage of Mr. Hull, which occurred in
New York City, united him with Miss Henrietta
Van Cleft Gerow, daughter of Elias Gerow, of
the town of Blooming Grove. Three children
bless their union, namely: William G., who is
employed in the Chase National Bank of New
York; Edward Raymond, traveling salesman for
the music house of John Church & Co.; and
Clara Deming, who is with her parents. The

children were given excellent educational advan
tages, qualifying them for positions of usefulness
and honor in business and social circles.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Hull is identified
with the Masons and has been actively interested
in that order. He is a Congregationalist in re
ligious belief and contributes liberally to denomi
national work. As one of the pioneer business
men of Washingtonville, he is well known and
highly esteemed, and his enterprise, industry and
sagacity have won for him a high place in the
regard of his associates.

•fjlLBA H. KELLOGG, au enterprising and
LI wide-awake citizen of Newburgh, is superin-
/ | tendent of the Newburgh Electric- light and
Power Company. He was born in Hyde Park,
Lamoille County, Vt., in 1854, and is a son of
Hiram D. and Sarah (Whittier) Kellogg, both na
tives of the Green Mountain State. The father
was born in Stowe, and is still a farmer of La
moille County. He is one of the prominent and
leading citizens ot that community, and gives his
earnest support to the Democratic party.
Alba H. Kellogg is the eldest in a family of
four children, but two have now passed away. In
the public schools he acquired his education, and
remained upon the home farm until he had reached
the age of seventeen years, when he began learn
ing telegraphy with the Western Union Tele
graph Company, at Springfield, Mass. In 1878,
about the time telephones first began to be used,
he was employed iu putting them up in different
cities, and in that capacity came to Newburgh in
1879. He was thus engaged for three years, aft
er which he returned to his Vermont home, but
in 1887 located here as a lineman. Later he be
came manager for the outside work for the New
burgh Electric-light and Power Company, which
position he filled until the spring of 1893, when
H. B. Odell, the superintendent, resigned, and
he was appointed in his place. He now has from
eight to eleven men under him. The plant is
quite large, being supplied with twenty-two dy-

JOHN C. MARSHALL.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

419

namos, with a capacity of over five thousand in
candescent and one hundred and sixty-five arc
lights. The plant was erected since his arrival.
In Newburgh, Mr. Kellogg was united in mar
riage with Miss Lydia Pine, who was born in
this city, and who is a daughter of Mrs. G. G
Pine. They have many warm friends in the city,
and by all who know them are held in the high
est esteem. Mr. Kellogg casts his ballot in sup
port of the men and measures of the Republican
party, and socially belongs to Mt. Vernon Lodge
No. 8, F. & A. M., of Morrisville, Vt.

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([OHN C. MARSHALL, who is a well known
I business man of Newburgh, and a member
G) of the retail meat firm of H. W. Marshall &
Sons, was born in Hyde Park, Dutchess County,
December 15, 1864. His father, Henry W., also
a native of Dutchess County, was born July 25,
1832, being a son of Hiram and Hannah Mar
shall, natives of the Empire State, the latter of
whom was of English descent. The great-grand
father, Willett Marshall, one of New York's na
tive-born sons, was a farmer by occupation, and
served as an officer in the War of 18 12.
Orphaned at the age of eight years, Henry W.
Marshall continued to reside upon the home farm
with a brother until he was twenty-one years of
age, when he embarked in the butcher's business
at Hyde Park, continuing there until 1868. Dur
ing that year he came to Newburgh and opened
a market at No. 11 Water Street, which was his
location for three years. He then removed his
store to No. 43 Water Street, where he has been
ever since, the only change being in 1892, when
he took his two sons in as partners under the firm
name of H. W. Marshall & Sons. While still a
member of the company, he is not so actively
identified with the business as formerly, the jun
ior partners having relieved him of much of the
responsibility. Socially he is a member of New
burgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M. Among the
improvements he has made may be mentioned the

row of flat buildings which he erected on Ann
Street. He has a beautiful residence at Mt.
Basha Lake, Monroe, Orange County, where,
accompanied by all the members of his family,
he sojourns during the summer months, and en
joys the health and comfort afforded by that pic
turesque and beautiful spot.
The mother of our subject, Matilda, was born
in Dutchess County, and is a daughter of John
C. Radcliff, a farmer there. In religious belief
. she is a devout member of the Dutch Reformed
Church, and her noble character and self-sacrific
ing benevolence endear her to all who know her.
Her six children, all of whom remain under the
parental roof, are Mary C, John C, Bedford H.,
. Emily, Tillie and Irene. Bedford H, who is the
junior member of the firm, served for six years
in the Tenth Separate Company, National Guards
of New York.
From the age of four years John C. Marshall
was reared in Newburgh, his education being ac
quired in the schools of this city. His vacations
were spent in assisting his father, and upon the
completion of his education he entered the busi
ness, he and his brother, Bedford H, becoming
partners of their father in 1892, under the firm
name of H. W. Marshall & Sons. He attends
especially to the buying and slaughtering of the
cattle, this being the only firm in the city that
does its own slaughtering. On West Broadway,
just outside of the city limits, they erected a large
and substantial slaughter-house, with a capacity
of about ten beef steers and as many each of
calves, lambs and sheep. The steers are bought
in Orange, Ulster and Dutchess Counties, and the
firm also pack the pork for their own retail
trade. They have the finest quality of meat, and
kill the largest beeves of any one in the city, and
have also been in the business longer than any of
the other meat dealers here. They have fur
nished families uninterruptedly ever since the day
Mr. Marshall located here, twenty-seven years
ago, which fact proves the excellence of their
meats, and the confidence in which they are held.
They also have the Jewish trade of the city and
furnish those of Hebrew descent with meat, after
it has been inspected by the Rabbi. They have

420

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

killed steers that on dressing weighed over four
teen hundred pounds, thus having a live weight
of twenty-three hundred. The market is conven
iently arranged; the whole front on Water Street
can be thrown entirely open, making a full and
fine display. One of the improvements of the
market is a large refrigerator, with tracks around
the inside. They also have an electric motor for
running sausage machines in the winter, and
electric fans for the summer. In addition to
beef and pork, they handle poultry and game,
and all kinds of vegetables in season.
While Mr. Marshall has given his attention
principally to matters connected with his busi
ness, he also takes an intelligent interest in public
affairs, and supports the principles of the Republi
can party, which he considers best adapted to our
Government. For seven years he has been a
member of the Ringgold Fire Company, and he
is also connected with the Ringgold Veteran Fire
men's Association.

gHARLES NICOLL. Within the corporate
limits of Washingtonville lies a farm of one
hundred and forty-five acres, upon which
have been made first-class improvements, and
which bears evidence of the supervision of an en
ergetic and capable man. This place has been
the life-long home of Mr. Nicoll, and here he was
born May 25, 1850. As the name indicates, he
is of Scotch descent. The progenitor of the fam
ily in America was Dr. John Nicoll, who emi
grated to this country in 171 1 and settled in New
York. " He became one of the leading men of the
colony and acquired the ownership of a large
amount of property, having among his possessions
fourteen thousand, five hundred acres of laud in
the Minisink Patent. He died in 1743, at the
age of sixty-four.
The maternal ancestors of Mr. Nicoll were of
Welsh extraction, and it is believed that on com
ing to America they settled first on Long Island.
From there the maternal grandparents came to

Orange County in 1754, continuing to make this
their home until death. Their married life, which
was one of great happiness and mutual helpful
ness, was protracted for the long period of sixty-
four years. The father of our subject, John
Nicoll, was born in Hackensack, N. J., in 1799,
and in early life was engaged in the mercantile
.business in New York City, from which place he
removed to Orange County in 1844, and con
tinued to make his home here until his death in
1874, at the age of seventy -five.
The first marriage of John Nicoll was to Juli
ana Thompson, and that union resulted in the
birth ofa son, William, who died in Indiana at '
the age of twenty-six years. The second wife of
Mr. Nicoll bore the maiden name of Elizabeth H.
White, and was born in Blagg's Cove in 1808.
She was first married to Harvey Denniston, by
whom she had a son, Harvey A., who makes his
home with our subject. Harvey Denniston, Sr. ,
died in 1829.
The mother of our subject died in 1855, at the
age of forty-seven years. By her marriage to Mr.
Nicoll she had eight children, naniely: John
Morgan, deceased; Augustus White, who lives in
Canaan, Conn.; Isaac; Juliana, wife of John B.
Vroom, and a resident of Denver, Colo.; Charles,
who died at four years of age; Edward, deceased;
Charles, our subject; and Elizabeth White, wife of
AndrewS. Glover, of New York City. During the
Civil War Isaac enlisted in the Union army and
served as Captain of Company G, One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry. While
leading his company in the battle of Gettysburg
in 1863 he was killed by a rifle-ball from the en
emy. There is a soldiers' monument standing at
Salisbury Mills, upon one side of which is this
inscription : "To the memory of Capt. Isaac Nicoll,
Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth
N. Y. S. V., and the men from Blooming Grove
who fought in the war for -the unity of the Repub
lic, 1861-1865." Upon the base ofthe monument
under the inscription is the word "Gettysburg,"
and upon the other sides ofthe base are "Peters
burg," "Appomattox" and "Plattsburg."
In the district and boarding schools of Orange
County our subject gained a fair education, qiial-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

421

ifying him for- active participation in business
affairs. After the death of his father he assumed
control of the old homestead, and here he has
since made his home. In June, 1877, he estab
lished domestic ties, being then united in mar
riage with Miss Catalina Vroom, of Jersey City.
Their three children are named Isaac, Alfred V.
and Elizabeth H. The elder son is attending
school at Canaan, Conn., and the .other children
are carrying on their studies in the home schools.
In his political views Mr. Nicoll is a Republican,
and is always pleased when his party scores a
success at the polls.

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(JEREMIAH DREW. The simple record of
I an honorable life is the best monument that
(2/ can be reared to any citizen, and we shall
therefore not attempt lo enlarge upon the history
of the gentleman above named, who was formerly
one of the most prominent residents of Highland
Falls. He was for many years intimately asso
ciated with .the political life of the community,
holding various positions of honor and trust, in
one and all of which he gave entire satisfaction.
Our subject is the son of Townsend and Sarah
Jane (Babcock) Drew, natives of New Jersey, but
who are now deceased. The father was an ex
tensive land-owner and lumber merchant and was
a man greatly honored and respected by all who
knew him. The parental family included ten
children, of whom our subject was the third -born.
His birth occurred August 15, 1823, in New Jer
sey, but for several years he lived at Cornwall,
Orange County, where he was employed in sail
ing a sloop.
Upon leaving that place our subject made his
way to New York City, where he worked in the
machine-shops; afterwards he went to Ft. Mont
gomery, where he was appointed its first Postmas
ter, and still later held an official position at Sing
Sing. When he came to this place it was as In
spector of Steamships, which position he held for
two years, and then for the same length of time he
served as Harbor Master of the port of New York,
being appointed to that office by Governor Fen-

ton. On the expiration of his term he was again
appointed to the same position, but the Senate
failed to confirm the appointment, and he was
then made Weighmaster. He was the recipient
of many Governmental positions of trust and re
sponsibility. He was elected Supervisor of this
town for seven years. In politics he was an en
thusiastic Republican and never let an oppor
tunity pass when he could serve his party either
by voice or vote. He was known iu this section
as a great lobbyist, and always went to Albany
during important elections, using his influence
iu placing his chosen candidate in nomation.
Mr. Drew and Miss Phebe E. Haight were mar
ried May 20, 1852. This lady was born in 1823,
in Dutchess County, this state, and was a daugh
ter of Joseph B. and Phcebe (Mapes) Haight.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Drew were
seven in number, three sons and four daughters.
Eugene for the past fourteen years has been an
employe in the registry department of the general
postoffice of New York City. For his first wife
he married Myra Freeman, by whom he had one
daughter, Edna, now living with her grand
mother and attending school in the Union Acad
emy in Highland Falls. He chose for his second
wife Irene Wood, of Newburgh, and by this union
there were born three children, Stanley (de^
ceased), Helen and Dorothy. Charles De Witt,
our subject's second child, is a resident of Brook
lyn and has-been in the employ of the Govern
ment in- the capacity of Weighmaster for the past
twelve years; he married Mrs. Annie Simmons,
formerly Miss Long, of Susquehanna County.
Mrs. Drew had one daughter by her first mar
riage, Georgia Simmons Drew, a refined young
lady and an artist of considerable note, now living
with her parents and attending the Cooper Insti
tute in New York City. Jennie is living in
Texas. Mary, who makes her home in Okla
homa, married Dr. Allen M. Smith, an army
surgeon, and the one son born to them bears the
name of Richard. Josephine, who also makes
herhome in the Lone Star State, married Lieut.
Alouzo Gray, formerly stationed at Ft. Myron,
Wash. , but now of Texas; their children are Olive,
Alice and Eunice. Addie makes her home with

422

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

her sister in Oklahoma. Oscar is with his brother
De Witt in the sugar-refining office at Yonkers.
Mr. Drew departed this life at his home in
Highland Falls in April, 1885, greatly mourned
by all who knew him. He was a man of much
business talent and financial ability, and by the
judicious investment of his money acquired a val
uable property and became one of the substantial
residents ofthe city.
. «  ^)#P 

(JOHN CLEMENCE. Nowhere within the
I limits of Orange County can there be found
C/ a man who takes greater interest in its agri
cultural affairs than does John Clemence. Ev
ery life has a history of its own, and although in
appearance it may possess little to distinguish it
from others, yet the connection of Mr. Clemence
with the farming interests of this region has con
tributed to give him a wide and popular acquaint
ance with the majority of the citizens ofthe coun
ty. He owns and operates ninety acres, compris
ing the old homestead originally purchased by
his grandfather, the property being situated in the
town of New Windsor.
Upon the farm where he now resides, our sub
ject was born February 3, 1832. His father,
Thomas, was born 011 the same farm, July 25,
1798, and the grandfather, Daniel, was born in
Maryland, December 18, 1748, being a descend
ant of Irish ancestors. Grandfather Clemence
was twice married, the family name of his first
wife being Chandler, of his second Moffat, and
by the two marriages there were seven children.
Settling upon the farm now owned by his grand
son, he continued to reside there until his death.
Though a carpenter by trade, he gave consider
able attention also to farm pursuits, in which he
was quite successful.
The entire life of Thomas Clemence was spent
upon the farm where he was born. He was
prominent in local affairs, a Republican iu poli
tics, and an active worker in the Presbyterian
Church. At different times he was elected to
town offices, iu all of which he rendered satisfac
tory service. His wife passed from earth May 1,

1863, and he survived her ten years, his death
occurring November 2, 1873. They were the
parents of five children, namely : Phebe A. , widow
of C. G. Houser, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Samuel
M. and Enos C, deceased; Ruth D. , widow of
Ferdinand Griggs; and John, the youngest ofthe
family. Reared upon a farm, our subject grew to man
hood industrious and self-reliant, ready to begin
the battle of life and win his way upward. He
received instruction in the school of his home dis
trict and, familiar with the daily round of farm
ing duties, upon attaining man's estate he began
the occupation of an agriculturist for himself.
When about twenty-nine years of age he estab
lished domestic ties, his marriage, January 16,
1861, uniting him with Mary C. Denton, an es
timable and highly respected lady, who has
passed her entire life in this county. With the
exception of one year, Mr. Clemence has never
had an)- other home than the place where he was
born, and he enjoys a wide acquaintanceship
among the people of this locality, who appreciate
him as a substantial citizen, ever ready to assist
in all matters pertaining to local affairs.
Politically Mr. Clemence has been a stalwart
Republican ever since attaining his majority. He.
is interested in both local and national issues, and
is to-day, as indeed he has ever been, a true and
loyal citizen, highly esteemed by his fellow-
townsmen. He is a valued member of the Pres
byterian Church, and always ready to lend his
assistance in religious work.
fcjEORGE W. FLOOD. Highland Falls has
I— its full quota of live business men, and the
^>| drug trade of this place is well represented
by Mr. Flood, the enterprising pharmacist, who
has been engaged in business here for the past
fifteen years. His store is centrally located and
is stocked with a full line of the purest medicines,
paints, oils, wall paper, etc.
Our subject is the son of Walter Flood, who
departed this life in 1875, when iu his fiftieth
year. He was born in Orange County and al-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

423

ways made this section his home. He was cap
tain of various sailing-vessels for many years,
and in this capacity became well known to those
whose trade took them up and down the river.
His marriage united him to Charlotte Potter, a
native of Ft. Montgomery, and to them were
born ten children, five of whom are deceased, our
subject being the youngest but one. Thomas A.
and Theodore D. reside in New York City; Ed
ward O. is living in Galveston, Tex.; and Arthur
is captain of one of the boats which ply the
Hudson River.
The subject of this sketch, who was born in
Highland Falls, October 8, 1863, has made his
own way in the world since a lad of nine years,
and his large fund of useful information has been
gained solely through his own efforts. His first
work was in "choring" around a boarding-house,
and later he began clerking in the drug store of
H. P. Chase, with whom he remained for eight
een months, when he went to New York City,
and for the following year was engaged with the
custom-house broker. He next went to Dallas,
Tex., where he obtained the position of assistant
passenger agent on the Houston & Texas Central
Railway, holding the same for a year, when he
resigned and returned to this place, again enter
ing the employ of Mr. Chase. Three or four
years later he was made a partner in the business,
and in 1887 purchased the interest of his employ
er in the stock of medicines, and has since con
ducted the business successfully alone. He has
one of the best equipped stores in the place, and
commands a large share of the patronage of its
best people.
George W. Flood and Miss Cora Parry, of
Highland Falls, were united in marriage Novem
ber 23, 1887. The lady was born about the year
1865, and is the daughter of El wood Parry, a
merchant of Highland Falls. Our subject's fam
ily includes two daughters, Lucile and Hilda.
Mr. Flood is very active in local politics and
never fails to cast a ballot favoring Republican
candidates. He was one of the organizers of
Ondaro Lodge No. 305, K. of P., although at
that time he was not a member. He has been
Town Clerk for two terms, has been a member

of the Board of Education for the past six years,
and is Superintendent of the electric-light plant
of this city, of which he was one of the organizers.
Several years ago he learned telegraphy, and
through his influence instruments were placed in
the office here, he being installed as operator.
He has succeeded well in worldly affairs, and well
deserves the good things which have come to
him and the high character for probity which
years of intimate business and social acquaintance
have brought him.

[""RANK E. ESTABROOK, who is one of
Yy Newburgh' s rising young business men, is
I also one of her native sons. He is an archi
tect of recognized ability and talent, and though
he has been in actual business in this line but a
few years, has already made his mark, and bids
fair to be a leader in his chosen profession.
The father of the above-mentioned young man
is the well known Charles Estabrook, who has
.been City Librarian for many years, and whose
history appears on another page of this volume.
Frank E., who was born July 10, i860, was a
student in the public schools, and graduated from
Newburgh Academy in 1878. Afterward he be
came Assistant Librarian, and served acceptably
as such some two or three years. The following
three years he spent in New York City, where he
was employed as bookkeeper by Brooks Bros.,
clothiers. At this time he formed a taste for
architectural work, and took up the study under
Rossiter & Wright. Later, he was with the firm
of Frederick B. Wight & Co. After the death of
the senior member of the firm he became connec
ted with the successor to the business, Wilbur S.
Knowles. In the mean time he attended lectures
at Columbia College, taking a special architect
ural course. Once more he returned to the office
of Mr. Knowles, and for a short period was with
Mr. Kilborne.
It was in 1891 that Mr. Estabrook located in
Newburgh and opened an office, since which time
his progress has been most gratifying. Among
the specimens of his skill are the City Hall, Col-

424

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

umbus Hall, Quassaick Bank, Grammar School
No. 6, and the residences of ex-Mayor C. J.
Lawson, James S. Taylor, Colonel Weygant and
many others. In several adjoining towns he has
designed handsome buildings and pleasant homes,
which give ample evidence of his originality of
ideas, combined with a thorough knowledge of
practical utility. His office is at No. 50 Third
Street, in the Turner Building.
In April, 1893, the marriage of Mr. Estabrook
and Miss Jessie F. , daughter of D. S. Waring,
Was celebrated in this city. The lady is a native
of Newburgh, and received fine educational ad
vantages. The young couple had one child, Jen
nie, who died June 5, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Esta
brook are members of Trinity Methodist Epis
copal Church. In his political belief the former
is an ardent and active Republican.

+-"

IHr"

(JOHN CORKEDALE is one of the most wide--
I awake, enterprising and successful business
Q) men of Newburgh, where he has carried on
operations for twelve years, dealing extensively
in real estate, besides conducting a grocery store,
fish and meat market and bakery. His success
has all been due to his own perseverance and in
dustry,' unaided by influential friends or inherited
wealth. Mr. Corkedale is a native of the Emerald Isle,
born in County Cavan, May 8, 1847, and is a
son of Maxwell Corkedale. His grandfather,
John Corkedale, who. was of Scotch descent, was
a farmer and inn-keeper of Ireland, where his
death occurred at an advanced age. He was a
Presbyterian in religious belief, and could trace
his ancestry back to the time of the Revolution
iu Ireland. The father, who was a land-owner
and extensive farmer of his native land, married
Jane Lord, a native of County Meath, and a
daughter of John Lord, who by occupation was
a farmer, though he was also engaged as a land
agent ahd collector. He was also of Scotch de
scent, and died at the age of seventy-six years,

in the faith of the Episcopal Church. The fa
ther of our subject died in 1892, at the age of
seventy-six, and the mother passed away in No
vember, 1893. They were Presbyterians, and
reared a family of eight children, five sons and
three daughters, all of whom are still living.
John and Maxwell are residents of Newburgh;
William lives in New York City; two sisters also
live in America, but the others still make their
home in Ireland.
John Corkedale, who is the third in the family,
was educated in the national schools and was
reared on the home farm, where he remained un
til he had reached the age of eighteen years,
when he came alone to the New World,- leaving
Londonderry on a steamer bound for New York.
In that city he first obtained employment as a
porter with the dry-goods firm of Edward Ridley
& Son, at $5 per week, $4 of which he paid for
board, and for three years placed $5 in the bank
every month. He later drove a delivery wagon
for the dry -goods house of Lord & Taylor, for
which he received $9 per week, his route being
from Twenty-second to Fifty-ninth Street, and
he remained with them for two years and a-half.
He then entered the Parkhurst Hotel and Res
taurant at Thirty-fourth Street and Broadway,
where he remained as storekeeper until 1875, re
ceiving $30 per month and board.
At that time Mr. Corkedale embarked in the
grocery business for himself on Thirty-seventh
Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues,
starting with a stock worth $75, and at the end
of a year removed to Nos. 505 and 506 Fifty-fifth
Street, where he conducted a successful business
until September, 1883, when he sold out for
$1,500, and opened a grocery store at No. 335
Fifty-third Street. He had made two trips to his
old home in Ireland, where he purchased a farm,
intending to remain there, but not liking the place
disposed of his property and returned to the
United States.
In 1883 Mr. Corkedale located in Newburgh,
where he had left his family on his last trip, and
bought a store at the corner of Ann and John
ston Streets for $3,000. There he started a little
grocery business, which soon grew to such pro-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

425

portions as to necessitate the enlargement of the
building, requiring an outlay of $8,000. He soon
followed this enterprise by a large purchase of
real estate at West Newburgh, which he built up
into one solid block of business houses. He sold
out one-half of the tract for $11,500, taking in
exchange a vacant block on Washington Heights,
which he soon covered with brick and frame
buildings, mostly three stories in height, leaving
only a hollow square in the centre of the block.
By his judicious investments he became possessed
of real estate valued at $50,000.
Not content with this, Mr. Corkedale pur
chased property on the corner of Liberty and
South William Streets, known as the ' 'Sharkey
property," and erected a building on the rear of
the lot at an expense of $2,000. He next bought
lots on the east side of Federal Street, on which
he built two brick buildings, which he sold for
$5,000, and then bought the Edgar C. Barnes
property at the corner of Ann and Clark Streets
for $3,000, on which he put up a residence cost
ing $2,000. He next erected four neat and tasty
dwellings on Benkard Avenue, at a cost of $7,000,
and six brick buildings at the corner of South
William and Lander Streets, at a total cost of
$15,000. His increasing business permitted Mr. Corke
dale to buy the property on the northwest corner
of Ann and Johnston Streets, opposite his busi
ness stand, where he built three buildings, the
entire corner, with the improvements, costing him
about $10,000. He erected a frame dwelling on
Lake Street, also bought the Thomas Moore
property at the corner of Clark and Washington
Streets, a vacant lot at the corner of Lander and
Spring Streets, three lots at the corner of Renwick
and Clark Streets, and also three lots at the cor
ner of Benkard Avenue and Mill Street, at a cost
of $2,000. Besides his property in Newburgh,
he is also interested in land in New Windsor,
where he purchased lots from the D. P. Kelly es
tate amounting to over $800, and erected eight
houses. Mr. Corkedale bought all materials for his
buildings from Newburgh tradesmen, and em
ployed all his helpers and mechanics in this city,

thus materially benefiting the community at
large. He has given his personal attention to
the care and management of his property, and at
the same time has been conducting one of the
largest grocery, meat, fish and bakery trades in
the city, where he gives employment to ten men.
He has greatly reduced the prices of the provis
ions he carries, by which he benefited the people
and secured a liberal patronage.
In New York City Mr. Corkedale was united
in marriage with Miss Lizzie Anderson, a native
of County Antrim, Ireland, and to them have
been born seven children: John and Lizzie, who
assist in the store; and Maxwell, Jane, Lovey, Ma
bel and Sarah, who are at home. Mr. Corkedale
is a charter member of the Washington Heights
Hose Company, and is a great favorite among
the firemen, as well as being highly esteemed by
all his fellow-citizens. He is but in the prime ot
life, and if his star of success continues to shine,
as no doubt it will, there is no estimating the re
sults of his success as a business man.

<^^*j* «j* *j« *j» ».*^» »?* -j^ *-j* ¦-*-• »j* «j* «5* ^yj^E *-I* *!-* *v* "l* ' !• •$* *J* »5* •!* *J* *J* *5*^)0-:i
NILEND C. ROSE. Seldom does it fall to the
lot of the biographical writer to record the
life of one who, during a brief business ca
reer, achieved a success so remarkable as did the
subject of this notice. The training received in
boyhood and his natural tastes admirably adapted
him for commercial life, for the management ot
large interests, and the supervision of important
affairs. With truth it may be said of him that
he had one of the keenest intellects and brightest
minds ever possessed by a citizen of Newburgh.
It was, therefore, recognized as a public loss
when, in the vigor of his manhood j his health
failed, his retirement from business was necessi
tated, and after a year of sickness his death oc
curred. Noting particularly the events that gave char
acter to the life of Hilend C. Rose, we find that he
was born in Marlborough, Ulster County, N. Y.,
August' 3, i860. An extended account of his
parentage and ancestry appears in the sketch of
his father, John C. Rose, presented on another

426

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

page of this volume. His boyhood days were
passed principally in Haverstraw on the Hud
son, and in the public schools of that place he
laid the foundation of the extensive knowledge he
afterward possessed. Later his studies were pros
ecuted under private tutelage in Yonkers, N. Y.
When a mere boy, Mr. Rose gained, under his
father's instruction, a thorough knowledge ofthe
brick-manufacturing business, with which he was
connected until his retirement. . Being a young
man of shrewd discernment, he investigated the
locality in order to find a suitable site for brick
works, and while prospecting in the neighbor
hood of Newburgh discovered that the clay was
well adapted for the manufacture of brick. Act
ing promptly upon this knowledge, he formed a
partnership with his father, and established in
business as the Rose Brick Company in 1883. To
his efforts was largely due the completion of the
yards, which finally became the largest on the
Hudson. One of his most prominent traits was
his ability as a financier, and to this quality his
extraordinary prosperity was largely due.
The mental strain attendant upon the work of
Mr. Rose was too great for his physical strength,
and in 1892 failing health led him to sell his in
terest in the business to his father. The year
1893 he spent principally in Colorado, being in
Pueblo much of the time. Unfortunately the
change of climate was not followed by any per
manent benefit, and not long after his return to
Newburgh he died, September 22, 1894. Thus
early in life perished one of the most progressive
and able men Orange County has ever had with
in its borders. He took an intelligent interest in
all matters affecting the public welfare, and in
his political belief was a Democrat.
Surviving Mr. Rose are his widow and son,
Hilend C. Mrs. Rose was formerly Miss Emma
Davison, and was born at Nyack on the Hudson.
She is the daughter of Benjamin and Margaret
(West) Davison, natives, respectively, of Cran-
bury, Middlesex County, N. J., and New York
City. Her father was a graduate of the Phila
delphia Medical College, which conferred upon
him the degree of M. D. He settled in Nyack,
where he conducted a large and remunerative

practice until death removed him from the scene
of his labors, after thirty-eight years' practice.
The girlhood years of Mrs. Rose were passed in
Nyack, and she was the recipient of the best ad
vantages that city afforded. She became the
wife of Mr. Rose in New York City in 1889, and
for five years, or until her husband's death, was his
devoted helpmate. In unison with a character of
the greatest refinement, she possesses a deep re
ligious belief, and is a consistent member of the
Union Presbyterian Church of Newburgh.

—J-

^M>-^<B^

gEORGE L. KLEITZ. A history of High
land Falls would be by no means complete
without a sketch of Mr. Kleitz, who is num
bered among the prominent contractors and build
ers of this section. He has passed his entire life
in this city, where he was born November 30,
i859- Lambert Kleitz, the father of our subject, was
a native of Alsace, Germany. He was well edu
cated in his native tongue, and early in life learn
ed the trade of a cooper and ship-carpenter. At
an early day he emigrated to America, and for
some time thereafter plied his trade in this state.
Subsequently he spent three years at West Point,
and after coming to Highland Falls became well
known as a reliable contractor and builder, to
which business he educated our subject.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Elizabeth Wust. She, too, was born in Germany,
in Bavaria, but met and married her husband in
the World's Fair City in 1858. They came to
this place shortly afterward, and are still living
here. To them were born nine sons and daugh
ters, of whom George L. was the eldest; Eliza
beth is the wife of A. F. Warner, of Chicago;
Barbara is deceased; Lambert is also a resident
ofthe Garden City; William is a carpenter living
in Highland Falls; Henrietta married Christian
Miller, of Highland Falls; Philip is living in
Chicago; Julia is at home; and Arthur is de
ceased. After pursuing his studies for a number of years
in the common schools, our subject was trained

CHARLES N. WOOLLEY, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

429

to a full knowledge of the business of contracting
and building, which came very naturally to him,
and when quite young he was competent to per
form many particular and difficult pieces of work.
He remained with his father until 1883, when he
assumed full control of the business, and has since
that time carried it on successfully alone.
Mr. Kleitz was married, August 26, 1885, to
Miss Addie Sirrine, of Rockland County, this
state. She was the daughter of John and Caro
line Sirrine, who are now living in that comity.
To our subject and his estimable wife there were
born five children, of whom Daisy was born in
July, 1886; Burt L. departed this life when five
years of age; John died aged three and one-half
years; Elizabeth was born in October, 1893; and
Ruth in April, 1895.
Our subject is greatly interested iu the cause of
education, and it is his intention to give his chil
dren the very best advantages possible. He is a
true-blue Republican in politics, although in no
sense of the term could he be considered an office-
seeker. Religiously he is a member of the Pres
byterian Church. His beautiful home, which is
located in the western part of the village, stands
on an elevation, from which a splendid view of
Highland Falls can be had. The lawn is large
and well kept, and fruit and shade trees abound
in great numbers, making it a very desirable
place in which to live.

EHARLES NATHAN WOOLLEY, A. B.,
M. D., stands pre-eminent in the medical
profession in Newburgh, and since locating
here in 1873 has won the regard and esteem of
all with whom he has been associated. His birth
occurred in Southampton, L. L, October 8, 1838,
and he is a son of Nathan and Eliza (Goodale)
Woolley, both of whom were also natives of
Southampton, and the former of whom was a sea
faring man. His death was caused by maligant
scarlet fever, when only twenty-nine years old.
Joseph Goodale, the maternal grandfather of

our subject, was born and reared in Southamp
ton, and was of English descent. In his birth
place he grew to manhood, and there he followed
the plow until his death, in 1840, when he had
reached nearly fourscore years. Two of his sons
participated in the War of 1812. The maternal
great-grandfather also bore the Christian name
of Joseph. After remaining a widow for twenty-
two years, Mrs. Woolley passed to her final rest,
in 1862, firm in the faith of the Presbyterian
Church. The only child born to her marriage
was our subject. He attended the common schooJs
of his home locality and also carried on his studies
in Southampton Academy. Later he embarked
in teaching in the vicinity of his home, following
this calling in the country for four years, and later
became Principal of 'a school.
Not being supplied with the ready means to
carry him through college, our subject had to
earn the wherewithal himself, and this, no doubt,
inspired him to make the most of every passing
opportunity. In 1862 he entered the University
of Michigan, from which he was graduated in
1866, with the degree of A. B. It was while in his
senior year in Ann Arbor that he began the study
of medicine, and from there he came home to once
more take up his former occupation, teaching.
The following year, 1867, we find him a student
in Bellevue Medical College, where he took a
winter course. Later, in 1868, he entered Long
Island College, at Brooklyn, N. Y. , and the same
year was graduated with the degree of M. D.
Walden was his first field of practice, but in 1873
he came to Newburgh, where he has since been
located, and where he has a large and paying
practice, his office being conveniently situated at
No. 137 Third Street.
Southampton, the place of the Doctor's birth,
was also the scene of his marriage, iu 1868, to
Miss Margaret B. Fithian, likewise a native of that
village. Jonathan Fithian, her father, was born
in Easthampton, and in Southampton followed
teaching and farming. He was also a Notary
and Justice of the Peace, and for years was the
only legal man in the place.
In 1889 Dr. Woolley was elected a member of
the School Board, and for the past three years has

43°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

served as President of that body. Since 1892 he
has held the important position of Chairman of
the Teachers' Committee, and during this time
School No. 6, at Washington Heights, has been
erected. Aside from his multifarious professional
and educational duties, the Doctor yet finds time
to participate in social affairs. He is a member
of Hudson River Lodge, F & A. M.; Highland
Chapter, R. A. M.; Hudson River Commandery,
K. T. , and Kismet Shrine of Brooklyn. He is
also identified with the American Academy of
Medicine. Calvary Presbyterian Church claims
him as one of its members and also as one of its
Board of Trustees. Politically he advocates the
principles of the Republican party.

«VSAAC T. MATHEWS, a member of the firm
1 of Sneed & Mathews, leading commission
X merchants of Newburgh, was born in this
city November 27. 1848. There were only two
children in the parental family, the brother of our
subject being James H., a prominent business
man of Larimore, N. Dak., where he is exten
sively engaged in stock-raising and dealing in
grain, and is one of the Directors of the Larimore
Bank . He was formerly in the provision business
in Newburgh, being a member of the firm of
Mathews & Barnes, and was very successful. At
the age of seventeen he became a member of the
Seventh New York Independent Battery, known
as P. C. Regan's Battery, and served as a valiant
soldier during the Civil War. In North Dakota
he was a member of the Constitutional Conven
tion that framed the first constitution of that state.
In 1872 our subject was in the employ of Sip-
perley & Mathews, who were filling a Govern
ment contract in West Point, and remained there
a year and seven months, when he returned to
Newburgh and entered the employ of Mathews
& Barnes, with whom he remained until starting
in business for himself. Oil the 28th of October,
1883, the firm of Sneed & Mathews was formed,
and they have continued to conduct a lucrative

business up to the present time. They purchased
the building at No. 139 Water Street, but have
since entirely remodeled it. It is 20x100 feet in
dimensions, three stories in height, with a base
ment, and is also supplied with an elevator. The
firm do both a wholesale and retail business, deal
ing extensively in provisions, and are numbered
among the leading commission merchants of
Orange County.
In Newburgh Mr. Mathews wedded Miss Mary
McCartney, who was born in Binghamton, N. Y.,
and is a daughter ofthe late Robert McCartney,
formerly a mason in Newburgh. Four children
have come to bless this union: James R., who is
in business with his father; Edwin T., Charles
P. and Catherine M. Mr. Mathews is connected
with several orders, being a member of Newburgh
Lodge No. 309, F. & A: M.; Highland Lodge
No. 65, I. O. O. F. (which he represented in the
Grand Lodge in New York); and also ofthe en
campment, and in the last two orders has filled
nearly all the offices. He is a member of the
Butchers and Grocers' Association of Newburgh,
of which he has been President; and also belongs
to the Board of Trade. In political sentiment he
isa Republican, always giving his support to that
party.
"pQlLLIAM H. BURTON. Among the na-
\ A / tive sons of this state is this worthy gentle-
V V man, a prominent contractor and builder
of Newburgh. He was born in Milton, July 21,
1849, and is the son of George F. Burton, a na
tive of Leicestershire, England. His grandfa
ther, Joseph Burton, also lived and died in that
country, where he was a large land-holder.
The father of our subject was a carpenter by
trade, which business he learned in England.
He was there married, and iu 1839,' accompanied
by his wife and one child, came to America, set
tling at Moodna, N. Y. He later removed to
Milton, where he engaged in contracting and
building. In religious belief he was a Quaker,
and died in the above place in 1851, when thirty
years old. His wife, Martha Ward, also a native of
England, trained her five children to good and use-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

43i

ful lives. She remained in Milton for a time after
the decease of her husband, but later moved her
little family to Pleasant Valley, going from there
to Wooding, and lastly to Newburgh, where her
death occurred when fifty-lwo years of age.
Our subject, although he attended the public
schools of this city, gained most of his education
at Poughkeepsie. When a lad of twelve years
he began working in the cotton-mills, and later
in the chair factory of that city. In 1865 he went
West with his mother to Danville, 111. , near which
place he engaged in farming for three years. Not
being satisfied with the country there, he returned
to Newburgh, where for the following six months
he worked at the mason's trade. He later en
gaged in carpentering under efficient instructors,
remaining with Rider & Tower for about eight
een months. His connection with that firm was
severed on account of their going out of business,
when young Burton entered the employ of John
McClung and continued with him for three years.
He then worked for the firm of Niver & Tice for
about eight years, and after being employed by
other firms until 1888, he bought out the firm
mentioned, and continued the business at No. 3
Front Street. He has erected some of the best
stores and residences in the city, among them be
ing the storehouse of Stocker & Brill, a large and
well constructed edifice.
William H. Burton was married in this city, in
1872, to Miss Vashti Van Keuren, who was born
in 1850 in Bloomingburg, Sullivan County. Her
father, Syrenus Van Keuren, was a blacksmith
and wagon-maker in Bloomingburg, and during
the war the latter's sou, Charles B., was Post
master in that village. Her father was of German
descent, but was born in New York. To Mr.
and Mrs. Burton were born six children, two of
whom are living, namely: William H., Jr.,
who is working for his father; and Abram V., a
graduate of Spencer's Business College, who is
engaged in the grocery business in Newburgh.
Mr. Burton is a member of Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, and iu politics never fails to
cast a vote in favor of Republican principles and
candidates. Socially he is a member of the An-
golian Building Association, as is also his son,

William H. Mr. Burton is a successful business
man and commands the high regard and respect
of all who know him.
Of the brothers and sisters of onr subject we
make the following mention: Ada, Mrs. Charles
Brooks, resides at Moodna. Zillah, Mrs. James
H. Smith, makes her home at Salisbury; her hus
band served all through the Civil War under two
enlistments. Joseph saw two years' service in
the late war, and was in the Seventh New York
Battery; he is now a resident of Chicago, where
he works at the carpenter's trade.

ULLIAM H. EDSALL, M. D., a popular
and successful physician of Highland Falls,
is a graduate from the regular school of
medicine, and has been practicing his profession
here since April, 1878. During the intervening
years he has built up a large and lucrative patron
age, and is well deserving of the success which
has attended his labors.
William Edsall, the father of our subject, was
a native of Roxbury, N. Y., and for many years
was a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Dela
ware County. He departed this life at Harpers-
field, that county, in the spring of 1895, when
sixty-nine years of age. His wife, formerly Sarah
J. Swartwout, of Tompkins County, is living in
Harpersfield, Delaware County. She became the
mother of four sons and one daughter, of whom
William H. was the eldest. Anna is living on the
old homestead; Arthur is a blacksmith of Har
persfield; Irving is a prominent physician of
Herkimer County; and James M. is Principal of
one of the grammar schools in Brooklyn, N. Y.
The subject of this sketch was born in Dela
ware County, on the nth of December, 1852, and
was brought up to farm work. Up to the time of
reaching his sixteenth year he attended the dis
trict schools, and then was sent to Stamford Semi
nary, in Delaware County, where he was a stu
dent for a period of three years. During his
school life he was thrown a great deal in the so-

432

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ciety of his uncle, Dr. Henry M. Edsall, a noted
physician, and when choosing that profession for
his life work studied under his instruction until
the death of that gentleman. He later entered
the Albany Medical College, from which he was
graduated in the spring of 1877 with the degree
of Doctor of Medicine. Very soon thereafter he
located at Highland Falls, where he has spent
many of the best years of his life ministering to
the sick of this locality. He is engaged in gen
eral practice, and stands high among his brethren
in the profession.
In the fall of 1877 Dr. Edsall was married to
Miss Lucy Phillips, of Wurtsboro, N. Y. , and to
them has been born a daughter, Florence. In
religious connections our subject is a Presby
terian. Socially he is a Knight of Honor and a
Knight of Pythias, and in politics never fails to
give his support to the candidates of the Demo
cratic party. He takes an active interest in the
welfare and improvement of the community in
which he lives, and is known as a man of ex
emplary life and honorable principles.

HENRY M. LEONARD. The popularity
of Mr. Leonard among the citizens of New
burgh is evidenced by the fact that, having
been nominated on the Democratic ticket in the
spring of 1890 for the office of City Collector, he
was elected by a majority of eleven hundred and
seventy-five, notwithstanding the fact that the
city is strongly Republican. He entered upon
the duties ofthe office in March, 1890, and served
with the greatest efficiency until the expiration of
his term, in March, 1893. P°r two months after
ward he had charge of an estate in New York
City for the administrator. In July, 1893, he
became connected with the Weston Transfer
Company, the largest business of the kind in
Newburgh, and of this he has since been Super
intendent, relieving Major Weston of the detail
work connected with the enterprise.
The members of the Leonard family have al
ways been popular among the citizens of New
burgh, and this was especially true of our sub

ject's father, Chauncey M., who, though passed
from earth more than twenty years ago, is still
remembered with affection by the older residents
ofthe city. He was born here in 1825, in a house
that occupied the site of the Bigler Building, cor
ner of" Third and Smith Streets. He was early
orphaned by the death of his father, who was
called from this life at the age of thirty. After
having attended the Newburgh Academy for
some years he went to New York and learned the
trade of a painter. First as one of Hose Company
No. 8, and later of Engine Company No. 5, he
was identified with the old volunteer fire depart
ment of the metropolis, and was elected assistant
foreman ofthe engine company.
At the age of nineteen C. M. Leonard married
Miss Rebecca Smith, of New York City, who died
two years afterward, leaving a daughter, who be
came the wife of Thomas K. Rheutan. In 1848
he was united with Miss Hope Smith, a sister of
his first wife, and they became the parents of ten
children, seven of whom attained years of matur
ity and three are now living. Henry M. is the
subject of this sketch; and James J. is bookkeeper
for S. M. Bull. Mrs. Hope Leonard was born
near Liverpool, in Nova Scotia, and now resides
with her son Henry M.
In 1850 Mr. Leonard returned to his native
city, where he continued to reside until his death.
He was employed as a painter by E. T. Comstock,
and on the death of that gentleman in 1859 the
firm of Ward & Leonard was formed. James J.
Logan was later received into partnership and the
firm name changed to Ward, Leonard & Co. In
time the business reached extensive proportions
and was then, as it still is, one of the most im
portant in the trade in the Hudson River Valley.
While Mr. Leonard served his fellow-citizens in
many useful ways, perhaps in no respect was he
more helpful than through his services in the fire
department. In 1853 he joined Ringgold Hose
Company No. 1, and became assistant foreman.
In 1 86 1 he was chosen Chief Engineer ofthe fire
department, and at each successive election there
after was elected to the same position until
March, 1874, when he was called to take the
higher position of Mayor. After a few months'

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

433

service in the latter office, during which time he
displayed the greatest efficiency and energy, he
died at his residence, No. 62 Ann Street, Decem
ber 3, 1874. The funeral, which was held two
days later, was one of the largest the city has ever
known. Places of business were closed and many
buildings were draped in black. The funeral pro
cession was composed of the city officials, the
clergy and physicians, and fifty Knights Tem
plar, he having been a prominent member of the
latter organization and one of the organizers of
Hudson River Lodge. The funeral discourse was
delivered at Uniou Church by Rev. Wendall
Prime, D. D., and the remains were interred in
St. George's Cemetery.
Reared in Newburgh, where he was born De
cember n, 1852, the subject of this sketch had
excellent educational advantages in early boy
hood, attending the high school and Chapman's
private school. At the age of fifteen he became
a clerk for Ward, Leonard & Co., and remained
in their employ for over twenty years. In 1890,
as above stated, he was elected City Collector, in
which responsible position he rendered satisfac
tory service. In 1873 he joined the Ringgold
Hose Company, of which he is still an active
member, and for three years he served as assist
ant chief engineer of the Newburgh Fire Depart
ment. He is also State Treasurer of the Order
of American Firemen, and formerly held the po
sition of Treasurer of C. M. Leonard Council,
Order of American Firemen. Aside from his
other duties, he is Secretary of the Newburgh
District Telegraph Company. Socially he holds
fraternal relations with Hudson River Lodge,
F. & A. M. A stanch Democrat in politics, he is
one of the leading members of that party in the
city, and is at present serving on the City Demo
cratic Committee. At different times he has rep
resented the party as its delegate in local and
state conventions.
While he had the influence of his father's name
to assist him to a start in life, yet it is but fair to
presume that had Mr. Leonard been the son of a
poor man he would nevertheless have worked his
way to the front, for he possesses the qualities
that almost invariably bring success. He is

known for his sound judgment as a business man
and for the enterprise that has made him willing
to undertake any venture that promises a success
ful termination, while his business transactions
have been conducted with such a regard for fair
ness, honesty and integrity, that not a stain rests
on his reputation.

^~oJ-

&mm##'WB¥g.

WILLIAM W. RUMSEY. This well known
resident of Newburgh is alike prominent
in business, musical and social circles, be
ing in the employ ofthe Pennsylvania Coal Com
pany, a member of Moscow's Orchestra, and Gen
eralissimo of Hudson River Commandery No. 35,
K. T. He was born at No. 11 High Street, New
burgh, May 14, 1850, and is of English de
scent. His father, Alfred T., was born in the
town of Monroe, in 1804, and grew to manhood
on the farm of the grandfather, Jeremiah. Soon
after his marriage he came to Newburgh, and
continued to reside on High Street until his death,
in February, 1878, at the age of about seventy-
four years.
The ^ mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Catherine Alexander, and was born in
Little Britain, Orange County, being a daughter
of James Alexander, an old settler of that local
ity. Concerning the family history, mention is
made elsewhere in this volume, under sketch of
James K. Alexander. She was reared to woman
hood in Little Britain and has spent her entire
life within this county. Having been born in
1 8 13, she is now advanced in years, but retains to
a large degree the possession of her mental facul
ties and physical strength.
The parental family consisted of three sons and
one daughter, all of whom are living. They are
named as follows: James, who is a conductor on
the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad ;
William W., of this sketch; Frank M., who re
sides in Newburgh; and Anna, Mrs. A. E. Mc-
Crea, a resident of New Rochelle, N. Y. The
subject of this sketch was reared in Newburgh,
and in boyhood attended the old high school, now
known as. the Second Ward School, graduating

434

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from it at the age of fourteen. In 1864 he entered
the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company,
beginning at very low wages and in an humble
position, but in 1866 he was promoted to a clerk
ship, and has continued with the firm since, one
of their most trusted employes.
In this city, in 1869, Mr. Rumsey married Miss
Margaret White, who was born here, and is a
lady of culture. In 1871 Mr. Rumsey joined
Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A.M., in which
he served as Junior Warden. He is also identi
fied with Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M., in
which he held an official position for many years.
As above stated, he is the present Generalissimo
of Hudson River Commandery No. 35, K. T.
He belongs to Mecca Temple of the Noble Mystic
Shrine of New York. In the Masonic Veterans'
Association he is an active member, and is serv
ing on one of the committees of that organization.
From the fall of 1868 until the spring of 1872 he
was connected with the Columbian Hose Com
pany No. 2, being its Secretary for two years.
Politically he is an ardent Republican, always
pleased when his party scores a success. Since
1 87 1 he has been identified with musical organi
zations, and now plays the drum in Moscow's
Orchestra. He is particularly interested in mat
ters relating to music, and is a good judge of the
art.

-a — »>K®$i$®H<» — **—*-

gAPT. JOHN N. HOTALING, of Newburgh,
comes from one of the old Holland-Dutch
families of Ulster County, the name having
been originally spelled Houghtaling, but for con
venience it was abbreviated to the present style.
The Captain is a veteran of the Civil War, and
for many years was proprietor ofthe sloop ' 'Henry
Krouse, " which he ran between Rondout and
New York in the general freighting business.
He was captain of this vessel for nine years,
when he sold out his interest and engaged in
building brick barges. In the spring of 189 1 he
leased the northern brickyard owned by Mr. Jova,
and has managed it ever since.

The Captain's paternal grandfather, John I.,
was born in Point Young, Ulster County. The
father, David L- , was a native of the same local
ity, and a farmer by occupation. His wife, who
was Miss Adeline Ellsworth before their marriage,
was also born in Ulster County, and is still liv
ing at Port Young, but her husband is deceased,
his death having occurred at the age of fifty-six
years. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed
Church, and a most worthy man in every particu
lar. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat.
In the parental family were eight children, six of
whom grew to maturity and are still living.
J. N. Hotaling was born in the same locality
as were his parents, February 15, 1848, and was
next to the eldest child. He was brought up to
farm life, and attended the district schools until
his fourteenth year, when for two seasons he was
steward or cook on a Hudson River sloop. Then
for a year he ran on the schooner "Peter Rud
der," and for the three years following was on a
Delaware & Hudson River coal barge, which
brings his history up to the spring of 1865. At
that time he enlisted and went South, subse
quently being assigned to Company D, Ninety-
second New York Infantry, and was mustered
into the service in February. After going to the
front, he did duty in various parts of Virginia un
til the close of the war, being afterward retained
for the protection of citizens until the last part of
February, 1866. At that time he was mustered
out and honorably discharged at City Point, his
regiment being the. last one to be released. For
a year subsequently the Captain sailed on the
sloop "Iowa," of which he was mate for the next
three years, and finally, as previously stated,
bought the "Henry Krouse," of which he was
captain some nine years.
About the year 1880 Mr. Hotaling built the
barge "Abraham Hyde," which had a capacity
of one hundred and eighty thousand brick. This
boat he ran from Port Ewen to New York for a
year, and then for two years between Haverstraw
and New York. At that time he disposed of his
interests in her, but continued to operate the
barge for two years more, when he constructed
the barge known as "J. J. J. No. 1." Later he

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

435

built "J. J. J. No. 2," and still later the "J. J. J.
No. 3." each of which barges he ran for two
years. He still owns a part interest in these, in
connection with Mr. Jova.
In the spring of 1891 the Captain leased the
new yards of the Jova Brick Works, the business
of which has since greatly increased. Three ma
chines are kept running, each haying a capacity
of twenty-two thousand brick per day. There
are large sheds, kilns and improved appliances
now used in the manufacture of brick in the yards,
and about seven and one-half million of brick
have been turned out per annum. Employment
is given to about fifty hands and shipments are
made direct to New York City. The engine which
supplies power for the machinery is one of one
hundred and twenty horse-power.
In 1882 Mr. Hotaling and Laurane Tremper
were married in Port Ewen, of which place the
lady is a native. Her father, Capt. McGregor
Tremper, was a ship-carpenter by trade, and sail
ed on steamers plying the Hudson. Mrs. Hotal-
ing's grandfather was the owner ofa shipyard at
South Rondout. The Captain and his wife have
three bright children, Grover Cleveland, Nellie
Newton and Lottie. The family residence is at
Port Ewen; a pretty village just across the line in
Ulster County. The Captain is a member ofthe
American Reformed Church, and holds the office
of Deacon in the congregation. Socially he is
identified with the Knights of Pythias.

&+£i

^3

"TBENEZER C. LIKELY, junior member of
*3 the firm of Likely Bros. , has been engaged
__ in business at Highland Falls since May 1 ,
1876. The firm has a finely fitted up meat-mar
ket, keeping constantly on hand all kinds of fresh
meat, fish, canned goods, vegetables, etc., and
commands a good share of the patronage of the
best residents of the place. The business was
established by their father, William C. Likely,
formerly one of the well-to-do residents of High
land Falls. He is now deceased, having passed
away at the age of seventy -three years.
The father of our subject was born in Putnam

County, N. Y., and for many years of his active
life was an agriculturist of prominence in the
Putnam Valley. He later engaged in the meat
business in Highland Falls, owning the market
which is now carried on by his two sons. He
was married to Julia Smith, of Putnam County,
who lived to be eighty-seven years of age. To
them was born a family of seven children, of
whom the eldest, Martha, is deceased; Elizabeth
is the widow of Edward L. Buckber, and makes
her home in New York City; John S. is engaged
in business with our subject; Emeline makes her
home in this city; James Henry died in infancy;
the subject of this sketch was the next-born; and
William G., the youngest, is deceased.
Ebenezer C. Likely was born in the Putnam
Valley, April 30, 1852. His boyhood days were
passed on his father's Putnam County farm, where
he acquired a thorough knowledge of agriculture.
His education was acquired in the schools of that
locality, which were not of the best. He has,
however, gained knowledge by observation and
business experience, so that he is to-day one of
the best informed young men ofthe locality.
When eighteen years of age our subject went
to Hudson, and later to New York City, where he
served an apprenticeship of four years at the car
penter's trade. Being a natural mechanic, it came
very easy for him to handle tools, and he very soon
became an expert workman, successfully following
his trade in that city until twenty-eight years old.
He was ambitious to gain a good start in life, and
by saving his money was enabled, on the death of
his father, to go into partnership with his brother,
they purchasing the interest of the other heirs in
the business in which they are now so prosper
ously engaged.
Mr. Likely was married, in October, 1877, to
Miss Eliza Lent, of Highland Falls. Their two
children are Alice, sixteen years of age; and Sa
rah, who is fourteen. They are both being given
every advantage to gain a splendid education and
are bright and accomplished young ladies. In
politics Mr. Likely is a Republican, tried and true,
and in social affairs is a Knight of Pythias and a
Knight of Honor. Mrs. Likely belongs to the
Methodist Episcopal Church, but although our

436

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

subject is a thoroughly honest and upright citi
zen, he is not identified with any religious organiz
ation. His father, however, was a Baptist, and
his mother a member of the Methodist Church.
He takes great interest in local matters, and is one
of the enterprising business men of the place.

^????????????^???????????•KX>
0R. LENDON S. STRAW, who is a promi
nent dentist of Newburgh, and is a leader
in business and social circles as well, has
conducted a successful practice here since 1857.
He was born in Hopkinton, N. H., January 22,
1825, and is a son of Dr. Samuel and Malinda
(Colby) Straw, both natives of Hopkinton. The
Straw family was founded in America by three
brothers, who left England to come to America,
settling in New Hampshire. The grandfather,
Samuel Straw, served in the War of 18 12.
The father of our subject graduated from Dart
mouth College with the degree of M. D., and
practiced medicine about twelve years iu New
Hampshire, when he went to Boston and studied
dentistry with Drs. Harwood and Tucker. Iu
1837 he went to Bangor, Me., where he practiced
dentistry until the breaking out of the Civil War,
when he became Surgeon of the Eleventh Maine
Regiment. He assisted in the organization of
two companies, and was made Captain of the last,
but as he could not stand the arduous service, he
resigned. After attending a course of lectures in
Dartmouth College, where he formerly gradu
ated, he was appointed by General McDougal as
Surgeon in the regular army, being stationed
first at Lansingburg, above Troy, N. Y., and
later at the prisoner hospital at Elmira, this state,
where he remained until the close of the war. He
then came to the home of our subject, where his
last days were spent, he dying in 1884. For some
time he engaged in practice in connection with
his son. He was quite a prominent man, being
held in the highest respect by all who knew him,
He was first a Whig, and, being a strong Aboli
tionist, on the formation of the Republican party
he joined its ranks.
Dr. L- S. Straw is the only surviving member

ofthe family, which comprised three sons. He
studied dentistry with his father, and at the age
of eighteen opened an office in Lowell, where he
practiced for sometime, and then removed to Ban
gor, Me. In 1849, on account of ill health, he
decided to go to California, and took passage on
the sailing-vessel "Sulliote," going by way of
Cape Horn, and was one hundred and fifty-six
days in making the trip. On landing at San
Francisco, he at once proceeded to the Southern
Mines on the Mokelumne River, where he was
engaged in mining through the winter. He then
located in San Francisco, where he engaged in
the practice of his profession, and during his resi
dence there served as one of the Vigilance Com
mittee. Those were trying times, and the good
men of the community had to do all in their pow
er to preserve order. He later operated a quartz
mine in the interior, but iu 1854 returned East by
the Isthmus route, going by way of the Pacific
Mail to Panama, and by steamer from Aspinwall
to New York. This journey occupied twenty-
two days.
Dr. Straw then remained in practice in Bangor,
Me., until 1857, when, on the ist of July of that
year, he located in Newburgh, entering into part
nership with Dr. Royce, which connection con
tinued for five years, and iu 1864 he established
his present office at the corner of Water and Sec
ond Streets. His practice has grown to such pro
portions that he requires the help of an assistant.
He is one of the best dentists of Orange County ,
ranking high among his brother practitioners.
At Poughkeepsie, N. Y. , Dr. Straw was united
in marriage with Miss Mary Phalen, a native of
Vermont, but who passed her girlhood in Pough
keepsie, this state. To them has been born a
daughter, Malinda. The family now resides at
the pleasant home which the Doctor erected at
No. 197 Grand Street. He is a charter member
of the City Club, of which he has been a Director
since its organization, and at the erection of the
club house was Chairman of the Building Com
mittee. He is a member of the Board of Trade,
and in Masonic circles stands high, being a mem
ber ot Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. &. A. M.,
of which he was Master for three years, and Dis-

CHARLES H. MEAD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

439

trict Deputy Grand Master two years. He is
also identified with Highland ChajDter No. 52,
R. A. M. ; and Hudson River Commandery No.
35, K. T. Religiously he is an Episcopalian, be
longing to St. George's Church of Newburgh. ¦
His first vote was in support of the Whig party,
a"nd since the organization of the Republican
party he has been one of its ardent adherents.
The Doctor has always been active in advanc
ing his profession. He became a charter member
of the State Dental Association in 1868, with
which he has ever since been prominently con
nected, having served as its President for three
years, during which time he did much for its suc
cess. Dr. Holmes and himself were sent as a
committee to the Legislature to ask for the pass
age of a bill which required all dentists in the
future to hold a diploma. It was passed and
signed by Governor Robinson, and through the
influence of the State Society it has since been
greatly amended. The state is divided into eight
judicial districts, each having a dental society,
and he became the second President of the Second
District Dental Association, of which he is still
an active member. The Doctor has been con
nected with various enterprises in Newburgh,
where he is numbered among her honored and
most highly respected citizens.
^==0#P  ' .

EHARLES H. MEAD, ofthe firm of Mead &
Taft, at Cornwall, is well known throughout
the state. The business of the firm was es
tablished by our subject in 1853, and in 1861 the
present partnership was formed. The firm deal
extensively in lumber, coal and building supplies
of all description, and also conduct a real-estate
business, and their reputation as contractors and
builders is one of which they may well be proud,
and from the time the business was established,
trade has increased year by year. On the 29th
of March, 1879, the firm met with a serious
loss in the burning of their building, but with
characteristic energy a large and commodious
building was at once erected and their business
continued without delay. At the present time

they have in their employ over six hundred men,
their trade extending almost throughout the en
tire state. They have manufactured many port
able cottages for watering-places and have had the
contracts for the erection of many large and ex
pensive buildings in New York and its suburbs.
Joseph N. Mead, the father of our subject, was
born near Norwich, Conn., and while a young
man removed to Cold Spring, Putnam County,
N. Y. , where he was engaged in running a sail
ing-packet which carried passengers and freight
from Albany to New York. He subsequently
ran the boat from Cold Spring to New York, con
tinuing thus engaged until the destruction of his
vessel by fire. He was among the early sailing
masters on the Hudson River, and was well and
favorably known through a large section of coun
try. After the burning of his vessel he located at
Garrison's Landing, Putnam County, and built a
dock, a residence and a store, continuing in trade
there until the time of his death, which occurred
in 1 84 1. He married Phoebe Garrison, a daugh
ter of Judge Harry Garrison, a representative
of one of the families who early settled on Long
Island. Judge Garrison was for many years
prominently identified with Putnam County and
was a man of sterling character. He was the
owner of slaves, but gave them their liberty as
early as 1823. Joseph N. and Phoebe (Garrison)
Mead were the parents of six children. Mary
Jane, now deceased, who married James D. Fau-
rot, of Ft. Montgomery; Joseph Henry, deceased;
Hannah Elizabeth, widow of Sylvanus Coursun;
William Augustus, who passed away in child
hood; Charles Henry, our subject; and Sidney,
who died in infancy. The mother died in Janu
ary, 1879. The paternal grandparents of our sub
ject were Abrani and Hannah Mead, and the lat
ter's father, Abram, was at one time the sole
owner of Cold Spring, Putnam County, N. Y.
The paternal great-grandmother was Elizabeth, a
daughter of General Nicholson, of Revolutionary
fame. Charles Henry Mead, who was born in Putnam
County July 24, 183 1, remained with his parents
until nine years of age, receiving his primary ed
ucation under the direction of Rev. Mr. Williams,

44°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

an Episcopal clergyman. In 1841 he went to live
with his sister, Mary Jane Faurot, at Ft. Mont
gomery, where his education was continued in
the common schools. When seventeen years old
he came to Cornwall and engaged to learn the
trade of a carpenter with Daniel Taft. In June,
1854, he was united in marriage with Mary E.
Taft, and their union has been blessed with twelve
children. Charles, who has charge of the hard
ware store, married Eva Brooks, and they have
three children, Laura, Elting and George. Liz
zie, who married Charles Mahler, is the mother
of two children, James and Charles. Minnie,
who married Andrew B. Ryer, has two children,
Edith and Willie. Clara married Dr. Shelden,
of New York, and they have two children, Mar
garet and Olia. Harry, who is engaged in the
shipping business in New York, married Marietta
Reynolds, who died leaving two children, Harold
and John. Jennie, now the wife of Robert Tut-
tle, resides in New York. The remaining chil
dren, who are yet unmarried, are Frank, Ida,
Lula, Clifton, Mabel and Walter. All have had
excellent opportunities for an education, receiv
ing instruction in private schools.
Upon all national issues Mr. Mead is a Repub
lican, but locally is not a strict party man. So
cially he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight
of Honor. In the Odd Fellows' lodge he is Past
Grand, was for two years District Deputy, and
has been Treasurer ofthe Knights of Honor since
its organization. All the family but the young
est are members of the Episcopal Church, of
which Mr. Mead is Senior Warden.

Gz

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(JOSEPH H. ADOLPH, who is proprietor of
I the Highland Meat-market, has one of the
(2/ best locations in the city, and since 1886,
when first establishing in business here, has con
ducted a paying business. His father, who also
bore the given name of Joseph, served as a soldier
in the regular army for about twenty-three years,
and iu the late war was a member of a detach

ment of artillery stationed at West Point. He
was a native of Alsace and was born in 1829.
His father, the grandfather of our subject, served
through all the campaigns of Napoleon, and was
a pensioner of the French Government for many
years. The mother of our subject, who was of German
descent, departed this life when Joseph H. was
quite young. His brother, John A., is a farmer
of Orange County, and Maggie makes her home
in Highland Falls.
The subject of this sketch was born December
17, 1857, in Highland Falls, where he spent his
youthful days. He was not given many oppor
tunities for gaining an education, but the experi
ence which he has obtained since embarking in
life on his own account has made him a practical
business man. He is a natural mechanic and has
the faculty of doing well whatever he undertakes.
When a lad of eleven years our subject began
the struggles of life. His natural aptness and
energy, however, were strengthened and devel
oped by contact with the world, resulting in mak
ing him more than ordinarily successful. His
first work was in a grocery store, he remaining in
the employ of one man for a period of ten years,
and as he made himself useful to those about him
he was a trusted employe. At the end of that
time he determined to see something of the world
and made his way to Milwaukee, where he re-
remained for a number of years, working for the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Com
pany. He was steady and temperate in his hab
its, and it was not long before he was recognized
as a very valuable man in the yards, where he
was engineer. He was promised a run on the
road, but his services were so satisfactory that he
was retained in his former capacity until resigning,
some time thereafter, at which time he was given
a recommendation by the company, stating that
he was an excellent and trusted employe and that
he resigned on his own account. Mr. Adolph
then returned East, and for a few years made his
home in Connecticut, where he engaged as a ma
chinist at the Russel & Irwin Screw Factory at
New Britain. Later the idea of starting in busi
ness for himself presented itself; and, coming to

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

441

Highland Falls, he embarked in the meat trade,
in which he has continued ever since. He has
invested considerable of his surplus capital in
property in the city and is regarded as one of the
substantial and well-to-do business men of the
place. As we have already shown, he started
out in life without means, and his present high
standing attests his ability as a man of business
and shows what can be accomplished by deter
mination and hard work .
May 4, 1885, Mr. Adolph and Miss Mary Cam
pion, of Hartford, Conn., were united in mar
riage. To them have been born three children,
Joseph Henry, Mary and Raymond. Although
in no sense ofthe word a politician, yet our sub
ject never fails to cast his vote during elections,
usually favoring Democratic candidates. He is
a member of the Catholic Benevolent Legion, in
which he has life insurance to the amount of
$1,000, is also insured in the Mutual Life of Hart
ford for the same amount, and holds a policy for
$1,000 in the Germanic Company.

V>JAX E. REPPENHAGEN. Through the
Y medium of his inventions Mr. Reppenha-
(g gen has gained a national reputation, and
probably no citizen of Highland Falls is more
widely known than he. He is known as the in
ventor of the Reppenhagen Reversible and Self-
adjusting Razor Strop, of which one hundred
thousand are sold annually. The strop is the re
sult of the study of years, and is a combination
of two carefully prepared strops, one of selected
leather and the other of t cotch linen duck seam
less hose canvas. It is especially valuable on ac
count of the fact that it can be reversed length
wise, is guaranteed to adjust itself to the razor
in any position, and has a swivel attachment at
one end and a handle at the other, by which means
either the canvas or the leather can be turned up
at will.
In addition to the manufacture of the strop,
Mr. Reppenhagen has made a specialty of the
preparation of the glycerine cream shaving and
shampooing soap, which those who have tried

every kind claim has no equal. To prevent un
due waste of the soap, the Reppenhagen Soap
Supporter was invented and patented. It is a lit
tle platform on which the soap is placed, and the
whole is supported by a spring of sufficient elas
ticity, so that a slight pressure with the brush
will partly immerse the soap in the water and as
soon as released will again take its position above
the water, thus preventing waste.
The merits of the Reppenhagen razor strop
having been thoroughly tested, it has been adopt
ed by the United States Government and is being
purchased by the Commissary General, United
States Army, for the use of the regular army.
It is supplied to the cadets of the United States
Military Academy at West Point, and to the ca
dets of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.,
and to many of the Soldiers' Homes. Besides
this, it has been sold in foreign countries and is
gaining increased popularity.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, February 24,
1 85 1, our subject received an excellent German
education, and served in the Franco- Prussian
army. In youth he learned the trade of a coif
feur, which he followed for a time in his native
land. In 1872 he crossed the ocean, landing iu
New York, where he worked at his trade in the
Metropolitan Hotel. Soon afterward he came to
Highland Falls and opened up a business in the
Stephens Hotel, but becoming homesick he re
turned to Germany. He saw, however, that his
native country was not as good a place for a poor
man as was America, and so came back to the
United States, where he has since been content to
remain. A loyal American, he believes in the
institutions fostered by our Government and aids
all puplic-spirited enterprises as much as lies in
his power.
Prior to his return to America, Mr. Reppenha
gen visited England and Ireland, and then, cross
ing the ocean, traveled through Ohio, West Vir
ginia and other states, but finally came back to
Highland Falls. In 1879 he married Anna D.
Stewart, and afterward resided for a time in West
Point, where he was engaged in his profession.
Meantime he patented his valuable improvements
and inventions, and acting on the advice of friends

442

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

organized a stock company. This, however, did
not prove a satisfactory arrangement, and the
corporation was dissolved, each stockholder receiv
ing the full amount of his investment, with six
per cent, interest. From 1889 to 1890 he was in
partnership with a Mr. Johnson, whom he bought
out in the latter year and has since been alone.
The business has been managed scientifically
and successfully, and step by step Mr. Reppen
hagen has advanced until the time is now near at
hand when his will be the most important in
dustry in Highland Falls.
The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Reppen
hagen, Liela, Ernest and Anna, aged respectively
thirteen, ten and eight, are bright and intelligent,
and have a natural talent for music, in which
they are being trained. Our subject is a mem
ber ofthe School Board, and socially is a Mason.
In the Presbyterian Church he is serving as
President of the Board of Trustees. Politically
he has often affiliated with the Democratic party,
but its present position is not in accord with his
views, and he may be classed as independent in
politics.

*^l

m®m

ii*^-

HENRY J. JOVA is manager of the Jova
Brick Works at Roseton, near Newburgh,
which business was established by his fa
ther, Juan J. Jova, a very enterprising and pub
lic-spirited man. The clay bank which is owned
by the family is the highest and largest on the
Hudson River, and by experts is pronounced the
best in the country. The brickyards and kilns
are conveniently located for loading barges with
out undue handling, and the products of the plant
find a large sale in New York City and in towns
along the river, as well as those at more distant
points. Juan J. Jova was born in Villa Clara, Cuba,
while his father, Juan, was born in Spain. The
latter emigrated to Cuba and engaged in sugar-
growing. When a young man Juan J. came to
New York City, and after mastering the English
tongue, started in business, representing his
home plantation and others as a general sugar

broker. When the war came on he lost heavily,
but continued the commission business, and about
1874 purchased the land on which the present
brick plant is located. However, he did not give
up his brokerage business in New York until
1885, at which time he opened a brickyard, con
tinuing to operate the same until his death, which
occurred December 30, 1893, when iii his sixty-
first year. In his political belief he was a Demo
crat, and was always in the front ranks of works
of improvements. When the Catholic Church of
Our Lady of Mercy was constructed on a part of
his homestead he furnished a large share of the
money which was used in building the edifice,
and managed to interest other wealthy men.
The Jova Brickyards properly comprise two
separate yards, one having five machines and the
other three, with a capacity of twenty million
bricks per year. The company owns three barges
known as "J. J. J. No. 1," "J.J.J. No. 2" and
"J. J. J. No. 3," and the brick manufactory also
goes by the three initials, the brand having be
come celebrated. There are two engines used
for running the machinery, one of these being
sixty and the other one hundred horse-power.
Two hundred and fifty men are constantly em
ployed in the yards, and a boarding-house is
operated for their convenience. The firm has a
local agency in New York City and keeps sales
men on the road. The estate of the senior Mr.
Jova also includes a farm of one hundred and
thirty acres. The homestead was one of the most
costly on the Hudson at the time it was built, in
1834. It is constructed of Vermont granite and
cost $70,000.
The wife of Juan J. Jova bore the maiden name
of Marie Vatable. She was born in Guadeloupe,
in the West Indies, and came with her parents to
New York City when only two years old. Her
father, Henry H., a native of the same city, was
a sugar planter and afterwards established a
brokerage house, which still goes by its former
title, H. Vatable & Sons, though he is deceased.
Mrs. Jova is still living, making her home iu the
beautiful residence mentioned above. Of her
eight children, Henry J., of this sketch, is man
ager of the brick works, as before mentioned;

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

443

and the next younger sons, Jules J. and Edward
A., are also connected with the business. Marie,
wife of J. Diego Abreau, is a resident of Cuba.
The younger members of the family are Horteuse,
John, Joseph and Angel.
Henry J. Jova was born in New York June 14,
1872, and in 1891 took charge of his father's
business, in which at present he is acting as his
mother's representative. He is a young man of
good business ability, and is discharging his
duties in a capable manner. Socially he is much
esteemed, being a member of the Newburgh
Canoe Club, the Powelton Club, the Ice Yacht
ing Club of Low Point Lauding, the West
Newburgh Gun Club, and is part owner of the
beautiful ice yacht "Gracilla."

-^-fe

V A OSES F. NELSON. Thereis no man in
Y the vicinity of Highland Falls more widely
(y or better known than the subject of this
sketch, who is the popular Town Clerk. He isa
responsible servant of the people, who at all times
have expressed their full confidence in his ability
and integrity of word and action. He is now
serving his. third term in that office, being elected
by a handsome majority each term. His entire
life has been spent within the limits of this place.
His father, Cornelius Nelson,, was born in the
town of Phillipstown, Putnam County, N. Y.,
May 11, 181 1, and for many years was engaged
in farming on the other side of the Hudson River.
He later engaged in the meat business, and after
disposing of this removed to New York City,
where he was engaged in trucking. About 1848
he came to Highland Falls and for thirty years
was Postmaster here, being the first to hold the
office. At the same time he conducted a thriving
grocery. Later he engaged in the fire-insurance
business, and in this branch gained the hearty ap
proval and patronage of his fellow-townsmen.
The first marriage of Cornelius Nelson united
him with MissE. Meeks, who died in 1863. His
second marriage was with Mrs. Melissa G.

Mearns, the widow of William Mearns. She was
the mother of four children, three of whom are
now living. By her union with Mr. Nelson she
has one child.
The subject of this notice was born at High
land Falls, August 29, 1867. He was early iu
life associated with his father in the insurance
business, the firm operating under the style of
Cornelius Nelson & Son. Since the death of the
former he has conducted it alone and increased
the business of the company to large proportions.
Added to the knowledge which he acquired in
school, he has a good practical business education,
and through determination and ambition to make '
a success of life he is now well-to-do. He repre
sents three of the best fire-insurance companies
in the United States, and besides this is a Notary
Public and a dealer in real estate.
Mr. Nelson was married, September 19, 1893,
to Miss Mary Adolph, a resident of this place.
Socially he is a Knight of Honor and a Knight of
Pythias. Li political affairs he is a true-blue Re
publican and an active worker for that party, at
tending all its county conventions and in every
way assisting its interests. He has held some
public office ever since attaining his majority, first
being Tax Collector, and is now the popular and
efficient Town Clerk, the duties of which office he
is discharging with entire satisfaction. Mrs. Nel
son is a devout Catholic in religion, in which faith
she was reared.

pGJlLLIAM A. KILMER, one ofthe most
I A / clever business men of Newburgh , is Sec-
V V retary and Treasurer of the Kilmer Manu
facturing Company, one of the leading industries
ofthe city. Employment is given to from three
hundred and fifty to four hundred hands, besides
salesmen who travel and sell the company's
products in all parts of the United States, Cuba,
South America and Europe. It is always inter
esting to trace the growth of any of our large
business enterprises from a humble beginning, and
it is especially so in this case. It was as late as

444

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1876 that our subject's father, Augustus Kilmer,
made an invention whereby hay could be effect
ively and cheaply baled. The manufacture of
the article was begun on his farm, but he was soon
unable to meet the demand. Improved machinery
became necessary, and from time to time the works
were enlarged, until in 1879 a factory was opened
at Schenectady. In the fall of 1887, when in
creased facilities were imperatively demanded,
the Newburgh Board of Trade presented induce
ments which led the firm to remove their plant to
this city.
Mr. Kilmer was born in Cobleskill, Schoharie
County, N. Y., August 16, 1866, on the same
farm where his father, Augustus, and grandfa
ther, Daniel, were born and reared. Early in
1700 the great-grandfather of our subject emi
grated from Germany and took up his residence
in the Empire State. Augustus Kilmer was a
successful farmer and made a specialty of raising
hay. It was owing to the fact of the immense
crops of this staple which his farm produced that
he set his wits to work to invent a tie for baling.
He has lived to see the wonderful results of his
enterprise, and is still interested in the business,
though he is now nearly seventy-two years of age.
He was President of the concern until shortly
after the factory was moved to this point, when
he resigned. His wife, Vianna, who is also liv
ing, was born in Schoharie County, being a
daughter of David I. Barney, a farmer of German
ancestry. Mr. Kilmer has been a Democrat since
1873. Of his ten children, the following survive:
Ransome, who is interested in the manufactur
ing company; Martin L-, a Director and shipping
clerk for the same company; T. S., now Presi
dent of the concern; Melvin D., Superintendent
and a Director; E. E., who is the western repre
sentative and resides in Chicago; William A., of
this sketch; Luella, wife of E. Davis, whose
sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; and
Retta and Lemai, who are at home. Irving A.,
who was Vice-President of the company, died in
Newburgh in 1891, and Arthur, who also owned
an interest in the company, died in Schenectady.
When W. A. Kilmer was a youth of thirteen
years he went to Schenectady, and three years

later graduated from the high school. He then
went into the office of the Kilmer Company as
bookkeeper, holding that position and that of
Assistant Secretary until the removal of the
works to Newburgh, soon after which he was
made superintendent, and in January, 1895, was
elected Secretary and Treasurer. The company
has a capital stock of $500,000, but nearly a
million is invested therein. The mills are lo
cated on a tract of twenty-six acres along Quas
saick Creek. The main building is a structure
60x450 feet, being two stories in height, with
three wings, two of these being 40x60, and the
other one 60x80 feet. The iron building or rod
mill is 100x190 feet in size. Here iron bars four
inches square and two feet long are rolled into
wires. No. 5 gauge is rolled out in lengths of
fifteen hundred feet and with only one heating
is made into wire in fifty-five seconds, making
eighteen passes. The automatic reel, and many
of the appliances for working the wire, are in
ventions of the company. In this mill is a
twenty-four-horse engine, which turns out three
hundred tons of wire per day.
In the main building are the kneading-room,
the barbed fence department and the machine-
shop, with one two hundred and fifty and one
seventy-five horse-power engine. The second
floor is occupied by the baled-tie and fence de
partments. Another building, 40x350 feet, is
used for galvanizing the wire, one continuous
operation. The storehouse, 70x180 feet, is used
for the manufactured products, and in addition
to those mentioned there are the oil storehouse,
the paint building and the gas-producing plant,
which supplies seven furnaces and in which eight
tons of coal a day are consumed. A switch from
the West Shore Railroad affords ample shipping
facilities from the different buildings, and there
is also a large raceway and reservoir from the
creek. On the grounds stand three tenement
houses and offices. During the War of the Revo
lution Washington utilized a foundry on this
identical site for the manufacture of army sup
plies. Mr. Kilmer has in his possession some
relics of the war found a year or two since on the
site of their present works. In the fall of 1894

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

445

the company branched out in another direction
as manufacturers of adjustable lawn and field
fencing. The residence of our subject is at No. 26 Henry
Avenue. He was married in Newburgh, in 1892,
to Miss Angelique Parsons, who was born at
Sharon Springs, N. Y., and is the daughter of
Augustus Parsons, a farmer of that locality. The
young couple have a little daughter, Beulah May.
Mrs. Kilmer is a member of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, and is a lady of good education
and social attainments.
Fraternally our subject belongs to Newburgh
Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M. ; Highland Chapter
No. 52, R. A. M.; Hudson River Commandery
No. 35, K. T.; and Mecca Temple, Mystic
Shrine, of New York City. Politically he is
identified with the Republican party.

pCJlLLlAM TOLEMAN. Throughout Or-
\ A / ange County this gentleman enjoys an en-
V V viable reputation as a reliable citizen and
upright man. His career as a farmer has been a
useful and laborious one, and he has the satisfac
tion of knowing that the property of which he is
now the possessor has been accumulated by his
own shrewd, yet always honorable, business tac
tics. In the various callings in which he has
been engaged, he has displayed an unusual
amount of intelligence, and his practical ideas on
all subjects are worthy of commendation.
The farm of which Mr. Toleman is the owner,
and upon which he has resided since 1871, is sit
uated in the town of New Windsor, and compris
es one hundred and twenty-five acres, devoted to
general farm and dairy purposes. A native of
the city of New York, he was born September 2 1 ,
1826, he and his brother James, now of New
burgh, being the only children of William A.
and Elizabeth (Wilson) Toleman, natives, re
spectively, of England and Connecticut. His fa
ther, who was born in 1802, learned the trade of
millwright in his native land, whence in 18 18 he
came to America on a sailing-vessel, the voyage

taking six weeks. Landing in New York City,
he worked at his trade there and in Brooklyn for
a number of years, but in 1840 removed to Or
ange Count)-, settling soon afterward in the city
of Newburgh. There he continued to reside un
til his death, in January, 1871. He was buried
in Mt. George Cemetery, near the place where
for many years he had made his home.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was
Capt. Monmouth Wilson, a gallant soldier in the
War of 18 1 2, who commanded the troops stationed
at Long Island during that conflict. Lewis, our
subject's great-grandfather and the father of the
last-named gentleman, was killed while serving
in the Revolutionary War.
At the time his parents came to Orange County
our subject accompanied them and here he has
since made his home. September 19, 1850, he
married Miss Catherine Fitchie, and they became
the parents of three children, namely: WillardP.,
who was born September 2, 1853, and is now
bookkeeper for E. D. Rierson, of New York;
Agnes, Mrs. James A. McClung, who died in
1891; and Clara C, wife of J. K. Alexander,
formerly Sheriff of Orange County. Mrs. Cath
erine Toleman died iu 1870, and two years later
our subject was united with Miss Susan Mar
shall, who bore him four children, Charles B.,
Mattie, Bessie and Mabel. Charles B., who is a
young man of talent and great promise, is a grad
uate ofthe Newburgh Academy, and at present is
a student in the Union Seminary of New York,
where he is studying for the ministry.
When a mere child our subject became self-
supporting. At the age of eleven years he se
cured a position as clerk in a general store in
Brooklyn, where he gained a good business edu
cation. On coming to Newburgh he opened a
grocery store on Broadway, where at that time
there were only two stores of the kind besides his
own. It was in 1846 that he embarked in the
grocery business, and he continued, conducting a
retail trade, until 1871, when he purchased his
present farm.
The Presbyterian Church finds in Mr. Tole
man one of its active and influential members,
and the town in which he resides justly regards

446

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

him as one of its best citizens. He is a Democrat
in politics and favors all progressive and elevat
ing measures in his community. By close appli
cation to the duties which lie around him, he
ranks among the best agriculturists in this sec
tion, and may justly be proud ofthe fact that his
possessions are the result of his persistent indus
try and good management.

W|AJ. WILBUR H. WESTON, agent for
Y the New York Central, New York & New
V9 England, Newburgh, Dutchess & Con
necticut and West Shore Railroads, and proprie
tor of the Weston Transfer Company of New
burgh, is probably one ofthe best known men of
the Hudson River Valley, and a sketch of his life
will therefore possess more than ordinary inter
est for our readers.
The progenitor of the Weston family in Amer
ica was John Weston, who crossed the Atlantic
from England in 1644 and settled in Reading,
Mass. Our subject's great-grandfather, Jonathan,
a native of Massachusetts, was one of the heroes
of Concord and Lexington, and three of his sons
served through the entire period of the Revolu
tionary War. Grandfather Amos Weston was
born in Reading, Mass. , and was the only mem
ber of the family who settled in New Hampshire.
He established his home in Manchester, and there
died at an advanced age. A cousin of our sub
ject, James A. Weston, was twice Governor of
New Hampshire.
The father of our subject, Harrison Weston,
was born in Manchester, N. H, and in early life
was a merchant, after which for ten years he was
in charge of the locks on the Merrimac River,
between Lowell and Concord. Later he began
farm pursuits, in which he was engaged until his
death at seventy-two years. In religious belief
he was a Presbyterian. His wife, Betsey J., was
born in Litchfield, N. H., and was a daughter of
Josiah Richardson, a farmer of that place and a
Captain in the New Hampshire Militia. The

Richardson family originated in England, and
upon emigrating to this country settled in Read
ing, Mass. Many of its members were active in
the Indian and Revolutionary Wars.
Of six children, all of whom are still living,
the subject of this notice is the third in order of
birth. One of his brothers, William, was a mem
ber of the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery,
and served throughout almost the entire period
of the Civil War, being discharged in 1864 on
account of disability; his home is now in Mat
teawan, N. Y. Wilbur H. was born in Man
chester, N. H., February n, 1851, and in boy
hood attended the public schools of his native
city. After a course of study in the New Hamp
shire Conference Seminary at Tilton, he came to
New York, March 11, 1871, and found employ
ment in a minor position with the Erie Railroad
Company in Newburgh, where he remained un
til July, 1873. He was then appointed agent
of the New York Central & Hudson River, and
of the Dutchess & Columbia Railroads (the latter
now known as the Newburgh, Dutchess & Con
necticut Railroad). In 1882 he was appointed
agent of the New York & New England Rail
road. In 1883 he started the transfer business,
which, requiring at that time only two horses and
three men, increased to such an extent that at
one time nearly a hundred horses were employed.
Major Weston has been identified with many
other enterprises that have proved of benefit to
Newburgh. Active in the projection of the
electric railroad, he was for a time a Director in
the company, but later sold his interest. He was
a promoter of the Fishkill & Matteawan Electric
Street Railroad, and is still a Director. In the
newly built Walden & Orange Lake Road he
was actively interested, and has also been inter
ested in building the electric railway from
Matteawan to Fishkill. He now has engineers
surveying from that point to Wappinger's Falls,
there making connection with the Poughkeepsie
system of electric railroad.
The marriage of Major Weston took place in
this city in 1881, his wife being Mary C, daugh
ter of Henry Hornbeck, and a native of this city .
They are the parents of two children, Ralph and

CAPT. WILLIAM COLEMAN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

449

Justine, who with them occupy the family resi
dence on Grand Street. Mrs. Weston is iden
tified with the American Reformed Church, to
which the Major contributes and the services of
which he attends. Politically he is a Republican.
Interested in Masonry, Major Weston is Past
Master of Hudson River Lodge, Past Com
mander of the Hudson River Commandery,
Trustee of Highland Chapter, R. A. M., and of
the Masonic Hall Association, and a Noble of
Mecca Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of New York
City. In 1877 he helped to organize the Seven
teenth Battalion, New York National Guards, of
which he was made Quartermaster, and later was
promoted to be Captain of Company A, afterwards
becoming Major of the battalion, which office he
held until the disbandment of the troops by act
of the Legislature. From his connection with
military affairs he acquired the title by which he
is familiarly known.
This review of the life of Major Weston, while
it does not present in detail the events of his busy
career, is of sufficient fullness to prove, even to
those wholly unacquainted with him, the fact
that he is one of Newburgh' s most progressive
and enterprising citizens, one who has taken a
warm interest in the development of important
industries, and who has himself been a vital
factor in the growth of the place.
.  ^*£P 

EAPT. WILLIAM COLEMAN, of New
burgh, proprietor of the tug "James J. Lo
gan," has spent his entire life on the Hud
son. He was born near this city in 1834, and is
of Irish descent. The paternal grandfather came
from the Emerald Isle to America, following
farming in Sullivan County, N. Y., and his son,
Dennis Coleman, then a boy, located at Arm
strong, near Newburgh, where for many years he
engaged in gardening. In the spring of 1848,
while crossing the river in a rowboat between
Low Point and Roseton, the father of our subject
was run over by a steamer and drowned. He
was then fifty -three years of age. In politics he
was a Whig, a warm admirer of Henry Clay, and
18

in religious belief was a Presbyterian. His mar
riage united him with Esther Ferguson, who was
born iu the town of Crawford, Orange County,
and was left an orphan when small. She died in
1847, at the age of fifty-two years. In the fam
ily were nine children: John, a river captain, who
died in Newburgh; Virgil, a river captain, who
died in Groveland, Mich., in 1891; Nathan, a
river captain, who was drowned in 1850; Albert,
who also followed the river, and is now living in
Texas; Erastus, who served in the Civil War,
and has for many years been a captain on the
river, and makes his home in New York; Mrs.
Charity Smith, who was drowned with her two
children while in a sloop on the lower Hudson;
Mary A., widow of Samuel B. Goodman, who
was drowned October 27, 1867; William; and
Blake, of New York City, who is also captain of
a steamer. William Coleman was reared in his native coun
ty , and at the age of ten years went on the Hud-
sou with his brother Nathan, on the sloop "Sam
uel Gordon," and was with him when he was
drowned. The steamer "Isaac Newton" ran into
them, tipping over their boat, which was after
ward righted by the steamer wheel, and William
was washed into the cabin, thus escaping with
his life. He afterward refitted that sloop, and
was its captain for three years, running between
New York and Albany. He then sold the vessel
at Norfolk, and upon his return purchased an in
terest in the sloop "Newburgh, of which he was
captain for eight years, running on the Hudson
during the summer, and on the James River in
Virginia during the winter. In 1861 he became
a pilot on the Newburgh & Fishkill Ferry, and
after two years went on the propeller "En-
nis, ' ' towing between Troy and New York. Aft
er a year he returned to the ferry, and in the fall
of 1865 purchased an interest in the sloop "David
Sands," carrying freight between Roseton and
New York for two years.
In 1867 Captain Coleman had another narrow
escape from drowning, being run over by the
steamer "Leo," in the mouth of East River.
This was at two o'clock on the morning of Octo
ber 27, and three men were lost, his partner,

45°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Capt. James Hazzard; his brother-in-law, Samuel
B. Goodman, and a colored man, but Captain
Coleman and his brother Erastus were saved. In
the year 1868 our subject was Captain on the
"Walter F. Brewster," a vessel engaged in the
brick trade from Fishkill to New York. He then
became connected with the towing business, and
formed a partnership with Captain Field in the
spring of 1872, the connection continuing until
the fall of 1893, when both sold out. They bought
several boats and built two tugs, which were
named the "George Field" and "William Cole
man." In 1884 our subject built the tug "James
J. Logan," which he has since operated, engaged
in the towing and dredging business. From 1890
until 1892 he was employed by the Government
on the Raritau River, in carrying dynamite from
New York to New Brunswick, after which he
would tow back a load of rock, and was engaged
in the excavating and dredging business gen
erally. Other interests have also engrossed the atten
tion of Captain Coleman, who is one ofthe origi
nal Directors of the Columbus Trust Company,
and a member of the Newburgh Building and.
Loan Association. He is also the owner of a com
fortable residence at No. 30 Washington Place.
He holds membership with the Associate Re
formed Church, and in his political views is a
Democrat. In 1862, in Marlborough, N. Y., the Captain
married Electa A. Smith, who was born in Wash
ington Place, Newburgh. She died December
11, 1892, in the faith ofthe Methodist Episcopal
Church. She was a member of St. John's Church,
and had the respect of all who knew her.

*N3|£N*

EHARLES A. DIXON, a practical and ex
pert mechanical engineer, is the inventor of
many excellent patents, mainly improve
ments on steam engines. He has made a life
work of his calling, and furnished engines for the
Newburgh Railroad plant, four engines of four

thousand horse-power for a railway company on
Long Island, those used by the Waterbury Elec
tric Railway, besides many others. The majority
of these engines were constructed for electric-
light and electric-railway purposes, and embody
the latest improvements and the highest skill of
mechanism. Mr. Dixon is a member of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which
is international and the most select society of the
kind in the world. He is also an honorary mem
ber of the Association of Stationary Engineers.
Our subject is a native of Newburgh, having
been born here March 8, 1856, to Augustus and
Frances (Green) Dixon. The former was also a
native of Newburgh, where he engaged in mer
chandising. He died almost at the beginning of
his commercial career, but his widow, who was
born in Walden, N. Y., is still living, her home
being in this city. Our subject is an only son,
and on account of his father's death was thrown
upon his own resources when a mere lad. Never
theless he managed to obtain a good general edu
cation, and was a student in the free academy.
As he had always manifested a taste for mechani
cal pursuits, when he was fifteen years of age he
apprenticed himself to a pattern-maker, with the
firm of Whithill, Wood & Co. On completing
his trade he entered the machine-shop, and, un
der the direction of Edgar Penny, took up draw
ing and engineering. When Mr. Penny left the
firm in 1878, young Dixon took his place as su
perintendent of the work, the firm then being
known as Whithill, Smith & Co. In 1892 Mr.
Dixon resigned his position to accept a place as
general agent with Mr. Higginson, and for about
six months was absent in France on business re
lating to the interests of his employer.
Soon after Mr. Dixon returned home he started
the Washington Iron Works, changing the name
to the Dixon Steam Engine Works. His asso
ciates in this undertaking were Gardner Van Os-
trom and Homer Ramsdall. This concern em
ployed from one hundred and seventy-five to two
hundred and twenty-five men, and did a large
business in general foundry and pattern work, in
addition to manufacturing the Dixon-Corliss
Steam Engine. Our subject patented many im-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

45i

provements on this and other engines, and is con
stantly at work devising practical schemes. In
September, 1894, the business was closed on ac
count of the death of Mr. Van Ostrom.
A Mason of high standing, Mr. Dixon belongs
to Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M. ;
Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M,; Hudson
River Commandery No. 35, K. T. ; and Mecca
Temple No. 1 , Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of
New York City. For seven years he served in
the Tenth Separate Company, New York Nation
al Guards, with the rank of Corporal, and be
longs to the Veteran Society of the same. Four
years he served as a member of Washington
Steamer Company, and has ever since been an
honorary member ofthe Lawson Hose Company.
His ballot is used by him on behalf of the nomi
nees and principles set forth by the Republican
party. In 1875 Mr. Dixon and Katie A. Harris were
married in Newburgh. Mrs. Dixon is a native
of this state, having been born in Rossville, in
1857. The couple have two sons and a daughter,
namely: Charles F. , a graduate of the New
burgh Academy, and now studying to become a
pattern-maker; Addie L., a member of the Class
of '96 of the academy; and Warren E.

!— *##+^#-

 9

JOSEPH BROADHEAD. This prominent
resident and business man of New Windsor
is Treasurer, Secretary and Manager of the
Patent Woolen Manufacturing Company, which
makes a specialty of making blankets and over
coatings. Mr. Broadhead was born in Yorkshire,
England, January 24, 1852, and is the son of
James and Mary (Barlow) Broadhead. His fa
ther was a manufacturer in that country, and
came with his family to America in the year
1856, locating at Utica, N. Y. Later he moved
to Madison County, where he manufactured
woolen goods until coming to Cornwall, in 1869.
In that place he was engaged iu running a woolen-
mill, being in business with our subject until
March, 1895, when he retired. The mother of
our subject was born in Epworth, England, and

departed this life in 1893, aged sixty-five. She
reared a family of four children, of whom all are
living. The subject of this sketch obtained his educa
tion iu the common schools and in the Oneida
Conference Seminary at Cazenovia. He later
took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Business
College at Brooklyn, which fitted him for the
work in which he desired to engage. From a
boy he worked off and on in the woolen-mills,
and when only seventeen years of age went to
Seneca Falls, where, with his father, he operated
the woolen-mills known as the Phoenix Mills;
In 1868 he and his father established the mills at
Cornwall. The company was incorporated, our
subject being made Secretary and Superintend
ent, and business was continued until 1884, when
they sold their interest in the mill and moved to
Walden. They incorporated another company
known as the Patent Woolen Company, of which
our subject was elected Secretary and Treasurer.
As before, they manufactured heavy woolen
goods, turning out an average of from four to
five hundred yards per day for a period of five
years. Mr. Broadhead then sold again and leased
his present place, which is also incorporated. It
is fitted up with all desirable machinery, includ
ing patent process needle looms, and is operated
by water-power. It occupies five floors of a
building sixty feet square, with a wing 30x60
feet in size. The first and second floors are de
voted to the manufacture of the goods, the third
is used as a finishing department, while the
fourth and fifth floors are for drying and storage.
Mr. Broadhead sells his own goods on the road,
and has built up a very large and paying busi
ness in this way. The President is Holland Ems-
lie; Col. James W. Meagher is Vice-President,
and Mr. Broadhead is Secretary, Treasurer and
Manager. He is also connected with the Do
minion Blanket and Fibre Company of Montreal,
Canada. Our subject was married in Newcastle, Eng
land, in 1880, to Miss Elizabeth Kyle, who was
born there. To them have been granted two
children, Algernon P. and Mary E.« In politics
Mr. Broadhead is a stanch supporter of Repub-

452

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lican principles and in religious affairs is con
nected by membership with the Episcopal Church.
He may be spoken of as self-made, as he has
worked his way upward until he has acquired a
handsome property and is numbered among the
substantial and valued citizens of the community
in which he lives.

(JOHN DENTON may be considered one of
I the oldest residents of the town of Highland,
(2/ where he has passed his entire life. He was
formerly the owner of the three hundred acre
tract which he now occupies, but in 1894 sold it
to Pierpont Morgan, the well known banker and
financier. On this place, which is pleasantly lo
cated within two miles of Highland Falls, Mr.
Denton erected a comfortable dwelling some
thirty years ago, and in this he now resides, sur
rounded by all of the comforts of life.
James Denton, the father of our subject, who
was a native of this state, was a harness-maker
by trade, but after following this for a number of
years abandoned it in order to engage in farming,
occupying a valuable tract of land near West
Point. The lady to whom he was married was
Hannah McClennan, a native of this town and
the daughter of Hugh and Lavina McClennan.
She departed this life when within fourteen days
of being eighty-eight years old, passing away at
the home of her son at Peekskill. She was the
mother of four children, those besides our sub
ject being Sarah, who died when eighteen years
old; James, who died when seventy-two years
old; and Hugh, who passed away at about thirty
years of age.
Our subject was born in the town of Highland,
tnen known as Cornwall, January 29, 182 1. His
opportunities for gaining an education were very
limited, for at the early age of fourteen years he
was apprenticed to learn the trade of a wagon-
maker. He was thus employed for about five
years when he went to West Point, and was given
a position in the store of John DeWitt, a Govern
ment sutler. Later he moved onto a farm, re
maining on rented property for a period of eleven

years, when he purchased three hundred acres,
the same on which he is now living. It is a very
beautiful and valuable tract of land, and, as be
fore stated, was purchased by a banker, who gave
Mr. Denton a life lease.
For twenty-two years our subject carried on a
thriving business as liveryman at West Point,
disposing of his horses and carriages, however,
in 1890. In 1842 he was married to Miss Rosanna
Mitchell, who was born in Ireland, and whose
parents were also natives of the Emerald Isle.
Her death occurred about three years ago. She
became the mother of two sons, John and Jo
seph, both of whom are deceased, the former
passing away at the age of eighteen years, and
the latter when in his forty-seventh year. The
second marriage of Mr. Denton united him with
Miss Magdaline Bath, who was born in West
Point, and who was the daughter of Michael
and Catherine (Much) Bath.
Iu politics our subject is a Democrat, although
he voted for Abraham Lincoln on serving his
second term. He favors the free coinage of sil
ver, seeing no good reason why the unit of value
should have been changed from silver to gold in
1873. Socially he is an Odd Fellow of good
standing, and in religious matters is a devoted
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
is a pleasant, genial old gentleman, and has been
an interested spectator and active worker in the
development of the country round about for the
last half century. He has many friends through
out the county, who will be pleased to have him
represented in this work.

-J— I  -?>2^®^P®HC;«  « — "-

AMUEL WEED is well and favorably known
to a host of acquaintances in Orange Coun
ty, for he has been long and worthily identi
fied with its farming interests, and everything
about his property indicates that he is an agricult
urist of great energy and discrimination. Upon
his present farm in the town of New Windsor he
has made his home almost uninterruptedly since

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

453

1839, an(l during all the intervening years has
given his attention to its cultivation. The place
consists of seventy-eight acres, improved with a
substantial set of buildings, good fences and mod
ern machinery, and is justly considered one of the
best estates in the town.
The Weed family have been established in
America for several generations, and the grand
father of our subject was a soldier in the Revolu
tionary War. The father, Samuel, Sr., was a
native of Ulster County, N. Y., but removed
thence to Orange County, where the greater por
tion of his life was passed. In his family there
were four daughters and six sons, of whom the
only survivor is the subject of this notice. The
latter was born upon a farm in the town of New
burgh, February 20, 1813, and at an early age
gained a thorough knowledge of agricultural pur-
Suits. Much of his time was devoted to farm
work, though such intervals as he had were given
to his studies, which were carried on in the pio
neer schools of the period. At the age of nine
teen he began in life for himself, and since that
time has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable
property, the result of his own energetic efforts.
September 23, 1836, occurred the marriage of
Samuel Weed to Miss Jane H. Morrison, and
they became the parents of three children, namely :
Sarah J.; Harriet, who died in 1878; and Samuel
K., a farmer of this town. The only son married
Miss Emma McCartney, and they have three chil
dren, Clarence K., Marion H. and Maria G.
Upon starting out in life, Mr. Weed cultivated
a portion of his present farm for some years, and
iu 1839 settled on the place where he has resided
continuously since, with the exception of two
years. To his original tract of seventy-one acres
he has added fifteen and a-half acres, and has
placed the land under excellent cultivation, mak
ing it one ofthe best estates in the neighborhood.
He met with a heavy loss in the death of his
wife, who passed away in 1883 and was buried iu
the Patton Cemetery. A lady of many noble
traits of character', she endeared herself to her as
sociates, and was beloved by all who knew her.
While Mr. Weed has never displayed any parti
sanship in political . matters, he is a loyal Demo

crat and uniformly supports the platform of his
party. He has never been an office-seeker, how
ever, preferring to devote his time to his farming-
interests, in which he has met with signal suc
cess. His prosperity is the reward of his own ef
forts, and he is truly a self-made man,* deserving
all the praise which that term implies.

HON. ABRAM S. CASSEDY. It may with
justice be said that no attorney in the val
ley of the Hudson has displayed more pro
found knowledge of the law or keener discrimina
tive qualities than the gentleman whose name in
troduces this sketch, and who is conceded to stand
among the leading members of the Bar in the
state. With his son, William F., he conducts a
large and remunerative general practice, extend
ing into the various courts. Since 1865 his
offices have been located on Third Street, where
he occupies two floors, and he has one of the
most extensive law libraries in Orange County.
In the neighboring county of Rockland, in the
town of Ramapo, the subject of this notice was
born November 28, 1833. On the paternal side
he is of Irish descent, his grandfather, Archi
bald Cassedy, who was born on the 21st of No
vember, 1757, having emigrated from the North
of Ireland about the time of the Revolution and
settled near Ramapo, where he engaged in farm
pursuits. He possessed the indomitable industry
and moral principles characteristic of the Scotch-
Irish, and became a prosperous agriculturist. In
religious belief he was a Presbyterian. He mar
ried Elizabeth Sherwood, daughter of Dr. Sher
wood, a lady of English descent, and died in
18 19, his wife surviving him; she lived to reach
the age of ninety-six years. Among their chil
dren was Archibald, our subject's father, who
was born in Ramapo, August 28, 1794, and who
engaged in farming and merchandising in his
native place. In the War of 181 2 he was Lieu
tenant and Adjutant. From 1844 to 1847 he
was Sheriff of Rockland County, having been
elected to that office upon the Democratic ticket.

454

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

At a somewhat advanced age he moved to Brook
lyn, and there died in 1862, aged sixty-seven
years. The mother of the subject of this sketch, Lydia
Gurnee, was born iu Ramapo, December 3, 1796,
and died ih Brooklyn, N. Y., aged eighty- seven
years. The Gurnee family was of Huguenot
origin, and the name was originally Gamier, the
ancestor living in Paris. Isaac Gamier, a de
scendant, lived in Westchester County, and died
leaving a wife, Elizabeth, and three children, one
of whom was Francois. He moved to a place
that was then known as Kakiat, now iu the town
of Ramapo, in 1729. He left ten children, one of
whom was John, born in 1729, who married
Abigail Coe, daughter of John Coe. They left
several children, one of whom was John J., born
March 13, 1763, who married Nancy Stryker, of
New Jersey, who was of Holland descent. They
left several children, and among them was Lydia,
our subject's mother. Of her union, four children
were born, of whom Abrani S. is the only son and
now the only survivor. His education was com
menced in the district schools and further prose
cuted in the Normal School of Albany, from
which he-was graduated. Ambitious to enter the
legal profession, he began the study of law under
Judge Frazer, of Rockland County, later reading
with Wilkin & Gott, of Goshen. Shortly after
his admission to the Bar in 1857, he was appoint
ed Deputy County Clerk under Charles Drake,
and served in that capacity for two years, after
which he opened an office for the practice of his
profession in Newburgh.
While in the main Mr. Cassedy has devoted his
attention to professional duties, yet he has at
times been chosen to serve his fellow-citizens in
au official capacity. Though invariably declin
ing nominations for legislative or congressional
positions, he has always been willing to promote
the welfare of Newburgh by accepting such posi
tions as it seemed best, in the interests of the peo
ple, for him to fill. In 1862 he was elected Dis
trict Attorney of Orange Comity, and continued
in that position until 1865 In 1880 and 1881 he
was elected Mayor on the Democratic ticket, not
withstanding the fact that Newburgh usually

gives a large Republican majority. During his
administration the Quassaick Creek Bridge was
built, the West Shore Railroad was commenced,
and the first steps were taken to perfect arrange
ments for the Centennial Celebration.
From 1869 to 1883 Mr. Cassedy was in part
nership with Charles F. Brown, the firm of Cas
sedy & Brown acquiring a large clientage. The
connection was dissolved when Mr. Brown be
came a Judge ofthe Supreme Court. Since 1886
Mr. Cassedy has been in partnership with his son,
under the firm name of A. S. & W. F. Cassedy.
In 1875 he was chosen Corporation Counsel, fill
ing the position for three years. In 1874 he was
made a member of the Board of Education, and
served one year as its President, declining nomi
nation for a second term.
Perhaps Mr. Cassedy gained greater distinc
tion through his connection with the West Shore
Railroad than in any other enterprise with which
he has been identified. He was attorney at New
burgh for the North River Construction Company,
that built the West Shore Road. In behalf of the
company his firm paid out about $700,000 to pro
cure the right of way through the city and im
mediate vicinity. He was local attorney for the
West Shore, and afterward for the receivers. In
October, 1885, the court appointed him referee in
the matter ofthe foreclosure sale of the road, and
in November of that year he sold the road at the
Newburgh Court House for $22,000,000, and dis
tributed the proceeds among the creditors. It is
worthy of note that in making this distribution,
he issued one check for $1,068,000, and three
others for more than $500,000 each. Formerly
he was local attorney for the Erie, and now holds
a similar position with the West Shore and Wall-
kill Valley Railroads.
For many years Mr. Cassedy has been a Direc
tor of the Quassaick National Bank and is also
its attorney. His property interests in Newburgh
and St. Paul are valuable and extensive. In
partnership with E. T. Skidmore, he bought the
A. J. Downing property of ex-Mayor Carson in
1889, and on a portion of this he erected a hand
some residence for his family. In 1861 he was
united in marriage with Miss Margaret J. Drake,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

455

who was born in Ulster County, and is a daugh
ter of Dr. Charles Drake, a prominent physician
of Newburgh and at one time Clerk of Orange
County. They have two sons, William F. and
Frank H., and both were admitted to the Bar on
the same day, the former being in partnership
with his father, while the latter is engaged in
practice alone. Socially Mr. Cassedy is a de-
mitted member of the Masonic fraternity. In
religious belief he is a Presbyterian and is Trus
tee of the First Church.

Gz

{zT

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?m \^n

EAPT. ANDREW JACKSON TREMPER is
one of the oldest river captains now sailing
on the Hudson, and since 1886 has been a
resident of Newburgh. In 1894 he took charge
of the freight and passenger steamer ' 'Peekskill, ' '
which plies between. New York and the village
after which it is named. There are few whose
record of life on sailing crafts extends over a
period of half a century, as does his own, for he
was only a lad of nine years when, in 1845, he
became assistant cook on the sloop "Mary Wall
ing," and from that time until the present he has
served in one capacity or another on various
kinds of ships and steamers.
Our subject was born in Clarkstown, Rockland
County, N. Y., August 18, 1836, and his father,
Jacob J., was also a native of that county. The
paternal great-grandfather of the Captain served
in the War ofthe Revolution, and was one ofthe
early settlers of Rockland County. His wife lived
to attain the extreme old age of one hundred and
seven years. Grandfather Tremper, who was a
hero of the War of 18 12, was the proprietor of a
small farm and was a shoemaker by trade. The
family is of Holland-Dutch descent, and has long
been numbered among the sturdy and patriotic
residents of the Empire State. Jacob J. Tremper,
like his father, followed the shoemaker's trade,
but devoted his last years to agriculture. He
died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of which he was a stanch adherent, when

seventy-one years old. His wife, who bore the
maiden name of Catherine Gootchess, was of
French descent and a native of Rockland Count)-.
Her death occurred when she was about forty-
eight years of age.
Captain Tremper is the fourth in a family of
eight cliildren, two of whom are deceased. His
boyhood was passed in his native county, on his
father's farm, and, as previously stated, he was
in his tenth year when the attractions of life on
the ocean overmastered his desire for obtaining
learning, and, leaving home, he found a position
as cook. He was thus employed seven years,
running between Haverstraw and New York City.
Then for a like period he was sailing-master on
the "Ann Maria," a responsible position for so
young a man, but he proved efficient and capa
ble. Later he was on the "Sarah Frances," the
schooner "Ben Franklin" and the "Peter C.
Bush," buying an interest in the latter vessel
when only twenty-two years of age. Afterward
he sold out and became a partner in the sloop
"Archer." During all this time he was engaged
in the freighting business, running between Hav
erstraw and New York City. It was during the
days of the war that he was on the "Archer,"
and later became part owner of the schooner
"N. B. Fox," which for a few years ran between
the metropolis and Hackensack. For some sea
sons following he was master of vessels for the
Knickerbocker Ice Company, and was also in
charge of the schooner "Sarah" on Long Island
Sound. Subsequently he was a pilot on the
steamers "Quaker City," "Baltic," "William
Earl" and "Hercules," the tug "C. W. Stand
ard," the "D. H. Mead," ofthe Cornell line, and
at different times was on boats of the Ramsdell
line. Prior to taking the captaincy of the ' 'Peeks-
kill," he was in command ofthe "M. F. Jones."
At times he has made trips from Troy to New
Loudon, Conn., passing through three districts
of the United States inspectorship. He is a mem
ber of the First American Association of Masters
and Pilots of New York City, and is very popu
lar among river men.
January 1, i860, Mr. Tremper was married, in
Rockland County, to Rebecca Gurnee, one of the

456

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

native daughters of that region. She died in
Haverstraw, leaving two children: Elenora, now
the wife of George Lang, of Kingston; and Mary,
who died in Newburgh in April, 1893. The sec
ond marriage of the Captain took place in Kings
ton in 1878, the lady of his choice being Mrs.
Josephine C. Tubby, who was born in Eddyville,
Ulster County, being a daughter of Abraham and
Sarah Atkins. The former was an old river cap
tain, who died at Kingston. Mrs. Tremper was
the widow of James Tubby, a painter by trade
and a resident of Kingston. By that union she
had three children: Albert A., who is a marine
engineer of Newburgh; Edward, a pilot on the
Hudson; and Wallace, a boatman, who was acci
dentally drowned at Coxsackie, on the Hudson,
when but eighteen years of age. Captain Trem
per and wife have two children, Blanche and
Martha. Mrs. Tremper is a member ofthe Bap
tist Church, and is a most estimable lady. The
Captain belongs to the Knickerbocker Mutual
Benefit Association of New York City, and in his
political affiliations is a true-blue Republican.

ROBERT BROWN. While he has been in
the florist's business for a comparatively
brief period, Mr. Brown has already taken
his place among the leading men of his occupa
tion in Newburgh. He enjoys the distinction of
having the largest greenhouses in the city, hav
ing twenty thousand square feet of glass on Quas
saick Creek, and a splendid assortment of plants,
including almost all known varieties. His spe
cialties are roses, carnations and violets. Aside
from his regular retail and decorating business in
this city, he has a large wholesale trade in New
York, his sales footing up a large amount annual
ly. The greenhouses are located on the corner
of West and Washington Streets, while the retail
business and showrooms are No. 49 Second
Street. The success which Mr. Brown has gained is
especially notable when we consider that he was
born in 1867, and is therefore still quite young.
Glenluce, Scotland, is his native place, and his

parents, John and Mary (Thompson) Brown,
were born in the same village, his father having
been Superintendent of Public Roads there. He
was a Presbyterian in religious belief, and died
in that faith some years ago. The widowed
mother resides in the old home in Scotland.
All but one of the children comprising the pa
rental family are still living, and of these Robert
is fourth in order of birth. He was reared in
Glenluce, and at the age of fourteen began a five-
years apprenticeship to the trade of a florist, in
which way he gained a practical knowledge of
the work. In 1889 he came to America, via Liv
erpool to New York, and from there to Newburgh,
where he secured a position as head florist for W.
H. Cornish, having charge of the business. In
January, 1895, he purchased the plant which he
is now carrying on with flattering success. The
entire work is under his personal supervision,
there being five men under him. On coming to
this country he introduced the Chelsea Gem ger
anium, a variety universally admired for its beau
ty. In everything pertaining to floriculture he
takes a warm interest, and is actively connected
with the American Florists' Society. Politically
he is a Republican, and in religious belief a Bap
tist, holding membership with the Memorial Bap
tist Church in Newburgh. Possessing the sturdy
thrift characteristic of the Scotch, it is not sur
prising that his efforts have been successful, and
without doubt he will enjoy a steadily increasing
prosperity as the years pass.

61 LEXANDER YOUNG. One of the oldest
U residents of Orange County and a pleasant
/ | gentleman of _ the town of Newburgh is the
subject of this notice, who has made his home in
this town since 1848. His farm lies on au emi
nence overlooking the Hudson at Hampton Ferry,
and is one hundred and sixty acres in extent. On
it he has made many improvements, and devotes
a considerable portion of it to fruit-growing.
Our subject was born in Marlborough, Ulster
County, N. Y., July 6, 1810. His father, who
bore the name of Edward Young, was a native of

GREENHOUSES AND ELORICULTURAL ESTABLISHMENT,
Corner of West and Washington Sts., Newburgh.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

459

the same place, and was born in 1775. He in
turn was the son of John Young, a native of Eng
land, whence, early in the seventeenth cen
tury, he crossed the Atlantic and made his home
in America with his brother Alexander. The
grandfather located upon Long Island, and upon
deciding to make a change went to Marlborough,
N. Y., locating on a tract of one hundred and
twenty acres, where his death occurred about 1778.
His son Edward was born on this estate, and
upon attaining mature years was married to Han
nah Halstead. To them was born a family of
six children, of whom John was the eldest. The
others were named, respectively, David, Alexan
der, Edward, William B. and James, the last-men
tioned dying when a child. The father of this
family was a farmer and the first fruit-grower in
the town of Marlborough, in which occupation
he was fairly successful. He departed this life in
1852, on the farm where our subject was born.
His good wife preceded him to the land beyond,
passing away in 1848.
Alexander Young acquired a common-school
education and began to make his own way in the
world when a lad of fourteen years, although he
continued to live with his parents until the age of
twenty-two. At that time he made a purchase of
land, which he farmed profitably until 1848, the
year of his advent into this county. He at once
bought the tract on which he now lives and has
made it his home ever since that time.
Our subject was married, Septembers, 1840, to
Miss Deborah Ann Harcourt, who was a native of
Ulster County, and who departed this life June
10, 1889, leaving two children: Marietta, who was
born in 1842, and is now the wife of Charles G.
Velie, and resides in this town ; and William, who
was born January 1 1 ,"'1844, and is managing the
old homestead. Mr. Young has enlarged his es
tate until now it embraces one hundred and fifty
acres, the same being devoted to fruit-raising and
general farming.
Our subject is a very prominent man in his
neighborhood and takes an active interest iu all
that pertains thereto. Since 1879 he has been a
Director of the Quassaick NationaPBank of New
burgh, which is an old and reliable institutiou,

and which does a large amount of business. In
politics he is a true-blue Republican and is greatly
pleased at the recent triumphs of the party. He
is self-made in the truest sense of the term and is
a man of sterling integrity, having the respect
and confidence of all who know him. His good
wife departed this life January 10, 1889, and her
remains were interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

HOMAS O'HARA, well known in New
burgh as an energetic and pushing young
business man, is one of the leading con
tractors and builders of the city. He is a native
of this state, having been born in Amenia, Dutch
ess County, February 18, 1862. His parents
were John and Bridget (McMannus) O'Hara,
natives of County Cavan, Ireland.
The father of our subject was reared in his na
tive isle, and came to America when a young
man. He first made his home in Dutchess
County, N. Y., but later removed to Litchfield
County, Conn., where he is now living on his
valuable farm. His estimable wife has aided him
very materially in attaining his present high
standing among the well-to-do agriculturists of
their community. They became the parents of
nine sons and one daughter, all of whom are liv
ing. Ofthe above large family, our subject was the
eldest. He was reared in Putnam County, N. Y.,
whither his parents lived after their removal from
Dutchess County, and before they settled in the
Nutmeg State. He attended the public schools
until reaching his seventeenth year, when he was
apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade at
Brewster, Putnam County. He worked at this
business just one year at that place, and in March,
1884, came to Newburgh, at once entering the
employ of John Bayne as journeyman contractor
and builder, by whom he was employed for six
months. Then for six years he was in the em
ploy of two different contractors.
Iu 1890 Mr. O' Hara began contracting for him-

460

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

self, and under his supervision have been built
many ofthe best residences ofthe city, including
those of Mr. Coffey, John McAllister, John
Meany and two for Mr. Horton. He also erected
for himself two houses, which were planned for
stores underneath. They are fifty feet front and
three stories in height, located at Nos. 78 and 80
William Street. Besides these he also owns a
residence on Hasbrouck Street, that is two stories
high, with twenty-two feet frontage.
Mr. O'Hara and Miss Bessie Cardie, also a na
tive of Ireland, were married in Brewster, N. Y.,
February 6, 1880. Mrs. O'Hara departed this
life in January, 1894, leaving a family of five
children, Thomas, Jr., Mary, Winnie, John and
Rosa. Our subject was afterward married, in
October, 1894, to Miss Anna Dunning, a native
of Wisconsin. Mr. O'Hara is a devout member
of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
-2*a££*

EAPT. ELLSWORTH DAVIDSON, of the
town of New Windsor, sailed for ten years
on his father's barge, the "Maria David
son," and gradually worked his way upward
until he was made Captain. Upon his father's
death he became a member of the firm of Hugh
Davidson's Sons, and embarked in the manu
facture of brick at this point.
The Captain, who was born in Dutchess Coun
ty, February 7, 1861, is a son of Hugh and
Maria (Barber) Davidson, whose history appears
more fully in the sketch of our subject's brother,
Hugh Davidson, Jr., which is published else
where in this volume. The Captain was reared
in Haverstraw, Newburgh, and in the town of
New Windsor. His elementary education was
received in the public schools for the most part,
though he attended a private school kept by O.
M. Smith for a short time. He early started on
a business career, and for six years ran on the
river between this point and New York City or
Brooklyn. On one occasion, while on the "Ma
ria Davidson," in the East River, near Sixty-
second Street, the tug "Dora E. Emery" blew
up and tore the side out of the barge on which he

was standing. Fortunately the barge was not
loaded, or it would have been lost. As it was,
it sank, going down under the Brooklyn Bridge.
The crew were rescued by the "Vosburg, " which
managed to tow the "Maria Davidson" to the
dry-dock, though the barge was full of water. The
repairs cost upward of $1,000, but the Captain
and crew were glad to escape with their lives.
When the Captain's brother Robert was killed
on the West Shore Railroad, he took his place as
foreman or superintendent of the yards, and is
still thus occupied, having charge of the men.
In his political affiliations he is a true and tried
Republican, and his liberal and enterprising way
of doing things wins him friends wherever he
goes. The marriage of our subject and Laura A.
Davidson took place in Youngstown, Ohio, in
1889. Mrs. Davidson, who is a native of Pitts
burg, received a liberal education, and is uni
versally esteemed. The Captain and his wife
have three children: Helen M., Kenneth Hugh
and Howard Leslie. They are members of the
Presbyterian Church, and take great interest in
religious and charitable activities.

3 AMES McCLUNG. Iu the perusal of this
volume the reader is doubtless impressed
with the fact that it is not accident that helps
a man in the world, but persistent energy and
unceasing industry. The life of James McClung
affords an illustration of the fact that he who is
shrewd to discern opportunities and quick to seize
them will attain a high place in the regard of his
fellow-men. A laborious, painstaking man, his
has been a life of diligence and honor, and now
as the sun of time is sinking toward the horizon
of eternity, he is spending his days quietly and
happily, somewhat retired from the active business
cares that thronged other years. His home is in
the town of New Windsor, where he owns and
occupies a well improved farm.
A native of Ireland, born August 26, 1816, our

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

subject is the son of John and Esther McClung,
whose family consisted of four sons and three
daughters. He was reared to the age of about
ten years in the North of Ireland, and thence
emigrated to America, coming to Orange County,
N. Y., and making settlement in the town of
Newburgh, where he was employed on a farm for
a time. At the age of thirty he began to work
at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for
thirty years, and during the last thirteen years
of that time he was in business for himself as a
contractor and builder. Many of the substantial
business blocks and elegant residences of New
burgh were erected under his personal supervi
sion, and some of them still stand as monuments
to his enterprise and ability.
The marriage of Mr. McClung, September 17,
1845, united him with Miss Harriet S. Brown,
and they had three children, namely: Harriet B. ;
James, deceased; and Anna B. In 1864 Mr.
McClung retired from the business which he had
followed for thirty years, and, purchasing a coun
try home in the town of New Windsor, has since
resided here. The farm consists of ninety-eight
acres, upon which are raised the various cereals
adapted to the land, and which is one of the val
uable estates of the town.
During his long residence in Orange County,
Mr. McClung has been known as a liberal and
public-spirited citizen, ever ready to assist in lo
cal enterprises and with generous heart extend
ing aid to those less fortunate than himself. He
has always been deeply interested in religious
matters, and is a devoted member of the Presby
terian Church, of which he was been Elder for
twelve years. In politics he is inclined to be in
dependent, supporting measures rather than party,
and availing himself of that freedom of thought
which became his upon assuming the duties and
privileges of American citizenship.

K!\ATHANIEL M. BROWN. Of that sturdy
I / and independent class, the farmers of New
I fo York, none possess more genuine merit or
a stronger character than the subject of this bio

graphical notice. In his calling as an agricult
urist he has attained more than ordinary success,
and wherever known is recognized as an ener
getic and progressive farmer. He is the owner of
a well improved estate of seventy-three acres, ly
ing in the town of New Windsor, and containing
all the improvements of a model estate. The
homestead is a valuable one, and its attractive
ness is enhanced by its large and beautiful trees,
the most of which were planted by the present
owner. Very soon after coming here, he planted
six cedar trees, eighteen inches in height, which
are all living and are about forty feet high.
On both sides of the house, Mr. Brown is the
descendant of patriotic forefathers. His maternal
grandfather, Samuel Weed, served throughout
the entire period of the Revolutionary War, and
died at the age of ninety-three years. His father,
Hosea Brown, was a soldier in the War of 18 12,
and died at the age of eighty -five years. By the
marriage of Hosea and Jane (Weed) Brown,
there were born seven children, namely: Addison,
who died in 1882; Nathaniel M.; Silas, who is
living in Wappinger's Falls, N. Y.; Anna E.,
Mrs. Garrison White, deceased; Harriet, wife of
John White; Charles, deceased; and Matilda,
wife of Daniel Gardner.
The subject of this notice was born on Meadow
Hill, in the town of Newburgh, December 30,
18 19, and spent his boyhood days at the place ol
his birth. In 1842 he married Miss Caroline
Merritt, and thirteen children were born of their
union, seven of whom are deceased. Those who
survive are, Adelia, Ellen, Adelaide, Tressa,
Henrietta and Amy J. For two years after his
marriage our subject lived on a part of his father's
farm, and then for five years lived at Orange
Lake, after which he was for ten years a resident
of the town of Newburgh. In 1866 he settled
upon the farm where he has since made his home,
engaging in general farm pursuits and in the
dairy business.
A man of intelligent ideas, liberal views and
pronounced opinions of his own, Mr. Brown is a
progressive and liberal-spirited citizen, an active
and industrious farmer, and an accommodating
neighbor. His moral worth and integrity are

462

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

unquestioned. In politics he is a Republican,
and while he has never sought office, he has been
elected to a number of local positions, including
the offices of Trustee, Poor Master and Constable,
the duties of which he has discharged in a man
ner highly creditable to himself. In the Presby
terian Church, of which he is a member, he has
officiated as Trustee for the past six years. His
wife, who also belonged to that denomination,
passed from earth December 13, 1885, aged fifty-
nine years and six months, and her body was
laid to rest in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

§#lilt**a--i£lllg*'Mt

0AVID B. HOWELL. Material wealth
must not exclude the riches of character
and ability in the recountal of the values
which have been brought to Orange County by
its citizens; and among its most precious treasures
must be estimated the lives of those citizens who,
by their intelligence and uprightness, have as
sisted in raising the standard of life and thought
among the people. No one has done more in this
line than the gentleman of whom we write, and
who, like many other prominent citizens, is a na
tive-born son of the county and a descendant of a
family long identified with the history of this lo
cality. From the genealogical records of the Howell
family we learn that they are of Welsh extraction,
and were represented in America as early as the
seventeenth century. Grandfather Silas Howell,
who was born in the town of Newburgh, followed
the trade of a millwright throughout his entire
life, though for a time he also carried on agricult
ural pursuits. He died when advanced in years
and was buried in the old town cemetery. His
children, four in number, were Fanny, Rensler,
Charles and S. Jones.
The father of our subject, Rensler Howell, was
born in the town of Goshen, in 1797. When
quite a child, his father, Silas, purchased a proper
ty five miles west of the village of Newburgh,
and here Rensler grew to manhood. The home
place contained cme hundred and fifty acres, and
here the father continued to reside until his death,

in 1883. A Democrat in politics, he held the office
of Justice of the Peace and officiated in other ca
pacities. He began in life with little of this
world's goods, but by frugality and industry he
accumulated a competence, and in his declining
years was surrounded by all the comforts of ex
istence. A man of progressive spirit, taking an
intelligent interest in everything pertaining to
the welfare of his fellow-men, he enjoyed the es
teem and confidence of his associates, who appre
ciated the nobility of his character.
The mother of our subject, Olive (Belknap)
Howell, was born in the town of Newburgh in
1800, and died during the '60s. Five children
were born of her marriage, namely: David B.;
Rensler, a retired business man residing in New
burgh; John Calvin, who occupies the old home
stead; Mary F., who died at the age of thirty-five;
and Sarah, who died in infancy. Our subject
was born in the town of Newburgh, August 31,
1822. In boyhood he attended the district and
private schools of the home neighborhood,
thus gaining a practical education. He remained
with his parents until his marriage, in 1852, to
Miss Martha J. Stewart, a native of the town of
New Windsor. This estimable lady remained his
faithful companion and helpmate until her death,
which occurred in 1890. During the same year
their daughter Anna also passed from earth.
Charles, the only surviving member of the
family, makes his home with his father and assists
in the cultivation of the farm ; he married Miss
Jennie Fulton, and they are the parents of a
daughter, Marion F.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Howell settled up
on the farm iu the town of New Windsor where
he has since resided and which, under his intelli
gent supervision, has been converted into one of
the most valuable estates in the neighborhood.
It embraces one hundred and fifty-six acres, de
voted to general farming and dairy purposes.
Finding that his personal affairs demand his close
attention, Mr. Howell has neveY been active in
politics, although he never fails to cast his ballot
for Democratic candidates at local and general
elections. In religious belief he is a Presbyte
rian, and his wife also belongs to that church. In

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

463

all things that contribute to the good ofthe coun
ty he may be counted upon to take an active part,
and as a farmer, citizen and neighbor he stands
second to none.

•»»»*»«'»*¦»¦

t ¦ ' ¦ —-*

(JACOB P. GIDNEY, one ofthe old residents
I of the town of Newburgh, was born iu the
Q) house where he is now living, and with the
exception of seven years, which he passed in the
West, has always dwelt on this farm. His great
grandfather, who was of French descent, and a
native of Westchester County, N. Y., was the
first one of the Gidney family to settle in this
county. Coming here iu 1794, he located on a
farm a short distance from the village of New
burgh, and purchased a tract of two thousand
acres all in one body, a portion of which now
belongs to our subject. He was accidentally
drowned while crossing the river at the High
lands. Our subject's father, Isaac Gidney, was born
in this county, in 1792, and was reared to farm
life. Soon after his marriage with Sarah Purdy,
who was born March 2, 1802, he removed to this
section of the original two thousand acre tract,
and here passed the remainder of his days. He
died July 4, 1870, and his remains were placed
in the old town cemetery. His wife, who died
March 4, 1894, was laid to rest by his side. They
were the parents of six daughters and three sons,
namely: Mary, who married Richard Downing;
Sarah E., Mrs. James G. Baldwin, of Racine,
Wis. ; Fannie, wife of Robert Snider; Levina P. ,
wife of Abraham Snider; Phoebe, Mrs. Abram
Simons, of Petersburg, Va.; Charles, who died
in 1876; Samuel, whose death occurred in 1867;
Cynthia, who married Robert Rogers, but is now
deceased; and Jacob P. '
The boyhood of J. P. Gidney was devoted to
the acquisition of a common-school education
and to learning the various duties pertaining to
farm work. In 1861 he went to Wisconsin, set
tling at Racine, and obtained a position as a pas
senger conductor on the Western Union Railroad.
After remaining there seven years, he returned to

his old home. Besides running his farm, he also
operates what is known as Gidney 's Hotel, two
and one-half miles northwest of Newburgh, and
situated in handsome grounds on the old plank
road. Mr. Gidney has always been very fond of
hunting and is a member of the West Newburgh
Gun and Rifle Association, which has a club
house situated on his farm. He has also been
identified with the Masonic order for many years.
In his political faith he is a Republican, and for
some two years he served to the full satisfaction
of his friends and neighbors in the capacity ot
Excise Commissioner.
December 17, 1862, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Gidney and Miss Sarah Harris, who was
born in Ulster County, N. Y., and is a daughter
of Uriah and Mary (Halsted) Harris.

*£)#G

~L

r^HILIP I. RONK. In every locality reside
yr those who have successfully accomplished
\3 their life work and have earned a season of
rest, while the work is resigned to younger
hands. This is the case with the subject of this
sketch, who is a retired business man of New
York City, living on a good estate in the town of
Newburgh. He was born in Ulster County, near
New Hurley Church, October 14, 1814, and is
the son of John and Julia Ronk, both natives of
Ulster County.
The parental household included six children,
four sons and two daughters. Philip I. was
reared to a full knowledge of farm work, and
lived under the home roof until attaining his ma
jority. Upon starting out for himself, he began
in business at New Hurley, conducting a gen
eral store, but after a few years went to Platte
kill, conducting the same business with marked
success for a period of six years. He then moved
onto a farm, and for two years was employed in
its cultivation, but at the end of that time he
gave up his lease, and, going to New York City,
engaged in the general produce and commission
business, making his residence in the metropolis
for forty years. During this time he accumu
lated a handsome fortune, and, being ready now

464

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to retire from the active cares of business, came
to this town and purchased the estate on which
he now resides.
The lady to whom Mr. Ronk was married in
1840 was Miss Deborah Sloat, who was born in
Ulster County, and who was the daughter of
Cornelius and Maria Sloat. To our subject and
his wife were born two daughters and three sons,
only one of whom is now living, Hezekiah, who
is now residing on the old homestead, carrying
on the farm for his father. In November, 1876,
Mrs. Ronk died at their residence in New York
City, and was buried at New Hurley Church,
Ulster County.
Mr. Ronk is very much interested in all things
looking toward the improvement of this section,
and the town of Newburgh counts him as one of
her enterprising farmers. Energetic, honest, pro
gressive and upright, he is one of those persons
who will build up any section. In politics he is
independent, and in religious affairs a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

^iH

\m

j|s^

(TAMES McELROY. The farming class of
I America, and especially of the northern tier
(2/ of states, is notable for the degree of intelli
gence that is possessed by its representatives.
Though of Irish birth, Mr. McElroy is in every
other respect a thorough American, loyal to the
institutions of our Government, and interested in
the progress of our country. He is one of the
thrifty and energetic farmers for which Orange
County has become well known, and in the con
duct of his agricultural affairs has shown good
judgment and business foresight. For many
years he has made his home in the town of New
Windsor, where he owns a large and valuable
farm. Born in 1823, the subject of this notice is the
son of William and Sarah McElroy, also natives
of the Emerald Isle. He was one of seven chil
dren, and his father also had two children by a
previous marriage. Reared to manhood in the
land of his birth, he had the intelligence to dis
cern that Ireland offered meager opportunities to

an ambitious and aspiring young man, and his
thoughts therefore turned towards America,
where advantages were so numerous and oppor
tunities so plentiful. In company with his moth
er and other members of the family, he crossed
the Atlantic in 1847 and, reaching this country,
sojourned for a short time in Brooklyn.
June, 1848, was the date of Mr. McElroy s ar
rival in Orange County, at which time he located
in the town of Montgomery, and there for four
years he worked in the employ of others. Later
he operated a rented farm for five years, and then
purchased the place where he still resides. The
one hundred and thirty-two acres comprising the
estate have been brought to a high state of culti
vation, and all the improvements of a modern
farm have been introduced.
The lady who, since 1863, has been the de
voted counselor and helpmate of Mr. McElroy
bore the maiden name of Jane R. Arbuckle, and
by her union with him has had four children,
namely: Sarah, who lives in Brooklyn; Anna
and Emma, deceased; and Maggie, who is at
home with her parents. Upright and conscien
tious in the daily discharge of duty, Mr. McEl
roy gives earnest consideration to the affairs of
the day, and in local and general elections gives
his support to the candidates of the Democratic
party. In religious belief he is a member of the
American Reformed Church. Now, nearing the
evening of his age, he may with pleasure review
his unblemished record as a friend, neighbor and
citizen, and rest content in the knowledge of the
esteem and high regard in which he is held by
his fellow-citizens.

+=

-fr*g**=»-Bsv*t»

=-*-

ROBERT B. HALL. Among the many re
munerative farms in Orange County, that
of Mr. Hall, in the town of New Windsor, is
noticeable for the air of neatness which prevails
and the value of the improvements which have
been made upon it. It comprises eighty acres,
which, under careful and intelligent handling,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

465

produce abundantly and afford a profitable main
tenance, together with a comfortable provision
for a "rainy day."
The Hall family is of Irish origin, and the
first ofthe name to come to America was Samuel,
our subject's father, a native of Ireland, who
crossed the Atlantic in 1809, and settled in Or
ange County. For a number of years he engaged
in school-teaching. Shortly after his arrival in
this country the War of 18 12 broke out, and he
entered the service, becoming First Lieutenant of
the United States army stationed at Sandy Hook.
After the war he returned to New Windsor, where
he continued to make his home for many years.
In 1840 he removed to a farm in the town of that
name, and there he resided until his death, March
23, 1864. His remains were buried in the Little
Britain Cemetery. His wife, who bore the maiden
name of Mary Burnett, died in 1841. Ever in
terested in public affairs, he served as County
Coroner for a number of years, and filled other
local offices.
The parental family consisted of the following
children: Margaret and Mary J., deceased; Ra
chel; Moses D. and John J., both of whom live
in the city of New York; and Robert B., of this
sketch. The last-named was born in the village
of New Windsor, February 13, 1823, and has
spent his entire life in the immediate locality of
his birth. When a youth of seventeen, he re
moved from the village to a farm in the same
town, and since that time he has given his atten
tion to agricultural pursuits. When twenty-five
years of age he began life for himself, renting
a farm until 1858, when he purchased his present
property. October 29, 1851, was the date ofthe marriage
of Robert B. Hall and Sarah A. Little, and unto
them were born five children, namely: Mary
Catherine, Frances L-, Charles B., Helen B. (de
ceased) and Samuel. The present wife of Mr.
Hall, with whom he was united February 14,
1877, was Miss Phebe T. , daughter of Jacob and
Catherine La Tourrette, and an estimable lady
who enjoys the friendship of her circle of ac
quaintances. The political belief of Mr. Hall has brought

him into active co-operation with the Democratic
party, and at every election he may be relied
upon to cast his ballot for the candidates of that
party. He is a member of the American Re
formed Church, and contributes to its support as
liberally as his means permit. He has beeu true
alike to every public and private trust, and has
won the confidence and high regard of all with
whom business or social relations have brought
him in contact. His life has beeu a successful
one, and he well deserves the prosperity which
has crowned his efforts.

—J-

=§>-^<i

<Sy^ "

^SAAC H. BIRDSLEY. The subject of this
j sketch is a man whose history it is a pleasure
X to place in this volume, from the fact that his
success in life is an admirable example to the
younger members of our society, and because a rec
ord of his faithful and courageous service during
the war cannot fail to be of interest to the general
reader. Mr. Birdsley is at present living iu High
land Falls, where for the past twenty-five years
he has been one of its leading grocers.
Homer V. Birdsley, the father of our subject,
was a prominent and substantial farmer of Orange
County, and lived to be about sixty -five years of
age. His estate was located in the western part
of Orange County, and was one of the best im
proved and most productive in the vicinity. He
married Miss Hannah Horton, who was born in
Orange County, and who at the time of her de
mise was also sixty-five years old. She became
the mother of six sons and four daughters, of
whom our subject was next to the youngest.
Henry, Norman, Jane, Fannie and Smith are all
residents of Highland Falls.
Isaac H. Birdsley was born in the town of
Highland, November 29, 1848, and attended the
subscription schools near his home until attaining
his eleventh year, when his services were needed
on the farm. Two years thereafter, or at the re
markably youthful age of thirteen and one-half
years, he enlisted in Company A, United States
Engineers, at West Point, as drummer-boy, con
tinuing throughout the entire war. This was Sep-

466

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tember 27, i860. The troops were ordered South
to Santa Rosa Island, Fla., and remained there
at work until fall, when they returned to Wash
ington. The succeeding spring they joined Mac-
Clellan on his peninsular campaign, which was
one of the most dangerous expeditions under
taken during the Civil War. Our subject, al
though but thirteen years of age, was strong and
brave, and with his command aided in the con
struction of bridges, during which time they were
subjected to exposures and hardships, to say noth
ing of the danger in which they were placed when
opposing the enemy.
Mr. Birdsley served his country faithfully and
well during the entire period ofthe conflict, serv
ing under the principal commanders. He was
with Grant at the time of Lee's surrender at Ap
pomattox, and participated in the Grand Review
at Washington in 1865, on the return of the
army to the North. He was one of the youngest
boys in the army, and to-day is the youngest
man living who served through the entire war.
On his return home he received an honorable dis
charge, and although in many engagements, es
caped without a scratch. When in his nineteenth
year he attended the academy at Charlotte ville,
N. Y. , for one year, paying for his education out
of his savings during the war. Immediately after
leaving school he began clerking in a store in
New York City, remaining in that capacity four
years. During this time he gained a good knowl
edge of the grocery business and later came to
Highland Falls and opened up an establishment
of his own, which he has conducted with marked
success. Mr. Birdsley and Miss Augusta L. Hunt were
united in marriage in 1870. The lady was the
daughter of Rev. Aaron and Caroline F. (Finch)
Hunt, natives of Dutchess County. Her father
was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church
of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., for many years, but is
now living retired at Hudson, N. Y.
To our subject and his wife there were born
two children: Edith, who died when two years of
age; and Ralph V., who is now fifteen years old,
and is attending school at Highland Falls. Mr.
Birdsley is a true-blue Republican in politics, and

in religious matters is a member of the Presby
terian Church. He is largely interested in all
measures that tend to benefit the community in
which he lives, and is justly regarded as one of
its best citizens. He is entirely self-made, and to
his indomitable pluck, energy and economy is
due the fact that he gained a good education,
was enabled to engage iu business when reaching
,the age of maturity, and acquired a competency
while yet in the prime of life.

<X*************|^»*****»**»****X> HOMAS J. WOOD, au enterprising and
prosperous business man of Cornwall on the
Hudson, has been engaged as a tinner and
plumber here for the past four years. He also
carries a well selected stock of stoves, in short
has everything usually found in a first-class tin-
ter's establishment. After he came to his present
location it was not long before he had built up a
truly enviable name for integrity, fair dealing- and
courtesy toward his customers. He is a man who
is thoroughly informed regarding his business
and is an experienced workman.
Thomas M. Wood, the father of our subject,
was born in England, and for a number of years
was engaged as a wholesale stationer and also as
a printer of note in London. He made a success
of this branch of business and became well-to-do
in this world's goods. His death occurred in
London, when he was sixty-eight years of age.
His good wife, who bore the maiden name of
Georgiania Valentine Belou, was also a native of
England, and was sixty-eight years old at the
time of her decease.
To Thomas M. Wood and wife there were born
fifteen children, eleven of whom are living at the
present time, and most of them in England. Of
these Thomas J. was the eldest but one, and was
born June 24, 1849, in London, England. He
was given very fair opportunities for attending
school, and when a boy began work in that city.
He first learned the printer's trade and later the
art of lithographing in his father's establishment,
but upon attaining his eighteenth year concluded
to try his fortunes iu America. Accordingly he

CHARLES H. VALENTINE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

469

took passage on a steamer of the Inrnan Line and
arrived in due time in New York City . Here he
found himself a stranger in a strange laud, but,
being an expert in his line of business, he found
no difficulty in obtaining employment. He soon
made his way to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was
engaged for eleven months, after which he re
moved to Baltimore, where he remained for two
months. His health began to fail rapidly and he
was advised by his physician to abandon the prin
ter's trade and seek work in the open air. With
this end in view he came to Cornwall on the
Hudson, engaging in ditching, but subsequently
sought and found farm work, and as this kind of
life agreed with him, he continued to be thus en
gaged for a number of years. In the mean time
he acquired a thorough knowledge of the busi
ness of a tinner and plumber, and about four years
ago opened a store in this place, which he has
successfully followed since. He is reliable in his
workmanship and never fails to give satisfaction
to his customers.
Mr. Wood and Miss Ann Eliza Clark were
united in marriage August 16, 1871. The lady
was born March 4, 1846, in Cornwall, and is the
daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Shaw) Clark,
natives of Orange and Dutchess Counties, respect
ively, both of whom are now deceased. In poli
tics Mr. Wood is a strong supporter of Repub
lican principles, and socially is a Knight of
Pythias. He is a genial, whole-souled gentle
man, and is regarded as one ofthe influential and
consistent members of the Episcopal Church of
this place.

_***""""]

"si

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cs_

EHARLES H. VALENTINE, owner of one
of the finest drug stores in Newburgh, is an
enterprising business man, and as he is con
sidered one of the best prescription druggists in
this locality, is well patronized. He was born in
this city in 1867, and is the son of James H. Val
entine, a native of Peekskill. The grandfather,
Abram Valentine, was a farmer of Westchester
County, and was well-to-do in this world's goods.
The Valentine familv is an old and honored

one in the history of New York. The records
have it that three brothers, French dragoons,
came to the United States, two locating on Val
entine Hill, Westchester County, and the third
going to Canada. All trace of the latter has been
lost. The father of our subject, who was a mason by
occupation, is now living retired in Newburgh,
in which city he has erected many of its best resi
dences and public buildings. He married Miss
Mary E. Austin, who was born in Westchester
County, and who was the daughter of Isaiah Aus
tin, a farmer. They became the parents of four
children, only two of whom are living. Of this
household Charles was the youngest. John H.
was at one time Trustee ofthe School Board, and
also President of the Orange County Democratic
Association. When six years of age, the subject of this sketch
was sent to school at Wappiuger's Falls, attend
ing there for three years. He next went to Mid
dle Hope, where he was a student until a lad of
thirteen years, when he returned to Newburgh
and began his career as clerk in the stores of the
various merchants of the city. Then for a time
he was in the employ of the Jesse Oakley Perfume
Company, and on attaining his fifteenth year be
gan the study of pharmacy with Theodore Mer-
ritt. He continued with the latter gentleman for
three years, then studied under F. W. A. Reu-
ter, in whose store he worked for two years. At
the expiration of that time he engaged as travel
ing salesman for J. G. Powers, of New York
City, traveling in that city and vicinity for a
time, then went to Brooklyn, where he clerked
in a drug house for over three years. He was
afterward bookkeeper for Chapman & Lathrop,
contractors for the building of the Adirondack
& St. Lawrence Line, at Saranac Lake, Franklin
County, N. Y.
Mr. Valentine was then engaged by William H.
Shefflin, of New York City (wdio was one of the
oldest wholesale druggists in the United States),
in the essential-oil department, but resigned at
the end of a year and engaged in the real-estate
business in Brooklyn, his office being located at
No. 1480 Myrtle Avenue. After eight months,

19

47°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

however, he came to Newburgh and helped or
ganize the Granite State Provident Building and
Loan Association, of which he was made Secre
tary. He held that position for a time, when he
resigned and engaged in the drug business. In
order to review his knowledge of the business, he
clerked for a time, and in February, 1895, pur
chased the stock of goods from S. A. Johnson.
He has since continued at the old stand, at the
corner of Courtney Avenue and Landers Street,
carrying a general stock of drugs and conducting
a fine prescription trade. He manufactures Val
entine's Magic Ointment and Magic Remedies,
which he has recently placed on the market, and
which are destined to have a wide sale.
Our subject and Miss Eva Vineer were married
in Brooklyn in 1888. The lady was born in that
city, and was the daughter of Capt. Robert Vin
eer, now deceased. To them has been born a
son, James H. Mr. Valentine is prominent in
local affairs, and on one occasion was Superin
tendent of Elections. He is a supporter of Dem
ocratic candidates, and in religious matters is a
consistent member of the Congregational Church.

-5 — »  •J>K®^P)®^C;«  «—

(TOHN F. LINEHAN. In the career of this
1 gentleman we find a striking example of
G/ what a man can accomplish who is possessed
of good business judgment and is intelligent and
persevering. When Mr. Linehan commenced
in life for himself he was practically without a
dollar, and although at this writing he is still a
comparatively young man, he has gained a place
among the well-to-do businessmen of Newburgh,
in which city he is well known as a successful
contractor and builder.
Mr. Linehan was born in the city of Cork,
Ireland, May 9, 1865. His father, John Line
han, whose birth likewise occurred in that city,
was a mason and builder, and died there at the age
of sixty years. The grandfather, who bore the
name of Thomas, was a mason in Cork, where he
lived to be eighty-one >ears old. The mother of

our subject, who was known in maidenhood as
Mary Kidney, was the daughter of Patrick Kid
ney, and both were born in the Emerald Isle.
She is still living and makes her home in her na
tive city, Cork. She reared a family of six sons
and one daughter, of whom four are living. Of
these our subject was the third-born and the only
one to emigrate to America. He was graduated
from the Christian Brothers' monastery in Cork,
after which he became an accountant in a gen
eral merchandise establishment in that city, hold
ing this position for eighteen months, when he
began learning the trade of a mason under the
instruction of his father, continuing to work with
him until 1885. July 3 of that year we find him
stepping from a vessel in New York City, whence
he made his way to Fishkill, and there found em
ployment with James Forrestal. After six months
spent with him he came to Newburgh and en
gaged to work for a Mr. Hopper, of New York
City, who was then building the Tower of Vic
tory at Washington's Headquarters. After this
he worked on the Academy of Music with Wil
son Bros., was subsequently in the employ of
Edward Howell for two years, and afterwards
was with Edward Martin. Mr. Linehan then
began contracting on his own account, continu
ing alone until 1890, when he took in as partner
William Lahey, the firm continuing as Linehan
& Lahey until the spring of 1893, since which
time our subject has superintended his building
alone. Our subject is a practical workman and has been
given the contract for building many of the fine
residences and stores of this and other cities. In
one year he erected as many as thirty- three dwell
ings, including that of Patrick McGuire, on the
Heights; three stores for the same gentleman on
Freemont Street; the residence of Owen Clark on
Liberty Street; two large residences in Fishkill,
and several stores and flats in various parts of the
city. The marriage of Mr. Linehan and Miss Mary
Brown occurred in this city June 26, 1889. The
lady was born in County Derry, Ireland, June
26, 1864, and is a daughter of Samuel and Eliza
beth (Mawhinney) Brown. She came to Amer-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

47i

ica in 1887, unattended by any of her family.
Her father is deceased and her mother still re
sides in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Linehan are both
members ofthe Catholic Church, and the former
belongs to the Catholic Benevolent Legion and-
the Ancient Order of Hibernians of America, also
to St. Vincent's Society of Foresters.

(JAMES M. SMITH, proprietor of one of the
I finest drug stores in Cornwall, manifests ex-
(2/ ceptional financial ability in carrying on his
business, and although it has been less than a
year since he established this store, he has al
ready taken his place among the leading business
men of the place. Mr. Smith is especially skilled
as a prescription druggist, in which he has been
fully prepared by careful study and a large expe
rience in compounding medicines.
Charles Smith, the father of our subject, was
born January 23, 1825, in the town of Goshen,
and departed this life January 20, 1885. He
was for many years one of the prominent dry-
goods merchants of Newburgh, and was a man of
genuine worth of character and business ability,
one who was always ready to aid his community
in any and all laudable enterprises. His father,
who bore the name of Abel G. Smith, was born
in the town of Goshen, July 12, 1794, and at the
time of his removal from Chester to New York
was the proprietor of a first-class hotel.
The father of our subject married Miss Maria
Gardner, daughter of Dr. J. M. Gardner, a noted
physician and skilled surgeon of Newburgh. She
died in 1885, leaving two sons, James M. and
Charles Tustin, the latter of whom is a book
keeper for a large mercantile house in Newburgh.
The subject of this sketch was born in New
burgh August 2, 1852, and attended its schools
until nineteen years of age> when he went
to New York City and carried on his studies in
pharmacy, receiving his diploma from the State
Board. On receiving his diploma he returned to
Newburgh and for the following three years

clerked in his father's store. In 1878, however,
he came to Cornwall and established himself in
the drug business. On changing his location
some time later, he went to Yonkers, remaining
there similarly engaged for five years. His bus
iness there was a very paying one, but on the
death of R. P. Hazen, of this city, he thought it
a good investment to purchase his stock of drugs
and locate here. The business was established
many years ago, and Mr. Smith now brings to it
that thorough knowledge of pharmacy which
makes his store second to none in point of excel
lence and purity of materials sold.
Our subject and. Miss Fannie W., daughter of
Louis and Ellen Fancher, of Cornwall, were
united in marriage December 26, 1877, at this
place. The lady was born October 28, 1856, and
is now the mother of two sons: Walter G., aged
sixteen years; and Duncan M., a lad of eleven.
In politics Mr. Smith supports the Republican
candidates. The Episcopal Church finds in him
one of its most consistent members and liberal
contributors. Taken all in all, he is one of the •
most active and successful business men of the
place, and is given his share of the patronage of
the people of Cornwall, who recognize in him a
man of superior ability in his particular line.
© "*' c=y<"T>"& 5' ~* ©'
|~~ RANK J. ZINT. The commercial world is
Yy so crowded with bread-winners, anxious and
| *• ready to accumulate the ' 'almighty dollar, ' '
that to achieve marked success a man must pos
sess not capital only, but shrewd judgment and
tact. While a professional man may require more
book learning, it does not call for more mental
labor than does the successful management of an
extensive mercantile establishment. The force
of this statement is fully appreciated by such men
as Mr. Zint, who day by day must plan and buy
to suit the capricious taste of his customers. His
enterprising character and business tact, together
with honest dealing, have brought him the good
will of a large circle and given him an established
reputation as a prominent business man of High
land Falls. As a grocery dealer he is widely and

472

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

favorably known, having two stores, one located
on Prospect Hill and the other on Main Street.
The business which our subject is conducting
so successfully was established by his father,
Daniel Ziut, who died about three years ago. He
was born in Alsace, Germany, whence he crossed
the Atlantic in 1832, when eighteen years ofage.
Coming hither with a determination to make a
name for himself, he was ready to engage in any
honest work which would prove remunerative.
The fact that he had a relative living iu High
land Falls decided him to locate here. He found
work in a stone-quarry, but as this employment
did not prove exactly what he wanted, he soon
abandoned it, and, going to West Point, learned
the trade of a shoemaker. He continued to work
at that business there until ready to embark in a
business of his own at this place, at first making
a specialty of boots and shoes, but as he became
more prosperous added a stock of groceries. As
a man he was genial and courteous, and by his
straightforward honesty won the confidence of the
people. Daniel Zint married Miss Mary Lorentz, also
a native of Germany, who now survives him. She
became the mother of five children, of whom
Frank J., of this sketch, is the eldest. Sophia
married W. G. Elson, and lives in Brooklyn;
Charles H. operates the coal-yards managed by
our subject; Angeline is at home; and George is
also employed on the estate.
The subject of this sketch was born in High
land Falls, August 3, 1862. He attended the
common schools for a number of years, after
which he was a student in Manhattan College.
Soon thereafter he entered his father's store and
with characteristic push and energy he acquired
a full knowledge of the business, thus greatly re
lieving his father, who had spent so many years
in building it up.
Our subject was married, August 3, 1888, to
Miss Nellie L. Conway, of Newburgh. Her par
ents, Charles and Louisa (Nolan) Conway, now
make their home in Highland Falls, where they
ate greatly esteemed, the former being engaged
in the clothing and men's furnishing-goods busi
ness. Three children have been born to Mr. and

Mrs. Zint, viz.: Marie, Zita and Daniel. In pol
itics our subject is a stanch supporter of Demo
cratic principles, and in religious affairs is a de
vout Catholic, and belongs to the Catholic Benev
olent Legion.

(TAMES STEWART, one of the foremost build-
I ers and contractors of Newburgh to-day, is a
(2/ practical business man, courteous and affable
with his customers, and enjoys a reputation for
being a man of his word and strictly honorable in
all his dealings. He has taken and executed the
contracts for the brick and stone work and plas
tering of many of the handsome and substantial
public and private "buildings 0/ this city.
A native of the Emerald Isle, Mr. Stewart was
born in County Derry, in 1845, being a son of
Henry and Belle (Johnston) Stewart, both 01
whom were also natives of County Derry. The
father was a farmer, as was also his father, James
Stewart. Our subject is one of five children, and
the only son. Two of his sisters are now in Amer
ica, but the other members of the family are still
in Ireland. He received a good common -school
education, and was trained by his excellent par
ents with a strict regard to his duties toward his
fellows. It was in 1864 that James Stewart left the
scenes of his youth and his early friends to seek a
home and fortune in the United States. He sailed
from Liverpool in the good ship "Consolation,"
which was tossed to and fro on the briny deep for
six weeks and two days. At length it safely
pulled into port at New York Harbor, in which
city young Stewart found employment as a team
ster and at other occupations for a year. . In
1865 he came to Newburgh, working for a year
in the Washington Foundry, and afterward served
an apprenticeship under John Little for four years,
becoming master of the brick and stone laying
business. For the next five or six years he was
employed as a journeyman, and in 1876 com
menced taking contracts. About a year later he

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

473

took in as partner Hugh McLernon, the firm
continuing as Stewart & McLernon until 1892,
since which time Mr. Stewart has been alone.
He put up Gerhart's Building on Broadway;
twenty-two residences for Mr. Fullagar 011 Lib
erty Street; the Washington Heights Hose Com
pany Building, and many on the Heights.
In 1866 Mr. Stewart was united in marriage
with Eliza J. McLernon, at the home of her par
ents in Albany, N. Y. She was born in County
Derry, Ireland', and departed this life in New
burgh, in 1882. Of her six children, the eldest,
Mary, became the wife of George Moosdon, and
is now deceased; Maggie is Mrs. Charley Tag-
gart, of this city; Henry is a mason in his father's
employ; Mrs. Sarah Blair resides in Newburgh;
and Lizzie and Annie are at home. In 1889 Mr.
Stewart married Sarah J. Hyudman, a native of
Newburgh, and they have one child, James, Jr.
Mr. Stewart is a Trustee and is Vice-President of
the Board of Officers of the United Presbyterian -
Church. In all works of religious and charitable
import he takes great interest and contributes
both of his time and substance to the support of
many such enterprises. His ballot he uses on be
half of the Republican party platform.

Gz

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S^FT

=0

HOMAS L. BROOKS. Upon the organi
zation of the municipality of Washington
ville, February 18, 1895, Mr. Brooks was
elected President of the Village Board, which
honorable position he now fills. He is justly
numbered among the most progressive citizens of
the place, and has been a prime factor in every
public-spirited enterprise. To him, as much as
to any other person, may be attributed the es
tablishment of water-works in the town, and
other improvements may also be traced to his
energy and influence. He is engaged in the fire-
insurance business and represents a number of
reliable and old companies of the East.
The father of our subject, Charles E. Brooks,
was born in the town of Blooming Grove, of

which he was a life-long resident, his death oc
curring here at the age of seventy years. By oc:
cupation he was a farmer. His wife, Adeline
Cannon, who died at the age of sixty-nine, was
a member of an old Huguenot family, whose rep
resentatives were prominent and influential among
the earl)- Knickerbocker residents of New York.
Cannon Street, in New York City, was named
after the family.
The eleven children comprising the family of
Charles E. and Adeline Brooks were as follows:
Thomas L.; Annie E. ; Francis Dennison, de
ceased; John I., who is employed in the depart
ment of public works in New York City; Ed
ward C. and Mary, deceased; William Henry
Harrison, a resident of Salt Lake City; Fletcher
M., proprietor of a store in Washingtonville;
Henry Clay, also a resident of this village;
Charles P., a civil- engineer by occupation; and
Madison, who died in boyhood.
The eldest ofthe family, Thomas L-, was born
February 15, 1829, in the town of New Windsor,
just over the line from Blooming Grove. His
early years were passed upon a farm, and he was
a student in the neighboring schools. At the
age of nineteen he went to St. Louis, where he
clerked in a store and meantime attended night
school. After spending two years in the West,
he returned to Orange County, and remained on
the home farm until twenty -three years of age.
Then, going to New York City, he embarked in
the provision business, which he carried on for
thirty-one years. During the first part of this
time he was remarkably successful and gained a
fortune, but his later ventures were less success
ful, and he lost much of his property. At the
expiration of thirty-one years he came .back to
Orange County, not expecting to engage in busi
ness any more, but soon took up the agency for a
number of fire-insurance companies, which he
still represents in this district.
While in New York City Mr. Brooks married
Miss Mary Healy, and they became the parents
of three children, one of whom died in infancy.
Adeline, the only daughter, married James Bir
mingham, who, though a resident of Washing
tonville, does business in New York City, having

474

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

been connected with the Ninth National Bank
there. for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Birming
ham have two children, Pauline and Jay. The
only son of our subject, Edward H, lives at
Passaic, and does business on Cliff Street, New
York City; he married Mary Byrn, and they
have two daughters, Ethel and Minnie.
Politically Mr. Brooks is a Republican, and a
strong protectionist. He belongs to the Grand
Army of the Republic, having been in the state
militia during the Civil War. With the Seventy-
first New York Infantry he was in Pennsylvania
just prior to the battle of Gettysburg. In carry
ing out the plan of the campaign, the state militia
made marches and counter marches in front of
the enemy, giving them the impression that they
had to fight only the militia, but upon commenc
ing battle, they found that the militia withdrew,
uncovering the Army of the Potomac. In that
way the Confederates were given more business
than they cared to have.
While in New York City Mr. Brooks was a
member of the Presbyterian Church on the cor
ner of Fourteenth Street and Second Avenue.
His membership is now in the Presbyterian
Church at Washingtonville. He is justly con
ceded to be one of the most influential citizens of
his community, and is entitled to the high regard
in which he is held.

~.^.^.^.£Vggg|g^.$..$..$..$.|r

NENRY M. FITCH. The popular drug store
and pharmacy of Washingtonville are per
sonally conducted by the subject of this no
tice, a registered pharmacist, who established
the business here April i, 1895. Possessing the
peculiar qualifications necessary for the success
ful prosecution of business affairs, he has already
gained the confidence of the people, and his pros
perity will undoubtedly increase as the years
pass by.
Referring to the history of the Fitch family,
we find that the parents of our subject, Butler
and Anna (Moffat) Fitch, were natives of Orange
County, the mother being a daughter of Joseph
Moffat, of the town of Blooming Grove. The

father, who formerly engaged in the drug busi
ness in Delaware County, has been for ten years
past, and until recently, employed in the Sur
geon-General's office at Washington, D. C. At
present, however, he makes his home in Wash
ingtonville. He and his wife were the parents
of six children, as follows: Clarence, deceased;
Henry M. , the subject of this notice; Currence,
wife of E. R. York, of Tacoma, Wash.; Arthur
C, who lives in Washington, D. C. ; Florence,
deceased; and Anna P., who resides with her
parents. About one mile from Washingtonville, upon a
farm in the town of Blooming Grove, occurred
the birth of Henry M. Fitch, September 2, 1863.
When one year old he was taken by his parents
to Delhi, Delaware County, where his father car
ried on a drug business for sixteen years. For
some years he attended the public schools of that
place. His first work for himself was upon a
farm in the town of Blooming Grove, at the age
of seventeen years. From there he went to Jersey
City, where for one year he worked in the em
ploy of the lumbering firm of A. M. Dodge &
Co. Subsequently he was employed in a drug
store for two years, receiving a diploma as a phar
macist. Desiring his brother to get started in
business, he resigned to him the position he had
held in the drug store, and then went to Brook
lyn, where he secured a position with J. H.
Williams & Co., drop-forgers. While in their
employ for eighteen months, he traveled through
out the United States, gaining in this way an
extended knowledge of the country and people.
On resigning from that position, Mr. Fitch re
turned to his birthplace. Shortly afterward the
firm of Jaques & Bro. , knowing him to be ca
pable and reliable, and desiring to dispose of
their wine plant, employed him to negotiate a
sale for it. With this object in view, he went to
New York, where he made a sale to the Emer-
sons, who now own the plant, and iu whose em
ploy he remained for four years. His next ven
ture was the purchase of a drug business at
Monroe, where he remained for a few years.
During the World's Fair at Chicago, he had
charge of the wine exhibit of the Emerson Com-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

475

pany, and, being a shrewd exhibitor and an en
ergetic worker, that firm is now reaping the
benefits of his efficient service.
At the close of the Exposition Mr. Fitch pur
chased a general store at Salisbury Mills, but
this he sold in June, 1894, and after six months'
work in a drug store opened a pharmacy at
Washingtonville. This store, though but re
cently established, has already gained a large
proportion of the trade of the village, and is one
of the most successful enterprises of the place.
Socially Mr. Fitch is a Mason and a Knight of
Pythias, and has been active in both organiza
tions. In 1888 he was united in marriage with
Miss Julia Halstead, of Salisbury Mills, a niece
of Judge Fullerton. He is a popular man, which
fact is evidenced by his election as Town Clerk
of Monroe for two terms, notwithstanding that
he was the Republican nominee and the town
was strongly Democratic.

(JOSEPH I. KAMPE. For a number of years
I this gentleman was the owner of a fine mer-
(2/ chant-tailoring establishment in Newburgh,
but in 1895 he disposed of the business to Jones
& Presler, who have since had charge of the con
cern. His connection with the business interests
of this city, extending over a long period, was
such as to reflect credit upon his integrity and
ability. He is associated with many of the enter
prises that have contributed to the prosperity of
the place, being a stockholder in the Palatine
Hotel Company and the Muchattoes Lake Ice
Company, and also a member of the Board of
Trade. Born near Breslau, East Prussia, in 1840, the
subject of this sketch is the eldest son of Isaac
and Rachel Kampe, also natives of Prussia. His
father was engaged in general merchandising,
and was a successful business man. Both he and
his good wife passed their entire lives in the Fa
therland. Of their six children, three sons and
one daughter are now living. Joseph I. attended

the common schools until he was fourteen years
of age, when he was apprenticed to a well known
merchant tailor. In 1856 he went to Manches
ter, England, where he worked at his trade as a
journeyman. In 1859 he sailed from Liverpool
in the "Neptune," and about five weeks after
starting reached New York. For a time he
worked at his trade in that city, then went to
Huntington, L. I., where he was employed by a
merchant tailor.
During the late war Mr. Kampe participated iu
many ofthe important campaigns, and did effect
ive service in numerous battles and minor engage
ments. August 18, 1862, he volunteered in Com
pany E, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New
York Infantry, known as the "Monitors," and
was mustered into service on Staten Island. The
following were among his army experiences: the
defense of Washington; advance on Norfolk; siege
of Suffolk; expedition to Richmond ; engagement
at Fortress Monroe; the battles of Folly Island, Ft.
Sumter, Charleston and Bull's Island; the cam
paign against Johnson; assault on Ft. Johnson and
Battery Simpkins by water; expedition against the
Charleston & Savannah Railroad; battles of Honey
Hill, Gregory's Landing, Deveaux Neck and
Mackay's Lauding; second action on the Charles
ton & Savannah Railroad; then on duty with
Sherman's forces; skirmish at Greeutown, and
Savannah Swamp. After being in garrison at
Charleston, S. C, he was mustered out on the
30th of June, 1865. He was wounded with
buckshot in the battle of Pocotaligo, S. C, and
was discharged from service with the rank of
Corporal about the ist of July 1865, in the
general muster-out in New York City. He is
now a member of Fullerton Post, G. A. R., and
also belongs to the Society of the Veterans of the
One Hundred and Twenty -seventh New York
Volunteers. Desiring to better qualify himself for his future
business, Mr. Kampe took a course of training in
the art of cutting and fitting garments, and then
took a position as cutter for a large establishment
in New York City. In 1869 he came to New
burgh and worked as a cutter until 1878 for two
different firms. Then, starting in business for

476

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

himself, he was in partnership with a brother for
two years, but from then up to the time he sold
out was alone in business. His first location was
at No. 29 Second Street, from there he removed
to No. 74, then to No. 84 Water Street, and in
1894 removed to No. 108 Water Street. His suc
cessors are located at No. 74 Water Street.
In 1885 Mr. Kampe and Mary Furgerson were
married in Newburgh. They have never had
any children of their own, but adopted little Louis
Gura. Mrs. Kampe was born in western New
York, and grew to womanhood in this city. The
family residence is at No. 122 Montgomery
Street, the place being owned by our subject. He
is a member of the Orange Lake Gun and Ice
Clubs. He is also connected with the Manner-
chor, and belongs to Hudson River Lodge No.
607, F. & A. M.', and the Veteran Masonic Asso
ciation of Newburgh. For a year he was a
member of Company E, Seventeenth Battalion of
State Militia, and was then promoted from the
ranks by Governor Cornell to be Second Lieuten
ant and transferred to Company D, Nineteenth
Regiment. Later he was commissioned First
Lieutenant of this company by the same Gover
nor, serving until the battalion was disbanded.
. — G)mc^ — •

HENRY C. SMITH was for some years pro
prietor of one of the leading grocery estab
lishments in Cornwall on the Hudson. He
is a practical and progressive man of business, and
has invariably prospered in his undertakings. In
his store were found the choicest variety of both
staple and fancy groceries, and the customer was
always well pleased with the courteous treatment
which he received. He recently sold his business
and expects to go West soon.
George G. Smith, the father of our subject, was
born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, February
11, 1823, and is at present engaged in the real-
estate business in this place. He married Mar
garet Jokle, who was born in German)-, about
1850, and by whom he has become the father of
seven children. Of these the eldest is Paul, now
living at Cornwall Landing; Henry C. was the

second-born; George G., Jr. is engaged in the
clothing business in this city; Anna is now Mrs.
R. B. Elmer, and resides in Cornwall; Charles H.
is a baker in Englewood, N. J. ; Emma D. is at
nome; and Carrie M. married Dana Bennett, and
lives in Cornwall.
The subject of this sketch, who was born in
New York City, March 19, 1853, was only two
years old when his parents came to this place.
Nine years later, however, he was sent back to
the metropolis ¦ in order that he might attend
school, and for three years was a student there.
On his return home at the end of that time he ob
tained a situation in the store of Charles E. Cocks,
for whom he worked for nine years. Subsequent
ly he was in the employ of other business men,
and during all this time made it a point never
to spend all his income. By so doing he was en
abled to purchase property and go into business
for himself. His trade increased so rapidly in the
grocery line, that he was obliged to rebuild, and
about three years ago took possession of the prem
ises that he occupied until he sold out. He has
been the architect of his own fortune, having be
gun at the bottom of the ladder and mounted to
a position among the best and most substantial
business men of the place. Although not in the
enjoyment of robust health, he has performed
much hard work, and succeeded in his business
far beyond his expectations.
Politically Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican,
and takes a deep interest in the success of his
party. He is an ardent member of the Presby
terian Church, and contributes liberally of his
means toward its support. Socially he is a Knight
of Honor, and one ofthe much respected citizens
of Cornwall on the Hudson.

~^iffl!®*<§IHI*^'-
RICHARD FICKEN was born in Scharm-
beck, Prussia, May 8, 1841, of which place
his father, Frederick, was also a native. The
latter, who was an architect and cabinet-maker,
was a man of great skill and ability. He learned
his profession at the School of Architecture in Bre
men, and became so proficient iu it that his former

EDWARD M. MURTFELDT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

479

preceptor often consulted him on matters of im
portance. For years he was at the head of a
school of architecture, and at the same time he
carried on work at his trade. A long lawsuit
with a brother alienated them and involved
him to such an extent that in his old age he was
dependent upon his children, being cared for by
Richard until his death.
The mother of our subject, Annie Wetjen, died
when he was an infant, and he was reared by his
step-mother, whose maiden name was Katherine
Gruben. She was as kind to him as his own moth
er could have beeu, and of her he always speaks
with veneration and love. He is the youngest of
five sons, the others being as follows: Frederick,
who lives in New York City; John, who makes
his home in California; Herman, who was killed
in a sand bank at the age of twelve years; and
Gotfried, a resident of Hamburg, and the only
member of the family remaining in Germany.
The boyhood of our subject passed by unevent
fully until his confirmation in the Lutheran
Church at the age of fifteen. Soon afterward he
started for America, taking passage at Bremer-
haven on the ship "Elizabeth," which landed in
New York after a voyage of some six weeks.
He was treated with great cruelty on the way,
being confined in the hold ofthe vessel, his trunk
broken open and everything of value taken, so
that he was penniless when he reached America.
When the captain of the ship learned that he had
well-to-do relatives in New York, he endeavored
to make some amends for the treatment he had
received. For thirty -five months, without losing a day,
Mr. Ficken clerked in the grocery store of his
uncle, Louis Ficken, in Brooklyn. Afterward
he was clerk for a Mr. Sterling in New York for
about one year. When nineteen years of age,
he and a friend of seventeen bought a store and
embarked in business for themselves, but they
were unfortunate, and the man of whom they pur
chased the business foreclosed the mortgage, leav
ing them with nothing. Assisted by his uncle
and a friend, our subject went into the liquor bus
iness, but it was not to his liking, and as soon
as possible he abandoned it, and entered the flour

and feed business at West Falls, now in the city
of New York. The man with whom he formed
a partnership was very honorable, but a poor
business manager, and crippled the enterprise by
giving bad credit, and the connection was soon
dissolved.

¦-*-=

=+

. DWARD M. MURTFELDT. There are
'p few of the citizens of Newburgh whose names
_ are better known, either in business or po
litical circles, than that of the gentleman above
named, who fills the honored position of Presi
dent ofthe Common Council, and is also serving
as Alderman-at-Large. The furniture and under
taking business of which he made so conspicu
ous a success, and to which his energies for so
many years were given, was situated on Water
Street, where he occupied a five-story building,
with a frontage of forty-six feet and a depth of
eighty -five feet. The basement was utilized for
storage and manufacturing purposes, the first,
second and third floors as salesrooms, while
above that were the upholstering and finishing
rooms. Connection between the different floors
was made by means of an elevator
A native ofthe city where he now resides, the
subject of this sketch was born in 1853. His
boyhood years were passed on his father's farm,
three miles from this place, whence at the age of
sixteen he came to Newburgh and apprenticed
himself to the furniture trade under Peck & Van
Dalfsen. The family of which he is a member
originated in Germany, from which country his
grandfather, William Murtfeldt, emigrated to
America when Henry W., our subject's father,
was fourteen years of age. From New Orleans
he took his family to St. Louis, and later went to
Rockford, 111., where he followed the tailoring
business and also became a land-owner. Finally
he came to Newburgh, where his last years were
passed in retirement.
For a time H. W. Murtfeldt engaged in the
livery business in St. Louis, where he ran a stage

480

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

line. He then settled on a farm near Rockford,
111., and from there, in 1848, came to Newburgh,
when it was a small and unimportant village.
Purchasing a farm three miles distant, he em
barked in agricultural pursuits, and has since
made his home there, being now seventy-six
years old. He owns a large boarding-house on
the banks of the Hudson and forty-seven acres of
finely improved land surrounding.
The mother of our subject was in maidenhood
Mary Frances Worden, and was born in Brook
lyn, N. Y. Her father was a sea-captain and on
retiring from that occupation came to Newburgh,
where his last days were passed. Her brother
Henry, who resided near Boston, was formerly a
tea merchant, owning vessels that sailed between
this country and China. In the family of H. WT.
and Mary F. Murtfeldt there were ten children,
and all but one of the number are still living,
Edward M. being the fourth in order of birth.
Entering the employ of Peck & Van Dalfsen in
1869, our subject began at the bottom ofthe lad
der and worked his way up until he had gained
a thorough knowledge of the business. In 1879
he purchased from Joseph W. Powell the under
taking and furniture establishment, which, in
partnership with Alonzo Krom, he conducted up
to March 9, 1895, the firm being Murtfeldt &
Krom. The business had been in the hands of
the Powell family for ninety -nine years, and Mr.
Murtfeldt occupied the same site, though the
building was enlarged and remodeled under his
supervision. At present he is conducting- an un
dertaking business at No. 69 Chambers Street.
As a funeral director his services are in frequent
requisition, not only in Newburgh, but also in
adjoining towns and in Dutchess County. He is
President of the Highland Furniture Manufactur
ing Company and assisted in its organization in
January, 1894. The company was incorporated
with a capital stock of $20,000, and turns out from
its factory the finest quality of furniture.
In Newburgh, in 1872, occurred the marriage
of Edward M. Murtfeldt and Miss Anna A. Mc-
Cord. Mrs. Murtfeldt was born in this city and
is a daughter of William. McCord, a, manufacturer
of brushes, now residing in California. They are

the parents of six living children, all of whom are
iu school except the eldest, H. Worden, a grad
uate ofthe academy at this place, and at present
bookkeeper in the wholesale grocery house of J.
W. Mathews & Co.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Murtfeldt is prom
inent in public affairs. At the death of Alder-
man-at-Large George C. Wenzel, he was appoint
ed to succeed to that office, the appointment being
made by Hon. Michael Doyle, the Democratic
incumbent ofthe Mayor's office. In 1890 he was
elected to fill the unexpired term, and was also
made President ofthe Council. In March, 1893,
he was again selected to fill the office of Alder-
man-at- Large and succeeded himself as President
of the Council. At the present time (1895), in
the absence from the city ofthe Mayor, he is act
ing Mayor. The progress made by Newburgh in
every line of activity is largely due to the energy
and shrewd judgment of Mr. Murtfeldt, who has
given much of his attention to the development
of those interests calculated to promote the growth
of the place.
As in commerce and politics, so in social mat
ters Mr. Murtfeldt is influential and prominent.
In 1880 he joined Hudson River Lodge No. 607,
F. & A. M., with which he has since been act
ively connected. In 1882 he became a companion
of Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M., and for
several years was its Principal Sojourner, being at
present its High Priest. In 1883 he became con
nected with Hudson River Commandery, K. T.,
in which he is Past Commander and Grand Rep
resentative of the Grand Commandery of New
York State. At present he is representative of
the Grand Commandery of the state of Dakota
near the Grand Commandery of the state of New
York, and is also identified with Mecca Temple
and the Order of the Mystic Shrine iu New York
City. In addition to the organizations named,
he is Past Regent of Newburgh Council, R. A. ,
and its Past District Deputy and Supervising
Grand Regent; a member ofthe Fraternal Union
of Annointed High Priests; ex-President of the
Orange County Undertakers' Association, and is
connected with numerous other fraternal bodies.
From the brief review we have given of the life

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Mr. Murtfeldt it will be seen that he is one of
Newburgh's best known and most progressive
citizens, and certainly it is true that he deserves
to be classed in the annals of the city among its
most prominent men.

^1>-*^H«f

ISAAC B. WHEELER, the well known under
taker and furniture dealer of Highland Falls,
carries an extensive line of goods in his estab
lishment. He engaged in business here over
seven years ago, and from the very first gained
success, and has in every instance made friends of
his customers. He is a man of upright life and
fair dealing, and merits prosperity on account of
his worthy characteristics and his good business
methods. The father of our subject, Daniel Wheeler, was
overseer of a farm of six hundred and eleven
acres iu Dutchess County. He was born in Sus
quehanna County, Pa., but at the time of his de
cease, in 1862, at the age of sixty-five years, he
was living in East Fishkill, Dutchess County,
having resided there for fifty-three years. He
married Miss Jane Vantassell, who on the 19th of
July, 1895, was ninety years of age.
The parental family included five children, of
whom Joseph, Daniel I., John and Mary Eliza
are deceased. Isaac B. , of this sketch, was born
in East Fishkill, December 29, 1854, and was
brought up to farm work. He acquired a good
education in the common schools and assisted his
father in work upon the farm until attaining his
eighteenth year, when he began to do for himself,
first entering a" store of general merchandise with
L. W. Geming at Johnsville.
Mr. Wheeler was married in October, 1876, and
for the following three years lived on the old
Wright homestead in Phillipstown, Putnam
County. He next removed to Cold Spring, and
worked at the carpenter's trade, of which he had
gained a fair knowledge, being a good workman
and handy in the use of tools. While in the em
ploy of John Y. McKeel for a period of eight
years, he applied himself to learn the business of
an undertaker, and after acquiring all the infor

mation he could there, he went to New York
City and made a study of embalming. Now he
is regarded as one of the most proficient in this
business iu the county, acting as funeral director
for many wealthy residents of New York who
have died at this place. Without any aid what
ever, he has worked his way from the bottom of
the ladder of fortune to the topmost round, and
now stands on an equal footing with any other
man engaged in the same business.
The maiden name of oursubject's wife was Miss
Sarah E. Wright. She was born at Phillipstown,
Putnam County, in 1853, and is the daughter of
Thomas and Elizabeth (Huestis) Wright, who
were also natives of Phillipstown, but who are
now deceased.
In politics our subject supports the principles
ofthe Republican party and is an active worker
in that organization. However, he has neither
sought nor desired public office, as he finds his
time fully taken up with the demands of his busi
ness. Socially he is a Knight of Pythias in good
standing, and at present is Chancellor Com
mander.

^????????????^????????????*X>
SHARLES J. BURNS. This gentleman has
been a resident of Washingtonville since
1854, and during the intervening years he
has become widely and favorably known as a
contractor and builder, having in his chosen oc
cupation met with commendable success. He
possesses considerable natural ability, and this,
added to his painstaking care and efficient work,
enables hint to satisfy even the most critical
taste. As a workman he is skilled, careful and
industrious, and his contracts are invariably satis
factory to the other party.
Mr. Burns is the son of John and Sarah (Bel
cher) Burns, natives of the town of Monroe, Or
ange County. His father, who followed the trade
of a wagon-maker, removed to Ohio some years
after his marriage, and died there when only
thirty-five years old. His wife survived him for
many years, passing away at the age of about
sixty-eight years. Their six children were as

482

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

follows: Sarah, who makes her home in Erie,
Pa. ; Benjamin, who died at the age of sixty- two;
Charles J. , of this sketch; Harriet, wife of Thomas
Marvel, of Newburgh; John, deceased; and Mary,
who died in Pennsylvania.
Born in the town of Monroe, Orange County,
December 2, 1833, our subject was taken by his
parents in infancy to Broome County, settling
near Binghamton. There they resided some
years, returning to Orange County when he was
about twelve years of age. The ensuing years
until he was twenty-one were passed in New
burgh, where for five years he worked in a fac
tory, and at other times followed any honest em
ployment he could obtain. Being a natural me
chanic, he turned his attention to the carpenter's
trade, which he soon learned. After a time he
began contracting for himself, a branch of busi
ness in which he has met with deserved success.
In 1876 Mr. Burns was bereaved by the death
of his wife, Sarah E-, an estimable lady, and a
daughter of Hiram H. Tuthill, of Oxford, Or
ange County. She was a devoted member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, which Mr. Burns
attends, though not identified with it. Their
union was blessed with two children, of whom
the son, Herbert, is an attorney-at-law in New
York City, and the daughter, Mary, remains
with her father. While Mr. Burns has never
taken an active part in politics and is by no
means a partisan, he nevertheless is a stanch
champion of the Democratic party, and never
fails to cast his ballot for its nominees.

•?>^®(i

-£»<••

¦+--*-

(TOHN W. MATTHEWS. The development
I of the commercial interests of Newburgh is
Q) due as largely to Mr. Matthews as to any
other resident of the city. Through his connec
tion with one of the leading business establish
ments ofthe place, he has promoted not only his
personal prosperity, but that of his fellow-citizens
as well. His name is indissolubly associated with
the largest wholesale grocery business of Orange

County, of which he has been the head for eleven
years, and in securing the success of which he
has been the most important factor.
The storehouses of J. W. Matthews & Co.,
which were remodeled in 1894, are situated at
Nos. 16-22 Front Street. The building has a
frontage of one hundred and ten feet, with a
depth of fifty feet, the old portion having four
stories above a basement, while the new building
has five stories. The location is most convenient
for shipping purposes, being on a branch of the
Erie Railroad, and having elevators on each end.
The salesroom is situated on the first floor, the
offices on the second floor, and the balance is de
voted to storage purposes. The firm carries on
a very large flour business, receiving the various
brands direct from the mills in carload lots. Em
ployment is furnished to ten traveling salesmen
and about twenty-five men in the storehouse.
In former years the idea prevailed that a whole
sale business could be conducted in no other city
than New York. This opinion, however, has
been proved erroneous, and the prejudice against
buying supplies outside of the metropolis has
been dispelled. The fact that Newburgh is fa
vored with excellent transportation facilities ren
ders it a splendid location for a large wholesale
business. Numerous competing railroads stretch
away from here to all parts of the country, and
ocean vessels are constantly seen at the docks.
Added to these advantages may be mentioned
the fact that expenses are lower here than in New
York City, and therefore goods can be sold at
cheaper rates.
Among the specialties of the firm may be men
tioned Arnold's "Superlative" brand of flour and
"Highland" brands of canned goods, of which
they are sole proprietors. They are wholesale
agents for the Humboldt Flouring Mills, of Minne
apolis, Minn., manufacturers of the "Bonanza"
brand of flour; the Florence Mill Company, of
Stillwater, Minn., manufacturers of the "Butter
fly" brand; and Heinz Bros. & Co., manufact
urers of the "Heinz" brand of pickles. They
are among the largest buyers of teas in the
market, and are also large dealers in coffee and
spices. In canned goods they conduct a very

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

4«3

large business, their contracts calling for an in
creased number of cases every year.
The gentleman to whom the remarkable suc
cess ofthe company is principally due, and whose
name introduces this sketch, was born in the
town of Olive, Ulster County, N. Y., September
29, 1854, the family removing to New York from
the eastern part of Massachusetts. The father,
Jeremiah, who was born in Olive, engaged in
mercantile pursuits in his native town, where for
a long time he served as Supervisor and Magis
trate. Upon retiring from business he settled at
Kingston, where he now makes his home. He
is an official member of the old -school Baptist
Church, in which he has been licensed to preach .
His wife, Angeline (Phillips) Matthews, was
born in the town of Hurley, Ulster County, and
was the daughter of Richard O. Phillips, a farm
er, who resided for a time in Dutchess County,
but later removed to Ulster County.
The parental family consisted of three sons and
one daughter, the latter now deceased. The sons
are John W., of this sketch; Elmer E. , a mem
ber of the firm, having charge of the tea and
coffee department; and Frank B., also a member
of the firm, and now traveling for the house. In
addition to the three brothers, Messrs. Leach and
Harrison are members ofthe firm.
After obtaining a good education in the com
mon schools and the Delaware Literary Institute
of Franklin, Mr. Matthews began his business
career in 1872 as an employe of the Romer &
Tremper Steamboat Company. Four years later
he secured a position as bookkeeper for a whole
sale grocery house in Newburgh, and in 1879 be
came an equal partner in the business. The part
nership expired by limitation in 1884, at which
time the present firm of J. W. Matthews & Co.
was organized. He is a member of the Board of
Trade, of the Wholesale Grocers' Association of
New York and vicinity, and of the New York
Produce Exchange. Socially he has fraternal re
lations 'with the Powelton and Newburgh City
Clubs and the Reform Club of New York City.
In his political views Mr. Matthews is a Dem
ocrat, but does not take an active part in public
affairs. By his marriage with Miss Harriet Lar-

away, of Albany, N. Y., he has one daughter,
Maude. In the First Baptist Church he is serv
ing as Trustee, and is also a Director of the Young
Men's Christian Association.

REUBEN CLARK is carrying on a splendid
freight and forwarding business at Corn
wall Landing, in connection with his broth
ers, Henry R. and Richard. He was named for
his grandfather, Reuben Clark, one of the most
prominent business men of this place. The latter
was one of the first to engage in general mer
chandising here, and many years ago built the
dock and a portion of the store in which the three
brothers now conduct their business. He was
also a freighter on the Hudson River, and con
ducted a large trade in the sale of plaster. In or
der to handle this commodity with convenience
and rapidity, he caused the dock to be built. To
him was also accorded the distinction of erecting
one of the first gristmills in this section. It was
located on Idlewild Creek, one mile from this
place, and was conducted by him for some time.
He lived to the advanced age of eighty-eight
years. He had three brothers, David, Francis
and Joshua, all of whom lived to advanced years.
Reuben Clark, Sr., married Miss Mary Con-
nell, and to them were born ten children: Abigail;
Daniel, who was a merchant iu New York City;
Noah, who was captain on a river boat; Cornell
S., who was formerly a brick manufacturer of
Cornwall; Nathan, formerly a merchant of Corn
wall; Birdsell, who died in Australia; Josiah,
who is a fruit-grower of Orange County; David,
formerly engaged as a miller in Cornwall; and
John, who was accidentally killed when a lad of
nine years. Of this family all are deceased with
the exception of Josiah. He was born in Corn
wall, March 15, 1822, and early in life learned the
trade of a miller. Subsequently he spent thirty
years as a merchant in New York City, and is
now living in retirement at this place.
Nathan Clark, the father of our subject, was

484

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born March n, 1816, in Cornwall, and upon at
taining mature years was married to Mary P.
Birdsell, a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Hal-
leck) Birdsell. She lived to be seventy-six years
old. Nathan Clark was one of the old-time gro
cery dealers of Cornwall, making this place his
home until his decease, March 12, 1887, at which
time he was seventy-one years of age. He be
came the father of three sons, of whom our sub
ject was the eldest. The others, Henry R. and
Richard, are carrying on the business which their
father established, operating under the name of
Nathan- Clark.
Reuben Clark was born at Cornwall Landing,
February 21, 1842, and until sixteen years of age
attended school very regularly, a part ofthe time
being a student at Poughkeepsie. His vacations
were passed in working in, the store, and in 1870
he embarked in life for himself, being appointed
freight agent at Cornwall Landing for Skidmore
& Co., owners of a line of steamboats. He re
mained with them for one year, and then was em
ployed for the same length of time by Carpenter
& Co. From that time to the present he has rep
resented various lines of steamboats as agent at
Cornwall Landing, and now transacts the busi
ness for several reliable companies, being a valu
able man, as he is familiar with the business, and
is well known to all the shippers.
The lady to whom our subject was married,
February 21, 1871, was Miss Orvetta D. Atkin
son. She departed this life November 28, 1871,
and April 15, 1875, Mr. Clark married Fannie
Dorsey, of Maryland. She was the daughter of
Walter and Julia (Forsyth) Dorsey, farmers of
the above state, where they owned much prop
erty. Mrs. Clark has three sisters and one broth
er. They are Julia, the widow of Dr. Wilhelm,
who lives with her mother in Cooksville, Md. ;
Franklin W., a farmer of Carroll County, Md. ;
MaryE., Mrs. J. M. DeLashmutt, of Howard
County, Md. ; and Sallie, who married C. E. Syd-
more, and lives in Cooksville, Md., where her
husband is engaged in merchandising. The fa
ther of this family died December 18, 1891, when
about seventy -two years of age. Mrs. Dorsey is
now sixty -eight years old.

To Mr. and Mrs. Clark has been granted a
family of four children. Orvetta was born March
27, 1876, and is bookkeeper and stenographer in
her father's store; Anna Augusta was born June
28, 1877, and is now attending the Peekskill
Academy; Walter D. was born November 27,
1878, and is at present office boy for the Ontario
& Western Railroad Company; and Fannie R.
was born April 18, 1884.
The father of Mrs. Clark was a very prominent
and popular man in his community, and on one
occasion served as Sheriff of the county. In poli
tics our subject is a Republican, tried and true,
and socially is an Odd Fellow of good standing
and a Knight of Honor. He belongs to the So
ciety of Friends, and altogether is a gentleman
greatly honored and esteemed for his worthy and
upright life. ¦r=.

r*£+»— ?

6 ' crU
WILLIAM E. GWYER, one of the substan
tial and enterprising young citizens of
Cornwall on the Hudson, is the possessor
of a delightful home on Bay View Avenue, which
is beautifully located. The premises are kept iu
excellent order, and abound in fruit, shrubs and
flowers of every variety. Mr. Gwyer has a fine
greenhouse on his place and the grounds are made
more attractive by living springs, the water be
ing supplied by "rams," which furnish sixteen
hundred gallons per day. In addition to this
pleasant home, he also owns a valuable estate,
comprising two hundred and sixty -five acres, sev
enty-five of which are within the corporate limits
of Cornwall. Mr. Gwyer has lived here for the
past thirteen years, and is therefore well known
to all the residents of this vicinity. He does not
carry on farming, but gives his attention to man
ufacturing souvenirs from Storm King Mountain
and other noted places. He carries on this busi
ness in connection with a Mr. Caldwell, an expert
turner of wood, and the many fancy articles
which they manufacture are readily purchased by
the people who visit the place.
Mr. Gwyer, who was born in New York City,
February 22, 1857, is a well educated gentleman

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

485

and a graduate of Mt. Washington Collegiate In
stitute. He came to Orange County about sev
enteen years ago, and during thirteen years of
that time has resided in Cornwall on the Hudson.
His mother, who is a most estimable and worthy
lady, makes her home with him.
Mr. Gwyer is independent in politics, reserving
his right to vote for the man who, in his judg
ment, will best fill the office, regardless of party
lines. He is a member of the Cromwell Guards,
and was one of the principal organizers of the
Pastime Club, a social order just established. In
public affairs he takes great interest, and at one
time was a member of the Village Board. Of
late, however, he has refused to accept office, as
he prefers to be free to come and go as he chooses.
He is one of the largest taxpayers in this com
munity, and has hosts of friends among young
and old, rich and poor.

tpGJlLLIAM SCHOUDEL, one of the enter-
l A / prising sons of Germany who have sought
VY and found homes in the New World, is
now living retired from business of any kind in
Highland Falls. He was born June 28, 18 17, in
Baden, Germany, and continued to make his
home in the Fatherland until twenty-three years
of age. In the mean time he acquired a splendid
education in the model schools of that country ,
after which he learned the cutler's trade.
After thirty-seven days spent on the Atlantic
in a sailing-vessel bound for the New World, our
subject landed in New York City, where he
worked at his trade for three months. He next
went to West Point, where he enlisted in the
regular army and served for a period of thirty -
three years, after which he continued to reside
in that city for eleven years.
In 1884 Mr. Schoudel came to Highland Falls,
where he has resided ever since. He was mar
ried in this place to Mary Long, who was born
in Germany in 18 19. To them were born four
children, of whom Elizabeth is deceased. Will

iam is out West. Louisa, Mrs. Frank Buck,
makes her home in Poughkeepsie, and has six
children, Frank, Clara, Lillie, Edward, Harry
and Hattie. Albert is engaged in the insurance
business in New York City. In politics Mr.
Schoudel is a true-blue Republican, keeping him
self well posted regarding the party's issues, and
is a firm believer in its principles. He has never
aspired to political honors, content to let those
serve who desire to do so. In religious affairs
he is a devoted member of the Episcopal Church.

Gz

\zy

?^ilip=r

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)

\_

G| BRAHAM S. CLARK has made his home
LJ in Cornwall on the Hudson for the past six-
/ I teen years, and is considered one of the lead
ing citizens of the place. His residence is de
lightfully located on Bay View, from which the
visitor can command a fine view over river and
mountain. It is ver)' fittingly called "Prospect
Place," and during the summer months many
people from the city find rest and comfort here.
Reuben A. Clark, father of our subject, was
born in Cornwall, the grandfather, David Clark,
being one of the earliest settlers of this region,
and one of the first millers in the county. Reu
ben Clark, upon attaining mature years, moved
to New York City, where he became a prominent
business man and entered actively into public
life, being for many years on the police force.
He married Rebecca Cleveland, daughter of Fred
erick and Anna Cleveland, who are related to
the Clevelands, the original proprietors of the
Royal Baking Powder concern, selling out their
interest in the business to the present owners.
Mrs. Clark became the mother of eight children,
and departed this life when in her forty-eighth
year. Of her family, Elmira and Elizabeth are
deceased; James died during the late war, while
serving as a Union soldier in a Massachusetts
regiment; our subject was the next-born; Mar
garet, Henry Theodore and John are deceased,
Theodore also being killed while in the army.
The subject of this sketch was born Septem-

486

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ter 12, 1843, iu New York City, where he took
advantage of the splendid opportunities granted
him for attending school, and after the removal
of the family to this place he was a student in
Rose Academy. He spent many years of his
early life in Westchester County and New York
City, but, his health failing, he sought a more
congenial atmosphere and came to Cornwall on
the Hudson. He at once located at his present
delightful spot, and makes an excellent host for
the summer boarders who each year visit "Pros
pect Place."
Mr. Clark was married, in 1884, to Miss Mary
Farmer, a native ofthe North of Ireland, and of
Scotch extraction. She was born in County
Monaghan, August 17, 1856, and is the daugh
ter of Thomas and Jennie (Clark) Farmer.
Our subject is descended from the family of
Clarks who, many years ago, were large prop
erty-owners and wealthy people in the vicinity of
Cornwall. He is a gentleman of integrity, and
the departing traveler leaves with regret his well
conducted and homelike dwelling and returns
the following summer with pleasure. In politics
he is a true-blue Republican, and in religious af
fairs both he and his wife are members of the
Society of Friends.

i«MM5Mfri

3*«fc'i"£'Szais

r^ROF. ELWOOD PIANO, one of the most
yr prominent and efficient vocal and instru-
f3 mental teachers of music, resides at High
land Falls, where he has a large number of pu
pils. He is a skilled performer upon the piano
and organ, and understands thoroughly the art of
teaching voice culture. In both these depart
ments of music he has been remarkably success
ful in this place, and also has many patrons in
West Point, a number of whom have now gone
to foreign countries to perfect their musical edu
cation. The Professor is quite a genius, and so
well does he understand the mechanism of an
organ that he could easily construct one, had he
the proper materials.
Our subject was born near West Point, N. Y.,
October 5, 1857, anQ *s the son °f George Piano,

now deceased. The latter was in his fifty-ninth
year at the time of his death, and for forty years
had been a member of the West Point Military
Band, which bore a reputation second to none in
the state in point of excellence. Both he and
his wife were natives of this state, and the latter
was known in her maidenhood as Laura Jane
Birdsley. The five children born to them were
Ada, Mary Emma and Harry, deceased; George,
Jr., a resident of this city; and our subject.
The subject of this sketch may be said to have
inherited his musical talent to a large degree, as
his ancestors as far back as he. has any record
were musicians, some of them possessing a na
tional reputation. Elwood made his home in
West Point until attaining his fifteenth year,
when he came to Highland Falls, whither his fa
ther had removed and built a comfortable home.
After two years' study under good instructors
he went south to Alabama, still devoting his
time to music, and gaining during this time a
good knowledge of the construction ofthe organ.
He traveled for some time with Ostendorf, an
organ builder, his duty being to exhibit the ex
cellency of this gentleman's work in constructing
these instruments. As he was an expert in hand
ling the organ, he could bring into notice the
best qualities of that instrument.
Subsequently Professor Piano accepted a posi
tion with F. L. Fryer, a music dealer of Atlanta,
Ga., and was engaged in his store for about five
months. Upon leaving that state, in 1880, he
moved northward to Tennessee, and for several
years thereafter was employed as a salesman, ex
hibitor and teacher in Memphis. In 1888 he
made a permanent location in Highland Falls,
where he has met with such phenomenal success.
Prof. Elwood Piano was married, in 1883, to
Miss Emma Young, whose birth occurred in
Nashville, Tenn. Her parents were Acton and
Elizabeth Young, also natives of that state. The
former was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and died in the summer of 1878, durin°-
the yellow-fever epidemic. The mother is still
living in Memphis. To our subject and his wife
there have beeu born three children, Harry M
Fannie M. and Theodore, all of whom manifest

AYMAR VAN BUREN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

489

marked musical talent. In politics our subject
is a supporter of Democratic principles. He is
organist of the Episcopal Church in this city,
with which he is also connected by membership.

QlYMAR VAN BUREN was born in New
M York City, January 10, 1837. His father,
j| Col. "John D. Van Buren, was likewise a na
tive of the metropolis, which was also the birth
place of his grandfather and great-grandfather.
The parental family of our subject included five
children, of whom four are living, Aymar, of
this sketch, being the eldest of the household.
John D., who makes his home in Newburgh,
graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic School
of Troy, .N. Y., and during the war served in
the United States navy; at one time he held the
position of State Engineer under Governor Til -
den. Elizabeth Van Buren is now Mrs. White, of
Tuckahoe, Westchester County, N. Y. Robert
was also a graduate of the Polytechnic School of
Troy, and for a number of years was Chief En
gineer of the Brooklyn Water Works.
The subject of this sketch attended the private
schools of New York until attaining his four
teenth year, when he. came to Newburgh, receiv
ing instruction from a private tutor. In 1862,
upon completing his education, and when ready
to commence life for himself, he purchased a por
tion of the farm belonging to Edmund Morton in
the town of New Windsor, and the following year
was married to his daughter, Miss Margaret.
Edmund Morton was an old and highly respected
citizen of the county. Mr. Van Buren lived on
this farm of ninety acres until 1882, when he
sold out and became a resident of the old Morton
homestead. Although retired from the active
work of carrying on the farm, he gives consider
able attention to raising standard-bred horses,
two of his animals, "Effie" and "Lottie," having
made a fine record, the former trotting in 2:25^ ,
and the latter in 2:28.
To Mr. and Mrs. Van Buren there were born

three children. Annie died at the age of four
teen; Caroline M. is now Mrs. W. V V Powers,
of Cornwall; and Edmund M. is engaged in the
insurance business in New York City. While in
New Windsor, our subject was a member of the
Board of Health for many years; also School
Trustee, and for twenty years served as Road
Overseer. During this time he was active in the
building of Quassaick Avenue, which has since
become the principal street of New Windsor. In
religious matters he is a member of the Episcopal
Church, which for a number of years he served
as Warden, Vestryman and Treasurer. Like his
father before him, Mr. Van Buren has always
taken a very active part in politics, voting the
Democratic ticket. He has represented his party
at various times in county conventions, and was
Chairman of the Town Committee for many years.

G\ LSOP P. TUTHILL, who is engaged in the
fl grocery business, has the finest class of trade
\\ in Newburgh. He handles a full line of do
mestic and imported wares, and occupies a build
ing 25x100 feet in dimensions, three stories and
basement, at the corner of Third and Liberty
Streets. Though he has been located in this city
but seven years, having succeeded James H. H.
Chapman, his success has been almost phenom
enal. He pays strict attention to the wants of his
customers, and caters only to the best trade.
Our subject's grandfather, James Tuthill, was
born in Washingtonville, Orange County, and was
a farmer by occupation. His son George H, fa
ther of our subject, was born in the same locality,
and, like his father before him, gave his attention
to agricultural pursuits. For many years his
home was in the town of Blooming Grove, but in
1893 he retired from active affairs and came to
make his home with our subject. His wife, who
was formerly Miss Jane A. Purdy, was born near
Goshen, and was a daughter of Abraham Purdy,
a farmer. Both Mr. and Mrs. George Tuthill
have long been identified with the Congregation
al Church.
A. P. Tuthill was born in Washingtonville,

49°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

November 15, 1855, being next to the eldest of
six children, one of whom is now deceased. Our
subject was reared and received his education in
the vicinity of his birthplace, remaining at home
until fourteen years of age. Then for a year he
was employed in a grocery in the town, and at
length went to New York City, where for two
years he worked for Underhill & Westervelt, at
the corner of Bleeker and McDougal Streets.
Later he was with the firm of Park & Tilford, at
the corner of Broadway and Twenty-first Street,
remaining in their employ as salesman for fifteen
years. It was in 1888 that he decided to embark
in business for himself, and settled upon New
burgh as a favorable place in which to begin his
new enterprise. Since opening his store he has
been obliged to enlarge it, and now employs six
men, some of whom take orders from private fam
ilies regularly. Three delivery wagons are used
for delivering goods. Besides a purely local trade,
he has customers in several adjoining towns and
the surrounding country.
The marriage of Mr. Tuthill occurred iu Corn
wall oh the Hudson in 1880, Miss Jennie Ward
being the lady of his choice. She was born at
Cornwall, and is a daughter of Joshua Ward.
Mr. and Mrs. Tuthill have two children, Mary
Augusta and Carrie Ward, both bright and prom
ising pupils in the local schools. Mrs. Tuthill,
who is a lady of good education and social graces,
is a member of Calvary Presbyterian-Church.

Jp*

(3TEPHEN DECATUR HARRISON, A. B.,
7\ M. D., the leading physician of Cornwall on
l*y the Hudson, has established an enviable rep
utation since coming here in 1889. His father,
who also bore the same name, was formerly one
of the prominent business men of New York City,
owning and conducting an extensive business as
a cotton merchant and lard-oil manufacturer.
He was also one of the founders of the Cotton
Exchange, of which he was made President, hold
ing that honored position for many years. He
was born in New Jersey in 18 16, and after au act
ive and useful life, died in 1881.

Our subject's mother, formerly Martha R.
Holmes, was also a native of the above state, and
at the time of her demise, in 1878, was fifty-five
years of age. She became the mother of eight
children, of whom those living are: Stephen De
catur, of this sketch; Elizabeth V., a resident of
Jersey City; and Holmes, who resides in New
Orleans, La., where he deals in builders' special
ties. The subject of this sketch was born September
2, 1855, at Jersey City Heights, N. J., where the
first few years of his life were spent. He was
given excellent opportunities for obtaining an ed
ucation, attending the Hasbrouck Institute, and
for two years was a student at St. Paul's School
at Concord, N. H. He then entered Yale, from
which institution he was graduated with the Class
of '76. He naturally inclined toward the study
of medicine, and after pursuing the desired course
in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New
York City, was graduated therefrom in 1879. He
stood at the head of his class, and after a compet
itive examination was appointed to a position in
the New York Hospital, which honor he refused.
After passing another competitive examination in
1879, he entered Charity Hospital, and subse
quently was physician in the Chambers Street
Accident Hospital. After some time spent there
he was made physician for the out-door depart
ment of Bellevue Hospital and of Roosevelt Hos
pital, this work fitting him for the successful prac
tice of his profession. He first engaged in private
practice at No. 714 Madison Avenue, and in 1885
removed to Palmyra, N. Y., where he engaged
in practice until 1889, the year of his advent into
Cornwall on the Hudson. Upon locating here
he purchased the property of Dr. Birmingham,
and succeeded to his large practice, which was
the leading business in this part of Orange
County. The lady whom our subject chose as his wife,
and with whom he was united iu 1882, was Miss
Agnes C. Nicoll, a native of New Haven, Conn.,
and a daughter of Dr. John and C. E. (Comstock)
Nicoll, both of whom were born in Connecticut.
Her father was a member of the same family as
that to which Lieutenant-Governor Nicoll (the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

491

first Lieutenant-Governor of New York) belonged.
Dr. and Mrs. Harrison are the parents of two
sons: Stephen D., a lad of ten years; and Robert
Nicoll, aged seven.
In politics the Doctor gives his adherence to
the Democratic party. Socially he is identified
with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of
Honor. In the line of his profession he is con
nected with the Medical Society of the county of
New York, the Medico-Surgical Society of New
York, the Alumni Society of Charity Hospital,
and is also consulting physician of St. Luke's
Hospital in Newburgh.

30HN C. ROSE is one of the leading examples
of the self-made men of Orange County, and
is proprietor of the village and brickyards of
Roseton, which are situated about four miles
north of Newburgh, on the West Shore Railroad.
His success is largely the result of his idea that
barges for transporting brick could be constructed
in a cheap and easy manner, and this plan he suc
cessfully carried into effect. He owns sixteen
brick machines and has a bank of the finest clay
for the purpose.
Our subject is of Holland-Dutch descent, but
his grandfather, Jacob Rose, was born in the
United States, and was formerly an agriculturist
of Ulster County. John, father of J. C. Rose,
was a native of Ulster County, where he operated
a farm and carried on a blacksmith- shop. His
death occurred in Poughkeepsie, at the age of
seventy-nine years. His wife, Sybil, likewise
born in Ulster County, was a daughter of John
Beaver, of English descent. He was one of the
proprietors of the town of Esopus, N. Y. , and
was a very wealthy man in his day. His wife,
who was formerly a Miss Clark, came from an
old New England family. Mrs. Rose, who was
a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, died when in her eighty-second year.
John C. Rose was born October 4, 1828, in
Esopus, Ulster County, this state, and is one of
the six surviving children of his father's family,
four others being deceased. He attended the

district schools of his home neighborhood, and
was married in Dutchess County, in 1856, to Miss
Phoebe Myers, daughter of William A. Myers, a
farmer of that county. The young couple con
tinued to reside in Dutchess County until 1865,
when they removed to Haverstraw, where Mr.
Rose embarked in the manufacture of brick in
partnership with his brother, Hilend R. A year
later he sold out his interest and engaged in
boating, constructing barges for the transporta
tion of brick. The first barge thus made was
called "Silas G. Mackay," and the second "Hi
lend C. Rose," after which many others were
built in rapid succession.
In 1875 Mr. Rose resumed the manufacture of
brick at Haverstraw, where he had six machines,
and this plant he continued to operate uninter
ruptedly until 1882, when he sold out. Then,
on account of failing health, he traveled in Europe
for part of a year, receiving great benefit. In
1883 he once more embarked in business on his
present site, where he purchased a large tract ot
land, buying out various parties, until he now
owns altogether two hundred and fifty acres.
His sixteen brick machines have a capacity of
twenty-four thousand bricks per day each, and
the two engines which run the same are of one
hundred and one hundred and seventy horse
power, respectively. On an average about forty-
four million bricks are turned out of this factory
annually, the larger portion being shipped to
New York City by barges. About seven of
these are constantly used in transportation, and
in busy times five hundred employes are on the
pay-roll, there being an average -of about four
hundred hands.
After locating here Mr. Rose secured a post-
office, which was called in his honor Roseton, and
his sou H. C. was appointed first Postmaster.
Another son, Elbert, is the present incumbent of
the office. The towu contains the numerous
homes of the employes, a general merchandise
store, a schoolhouse and a church, the two last-
mentioned structures having been put up by our
subject. The town is a model one in every re
spect, and has a good station on the West Shore
Railroad. In 1884 the firm of Rose & Co. was

492

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

incorporated with a capital of $90,000, John C.
Rose being President and Treasurer, and his son
Hilend C. Vice-President and Secretary. For the
last three years the business has been carried on
under the name of John C. Rose & Co.
In 1870 Mrs. Phoebe Rose was summoned to her
final rest, leaving four children to mourn her
loss. The third child iu the family, Hilend C,
died in Newburgh, in 1894; Adaleine J. is at
home; Elbert D. W. is Postmaster of Roseton, and
Joseph H. completes the number. The second
union of Mr. Rose occurred in 1873, at Marlbor
ough, Ulster County, with Martha Bailey, who died
in 1876, leaving one son, John B., who is now at
tending Yale College. The present wife of our sub
ject, formerly Miss Martha Rowley, was born in
England. Mr. and Mrs. Rose are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the
former has held various offices, and is now Su
perintendent of the Sunday-school. Since 1876
he has been active in the ranks ofthe Prohibition
party; he is Trustee of the national funds, has
been Chairman ofthe County Committee and has
helped to nominate candidates for different offices
of importance. He is well acquainted with the
leading Prohibitionists of the country, and is
thoroughly in sympathy with the party's princi
ples.

RUFUS BARRATT, who resides in the town
of Newburgh, is one of the oldest pioneers
of this place living here at the present time.
He is an Englishman by birth, having been born
July 19, 1819, in Nottinghamshire, to John and
Annie (Scattergood) Barratt, also natives of the
British Isle. To them was born a family of five
sous and four daughters, to whom they gave the
best educations which their circumstances in life
permitted. John Barratt was a merchant in his native
place, and also engaged in manufacturing hosiery
for many years prior to his emigration to Amer
ica. In 1829 he gathered together his household
effects, and with his family set sail for the New
World, being thirty-two days on the Atlantic.
They lauded safely in New York City, whence

they made their way to Poughkeepsie and there
lived for a short time. The father finally came to
Orange County and bought the farm of one hun
dred and twelve acres on which his son now re
sides, it being situated five miles from the city of
Newburgh. Here he lived until his decease,
which occurred in the year 1856. The farm is
admirably adapted to general farming and fruit
growing, and our subject makes a specialty of
raising grapes.
The mother of our subject was fairly well edu
cated, and died after coming to the United States
in 1844. Her son Rufus, of this sketch, was
married, December 3, 1855, to Miss Annie Pier-
son, a native of Nottinghamshire, England, her
birth taking place December 14, 1831. Her par
ents, John and Mary (Mee) Pierson, came to
America about 1840, and settled in Canada.
Their daughter, Mrs. Barratt, was a resident of
Brooklyn at the time of her marriage.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Barratt there have been
born five children, of whom the eldest, John, died
in 1863. Rufus, Jr., whose birth occurred June
1, 1858, is now residing at home. Mary was born
January 30, i860, and died iu infancy. Mary (the
second of that name), who was born June. 30,
1861, is the wife of Frank W. Cosman, a farmer
residing near Marlborough; they have one daugh
ter, Annie ~E. Ella A. was born in 1867, and
married Frank E. Gillies, who is engaged in the
flour and feed business in New York City.
Mrs. Barratt is a member of the Methodist
Church, while her husband attends the Baptist
Church. Both are held in high esteem in the
community where so many years of their lives
have been passed.

'» ?¦»¦>> >i 1 1 1

WILLIAM A. AUSTIN. The gentleman
whose name appears at the head of this
sketch is well known in the city of New
Windsor, as he is one of its most honorable busi
ness men. He is at present the superintendent
of the Carson Brickyards, near the city, and in
carrying on the work of the same meets with
flattering results.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

493

A native of this state, Mr. Austin was born in
Putnam County, February 18, 1833, and was the
son of Daniel Austin, also a native of that place.
The paternal grandfather, Isaac Austin, was a
farmer in that county, which occupation Daniel
also followed with success. The latter married
Abigail Likely, a native of Putnam County, and
the daughter of James Likely, a well-to-do agri
culturist of that portion of the state.
The parental family included eight children,
seven of whom are living. William A., who was
the third-born, was reared on the home farm, and
until seventeen years of age attended the schools
taught in his district. About that time he went
to Dutchess County, and at Fishkill obtained em
ployment in a cotton factory. He worked there
for two years, then learned the trade ofa house car
penter, which he followed for the next nine years.
During this time, in 1856, he came to Orange
County, and for one year lived at New Windsor,
where he was engineer in a brickyard. At the
end of that time he returned to Fishkill, working
as a carpenter, and remained there until 1865,
when he again came to this county, and for two
years was engineer for Cowin & Upright, brick-
makers at New Windsor. For the same length
of time he .worked for Mr. Brower, then went to
Rockland County, and after two years returned
to Orange County, in the capacity of superinten
dent for Mr. Brower.'
At Fishkill Mr. Austin and William Lahey
started in the brick business for themselves, oper
ating a yard for one year. Later Mr. Austin and
Mr. Gilbert leased the old Christy yard and oper
ated it for two years. In 189 1 Mr. Austin went
to Catskill as chief engineer in the brickyard there,
but one year later returned to New Windsor as
engineer for Hugh Davidson & Sons. In 1895,
however, he was made superintendent of the
David Carson yards, and there he has since re
mained. He has entire supervision of the plant,
and has thirty men under him, turning out thirty-
three thousand brick per day.
Mr. Austin was married, at Fishkill, to Miss
Mary Derbyshire, who was born in Putnam Coun
ty. To them have been granted three children:
Winfield, an engineer at Coeymans, N. Y. ; Mary,

who married William R. Moores, a carpenter and
builder of Newburgh; and Lewis, engaged in the
trucking business at Catskill. Socially our sub
ject was formerly an Odd Fellow, but is now a
demitted member of the order. He is not con
nected with any religious denomination, although
his estimable wife is a valued member of the Pres
byterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.

NE. WINANS, M. D., is one of the leading
physicians and surgeons of Newburgh,
where he has been practicing his profession
since February, 1889. He is a homeopathist,
and, being a careful student of his profession, has
gained an extensive practice, which is well merit
ed. He was born in Caldwell, N. J., on the 14th
of July, 1864, and is a son of Dr. H. D. Winans,
whose birth occurred near Goshen, Orange Coun
ty. The paternal grandfather, Wr'illiam Winans,
was a native of the Empire State, and for many
years was a farmer ot Orange County. The fa
ther graduated from the university of New York
City with the degree of M. D., after which he
there engaged in practice for three years. He
then located in Caldwell, N. J., where he contin
ued the prosecution of his profession until his
death, on the 9th of September, 1889, at the age
of sixty-two years. In the latter part of his ca
reer he became a homeopathist. He served his
city as Justice ofthe Peace for many years. In
New York City he had married Miss Mary E.
Hotto, who was there born and who was of Ger
man descent. She is a daughter of Harold Hot-
to, who was a cabinet-maker by occupation, and
who aided his country in the War of 1812.
Dr. H. E. Winans is one ofa family of seven
children, four of whom reached adult age, but
only three are now living, he having two sisters.
His boyhood and youth were passed in Caldwell,
and after graduating from the academy at that
place he studied in a private school. He began
reading medicine with his father, and in 1885 en
tered the New York Homeopathic College and
Hospital, where he took the regular course and
was graduated in the Class of '88, receiving the

494

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

degree of M. D. For about a year he then re
mained in practice with his father, but in Febru
ary, 1889, located in Newburgh and has since en
gaged in general practice. For the last two years
he has had his office at No. 206 Liberty Street.
He makes a specialty of electrical treatment, in
which he uses a galvanic and farradic battery of
his own invention and manufacture, it having
seven different currents.
In Newburgh was celebrated the marriage of
Dr. Winans and Miss Frances Leon. Mrs. Win
ans was born here and is a daughter of David D.
Leon, who resides on Gidney Avenue, and who
is one of the oldest citizens of this place, being
now seventy-three years of age. He is a dealer
in agricultural implements, and is serving as a
member of the Board of Aldermen, in which he is
acting on the House Committee. The grandfa
ther of Mrs. Winans, Pedro Leon, was born in
Madrid, Spain, where he remained until he had
reached the age of eighteen years, when he came
to America, locating at Newburgh, where he re
sided until called from this life. The Doctor and
his wife have many friends in this community,
where they are widely and favorably known, and
with the Reformed Episcopal Church they hold
membership. Besides his general practice he is
serving as examining physician for six insurance
companies.

jILLIAM SAGER. Few of the many
builders and contractors of Newburgh have
a better reputation for excellence of work
manship, faithfulness in the performance of every
detail of their contracts, and general reliability,
than Mr. Sager. In a very few years he has won
a foremost position among our local business men,
and many evidences of his handiwork and skill are
to be seen in this city and vicinity. He employs
from twenty-six to thirty-two men, and super
vises their work continually. His shop and office
are at No. 235 Washington Street.
Mr. Sager comes from an old Holland-Dutch

family on the paternal side. _ His grandfather,
Daniel, was born in this county, where he oper
ated a farm in his mature life. He was a hero of
the War of 18 12, and died in Newburgh at the
age of seventy-nine years. Our subject's father,
Samuel Sager, was born in the same locality as
was his grandfather, and followed the same voca
tion. His farm is located in the town of Mont
gomery, and at present he is a resident of New
burgh, being in his eighty-first year. His wife,
who was known as Hannah French in her girl
hood, was a native of England, where she resided
until fourteen years of age, then coining with her
father to this city. Her death occurred here in
1887. Samuel Sager and wife were the parents
of four children, one son and three daughters, all
of whom survive, and with one exception all are
residents of this city.
The birth of our subject occurred August 24,
1845, in Montgomery. He received a liberal ed
ucation in the public schools and in the private
one conducted by Professor Brown. On attaining
his twenty-first year he commenced serving an
apprenticeship to the moulder's trade in Connor's
foundry. At the end of three years he abandoned
that business, which appeared to affect his health
unfavorably, and after recuperating about a' year
he apprenticed himself to learn the mason's trade
with a Mr. Hammond, of his native town, for
whom he worked for about two years. After
ward he was with Brown & McMeekin, being in
their employ as a journeyman for some nineteen
years, eight of which time he was their tried and
trusted foreman. When the partnership was dis
solved, he continued in the same capacity for Mr.
Brown up to 1887, when he started in the same
business on his own account, meeting with unu
sual success. Among the many structures which
he has put up, are the following: the residences of
Mayor Cassedy, Judge Hirschberg, Mr. Taylor,
Mr. Norton, Mr. Jungman; the Salisbury Paper
Mills, Taylor's Mills; part of Chadwick's Bleach
ery, and the Delany Boiler Works. He also built
his own residence at the corner of Ann and Will
iam Streets.
Mr. Sager' s marriage took place in New York
City, in 1869, when Miss Emma Noyes became

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

495

his future companion and helpmate along life's
journey. She is a native of that city and a
daughter of Benjamin G. Noyes, who has been
on the police force there for twenty-seven years.
Mr. and Mrs. Sager have five daughters, namely:
Lulu, Bertha, Ella, Flora and Lillie. Mrs. Sager
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and is a lady who is greatly beloved by all. Mr.
Sager deserves great credit for the success he has
achieved in the business world, and for the man
ner in which he has discharged his duties as a
citizen, neighbor and friend. In his fraternal re
lations he is a member of Highland Lodge,
I. O. O. F. He is a true-blue Republican, and
alway takes a great interest in the advancement
of his party.

'HO MAS J. DWYER, proprietor ofthe
Orange County Nurseries at Cornwall on
the Hudson, came to this place in 1884 from
the town of New Windsor. He was born at
Newburgh, February 19, 1856, and is the son of
Michael and Mary (Fogarty) Dwyer. They
were the parents of seven children: William, now
deceased; Thomas J., our subject; Ellen, who is
with her mother; Michael J., a prominent stone
contractor of Newburgh; James G., a successful
agent; Edward, deceased; and Mary, wife of
Nicholas Courtney. The father of these children,
Michael Dwyer, was a gardener by occupation,
and thoroughly understood his calling. He died
at the age of eighty years, but his widow is still
living on the old homestead at Cornwall.
The subject of this sketch received but a lim
ited education, attending the common schools
during the winter months only until thirteen
years of age, when he engaged as a clerk for
four years. When a boy he worked with his
father, receiving valuable instruction in garden
ing, which proved of much benefit to him in his
after life. After coming to Cornwall he first en
tered the employ of E. P. Roe, the author, and
was with him for five or six years, during which
time he gained a good knowledge of the nursery
business. On leaving the latter's employ, he

went to New Jersey, where he was employed by
the Lovett Nursery Company, having full charge
of their business. After remaining there two
years, he returned to Orange County, and was
employed by A. H. Havemeyer to lay out and
adorn his place in the town of New Windsor.
Desiring to better himself in life, Mr. Dwyer
determined to start in business on his own ac
count, and purchased ten acres of land near the
village of Cornwall, embarking in the nursery
business with a cash capital of $180. The first
year his sales amounted to only $160, but in 1894
they reached upward of $16,000, and his business
is constantly increasing. He has been successful
beyond his expectations, and has added to his
nursery many branches, his trade now extending
to all parts of the United States. His semi-an
nual catalogue requires about one hundred octavo
pages to enumerate the various kinds of fruit and
ornamental trees that he now has for sale, and he
also issues a summer catalogue. No man in the
business enjoys a better reputation for upright and
thorough business methods. By hard work and
scrupulous care in business, he has won a name
of which any man might well be proud. His
customers of the past look to his catalogue for an
honest decision on the merits of anything new,
and invariably find it in precise and unmistakable
language. Mr. Dwyer was married, in 1879, to Miss Jo
hanna Healy, of Orange County, and they have
seven children: Michael J., Annie, Mary Ella,
Edward, Margaret, Thomas J., Jr., and William
John. Politically he is a Democrat, and relig
iously a Roman Catholic, and, all in all, he is a
genial, accommodating and pleasant gentleman.
A self-made man in every particular, he has ad
vanced step by step until he occupies a position
that commands the respect of all. He is a great
reader, but has learned much by observation, and
his contributions to horticultural and agricultural
journals attract great attention. While giving
his attention principally to his nursery business,
he yet finds time to devote to landscape garden
ing, and is always called upon whenever fine
places are to .be opened. Among the country
places laid out by him are the A. H. Havemeyer

496

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and the F. W. Senff places at New Windsor;
the James Stillman and the David Goldschmidt
places at Cornwall. In each case the grounds
were given to him in the rough, and in the course
of a few months' time were thoroughly over
hauled, manured and planted with trees, shrubs
and fruits of all kinds. He also made roads,
paths and flower-beds, and all other improve
ments that were necessary to be made.
WILLIAM BREWSTER, a well-to-do and
thrifty farmer of Orange County, has a
splendid tract of land, seventy-five acres in
extent, which lies in the town of Cornwall, near
the postoffice of that name. This locality is also
his home, and he is well known as one of the most
successful farmers and fruit-growers in the vi
cinity The father of our subject, Oliver Brewster, was
born at West Point, whence he came to this com
munity nearly a half-century ago. He was an
ambitious, industrious man, and as fast as he
made money invested it in land and made im
provements on his property. He "grubbed" the
stumps from the place, removed the stones and
rocks, and ditched and graded the land, making
of it one of the most fertile and productive tracts
in the county. He was a wagon -maker by trade,
and worked at his calling in Canterbury. His
land is devoted principally to the raising of fruit,
as it seems to be peculiarly adapted to that branch
of farming.
The lady whom Oliver Brewster married was
Miss Harriet A. Crissey, of Cornwall. She was
born in New York, and was fifty-six years of age
at the time of her decease. She became the
mother of three children, of whom James C. is
engaged in the dry-goods business in New York
City; oursubject was the second-born; and Henry
C. is a prominent painter, decorator and paper-
hanger, his place of business being at Cornwall
on the Hudson.
William Brewster, for whom our subject was
named, came over in the "Mayflower," and was
the progenitor of the Brewsters in America. Dyer

Brewster, the grandfather, was an early settler in
Vermont, and later in life held a Government po
sition, dealing out supplies, etc., to the soldiers
at West Point. He had large landed interests in
this section, his possessions extending over a
considerable territory, including the estate of the
late E. P. Roe.
The subject of this sketch was born January 20,
1854, at Cornwall. He attended school until
reaching his twentieth year, and worked for his
father until the latter's decease, when, with his
younger brother, he assumed the management of
the farm, on which he has since made his home,
being very successful in its operation. Mr. Brew
ster was married, in June, 1892, to Miss Angie
Taylor, daughter of Charles and Mary Taylor,
natives of Carlisle. The lady was born in the
latter place February 20, 1870, and has become
the mother of a daughter, Alice.
Mr. Brewster is a genial, pleasant gentleman,
and au ardent supporter of Democratic principles.
His good wife is a consistent member of the Pres
byterian Church, in the work of which she is ac
tively engaged and a great helper.

»!¦»»»>, 1,1 ,1

EHARLES HENRY JOHNSON SMITH,
one of the solid citizens of Cornwall on the
Hudson, has made his home here for the
past forty-three years, and during that long pe
riod has maintained the deepest interest in the
progress of the place, and contributed to the de
velopment of its material resources. He came
here from New York City, and such have been his
industry and perseverance that he is now living
retired from business. of any kind and enjoying to
the full the comforts which his snug fortune
brings. John F. Smith, the father of our subject, was
an expert at his trade of a painter, working at that
business in New York City for some time. He
acquired a good competence in this way and was
recognized as one of the most prosperous men of
his community. He was born in Newburgh in
1810, and was in his forty-seventh year at the
time of his decease. His marriage united him

WILLIAM H. KEEEE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD-

499

with Miss Nancy P. Thompson, also a native of
Newburgh, who died when seventy-three years of
age. To them were born seven children, all of
whom are deceased ,with the exception of the
eldest, Charles H. J., of this sketch. The others
were named, respectively, AnnaE. , Emily, Au
gustus, Sarah, Barker and William L.
The subject of this notice was born in New
York October 10, 1835, and attended the com
mon schools until a lad of sixteen years, when he
began to make his own way in the world. He
came here over forty-three years ago, in company
with his mother, and has since that time made his
home in this place. Success followed every en
terprise in which he engaged and he is enabled
at the present time to live retired. He is a man
whose upright conduct and fidelity in every rela
tion of life have won for him the esteem of his ac
quaintances. As a citizen he is progressive, able
and honorable, and although in no sense of the
term an office-seeker, is interested in all measures
calculated to improve his community. In politics
he is a Republican and invariably votes for the
candidates of that party.

(DQILLIAM H. KEEFE. The success which
\ A / has come to the editor of the Newburgh
V V Daily News is the result of personal ef
fort, and is therefore especially deserving of com
mendation. Fiom a very small beginning he
has brought the publication up to its present
high standing, and notwithstanding meager fa
cilities and more than ordinary obstacles, he has
pressed forward, until he is now at the head of
one of the most important newspapers ofthe Hud
son Valley. The circulation of the Daily News
is about forty-five hundred, and is steadily in
creasing. It is a favorite medium for advertisers,
and is popular among all classes of people.
Though a native of Newburgh, the subject of
this notice is of Irish parentage and descent. His
father William Keefe, was born in Ireland about
l830 and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., at the age of
sixty-four years. Throughout life he followed
the trade of a tailor, and to this occupation he

gave his entire attention, being recognized as a
workman of unusual skill. His marriage, which
occurred in 1850, united him with Miss Sarah
Jane Taylor, who was born in Orange County, .
N. Y., about 1832. They became the parents of
five sons and four daughters, of whom four sons
and two daughters are still living.
The birth of our subject occurred in New
burgh, May 11, 1854, and of this city he has been
a life-long resident. His educational advantages
were exceedingly meager, for at an early age he
was obliged to become self-supporting. In this
city, March 14, 1875, he was united in marriage
with Mary Louisa Miller, and unto them were
born twelve children. Seven ofthe number (two
of whom are twins) are now living, the eldest
being a boy of fifteen .
A history of Mr. Keefe's connection with the
newspaper business will be of interest to our
readers. In the summer of 1885, as the result of
the changing fortunes of politics, he lost a small
Government position which he had for some time
filled, and was therefore left without employment.
Through eleven years' experience in different de
partments of a newspaper and printing office,
however, he had gained a considerable knowl
edge of the business, and with a good deal of
confidence, but only $600 in capital, he embarked
upon the stormy sea of journalism, undertaking
the serious task of establishing a daily paper in a
city of twenty-five thousand inhabitants. The
first issue of the paper appeared September 5,
1885, and was quite unpretentious, being but a
five-column folio, the pages only 12x19 inches.
Not only was Mr. Keefe editor of this paper,
but business manager, reporter, solicitor and
bookkeeper as well, filling, in fact, almost even-
position but those of pressmen and typesetters.
The outfit was crude and the facilities deficient,
but, notwithstanding this, the paper struck the
popular chord and was received with enthusiasm.
The subscription list has steadily increased in
magnitude, and the advertisements have also
proved a profitable source of revenue. On ques
tions of national importance the paper has always
taken a bold stand, and it is equally aggressive
and fearless in matters affecting the welfare of the

5°o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

people of Newburgh. Like its editor, it is de
cidedly Republican in principles, but at the same
time it never displays partisan spirit, but adheres
to an independence of thought and opinion.
In connection with his newspaper, Mr. Keefe
carries on the largest job-printing and book-bind
ing business ever known anywhere within the
limits of Orange County. The plant includes
presses, type and the various appliances requisite
for the printing, publishing and book-binding
business. The success which has rewarded the
efforts of Mr. Keefe is the result of his earnest
perseverance, and to no one has prosperity come
more deservedly than to him. Socially he is a
member of various fraternities.

P^ILLIAM BROOKS. Orange County is
\ A/ conspicuous for its fine farms, that are
V V faultless in the way of management and
the order in which they are kept. Those in the
town of New Windsor are especially advantage
ously located, the land being fertile and pro
ductive, rolling and well watered. On the east
is the majestic Hudson, with its delightful scen
ery; to the north stands the city of Newburgh,
with its far-reaching commercial interests; and to
the south and west may be seen fields of waving
grain, and farm houses of neat and substantial
appearance. No one is more to be complimented on the per
fect order with which his agricultural affairs are
conducted than the subject of this biography, who
for many years has been a resident of the town.
He has now reached a period of life when, having
ceased manual labor, he lives to some extent re
tired from active farm work, though still main
taining the supervision of his place. His has
been a useful and busy life, and he well deserves
the comforts he now enjoys.
William Brooks was born in the town of Mon
roe, October 6, 1817. His father, J. Mathias,
was a native ofthe same town, whither the grand
father, John, had emigrated from England and

established his permanent home. The former
was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a farm
er by occupation, being thus engaged in Monroe
Town until his death. By his marriage with
Miss Sarah Ellison he became the father of five
sons and three daughters.
The boyhood days of our subject were unevent
fully passed on his father's farm. At the age of
twenty-three years, December 16, 1840, he was
united in marriage with Miss Phebe J. Rumsey,
who was born February 20, 1824. They became
the parents of the following-named children:
Charles B., Samuel R., Mariette, Caroline, Will
iam, Sarah, Hannah, George H. , Alice C, Mill
ard F., Alpha, Israella and William H. The
wife and mother passed away December 29, 1880,
and was buried in the Highland Mills Cemetery.
After his marriage Mr. Brooks tilled the soil of
a rented farm for seven years, after which a sim
ilar period was spent in New York City. On his
return to Orange County he operated a rented
farm for eight years, and then purchased the one
hundred and forty- six acres constituting his pres
ent estate, where he has since carried on general
farming and dairying, giving some attention also
to fruit-growing. In 1840 he voted for William
Henry Harrison, the famous "hero of Tippeca
noe," and is now a Democrat, giving his advo
cacy to the free-trade principles of that party.

~oc-

2^.

fi> QlLLIAM R. MOORES comes from one of
\ A / the old and respected families of Orange
V V County, and is one of the clever and suc
cessful business men of Newburgh. He is a con
tractor and builder by occupation, having his shop
at No. 95 Front Street. A charter member of
Washington Heights Hose Company No. 3, he
now holds the position of foreman in that organ
ization. His entire life, as well as that of his fore
fathers for several generations, has been closely
associated with the annals of this county, and it
is most fitting that his name be given a place in
the records of her pioneers and representative
men. Daniel Moores, Sr. , great-grandfather of our

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

501

subject, was a farmer in the town of New Wind
sor, as was also his son Daniel, Jr. The latter
lived to attain the good old age of eighty-two
years, while his wife reached her eighty-seventh
year. Our subject's father, George H., was born
on a farm in the same town, and is still living on
the old homestead near Little Britain, being
now sixty-eight years of age. His wife was a
Miss Clara Sayre, a native of Little Britain, and
her father, Capt. William Sayre, of Long Island,
at one time owned a farm in the town of New
Windsor. He was captain on a boat plying
the Hudson between Newburgh and New York
City, and owned several boats as well. He died
on his farm at the age of seventy-six years, but
his wife lived to be nearly ninety. Mrs. Moores
is now in her sixty-fourth year. She has been an
active and useful member of the Presbyterian
Church tor many years, as was her husband.
W. R. Moores was born May 31, 1857, in Eit-
tle Britain, being one of eight children, and the
third in order of birth. He was reared to farm
life, his home being only four miles and a-half
from Newburgh, until he was twenty-two years
of age. His education was such as was afforded
by the district school, and he supplemented it by
reading and private study. On embarking in his
business career he served an apprenticeship at the
carpenter's trade with Harvey Alexander, of his
home neighborhood, for four years. In 1884 he
located iu Newburgh, being employed by Thomas
Shaw's Sons for a year, afterward was with Mar
tin Bros, for two seasons, and still later was
with William S. Theall. In 1890 he concluded
to start in business for himself and now employs
six or more hands. He has erected over thirty
residences in different parts of the city, among
these being the homes of Robert Hill, Mrs. Hun
ter, Mrs. Ross (on Third Street), DeWitt War
ing, Mrs. Perrin and Robert Curtis. He also
built his own residence at No. 47 Henry Street, a
pretty and comfortable dwelling.
In 1884 Mr. Moores was married, in the village
of New Windsor, to Miss Mary I. Austin, a native
of that place. The young couple have become the
parents of two children, named, respectively, War
ren and Clarence. They are members of the

United Presbyterian Church, and possess the
good-will and sincere regard of a host of friends.
In his political belief Mr. Moores is a Republican
of the most ardent and enthusiastic order.

~s

^^

r=i

[S~

8 AWRENCE M. HANRETTY. Among the
\r\ we^ knowri business men of Newburgh and
LJ New York City is the gentleman whose name
heads this article. He has large real-estate inter
ests in both places, and builds residences, which
he disposes of to those in search of homes. Un
der his supervision and enterprise most of the
houses on Hasbrouck, William and Concord
Streets have been erected; a block at the corner
of First Street and Robinson Avenue was put up
by him, and many other structures in many parts
of the city stand as monuments to his foresight
and good business judgment. Besides his busi
ness here he is financially interested in real estate
in Matteawan, Dutchess County.
The parents of our subject were Owen and Ann
(Brown) Hanretty, the former of whom was a
bookkeeper in England for many years, and was
a man of superior ability and intelligence. In
i860 he brought his family to the United States,
taking up his place of abode in Newburgh, where
he resided until his death. His faithful compan
ion and helpmate died at her pleasant home in
1894. L. M. Hanretty is the eldest of eleven children,
only four of whom survive. His birth occurred
in County Meath, Ireland, in 1844, but he grew to
manhood and received a good education in Eng
land. He was an infant of only twelve months
when his parents took him to Lancashire, and
until he was over sixteen years of age he resided
in the vicinity of Manchester, attending the pub
lic schools of Bolton. In i860 he sailed from
Liverpool on the good ship "Resolute," and after
a voyage which consumed six weeks and three
days, arrived at his destination, New York City.
The same year he came to Newburgh, and on the
1 st of September apprenticed himself to John Ged-
des, a carpenter, for whom he worked three years.
Then for several years he was employed as a jour-

5°2

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

neyman, both in Newburgh and New York City,
and about 1874 commenced contracting on his
own account. As soon as he had accumulated a
little capital he invested it in land, buying from
ten to fifteen lots during a season, and in nearly
every portion of the city. Of late years his in
vestments include New York property and build
ings, and by the good judgment and foresight he
has manifested he is rapidly becoming well-to-do.
The marriage of Mr. Hanretty and Eliza Fitz
gerald, a native of the Emerald Isle, resulted in
the birth of seven children, three sous and four
daughters, namely: Owen F., a carpenter and
builder of New York City; Robert, who is in bus
iness with his father; Sadie, Charlotte, Elizabeth,
Jennie and Lawrence, Jr. The children have all
received good educational advantages, and the el
der sons are practical and reliable young business
men. The family attends St. Patrick's Church,
and enjoys the friendship and esteem of a large
circle of acquaintances. In his political affilia
tions Mr. Hanretty is a Democrat of the Jefferson-
ian school.

EHARLES E. COCKS, conducting an excel
lent business under the name of Charles E.
Cocks & Sons, is one of the substantial and
influential citizens of Cornwall on the 'Hudson,
where he has lived for so many years. His fa
ther, who bore the name of Anthony Cocks, de
parted this life in Cornwall, at the age of seventy
years. For many years during his earlier life he
was a piano varnisher in New York City, but
later, however, abandoned that occupation in
order to engage iu farming and blacksmithing.
His blacksmith shop was located at Salisbury
Mills. The Cocks family is of Welsh extraction, and
was first introduced into this country by Henry
Cocks, the great-grandfather of our subject, who-
made his home on Long Island. Our subject's
mother, formerly Man- A. Rider, died when
about sixty years of age. In the parental family
were six children, of whom Charles E. was the
eldest; Jacob is a well-to-do farmer in Dakota;

Margaret and Mary are deceased; Phebe, Mrs.
Barnum, is a widow and resides in New Jersey;
and Emma also makes her home in Dakota.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town
of Monroe in 182 1. He gained a good common-
school education in New York City, where his
parents were then living, attending what was
called the American School, taught by William
A. Walker. He had for his playmates John
Stewart, Edward Cooper and others who after
ward became noted men of the state. He early
evinced an aptitude for commercial pursuits, and
when seventeen years of age began clerking in a
store of general merchandise at Salisbury. He
there learned the detail work to be done in car
rying on a large business, and gave his employer
satisfaction by the efficient and business-like man
ner in which he performed his duties. At the
same time he greatly felt the need of that knowl
edge which books alone can give, and, being
given the privilege of access to the library of
Judge Dennison, who lived about a mile and
a-half distant, he availed himself of every oppor
tunity to visit his home, and in this manner
gained an extensive knowledge of the higher
branches of study.
Mr. Cocks came to Cornwall in 1850, and, in
company with William Cocks, established him
self in business at the Landing. His parents
were in limited circumstances and were unable to
give him any aid, but as he had about $300 in
money, he embarked in business with it, soon
accumulating a handsome property by giving
close attention to the matter in hand. He has
been active in public enterprises for many years,
and is now President of the Cornwall Savings
Bank, a most reliable institution, which is well
patronized by the business men of the place and
farmers ofthe surrounding country. He has al
ways been interested in educational matters in
his community, and whenever he could do so
has served acceptably as a member of the School
Board. In politics he is an out-and-out Repub
lican. January 1, 1861, hewas appointed Post
master of this city, being the first to ever hold
the office, and filled the same until June, 1877,
a period of over fifteen years. His homelike res-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

503

idence occupies a very attractive location, and
the family of Mr. Cocks is surrounded by all the
comforts of life. He is a member -of the Society
of Friends, and one of the most valued workers
in that body.
February 26, 1850, in Monroe, occurred the
marriage of Charles E. Cocks and Miss Margaret
Campbell. Mrs. Cocks was born in Monroe, No
vember 2, 1830, being the daughter of Alexander
Campbell, and her death occurred February 14,
1884. By this union were born the following
children: Charles C, Martha C, Mary A., An
thony D. (deceased), Hannah S., Isaac M., Mar
garet, and William, deceased. Charles C. and
Isaac M. are in business with their father. They
are shrewd, progressive young business men and,
following in the footsteps of their honored father,
will doubtless make a name for themselves in the
business world.

|~ RED BOOTH is Superintendent and Secre-
Yy tary of the Firth Carpet Company, whose
| ** factory is located on Moodna Creek, West
Cornwall, on the New York, Ontario & Western
Railroad. He has had wide experience, both in
England and the United States, in this particular
line of work, and was chosen Secretary of this
company at the time of its organization, in 1888.
Its officers are Thomas F. Firth, President; Al
gernon F. Firth, Vice-President; and Lawrence
Winters, Treasurer. The capital stock of the
company amounts to $300,000, and they employ
on an average three hundred workmen. Their
sole agents are the H. B. Claflin Company, lo
cated at the corner of Church and Worth Streets,
New York City.
Henry Booth, the father of our subject, was
born in England, and was sixty -two years old at
the time of his demise, in 1878. His wife was
prior to her marriage Miss Hannah Moore, and
now lives in England, where she has spent her
entire life. Her family comprised six children, of
whom the two youngest died in infancy. The

others besides our subject are Rebecca, Elizabeth
Ann and Albert, all of whom make their home
in England.
The subject of this sketch was born in York
shire, England, February 16, i860. His educa
tional advantages were limited, and in early life
he entered the carpet mill of T. F. Firth & Sons
(Limited) in his native land, where he learned
the business in all its details. He was later taken
into the office of the company in the capacity of
a clerk, and while there became familiar with the
methods of carrying on the enterprise, which was
conducted on an extensive scale.
Mr. Booth was sent to the United States in Feb
ruary, 1884, and occupied the position of clerk in
charge of the T. F. Firth & Sous (Limited) Car
pet Works, of Philadelphia, where he remained
three years. Later he assumed the management
of the mill at West Cornwall, which has greatly
prospered under his care and oversight.
Mr. Booth was married, in 1885, to Miss Lydia
Hirst, of Yorkshire, England, whose birth oc
curred in October, 1861. To them have been
born two daughters: Annie, aged seven years;
and Marian Rebecca, now three years old. In
religious affairs Mr. Booth belongs to the Protest
ant Episcopal Church, iu which he is Vestryman.
He is rather conservative on the question of poli
tics, but always votes the Republican ticket. His
Old World experience in his business stands him
in good stead, and with judgment and discretion
usually attained by men twice his years, he is
meeting with success.
HECTOR CRAIG. The founder of the Craig
family iii America was Hon. Hector Craig,
the grandfather of our subject, who emi
grated from Scotland in 1791, and settled in
Orange County, becoming the founder of the
place known as Craigville. He was born in Pais
ley, May 8, 1775, and after coming to this coun
try located at Newburgh. He subsequently es
tablished the mills afterwards purchased by the
Walsh family, and later bought a tract of land at
Craigville, where he made surveys and erected a

5°4

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

large paper-mill. While residing at Craigville,
his father, James Craig, who had come to this
country after his son's emigration hither, was
accidentally killed, October 16, 1817. The mills
subsequently fell into the hands of Mr. Ames,
a son-in-law of Hector Craig, who, however,
changed it from a paper to a woolen-mill, con
tinuing the business until the mill was destroyed
by fire. About this time Hector Craig moved to
the city of New York.
The first wife of Hon. Hector Craig bore the
maiden name of Sarah Chandler, and was born
in Blooming Grove, Orange County, in 1776.
By that union the following-named children were
born: Mary C, wife of Barrett Ames; James J.;
JohnC; Hector McNeil; Phoebe, Mrs. Kirby;
Laura M., Mrs. Randolph; John G.; and Sarah
A., who married William F. Havemeyer. The
latter was for three times Mayor of New York,
and died in that city in 1884. He was also one
of the founders of the Havemeyer sugar busi
ness. By the second marriage of Hector Craig,
which united him with Hannah Sell, he had no
children, and his wife survived him a -number of
years.
* When Mr. Ames took charge of the mills, Mr.
Craig removed to New York City, and for some
time was Collector of the Port of New York, un
der one of the earlier administrations. Iu 1825
he was elected to represent his district in Con
gress, and for four years he occupied that re
sponsible position, discharging its duties to the
satisfaction of his constituents and with credit to
himself. He was a man of progressive disposi
tion and active temperament, deeply interested in
everything pertaining to the welfare of the peo
ple and the promotion of the commercial and ed
ucational interests of the country. His death oc
curred January 31, 1862, and he was buried in
the family cemetery.
Next in line of descent was James Jefferson
Craig, who was born in Craigville, September 14,
1799, and died in New York City, December 26,
1872. For some years he was engaged in a
wholesale grocery business on Front Street, New
York, in partnership with George W. Lane, un-
"der the firm name of Craig & Lane, but retired

from all active business cares many years before
his death. A man of keen discernment, he ac
cumulated a comfortable property through his
commercial transactions, and in his last years he
was surrounded by all the luxuries of life. Po
litically he adhered to the Democracy.
The marriage of J. J. Craig united him with
Harriet R. Phillips, who was born in Phillips
burg, this county, where her father, Dr. Gabriel
Phillips, was a prominent physician and woolen
manufacturer. She remained there until her
marriage, after which she resided in Craigville
for a time, but soon removed to New York City,
where she died, February 21, 1861. She was born
April 21, 1800, and was therefore nearly sixty-
one years of age at her demise. Her member
ship was in the Presbyterian Church of Goshen.
Her body lies beside that of her husband in
Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. She was a lady
of noble character, and belonged to a prominent
family, being able to trace her ancestry back to
Rev. George Phillips, who emigrated to this
country with Governor Winthrop, of Massachu
setts. She had a son and daughter, of whom the
latter, Elizabeth, married twice, and died in New
York City.
The only son of J. J. and Harriet R. Craig is
the subject of this notice, Hector Craig. He was
bom in Craigville, December 19, 1828, and was
reared in New York, receiving his education in
the private schools of that city. His marriage
took place in Orange County, in the city of Mid
dletown, December 22, 1875, his bride being Miss
Mary W. Darrach, a native of Glenham, Dutch
ess County, born January 5, 1839. Her father,
James, was born in Philadelphia, Pa. , and her
grandfather, James Darrach, Sr., was a native of
Delaware, but for some time engaged in the
woolen manufacturing business in Pennsylvania.
The great-grandfather of Mrs. Craig, Thomas
Darrach, emigrated from County Antrim, Ire
land, and settled in Dover, Del. He it was who
established the family in America. His wife,
Eliza Bradford, was a great-great-granddaughter
of William Bradford, who came to America with
Penn, was the first printer in New York, and
printed the first prayer-book in the middle colo-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

505

nies. This William Bradford was printer for
Penn's colony for a time, but not being satisfied
there, he went to New York. Though born a
Quaker, he adopted a more orthodox belief on
coming to this country, and for many years was a
Vestryman in Trinity Church, New York. His
great-grandson, William, was a Colonel in the
Revolutionary War, and was wounded in the bat
tle of Princeton, as was also Thomas, the next
in line of descent. Both held the rank of Colonel.
The father of Mrs. Craig, James Darrach, was
graduated from Yale with the degree of A. B. , in
1828, and was for many years superintendent of
the New York Hospital. He learned the woolen
manufacturing business at Fishkill, where he
married. With his brother Thomas, he started
the mills at Manayunk, near Philadelphia. In
1837 he settled in Orange County, and engaged
in farming near Walden. His last years were
spent in retirement, and he died at Fishkill, in
1888, when he was in his eighty-third year. He
was a man of literary tastes, well versed in his
tory and literature. In politics he was first a
Whig, and later a Republican. He was a man of
charitable disposition, and interested in religious
enterprises, and was an Elder in a Presbyterian
Church in New York City.
The marriage of James Darrach united him
with Miss Helena White, who was born in Fish
kill. Her father, Hon. Bartow White, M. D., a
native of Westchester County, was born in 1776.
The grandfather, Dr. Ebenezer White, was a
surgeon in the Colonial army during the Revolu
tionary War, and was a prisoner for seven mouths,
being confined in the hulks of the ' 'Jersey. ' ' He
was one of the most prominent citizens of West
chester County, and there married Miss Helena
Bartow, a descendant of Rev. John Bartow, who
came from England, settled in Westchester, and
established the Episcopal Church in that locality.
Dr. Bartow White married Miss Anna, daugh
ter of Henry Schenck, of Fishkill, who was a
Major in the Revolutionary War. The family
came to America from the island of Zealand, Hol
land. On settling in America, they made their
home in Long Island, thence went to New Jer
sey. One of that name went to Dutchess Coun

ty, N. Y., where he married Miss Hannah Brett,
a descendant of Madam Brett, the first white
woman who settled in the county, and the wife
of Lieut. Roger Brett, with whom she settled on
twenty thousand acres of land. After the death of
her husband, she continued to make her home on
that place, and, being a splendid financier, she ac
cumulated a large amount of valuable property.
Her death occurred in 1764.
Commencing his medical studies under Dr.
Seaman, Dr. Bartow White later received the de
gree of M. D. from the University of New York,
in 1845, and later he practiced in Fishkill, where
he remained for more than forty-five years. Mean
time he also gained prominence in public affairs.
In 1824 he was elected to Congress, and in 1840
he was a Presidential Elector of New York. In
the medical fraternity he held a high rank, and
he was often called long distances as consulting
physician. He was identified with the American
Medical Society of New York. His death oc
curred at his home in Fishkill, in 1862, at the
age of eighty-six, his birth having occurred in
1776. The mother of Mrs. Craig resides in New
ark with a son, and though she is now in her
ninetieth year, her mind is still clear and unim
paired by age. In religious belief she is a Pres
byterian. The family of which Mrs. Craig is a member
consisted of nine children, of whom she is next
to the youngest. Four are living. Samuel A. ,
the inventor of the Darrach Trolley-car Fender,
resides in Newark. Bradford is engaged in the
insurance business on Wall Street, New York.
Rev. William B. is a Presbyterian clergyman.
Bartow, who was a physician and a graduate of
the Philadelphia Medical College, located at
Quincy, 111., and during the Civil War held the
rank of Surgeon of the Army of the Tennessee,
under General Grant. He was one of the par
ticipants in the battle of Osawatomie, Kan., with
John Brown. During the siege of Vicksburg he
took a prominent part, and shortly after the sur
render of the city he died from overwork. An
other brother, William B., who has been men
tioned above, was Chaplain in a New York regi
ment of sharpshooters.

506

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mrs. Craig was educated in private schools in
New York. By her marriage she has two chil
dren: Frederick Phillips, who is attending school
at Poughkeepsie; and Harriet Ruenna. Aside
from the supervision of her home, she has been
interested in many prominent societies and chari
ties. For eleven years she was one ofthe managers
of the Newburgh Home for the Friendless, and
for five years was first Directress. She is also
connected with the Newburgh Historical Society,
the Daughters of the American Revolution, and
the Woman's North River Presbyterial Society.
In politics Mr. Craig is a Republican, but not
active in party affairs. Now retired from life's
active labors, he and his wife make their home in
their pleasant residence on Carpenter Street,
near Castle Avenue.

0AVID G. WARWICK, one of the worthy
citizens of Highland Falls, has been engaged
in business at this place for over twenty-
eight years, and has been in a large measure
blessed with success in his undertakings. For
merly he was one of the most active citizens of
Highland, but for some time has been retired
from working at his trade, that of a carpenter.
Previous to coming to this county, in 1852, he
worked at his trade in Chicago, 111., Texas, and
various other cities and states.
Our subject was born in the North of Ireland
in the year 183 1. After acquiring a very meager
education in the schools of that country, he
learned the carpenter's trade. Being convinced
that he should receive better pay for his labors in
the New World, he. emigrated hither in 1852,
being five weeks in crossing the Atlantic. From
New York City he made his way to Newburgh,
this county, and for three years lived in that
place, plying his trade with fair success. After
this he went to Chicago, thence to Texas, and
some months later returned to the Empire State,
where he has lived ever since.
Mr. Warwick is the son of William C. and Nan
cy (Richey) Warwick, who were also natives' of
the Emerald Isle, but who are now deceased. Our

subject married Miss Sarah H. Barclay, Novem
ber 12, 1866, and they now occupy a comfortable
residence in the best part of the village, their
home being on a beautiful elevation, which gives
them a fine view of the surrounding farming
country. Since becoming an American citizen, our sub
ject has never failed to cast a vote supporting
Republican principles and candidates. He has
held the office of Assessor three years, and is at
all times interested in the welfare of his commu
nity, losing no opportunity to help forward those
measures introduced for its benefit and elevation.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and
an active worker in the same. A gentleman of
genial manners, honorable in all his dealings, and
kind to those in distress, he is a person who com
mands the confidence and esteem of all his asso
ciates. [JXvCpo .

HUGH E. CLARK, D. V. S., needs no intro
duction to the citizens of either Orange
County or Cornwall on the Hudson, where
he is so widely and favorably known as a success
ful veterinary surgeon. He has a well established
reputation, built up by a careful and systematic
preparation for the work in which he is engaged.
Dr. Clark is the son of James Clark, a well-to-
do farmer of this county, who has spent his entire
life within its bounds. He married Ann Martin,
a native of Ireland, and by his marriage became
the father of a large family, including ten chil
dren. Of these, John is motorman on the elec
tric road at Brooklyn; Hugh E. was the uext-
born; Mary and Catherine make their home in
Brooklyn; James is a carpenter of this county;
Barney and Patrick are also residents here; and
Ella, Philip and Thomas are at home.
The subject of this sketch was born August 2,
1866, in Newburgh, and was reared to a thorough
understanding of farm work. He received a good
education in the district school, and from his boy
hood days seemed naturally adapted for the care
of horses, being very successful in breaking and
training them. Being very desirous of becoming

SAMUEL CRAWFORD MILLS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

509

well informed regarding the treatment of these
animals, he took a four-years course in the vet
erinary college at New York, from which he was
graduated March 20, 1894. He is a young man
of excellent reputation, one who is bound to suc
ceed in his chosen calling, and as he is the prin
cipal surgeon in the city, he is well patronized by
horsemen. He is a member of the New York
Mutual Building and Loan Association.
Mr. Clark affiliates with the Democratic party
in politics, but has never been an office-seeker,
nor has he ever been desirous of filling public po
sitions, as he finds his time fully occupied in at
tending to his profession. He is a devout Cath
olic in religion, in the faith qf which church he
was reared.

M AMUEL CRAWFORD MILLS until about
/\ ten years ago was one of the leading busi-
V*J/ ness men of Newburgh, but since that time
he has been retired, his home being in a beauti
ful residence at No. 272 Liberty Street. He
comes from some of the best families in Orange
County, the history of the same having been
identified with that of this region for many gen
erations. Besides being a charter member of the
Board of Trade, he also belongs to the Newburgh
Club, and for the past six years has served on the
Board of Health. In his political faith he is
a Republican, true and faithful, and has very
strong convictions in regard to the success and
benefits which the party's reign brings to the
Government. In tracing the ancestry of our subject we find
that one George Mills emigrated from England to
Jamaica, L- L, in 1656, and his son Jonathan,
with his wife, Martha, afterwards resided in
Springfield, town of Jamaica, L- I. His son
Timothy, born in 1667, had two wives, the first
bearing the Christian name of Elizabeth, and the
second that of Sarah, and both lived at Mills
Pond, on Long Island. The latter place was
named in honor of this Timothy Mills. His
son Isaac, a child of his first marriage, was born

March 13, 1697, and died July 8, 1767. His
wife was a Miss Hannah Miller, of Miller's Place,
and their son, Isaac, Jr., was born there February
19, 1727. The latter married his cousin, Sarah
Phillips, who was born February 26, 1730, and
after the death of Mr. Mills, which occurred
April 25, 1783, she became the wife of Captain
Wicks, and died a few years later, April 29, 1790.
Isaac Mills, Jr., was the great-grandfather of our
subject, and in Colonial days was on the Com
mittee of Safety and was one of the signers of the
document drawn up by them. By his marriage
with Sarah Phillips he had a son who bore the
same Christian name as himself. This Isaac,
the third, was born July 25, 1769, near Mills
Pond, and married Annie Longbotham in 1797.
She died July 23, 1837, having survived her hus
band about four years, as he died December 31,
1833, in East Middle Island, whither he had re
moved iu 1804.
Horace Mills, father of our subject, was born
near Mills Pond, L. L, November 26, 1800, and
was reared at Yap Hank, Middle Island. He
learned the tailor's trade in New York City, after
which for two years he was in business in Goshen,
Orange County. Thence going to Blooming
burg, he opened a merchant-tailoring establish
ment, which he conducted until 1846, from which
time until his retirement he cultivated his farm
in the town of Wallkill. In 1869 he took up his
residence in Newburgh, where his death occurred
February 4, 1868. He was a strong anti-slavery
man, a Whig, and later a Republican, and while
living at Bloomingburg he was Justice of the
Peace. August 18, 1827, he was made Sergeant
of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment
New York Militia, and was commissioned Lieu
tenant of the same October 11, 1828, by Lieu
tenant-Governor Thorp. June 23, 1836, he re
ceived from Governor William L- Marcy a com
mission as Captain of a company in the same
regiment. In early life he was a member of the
Episcopal Church, but subsequently joined the
Dutch Reformed denomination, being an Elder
and Deacon for years, and held the latter office
in the American Reformed Church of Newburgh
until his death.

21

5io

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

January 21, 1828, Ho'race Mills married Jenette,
daughter of John and Mary (Crawford) Duryea.
The former was born in Blooming Grove, Orange
County, in 1778, and "was a descendant of one
George Duryea, who emigrated from Long Is
land to Orange County about 1700, settling in
Blooming Grove, where he died in 1760. He had
three children, George, Garrett and Hannah.
George, the great-grandfather of our subject, was
Captain of a company of cavalry under Colonel
Woodhull, in Cornwall command. He was a
farmer and took a very prominent part during
the stirring scenes of the Revolution, being a
member of the Committee of Safety. His mar
riage united him with Hannah Hudson, of
Goshen, by whom he had nine children, namely:
George, John, Henry, Garrett, Hudson, Hannah,
Dollie, Betsey and Mittie. His death occurred
when he had attained the ripe old age of eighty-
six years. John, our subject's grandfather,
learned the blacksmith's trade in early life, and
February 18, 1800, wedded Mary Crawford, of
the town of Montgomery. The same year they
removed to the town of Wallkill, locating on a
farm two miles east of Bloomingburg. There
his death occurred January 21, 1859, while his
wife's demise took place November 27, 1857.
Their children were Nancy, Jenette, Hannah,
Mary A., John H., Samuel C, Jonathan C,
and two others who died in childhood. John
Hudson Duryea, our subject's uncle, graduated
from Rutgers College in 1832, preached for fifty
years at Paterson, N. J., and at present is liv
ing retired.
Mrs. Jenette Mills was born October 31, 1803,
and died July 21, 1884. The Crawfords, from
whom she descended on the maternal side, were
of old Norman extraction, and it is presumed
were of the Richmond family. Mary Crawford,
her mother, was born May 12, 1778, and was a
daughter of Samuel I. and Janet (McCurdy)
Crawford. The latter was a daughter of Robert
and Mary McCurdy. Samuel I. Crawford was
born December 17, 1750, in the town of Craw
ford, and died October 17, 1822. Tradition says
that he was in the Revolutionary War, and
the name of Samuel Crawford is shown in the

archives, but not Samuel I., but as he frequently
wrote his name without the middle initial they
are undoubtedly identical, and his grandchildren
remember his tales of his life in the cavalry
service. It is in his honor that our subject was
named. In 1749 the father of Samuel I., James
Crawford, married Jane, daughter of James and
Mary (Wilkin) Crawford, who, although bearing
the same name, was not a relative. He was born
in 1719, at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ire
land, and was early left an orphan. His father,
Moses, was a native of the same district as him
self, but his grandfather was a native of Scotland,
and was one of the famous men of Enniskillen.
Moses started for America in 1731, and as the re
sult of scanty rations and the long and stormy
voyage, was taken sick and died of fever. James
Crawford should have fallen heir to the money
which his father possessed, but the dishonest cap
tain claimed the most of the sum by fraud. The
destination of the vessel was a point on the Vir
ginia coast, but on account of the adverse winds
it landed at the nearest port, New York. James
Crawford lived from that time until he was twen
ty years of age with one John McNeal, of Wall-
kill, Orange County, and later was employed in
the Greenwood Iron Works. Subsequently he
bought laud near the present town of Crawford,
which was named in his honor, and this farm is
now owned by Mrs. Charles H. Winfield, a di
rect descendant. The homestead was a wilder
ness when he settled thereon and an Indian camp
was located nearby. After bringing his wife and
family'to his new home they narrowly escaped
an Indian massacre, being warned by a friendly
squaw. James Crawford died February 23, 1802.
His wife, who was born March 3, 1724, departed
this life August 14, 1795.
The brothers and sisters of S. C. Mills were
three in number, but William Horace, who re
sides on the old homestead, is now the only sur
vivor. Ann Janet was the wife of James I. Bak
er, and died July 22, 1853, in Bloomingburg,
N. Y. John Hudson died October 13, 1856, in
early manhood. The first seven years of our
subject's life were passed in Bloomingburg, Sul
livan County, where he had been born March 9,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

5n

1839. He attended the public schools and when
in his fifteenth year obtained a clerkship in a
local store, where he remained for three years.
On the ist of April, 1857, he came to Newburgh
and entered the dry-goods house of Stephen Hayt
& Co., in the same capacity, continuing with this
firm for nearly six years.
In 1863 Mr. Mills entered into partnership
with John Schoonmaker and A. Y. Weller, pur
chasing the stock of Isaac Wood, Jr., at the cor
ner of Third and Water Streets. They were very
successful in their enterprise, and in 1878 were
forced to move to larger quarters. Accordingly
they erected the building known as Nos. 94 and
96 Water Street, and were there established until
1885, when Mr. Mills retired from the firm. In
1889, in order to be of assistance to his former
clerks, Messrs. Schuart & Embler, he became a
silent partner in the firm, but later turned the
interest over to his son, Stephen McDonald. For
many years he has been a Director of the Quas
saick National Bank, one of the Trustees of the
Newburgh Savings Bank, and also a member of
the Finance Committee. He was one of the pro
moters of the Edison Electric-light Company, in
which he was a Director until 1893, when he sold
out his interest. Besides his other interests he
owns several tracts of real estate, and for several
years has been one of the executors of his father-
in-law's estate in Elmira, N. Y.
In 1863 Mr. Mills was married, in this city, to
Elizabeth, daughter of Raymond Vail. She was
born in Chester, N. Y., and died here in 1866.
The second union of Mr. Mills occurred in El
mira, N. Y., the lady of his choice being Sarah,
daughter of Hon. Stephen McDonald. The latter
was a native of Highland Mills, town of Monroe,
and was closely associated with the welfare of
Elmira for many years, being Mayor of the city
for two terms. At first he conducted a tannery
and shoe manufactory, and subsequently owned
large real-estate interests. Politically he was one
of the leading Democrats of that section. His
wife, Sarah, was a daughter of William Vail, of
Highland Mills. The latter's wife was a Miss
Denton, whose ancestry can be traced back to
Rev. Richard Denton, of Long Island. His son,

Daniel Denton, a literary man, wrote the first
history of New York State. Mrs. Sarah Mills
received her higher education in Emma Willard's
Female Seminary of Troy, N. Y. By her mar
riage she has had two children: Stephen Mc
Donald, who was educated at Mr. Siglar's school
in Newburgh, and is engaged in the dry-goods
business in this city; and Mary Duryea Mills,
who is a graduate of the Misses Mackie' s school.
Mrs. Mills and her daughter are both members
of the Quassaick Chapter of the Daughters of
the American Revolution. The family are mem
bers of St. George's Episcopal Church, Mr.
Mills being a member ofthe Vestry and Treasurer.

&+£{

5 —

(D GjlLLIAM H. BAKER is the proprietor of
\ A / three well equipped meat-markets in New-
V V burgh, where he carries on a thriving
wholesale and retail trade. His birth occurred
in Milton, Ulster County, this state, January 24,
1865, while his father, Fred Baker, was a native
of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. The latter came
to America when a boy, landing in New York,
and has continued to make his home in the state
ever since. He at once found employment in a
meat-market, and so thoroughly did he learn the
business that it was not long before he was en
abled to carry on a market of his own. A shrewd
and successful business man, he soon became a
wholesale dealer in meats of all kinds. He is
now living in Newburgh and is agent for Swift &
Co., of Chicago.
The father of our subject married Miss Cath
erine Speck, also a native of Germany, and to
them was born a family of eight sons and daugh
ters, of whom William H. was the fifth in order
of birth. He was reared on his father's farm,
and when not in school spent a great deal of time
in the meat-market, learning the business. In
1882 he embarked in business for himself, pur
chasing the market of J. O. Smith, which he still
continues at the old stand. In addition to this
he owns the new market at No. 52 Water Street,
and in the spring of 1891 established a business
house at No. 127 South Street, all of the places be-

512

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing fitted up with the best appliances for storing
and keeping meats of all kinds. Besides manufac
turing sausage by electric power and packing his
own pork, he also deals in poultry, game, vegeta
bles, etc., in large quantities. He is patronized
by the best people in Newburgh, and in turn they
receive the very choicest of meats and game in
their season, and Mr. Baker makes it a point to
deliver goods promptly, thus giving satisfaction
to all concerned.
Since July i, 1892, our subject has been em
ployed by the Government to furnish fresh meat
at West Point, and for this purpose established a
market there. In the branch of the Co-operative
Building and Loan Association at Newburgh he
is a Director, and in many other ways is con
nected with enterprises established for the benefit
of the community iu which he lives.
Mr. Baker was married, in 1883, to Miss So
phia Seinor, of Highland Falls. She was born
in Orange County and departed this life in Octo
ber, 1886, leaving a son, Fred H. Our subject
was afterward married to Miss Jennie Wallace,
of Salisbury, and their one child is named Will
iam H., Jr. Socially Mr, Baker is a Mason of
high standing, belonging to Hudson River Lodge
No. 607, and is also a Knight of Honor. In po
litical affairs he is a Democrat, but takes no very
active part in politics, other than to cast a vote for
the candidate of that particular party. He has
been Assistant Foreman and Secretary of Colum
bia Hose No. 2 and takes great interest in the
same. In religious affairs he is a Presbyterian,
holding membership with the Union congrega
tion at Newburgh.

G=

•^

j@fc&

-CT>

TJ

|~~RED D. TUTHILL, one of the most enter-
Ty prising farmers of Orange County, lives in
| l the town of Blooming Grove, and since 1876
has made his home upon the well improved es
tate of one hundred acres which he owns and op
erates. For many years he has been prominently
identified with the agricultural interests of his

town and county, in the progress of which he has
been an important factor. In 1887 he was ap
pointed Assistant Dairy Commissioner, and upon
the merging the office into that of the Department
of Agriculture, he was retained in the same posi
tion, which he still holds. Fully alive to the best
interests of his county and state, he is an excel
lent and efficient worker in the field and has
gained a large acquaintance among agriculturists
of the state.
The Tuthill family has been established in
Orange County for four generations. Grandfa
ther Jesse Tuthill, the son of Benjamin and Susan
(Sayer) Tuthill, was born here in 1789, and died
in the fall of 1877, when eighty-eight years old.
The father of our subject, Benjamin, was also
born in Orange County, and still makes his home
in Washingtonville, being now (1895) seventy-
one years of age. He married Auicartha, daugh
ter of Dr. Ananias and Ann Lucretia (Cameron)
Brewster, the former a son of Daniel and Esther
(Chatfield) Brewster, the latter a member of an
Ulster County family and daughter of Alexander
and Jemima (Van Der Mark) Cameron. Our
subject's maternal grandmother was Margaret,
daughter of Phineas and Mary (Dobbins) Heard.
In the family of Benjamin and Anicartha Tut
hill there were five children, those besides our
subject being Jesse, who is connected with the
wholesale dry-goods house of Sweetzer, Pem
broke & Co., of New York City; Hector M., who
occcupies the old homestead; Ella W. , who resides
with her father; and Cora, widow of Charles H.
Brewster, who died in Blooming Grove Town in
1890. She and her four children now live iu
Washingtonville. Born on the old homestead August 20, 1852,
our subject began his studies in the district
schools and afterward attended the Middletown
Academy for two years. In December, 1875, he
was united in marriage with Miss Ruth D.,
daughter of David R. and Julia Ann (Ketchum)
Seeley, of the town of Chester. They are the
parents of nine children, to whom they are giv
ing the best educational advantages possible, and
who are being prepared for honorable positions in
society or business. The eldest is attending the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

5i3

normal school, while the others are carrying on
their studies in the home schools. They are
named as follows: Agnes S., Annie B., Clara S.,
Cora, Ruth, Margie, May, Fredericka and Ben
jamin, Jr.
In farming operations Mr. Tuthill makes use
ofthe most modern improvements, and he keeps
pace with every development made in the calling.
On his farm he has a neat mechanical device by
means of which water passes to the cows auto
matically and is always within reach of the stock.
His barn is commodious and well arranged, and
.the other outbuildings are adapted to their differ
ent purposes. While the management of his
place engrosses his attention, it does not exclude
an active sympathy with and participation in
public affairs. In national affairs he is a Demo
crat, and always gives his party the influence of
his ballot.

WILLIAM D. BARNS, a prosperous farmer
of the town of Newburgh, is the descend
ant of a family that has been long and hon
orably identified with the history of the Eastern
States. There is a tradition that the first repre
sentatives in this country were three brothers and
two sisters, who emigrated from Wales, and set
tled in Connecticut or Long Island. Mathew
Barns, one of their descendants, was a farmer at
Amagansett, L- I. His death occurred suddenly
about 1763. It is said that one day, while gath
ering his hay crop, he complained of a pain in his
side, and, sending the load of hay home by the
usual way, he started by a shorter route. When
the team reached the house he had not arrived,
and, upon search being made, he was found dead.
The children of Mathew were Isaiah, Jona
than, Mathew, Isaac, Sallie and Hannah. At
the time of his father's death, Isaiah, the eldest
son, was engaged in the coasting trade between
some port in Connecticut and New York City.
According to the laws of that time, he was sole
heir of his father's estate, but with a commenda
ble sense of justice, and with great generosity, he
divided the property equally with his brothers.

Jonathan settled on Long Island, near Montoux
Point. Mathew, it is thought, located in Dela
ware County, N. Y. Matilda and Nancy, who
married brothers, Isaac and Harry Hasbrouck,
of Stone Ridge, Ulster County, N. Y., are be
lieved to be his daughters. Isaac, the youngest
son, was born in 1757.
The last-named, at his father's death, was ap
prenticed to learn the trade of tanner and currier,
and also learned the shoemaker's trade. When
twenty-one he married Miss Mary Huntting, of
Southampton, L- I. Having sold his patrimony,
he purchased a farm and tauyard in Litchfield,
Conn., and lived there until about the close ofthe
Revolutionary War. Soon after settling in that
place he found the title to his property was worth
less, the person of whom he bought being irre
sponsible, and in consequence of the swindle he
was left almost penniless.
Accompanied by his wife and two sons, Isaac
Barns removed to Schoharie County, N. Y., set
tling about thirty miles from Albany. Joseph
Huntting, a brother of Mrs. Barns, accompanied
them, and made his home with them. After a
period of eight or ten years in that county, during
which time he followed the shoemaker's trade,
Mr. Barns went to Otsego County, this state,
where he purchased property of Dominie Hart-
wick. While he was preparing a home for his
family, Jonathan, his eldest son, took charge of
the younger children. Hannah, who had mar
ried a Mr. Page and lived at Springfield, near the
head of Otsego Lake, took charge of Nathaniel,
our subject's father. A daughter, Betsey, was
taken by her mother to Long Island and left with
her sister there. Another child, Joseph, was
kept in Schoharie County by his uncle, Joseph
Huntting. Jonathan, the eldest of the family,
spent the latter part of his life in Tioga County,
his home being on a farm between Waverly and
Ithaca, on the banks of Shepherds Creek. Our
subject, in company with his father, visited him
in 1849.
Nathaniel Barns, father of our subject, was
born in Litchfield, Conn., September 23, 1782.
About 1788 he accompanied his parents to Scho
harie County, N. Y., and four years later went

5i4

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Hartwick, Otsego County, where he remained
until 1803. Upon attaining his majority he en
tered the employ of a contractor and assisted in
opening roads. After two years thus spent, he
himself became a contractor and carried on busi
ness successfully until 1828, when he came to
Orange County. The following year he settled
on a farm at Middle Hope, town of Newburgh,
and there he remained until his decease, in 1879,
at which time he was the owner of three hundred
acres of fine farming land in this county.
January 21, 1828, Nathaniel Barns married
Effie Dusenberre, who was born at Hempstead,
L- I., April 13, 1796. To them were born four
children, namely: William D., Nathaniel, Don
ald D. and Mary E. Isaac, a brother of our sub
ject's father, settled in Haverstraw, Rockland
County, N. Y., and by his marriage had six sons
and three daughters, of whom Nathaniel and
Mathew reside hear Joliet, 111., and Belding and
Joseph live in Haverstraw. Betsey, a sister of
Nathaniel, married Joseph Raynor, and at the
time of her death was a resident of Cato, Cayuga
County, N. Y. She had two sons and four daugh
ters, of whom Joseph lives on the home farm in
Cato; May resides at Princeton, 111.; and Janet,
Mrs. John Earl, at Hudson, Mich.; the others
are deceased. Joseph Barns, when a young man,
went to Georgia and engaged in a mercantile
business there. He had a son and daughter, of
whom the former died unmarried; the latter, Jo-
cintha, married a Mr. Richards, and at her death
left two sons and one daughter. Arial Barns was
married in- Rockland County and afterward set
tled in the town of Sterling, Cayuga County.
Later he settled on a farm near Hebron, Wis.
He made his home with his two widowed daugh
ters, Hester and Mary, and died in 1894, when
past ninety-nine years of age. He had five sons
and three daughters, of whom Armenia, Mrs.
Joseph Miner, resides in Hebron, Wis. ; Arial is
a resident of Auburn, N. Y. , and David of Holly
Springs, Miss. Huntting, who died iu Iowa, had
five sons and one daughter, of whom Huntting
and Townsend are the only survivors. Mary, a
twin of Huntting, married Samuel Somes, and
died near Jack's Reef, Onondaga County, N. Y.;

and Mrs. May Carmon is a resident of Hebron,
Wis. Of her three sons and four daughters, all
but one daughter are living. They are: Nathan
iel, Joseph, Hannah (Mrs. Thomas Fields), and
Mrs. Betsey Cavenor, all of whom live near Jack's
Reef; Samuel and Mary Elizabeth, who live in
LaGrange, Ind. Mathew Barnes settled in Corn
wall, Orange County, and had seven sons and
three daughters. Of his sous, Isaac and William
live near Turners, Orange County, Nathaniel iu
Mountainville, and Milton at Central Valley, also
in this county. Mrs. Mary Eliza Pinckney, Mrs.
Sallie Freer and Mrs Phcebe Thorn also reside in
this county. Hannah married James Young and
lived in Weedsport, Cayuga County, having two
sons and a daughter. Of these, Sylvester resides
near Weedsport; and Permelia, Mrs. R. M. Rose,
lives in Auburn, N. Y.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town
of Newburgh, October 16, 1828, and was about
twenty-five years of age when he assumed the
management of the home farm. Since the death of
his father he has owned the homestead, which he
is now carrying on in a most profitable manner,
in connection with his eldest son, Edwin W.
The farm is devoted to fruit-growing, Mr. Barns
being one of the most extensive fruit-growers of
the county. January 25, i860, he married Miss
Elizabeth A. Carpenter, who was born August
29, 1828. They are the parents of five children,
namely: Edwin W., living at home, born Decem
ber 7, 1861; Mary, June 15, 1863; George D.,
February 23, 1865; John S., January 9, 1867; and
Nathaniel H., who was bom March 22, 1868, and
died March 15, 1886. John S. is at home, and
George D. is at present iu St. Louis, Mo. The
wife and mother departed this life January 29,
1890, and her body was interred in Cedar Hill
Cemetery. In religious belief Mr. Barns is a member of
the Presbyterian Church. In politics he votes
for Democratic candidates. He is prominent in
public affairs, and has been the incumbent of
many offices of trust and honor, among them
that of Almshouse Commissioner of the city and
town of Newburgh. It was mainly through his
influence that the Children's Home was estab-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

5i5

lished and the plans for its management were
drafted by him. Under Governor Flower, in the
spring of 1893, he received the appointment of
member of the Board of Control of the New York
State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva-,
N. Y. In 1855 he was Census Marshal for the
town, and in many other ways he has officiated
worthily. For the past ten years he has been con
nected with the Orange County Agricultural Soci
ety, of which he is Vice-President and member of
the Board of Managers.

±=-

=+

30HN DELANY, the junior member of the
firm of Thomas S. Marvel & Co., is a native
of Kilkenny, Ireland, born in 1840, and is
a son of Michael and Catherine (Sweeney) De
lany. In 1848, after his father's death, his
mother brought the family to America, and after
residing a year in New York City came to New
burgh. As soon as his years permitted, John be
came a wage-earner, and at the age of seventeen
was apprenticed to George M. Clapp, superin
tendent of the Washington Iron Works, to learn
the machinist's trade. During his employment
at these large works he was thoroughly schooled
in the mechanical and theoretical principles of
engine-building. He became a master workman,
and for several years worked on the gunboats
which were being built for the Government. For
about six years he was in Cuba studying up ma
chinery for the company on different parts of the
island. In 1867 Mr. Delany was united in marriage
with Sarah E. , daughter of John Touhy, who
was a farmer residing near Newburgh. Seven
children have been born to them. Catherine is a
graduate of Newburgh Academy. John, who re
ceived his literary education in Newburgh, and
who graduated at Notre Dame University, near
South Bend, Ind. , as a mechanical engineer, is a
draughtsman in Delany' s boiler works. Joseph
graduated from the commercial course at Notre
Dame, and is a bookkeeper for the firm of Thomas

S. Marvel & Co. Francis is attending college at
Georgetown, D. C. William is attending the
Spencerian College in Newburgh; and Mary and
Elizabeth are receiving their education at Mt. St.
Mary's Academy.
About 1868, soon after his return from Cuba,
Mr. Delany bought out the interest of the junior
partner in the firm of Melrose & Moss, general
machinists, doing business on South Water Street
near South William, and subsequently became
sole proprietor of the business. He was quite
successful, and soon after enlarged his business by
purchasing the machine-shop of George Hunt,
which adjoined his own. In 1872 he formed a
partnership with Samuel Stanton (formerly su
perintendent of the Washington Iron Works),
and Luther C. Ward, who had been business
manager of the same firm, aud under the firm
name of Ward, Stanton & Co. the business was
continued. They took possession of a large brick
building and an adjoining dock property on the
east side of South Water Street, near the foot of
South William. The new works were designated
as the Highland Iron Works, and at first the
firm manufactured engines and general machin
ery, but after a time they engaged in iron ship
building as a specialty, though wooden vessels
were built as well. Within a few years the works
were greatly enlarged, three hundred men being
employed, and it became the largest concern in
Newburgh. A great many boats were constructed,
principally steam yachts, ferry-boats and towing
propellers. They not only designed and con
structed hulls, engines and boilers, but furnished
boats throughout. The fine steam yachts "Na-
mouna," "Polynia," "Rhada," "Vidette" and
"Shaugraun" were built by this firm. In 1882
the works were nearly destroyed by fire, and in
1884 the firm failed.
Soon after the failure of the Highland Iron
Works, Mr. Delany formed a partnership with
Thomas S. Marvel and continued in the same
business in which he was formerly engaged. From
a small beginning the present large and flourish
ing establishment grew up. Remarkable success
has attended the firm of Thomas S. Marvel &
Co., which is now one ofthe leading manufactur-

5i6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing industries of Newburgh. Mr. Delany is one
of the most enterprising and liberal residents of
the city, and well deserves the success that has
crowned his efforts.

HON. CHARLES J. LAWSON, ex-Mayor of
Newburgh, has an exceptional record as a
leader in the Republican party, and as one
of the best business men of this city. It is con
ceded by all that "Newburgh has never had a
more public-spirited and judicious chief executive
than Mr. Lawson, for he carried in his official re
lations the same good judgment and superior
ability which he has always manifested in the
marts of trade. A man of strong convictions, he
makes up his mind what is best to do, and he dares
to carry out to a successful close whatever he un
dertakes. He is President of the Lawson Hard
ware Company, with which he has beeu connected
since it was duly incorporated February i, 1893,
and is Vice-President of The National Bank of
Newburgh, having served in this capacity for
some five years. Moreover, he is one of the char
ter members of the Board of Trade, and helped
to organize the Newburgh Building and Loan
Association, of which he is now Treasurer.
The Lawsons are among the oldest families of
Dutchess County, N. Y., and it is supposed that
the first white child born within the county limits
was one William Lawson, an ancestor of our
subject. Andrew, the grandfather, was a native
of the same county, and was a merchant tailor
by occupation. For some years he pursued his
calling in New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie, and
afterward located in Newburgh. His son James
T., father of Charles J., was born in New Plam-
burg, and was also a tailor by trade. About
1835 he came to this city, opening a place of
business on Water Street. He has been very
successful, and is now practically retired, giving
his attention to the management of his property
interests, which are in this place and in Bay
City, Mich. For two years he was the Republi
can Alderman from the Fourth Ward. His wife,
who was a Miss Anstis Hutton, came from an

old Rhode Island family. At her death, which
occurred when our subject was a lad of but seven
years, she left two children, the one beside
Charles J. being Mrs. C. A. Walsh, a physician
of Seattle, Wash.
C. J. Lawson was born at No. 48 Water
Street, Newburgh, February 23, 1845, and ob
tained a good education in the public and private
schools of this city, which he attended until
1 86 1. His first venture in commercial circles
was as a clerk in a hardware store, his employer
being James S. Brown, who ran the business
which had been established by his father in 1798.
Three years later Mr. Lawson went to New York
City, and clerked in wholesale hardware stores
until 1868, when he returned to Newburgh. En
tering into partnership with L- M. Smith, under
the firm name of L- M. Smith & Co., he began
in the wholesale and retail hardware business at
his present site. In 187.1 he bought out his part
ner's interest and continued alone until the pres
ent company was formed, twenty-two years sub
sequently. It has a capital stock of $30,000 and
a large business is transacted yearly. Their
building has a frontage of twenty-six feet on
Water Street, and extends back one hundred
and fourteen feet. It is four stories and base
ment in height, and is supplied with elevators
and all modern appliances. Our subject is Presi
dent of the concern , H. M. Smith Vice-President,
Frank J. Lawson Secretary, and James T. Law-
son, Jr., is Treasurer.
Mr. Lawson has always taken a very promi
nent part in social organizations, and belongs to
Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M.; High
land Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; Hudson River
Commandery No. 45, K. T.; and Mecca Temple
of the Mystic Shrine of New York City. He is
also Past Regent of the Royal Arcanum, and is a
member of C. M. Leonard Council, Order of
American Firemen. From 1877 to 1892 he was
one of the Almshouse Commissioners, and was
President of the board for about ten years. His
record in this direction is an unusual one, as he
served for five terms in succession, the longest of
any one in the count)-. For a period of fourteen
years he was Chairman of the City Committee,

LOUIS A. HARRIS, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

5i9

resigning the same in order to accept the office of
Mayor. He has also been one of the Park Com
missioners of Newburgh, and in many other
practical ways has been identified with her pros
perity. Among the various concerns in which
he has been interested are the Newburgh Dis
trict Telegraph Company, of which he was
President, and the Edison Illuminating Elec
tric-light Company, which he served as Treas
urer. For years he has been a very active mem
ber of the Baptist Church, and has served as
Treasurer and Trustee of the board and as Su
perintendent of the Sunday-school.
The marriage of Mr. Lawson and Anna J.
Whitehead was celebrated in Newburgh Septem
ber 5, 1867. Mrs. Lawson is a native of this
city, and is a daughter of John J. Whitehead,
who was one of the old merchants of the place.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawson have a pleasant home at
No. 369 Grand Street, and their family consists
of two sons, Frank J. and James T., Jr., pre
viously mentioned.

I OUIS A. HARRIS, A. B., M. D. This well.
It known and prominent gentleman of Orange
U County is physician for the Newburgh Alms
house and Orphans' Home. He was born March
12, 1859, in Annandale, Dutchess County, where
also his father, Aaron Harris, was born. The
latter is the son of Peter Harris, who was a car
penter and builder of Annandale, and who was
of Scotch and German descent. The family is
an old and honored one in Dutchess County, and
almost without exception its various members
are connected with the German Reformed Church.
Aaron Harris is a carpenter and contractor,
following that occupation with success, although
now in his sixtieth year. He married Miss Rachel
J. Lewis, who was also born in Dutchess County.
To them were born two children, the sister of
Louis A. being Edith, a resident of Annandale.
There the former was reared to mature years, and
in 1880 was graduated from St. Stephen's College

with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The fol
lowing year he spent in teaching school, after
which he began the study of medicine, and in
1 88 1 entered the Albany Medical College, from
which he was graduated with the Class of '84.
He at once located for practice at Valley Falls,
Rensselaer County, where he remained but six
months, when he returned home and spent the
following two months. In November, 1885, we
find the Doctor located at Rosendale, Ulster
County. His stay there, however, was also of
short duration,. for three months thereafter he be
gan practicing at Fly Mountain, that county,
where he remained for two years.
In the fall of 1887 Dr. Harris came to New
burgh, and in February of the following year
opened a drug store on Broadway, which he car
ried on in connection with his practice. After
continuing thus for five years, his services were
in such demand that he was unable to give any
attention to his drug business, and since dispos
ing of the same has given his undivided time to
his profession. At the time of selling his drug
store he was appointed physician to the Alms
house and Orphans' Home of both the city and
town of Newburgh, and such perfect satisfaction
has he given that he has been retained in office
up to the present time. For the past two years
the Doctor has been one of the health officers for
the town, and in addition to the positions men
tioned carries on a large and lucrative general
practice. Among the members of the profession
he is considered a man of superior ability, and
has many sincere friends throughout the county.
On the 22d of January, 1895, Louis A. Harris
and Sarah Elizabeth Coles were united in marriage
at East Orange, N. J., she being a daughter of
Jacob L- and Sarah Snyder (Morningstern) Coles.
The latter died August 4, 1894, and Mr. Coles is
now living retired at East Orange, N. J.
Socially the Doctor is connected with Christian
Lodge No. 379, I. O. O. F. , in which he has been
Past Grand; New York Encampment No. 1, of
Albany; the Sexennial League, and the Order of
American Firemen, and is also identified with the
Knights of Pythias and Elks. For five years
he served in the Tenth Separate Company, Na-

52Q

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tional Guards, as a private, and when he resigned
at the expiration of five years was Assistant Sur
geon, with the rank of First Lieutenant. He is
now a member of the veterans of the Tenth
Separate Company and Company E. The Doctor
also belongs to Newburgh Lodge No. 7256, A.
O. F., of which he is examining physician and a
Director; is physician for Hudson River Lodge
No. 276, Sons of St. George, and is also Medical
Examiner at Newburgh for the Odd Fellows'
Mutual Aid and Accident Association of Piqua,
Ohio. '  0#P  V.
QETER E. BENNETT is head foreman of the
yf Jova Brick Works at Roseton, near New-
\3 burgh, though his home is at Middle Hope.
He is a practical brick manufacturer, thoroughly
understanding every detail ofthe business, and has
met with deserved success in his undertaking.
His new and handsome residence is situated on a
small fruit farm of nine acres, about three-quar
ters ofa mile from his place of business, and here
he delights to spend his leisure time in gardening,
raising all kinds of fruits in large quantities.
Patrick Bennett, father of the above gentleman,
was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, and
started in trade there as a coach-builder. He
came to America when in his seventeenth year,
first settling in Roseton, on the Hudson, and
later moving to Clarke Landing. Under Mr.
Frederickson he learned the brick business, and
later was employed by Leander Clark, Jr., as head
foreman. In 1 871 he settled in Fall River, Mass.,
where he made his home for a year and a-half,
and then for six months was a resident of Hav
erstraw. Later he was employed in the Roseton
Brick Works until he retired from business. He
died in the faith of the Catholic Church in 1888,
at the age of sixty-four years. His wife, Bridget,
also a native of Ireland, was a daughter of Peter
Segriff, a farmer. For some years he owned a
place in the town of Newburgh, but passed his
last years in Haverstraw. Mrs. Bennett is still
living, her place of abode being Marlborough. Of
her five sons and four daughters, one daughter is
deceased.

Peter E. Bennett was born where the Roseton
depot now stands, January 4, 1863, being the
fourth in his father's family. With the excep
tion of two years, he passed his boyhood in this
locality. He attended the schools of Middle
Hope, and on arriving at a suitable age com
menced working in the brickyards owned by
Charles Griggs, remaining with that concern for
five years. Later he became an employe of James
Mead, below Low Point. Two years later he
commenced working for the Jova Brick Works,
and in 1884 received his first promotion. Of late
years he has acted in the capacity of head foreman
and has full charge of the manufacturing depart
ments. In his political faith he is a Democrat,
though he is not desirous of public office, prefer
ring to give his time to his business and family
affairs. January 1, 1888, Mr. Bennett was united in
marriage with Kate Gallagher in Marlborough.
She was born in Hampton Ferry , Orange County,
and was a daughter of Patrick Gallagher, a fruit
farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have three bright
children, namely: William, Frank and Freddie.
The parents are members of the Catholic Church
and enjoy the sincere regard of all who know
them. Mr. Bennett is a self-made man and has
gradually worked his way toward a secure com
petency and a position of influence in the commu
nity. G> GjlLLIAM LAHEY is now serving his third
\ A / year as Assessor of the town of New Wind-
V V sor, having been elected to this position on
the Democratic ticket. He is a business man of
exceptional ability, and is the owner of an exten
sive brick manufactory on the banks of the Hud
son, between Fishkill Landing and Low Point,
and also a plant in New Windsor. He superin
tends both yards, the output of which is over
twenty million brick per season.
Our subject's father, Joseph Lahey, who died
in Cornwall, at the age of seventy-six years, was
a native of Ireland. He operated a farm until
1850, when he came to the United States and for
about two years engaged in agricultural pursuits

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

521

near Cornwall. His wife, formerly Miss Ann
Powers, is still living, her home being in the
town of New Windsor. William Lahey is the
eldest and the only survivor of eight children.
He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in
1847, atl(l when fi\*e years of age emigrated to
America. His boyhood was passed in the vicin
ity of Cornwall, where he obtained his education,
and when only twelve years of age he commenced
working in a brickyard in Cornwall. Five years
later he came to this town, and then for a time he
worked in the Erie carshops at Ramapo, as a
carpenter, learning his trade, and subsequently
he became foreman for Hugh Davidson, Benjamin
Walsh and Warren Brower.
It was in 1875 that Mr. Lahey embarked in the
manufacture of brick at Fishkill Landing. After
remaining there for a year, he came to New
Windsor and was employed in the Christy yards
until 1879, when he bought his present place,
formerly the old Carpenter estate. It was later
known as Long Dock, and at the time of Mr.
Lahey's purchase it was styled the Griggs estate.
The plant was turning out only thirty thousand
brick a day, but the fine clay banks and the sand
in the vicinity promised well for the future.
Three times has Mr. Lahey been obliged to en
large the works, and has now six brick machines
and pits, having a capacity of one hundred thou
sand brick per day. Shipments are made by boat,
Mr. Lahey being the proprietor of two barges
here, the "Margaret Lahey" and the "C. K.
Buckley." He also owns two barges which are
used for shipping brick from Fishkill, the "Ann
Lahey" and the "William Lahey." The four
barges have a capacity of eleven hundred thou
sand brick. In 1889 our subject leased a portion
of the S. Van Planck estate, near Fishkill, and
there runs three machines, which have a capacity
of seventy-two thousand brick per day, sixty-five
hands being employed. He owns seven resi
dences there and also runs a boarding-house. In
New Windsor he has eight houses and employs
one hundred and ten hands. The bricks turned
out from his works are all stamped "Lahey."
The brand has become well known, and there is a
large sale to the Newburgh trade.

The first marriage of our subject occurred in
Cornwall, in 1873, with Miss Margaret Carroll, a
native of Ireland, who died in 1885. Three of
their seven children are deceased, namely: Mary,
Margaret, and Mary, the second of the name.
The others are Ann, Nora, Joseph and Sarah.
In 1888, in this city, Mr. Lahey was married to
Julia Mara, who was born in Orange County,
N. J. They have two children, namely: Will
iam, Jr., and Julia A. Mr. Lahey is a member of
St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Politically he is
a Democrat and has frequently been sent as a del
egate to county and congressional conventions.

-*-— » — ¦•^^®(/GM!®}*£it  • — **-

(lAMES TODD, ofthe firm of Hamilton &
I Todd, contractors and builders of Newburgh,
Q) is now serving as Alderman from the First
Ward. He is a native of the Emerald Isle, born
in Ballygawley, in November, 1848, and is a
son of Samuel Todd, who was also born in the
same place. The grandfather, Nathaniel Todd,
who was a native of Scotland, located in Coun
ty Down, Ireland, where he engaged in fancy
weaving, but later removed to County Antrim,
where he died in early life. The father, who
followed the same occupation, married Jane
Hunter, who was of Scotch descent, and a native
of County Antrim, where their marriage was
celebrated. She was a daughter of Samuel Hun
ter, a farmer by occupation. Mr. Todd remained
in his native land until 1882, when he crossed
the Atlantic, and still makes his home in this
country. Religiously he is a member of the
Presbyterian Church. In the family were eleven
children, who grew to manhood and womanhood,
and nine are still living, all residents of the United
States with the exception of one.
James Todd, whose name heads this record, is
the oldest of the family. He received his educa
tion in the national schools, and at the age often
years went to live 011 a farm. In May, 1869, he
took passage at Londonderry on a steamer, and
after a voyage of sixteen days landed at New

522

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

York City, alone in a strange land, without money
or friends. He came to Newburgh, and for three
years worked as an apprentice for Samuel Mc-
Key, a contractor. Later he was a journeyman in
the employ of Tweed & Eaton, remaining in
their employ until 1882, when, in connection with
William Hamilton, he began contracting and
building, under the firm style of Hamilton &
Todd. They were old friends in Ireland, and
their business connection here has been both
profitable and pleasant. They have erected many
of the best buildings of the city, including Siglar's
School, the Arnold Flats, and the residences of
Rev. Mr. Thompson and Rev. Mr. Fuedlayer,
besides the home of Mr. Todd at No. 25 Clark
Street. Our subject is a member of the local
building and loan association, of which he is Di
rector, and is serving on the Appraising Commit
tee. At Newburgh, July 24, 1875, Mr. Todd mar
ried Miss Elizabeth Perrott, who was born in
County Cork, Ireland, and is a daughter of Will
iam and Elizabeth (Kingston) Perrott, both of
English descent and natives of County Cork.
The paternal grandfather was Richard Perrott.
The father, who was a farmer by occupation, took
his family to London, England, where he re
mained for nine years, after which he brought
them to America, locating in Newburgh, where
his death occurred at the age of sixty-eight. His
wife died in 1892, at the advanced age of eighty-
one years. In their family were six children
who reached maturity, and five are still living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Todd were born six children:
Jennie, who graduated from the Spencerian Busi
ness College; Elizabeth, a pupil in the academy;
Minnie, deceased; Annie L. and William J. , at
home; and Samuel, who died at the age of one
year and nine months. Both Minnie and Samuel
died in November, 1890, of diphtheria.
In 1892 Mr. Todd was nominated and elected
Alderman from the First Ward on the Republi
can ticket, two years later was re-elected, and is
now filling the office to the entire satisfaction of
his constituents. He is a member of the Law and
Ordinance and Sewer Committees, and is Chair
man ofthe Committee on Streets, besides being a

member of the special committee on the con
struction of the City Hall. In the growth and
upbuilding of the city he has ever taken a prom
inent part, doing all in his power for its advance
ment and welfare. He and his wife belong to
the United Presbyterian Church, in which he is
a Trustee and Ruling Elder. His political affili
ations are with the Republican party, and he is
numbered among the influential and prominent
citizens of Newburgh. His present prosperous
condition is due to his own industry and energy,
as he came here without capital, and to-day is at
the head of a lucrative business.

(JOSEPH B. BURNET. Identified with the
I history of Orange County from an early pe-
Q) riod of its settlement, the representatives of
the Burnet family have been men of energy,
force of character and honorable principles. As
early as 1727, before the arrival of the Clintons,
Robert Burnet, our subject's great-great-grandfa
ther, came hither and purchased two hundred
acres, on which he continued to reside until his
death. His farm has since been owned by his
descendants, and is now the property of our sub
ject. In the town of New Windsor, upon the farm
where he now resides, the subject of this notice
was born March 18, 1819, beingthe son of Charles
and Mary R. (Barber) Burnet. His maternal
grandfather, Capt. Joseph Barber, was a resident
ofthe town of Montgomery, and won his title by
gallant service in the Revolutionary War. Both
the father, Charles, and grandfather, Robert, were
born on the old Burnet homestead. The former,
whose life occupation was that of a farmer, died
on the home place and was buried in the Little
Britain Cemetery. He was a man of Christian
character, holding membership in the Presbyte
rian Church. In public affairs he was prominent,
and held a number of local offices, including that
of Assessor. He was also Justice of the Peace for
many years, and was executor of the James Clin
ton estate, as well as of many other large estates.
The parental family consisted of four children

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

523

one of whom died in infancy. Those beside our
subject are Jane A., wife of George Clelland; and
Charles F. , a resident of Washingtonville. Joseph
B. passed his boyhood years in an uneventful
manner, receiving an excellent education . After
leaving the common schools he entered Mont
gomery Academy, where he remained until his
graduation, meantime taking a special course in
civil engineering. On the conclusion of his stud
ies, he was engaged in surveying in connection
with civil engineering for many years, but for
some time past has given his attention entirely to
farm pursuits, owning and cultivating one hun
dred acres of fertile land.
In Orange County, June 15, 1870, occurred
the marriage of Joseph B. Burnet and Miss Eliza
beth Scott, an estimable young lady, who was
born and reared iu the neighborhood. He is
quiet and unassuming in manner, and has never
sought public positions of trust and honor, pre
ferring the part ofa private citizen, whose duties
he has at all times striven to fulfill. His political
affiliations are with the Democratic party, the
principles of which he never fails to support. For
many years he has been identified with the Pres
byterian Church. He is one ofthe few men who,
after a long life in a community, are spoken well
of by everybody; one who has sustained the char
acter of a Christian, and who, in his declining
years, has the satisfaction of knowing that he has
wronged no man, but has endeavored, by a con
sistent Christian life, to fulfill his duty to man
kind and God.

DMUND LANG, a well known brick man-
'y ufacturer of the town of New Windsor, since
_ 1 891 has operated the Walsh yards, which
he leases of the proprietor. He also operated the
Christy yard twelve years, it being known as the
"steam yard." Besides his interest in the yards
he also owns two farms in the town of Montgom
ery, one of these being a tract of ninety-four acres,
and the other containing one hundred and sixty

acres. Both places are well improved and are
now rented to tenants.
Mr. Lang, who is of Scotch descent, is a na
tive of New York City, born October 21, 1822.
His father, Ebenezer Lang, was born in Ports
mouth, N. H., and at an early day became a res
ident of New York, where he followed the car
penter's trade. Our subject's mother, prior to
her marriage, was a Miss Mary Raynor, a native
of Long Island. After her husband's death,
which occurred when he was in the prime of life,
she removed to Suffolk County, N. Y., and later
to Ulster County, where she reared her family,
which consisted of three sons and a daughter.
John is a merchant in Sullivan County; George
is a farmer in Shawangunk, Ulster County; while
the daughter, Mary A., who married Andrew
Snider, is now deceased. Later Mrs. Lang settled
near Wallkill, Ulster county, and died in 1887,
when in her eighty-sixth year.
Edmund Lang resided on Long Island until he
was ten years of age, and from that time until
reaching his majority he was reared on a farm in
Ulster County, attending the public schools of
The Plains. Going to New York City, his first
business employment was as cartman, and later
he engaged in the feed business. Making a suc
cess of this undertaking, he very soon bought and
ran three or four teams, supplying regular cus
tomers. He continued in the business about four
years, making a good income and laying aside
each year a certain sum, and by so doing became
well-to-do. During the war he enlisted in Com
pany D, Fourth New York Artillery, state troops,
and in 1863 was called out to defend Gettysburg,
but was released at the end of thirty days. His
rank was that of Sergeant.
In his younger days Mr. Lang had worked at the
brick business, and in 1879 he came to the town
of New Windsor and leased the Christy yards.
The plant was equipped with four machines,
and he operated the same from 1879 until 1891.
For a few years John Adams was in partnership
with him, but he later retired from the firm and
Mr. Lang has since conducted the business alone.
The present factory of our subject is also fitted out
with four machines, having a capacity of sixty-

524

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

six thousand brick per day, and is run by steam
power. A force of seventy men is kept employed
around the works, and the output is shipped by
boat and rail to New York City and various
points along the Hudson. Mr. Lang owns the
barge "Annie B. Emmons," which is used for
transportation between here and New York.
In 1846 the marriage of Mr. Lang and Keturah
C. Thorne was celebrated in Newburgh. Mrs.
Lang's parents were Solomon and Jane Thorne,
old settlers and farmers of this county. To our
subject and wife have been born three children,
two sons and a daughter: James, who is in the
trucking business in New York City; Solomon,
in partnership with his father; and Mary, Mrs.
John N. Frazer, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Formerly Mr. Lang was affiliated with the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and is now as
sociated with the Sons of Temperance. He be
longs to Calvary Presbyterian Church of this city,
and can always be relied upon to advance worthy
enterprises. Since becoming a voter he has de
posited his ballot in favor of Democratic nom
inees. | UKE F. GILLESPIE, superintendent and
It general manager ofthe Hudson River Wool
ly en-mills, of which he is also a stockholder,
understands the practical part of every department
of that industry, having worked his way up from
the lowest position in woolen manufacture. His
birth occurred in Sturbridge, Mass., on the 18th
of December, 1857, ancl ne is a son of Luke and
Martha Matilda (Douty) Gillespie, both natives
of Ireland, where their marriage was celebrated.
Their ancestors were of the Scotch-Presbyterian
faith, but they both became devout members of
the Catholic Church. The mother died in Charles-
town, Mass., when about the age of seventy
years. The father was born in County Meath,
where he learned the carpenter's trade, and soon
after his marriage came to America, locating in
New York City, where he worked at his trade
and at cabinet-making. On leaving that city he
went to Sturbridge, Mass. , and later became a
resident of Charlestown, where he followed his

trade for twenty-eight years, but is now living
retired there. In the family were twelve chil
dren, six of whom grew to maturity, but only
four are now living. One brother of our subject,
Patrick, who was a member of the Thirty-sixth
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was taken a
prisoner at Belle Isle, and sent to Andersonville,
where he was starved to death.
In Charlestown, Mass., L. F. Gillespie was
reared to manhood, receiving his education in
the public schools, and there he learned the car
penter's and machinist's trades. In 1877 he ob
tained employment with the Lake View Woolen
Manufacturing Company, beginning in the card-
ing-room, and then successively was in the spin
ning, weaving and finishing rooms. He held
the position of overseer of the finishing depart
ment for several years. On leaving the employ
of the company he went to Oxford, Mass., where
he started a mill of his own, being a member of
the firm of Gillespie & Sullivan. They remod
eled a mill and engaged in the manufacture of
woolen goods very successfully for two and a-
half years, when their plant was destroyed by
fire and they lost nearly everything.
In 1 89 1 Mr. Gillespie came to Newburgh for
Mr. Mendelshon to superintend the erection
of the Hudson River Woolen-mill, which was
started on the 15th of December, and was com
pleted and running by the 15th of March ofthe
following year. It has since continued in opera
tion, and by being enlarged now has a capacity
of sixteen hundred spindles. The first floor of
the main building is used as the finishing-room,
the second floor as the weaving-room, and the
third as the carding and weaving-room. A pack
ing house and storerooms also form part of the
property. The mill is located on Quassaick
Creek, at the bridge, and is furnished with both
steam and water power, having a two-hundred
horse-power engine. The wool is shipped in from
New York, and the products, which include
shirtings, suitings and dress goods, are sold from
the main office, at No. 20 White Street, New
York City. Employment had always been fur
nished to eighty men until the spring of 1895,
when the plant was enlarged, giving a capacity

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

525

of six hundred and twenty-four spindles more,
which necessitated the hiring of from twenty-five
to thirty more employes. Since its foundation
Mr. Gillespie has been one of the stockholders of
the mill, and to him a great deal of its success is
due, as he has worked untiringly for its interests.
Being a skillful workman himself, familiar with
all branches ofthe enterprise, he can understand-
ingly direct its operation.
At Rutland, Mass., in 188 1, Mr. Gillespie was
married to Miss Julia Delehanty, a native of that
place, and a daughter of Frederick Delehanty, a
farmer by occupation. They now reside at the
corner of Monument and Bay View, and their
home has been made glad by the presence of four
interesting children, Sarah, George, Mathew and
James. In politics Mr. Gillespie generally votes
with the Democratic party, though he is not
strictly partisan. Since coming to this city he
has gained many warm friends, and by all who
know him he is held iu the highest regard.

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NENRY RUDOLPH, who represented the
Fourth Ward in the Newburgh City Coun
cil in 1 89 1, was elected on the Republican
ticket, though his ward usually polls a Demo
cratic majority. During his year's service he was
Chairman of the Committee on Laws and Ordi
nances, and also served on others. He has been
chairman of ward committees, and has often
been sent as a delegate to county conventions.
Besides being a member of the Board of Trade,
he has been a successful business man here for
many years.
Our subject was born in Hesse-Cassel, Ger
many, January 15, 1853, being a son of Henry
and Wilhelmina (Helfinch) Rudolph, who were
natives of the same province. The former was a
manufacturer of furniture on quite an extensive
scale, and his death occurred in the Fatherland,
when he was about eighty years of age. His wife
also died in Germany. Our subject's grandfa
ther, Henry Rudolph, was a miller by trade, and

the whole family were identified with the Luth
eran denomination. Our subject is one of four
children and the only one in America. His edu
cation was obtained in the common schools of
Hesse-Cassel, which, according to law, he at
tended until he was fourteen years of age.
In his fifteenth year Henry Rudolph was ap
prenticed to learn the baker's trade, working for
one employer about two years and a-half. In
1870 he left his home and friends to seek a liveli
hood in the New World, and sailed from Bremen
on the steamer "America," arriving in New
York City at the end of a sixteen-days voyage.
There he continued for four or five years, work
ing at his trade, and then went to Matteawan,
N. Y., where he was in business some two years.
Then going back to the metropolis, he made that
city his home until May, 1880, when he came to
Newburgh. He was first employed here by Mr.
Cavanaugh, and two years later started a bakery
of his own at No. 267 Water Street, building an
oven and providing other necessary articles. His
business has steadily increased and is now one of
his most important features in the wholesale
trade, his goods being shipped to adjoining vil
lages in Orange and Dutchess Counties. His
ovens have a capacity of from fifty to sixty bar
rels of flour each week, made up into bread, cakes,
pies, etc. Four bakers are employed and two
wagons are used for delivering goods. Mr. Ru
dolph built the place he occupies, it being 25X
100 feet, three stories in height, with the oven in
the rear.
The first marriage of our subject occurred in
Red Bank, N. J., the lady of his choice being
Dinah Snyder, a native of that place. She died
in this city, and of her four children but one
survives, Minnie, who is bookkeeper for the firm
of Thing & Co. December 16, 1883, Mr. Ru
dolph married Miss Mary, daughter of Fred
Hartig, who was formerly engaged in the shoe
business in this city. Mrs. Rudolph is a native
of Newburgh, and by her marriage has become
the mother of two daughters, May and Clara.
Socially our subject belongs to several organi
zations and is very popular among his fraternal
brethren. He belongs to Highland Lodge, I. O.

526

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

O. F. ; Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M. ;
Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; Hudson
River Commandery No. 35, K. T. , and is also a
Knight of Honor. He is Vice-Dictator of Muchat
toes Tribe of Red Men, and an honorary member
of Leonard Steamer Company No. 3, also belong
ing to the Veteran Association of the same. For
years he was Trustee and Chairman of the board
of the Newburgh Turn Verein, and for two years
was its President. Religiously he and his wife
adhere to the faith of his forefathers, being identi
fied with the Lutheran Church.

JOSEPH E. BOARD, one of the leading citi
zens of the town of Blooming Grove, is now
serving his third year as representative of the
town upon the County Board of Supervisors.
Not only in this capacity, but in other important
positions, he has rendered excellent service in be
half of his fellow-townsmen. A stanch Republi
can in political belief, he has represented his
party in various conventions, and was a delegate
to the Saratoga Convention which nominated the
winning ticket in 1894. He is an ardent advo
cate of protection for home industries, which he
believes to be the basis of our national prosperity,
and therefore gives his earnest support to the
party which, in his opinion, stands for justice,
honor, prosperity and good citizenship.
The paternal ancestors of Mr. Board were of
English extraction and were identified with the
Reformed Church. His parents, Edmund K.
and Abigail (Heard) Board, were natives, respec
tively, of New Jersey and Orange County, N. Y.
In 1872 they came to the town of Blooming
Grove, and the mother died the first year of their
settlement in her native town. The father, who
was a representative of the prosperous farming
community , died here at eighty-three years of age.
Four sons and three daughters comprised the
parental family , namely: Samuel, deceased; Mary,
wife of Albert Matherson, an attorney of New
Haven, Conn.; Nathaniel, a civil engineer of
New York; Matilda, wife of E. Gilbert, of East
Haven, Conn. ; Joseph E. ; Isabella, wife of George

A. Owen, who owns a store in Washingtonville;
and Frank, who is clerking in the grocery of
A. P. Tuthill, of Newburgh.
The subject of this sketch was born in Board-
ville, N. J., November 28, 1853, and was reared
upon a farm, with the exception of one year spent
in New York City. The school which he at
tended was taught by a gentleman who also offi
ciated as preacher and who was a fairly good in
structor. Our subject, being an apt pupil, gained
a better education than many whose advantages
were better than his own. He accompanied his
parents to Orange County in 1873, and spent the
ensuing three years upon a farm in the town of
Blooming Grove. Having a natural ability for
civil engineering, he then turned his attention to
that occupation and was employed at railroad
work in Pennsylvania for one year, Michigan one
year and North Carolina a similar period. His
last work in that line was done on the cable road
on One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street in New
York City.
On his return to Orange County, Mr. Board
came to Washingtonville and entered into part
nership with a Mr. Fulton, embarking in the
milling, feed and coal business. This relation con
tinued until Thomas Brewster, a brother-in-law
of Mr. Board, bought out Mr. Fulton's interest,
since which time the enterprise has been carried
on under the firm title of Board & Brewster. In
January, 1876, Mr. Board married Carrie H.
Brewster, a native of this town, and they are the
parents of three sons, Henry, Charles and Will
iam. In religious connections the family is iden
tified with the Congregational Church. Fra
ternally our subject belongs to Blooming Grove
Lodge No. 639, I. O. O. F., with which he has
been connected since its organization.

*^NI

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p GJlLLIAM HENRY DENNISTON. In the
\ A / United States, where change seems to be
V V the ruling law of nature, it is but seldom
that we find a homestead where four successive
generations have resided, and such a place, when
found, is deemed worthy of mention by the histo-

JAMES VAN KEUREN, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

529

rical or biographical chronicler. One of these
farms is the Denniston homestead, where our sub
ject, his father and grandfather first opened their
eyes to the light of earth. Itis situated in the
town of New Windsor, about six miles southwest
of Newburgh, and comprises one hundred and
twenty-three acres of well improved land, devoted
to general agricultural purposes.
The first member of the family to emigrate to
America was Alexander Denniston, a native of
County Longford, Ireland, who came to this
country about the same time as did the Clintons.
His son William, our subject's great-grandfather,
was the first of the name to own this place, and
he made settlement here in the year 1762, upon
the farm now owned by William Henry. Here
he continued to reside until death. Grandfather
Isaac Denniston was born on this place, and
passed his entire life here, devoting his attention
to farm work.
The father of our subject, Alfred, was born on
the Denniston homestead October 26, 1809, and
here he grew to manhood. He was united in
marriage with Miss Mary A. Morrison, who was
born in the town of Cornwall, December 26, 1812,
being a daughter of John and Jane (Neely) Mor
rison. Three children were born of the union,
namely: Jane E., wife of Jonathan Steward, and a
resident ofthe town of Newburgh; Susan E. and
William H. Since coming to" America, farming
has been the chosen occupation of the Denniston
family, and in it they have accumulated compe
tencies. Always maintaining a deep interest in politics,
Alfred Denniston was a stanch supporter of
Democratic principles. With the exception of
five years, which were spent in Cornwall, he
passed his entire life upon the family homestead,
and here his death occurred August 27, 1878.
His body was buried in the Little Britain Ceme
tery, near the scene of his lifetime labors and not
far removed from the home that was so dear to
him. He was a consistent member of the Pres
byterian Church, and departed this life in the glo
rious hope of eternal happiness beyond. His life
was one of the utmost probity, and he carried
into his business transactions the principles of

honor which formed the basis of his character.
By those of his associates who still survive, he is
remembered as one ofthe persevering and indus
trious citizens of New Windsor, to whom its pros
perity is largely due.
On the place where he now lives, William H.
Denniston was born April 14, 1846, and here has
been the only home he has ever known. As soon
as old enough, he began to assist his father in the
cultivation of the farm, on which he now engages
in the dairy business and general farm work.
Careful and shrewd iii his financial dealings,
painstaking and energetic in farm work, and genial
and companionable with friends, he is a man who
has won the esteem of his neighbors and the re
gard of all with whom he is thrown in contact.

(TAMES VAN KEUREN, M. D. As one who
I contributed in no small degree to the growth
G/ of Orange County, and who for many years
was an influential member of its medical fraternity,
the name of Dr. Van Keuren well deserves men
tion in this volume. The following brief outline
of his life is a tribute to his memory given by her
who was his faithful helpmate for many years
and who since his death has continued to reside
upon the old homestead.
The Van Keuren family was established in New
Amsterdam during the days of its settlement by
the Dutch, and from that time to this it has had
representatives among the thrifty and prominent
residents of New York. Our subject's grandfa
ther, Capt. Henry Van Keuren, participated in
the memorable engagement at Ft. Montgomery,
and won his title by gallantry in war. James and
Margaret were the only children of Henry and
Nancy (Sutter) Van Keuren, and both were born
in the town of Montgomery, the former June 22,
1809. Arriving at man's estate, the subject of this
sketch established domestic ties, being united in
marriage with Miss Eunice W. Crawford, who
was born in the town of New Windsor, Orange

22

53©

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

County, December 6, 1808. She was a daughter
of Samuel and Jane (Burnet) Crawford, and a
granddaughter of Francis Crawford, one of the
prominent early residents of Newburgh. The
Crawford family was numbered among the early
settlers ofthe county, in the history of which its
members have been influential. The only child
of Dr. and Mrs. Van Keuren is Francis C, a
farmer now living in New Jersey.
In youth the Doctor enjoyed excellent educa-
cational advantages. For some years he was a
student in Montgomery Academy, from which he
was graduated. He then entered Jefferson Med
ical College of Philadelphia, remaining in that
institution until his graduation in 1829. At once
after completing his medical studies he returned
to Orange County and settled upon the farm in
the town of New Windsor where the succeeding
years of his life were busily and usefully spent in
relieving the physical ailments of the people and
in administering to the comfort of his fellow-
men. His was an honorable, a noble existence,
and there were many who mourned his death as
a personal loss. He passed away November 6,
1868, and was buried in the Washingtonville
Cemetery, near the scenes endeared to him by the
associations ofa life time.
All enterprises that had for their object the
good of his county or locality, or the increase of
its material wealth, always found in Dr. Van
Keuren an advocate and friend, ready to give them
substantial aid, and that, too, without hoping to
reap any direct personal advantage. He was a
man of firm religious faith, a devoted member of
the Presbyterian Church and an Elder in the con
gregation to which he belonged. Fortunate in
his undertakings, he nevertheless had the great
est sympathy for those who were less successful,
and was as liberal-hearted as he was kind and
considerate. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Van
Keuren has continued to live on the old home
stead, where sixty-four years of her life have
been passed. Associated with the recollections
of her early married life and of her maturer
years, the place naturally has a value in her eyes
even beyond its intrinsic worth. Here, in the

midst of many kind friends who delight in minis
tering to her comfort, she is quietly passing the
twilight of her life, waiting for the summons
which will call her from earth to the glorious
reality of heaven and to a happy reunion with
him whose faithful wife she was until death did
them part.
- — cmc* — .
(31LBERT H. F. SEEGER is one of the most
LA successful attorneys, not only in Newburgh,
Jl but in Orange County, and is an exceeding
ly popular member of the Bar. He is a native of
Germany, his birth having occurred in Stuttgart,
Wurtemberg, February 20, 1859, but since he
was two years of age he has resided in the United
States, and is one of our loyal and most patriotic
citizens. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Louis
Seeger, was a practicing physician in Germany,
but died in the beginning of his professional ca
reer. John, the father ofthe gentleman whose
name heads this sketch, was a cabinet-maker by
trade, and belonged to a sharpshooter corps in
Germany. In 1861 he came to the United States
and engaged at his trade in Goshen, N. Y., six
years later coming to Newburgh, Here for a
time he continued as a cabinet-maker and then
became a stair-builder for Charles Volckmer. His
death occurred in 1888, when he had reached the
age of fifty-seven years. In his religious faith he
was a Lutheran. His wife, who was a Miss Lou
ise Hammer before her marriage, was born in
Laufen, on the Neckar, Germany, and is still liv
ing, her home being in Newburgh. One of her six
children has passed from this life and our subject
is the eldest ofthe family.
Mr. Seeger was reared mainly in Newburgh,
where he attended the public schools, and in 1875,
when in his seventeenth year, graduated from the
Free Academy. Soon afterwards he entered the
law office of Col. William D. Dickey, with whom
he pursued his studies until being admitted to the
Bar, in May, 1880. For the next six years he
practiced in partnership with his former precept
or, gaining experience in practical ways, and fi
nally, in 1886, started out alone. For three years

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

53i

he was a member of the firm of McCroskery &
Seeger, but is now once more alone, with his
business office in the Brewster Building. He
conducts a general law practice and frequently
appears before the local courts. His first impor
tant criminal case was that of the people versus
John M. Pollock. His client had been convicted
of grand larceny, but no stay could be had in the
proceedings and he had commenced serving a term
of five years. Mr. Seeger took the case to the
Supreme Court, which reversed the decision,
and later all the indictments were set aside. One
of his most celebrated civil cases was that of
Quackenbush versus ex-Senator Richardson, the
action being for malicious prosecution. The
plaintiff, who was a debtor of the defendant, on
account of the illness of his wife, left the state
with her, the impression being that he had ab
sconded. The Senator had him arrested. Mr.
Seeger procured the plaintiff's release and had a
clear case against the senator. He prosecuted
him forthwith and obtained a judgment .of $3,000,
the largest sum ever realized in a similar case in
this county.
In 1885 the marriage of Mr. Seeger and Miss
May E. Riker, a native of Chester, took place at
the home ofthe bride's mother, Mrs. H. M. Riker,
of Newburgh. They have had born to them one
son. Mr. Seeger is a member of Hudson River
Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M., and also belongs to
the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is an active
and strong Republican.

— J-

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MH*S

DWARD T. McENANY. This enterpris-
'y ing and popular gentleman is Chief Clerk of
_ the Cadet Quartermaster's Department ofthe
Military Academy at West Point. He was bom
in this city, February 22, 1853, and is the son of
Thomas McEnany, a native of Belfast, Ireland.
The father served as a soldier in the English
army under Havelock, and his brother Edward
was' also a soldier in the same regiment. They
served in the East Indies for ten years, Thomas
being Sergeant of his company. On being hon
orably discharged, the brothers immediately em

barked for America, setting sail for the New
World in 1850. They entered the service of the
United States army, the father of our subject
being under George B. MacClellan. He was
stationed at West Point until 1857, when he
went to Ft. Sumter, S. C, and remained for
two years. Afterward he was sent with his com
pany to California, and after remaining on the
Pacific Coast for two years was honorably dis
charged, returning thence to West Point. Set
tling down to civil life, he aided in building Ft.
Clinton. In 1862, however, on the outbreak of
the Civil War, he enlisted in a detachment of ar
tillery as First Sergeant. On the expiration of
his term of three years, he again offered his serv
ices to the Government, and was retained for
five years more. He then became Corporal of
Company A, United States Engineer Corps, and
was later promoted to be Sergeant. In Febru
ary, 1885, he was retired, having served as a sol
dier in both the English and American armies
for a period of forty-five years. His death oc
curred February 21, 1894, when advanced in
years. Our subject's mother, Mrs. Margaret (Grant)
McEnany, was a native of County Antrim, Ire
land, and died in 1884. She was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in all
good works of that denomination. Her family
consisted of eight sons and daughters, of whom
our subject was the second-born. Robert J. is
Chief Clerk of the Quartermaster's Department in
the Department of Columbia, Washington; Will
iam H. also makes his home in that state, and is
engaged in the fruit business; James B. is a resi
dent of Newburgh; Eva M. lives in Philadelphia,
Pa., which city is also the home of Lillie J.,
Grant and Susan.
The subject of this sketch entered Mt. Pleas
ant Military Academy at Sing Sing in 1870, and
was graduated from that institution in the Class
of '74. He then spent a short time in New
York City, and August 10, 1874, became a
clerk in the Cadet Quartermaster' s Department of
the Military Academy at West Point. In 1885
he was commissioned Chief Clerk, and has ac
ceptably filled the position ever since.

532

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. McEnany was married iu this city, De
cember 17, 1879, to Miss Clara Parry, who was
born in Highland. Her parents were Elwood
and Lettie (Nelson) Parry, natives of Orange
County, the former a miller at Highland Falls.
To our subject and his wife there have been born
four children, namely: Elwood P., Thomas Ed
ward, Robert Nelson and Guy Grant. Mrs. Mc
Enany is a member of the Presbyterian Church,
and conscientiously lives up to what she believes
to be right. In politics our subject affiliates
with the Democratic party, and in social affairs is
a Knight of Honor.

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DWARD S. DENTON is one of the far-
'p seeing and intelligent business men of West
__ Point, which fact is shown by the success
which has crowned his efforts, for he is the pro
prietor of the only general merchandising estab
lishment in the city, and is also prominent in both
social and commercial circles. He is a man of
much practical talent and financial ability, and by
judiciously investing his money has become the
owner of valuable property.
Our subject was born in May, 1851, in Highland
Falls, and is the sou of James Denton, also a resi
dent of this city. His grandfather, who also bore
the name of James, was born in Newburgh, but'
at the time of his death, which occurred in early
life, was a citizen of West Point. Hugh Mc-
Clellan, of West Point, the great-grandfather,
served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
James Denton, Jr., the father of our subject,
was a merchant at Highland Falls for many years,
and there his death occurred, in July, 1894, when
seventy-two years of age. He was a Mason so
cially, and in politics affiliated with the Repub
lican party. For many years he was an active
worker in the Methodist Church.
Our subject's mother was formerly Lavina
Rundell, a native of Poughkeepsie, this state, and
the daughter of Jesse Rundell, whose birth oc
curred in Litchfield County, Conn. In that state

his father, John Rundell, was born, and there he
enlisted in the Revolutionary War. He was one
of the fifteen men killed at the battle of Stony
Point, where he was buried. Jesse Rundell, the
maternal grandfather of our subject, was a school
teacher in Poughkeepsie, where he was living at
the time of his death. Mrs. Denton is still living
and makes her home iu Highland Falls, in which
place she has resided for many years. She be
came the mother of four children, one of whom is
deceased. Edward S. was the eldest of the fam
ily. He was reared to mature years in Highland
Falls, obtaining his education in the public and
private schools of that place and West Point.
In 1876 our subject established his general
merchandise business at this place, the build
ing which he occupies being 45 x 60 feet in size.
The first floor is devoted to the sale of all those
articles found in a first-class establishment of the
kind, including cut glass, silver, etc., and he
makes a specialty of art china. The second floor
of the building is fitted up as a fine restaurant.
Mr. Denton imports his goods direct from the
cities ofthe Old World, and his trade, which is
one ofthe largest in the county, extends to points
all over the state. A very active and public-spir
ited man, he is an influence for much good in his
city, his every deed and act being guided by the
highest principles of truth, integrity and moral
ity. He is a firm believer in the political doc
trines of the Republican party, casting his vote
with that party. He is a member of the Board
of Managers of the Church Publishing Society of
the Protestant Episcopal Church.

HUGH McGUIGAN is one of the prosperous
citizens of Newburgh, where he is engaged
in the manufacture of fine office and bar fix
tures. Commencing his business career a poor
boy without means, he has risen gradually to his
present position and fortune. He is thoroughly
conscientious in conducting his affairs, and his
customers are invariably numbered among his
friends. Mr. McGuigan was born June 16, 1854, in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

533

County Antrim, Ireland, where also his father,
Robert, and his grandfather, Hugh, were born.
In early life the father was a bleacher, but later
abandoned that business in order to engage in
farming. He married Miss Bridget Mullan,
whose father was Peter Mullan. Eleven children
were included in the parental family, all of whom
grew to mature years, and three sons and two
daughters are now living, all of them, with the
exception of Lizzie, residing iu this city.
Our subject was educated in his native isle,
and in 1873 came to America on board the steam
er "Adriania." On landing in New York City
he made his way almost immediately to New
burgh, where until the fall of 1875 he was en
gaged as a carpenter. He then returned to the
Emerald Isle, but very soon went to Scotland,
and in the city of Glasgow apprenticed himself to
a ship-joiner in order to learn the business. He
proved a very apt pupil, and six months after he
entered the shop was given charge of his depart
ment. After remaining there until 1879, he went
to sea as assistant joiner on board the "Ancho-
ria." In twelve months he made nine trips
across the Atlantic, and finally landed in Florida,
where he lived until 1881, when he again came to
Newburgh, and for the following year engaged to
work for his brother-in-law, Henry Towers. Later
he was employed in Whitehill's foundry, and
a few months subsequently went to work again
for Mr. Towers. From that time on until 1883,
he worked for various parties. His marriage oc
curred that year, and he also engaged in business
for himself the same year. Three years later he
erected three stores and two residences, with fifty -
feet frontage, in one of which he runs a bar. He
has also done much contracting and building in
the city, erecting some of the best residences in
Newburgh. In 1893 Mr. McGuigan began the
manufacture of office and bar fixtures, and has a
well equipped shop in the rear of his stores. He
manufactured the fixtures used by Thomas Ryan,
John Fisher, Mr. Gregory and Peter McCoy,
those in the Howland Hotel at Fishkill, and
numerous others.
The marriage of our subject and Miss Mary
Hemmington, who was born iu County Cork, Ire

land, took place in Newburgh, November 28,
1883. To them has been granted a family of
three children, Elizabeth, Mary and Anna. They
are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church,
and Mr. McGuigan belongs to the Catholic Be
nevolent Legion, of which he is a charter mem
ber, and also to the order of Foresters, in which
body he is an official. He is now serving on the
Executive Committee of the Liquor Dealers' As
sociation, and belongs to Chapman Steamer No. 1 .
A stanch Democrat in politics, he is quite promi
nent in the councils of his chosen party.

j EWIS M. SMITH, one of the most promi-
I C nent and influential business men of New-
|_2f burgh, is a native of this state, born at Mon
ticello, Sullivan County, on the 8th of January,
1833, and is a son of J. Warren and Delia (Bene
dict) Smith. His grandfather, Nehemiah Smith,
was born in Putnam County, N. Y., and about
1793 became one of the pioneers of Sullivan
County, removing there when the only buildings
to be found were log cabins, and the settlers had
to blaze their way through the forest in order that
they might find their way home. The Smith fam
ily is an old and honored one of the Empire State,
where many of its members have become influen
tial citizens. The birth of the father of our sub
ject also occurred near Monticello, and he was
reared to agricultural pursuits, which he con
tinued to follow until 1837, when he removed to
Hudson, N. Y. In that city he engaged as a hat
ter and furrier until his death, in 1846, at the age
of forty-two years. He there served as Alder
man, and was one of the leaders of the Democratic
party. Mrs. Smith was born in Norwalk, Conn.,
in 1800, and was a daughter of Aaron Benedict,
who became a leading farmer of the town of
Thompson, Sullivan County, N. Y. She spent
her last days in the home of our subject, where
her death occurred in 1886, and her remains now
lie buried in Woodlawn Cemetery of Newburgh.
She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian

534

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Church. In the family were three children who
grew to an adult age, and our subject now has a
sister living, Julia, Mrs. Arkills, who resides near
Otisville, Orange County.
When six years of age Mr. Smith, whose name
heads this record, removed with his parents to
Hudson, where he attended the public schools and
Hudson Academy. On the death of the father
the family returned to Monticello, where our sub
ject remained until July 15, 1848, when he came
to Newburgh and found employment as a clerk
in the hardware store of James S. Brown, with
whom he remained until 1863. During this time,
however, iu 1855, he had established a sash and
blind factory and a planing-mill, which for five
years he conducted alone, when William H. Wood
was admitted to partnership, the firm becoming
L- M. Smith & Co. In 1863 they engaged in the
manufacture of box and cattle cars for the At
lantic & Great Western Railroad Company, now
the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad,
carrying on this business for three years, when
the plant was destroyed by fire. The firm then
purchased the business of James S. Brown, but
on the ist of August, 1 871, our subject sold his
interest. In 1869 Mr. Smith had purchased an interest in
the firm of Chadborn, Coldwell & Co., in the
manufacture of lawn-mowers, then in its infancy.
On the ist of January, 1870, a stock company was
organized, of which he was elected Treasurer,
which position he still retains. He became inter
ested in the Newburgh Steam Engine Works
September 1, 1870, and the firm was known as
Whitehill, Smith & Co., under which name it
continued operations for twenty years, when, in
1890, it was absorbed by a corporation known as
the Whitehill Engine and Pictet Ice Machine Com
pany, with Mr. Smith as Treasurer. The lawn-
mower business, however, has received his special
attention, and from a small beginning he has been
instrumental in making it one of the largest in
dustries of its kind in this or any other country.
On the 6th of September, 1855, Mr. Smith was
united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Martin, a
daughter of Isaac Martin, and to them six sons
have been born. Lewis M. , Jr. , is now connected

with the Chadborn & Coldwell Manufacturing
Company; Edwin T. is Secretary of the same
company; Henry M. is Vice-President ofthe Law-
son Hardware Company ; George K. , a graduate
of Colgate University, of Hamilton, N. Y., is at
home; and William L- and Nathaniel D. are also
under the parental roof.
Although a very busy man, Mr. Smith still
finds time to give attention to matters connected
with the welfare of Newburgh, and takes more
than a passing interest in the duties devolving
upon a good citizen. He was City Treasurer in
1869-70, a Commissioner of the Water Board in
1875-76, and a member of the Board of Educa
tion from 1 88 1 to 1889, for five years of which
time he served as its President. During his term
of service the new academy was erected, and he
presided both at the farewell to the old academy
and at the dedication of the new. For thirty
years Mr. Smith has been a Trustee of the First
Baptist Church of Newburgh, and also a member
of the Standing Committee. He was Superintend
ent of the Sunday-school for nineteen years; was
President of the Young Men's Christian Associ
ation in 1888 and 1890; and for a number of years
has been one of its Directors. His connection
with the fire department commenced with his
joining Washington Engine Company No. 4 in
early life, and he has been Treasurer ofthe New
burgh Fire Department Fund for twenty-two
years, which office he is still holding. He is also
President of C. M. Leonard Council, Order of
American Firemen. He was one of the incorpor
ators and has ever since been a Trustee of Wood
lawn Cemetery, and was its first Treasurer. He
is also a Director ofthe Highland National Bank,
and a Trustee of Washington's Headquarters.
On the 17th of April, 1863, Mr. Smith was made
a Master Mason in Newburgh Lodge No. 309,
F. & A. M., and is also a member of the chapter
and commandery, in all of which bodies he has
held various offices. In political opinions he sides
with the Democrats and is an important member
of that party. He has several times been Chair
man of the County Committee, and has often
been solicited to permit his name to be used for
various local offices, but with few exceptions he

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

535

has declined. By his social, genial manner Mr.
Smith wins many friends, and by all who know
him he is held in the -highest respect and confi
dence.

pQlLLIAM O. MAILLER, Vice-President of
\ A / the Quassaick National Bank, and senior
YV member of the firm of William O. Mailler
& Co., wholesale grocers, is a native of New
burgh, born May 26, 1831. The first representa
tive of the Mailler family in this country was
John Mailler, who emigrated from Scotland a few
years after the American Revolution, and after
residing for a few years in New York and West
chester County, settled permanently in the town
of Cornwall. His son Bartholomew married
Julia, daughter of Samuel Ketcham, of Cornwall,
and had one child, William Ketcham Mailler, who
was born in Cornwall on the Hudson, August 17,
1805. William K. Mailler, the father of our subject,
came to Newburgh at the age of eighteen, and
entered the employ of Francis Crawford & Co.
Soon after entering the employ of this firm he was
admitted to partnership, and from that time until
i860 was in reality the head of the firm. He was
a man of strict integrity, plain and unassuming,
liberal in his charities, kind in the discharge of
his parental duties and cheerful in the- social
circle. He married, June 1, 1830, Hannah P.,
daughter of Jacob Oakley, of Coldenham, N. Y.
Her father was born in the town of Goshen, N. Y. ,
and was of English descent, his parents, Jacob
and Susanna Oakley, emigrating from their na
tive country at an early day. Mrs. Mailler was
the eldest of a family of ten children. By her
marriage she became the mother of three chil
dren who grew to maturity: William O.; Mary
H., who married M. C. Belknapp, and is now de
ceased; and John D.
Our subject has always been a resident of his
native city, and since reaching manhood has been
an active and influential business man. In 1858
he was taken into partnership with his father in

the wholesale grocery trade, and in i860 became
the sole proprietor. In 1859 he married Antoin
ette W. Conkling, who was born in Morristown,
N. J., and they have two children. Edward, a
graduate of Newburgh Academy, who is now as
sisting his father in business here; and Mary,
now Mrs. J. S. Radway, residing at No. 129
Montgomery Street, New York City.
As has already been stated, Mr. Mailler has al
ways been a practical business man. He was in
deed reared to the business, the firm of which his
father was a member being one of the oldest and
the leading firm of Newburgh. The old firm of
Francis Crawford & Co. underwent many changes
in its organization, and from the time that Will
iam K. Mailler was admitted to partnership in
1827, there has always been a representative of
the Mailler family in it. The business had its
beginning in 1791, when Hugh Walsh purchased
the northeast corner of Water and Third Streets,
where he built a dock and storehouse for a gen
eral merchandising and freighting business. He
ran a sloop from Newburgh to New York and Al
bany, and had a large trade with the farmers of
the surrounding country. The transportation
business was conducted entirely in a sloop until
1830, when a half-interest was purchased in the
steamer "Baltimore," the first steamboat in the
Newburgh trade. In 1831 Crawford & Co. be
came sole proprietors of the boat, and continued
to run the same on the Newburgh and New York
line until 1835. 1° the mean time, in 1833, the
firm had constructed another steamer, the ' 'Wash
ington." The freighting business was continued
until 1873, when the barge "Newburgh" and a
full cargo of freight and also their storehouse,
etc. , were destroyed by fire, and the firm retired
from the freighting business. The storehouse
was immediately rebuilt, and since then the firm,
now composed of William O. and John D. Mail
ler, has been principally engaged in the whole
sale grocery trade. Their place of business is at
the foot of Third Street, where they own two
hundred and twelve feet on Front Street, and ex
tending back to the Hudson River. The build
ing is four stories in height, besides the base
ment. They have a dock in the rear, and own a

536

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

half-interest in the steamer "Emeline," which
they run as a passenger and freight boat between
Haverstraw and Newburgh.
In addition to his business as wholesale grocer,
Mr. Mailler is Vice-President of the Quassaick
National Bank, with which he has been connect
ed for many years, and of which he is now the
oldest Director. He is also a Director in the
Newburgh Savings Bank, in which capacity he
has served for many years, and is now probably
the oldest Director connected with that bank.
His father was one of the incorporators and one
of the first Directors of the Newburgh Savings
Bank, and also ofthe Quassaick National Bank.
Socially Mr. Mailler is a member of Hudson Riv
er Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M., and has ever
taken an active interest in that fraternity. He is
a charter member of the Board of Trade of New
burgh, and a stockholder in the Palatine Hotel
Company. In his younger days he was connect
ed with Lawson Hose Company No. 3, of the
Newburgh Fire Department. Politically he is a
Republican, and religiously he is connected with
the First Presbyterian Church, being one of its
Trustees and also one of its most active and
liberal members. A successful business man,
honest and upright in all his dealings, no man
in the city of Newburgh stands higher in the
estimation of its people than does the subject of
this sketch.

"S)

EHARLES E. HUGHES is a member of the
firm of Kernaghan & Hughes, who transact
the most extensive business in gravel-roof
ing in the city of Newburgh. He is one of the
native sons of Orange County, his birth having
occurred in Cornwall', April 10, 1853, and nearly
his entire life has been passed in this vicinity, in
the progress of which he takes an interested part.
When he was a lad of about twelve years he com
menced to make his own way in the world, and
has certainly succeeded to a flattering degree,
owing to his natural business talents and well di
rected energy.
The grandfather ofthe above-named gentleman,

James Hughes, operated a farm in Ulster County
for many years. His son William, father of our
subject, was born in that county, August 31,
1816. On arriving at maturity he engaged in
teaming in the village of Cornwall, and then re
moved to Craigsville. For some years prior to
his demise, which occurred April 14, 1890, when
he had passed his seventy-third birthday, he
served as Constable, having been elected on the
Republican ticket. His wife, Sarah M. Rhoads,
as she was in her girlhood, was born in Ulster
County and died in Craigsville, June 27, 1870,
when in her fifty-sixth year. Of their fourteen
children, three died in infancy, and only five sur
vive. Four sons were in the Civil War, Eli and
Cornelius being members of the One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth New York Regiment. The
former, who belonged to Company G, under com
mand of Colonel Weygant, was wounded at Chan-
cellorsville, and was captured by the enemy.
His injuries necessitated two amputations ofthe
leg below the knee, resulting in his death in
Andersonville, May n, 1862. Cornelius, also a
member of Company G, was likewise wounded
at Chancellorsville, but managed to escape capt
ure, and is now a veterinary surgeon at Port
Jervis, N. Y. James, who died in that city in
1891, enlisted for several terms of service in the
war and sustained injuries to his left arm in one
engagement. John, a resident of Terre Haute,
Ind. , served from the beginning to the end of the
war, in the Fifty-sixth New York Infantry.
C. E. Hughes was the youngest son in his fa
ther's family, and grew up in Craigsville and in
Blooming Grove. His educational advantages
were limited, as he was a mere boy when he com
menced working in a cotton factory. Afterwards
he was employed on a farm for a few years, and
then worked in the hub factory at Craigsville,
running the business for a year, when he came to
Newburgh. He was variously employed for two
or three years, and later resumed farming near
Rossville for some two years.
In 1875 Mr. Hughes married Eunice Weygant,
who was born near Rossville, and whose father,
Kelsey Weygant, was one ofthe leading farmers
of that section. Mr. Hughes continued to culti-

JOSEPH V. JORDAN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

539

vate his farm for three years, but in 1878 decided
to settle in Newburgh, where he has since made
his home. About that time he embarked in his
present business, working for others until 1891,
when he entered into partnership with H. L.
Patterson, under the firm name of Patterson &
Hughes. Two years later this connection was
dissolved by mutual consent, and the present
style is Kernaghan & Hughes. Our subject has
placed gravel roof on the well known Kilmer Wire
Works, the Higginson Plaster Works, the New
burgh Steam Mills, Taylor's Woolen-mills, the
Newburgh Electric-light and Power House, the
Adams & Bishop Paper-mill (the last four by
contract), many ofthe leading business blocks,
and nearly all of the fire companies' houses in the
city. Our subject owns two substantial residences at
Nos. 84 and 86 Carson Avenue. Socially he is a
member of Acme Lodge No. 469, I. O. O. F. ,
and has passed all the chairs in Muchattoes Tribe
of Red Men. His political affiliations are with
the Republican party. Both he and his estimable
wife are valued members of Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, and always take an active part
in religious and benevolent enterprises.

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JOSEPH V. JORDAN, one of the public-
spirited citizens of Newburgh, is connected
with many of her leading enteiprises and in
dustries and is a Director in The National Bank
of Newburgh. For a number of years he has
been engaged in the business of selling dairy
products in wholesale quantities, and commands
a larger trade than any other man in his line in
this vicinity. He has an office at No. 1 Front
Street, and for three years has had a branch office
at No. 157 Court Street, Brooklyn. He handles
the products of six or seven creameries in this
locality, besides others elsewhere.
The paternal grandfather of the above gentle
man, John Jordan, was a farmer by occupation
and died in this county when he was but thirty-

three years of age. His son, Increase Crosby,
father of J. V. Jordan, was born in Wallkill, and
resided on his father's old homestead until his
death, which occurred in 1879, he then being
about sixty-four years of age. In politics he was
a Republican, and religiously was identified with
the Reformed Dutch denomination. His wife,
who was formerly Miss Susan T. Losey, was born
in the town of Crawford, this county, and is now
living in Boston. Of her eight children all but
two survive.
J. V. Jordan, who is next to the youngest of
his father's family, was born January 6, 1856, on
the old farm in the town of Wallkill, and there
passed his boyhood. He received a good general
education, graduating from Wallkill Academy
when in his seventeenth year, after which he
attended Eastman's Business College at Pough
keepsie, from which celebrated institution he also
graduated. After teaching school for a few terms
in Hamptonburg, the young man began his
business career near Deckertown, Sussex County,
N. J., there dealing in wholesale dairy products
for two years. In 1879 he located'in* Montgom
ery, Orange County, where he engaged in the
same business until 1882, when he permanently
settled in Newburgh. For some time he was in
terested in transportation, in partnership with
Capt. Walter Brett, of Fishkill Landing, running
the steamer "James T. Brett," which made daily
trips for three years between Newburgh and
New York. Mr. Jordan ships goods extensively
over the Erie Railroad, besides shipping from
several points on the New York & New England
and the West Shore Railroads, and by the Rams-
dells' boats. Since 1892 he has been a Director
in The Newburgh National Bank, and is also a
Director of the Palatine Hotel Company. He is
a member of the Board of Trade and at present is
Chairman of" the Finance Committee. Of late
years he has been connected with the Newburgh
Electric-light Company, is a Director in the Cold-
well Lawn-mower Company, and is interested in
other enterprises. He is a Knight-Templar Ma
son and belongs to the Mecca Temple Shrine of
New York City. Politically he is a supporter of
the Republican party.

540

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1882 Mr. Jordan married, in Montgomery,
Anna D. Leeper, who was bora in Newburgh.
They have four children, namely: Edith L. , Mary
T., Henry C. and Frances, who are all at home.
The family residence is a commodious and pleas
ant one, situated 011 Grand Avenue, in the loveli
est part ofthe city. Mrs. Jordan's father, Col. Jo
seph M. Leeper, served in the Union army during
the Civil War, enlisting from Kentucky, and is
now a practicing attorney. His brother, Col.
Bartram Leeper, won his title and distinction in
the war as a member of General Grant's staff.

4-:

=+

© 6JILLIAM R. BROOKS. Within the cor-
\ A / porate limits of Washingtonville lies a fine-
V V ly improved farm of one hundred and ten
acres, devoted to general farm and dairy purposes.
A large and substantial residence adorns the
place, and there are also commodious barns and
other outbuildings for the shelter of stock and
storage of grain. Through a good system ot
fencing, the land is divided and subdivided into
fields and pastures, and the neat appearance of
the place indicates that the owner is a man of
thrift and energy.
This farm, which lies in the eastern part of the
village, has been in the possession of the Brooks
family for three generations. The father of our
subject, Fletcher Brooks, came here with his par
ents at the age of three years, and continued to
make it his home until his death, at the age of
seventy-seven. His life-long occupation was that
ofa farmer, in which, while not gaining wealth,
he was successful and accumulated a comfortable
competency. He passed his life quietly and un
eventfully, and passed from earth with a record
as a good man, a conscientious citizen and a kind
father. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah
E. Welling, and was a native of the town of War
wick; she died on the old homestead when fifty-
six years old.
In the family of Fletcher and Sarah E. Brooks
there were four children, three sons and one

daughter, namely: Thomas W., who resides with
our subject; Virginia, who married David Fitz
gerald and lives near the old homestead; Edward,
also a resident of Blooming Grove Town; and
William. The last-named was born on the place
where he now resides, the date of his birth being
August 29, 1854. Between the years of six and
fourteen he was a student in the neighboring dis
trict schools, after which for two years he was in
school at New York City, thus obtaining a fair
education. Since his return from New York he
has continued to make his home on the farm
which he now owns and operates.
Interested in local politics, Mr. Brooks gives
his allegiance to the Republican party, and at the
organization of the village he was elected one of
its Trustees, which position he now holds. In
his social relations he is connected with the Inde
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a regular
attendant at the services of the First Presbyterian
Church, of which he is a member. As a citizen
he is warmly in sympathy with all projects for
the benefit of the people or the progress of the
town and the development of its material inter
ests.

-+.->-. — ?^JsH^B®'?*1^;*  1 — "-

ROBERT S. STRONG is representative in
Newburgh of the Howard & Childs Brew
ery of New York City. He became con
nected with this company in 1883, being their
only agent here at the time, and he has suc
cessfully gained for them a large trade, not only
here, but at various points along the river, es
tablishing branches at Fishkill Landing and at
Poughkeepsie. For many years he has been an
active worker iii the Republican party. For
seven years he was Inspector of Elections, was
Chairman of the Ward Committee for several
years, and has been a delegate to county conven
tions on numerous occasions. In 1890 he was
appointed Sewer Inspector, serving as such until
the office was abolished.
Mr. Strong was born January 1, i860, and is
a son of Simon and Esther (Smith) Strong, both

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

54i

natives of Ireland. The former was born in
County Cavan and came to America in his youth,
first engaging in farming, and afterward running
a grocery at the corner of Ann and Liberty
Streets, Newburgh. He was an active member
of the Building Committee of the Church of the
Good Shepherd. The parents were married in
Newburgh, July 19, 1848, and Mrs. Strong, who
makes her home in this city, is a member of the
Episcopal Church. She, in company with seven
brothers and sisters, came to the United States
about 1842. Of her eight children, four only are
living. George W. is a grocer well known in
Newburgh; John J. is foreman in the pattern de
partment of the White Hill Engine Company;
and Maggie E. is the wife of Robert J. Hill, of
this city.
Our subject was reared in Newburgh, and at
tended the public schools until he was about fifteen
years old. His father had been engaged in the
teaming business, and the young man took charge
ofthe same until 1883. At present he has an of
fice on Front Street, at the foot of Carpenter,
and storehouse for his goods in the Ramsdell
Transportation Company Store at the foot of
Carpenter Street. The refrigerators have a ca
pacity of three carloads, the same being shipped
by rail here on a siding from the Erie Road, and
in the summer boats are used as a means of
transportation. Mr. Strong has the agency for
the whole of Orange County, and keeps three
wagons to deliver goods.
Mr. Strong is also one of the founders of Glen-
wood Park, a delightful summer resort in the
suburbs of Newburgh, and one of the most pleas
ing and picturesque spots of Orange County.
Its attractions are becoming more widely known
each year, and it is rapidly increasing in popu
larity. Families resort to it for pleasure picnics
and restful quiet. There are twenty-one acres
of woods, and a large lake is in anticipation.
Many improvements have been made in the park
and others are contemplated. The dancing pavil
ion is 80x65 feet in dimensions, with edge-grain
Georgia pine flooring, two-inch face, and a steel
roof covering over the pavilion, which is lofty
and is illuminated by electric lights, making it

the finest in this portion of the country. The
association was formed by Robert S. Strong,
Henry B. Lawson and John H. Williams, Mr.
Strong acting as President.
Since 188 1 Mr. Strong has been an active mem
ber of C. M. Leonard Council No. 11, O. A. F.,
and since 1882 he has been connected with the
Brewster Hook and Ladder Company. Socially
he is identified with the Foresters and the Benev
olent and Protective Order of Elks.

"3

^H^

u

EALEB MERRITT bears the distinction of
being one of the oldest merchants in New
burgh, and is the owner of a large establish
ment devoted to the sale of house-furnishing
goods, hot-air furnaces, etc. He was born in Marl
borough, Ulster County, this state, in 1817, and
is descended from George Merritt and Glorianna
Purdy, who came to the town of Newburgh in
1748, in company with the Purdy and Fowler
families, all of whom were related by marriage.
Thirteen children, the fruits of this marriage, ,
came with them, and their direct and collateral
descendants have been identified with the history
and development of the town and city almost from
the time of their founding. His lineal descent is
from Josiah, son of Underhill, the son of Hum
phrey, the son of George, the son of John, Sr. ,
who came from England in or about 1680, and
settled in Rye, Westchester County. The home
stead of the family at Middle Hope was purchased
by'Humphrey Merritt in 1748.
Our subject's father, Josiah Merritt, was a na
tive of Middle Hope, this county, and the grand
father, Underhill Merritt, was born in Westchester
County. After attaining mature years the latter
came to Orange County, engaging in the harness
business, which he had learned. His son, the
father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation,
and also taught school successfully for many
years. Our subject's mother, who was known former
ly as Catherine Fowler, was the daughter of Jo
seph Fowler, a farmer. To them were born ten
children, of whom three are now living. Our

542

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

subject was the eldest of the family. In 1825,
when a lad of eight years, he came to this county
and made his home with Gilbert Holmes until
attaining his fifteenth year. In 1833 he came to
Newburgh, where he apprenticed himself to Rob
ert Philps, a tinsmith, working for him for five
and a-half years before completing his apprentice
ship. He continued in Mr. Philps' employ, how
ever, until 1853, when he engaged in business
for himself in this city, where for a period of over
forty years he has continued without interruption.
His building is 27x85 feet in dimensions and is
located on Water Street. He does a general job
bing business in tin and sheet-iron roofing, and
carries a complete line of ranges, furnaces, etc. ,
besides a good stock of household goods. As a
business man he is shrewd and far-seeing, and by
conducting his affairs in an honest and straight
forward manner, has met with success in all his
undertakings. His residence is located at No. 12
Montgomery Street, where he has made his home
for some forty years.
Mr. Merritt was married in Newburgh, July
14, 1845, to Miss Elsie, daughter of John Bolton,
a farmer of this locality. She departed this life
in 1875, leaving two children: Frances, at home;
and Charles, engaged in business with his father.
In politics our subject is a stanch supporter of
Republican principles, and during the war be
longed to the Union League.

GlDRIAN KISSAM, Supervisor from the
ll Fourth Ward of Newburgh, is a native of
/ | this city, his birth occurring November 27,
1847, an(l ne is a son °f Richard V. and Maria E.
(Latourette) Kissam, the former a native of New
York City. The latter was a native of Jersey
City, but was of French-Huguenot descent, and
her grandfather Latourette was captain of a mer
chant vessel during the Revolutionary War. She
died in 1890, when past eighty years of age.
Richard V. Kissam, the father, was of the old
Knickerbocker stock, and the family was one of
considerable wealth. The father, who was a
graduate of Yale College, about 1835 located in

Newburgh, where he bought a tract of land
northwest ofthe city, consisting of fifty acres, all
of which now lies within the city limits. He lived
on this homestead until his death in 1869, being
then past seventy years of age. Religiously he
was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church,
and politically he was a stanch Democrat. His
father was in the War of 1812. In the family of
Richard V. and Maria E. Kissam were fourteen
children, seven of whom grew to maturity, but
only two are now living, our subject, and Anna,
now Mrs. Blake, of this city.
Adrian Kissam grew to manhood in his native
city and received his education in private schools.
When but sixteen years of age he began travel
ing over the United States.. He first went to
California, by way of Mexico and Cape Horn,
the journey, which lasted three months, being
made in the steamers "Sacramento" and "Moses
Taylor." For several years he spent the time on
the plains and on the Pacific Coast; in fact, he
traveled extensively all over the West, and after
his father's death returned home by way of Pan
ama to New York City. He took charge of his
father's estate, settled it up, and ever since has
continued to make Newburgh his home. He
has a place adjoining the old homestead compris
ing thirty-three acres and lying within the city
limits, the family residence being located on
Pierce Road.
In 1892 Mr. Kissam engaged in the livery bus
iness, purchasing the old Orange Hotel Stable,
which was the oldest in the city, located on Third
Street. In this business he has been eminently
successful and is popular with all who have busi
ness with him in that line. Being an old settler
himself, he is well acquainted with every one in
all the region roundabout, and as a proof of his
popularity it may be stated that in 1893 he was
elected Supervisor from the Fourth Ward on the
Democratic ticket, being the only one elected on
that ticket. He was re-elected in 1894 without
opposition, his name appearing on both tickets.
He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks, of which he is a Director; a member
of Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M.; the
Newburgh Gun and Rifle Association, of which

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

543

he is a Director; and of the Orange Lake Club.
He is a good shot, and stands at the head of the
local rifle team. For fourteen years Mr. Kissam
was connected with the New York Militia, as a
member of the Nineteenth Regiment, and later of
the Seventeenth. He has beeu a member ofthe
fire department of Newburgh from a youth, and
has been very active in all matters pertaining to
its welfare. Politically, as might be inferred, he
is a Democrat.
Mr. Kissam and Miss Mary Donahue, a daugh
ter of Patrick Donahue, were united in marriage
in Newburgh, of which city she is a native.
They have five children, Adrian, Jr., Richard V.,
Maria E., Benjamin and Charles.

Z:^^t&iMSi'^' "'^Slfllfik^feso"" " —

gEORGE W HARRIS, a hero of the Mexi
can and Civil Wars, is one of the old and
honored residents of Newburgh, and few
have fought more bravely and valiantly in de
fense of the rights of their native land. He is
now retired from business, his poor health being
due to the various wounds, privations and dis
comforts of his army life. In 1887 he was ap
pointed superintendent of the old building known
as Washington' s Headquarters, a distinction which
he well merited, but at the end of fourteen months
he was obliged to hand in his resignation to the
Trustees. He is a member of the Mexican Vet
erans' Legion of Honor, and belongs to Emslie
Post No. 546, G. A. R., of Cornwall.
John Harris, father of the above gentleman,
was born in Upper Newbury Parish, Kirkpatrick,
Dumfriess-shire, Scotland, July 24, 1786, and aft
er bis marriage emigrated to America, settling at
Matteawan, N. Y. Later he moved to Walden,
and finally to New York City, in all of which
places he was employed as a machinist. His
death occurred iu January, 1857. His first wife
was Miss Hannah Boyd, and his second compan
ion was Miss Catherine Cooley, who was born
near Elrhira, N. Y., and was a direct descendant
of Henry Hudson. Mrs. Harris died July 6,
1872, leaving two sons and three daughters, three

of whom survive. By the first marriage there
were five children, but three are deceased.
George W. Harris was born in Walden, this
county, July 27, 1831, and was reared there and
in Newburgh and Cornwall. October 6, 1846,
he enlisted in the United States ami)- for the
Mexican service, and after being drilled at Gov
ernor's Island was assigned to Company C
Eighth United States Infantry, and sent to Mex
ico. Under General Scott he participated in the
battles of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo and Chapul te
pee, at the latter engagement being wounded by
a sabre cut while scaling the walls. Nevertheless
he continued and helped capture the city of Mex
ico. Going to Missouri, he was mustered out at
Jefferson Barracks in 1848, and three days after
reaching home entered the United States navy.
Then for more than four years he was on the
high seas, on the United States sloop of war ' 'St.
Mary' s. " He went on a voyage around Cape Horn
and was afterward stationed along the Pacific
Coast and at the Sandwich Islands. At length
he returned home in the frigate "Wavash," this
time crossing the Isthmus of Panama, and was
mustered out in the Brooklyn Navyyard. How
ever, he re-enlisted a short time afterward on the
frigate "Cumberland," which coasted in Atlantic
waters. Iu 1857 Mr. Harris was married, in Vail Gate,
to Abigail Brooks, who was born November 3,
1835, in Rockland County, N. Y. Her parents,
William and Mary A. Brooks, were early settlers
of Moodna. The former was a blacksmith by
trade, and a thorough machinist. Mr. and Mrs.
Harris became the parents of eight children, of
whom Capitola and Mary I. are deceased. Nor
man C. is an engineer in the electric works; War
ren is an employe ofthe Wilcox Foundry; Cath
erine M. is at home; George W., Jr. , is a machin
ist; William L- is a wireman of this city; and
John I. is in the employ of Alexander Goldberg.
When the War of the Rebellion came on, Mr.
Harris felt it his duty and privilege to take up
arms in defense of the Stars and Stripes, and as
sisted in raising forty-two men for Company I, of
the Fifth New York Cavalry. They were mus
tered in at New York City, Mr. Harris refusing a

544

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

commission and becoming Orderly-Sergeant. He
was in the following engagements: Port Repub
lic, Harrisonburg, first and second battles of Win
chester, first and second battles of Woodstock,
Middletown, Harper's Ferry, Charleston, Cul-
peper Courthouse, Rapidan Station, Orange
Courthouse, Cedar Mountain, Kelley's Ford, sec
ond battle of Bull Run, Chantilly, Thoroughfare
Gap, Hampton Crossroads, Hanover Courthouse,
Cedar Creek, and many others. After the second
battle of Bull Run he was detailed as Heintzel-
man's escort, continuing with him for a little over
a year at Warrenton Junction. He was then for
four months in the Eighth New York Cavalry,
after which he was in Company C, of the same
service, and took part in the engagements in
front of Petersburg. Though he was often urged
to accept a commission, he persevered in his re
fusal, though he drilled the Third Battalion. He
was never wounded, but was ill on several occa
sions, and in 1862, at Winchester, was severely
injured, his horse falling upon him. He was
mustered out June 27, 1865, and was paid off at
Rochester, N. Y. Altogether his service in the
United States army and navy covered a period of
seventeen years and four months. He decided to
make Newburgh his permanent home, and be
came a stationary engineer. Since he cast his
first Presidential vote, he has been firm in his
allegiance to the Democratic party. He has a
medal presented him by the Government, with
the Legion of Honor of the Mexican Veterans;
he also has one presented by the Regimental As
sociation of the Fifth Cavalry.

T>>>>>l" »*¦

'f * ' m * » ¦«..

EHARLES F ALLAN, M. D. S., is one of
the most successful men iu his profession in
Newburgh, and enjoys the finest line of cus
tom. His office is centrally located, being at the
corner of Montgomery and Second Streets. He
endeavors to keep posted on everything related to
his chosen work, and is a member of the Odon-
tological Society of New York City, ofthe Second
District Dental Society, and the American Dental
Association.

The birth of Dr. Allan occurred November 2 ,
1844, in the beautiful city of Cleveland, Ohio,
where his boyhood was pleasantly passed. After
leaving the grammar school he became a student
in the Central High School, from which he was
duly graduated. In 1862 he volunteered his
services in defense of his country, becoming a
member of Company H, Eighty-third Ohio In
fantry. After being mustered in at Camp Denni-
son he was sent to the front, being placed in the
Army of the Tennessee. He was actively en
gaged in the manoeuvres around Vicksburg, par
ticipating in the battles of Arkansas Post, Port
Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills and
Black River. He was Orderly-Sergeant in the
assault 011 Vicksburg, which city he entered July
4, 1863. On account of illness he was confined
to the hospital for about eight months at Benton
Barracks, and was then assigned to special duty
in St. Louis, being thus employed until he was
mustered out in the summer of 1865.
That same year Dr. Allan came to Newburgh
and began the study of dentistry under Dr. George
S. Allan, now a practitioner of New York City.
Young Allan was engaged in practice with his pre
ceptor until the senior Dr. Allan left Newburgh,
since which time he has conducted an office alone
with the best of success.
The home of Dr. Allan at the corner of Clinton
and Montgomery Streets is presided over by his
wife, who was formerly Miss Mary Crawford Mc-
Camly. Their marriage took place in April,
1 88 1, and one child, Frances, has come to bright
en their home. Mrs. Allan, who was born and
grew to womanhood in Newburgh, is a grand
daughter of the old pioneer, David Crawford, a
participant in the War of 18 12, and several of
whose relatives fought in the struggle for Colo
nial independence. Mrs. Allan is much interested
in all charitable works, being especially occupied
with the work of the Newburgh Home for the
Friendless, of which she has been First Directress
for several years. She is also a member of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, and is the
present Regent of Quassaick Chapter.
In matters of national importance, Dr. Allan
is always to be found on the side of the Demo-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

545

cratic party, though he is not a politician in the
general acceptance of the term. He was former
ly an active and is now an honorary member of
Lawson Hose Company No. 5. Religiously he
is an Episcopalian and is now a Vestryman of St.
Paul's Church.

@T. PATRICK'S CHURCH was established
?\ in Newburgh in 1838, with Rev. Patrick
yy Duffy as the first permanent pastor. The
following year the erection of the church was
commenced, but it was not completed until 1849,
when it was formally dedicated by Bishop Hughes.
In 1850 a school was begun in the basement, and
the following year Rev. Edward J. O'Reilly be
came pastor, remaining until 1867, when he was
succeeded by Rev. Edward S. Briady, who en
larged the parochial residence which Father
O'Reilly had built. In July, 1879, Very Rev.
Dean Mooney was appointed pastor, and during
his stay made many improvements in the church
edifice and other property belonging to the church.
In March, 1890, Father Penny was appointed
to the irremovable rectorship of St. Patrick's
Church, to succeed Father Mooney, who then
took charge of the Sacred Heart Church of New
York. In 1893 he built Columbus Hall at a cost
of $25,000, which has a seating capacity of over
twelve hundred people, and is used by the so
cieties of the church.
At present St. Patrick's congregation numbers
about three thousand and five souls, and Father
Penny, with two assistants, ministers to its spirit
ual wants. There are seven hundred and seven
ty-five pupils in the schools, the male and female
departments being entirely distinct; they occupy
separate buildings, each having its own teachers,
and both are sub-divided into academic, inter
mediate and primary departments, while prepa
ratory to each is a kindergarten school. The
boys' school is known as St. Patrick's Institute,
presided over by four brothers and three lady
teachers, and the girls' school, known as St.
Patrick's Parochial School, is presided over by

six sisters of charity, one other lady teacher, and
the teacher of vocal and instrumental music,
making fifteen in all.
The congregation is organized into various so
cieties adapted to the particular needs and bene
fits of its several ages and classes: the Society of
the Holy Name for men, having a membership
of two hundred; the Lyceum for young men,
having sixty-five; a Sodality of the Blessed Vir
gin for the larger boys; a Confraternity of the
Sacred Heart for the younger ones; an Associa
tion of the Children of Mary for young ladies;
and a society of Holy Angels and a society of the
Sacred Infancy for those who are still in school.
There are besides organizations for the Holy
Rosary and Sacred Heart for all indiscriminately,
having large memberships, as well as a mutual
benefit organization under the charter of the
Catholic Benevolent Legion. In all of these or
ganizations Father Penny is the general director.
In July, 1890, Father Penny was appointed
Dean of Orange and Rockland Counties by Arch
bishop Corrigan., and has acquired a strong hold
on the affections of his people. He has reduced
the debt on the property $4,000 since his arrival
in Newburgh; has added music, drawing, Latin,
shorthand and type- writing to the school course;
and has in other ways greatly strengthened the
church. He is an able pulpit orator, a popular
platform speaker, and has done a large amount
of work as a lecturer since he has been a priest,
organized many societies, and exercised special
care in school matters.

GflBRAHAM LINCOLN MILLIKEN, engi
rt neer on the West Shore Railroad at New-
J| burgh, was born in Sharpsville, Mercer Coun
ty, Pa., in August, 1864, and is a son of John and
Caroline (Hewett) Milliken, the former a native
of Ireland, and the latter of Huntingdon County,
Pa. The father came to America when a boy,
locating in Mercer County, where he engaged in
farming, and where his death also occurred. The
mother yet resides in Sharpsville. They were
the parents of six children, two sons and four

546

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughters. One son, George G., has for years
been a conductor on the Valley Railroad, and re
sides in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Milliken, of this sketch, the third in the
parental family, grew to manhood in Sharpsville,
and there received his education in the public
schools. From the time he was a mere boy he
has earned his own livelihood, and iu March, 1881,
when but seventeen years of age, he entered the
employ of the Erie & Pittsburg Railroad as
brakeman, running between Sharpsville and Erie.
On the 15th of December, 1884, he came to the
West Shore Railroad as brakeman, his run being
between Cornwall and Ravena. On the 3d of
April, 1885, he began service as fireman on a
freight between Ravena and Weehawken, N. J.,
and continued to hold that position on freight and
passenger trains until 1889, when he was made
an engineer and given a run on a freight train
on the same line. He continued on that run un
til September, 1893, when he was appointed en
gineer in the Newburgh yards, and was also given
charge of the local Sunday passenger train to and
from Weehawken, N. J.
While still residing in Sharpsville, Mr. Milli
ken was united in marriage with Miss Edith Mc-
Mullen, a native of that city. Four children have
been born unto them: Ida, Grace, Irene and Hel
en. Mr. Milliken is a member ofthe Knights of
Pythias, the Royal Arcanum, and of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, his membership
in the last order being in Division No. 235, of
Union Hill, N. J. Politically he is a Republican.

-**="*.

~s

^H^

["•"a

f^JEORGE W. KENT, one of the influential
I— and enterprising business men of Cornwall
\Ji on the Hudson, has been for about five years
proprietor of the best livery stable in the place,
prior to which time he owned the Brookside
Stables. An industrious, self-respecting and self-
made man in a business sense, he well deserves
the prosperity he now enjoys.'
Thomas Kent, the father of our subject, was
formerly one of the substantial and well-to-do
agriculturists of this county, and for some time

prior to his decease, which occurred at the age of
sixty-six years, he was a resident of Montgom
ery. He married Miss Juliet Warren, who at
that time was eighteen years of age. She be
came .the mother of twelve sons and daughters,
and died at the age of forty-seven. Of her chil
dren, Caroline Augusta is now the wife of Otis
B. Cobleigh, of New York; Celia is deceased;
George W. was the third- born; Henry is de
ceased, as is also Granville; James C. is a farmer
near Montgomery; Juliet is living on the farm
with her brother; Sarah is deceased; Mary is the
wife of Charles E. Heil, of Montgomery; Thomas
is in Cornwall, in the employ of James Stillman;
Henry is deceased; and the twelfth child died in
infancy. The birth of our subject occurred in this coun
ty, May 26, 1843, on his father's farm, and he
was trained to a full knowledge of agriculture.
His education was very limited, as his services
were needed at home when he was of sufficient
age to be useful. He remained under the par
ental roof until twenty years of age, when he
went to New York City and found work in a gro
cery store, and also acted for some time as bar
tender, subsequently going into the wholesale
and retail liquor business for himself. A few
years thereafter he returned to the farm, and for
six years gave his undivided attention to its cul
tivation, having during this time a great deal of
livestock. At the end of that time he moved into
this city, where he was soon given a goodly por
tion of the patronage of its residents.
Miss Louisa A. Heil, to whom our subject
was united in marriage in 1870, was the daugh
ter of Frederick and Margaret Heil, and departed
this life February 17, 1891. The seven children
of whom she became the mother were, respect
ively: Charles E., engaged in railroading; Au
gusta, deceased; Arthur, living at Eeekskill; Ce
lia, Elmer, Cora and Irvington, at home. Mr.
Kent was afterward married to Miss Edith L.
Wiley, and to them has been granted a son,
James C.
Our subject is a very accommodating gentle
man, reasonable in his prices and honorable and
upright in all his dealings. He is a devoted

CAPT. J. ALFRED WALKER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

549

member of the Presbyterian Church, and has
many warm friends among his neighbors and
acquaintances. Politically he is a Republican,
and socially is a Knight of Pythias, also belong
ing to the Cromwell Guards.

QAPT. J. ALFRED WALKER, who for a
ll long time has been a pilot and captain on
U the Hudson River, has also gone on many
voyages on the Gulf of Mexico and the Missis
sippi and Red Rivers. In manner he is as good-
natured aud jolly as the proverbial sea-captain,
and is withal as intelligent and well read as the
heroes of our youthful dreams. For the past
four years he has been captain of the tug ' 'R. G.
Davis," and owns her in partnership with J. H.
Horton. He has run back and forth on the Hud
son River ever since 1873, and is well known in
all the towns along the line, where his cheery face
is a welcome sight.
The Captain was born at Coxsackie, Greene
County, N. Y., July 1, 1847, and is a son of
John and Mary (Kennedy) Walker. The great
grandfather, Ephraim Walker, was of the old
Plymouth Rock stock, and lost his life in the bat
tle of Bunker Hill. His name was inscribed on
the monument at that place as one of the heroes
of the celebrated engagement. John Walker was
born in the Green Mountains, and in early life
followed agricultural pursuits. After locating in
Coxsackie, N. Y. , he operated a brick manufac
tory, superintending every detail of the business.
His death occurred when he was in his seventy-
fourth year. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of
Duncan Kennedy, who was born in Scotland, and
who came to America when a mere youth, set
tling near Coxsackie. He married Miss Lampman,
whose ancestors had emigrated from Holland.
Mrs. Walker is still living on the old homestead,
being now in her seventy-fifth year, and seven of
her three sons and five daughters who grew to ma
turity are still living. One son, Capt. William,
has been with the Schuyler towboat line since 1862

and is now captain on the steam tow "America."
Another son, George, is pilot on the Starin Hue
of boats running between New York and New
Haven. After receiving a good common-school educa
tion Captain Walker entered the employ of the
Schuyler towboat line in 1865, on the "Baltic," of
which his brother William was then a pilot. For
two years he served in the capacity ofa deck hand,
running between Albany and Rondout, but in
1867 was promoted to be watchman on the "Eras-
tus Corning, ' ' a freight boat plying between Al
bany and New York. Later he became foreman
on the steam tow "Anna," which was used to
tow freight barges between Coxsackie and the
metropolis. Subsequently he occupied a similar
position on the steamer "Eagle," the trip being
from Newburgh to Albany, and at the end of two
years was made fireman on the "Fanny Garner,"
a steam ferry running between Newburgh and
Dutchess Junction. At the end of a year he was
licensed as chief engineer.
In 1872 Captain Walker commenced sailing on
the Mississippi River, as chief engineer of the
steam tug "Protection," which was engaged in
a live-oak trade, and stopped at various points
between Memphis and New Orleans. For nine
months he was in the swamp region to a greater
or less extent, and was taken with the malarial
fever common there. He returned home, and
after recuperating accepted a position as chief en
gineer ofthe tug "Samuel Rutan," of New York
City. When he was again well and strong, he
went back to New Orleans, and resumed his
former position. From time to time he made
expeditions up the Mississippi and Red Rivers,
and on one occasion, at Duval's Bluff, picked up
a raft of logs, which were strewu along about four
hundred miles, and after getting them all to
gether left them at the mouth of the White
River, whither he returned the following spring.
He then chartered the towboat "Charles L-
Mather, ' ' which he ran on the Hudson for about
twelve months, and in 1875 ran as chief engineer
on the "Medina," for Coleman, Field & Horton.
Ultimately he became captain of the tug, which
he operated from 1875 until 1891, inclusive. In

23

550

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the year last mentioned he [entered intoj>artner-
ship with one ofthe members of the old firm, and
had the "R. G. Davis" built at Athens, N. Y.
He has since been captain and part owner of the
same, though Mr. Field has sold out his interest
to J. H. Horton. The tug runs by steam, has a
keel of fifty-five feet, is fifteen feet wide, and has
a cylinder of fourteen square inches. It runs in
the vicinity of Newburgh Bay, sometimes going
to Albany and New York City. The Captain
attends to all repairs on the engine and machinery
and keeps a constant watch over the management
of the boat. Owing to his extreme carefulness,
he has been very fortunate in never losing the
lives of passengers or crew. He owns a master's
license, one as chief engineer, and one as a first-
class pilot.
In 1870 Captain Walker and Anna Van Hagen
were married in this city. She was born in Stock
port, Columbia County, and" is a daughter of
Joachim Van Hagen. He was likewise a native
of Columbia County, and was an architect by
profession. Both he and his wife, who was for
merly Miss Maria Burhyte, a descendant of an old
Puritan family, died in this city. Of the six
children born to the Captain and wife, but two
are living, namely: Alfred, who is business with
his father; and Edna, who is at home. The Cap
tain and his family are members of the Dutch Re
formed Church. Fraternally he belongs to the
Knights of Honor, and politically he is a Repub
lican.
'~gg --¦ - -^= g;...
(TAMES L. TELLER, one ofthe leading busi-
I ness men of Newburgh, is Secretary and
Q) Treasurer of the Fishkill Landing Machine
Company, which was organized in 1853, and with
which he has been connected as a stockholder and
as Secretary for the past twenty-six years. Both
he and his estimable wife are very popular, and
take an active part in church and musical circles.
For some years he was organist at St. Paul's
Church; then for a short time held a like position
at St. George's, later at the Reformed Church at
Fishkill Landing, and for twenty-three years was
connected with the choir of the Union Presbyte

rian Church. For three years he was organist,
and for two decades he has been choir-master.
His wife is also connected with the choir, having
been an alto singer in the same for more than a
quarter of a century. Several times he has been
President and Secretary of the Orange County
Musical Association, serving in the same capaci
ties with the Newburgh Choral Society, and has
been a member of the Newburgh Musical Insti
tute, the Concordia and the Church Music Asso
ciations. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Jacobus
Teller, was of French and Holland-Dutch extrac
tion, and followed milling at Glenham, Dutchess
County, N. Y. Capt. Charles W., father of
J. L. Teller, was born in Glenham, and followed
the business of a merchant tailor in his native
town, at Fishkill Landing and in New York City.
Later he turned his attention toward daguerro-
typiug, locating in Newburgh in 1848, where he
conducted a photograph gallery until about 1875.
His death occurred November 1, 1886, at the ripe
old age of eighty-four years. In former years he
was au ally of the Democracy, but transferred his
allegiance to the Republican party on its organi
zation. While a resident of New York City he
belonged to the militia and was Captain of the
first company of the Twenty-seventh (now the
Seventh) State Militia, acting with the regiment
in suppressing several riots which occurred in the
metropolis. Afterward he joined the Veteran
Association of the Seventh Regiment, Uniformed
Battalion. He was a member of the Episcopal
Church, and upon his decease was placed to rest
in Rural Cemetery at Fishkill. His wife, Caro
line Matilda Thompson, as she was in her girl
hood, was born in Bennington, Vt., and died in
August, 1876, in her seventy-third year.
James L. Teller was born in New York City,
February 5, 1839, and was the only child in his
parents' family who grew to maturity. His edu
cation was obtained in the common schools, sup
plemented by a course at the old Newburgh Free
Academy. In 1855 he entered the employ of
Stephen Hayt & Co. , dry-goods merchants, near
the corner of Water and Third Streets. A year
later they moved to No. 66 Water Street, Mr.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

55i

Teller continuing to act as salesman and book
keeper until 1865. At that time he took a posi
tion as a bookkeeper with the Washington Iron
Works, and later was for two years and a-half
cashier ofthe same. In 1868 he was offered a po
sition as bookkeeper and manager of David N.
Selleg's furniture establishment on Water Street,
remaining there for seventeen months. Since
then he has been connected with the Fishkill
Landing Machine Company, the President being
Robert J. Halgin and the Vice-President William
F. Sage. This concern has a world-wide reputa
tion, their machines being sent to all parts of this
•and other countries. They manufacture Corliss
steam engines of from twenty-five to one thousand
horse-power, and a general line of machinery be
sides. In the immense works, which have a river
frontage of six hundred feet and comprise a num
ber of buildings, one hundred and fifty hands are
constantly employed.
May 10, 1870, Mr. Teller and Anna Scott were
united in marriage. She is a daughter of William
Scott, who was born in Little Britain, Orange
County, October 8, 1788, and granddaughter of
David Scott, a native of Dundee, Scotland. The
latter after his marriage came to America, locat
ing near ex-Governor Clinton's home in New
Windsor, this state. His wife, Margaret Couper,
of Scotland, was a descendant ofthe royal line of
Stuarts, that being her mother's maiden name.
William Scott participated in the War of 18 12,
being on duty at Staten Island. He was reared
on a farm, and when about nine years of age com
menced learning the cabinet-maker's and under
taker's business with Hugh Speir in this city,
later becoming proprietor of the establishment.
He conducted business on Colden Street from
185 1 until he retired on account of ill-health, his
death occurring in 1863. In politics he was an
old-line Whig, and was Superintendent of the
Poor for several years. In St. George's Episco
pal Church he was very prominent, being a Ves
tryman and Warden, and having served on the
Building Committee. His first marriage was
with Sarah Speir, who was born February 8,
1789, in the province of Nova Scotia, her parents
being John and Ann Speir. Both she and her two

children are deceased, the daughter, Margaret,
dying in girlhood, and Francis in 1883. Francis
Scott was Cashier ofthe old Newburgh Bank, and
for thirty-eight years was head bookkeeper in The
National Bank of Newburgh. For many years
he was City Collector, and for some time was
City Treasurer. He was also a Vestryman of
St. George's Church for a long term of years.
The second wife of William Scott was Catherine,
the third daughter of Joseph H. Hoffman. She
was reared in this city and died in 1884, when
over eighty-two years of age. She became the
mother of nine children, five of whom lived to
manhood and womanhood. Of these, Maria Jane
is the widow of Calvin Sloat, and resides in New
burgh. Harriet L-, Cornelia E. and Sarah E.
also live in this city. William Scott was County
Coroner for many years and was foreman in the
first hose company in Newburgh.
Mrs. Teller was born in Newburgh and re
ceived her higher education at the old academy.
Her two children, Anna and Caroline, also grad
uated from the academy. Mr. Teller was for
merly a member ofthe old Union League and was
Secretary of the same. He is a supporter of the
Republican party and is a true and patriotic citi
zen. For years he has been one of the sustaining
members of the Young Men's Christian Associa
tion, and in early manhood was active in Sunday-
school work. He and his estimable wife are
members of St. George's Episcopal Church. We
have previously referred to the interest he has al
ways taken in musical organizations, but perhaps
it is not generally known that he is a composer of-
no small merit, some of his pieces having been
published and highly commended by good judges.

WILLIAM WARD, Clerk of Cadet Records
at West Point, is probably the oldest official
connected with that department. He is of a
modest and retiring disposition, but his infltfence
in matters relating to the department over which
he presides in the military academy is univer
sally recognized. Mr. Ward was born at West
Point, April 19, 1829.

552

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The father of our subject, Bryan Ward, was a
native of Ireland, and on coming to America en
gaged in clerical work' in New York City. On
account of failing health, however, he removed
to West Point, becoming clerk in the hotel here,
and later was made Adjutant's clerk in this place,
holding the position for a period of fifteen years.
He died in 1851. His wife, prior to her mar
riage, was Phebe Gee, a native of New York,
and she became the mother of three children.
Thomas, one of her sons, was graduated from
West Point in 1863, and is now Assistant Adju
tant-General ofthe United States Army, with the
rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, being stationed at
Denver, Colo.
Our subject received his education in the pri
vate schools of his native place, as there were no
public schools there at that time. On the death
of his father he was sufficiently qualified to fill
the office he had vacated, and so well and faith
fully has he performed every duty devolving upon
him that he has been retained ever since. He is
now Clerk of Cadet Records, both military and
academic. At the time he assumed the responsi
bilities of this office he was able to carry on the
work alone, but of late years the academy has
increased in size, so that now it takes four or five
men to look after the records, Mr. Ward being at
the head of his department.
Mr. Ward was appointed Notary Public by
Governor Hoffman, February 10, 1869, and each
two years, as his term expires, he is re-appointed,
and has now been the incumbent of the office for
over a quarter of a century. He is, therefore,
one of the oldest notaries in the state, and on him
devolves the duty of "swearing in" all the cadets.
The lady to whom our subject was married at
Cold Spring, in 1855, was Miss Margaret A. De-
laney. The children born to them were, respect
ively, William D., who is married and engaged
in clerical work in New York City with Cooper,
Hewitt & Co.; John B., who is married and also
resides in the metropolis, where he is connected
with the New York Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany as a clerk; Kate, now Mrs. F. P. Connely,
of Brooklyn; and Eva M., Violet L. and Jennie
M., at home. For sixty-six years our subject

has been identified with the history of this vicin
ity, and he is highly regarded by the people of the
community, among whom he has passed his en
tire life.
 0#P  ' .
¦JjEORGE H. HUNTER, junior member of
— the firm of H. R. & G. H. Hunter, proprie-
>_>| tors of a fine meat-market in Cornwall, has
been a partner in this business for the past three
years. Although very young in years, he pos
sesses those qualifications necessary for a success
ful and prosperous business career and is bound
to make his mark in life.
Henry R. Hunter, the father of our subject, is
the other member of the firm, and has been en
gaged in the meat business for a period of thirty-
three years. He was reared in this town, and
is therefore widely and favorably known. Be
sides his market interests he also conducts a well
cultivated farm, from which he reaps a fine in
come, but devotes considerable time to his other
lines, finding it to be a more profitable business
than giving his exclusive attention to farm work.
On the paternal side our subject is of English
descent, while his mother's family were natives of
Germany. His paternal great-grandfather came
to America many years ago and was the first of
the family to locate in the New World. Our sub
ject's mother, formerly Hannah Smith Barton,
was a native of Cornwall. She became the
mother of seven children, of whom Charles is liv
ing in Poughkeepsie and is designer for a wall
paper firm. Emma is deceased. Annie married
H. Taylor, a machinist of Cornwall. James and
Susie are deceased. George H. was the sixth-
born; and Edward, the youngest of the house
hold, is at home.
The subject of this sketch was born at Corn
wall May 19, 1872, and has always made this
place his home. When young he made good use
of the advantages given him for attending school.
When a lad of fourteen years, however, he com
menced working in his father's market, remaining
in his employ until about three years ago, when
he was taken into the business as a partner.
March 22, 1894, Mr. Hunter, of this sketch,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

553

was married to Miss Jennie C, daughter of Har
mon J. and Alice Lasher. She was born in
Dutchess County in 1873, and has one daughter,
named Mildred Hannah, who was born February
24, 1895. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hunter move in
the best circles of society in this place, and as
they intend to make it their permanent home
contemplate the erection of a beautiful residence
in- the near future.
Politically our subject is a Prohibitionist, which
is also the political faith of his father. They are
both honest in their convictions and much prefer
to be on the side of the right, even though it is at
present the weakest party. Religiously the fam
ily belongs to the Society of Friends.

|~~ RANK J. BRADLEY, wholesale and retail
Yy dealer in carriages, wagons, sleighs, har-
| ness, etc., in Newburgh, has a fine carriage
repository, the largest in the city, and does an
extensive business. In January, 1847, he was
born in Somers, Conn. , his parents, being John
and Laura (Woodruff) Bradley, the former a na
tive of Stafford, and the latter of Hartford, Conn.
The Bradley family is an old one, having been
founded in America by two brothers at an early
day. The father of our subject, who was an agri
culturist, was a Trustee in the Methodist Episco
pal Church for many years, and in politics first
supported the Whig party, but later became a
Republican. His death occurred at the age of
sixty-five years, and his wife departed this life at
the age of seventy-six. They were the parents
of nine children, all of whom grew to manhood
and womanhood. The family was well repre
sented in the Union army during the Civil War,
and one son, Henry, served all through that ter
rible struggle. He never fully recovered from
the wounds he received, and his death occurred
in Connecticut in the year 1892. Samuel, a resi
dent of Westfield, Mass., belonged to a Connecti
cut regiment for nine months, and a son-in-law
was also in the service for the same length of
time. Frank J. Bradley was reared in the usual man

ner of farmer lads, receiving his education in the
common schools and assisting in the labors of
the fields until eighteen years of age. In 1865
he came to Newburgh, in the employ of his
brother, George W. Bradley, a wholesale dealer
in notions and fancy goods, and traveled for him
for three years, being paid $150 per year. He
then secured a wagon of his own and for five
years traveled over the same route, during which
time he saved $800. He then purchased the
Westchester County route and outfit, and for
seventeen years and a-half made the same trips,
every six weeks doubling his route, but always
returning to his home in Newburgh every Satur
day night. Some of the experiences he encoun
tered during this time would make an interesting
story. For two years he then traveled through
Orange County, after which he gave up that
business. In 1884 Mr. Bradley started in his present line
of trade, which he has since successfully con
ducted. He bought out the Benjamin Conkling
business, carrying it on for one ye"ar at the old
stand, where it was first started by Col. Isaac
Wood as an old-time auction mart. He carries
a full and complete line of Columbus (Ohio) and
Babcock carriages, sleighs, harness and harness
supplies, bob sleds and wagons of all kinds,
which he obtains in carload lots. He also manu
factures harness, and to some extent used to man
ufacture wagons, but this he has given up. At
the Orange County Fair, held in Newburgh in
1894, he received twelve first premiums, having
the finest display of the kind given. His reposi
tory is located at the corner of Fourth and Front
Streets, is 80x60 feet, and three stories in height,
the lower floor being used for wagons, the sec
ond for carriages and sleighs, and the upper floor
contains the paint shop.
In Newburgh Mr. Bradley was united in mar
riage with Miss Marguerite Covert, a native of that
city and a daughter of Jacob Covert, a farmer
and brick manufacturer. To them were born
three children. Willie and Wilbur died in in
fancy; and Delia May died at the age of eight
years. Mr. Bradley has the reputation of being
a straightforward and reliable business man, and

554

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

is devoted to the best interests ofthe community.
He is a faithful worker in Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, which for a number of years
he served as Steward. Later he was made Class-
Leader, which position he fills very acceptably
at the present time. On account of his strong
temperance sentiment, he votes with the Prohibi
tion party, by which he was nominated for the
office of Mayor of Newburgh in 1894. He has
been a delegate to the senatorial and state con
ventions of his party, and in 1884 was sent to the
National Convention at Syracuse, N. Y. His
pleasant residence is at No.. 203 Liberty Street.

QROF. CHARLES E. MOSCOW, one of the
yr highly esteemed citizens of Newburgh, has
K3 devoted his life to the art of music, and is
now an instructor on all stringed instruments and
the leader of -the Academy of Music Orchestra.
He was born in Muehlburg, Germany, August
1, 1835, and is a son of John Moscow, who was
born in Eisenach, in July, 1809. His grandfa
ther, John Moskovskie, was born in Moscow,
Russia, and was descended from an old Russian
family, whose members were among the first fol
lowers of Luther, the great-grandfather remov
ing with his wife and children from Russia to
Germany. The Professor's father was a builder and wheel
wright. In 1846 he brought his family to Amer
ica, sailing on a two-mast vessel, which after
seventy-two days reached the harbor of Galves
ton, Tex. They then went up the Mississippi
and Illinois Rivers to Chicago, Buffalo and West
Point, at which latter place the father secured
work as a wheelwright, for his money was all
gone. In 1847 he enlisted in the Government
service as a wheelwright for five years, and aft
erward located on a farm near Elmira, N. Y.
His last days, however, were spent in retirement
in Newburgh, where he died October 2, 1889.
He married Miss Maria Christina Spittel, who
was born in Germany, August 16, 180S, and

died May 14, 1879. In the family were two
children, our subject and Mrs. Louise Walsh, of
Elmira, N. Y.
Professor Moscow was reared at West Point,
and acquired part of his education under Gen.
George B. MacClellan, who then conducted a
night school there. In 1848 he enlisted in the
United States service as a musician, being at
tached to a corps of cadets, and six months later
was made Fife Major. He remained in the serv
ice until 1853, when he went to Scrantou, Pa.,
where he served an apprenticeship as machinist
for two years. Later he was iu Elmira, N. Y. ,
and then went to Boston, where he was in the
employ of the Chickering Company as a piano-
tuner for a year. His next service was as a mem
ber of the band of River's Circus, and he then
traveled with Phelps & Thayer's Clown Show,
as leader of the band.
In 1 861 Professor Moscow volunteered in the
United States service as a musician in the West
Point Band, enlisting for two terms of three
years each, and in 1867 was honorably dis
charged. He then came to Newburgh, where he
began teaching violin and cornet music, and es
tablished the Newburgh City Brass Band, which
afterward became the Nineteenth Regiment Band,
National Guard of New York. When this regi
ment was disbanded it became the band of the
Seventeenth Battalion, and all this time Professor
Moscow served as leader. He has also been en
gaged to drill and conduct the Newburgh Phil
harmonic Society. When the academy was built
he merged his orchestra into what became known
as the Moscow Academy of Music Orchestra, of
which he is still director, and for many years has
furnished the theater and opera music in this
city. This is the oldest orchestra in Newburgh,
and numbers twelve pieces. For six years he
was also a member of the firm of Fielding &
Moscow, wholesale and retail dealers in music
and musical instruments.
Professor Moscow is one of the best known and
popular musicians in the Empire State, and has
acquired a wide reputation. His work in con
nection with the operas must satisfy a very
fastidious and critical taste and an intelligent

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

555

public, whose conception of the art and science
of music is unquestionably technical and exact
ing. He has won note as a composer, and among
his compositions are the ' 'Seventeenth Battalion
Quickstep," the "Idlewild Gallop" and the
' 'Eclectic Waltz. ' ' He is the possessor of a Stainer
violin, for which he has refused $1,500, and
which at the time he purchased it in Germany
was over one hundred years old. In 1875 he
went to Europe on a three-months trip, traveling
through England, Germany and Switzerland,
and met Wagner, Boehm and other musicians of
great note. When he returned to Newburgh he
was greeted with an ovation, for the residents of
this city appreciate his superior ability and his
devotion to his art, in which his zeal and energy
know no bounds.
Professor Moscow was married in Highland
Falls, in 1867, to Miss Lena Rausch, who was
born in New York City, and who is a daughter
of Charles Rausch, a business man of Pough
keepsie, N. Y. They have three children: Will
iam R., who graduated from the academy in the
Class of '95, and is editor and proprietor of the
East, published in Newburgh; Nellie L- , who be
longs to the Class of '97; and Gustave R. The
Professor is a member of the City Club, and be
longs to Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M.;
Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; and Hud
son River Commandery No. 36, K. T.

_00

~ci

WAMUEL E. SHIPP, a member ofthe firm of
•\ Shipp & Osborn, real-estate and insurance
\Z/ agents of Newburgh, was born near Norfolk,
Va. , February 20, 1848. The founder of the fam
ily in America, William Shipp, came from near
Canterbury, Kent County, England, in 1635, set
tling on a plantation near Norfolk, Va. (the deed
for which our subject now has in his possession),
and became the first Clerk of the county. His
son William took part in the Indian Wars, and
his grandson, who also bore the same name,
served as a soldier during the Revolution. The
latter's son, John Shipp, was the grandfather of
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.

He was born in Princess Anne County, Va., and
while participating in the War of 18 12 was
wounded at Craney Island.
The father, Samuel E. Shipp, whose birth also
occurred in Princess Anne County, was Colonel
of Militia in that county. He wedded Amy Hud-
dlestone, a native ofthe same place, and a daugh
ter of Cason Huddlestone, a planter, who was of
Scotch descent. By this union four children
were born, three sons and a daughter, of whom
our subject is the youngest. Both parents are
now deceased, the father dying about 1894. By
occupation he was a planter.
In private schools Mr. Shipp of this sketch re
ceived his primary education, and in 1863 entered
Columbia College of Washington, D. C, where
he pursued his studies for three years, after which
he became Cashier in the postofficeat Richmond,
Va. , under Dr. Sharp. After serving in that po
sition for four years, he removed to Norfolk,
where he began in the real-estate business, which
he followed until 1885, during which time he also
served as City Treasurer. He then returned to
Washington, D. C, where for three years he
dealt in real estate.
In 1888 Mr. Shipp arrived in Newburgh, where
he bought the business of E. S, Turner, who had
established an insurance and real-estate business
here in 1873. The firm is now Shipp & Osborn,
and they do an extensive business, buying and
selling large tracts of land. Their real-estate
business is one of the largest in the state outside
of New York City, where they also own some
property. Besides dealing in lands in this por
tion of the country, they have interests in the
West. Mr. Shipp has been prominently connect
ed with the leading business enterprises of New
burgh and vicinity since his arrival, being one of
the incorporators of the street railway, and is a
leading member of the Board of Trade. He is a
Director of several important companies, includ
ing the North End Land Improvement Company,
the South Land Improvement Company, and the
Newburgh Real-estate Company, besides several
corporations in Virginia, in which he owns a con
siderable interest. Together with three others,
he was one of the promoters and builders of the

556

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

famous Virginia Beach Hotel. Mr. Shipp is
President ofthe Underwriters' Association, and
the Landlords' Protective Association, both of
Newburgh. Our subject was united in marriage with Miss
Nellie Maltby, a daughter of O. E. Maltby, and
to them has been born a son, Maltby Shipp. Al
though he is comparatively a recent arrival in
Newburgh, no one is more interested in the de
velopment and upbuilding of the city than Mr.
Shipp, who has been connected with many worthy
enterprises. In business he is honorable and
upright, and well deserves the success he has
achieved. He takes an active part in the Masonic
fraternity, belonging to Hudson River Lodge No.
607, F- & A. M.; Highland Chapter No. 52, R.
A. M. ; and Hudson River Commandery No. 35,
K. T. Religiously he is a member of St. George's
Episcopal Church.

I ' 1 '!< I* ¦« ^1

"ILDEN H. WILSON, who died at his home
at No. 29 South Miller Street, Newburgh,
on the 19th of March, 1893, was one of the
honored and respected business men of this city.
He was a native of Ohio, born in Delaware Coun
ty, in 1846, and with the family removed to New
burgh in 1857, where he attended Mr. Cavan's
private school as well as the public schools. In
1862 he entered the army as a member of the
Nineteenth New York Regiment of Volunteer
Militia. On returning home he engaged with
Frank Gerard to learn the mason's trade, serv
ing a four-years apprenticeship, after which for
two years he followed that trade in New York
City. Returning to Newburgh, he formed a part
nership with his brother, Jonathan D. Wilson,
and they carried on a business as masons and
builders until our subject's death. They also
carried on a real-estate business, and on South
Miller Street erected thirty or thirty-five houses.
At Newbugh, in January, 1873, Mr. Wilson
was united in marriage with Miss Jennie W.
Murray, a native of this city. He was always a
man who commanded the respect of many friends,
and in the councils of the Democratic party held

an influential place, rendering efficient service'
in its behalf. From 1883 until 1886 he was a
member of the Board of Almshouse Commission
ers, was the first Inspector of Buildings in New
burgh, and was one of the Board of Water Com
missioners from 1889 until his death, having just
been made President of the board. He was a
stockholder and Trustee of the Academy of Mu
sic, and was also an organizer and stockholder of
the Columbus Trust Company. He was a mem
ber of the Board of Trade, and belonged to the
Chapman Hose Company.
Socially Mr. Wilson held membership with
Acme Lodge of Odd Fellows; Ellis Post, G. A. R. ;
and was a prominent Mason, belonging to New
burgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M., in which he
had filled all the chairs; Highland Chapter No.
52, R. A. M.; and Hudson River Commandery
No. 35, K. T. He was always a faithful attend
ant at Calvary Presbyterian Church. At his
death he was buried with Masonic and Grand
Army honors, on the 21st of March, 1893, and
resolutions of respect were passed by all the socie
ties with which he was connected . He was a man
who had the confidence of all with whom he came
in contact, and everybody who possessed his
friendship esteemed it highly. Of excellent habits,
he was upright and honorable in all his dealings
with his fellow- men, and was justly regarded as
one of the leading citizens of Newburgh.

r\ ATRICK DELANY is a member of the firm
yr of P. Delany & Co., owners and proprietors
K> of the Newburgh Steam Boiler Works, the
largest business of the kind between New York
and Troy. In the parental family were the fol
lowing children: Margaret Hayes, of Newburgh;
John, who is connected with the firm of T. S.
Marvel & Co., of Newburgh; and our subject.
Patrick Delany received a practical education
in St. Patrick's School, of this city, where he re
mained until twelve years of age, after which he
entered the boiler works of Alexander Cauldwell,
with whom he remained until 1870, when he be
gan business on his own account. He is highly

CAPT. GEORGE D. WOOLSEY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

559

regarded in trade circles for his integrity and me
chanical skill, and is the patentee of the improved
ice buoy used by the United States Government.
In 1870, in connection with John Boland, Mr.
Delany established the Newburgh Steam Boiler
Works on South Water Street, near William, one
of the largest and best equipped boiler works in
the state. From 1878 until January, 1890, Mr.
Delany carried on operations alone, but at that
time admitted to partnership Albert N. Chambers.
They are engaged in the construction of all kinds
of boilers, and the United States Government has
been a substantial patron in the purchase of the
patent whistling buoy. They have also engaged
extensively in the manufacture of marine boilers,
which are used in many of the boats and tugs on
the Hudson and in New York Harbor. Annually
about one hundred of their boilers are sent to
New York and Brooklyn, being used in places of
business, hotels, theaters, etc. They furnished
six boilers to the Hudson River State Hospital at
Poughkeesie, N. Y. , which weighed eighteen tons
apiece, besides which their boilers can be seen at
the West Point Military Academy and the State
Homeopathic Hospital at Middletown, N. Y.,
and almost every factory in Newburgh has from
one to five.
The shops of this progressive and enterprising
concern are located at the corner of Colden and
Renwick Streets, the building being 100x200 feet
and three stories in height. The tools used in
the manufacture of their specialties are large and
expensive, and when it is considered that they
possess tools which are capable of punching a six-
inch hole out ofa steel plate an inch thick, it is
easily seen that their equipment of modern tools
includes the most elaborate and best. Their prod
ucts are not only sold in New York State and vi
cinity, but are sent to Cuba, Mexico, and all over
North and So'utfi' America. They now employ
about one hundred and fifty men in the shops,
and, large as the business is, it is constantly in
creasing. They also handle machinists' supplies,
in the sale of which they have one man on the
road. Their work bears a high reputation and
the partners are in excellent repute in every way.
The business energy of Mr. Delany has done

much to build up the extensive trade of the firm,
and for his success he deserves much credit, as
from an early age he has been dependent upon
his own resources, receiving no assistance on
starting out for himself, and his accumulations
are the just reward of his own industry and econ
omy. He is an honorary member of the Chap
man Steamer Company, and belongs to the Fire
Department Fund Association, of which he was
Vice-President one year. Religiously he is a
member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, while
in politics he affiliates with the Democratic party,
and represented the First Ward as Alderman one
term.

-"¦"""a-

•*"=*"

EAPT. GEORGE D. WOOLSEY, the owner
of the vessel "Samsondale," and one ofthe
oldest captains on the river, was born in
Dutchess County, N. Y., October 12, 1829, and
came to Newburgh in 1831. His father, Elijah
L- Woolsey, was born in Milton, Ulster County,
as was his grandfather, Nathaniel Woolsey, who
there followed farming until his death. He mar
ried Miss Rhodes, whose father and two eldest
brothers were in the Revolutionary War, and
were all killed at the storming of Stony Point.
The Woolsey family is of English descent, and
Elijah Woolsey was a river captain, who sailed
the sloop "Intelligence," also the steamer "Lady
Richmond" and the- "Richard Davis." He was
on the river thirty-five years in all. In 1831 he
removed from Poughkeepsie to Newburgh, and
at the age of sixty-five left the water, being suc
ceeded by his son, David C, who is now captain
of the "Emeline." The father, who died in
1867 and was buried in Newburgh, was a sup
porter of the Republican party, and a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The mother of our subject was in her maiden
hood Phoebe Crawford, a native of Ulster Coun
ty, and a daughter of Absalom Crawford, a
farmer. She died in 1886, at the age of eighty
years. In the Woolsey family were nine chil
dren, six of whom reached mature years. Mrs.
Louise Fuller, whose husband was killed while
serving in the war as a member of a Massachu-

560

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

setts regiment, is now residing in New York
City. Mary died in 1846. Rachel became the
wife of E. W Cousins, and died in New York.
George D. is the next of the family. Nathaniel
died in New York City in 1862. David C, a
river captain, is living in Haverstraw. Angelia
became the wife of Harry Wood, and died in Syr
acuse, N. Y.; and John and Charles died in
childhood. Since the age of two years our subject has lived
in Newburgh. He attended the old Glebe School
and the free academy, in which latter institution
he was a schoolmate of William Belknap, ex-
Secretary of War. He graduated at the age of
seventeen, and then attended the theological
seminary for a short time, after which he went
with his father on the boats as a cook. He grad
ually worked his way upward, and within two
years was placed in charge of a vessel. He be
came captain of the sloop "Samuel A. Cunning
ham," running between Newburgh and New
York, and the "Walter F. Brewster," and after
ward purchased and operated the sloop "Sophia
Ann," running between Albany and New Ha
ven. In 1 86 1 he sold that vessel, and the fol
lowing year bought the sloop "Samsondale,"
which had then been running for eleven years,
and has since been in almost constant operation.
In 1888 he had the boat almost entirely rebuilt,
and converted into a derrick lighter. It has a
capacity of one hundred and thirty tons, a sev
enty-foot keel, and draws about seven and one-
third feet of water. He is mostly engaged in
Government work.
Captain Woolsey was married in Newburgh,
in 1851, to Miss Timna Quick, who was born in
Milton, Ulster County, a daughter of Reuben
Quick, a farmer. They became the parents of
the following children: Anna H, wife of John
Cosman, of Middle Hope; Harriet, wife of Dan
iel Gardner, at home; Charles C, who died at
the age of four years; and George D., who died
at the age of two and a-half years. Their home
is a double brick residence on Grand Street, and
is one ofthe good homes in the city. In politics
he is a stanch Republican.
The Captain is a scholarly gentleman, of broad

mind and general information, and is well read in
classics. He has a fine library of modern and an
cient works, possesses ah excellent memory, and
has published many able articles on the subject
of Christianity. He is an excellent Bible student,
and, though connected with no church, is en
gaged in preaching in Temperance Hall in New
burgh.

(3AMUEL EMSLIE. As a representative ofa
?\ well known family of Orange County, Mr.
\£) Emslie adds luster to the honored name he
bears. His accurate judgment and superior abil
ity have been displayed in the successful manage
ment of his large and well equipped meat-market
at Cornwall, in which line of business he has
been engaged for the past fifteen years.
James Emslie, the father of our subject, was
born in Scotland about 1825, and is now deceased.
His marriage united him with Miss Jane Weston,
a native of England. (The reader will find a full
history of this worthy couple on another page in
this volume.) They were the parents of a fam
ily of seven sons and daughters, of whom Samuel
was the youngest but one. He was born in Corn
wall, December 12, 1853, an(li like most of the
lads of that day, attended the district school,
where he gained a fair knowledge of the common
branches taught. He had to work very hard
when a boy, and early in life learned the trade of
a baker under the instruction of his father. He
followed this industry until attaining his twenty-
fifth year, being obliged to remain at home until
reaching that age, or until his youngest brother
was old enough to take his place. He then be
gan in life for himself, first hiring out to work for
Charles Cornell, a butcher, uuder whom he soon
became acquainted with the business. In fact,
it was but a few months before he assumed full
charge of the market, keeping books, collecting,
etc., and performing the work of two men. Be
ing obliged to work, night and day, his health
soon began to fail, and at the end ofthe year he
resigned his position, soon thereafter engaging in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

56i

business for himself. He began with little capi
tal, but has worked his way up, step by step, un
til he now ranks among the substantial business
men of the place, being respected by all who
know him.
Our subject was married, in 1879, to Miss Belle,
daughter of Henry and Christina Thorn, natives i
of Orange County. To them have been born
three children: Irving, Weston and Edna Belle.
The eldest of this family, now a lad of thirteen
years, is a bright and promising scholar, and is
naturally gifted both in literature and music, and
if his health does not fail him will doubtless make
his mark in the world. The other children are
also remarkably studious, and the parents have
good reason to be proud of them. In politics
Mr. Emslie is a Republican, tried and true, and
in social affairs belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
He is an official member of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, and is regarded as one of the most
valued workers in that congregation.
 *^£P  '

0TEPHEN ABRIAL, superintendent of
?\ Little Falls Paper Company of Newburgh,
y~/ was born- in Livingston, Columbia County,
N. Y., in 1848, and is a son of William and Myra
(Reiffenberg) Abrial, both of whom were natives
of New York. His father was an agriculturist,
and is now living in Columbia County, at the age
of seventy-three years. There were seven chil
dren in the parental family, of whom our subject
is third in order of birth.
Stephen Abrial was reared in his native county,
receiving his education in the public schools, and
when eleven years of age he began to learn the
paper trade at Blue Store Mills, in Columbia
County, these mills beiug engaged in the manu
facture of straw wrapping-paper. He was there
employed for a period of twenty -four years, be
ginning at the bottom as a cutter, and working
up in every department, through the feeder, ma
chine, bleaching, pulp and finishing rooms. He
became foreman in the mills when twenty years
of age, and when thirty years old was made su
perintendent. He continued in the latter capac

ity for two years, when he removed to Linlithgo,
and was employed by the Livingston Paper Com
pany, manufacturers of toilet-paper, as a machine
tender. He soon after became superintendent of
the mills, but remained there only a short time,
when he went to Cairo, N. Y., and engaged with
C. J. Case& Co. as superintendent of their paper-
mill, where he remained three years. He then
returned to the Livingston Paper Company, and
was superintendent of their mills for a time, re
moving thence to Penn Yan, N. Y., where he en
gaged as superintendent of the Cascade Mills.
In the fall of 1893 Mr. Abrial severed his con
nection with the Cascade Mills, and came to New
burgh as superintendent of the mills ofthe Little
Falls Paper Company, manufacturers of toilet-
paper. The mills are located on Quassaick Creek,
and have an average capacity of eight tons per
day. The paper is manufactured from wood pulp
and old bagging. About sixteen men are there
given employment, and the mill, which ranks as
the best in its line of work, is run by steam and
water-power. There are three boilers, with a ca
pacity of three hundred horse-power each, and
three engines with the same capacity.
In Columbia County, N. Y., Mr. Abrial was
united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Millius, a
native of that county. They are members of the
Lutheran Church, and in politics he is a Demo
crat, though not partisan.

- <X3

~cZ

(SAMUEL FRAZER is President and Man-
7\ ager of the Storm King Pants Company,
Q) Limited, of Newburgh. They are practical
merchant tailors, carry a well selected stock of
goods, and transact a large business. Their
store, which is supplied with modern appliances,
such as electric motor, etc., is located at No. 78
Water Street, at the corner of Third. Mr. Frazer
is a well known member of the Veteran Associa
tion of the Leonard Steamer Company, served his
time in the fire department, and now belongs
to C. M. Leonard Council No. 7, O. of A. M.
For seven years he belonged to Company E,
Seventeenth Battalion, National Guards of New

562

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

York, and is now identified with the Veteran As
sociation of the Tenth Separate Company.
Mr. Frazer was born in County Down, Ire
land, on the 26th of June, 1853, and is a son
of the late David Frazer, who was a native of
the same county. The latter was superintendent
of a linen-mill in that locality, and later resided
in Belfast and in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
About 1870 he emigrated with his family to
Newburgh, embarking in the grocery business at
the corner of Mill and Washington Streets, but in
a short time retired. Returning to Ireland, he
once more obtained a position as superintendent
in a linen-mill, and was thus occupied until his
health failed. His last years were passed in
Brooklyn, where he died in 1891, aged sixty-five.
His wife, Anna E., was a daughter of James
Shaw, a farmer of Newry, County Down, and
there Mrs. Frazer was born. She adhered to the
old Presbyterian faith, and is still living in New
burgh. Of her eight children, four are deceased,
and Samuel is the eldest of the family.
Young Frazer attended the national private
schools in Ireland, and was sixteen years of
age when his parents concluded to emigrate to
America. In 1870 he left Liverpool on the
steamer "Java," of the Cunard Line, and nine
days later arrived in New York. Coming to
Newburgh, he obtained a position as clerk in
the merchant-tailoring establishment of Sterling
& Owen, at the corner of Third and Front
Streets. He remained with the firm for twelve
years, becoming thoroughly familiar with the
business in its various departments, and making
a specialty of cutting. In 1882 the partnership
was dissolved, Mr. Sterling opening a store on
Fourth Street and placing Mr. Frazer in charge
of the cutting department. In 1885 Mr. Ster
ling's brother-in-law, W. E. R. Gleason, as
sumed the management and proprietorship of the
business, retaining our subject in his former ca
pacity until the latter resigned, in 1887. He or
ganized the Storm King Pants Company, with a
capital stock of $10,000, and has been its Presi
dent and Manager from the start. W. E. Mc-
Cutcheon is Treasurer; William G. Hunter Sec
retary, and Joseph Carriet and L- W Y. Mc

Croskery are Directors and stockholders in the
concern. The business is now well under way,
and by judicious advertising has become widely
and favorably known. Three cutters are em
ployed constantly, besides other hands. Mr.
Frazer is a charter member of Newburgh Lodge,
B. P. O. E., and belongs to Newburgh Lodge
No. 309, F. & A. M. In his political affiliations
he is an ally of the Democracy.
In 1884 occurred the marriage of Mr. Frazer
and Agnes Cameron in Newburgh. The lady
was born and grew to womanhood in this city,
her death occurring herein February 25, 1895.
She was a daughter of David and Elizabeth Cam
eron, formerly well known and respected citizens.

j>- I ' I ' | 1 ** ¦ ..

c)EORGE B. GOLDSMITH, one of the most
_ enterprising merchants of Highland Falls,
^Ji is the proprietor of the only exclusive cloth
ing store in the place. His career as a citizen has
been a very honorable and useful one, and he is
well esteemed throughout the county, numbering
as friends all with whom he has business deal
ings, a fact which speaks very highly of his up
right character. He established his business
here in 1884, and from that time to the present
has carried on a thriving trade in the sale of
men's clothing and furnishing goods.
Born in Haverstraw, Rockland County, June
18, 1863, the subject of this sketch is the son of
Alexander Goldsmith, a native of France, and
now a prosperous clothing merchant of Haver
straw. The mother, who is also living, bore the
maiden name of Delia Mentannia, and their union
resulted in the birth of four children, namely:
Sarah, who is the wife of John Sherwood, and
resides in New York City; Kate, Mrs. Edward
Coe, also a resident of New York City; George
B., of this sketch; and James, who resides at
home. The boyhood days of our subject were passed
in his native place in attendance at the public
schools, where he acquired a useful fund of in
formation. Eleven years ago he came to High
land Falls and started a business for himself,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

563

which he has carried on in a very prosperous
and highly commendable manner. In 1889 he
was married to Miss Jennie Hoag, a resident of
Highland Falls and a native of Garrison, N. Y.
A son and daughter have been born of their
union, Alexander M. and Margaret.
Mrs. Goldsmith is an active member of the
Presbyterian Church, and in the various depart
ments of the congregation at Highland Falls is
an ardent worker. Our subject is a Democrat in
politics, never failing to cast his vote in support of
that party's candidates, and socially is a Knight
of Honor. He is one of the prominent young
business men ofthe place, and is honored and re
spected by all who have the pleasure of his ac
quaintance.

I E ROY AKINS, one of the most influential
.1 C and worthy citizens of Cornwall on the Hud-
\ J son, is efficiently discharging the duties per
taining to the office of Postmaster. Few men iu
the community are better known or more sincere
ly esteemed by one and all, for he is faithful to
the best interests of the public, and has always
had its welfare deeply at heart. Mr. Akins was
formerly in the employ of Mead & Taft, promi
nent business men of this place, for a period of
thirteen years, which fact speaks well for his faith
fulness as an employe.
Peter B. Akins, the father of our subject, is a
prominent lawyer, having his office located in
Livingston Manor. He is a finely educated gen
tleman, and is well known among his professional
brethren. His marriage united him with Miss
Phebe A. Leroy, a native of New York, while
he was born in the city of Hudson, Columbia
County. Of the nine children born to them we
make the following mention: Le Roy, of this
sketch, was the eldest; William is deceased; Mary
C. is living at Livingston Manor; Lincoln is de
ceased; Kate P makes her home in this place;
Franklin is deceased; Minnie L- is the wife of
Theron A. Ray, of Sidney, Delaware County,
N. Y.; Floyd is deceased; and Edna resides at
home in Livingston Manor.

The birth of our subject occurred October 1,
1851, in Fallsburg, Sullivan County, N. Y. He
was given a good opportunity for attending school,
and upon completing his education was appren
ticed to learn the painter's trade. He worked at
this for six years at Livingston Manor, and at
the end of that time, upon coming to Cornwall,
was engaged by Mead & Taft, the leading con
tractors of this place, serving in the capacity of
foreman. He isa thorough and trustworthy bus
iness man, and his popularity among the residents
of this place led to his appointment as Postmaster
in 1895.
Mr. Akins and Miss Helen E. Benton were
united in marriage October 6, 1877. The lady
was born at Liberty, Sullivan County, this state,
and is the daughter of I. B. and Margaret (Chap
man) Benton, both of whom are deceased. To
our subject and wife were born three children, of
whom Grace L. , a most intelligent and accom
plished young lady, is engaged as clerk in the
postoffice with her father; Mabel is deceased; and
Marion J. is at home. Politically Mr. Akins has
always been a stanch supporter of Democratic
principles, and takes a deep interest in the suc
cess of that party. Although never having act
ed in a public capacity before, he is thoroughly
efficient, and is giving entire satisfaction to all
concerned .

EURTIS STANTON, superintendent of the
Water Works of Newburgh, was born in this
city on the 12th of November, 1842. His
paternal grandfather removed from Long Island
to Matteawan, Dutchess County, where Isaac
Stanton, the father of our subject, was born. The
latter learned the cabinet-maker's trade in New
burgh, where he wedded Miss Buchanan, a
daughter of Hugh Buchanan. The latter was
born in the Highlands of Scotland, and, coming
to America when a young man, was here married.
By occupation he was a farmer and also engaged
in the butcher and provision business. He died

564

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

at the age of eighty-seven years, in the faith of
the Presbyterian Church. After the death ofthe
mother of our subject Mr. Stanton married Mar
garet Buchanan, a sister of his first wife, by whom
he had two children, who are still living. In
North Newburgh the father engaged in the foun
dry business in connection with Edson L- Clark,
the firm being Stanton, Clark & Co. , which con
tinued operations for many years. He was the
projector and builder ofthe original Washington
Iron Works, being a member of the firm of Stan
ton & Mallory, and later of Stanton, Raines &
Co. On selling out, he returned to Newburgh and
became connected with his former foundry, there
building the engine and boiler for the United
States steamer "Marblehead." He is now living
at the age of eighty- two years, retired from active
business life. Politically he is an old-line Whig,
and religiously is a member of the Presbyterian
Church. Curtis Stanton is one of the children born
of his father's first marriage, only two of whom
are now living. Samuel, who died in New Jer
sey, was one ofthe promoters of iron shipbuild
ing in Newburgh, being a member of the firm of
Ward, Stanton & Co. Elizabeth died in New
burgh; and John H. is a draughtsman of this city.
After completing his education in the Academy
of Newburgh, Curtis Stanton, at the age of six
teen, was apprenticed as a pattern-maker under
his father, with whom he worked until Septem
ber, 1863. At that time he became a volunteer
in the United States navy, and was appointed
third assistant engineer, being ordered on the
second ' 'Monitor, ' ' built at Green Point. He was
later made second engineer, with the rank of
Lieutenant, and remained on the James River un
til the close of the war. Still continuing in the
service, however, he was for two months on Lake
Michigan, when he was transferred to the United
States steamer "Canandaigua," being made sec
ond assistant engineer and sent to European ports.
For the following three years, under Admiral
Farragut, he visited every country and port in
Europe, and on his return in March, 1869, was
honorably discharged.
Mr. Stanton then continued pattern-making

with Ward, Stanton & Co. until 1884, at which
time he entered the employ of the Hoboken Land
Improvement Company as clerk, remaining with
them for fourteen months. For the following
five years he served as clerk for the Erie Rail
road Company, but in the spring of 189 1 was ap
pointed superintendent of the Water Works of
Newburgh, which position he still continues to
fill, to the satisfaction of all concerned.
In Lawrence, Mass., was celebrated the mar
riage of Mr. Stanton and Miss Harriet E. Hamb-
let, who died in 1891, leaving four children:
Harry, who is in the employ of the Erie Railroad,
and Ella, Frank and Grace. In 1883 and 1884
Mr. Stanton served as Alderman from the Second
Ward of Newburgh. For some time he was con
nected with the Ringgold Hose Company, of
which he was Secretary, and is a member of the
Ringgold Veteran Association. Fraternally he
is connected with Hudson River Lodge No. 309,
F. & A. M. ; and Ellis Post, G. A. R. Mr. Stan
ton is one ofthe popular and well known citizens
of Newburgh, and his name deserves an honored
place in the history of Orange County .
¦  ^*£P 

gAPT. EZRA I. HUNTER, now captain of
the steamboat "James H. Baldwin," was a
pilot for forty-seven years, during which
time more trusty hands never turned a steering-
wheel. His birth occurred in Yorktown, West
chester County , N. Y., June 24, 1826, and he is a
son of Gilbert Hunter, a native ofthe same county,
and an extensive business man, operating a farm,
blacksmith-shop, sawmill and fulling and carding
mill on a branch of the Croton River. His death
there occurred at the age of sixty-six years. The
mother, who bore the maiden name of Phoebe
Horton, and was also born in Westchester County,
was a daughter of William Horton, who belonged
to the Society of Friends, and by occupation was
a farmer and blacksmith, making a specialty of
edged tools. Hewas a Whig in politics, and died
in Westchester County. The mother of our sub
ject, who was also a Quaker, passed away at the
age of forty-three years. By her marriage she

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

565

had six children, five sons and one daughter:
David, who died at the age of twenty-one; Mrs.
Hannah Loder, who died in Peekskill, N. Y. ;
William, who was his father's successor, and la
ter became a contractor and builder of Peekskill,
where his death occurred; Ezra I. , of this sketch;
Charles, who has a foundry in Fredericksburg,
Va.; and George, a resident of Philadelphia, Pa.
Ezra I. Hunter is almost entirely self-educated,
his school privileges having been very meager.
When a very small lad the ambition to steer a
steamboat possessed him, and when only eleven
years old he left home and shipped as a cabin-boy
on a North River sloop, the "Mona Ritter," ply
ing between Croton and New York. In this
school of navigation he learned the intricacies of
the river, how to reef and steer, and all the tech
nicalities of boating. In 1843 he was hired as mate
on the steamer "Croton," and the following year,
when only eighteen years of age, was in the pilot
house, duly commissioned to steer a steamboat.
For a number of years he was pilot of vessels
around New York Harbor, and in 1848 and 1849
was captain ofthe steamer "Stranger," in the
employ of the Commissioners of Immigration and
Almshouse, running between the city and Staten,
Randall's and Bl.ackwell's Islands, transporting
paupers, criminals and immigrants, and seeing a
great deal of the miseries of New York life.
In 1850 Captain Hunter came up the river and
piloted the steamer "Mazeppa," then running be
tween Rondout and Albany, though the following
year the route was extended to Poughkeepsie. In
1855 that boat was replaced by the "Eagle," and
in 1859 the route was extended to Newburgh,
and has continued between Albany and Newburgh
ever since. For thirteen years he steered the
"Eagle," when he was transferred to the steamer
"Milton Martin," on which he remained for sev
enteen years, or until the former was burned. In
1884 the "Jacob H. Tremper" was built, and Mr.
Hunter was given the navigation of the new
boat. Since 1850 he has been with the Romer &
Tremper Company, and has been longer in their
service than any other man. At first he ran
their only boat, but as their business increased,
more boats were added and larger ones built, and

during all this time he has had charge of the
leading boat. He makes a daily trip of one hun
dred miles iu nine hours, stopping at twenty-five
different landings, and once a week goes as far as
Troy. He knows every turn of the river, up and
down, between Sandy Hook and Troy, and in all
the years he stood at the wheel he never had a
mishap to his boats. For thirty years he and
Capt. Henry Fairbanks and Engineer William H.
Berry sailed together in the "Eagle" and "Mar
tin," and for thirty successive Thanksgiving Days
they ate their dinner together on their boats.
On the 16th of August, 1848, Captain Hunter
was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Theall,
who was born in New York City, a daughter
of Robert Theall, also a native of that city, where
he dealt in real estate and was au oil inspector
until his death, at the age of fifty-four years.
Her mother, formerly Margaret Davis, was born
in New York, where she passed away at the age
of seventy-six years. In the family were two
children who grew to maturity, but Mrs. Hunter
is the only one now living, Robert having died
in New York many years ago. For many years
the Captain and his wife have been residents of
Newburgh, having arrived here in 1859, and
have gained a host of friends, who esteem them
highly. Since 1869 he has been Steward of Trin
ity Methodist Episcopal Church, being one of its
active and liberal members, and also belongs to
the Pilots' Harbor of Rondout. His political
views coincide with those of the Republican
party, of which he is a stalwart supporter.

EOL. CHARLES L. BROWN is part mana
ger of the Brown Lime Company, and is also
interested in a fire-insurance business. He
is an active Republican, and is now serving as
Supervisor from the Second Ward of Newburgh.
He was first honored with this position in 1887,
and was re-elected every year afterward until
1894, when he was elected for two years under
the new law. He has served on the Armory
Committee as Chairman, and has been a member
of others. Formerly he was Lieutenant-Colonel

566

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ofa company of state militia, while his brother,
W. R. , was Brigadier- General of the Twenty-
second Brigade New York National Guard. In
1866 hewas appointed Assistant Adjutant- Gen
eral on the staff of Gen. William R. Brown by
Governor Hoffman, and for some years had the
rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Our subject's father, David Brown, was born
in Flushing, L- L, and with his parents came to
Newburgh, where he was reared. He learned
the cooper's trade and went into business on a
large scale, owning several shops in the vicinity.
During his last years he was engaged in manufact
uring lime. His death occurred in 1869, when
he was in his eightieth year. A participant in
the War of 18 12, he served under General Har
rison in Ohio, when but eighteen years of age.
Until the war came on he gave his allegiance to
the Democratic party, but after Ft. Sumter was
fired upon became a strong Republican. Relig
iously he was an Episcopalian. His wife, Sarah,
who was born in Newburgh, was a daughter of
Gen. Chauncy Belknap, who was born in Orange
County and built the old frame flourmill on Quas
saick Creek. The old structure has been re
placed by a brick one, but the same race and dam
are used. The General won his title while serv
ing in the state militia. His family were old
and prominent in this region, having emigrated
here from England. Mrs. Sarah Brown died at
the age of fifty-two years, and of her .three sous
and one daughter, our subject is the only survivor.
His brother, William R. , was a Colonel of the
Nineteenth Regiment during the late war for
three months, and helped to raise the One Hun
dred and Sixty-eighth Regiment, which he took
out and commanded for fourteen months. After
the war he was Brigadier-General of the National
Guard of New York, and died in Newburgh from
the effects of his services in the army.
Colonel Brown, of this sketch, was born March
1, 1827, in a house which stood on the land ad
joining his present residence. He received a
good education and was graduated from New
burgh Academy, after which he assisted his fa
ther in the manufacture of lime until 1869, when
he and his brother, W. R., conducted the busi

ness until the latter's death. The present com
pany was formed in 1878, since which time the
plant has been greatly increased in capacity.
They sell lime at retail and wholesale, and va
rious kinds of building material, excepting lum
ber. They own about sixty acres of land, includ
ing quarries, and four perpetual or draw kilns,
having a capacity of about seventy thousand
bushels a year. Employment is given to a dozen
or more men the year round, and in order to
afford shipping facilities a switch half a mile long
has been laid from the Erie Road. Since 1879
the firm has also been engaged in the fire-insur
ance business, representing the leading companies
in the United States. Mr. Brown is a member of
Highland Steamer Fire Company No. 3, and is a
member of the Order of American Firemen. He
also belongs to Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. &
A. M.; Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.;
Hudson River Commandery No. 35, K. T. ; and
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a
past officer of Highland Lodge.
The handsome brick residence owned by our
subject at No. 21 West Street was erected by him
a few years since. His first wife was a Miss
Stephens, who died leaving no children. In 1866
he married Martha Harrison, who was born in
New Jersey. Her father, Joshua Harrison, was a
native of Yorkshire, England, and was proprietor
of a woolen factory in North Branch, operating
the same until 1844. About that time he came
to Newburgh and ran the old woolen-mill on the
Quassaick until he retired from business. He is
still living, having attained his eighty-second
year, but his wife, who was a Miss Mary A. Ems-
ley, and who was also a native of England, died
in 1884, aged sixty-nine years. Mrs. Brown
is one of nine children, of whom two sons and
two daughters survive, and one of her brothers,
John J. E., was in the service during the late
war. Mrs. Brown was reared and educated in
Newburgh, and by her marriage has become the
mother of three children. William J. is employed
in the New York City Postoffice; Charles L., Jr.,
is also a resident of the same city, and is in
the office of the New York & Ontario Railroad;
Clarissa B., the only daughter, is with her par-

HUGH DAVIDSON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

569

ents at home.k The family are members of Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church, the Colonel having
been a member of the Building Committee and
Treasurer of the same. He has served on the
Board of Trustees, and for many years has been a
teacher and Treasurer of the Sunday-school.
The ground on which the church stands was
given to the congregation by himself and his
brother, William R., who have always been noted
for their generosity in religious enterprises.
6 "r_ i!3"<"T~>l=3 A "*- ' <s>
HUGH DAVIDSON is senior member of the
firm of Hugh Davidson's Sons, extensive
manufacturers of brick in the town of New
Windsor. Their yards are the only ones com
pletely covered, about 150x250 feet being de
voted to sheds. The kilns are also roofed, and
by this plan brick can be manufactured no mat
ter what the weather may be. This is one of the
oldest and largest concerns of the locality, as it
has been in running operation for nearly a quar
ter of a century.
William Davidson, the grandfather of Hugh,
was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America at
an early day, settling in Craigsville, this county.
His last years were spent in Newburgh, where
his death occurred. Our subject's father, Hugh
Davidson, Sr., was also a native of Ireland, and
learned the boiler-maker's trade. For sometime
he was foreman in the Washington Iron Works,
but before the war came on went to Virginia,
building and superintending two brickyards
owned by James Bigler. On account of the war
he returned North and was engaged in the man
ufacture of brick at Haverstraw. Subsequently
he purchased the yards now owned by his sons,
and was successfully engaged in business until
shortly before his death, which occurred in 1891,
just twenty years after he had become proprietor
of this plant. Politically he was a Republican,
and was always devoted to the interests of his fel
low-citizens. His wife, Miss Maria Barber, came
from an old and long established family of Steu
ben County, N. Y., and her death occurred
about 1887. Both parents were members ofthe

Presbyterian Church. Of their seven sons, five
grew to maturity, but only three survive, namely:
Hugh, Elsworth and Frank, who are all inter
ested in their father's brick factory. Robert was
killed while crossing the West Shore Railroad
tracks at Newburgh, in 1886; and George died
when sixteen years of age, while at the Peekskill
Military Academy.
Hugh Davidson, Jr., was born in Newburgh in
i860, and was brought up in this town, first at
tending the public schools, and later the high
school at Newburgh. From his boyhood he was
interested in the brick business, and ran the en
gines for his father until the latter's death. Since
that time he has been superintendent of the plant,
which covers thirty acres lying along the Hudson
River. Three machines, each having a capacity
of thirty-five thousand brick per day, are in con
stant use, the power being furnished by a forty-
five horse-power engine, and employment is given
to thirty-five hands. The location is historical,
as prior to being sent to the front the Thirty -sixth
New York Infantry camped here, the old guard
house having since been pulled down. A switch
from the West Shore Railroad makes transporta
tion convenient, and some eight hundred car
loads of wood are used in the kilns each year.
At high tide the brick barges can come to the
side of the kilns, which obviates unnecessary
handling. The brand put out by the firm is
known as the North River Hard Brick, which
finds a ready market in New York and other
points. January 5, 1892, Mr. Davidson was married,
in Newburgh,- to Anna, daughter of John H.
Armstrong, who was employed as a printer by
the publishing house of Harper Bros., in New
York. Afterwards he went to Cincinnati, Ohio,
and became identified with the Methodist Book
Publishing Company. Both he and his wife
(whose maiden name was Harriet Walsh) died
in that city. Mrs. Anna Davidson is a native of
New York City, and by her marriage has become
the mother of one child, Virginia.
Our subject takes quite an active part in polit
ical affairs, having been a delegate to numerous
county and congressional conventions of the Re-

24

57o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

publican party, and has served on petit and
grand juries. At present he is serving his third
term as Road Commissioner. During his incum
bency three or four loads have been built and
needful improvements made on others. Relig
iously Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are members of
the Baptist denomination.

Gz

o**-

ttg^A

:0

=E)

QROF. WILLIAM H. G. REPP, who is in-
yr structor on the violin and piano in New-
[3 burgh, is also teacher of vocal music, and is
the leader and teacher of the Matteawan Maen-
nerchor. He is a native of Newburgh, born Au
gust 5, 1869, and is of German descent, his fa
ther, Charles Repp, having been born in Hesse-
Darmstadt, Germany, of which country his moth
er, Pauline (Hoffman) Repp, was also a native.
The father was an amateur musician of more than
ordinary ability, but was educated for the profes
sion of teaching. He did not follow that, how
ever, but instead learned the trade of cabinet-
making, which has been his life work. He came
to America when a young man, and here married,
and has been a resident of Newburgh about thirty
years. He is a veteran fireman, having been a
member of Washington Steamer No. 4, and re
ligiously is connected with the Lutheran Church.
In the parental family, which consisted of three
children, our subject is the eldest.
Professor Repp grew, to manhood in his native
city, receiving his primary education in its public
schools, and is a graduate of the Newburgh Acad
emy of the Class of '87. From a mere boy he
made a study of music, receiving instruction
from Professor Moscow on the violin and cornet,
and on the piano from Professor Diemer. In the
fall of 1887 he went to West Point and enlisted in
the military band, playing the cornet. He con
tinued in Governmental service for three years
and three months, when he secured his discharge.
In 1890 he went to Europe and entered the Royal
Conservatory of Music at Leipsic, where, under
eminent professors in their special lines, he stud

ied violin, piano and vocal music. Professors
Herman and Becker were his instructors on the
violin, the latter being a son of the celebrated
Jean Becker. Our subject graduated in Septem
ber, 1893, when he returned to Newburgh and
commenced his career as a teacher of vocal and
instrumental music. Though only a young man,
he has already made a reputation as a teacher on
the violin and piano, and also of vocal music. He
was the first instructor of the Matteawan and
Fishkill Maennerchor, and is a member and lead
er of the Young Men's Christian Association
Orchestra of Newburgh. Socially he is a mem
ber of Bismarck Lodge No, 420, I. O. O. F., of
which he is Noble Giand, and also belongs to the
Elks. Religiously he is a member of the Ger
man Lutheran Church.
EAPT. WILLIAM H. SMITH, superinten
dent of the Laflin & Rand Powder Company,
and one of the prominent citizens of New
burgh, has been a leader in business and official
circles for some years. At this writing he is a
member of the Board of Water Commissioners,
and was formerly a member of the City Council.
He was born in Westfield, Mass., February 20,
1852, and his father, John Smith, and his grand
father, Solomon Smith, were also natives of that
place. The latter was a powder manufacturer of
Westfield, and built the powder-mills of South-
wick, Mass. , to the ownership of which the father
succeeded, and there continued until 1857, when
he removed to Kingston, N. Y., and purchased
and remodeled the old powder-mills. In 1859, in
association with A. T. Rand, he purchased and
improved the powder-mills at Newburgh, and
under the firm name of Smith & Rand continued
the business until 1864, when itwas incorporated
under the name of the Smith & Rand Powder
Company, which in 1869 was consolidated with
the Laflin Powder Company _ of Saugerties, as
the Laflin & Rand Powder Company. The fa
ther of our subject died in 1864, in New York
City, at the age of forty-six. His wife, who bore
the maiden name of Catherine Stevens, was born

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

57i

in Huntingdon, Pa. Her father, Benjamin Rice
Stevens, was a native of England, and was a man
of state reputation in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Smith
was left an orphan at the age of fourteen, and
went to Massachusetts, obtaining her education
in Lee and Stockbridge. She was of Scotch de
scent on the mother's side, while the Smith fam
ily was of English origin. With the Presbyterian
Church she held membership. She died January
5, 1895, at the age of seventy-seven years.
In the parental family were seven children, one
of whom, Albert J., was a Lieutenant in the One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York Infantry.
He served for about two years, taking part in the
Red River expedition ; he now resides iu Chicago.
Asa is engaged in the manufacture of powder in
Schuylkill County, Pa. Nathaniel is an attorney
of New York City ; and the Captain is the young
est son.
William H. Smith was reared in Kingston from
the age of five years, and was educated in the
district schools and the academy, and then spent
three years in the institute in Pittsfield. In 1869
he went into the main office of the Laflin & Rand
Powder Company of New York City, where he
continued until 1876, when he came to New
burgh to accept the position of superintendent of
the powder-mill at this place. The works are
located on Orange Lake Outlet, three miles from
the Hudson, and have a capacity of five thousand
pounds per day. They manufacture only fine
sporting powder and have an excellent trade.
Captain Smith is one of the stockholders in the
company and is a man of excellent business ability.
In 1877, in Kingston, was celebrated the mar
riage of Captain Smith and Miss Mary Booth, a
native of that place and a daughter of James A.
Booth, a native of England and a large dealer in
blue stone. They have three children, Nathalie,
Kenneth and Catherine. In politics Captain
Smith is a Democrat and has served as Chairman
of the City Committee, was one term Alderman
from the Third Ward, since 1890 has served as
Water Commissioner, and was President of the
Board in 1893. He has also been connected with
the Board of Trade. He was one of the original
members of Company E, Seventeenth Battalion,

National Guard of New York, of which he served
as Lieutenant, and when that company was
merged into the Tenth Separate Company he
was commissioned First Lieutenant by Governor
Cleveland. Afterward he was promoted to. the
rank of Captain by Governor Hill, thus serving
from 1878 until 1887, when he resigned; he is a
charter member and Treasurer of the Veteran As
sociation of the latter company. He takes quite
an active interest in military affairs, and is a
faithful citizen, devoted to the welfare ofthe com
munity in which he resides.

V /llSS MARY CARROLL, who is engaged
Y in the manufacture of soda water at New-
(fj burgh, is a native of this county, and is a
daughter of Patrick and Susan (Gough) Carroll,
both of whom were natives of County Tyrone,
Ireland. Her grandfather, James Carroll, was a
prominent citizen of the latter county, and for
many years was engaged in raising flax and man
ufacturing it into linen. Her father grew to
manhood on a farm in his native county, and
there married Susan Gough. Soon afterward he
came to America, located in the town of New
burgh, and there engaged in farming until his
death, in 1856. The mother now resides with
the subject of this sketch. In the parental fami
ly were five children. James G., a contractor
and builder, residing in Brooklyn, N. Y., was in
the United States navy during the Civil War;
Bernard is engaged in the liquor business in
Newburgh; Edward, now deceased, was for a
time engaged in the manufacture of soda water;
Mary is next in order of birth; and Abram J.
now resides with his sister.
As already stated, Miss Carroll was born in the
town of Newburgh, and there grew to woman
hood, receiving her education in public and pri
vate schools. In 188 1 she bought the soda-water
manufacturing business that had been established
by her brother Edward in 1865, it being the old
est of its kind in the city. She moved it to its

572

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

present location in 1884, at Nos. 26 and 28 Mill
Street, and in the manufacture of soda water
employs eight hands, besides having three deliv
ery wagons in the city. She manufactures all
kinds of soft drinks, and is also engaged in deal
ing in soda fountains and soda supplies.
Miss Carroll is a member of St. Patrick's
Catholic Church and of the Ladies' Catholic Be
nevolent Association, and is an active business
woman..

|~ RANCIS N. BAIN, in connection with his
rQ brother Horatio N., is proprietor of The
I Palatine, of Newburgh, the leading hotel in
the Hudson Valley. He is a native of the Em
pire State, born in Chatham in 1856, and is a son
of Milton and Minerva C. (Nash) Bain, both na
tives of New York, the former born in Columbia
County. For many years he engaged in the
hotel business in Chatham, Palmyra, Brewster,
Dover Plains and Poughkeepsie, at the latter
place having charge of the Poughkeepsie Hotel,
now an annex of the Nelson House. At the time
of his death, in 188 1, at the age of fifty-five years,
he was proprietor of the house last mentioned,
and had been in the hotel business for twenty-
five years. His wife died in 1880, leaving three
sons, who were reared in the hotels: Francis N.,
Horatio N., and Ferdinand, a real-estate dealer
of Poughkeepsie.
At the age of nine years, Francis N. Bain left
Chatham, going with his parents to Palmyra, from
there to Brewster, thence to Dover Plains, where
he remained until the age of eighteen, during
which time he was educated in the Amenia Semi
nary. In 1875 he went to New York as clerk in
the First National Bank of that city, with which
he was connected for eighteen years, becoming
one of the head bookkeepers. In June, 1893,
when The Palatine was completed, he formed a
partnership with his brother, the firm being H.
N. Bain & Co., proprietors of that hotel. His
brother is also proprietor of the Nelson House of
Poughkeepsie. The name of The Palatine was suggested by
the fact that the early settlers of Newburgh

were Palatines, who had been driven from their
homes on the Rhine, and after ten years of wan
dering, finally found their way to the most beau
tiful spot on the Rhine of America. The hotel
is situated on the southeast corner of Grand and
Third Streets, eleven hundred feet from the Hud
son River, and has five stories and a basement,
with a broad piazza on the fifth story, extending
across the rear of the Third Street wing. It is
supplied with elevators, steam heat, gas, electric
light and all the latest hotel improvements. On
the ground floor are kitchen, dining-room, cafe
and billiard-rooms, barber-shop, telegraph office,
large rotunda, ladies' reception-room, gentleman's
reading-room, etc., while above are one hundred
and sixteen rooms, two large parlors and a recep
tion hall. The Palatine was opened to the public
July 6, 1893, and has since had a liberal patron
age, as its excellent management well deserves.
In New York City Mr. Bain wedded Miss
Amelia McQuoid, a native of New Orleans, and
to them has been born a daughter, Helen. So
cially our subject is prominently connected with
several leading organizations of Newburgh, be
longing to the City Club, Powelton Club and the
Orange Lake Yacht Club, while he is also con
nected with the Board of Trade, the Royal Ar
canum, and is a member of the Hotel Men's As
sociation of the United States. He is a Republi
can in political faith, giving his earnest support
to the principles of that party.

-J-— 1  ?;>H®lf||)®<*C'{t  * — f-

30HN M. WILSON, a pleasant, companion
able gentleman, is one of the esteemed citi
zens of Newburgh, where he is now serving
as Supervisor of the First Ward, and where he
has long made his home. He was born in New
York City, July 14, 1836, while his father, George
Wilson, and his grandfather, Thomas Wilson,
were natives of England. He was the eldest in a
family of four sons and a daughter, and between
the ages of four and twenty years he lived on a
farm in Berlin Township, Delaware County,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

573

Ohio. In 1857 he came to Newburgh, where he
engaged in the bakery business in connection
with his father, under the firm name of George
Wilson & Son, which connection continued until
1873, when the father retired and William Wilson
was admitted to partnership, the firm style be
coming J. M. Wilson &Bro. The latter's death
however, occurred the following year.
Mr. Wilson had a well appointed bakery at the
corner of Chambers Street and Broadway, and
did a large bakery and confectionery business,
having a trade that netted him an excellent in
come. In 1884 he sold out there and embarked
in the wholesale flour business, representing the
firm of Boughton & Geer, of Albany. He was
thus employed for six years, traveling in Orange,
Rockland,. Dutchess and Putnam Counties, but
making his headquarters in Newburgh. In 1891
he severed his connection with that firm and has
since lived retired, enjoying the rest which he has
truly earned and richly deserves. He has in
vested to some extent in real estate, and built
three residences in Washington Heights, at the
corner of Lander Street and Courtney Avenue.
Mr. Wilson has been twice married. In New
burgh, he wedded Miss Mary F. McMillan, a na
tive of Scotland, who died in 1872, leaving three
children: Mrs. Hattie F. Topping, of Newburgh;
and George and John M. , who follow the mason's
trade. All are graduates of the academy. In
1873 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with
Mrs. Lucy J. Leake, a native of Newburgh, and
a daughter ot John Van Tassel, who formerly re
sided in Putnam County.
In politics Mr. Wilson is a Republican, and
has been President of the City Republican Asso
ciation and ofthe Ward Republican Association,
continuing in that capacity until he resigned.
In the spring of 189 1 he was elected Supervisor
from the first Ward, although it is usually a
Democratic ward, and he has been re-elected each
succeeding year, in 1894 being elected for two
years. For the past three years he has been
Chairman ofthe Jail Committee, is now a member
of the Building Committee, and took an active
interest in the remodeling of the court house at
Goshen. His career as a fireman was begun in

1857, he being with different companies for a
long period. He is now Vice-President of the
Washington Heights Hose Company, of which
he was a charter member. Religiously he be
longs to St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church,
and was formerly a member of its Board of Trus
tees, but is now serving as Vice-President. His
life has been well spent, and he is a popular man,
whom to know is to honor.

*^M1

IN^

| EDSON COLEMAN, a resident of Goshen,
\r\ *s one °^ ^e oldest engineers on the Erie
U Railroad. By careful attention to the details
of his work he has avoided the mistakes so often
made by those of his profession, and his long ca
reer as an engineer has been remarkably free
from accident. He has been successful financially
and owns a comfortable home on Murray Ave
nue, where he and his wife are spending their
days in comfort, much esteemed by all who know
them. Our subject was born June 1, 1833, near Scotts-
town, this county, and is the son of Alfred Cole
man, who was born near Amity. The ances
tors of the Coleman family came from Eng
land, and his grandfather, Joel Coleman, emi
grated to this country and located on Long Island.
He was an agriculturist, and later came to this
county, locating near Amity, but subsequently
removed to Hamptonburg. He was a soldier in
the Revolutionary War, and served faithfully dur
ing that struggle.
Alfred Coleman, our subject's father, was also
a farmer, and in 1855 went to Deposit, Delaware
County, where he engaged in the wood business
in the interests of the Erie Railroad Company.
There he remained several years, and then went
to Middletown, where he was engaged as a watch
man for the above-mentioned company. Upon
leaving that position, he came to Goshen, where
he lived retired until his death, which occurred
at about the age of eightyJseven years.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Sarah J. Kirk. She was born in Middletown,
and was the daughter of Robert Kirk, who was

574

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a farmer and a brave soldier ofthe War of 1812.
His death occurred near Middletown. She is of
Scotch descent, and is still living, making her
home in Goshen. She is the mother of two chil
dren: Frances M. , who died at the age of twenty-
four years; and our subject.
L- E. Coleman spent his early years on the
home farm, attending the district schools during
the winter terms, and assisting in farm work dur
ing the summers. Having made some degree of
advancement' in the district schools, he went to
Middletown, where he attended the academy for
some time. In 1855 he located in Deposit, and
entered the employ of the Erie Company in the
capacity of baggage-master. In 1857 he became
fireman on the Eastern Division, running between
Port Jervis and Jersey City, and continued work
ing on that division until 1864, when he received
promotion, and became engineer on the Eastern
Division and branches. Remaining on this branch
of the road for three years, he afterward had the
run between Port Jervis and Jersey City, and
continued on this line of the road for fourteen
years. He then took charge of a switch engine
in the company's yards at Goshen, and worked
there six years, when he was placed in charge of
the "Pusher," in the same yards, on the Goshen
Grade. The marriage of our subject united him with
Mary F. Wells, who was born near Ithaca, N. Y.,
but since a child has lived at or near Goshen.
They were the parents of seven children, all of
whom are still living. Fannie, Mrs. J. Hagerty,
makes her home in this city. Alfred W. is the
next in order of birth. William E. is a tele
graph operator in New York City. Irene I.,
now Mrs. Glover, makes her home in this city.
Howard C. is also a resident of Goshen. Lewis
H. is in the employ of the Goshen Street Rail
way, and resides in Middletown; and Charles L-
is an engineer on one of the elevated railroads of
Chicago. Mrs. Coleman is the daughter of Alfred Wells,
who was born iu the town of Goshen. Her
grandfather, Joshua Wells, was also a native of
Orange County. He was a farmer, and died at
the age of eighty-nine years. The family were

of English descent, and Mrs. Coleman's father
was also a farmer near the town of Goshen. He
owned a large farm, which he cultivated until his
death, in 1891, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Her mother was formerly Lydia Nyce, a native of
Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of John
Nyce, who was a farmer of Pike County, Pa.,
and was descended from German ancestors. Mrs.
Nyce reached the age of sixty-three years, dying
in October, 1873. The family were Presbyte
rians, and were thoroughly identified with the
good works of that organization. They had eleven
children, and all grew to years of maturity.
Eight of the family are still living Of this fam
ily we make the following mention: Jerome, the
eldest, is deceased; Edward is a farmer; John N.
is a resident of San Francisco, Cal. ; Mary F. is
the next in order of birth; Kate, now Mrs.
Slaughter, makes her home in Orange County;
George W. is a physician of Brooklyn; Moses
A. is interested in real estate in Chicago; Eugene
F. and Lewis are deceased; Charlotte, now Mrs.
Slaughter, lives at Waverly, N. Y. ; and Charles
S. is on the home farm.
Politically Mr. Coleman is affiliated with the
Republican party, the principles of which he
heartily espouses, and in the ranks of which he
is an active worker. He is a member of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and, as
has been said, is one of the oldest members in
point of years of service. He and his family are
much esteemed in this community, and are well
known in the surrounding country.

«£c3$t*=*>

pGjlLLIAM PEACEY, one of the most able,
\ A / prominent and influential of the citizens
V V of Newburgh, is successfully engaged as a
contractor and builder. He owns much valuable
property in the city, and makes a business of
building houses and flats, which he sells on easy
payments, thus proving himself to be the true.
friend of the workingman. Not only as an ex
tensive real- estate dealer has he aided in the up-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

575

building and development of the city, but in
many other ways has he proved an interested
factor. Mr. Peacey is an Englishman, his birth occur
ring August 6, 1832, at Charletonkings, Glouces
tershire, where also his father, William, and his
grandfather, John, were born. Both of the latter
were masons by trade and passed their entire
lives in their native land. The grandfather was
a builder of wide reputation, and it was undoubt
edly from him that our subject inherited his lik
ing and ability for this industry.
The mother of our subject, Mrs. Charlotte
(James) Peacey, was also a native of England,
and the daughter of George James, a farmer.
She became the mother of five children, and
passed to her final reward in her native land. Ofi
her sons and daughters only two make their
home in the United States. William, of this
sketch, who was the eldest of the family, at
tended the private schools near his home until a
lad of eleven, when he began to learn the trade
of a plasterer under the instruction of his father,
working for him until eighteen. He then found
plenty to keep him busy in the employ of others
until 1872, the year in which he set sail for the
United States. Going by way of Liverpool to
Quebec, he thence made his way to Chicago, and
was employed as a contractor in plaster work in
both Cook and Kane Counties for a period of
fifteen years.
In 1888 our subject came on a visit to friends
at Newburgh, and so well pleased was he with the
location and the outlook for his business, that he
decided to remain here. For a time he devoted
himself to his trade, but soon began to purchase
old houses, which he remodeled and sold at a
good advance in price. In this way he acquired
considerable property, which increased in value
as the years passed by, so that he was enabled to
engage in the work on a more extensive scale.
He has erected in all thirty-three residences on
Benkard and Carson Avenues, all of which he
has sold with the' exception of four. He makes
his own plans, and so conveniently and beauti
fully are his dwellings arranged that they sell
without difficulty. Mr. Peacey makes this his

sole business, and is kept busy building both sum
mer and winter. His residence, which is located
at No. 14 Benkard Avenue, is a model of archi
tectural beauty.
Mr. Peacey was married in England, August
30, 1857, to Miss Annie E. Russell, also a native
of Charletonkings. Our subject is a member of
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, with which
denomination his estimable wife is also con
nected. He belongs to the Plasterers' Union,
and in politics never fails to cast his vote and in
fluence in favor of Republican candidates. With
many of the enterprises of the city which are des
tined to be of benefit to the place, he is promi
nently identified, and is highly regarded by all
who know him, both rich and poor, high and low.

EORNELIUS M. BROWN, general foreman
ofthe Pennsylvania Coal Company's ship
yard at Newburgh, has been in the service
of* the company since 1865. He was born near
Algerville, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1827. His
father, Henry Brown, was a farmer by occupa
tion, and in Ulster County married Catherine
Mars, a native of that county. She died in 1829,
leaving only one child, the subject of this sketch,
who grew to manhood in Ulster County, and was
educated in its district schools.
When nineteen years of age, Mr. Brown was
apprenticed as a house carpenter at Phillipsport,
Sullivan County, and after learning his trade re
moved to Schenectady, where he engaged as a
journeyman. In 1850 he went to Hawley, Pa.,
where he engaged as a boat-carpenter, and there
remained for nine years with the Pennsylvania
Coal Company. In 1865 he came to Newburgh,
in the employ of the same company, being made
foreman at this place. Two years later he became
general foreman of the shipyard, and has since
continuously occupied that position. He has
thirty men under his direction, and is engaged in
building the canal-boats that are run by the com
pany. He thoroughly understands his business,
and is one of the most faithful employes that have
ever been with the Pennsylvania Coal Company.

576

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

While residing in the Keystone State, Mr. Brown
was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Bemer,
a native of that state. They have become the
parents of two children, Dellophine and Laura.
Socially Mr. Brown is a member of Highland
Lodge, I. O. O. F., and politically he is a Re
publican.

+=

=+

WILBUR F. WEYANT was born May 28,
1844, in the town of New Windsor, of
which he is still a resident. The farm of
which he is the owner, and to the cultivation of
which he gives his attention, lies four miles south
west of Newburgh and has been in the family for
three generations. It consists of two hundred
and thirty acres, a portion of which is devoted to
the raising of cereals, and the remainder to the
pasturage of stock. In addition to general farm
pursuits, he carries on an extensive dairy busi
ness, and finds this branch of agriculture remu
nerative. He is a progressive, enterprising man,
and in his various undertakings has met with a
success of which he is eminently worthy.
The first representative of the Weyant family
in Orange County was our subject's grandfather,
Francis, who was born at Ft. Montgomery, N. Y.,
and came to this county about 1831, settling upon
the farm which he had previously purchased and
which is now the property of Wilbur F. Two
hundred and eighteen acres were comprised with
in its boundaries, and under his persevering and
intelligent management the place was brought to
a high state of cultivation. Mr. Weyant married
Miss Abbie Rider. His death occurred in August,
1876, and his remains were interred in the Mt.
Belle Cemetery.
George W. Weyant, father of our subject, was
reared in this county, and here married Miss
Amanda Decker, by whom he had seven chil
dren, one of whom died in infancy. The six
who survive are named as follows: Wilbur F. ;
Mary, wife of M. R. Van Zyle; Georgiana, who
married Louis V. Cooper; Fillmore, Abbie and
Ada. The father, whose principal occupation

has been that of a farmer, now makes his home
in Washingtonville, and is living retired from ac
tive business cares.
Alternating attendance at the district schools
with work on the home farm, our subject passed
the years of his youth. He was united in mar
riage, May 28, 1868, with Miss Mary E. Hunter,
who was born in Monroe Town, this county, Oc
tober 29, 1846, being the daughter of John and
Elizabeth Hunter. They have two children,
Estelle and Frank. The former, who was born
November 28, 187 1, is the wife of Robert E.
Morrison, a farmer of the town of New Wind
sor. Frank, who was born June 15, 1877, is a
graduate of the high school of Washingtonville,
with the Class of '94.
In 1867 Mr. Weyant came to the place where
he now lives, and here he has since made his
home, with the exception of three years spent in
Highland Falls. Previous to 1883 he rented the
farm, but in that year purchased the property,
the value of which has since been increased un
der his capable and efficient management. Po
litically he is in sympathy with the platform of
the Republican party, the candidates of which,
it is needless to add, receive his hearty support.
He has served as Justice of the Peace, and has
filled other local offices of trust and responsibil
ity, the duties of which he has discharged in a
manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to
the people.

-^H>-*^<!

(§-5=i_

(cS^~
(TAMES H. CASE, a member of the Board of
I Water Commissioners at Newburgh, is a na-
Q) tive of Hyde Park, Dutchess County, born
May 17, 1832. His father, Elijah Case, was
born in Granby, Conn., and was of Welsh de
scent. He was married in his native state to
Lydia A. Phelps, also a native of Connecticut,
where they were married. Soon afterward they
removed to Hyde Park, and later to New York
City, where the father died in 1837, and the
mother in 1849. Of their family there are three
living children, our subject being the youngest
and only son.

RESIDENCE AND DAIRY FARM OF WILBUR F. WEYANT, TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR,
Four Miles Southwest or Newburgh, N. Y.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

579

Mr. Case, of this sketch, was reared in New
York City, and educated in its public schools.
When seventeen years of age he was apprenticed
to William H. Webb, the owner of one of the
yards in New York City, to learn the trade of a
ship-joiner, serving and learning his trade under
Jonathan Jarvis. Mr. Webb was a noted phil
anthropist, and built a home for worn-out ship-
carpenters. After the expiration of his term of
apprenticeship Mr. Case continued with the firm
for three years, and then worked iu other yards,
becoming a foreman. In 1859 he began in busi
ness for himself on South Street with about
twenty men, taking contracts for ship-building,
together with steamboats and all kinds of work
in that line. Later he located on West Street,
North, where he continued in business until 1863,
and then removed to New Baltimore, Greene
County, N. Y. , where he continued in the same
line, together with the building of barges and
propellers. After remaining there for fourteen
years, or until 1879, he located in Newburgh.
While in the employ of Ward & Stanton as fore
man, he completed the vessel "Cadet." He
continued in their employ as long as they were
in business, after which he engaged in contract
ship-joining work for James Bigler. He did the
joiner work on the yachts "Henriette," "Paul
ina" and "Phenewinonia," also on several large
propellers and ferry-boats for the Hoboken Ferry
Company, and is now the only ship-joining con
tractor in Newburgh. He has in his employ at
all times from twenty-five to thirty men.
In 1 85 1 Mr. Case was united in marriage with
Miss Mary Ducy, a native of New York City.
Eleven children were born unto them, of whom
four grew to maturity and are now living:
Charles and William, who have both learned the
ship-joiner's trade, and reside in Newburgh; Ida,
Mrs. Stewart, whose husband is a lumberman of
Newburgh; and Anna, Mrs. Vanderpole, whose
husband is a professor of manual training in the
city schools of Brooklyn.
Mr. and Mrs. Case live in an elegant home
at No. 65 Ann Street, and he has built three
houses on Liberty Street in Washington Heights.
Politically he is a Republican, and in 1892 re

ceived the nomination and was elected on that
ticket as Water Commissioner. He is now Chair
man of the Finance Committee of that board, and
in 1894 was Chairman ofthe Improvement Com
mittee. In the management of the water works
he has taken great interest, and the system is
said to be one of the best in the state. The
reservoir covers one hundred and eighty-one
acres, and the water is conducted into the city
through a twenty-four-inch main. Mr Case af
filiates with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and is a member of Newburgh Lodge No. 309,
F. & A. M. He stands high in the community
in which he has so long resided.

WILLIAM H. BROOKS. This affable old
gentleman has held the position of Engi
neer of the Steam-Heating and Ventilat
ing Apparatus of Public Buildings in the United
States Military Academy at West Point for the
past twenty-three years. He is very popular with
the cadets, and is highly regarded in the com
munity where the best years of his life have been
spent. His birth occurred at Ft. Montgomery,
August 27, 1844, and his father, William R.
Brooks, who was also a native of this state, was
for many years a prominent merchant of Ft. Mont
gomery. He also ran a market sloop, the ' 'Thom
as Connely," and died in the above place when
ripe in years. The grandfather, John Brooks,
who was born in New York City, became a farm
er in the town of Monroe, owning and operating
a valuable tract of land.
Mrs. Betsy (Slauwson) Brooks, the mother of
our subject, was born at High Ridge, Conn., and
was the daughter of Daniel Slauwson, also a na
tive of the Nutmeg State, where he was a manu
facturer of staves, and also dealt in ship timber.
He lost his life on a steamer which he was ex
amining, it being the first which had ever blown
up in this locality. Although in her eighty-sev
enth year, Mrs. Brooks is still living, and makes
her home in Hoboken. She is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she has
been connected for many years. Of her large

58o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

family of nine children, all are now living, and
three of her sons are engineers. John participa
ted in the late war as a member of Company E,
United States Engineer Corps, and is now living
in New York; Theodore is chief engineer of the
"Garrison," a ferry-boat.
The subject of this sketch spent the first eight
een years of his life on his father's farm near Ft.
Montgomery, and then went on the river as fire
man of the boat "Moses Taylor." Four years
later he was made chief engineer of the same
boat, operating mostly in the New York Harbor
in the employ ofthe Government. He occupied
the same position on numerous other vessels until
1872, when he was appointed to his present re
sponsible position. At the time he assumed the
duties of the same, there were but five steam-
boilers used; now, however, there are over thirty-
three, and eight firemen are employed. Mr.
Brooks superintends the whole, making all the
needed repairs, etc. In 1872 the fire department
was organized, having two engines and hose
carts, complete in every particular, and of this he
is virtually the chief.
The lady to whom Mr. Brooks was married at
Ft. Montgomery, in 1875, was Miss Eliza Faurot,
who was born there, and who was the daughter
of James Faurot, the owner of a market sloop,
which he ran up and down the river. In social
affairs Mr. Brooks is an Odd Fellow, and has
passed nearly all the chairs in Highland Falls
Lodge. He is also a Knight of Pythias and a
demitted Mason, formerly being connected with
the organization at Phillipstown, N. Y.
**^^'5*cffibi:$vl"l,S?<^^5*e5o-T- '
EAPT. ZACH ROOSA, who is well known in
the Hudson Valley as the captain of the
steamer "Jacob H. Tremper," was born at
Stone Ridge, Ulster County, in June, 1851. He
is the son of Isaac Z. and Charlotte A. (Wood)
Roosa, natives, respectively, of Stone Ridge and
Rosendale, Ulster County, the latter of whom
died in 1859. Grandfather Zachariah Roosa, also
a native of Stone Ridge, was a farmer by occupa
tion, while his father, whose name was the same

as his own, was a soldier in the War of the Revo
lution. The family is of Holland descent, but
has been represented in America since Colonial
days. For nineteen years the father of our subject
was engaged in the manufacture of carriages at
Stone Ridge, but he then transferred his atten
tion to agriculture, which he still follows, though
not as actively as in his younger days. He makes
his home in Marbletown, Ulster County, and is
now (1895) seventy -five years old. His wife was
the daughter of an officer in the Revolutionary
War, and her mother was a Miss Henderson.
Four daughters and one son comprised the pa
rental family, of whom three daughters and our
subject are living, he being next to the eldest.
He was reared in Ulster County, and received a
fair education in the common schools. His time
was devoted to farm work until 1873, when he
entered the employ of the Tremper Steamer Com
pany at Rondout, and since that time he has been
in the employ of the company. Until 1879 he
was in the freight house at Rondout, after which
he was clerk on the steamer "Eagle," remaining
with that boat until she was burned on the river
at Milton. This dreadful catastrophe occurred in
August, 1883, when, during a trip on the Hud
son, fire broke out in the cabin under the floor
and made such a headway before it was discov
ered that it was impossible to stop or extinguish
the flames. Fortunately, through the arduous
exertions ofthe crew, the passengers were brought
safely to land.
Two days after the loss of the "Eagle," our
subject was made clerk ofthe "Martin," with
which he remained for four weeks, being then
transferred to the "General Sedgwick," and serv
ing as captain of that boat until the spring of
1885. His next position was that of captain on
the "Martin," running between Newburgh and
Troy, in which capacity he was employed for six
years. He then became captain of the "Jacob
H. Tremper," running between Newburgh and
Troy, which responsible position he is filling with
the greatest efficiency and success. It is worthy
of special note that, since he became captain, no
one has ever been injured on his boat. Another

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

58i

remarkable fact is that, since taking up the life of
a sailor, he has never lost a day from his duties
on account of sickness. The steamer of which
he is captain is one of the fastest on the river,
and is a fine and well constructed side-wheeler.
The residence of Captain Roosa, at No. 197
North Miller Street, is presided over by his ami
able wife, with whom he was united in marriage
at Stone Ridge, January 23, 1877. She was Miss
Ida Ten Eyck, daughter of James K. Ten Eyck,
a farmer and business man of that place. They
are the parents of two children living, Charles
Ten Eyck and Ethel. Prior to 1888 Captain
Roosa made his home in Kingston, but in that
year he came to Newburgh, where he has since
resided. Politically he is a Republican, while in
his fraternal relations he is connected with Ron
dout Lodge No. 343, F. & A. M. , and the Na
tional Order of Masters' and Pilots' Association,
Harbor No. 3, of Rondout.

GlBRAM FULLER. Among the many who
LA enlisted in the defense of the Union during
| | the dark days of the Rebellion, none served
with more fidelity than the subject of this sketch.
He was twice wounded in battle, and his health
was seriously impaired by these wounds, as well
as by the hardship and exposure incident to army
life. It is, therefore, especially appropriate that
a record of his life be placed in this volume, which
is dedicated to the public-spirited men of the
county. The Fuller family is of Holland-Dutch descent,
but has been represented in the United States
since Colonial days. John, our subject's grand
father, was born in Connecticut, but spent many
years iu Ulster County, N. Y., where he followed
the trade of a carpenter, and his death occurred
iu the West. The father of our subject, Jonathan
Fuller, was born in New Paltz, Ulster County,
N. Y., and was a farmer by occupation. Though
somewhat advanced in years when the Civil War
broke out, he enlisted and served for three years

in the army, being a member of the same com
pany as our subject. On his return from the
army he resumed farm work, which he carried on
until his death, at the age of seventy-six.
Our subject's mother, Mary, was born in Ul
ster County, where her father, Abram Steen, was
a farmer and nurseryman. The family is of
Dutch descent. By her marriage she had six
children, all but one of whom attained mature
years. Hattie, who married Edward Bodley in
Rosendale, N.Y., is now deceased; William makes
his home in New Paltz; Catherine M. married
George Kimbark, and lives in Rochester; and
Abner is a resident of Marlborough, N. Y.
The subject of this sketch was born in New
Paltz, Ulster County, N. Y., February 22, 1846,
and was reared on the home farm, receiving a
public-school education. August 12, 1862, he
volunteered in the Union service and became a
member of Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-
sixth New York Infantry, which was mustered
in at Kingston and sent by boat to New Orleans.
He took part in the battles of Port Hudson and
Alexandria, and for meritorious service he was
commissioned Corporal. Returning North, he
was in Washington for a time, and then with
General Sheridan marched through the Shenan
doah Valley. At Winchester he was wounded,
September 19, 1864, being first shot in the left
shoulder with a shell. However, he continued
at his post of duty, and almost immediately after
ward he was shot through the left forearm.
Making his way back in the field, he had his
wound dressed, but continued on the battleground
until the following night, when he was taken to
the city of Winchester, thence to Harper's Ferry,
and from there to Frederick City. Finally he
reached the Chestnut Hill Army Hospital at Phil
adelphia, where he remained until June, 1865,
and was then mustered out and honorably dis
charged, the war having closed.
So severe was the injury received that for two
years after returning home Mr. Fuller was unable
to use his arm. He learned the painter's trade,
but his health did not permit him to follow that
occupation. He then went to Poughkeepsie,
where he carried on a restaurant business for six

5«2

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

months. In 1873 he came to Goshen, and for the
twelve ensuing years he had a restaurant on Main
Street. In 1887 he entered the employ of the
Poughkeepsie Cracker Company, whom he rep
resents in Orange County and parts of Pennsyl
vania and New Jersey, Ulster and Rockland
Counties. For five years he raised fancy poult
ry, carrying on an extensive business in that
line, but his entire attention at present is en
grossed by his work as traveling salesman.
In New Paltz Mr. Fuller and Miss Mary L-
Shaffer, a native of Greene County, N. Y., were
united in marriage, January 11, 1872. They are
the parents of two children living, Mineola and
Cora Reeves. Socially Mr. Fuller is connected
with the Odd Fellows. In religious belief he is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and is serving upon the Board of Stewards and
as Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday-school.
Politically he is a stalwart Republican.

QETER H. DE GARMO. The prefix "De"
yr proves that Mr. De Garmo comes of a noble
fS Norman family. The first ancestor of whom
we have any account, a native of Normandy, was
outlawed for an act of daring patriotism and es
caped to Holland. After a brief sojourn in that
asylum for political offenders, he sailed for Amer
ica, where he arrived almost twenty years later than
the heroic men and women of the "Mayflower,"
namely in 1640, and Mr. De Garmo, the gentle
man of whom we write, has therefore a fuller
claim to the proud and privileged name of Amer-
can than most.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. De Garmo,
Peter, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y.,
where for a time he owned and operated a tan
nery and later a farm. Leaving that location,
he bought a farm in Pleasant Valley, in the same
state, and there he died, at the patriarchal age of
eighty-three. He was a descendant of" an old
Quaker family on the Hudson, and we may there
fore be assured that he came of a line of honest,
sober, God-fearing men and women. His son
William, the father of Peter H., familiarly known

as "Uncle Billy," was born in Poughkeepsie,
and for some years followed the business of a
hardware merchant, and later that of a grocer.
Possessing a full share of the public confidence,
he was elected Alderman from the Fifth Ward of
his native town, and also served as Supervisor.
In politics he was a stanch Republican. After
leaving the grocery business he engaged in other
enterprises. His death occurred early in the win
ter of 1895. Adhering to the faith of his fore
fathers, he belonged to the Society of Friends.
The mother of Peter H. De Garmo in her
maidenhood bore the name of Mary R. Wixson,
and was a daughter of Hiram Wixson, a farmer
of Dutchess County, N. Y., where his daughter
Mary was born. She was reared and educated
in her native county, and passed away there after
a blameless life, leaving three children: Mrs.
Hannah S. Arnold, of Boston Corners, with whom
the father lived at the time of his death ; Robert M. ,
who resides at Poughkeepsie; and the gentleman
of whom we write. The latter, who was born in
Poughkeepsie, September 30, 1855, was reared
and educated in the schools of his native town,
attending private institutions until his twelfth
year and then the public schools. In 1873 here-
moved to the city of Rochester, in the same state,
where he became shipping clerk for a salt-manu
facturing company. Leaving Rochester, he re
turned to his native town and entered the em
ploy of Samuel P. Palmer, a wholesale dealer in
drugs, for whom he traveled a year. He later
became an employe of the Poughkeepsie & East
ern Railroad in its freight office. The next step
he took in railroad work was to become a con
ductor on a train running between Poughkeepsie
and Millerton, a position he held for. seven years,
making his total term of service with the com
pany nine years, during all of which time he
filled his responsible positions to the satisfaction
of his employers.
In 1883 Mr. De Garmo gave up his situation
with the railroad to engage in the business of
manufacturing and bottling soda-water in Pough
keepsie. In 1884 he came to Goshen and started
in as a manufacturer of soda-water on Main
Street, afterward moving to the corner of Mur-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

5»3

ray Avenue and Scottstown Street. He has now
a well arranged establishment, with a capacity of
from three hundred to five hundred dozen bot
tles a day of every class of "soft" drinks. He is
a Director in the Mt. Eve Granite Company and
a member of the Goshen Driving Park Associa
tion. At Pittsfield, Mass., June 6, 1878, Mr. De
Garmo mairied Miss Mary E. Gauthier, who
was born in that locality, and is a daughter of
Francis and Mary (Merrill) Gauthier, her father
being a farmer there. Mr. Gauthier was a
Canadian by birth, and his ancestors were French.
The Merrills were pioneers of Pittsfield, Mass.,
and Capt. Hosea Merrill was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War. Mr. De Garmo is a mem
ber of the Order of Foresters. He has been fore
man ofthe engine and hose company, and is still
a member of that useful organization. Like his
father, he is a stanch Republican.

¦ !¦>>> *¦» * »hi

>. « rf j li H.I

0ANIEL JACKSON STEWARD comes from
one of the old and honored families of
Orange County, and resides in a beautiful
country home adjoining the village of Goshen.
The residence is surrounded by nearly four hun
dred acres of fine land, covered with an abun
dance of grand forest trees. The original part of
the house was built about 1740, and the newer
portion about 1864. During the winter season,
the family reside in New York City, their home
being at No. 10 Grammercy Park. Mr. Steward^
is noted for his liberal encouragement and patron
age of the arts and sciences, and, being fortunate
in having independent means, has been able to
gratify his tastes and to devote much study and
research to his chosen field.
Born at Hanover Square, N. Y., October 12,
18 16, our subject is a son of John and Martha
(Jackson) Steward. The former was bom on
the old Orange County farm, where his father,
Judge John Steward, was born in the early part
of the last century. He was very patriotic in
the Revolutionary period, and was one ofthe first
Judges of the new county. When the Hessian

prisoners were being transferred to Philadelphia,
the officers in charge of them were quartered in
the worthy Judge's home, while the others were
accommodated in the stables and other buildings.
The father of Judge Steward, John, Sr., was born
iu the northern part of Ireland and was of Scotch
descent. He was one of two brothers who emi
grated to America together, the other settling in
Newport and becoming the father of the talented
artist, Gilbert Stuart (that branch of the family
spelling the name differently), while' John, Sr.,
located on this farm and married Elizabeth Brad
ner, daughter of the first regular clergyman in
Goshen. This divine was noted from the fact that
he eloped with a daughter of a French nobleman
by the name of Colville, then residing in Edin
burgh, Scotland, a Hugenot refugee. Mr. Brad
ner had a college education and was tutor to two
of Colville' s sons, and while there fell in love
with the daughter of the house. Meeting with
strong opposition, they eluded the parental wrath
by fleeing to America. Our subject's father was
successfully engaged in mercantile operations in
New York City for many years, and died at his
home on Fifth Avenue in 1856, aged about four
score years. He was twice married, his first wife
being Martha Jackson, who was born near Ches
ter and who was a daughter of Daniel Jackson.
Of John Steward's ten children, only two now sur
vive. John, the eldest son, is a resident of New
York City.
D.J. Steward was reared in the metropolis and
was graduated from Princeton in the Class of ' 34,
later receiving the degree of Master of Arts from
his Alma Mater. He was a leading member of
the Cliosophic Society, and was especially brilliant
in the scientific branches of study. He took great
pride in gathering rare shells, and his .collection,
which was the finest in the state or country, he
presented to the American Museum of Natural
History, Central Park, New York City, as well
as a fine assortment of Indian relics. His resi
dence in the latter city is filled with many of the
choicest specimens of the early and later schools
of painting, among which are works by Murillo,
Salvator, Morales and many others. He was
First Vice-President of the American Museum of

5»4

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Natural History, Vice-President of the New York
Bible Society, Fellow ofthe National Academy of
Design, patron of the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, and a member of the New York Academy of
Science, of the New York Lyceum of Natural
History, and the American Geographical Society.
For years he was one of the Board of Managers of
the House of Refuge on Randall's Island, and is
now officially connected with the Port Society of
New York, a seaman's benefit organization. Re
ligiously he is a member of the Reformed Dutch
Church. Mr. Steward was united in marriage with Miss
Bogert, a representative of an old New York fam
ily and the daughter of Henry K. Bogert. Mr.
and Mrs. Steward have four daughters, all living.
In politics he is a stanch Republican.

f^-

.M^

KZ7-

®&

=C)

EAPT. GEORGE FIELD, a stockholder and
manager of the Newburgh Dredging Asso
ciation, who throughout his life has been
connected with work on the river, was born in
Saugerties, Ulster County, N. Y., November 2,
1845. His father, Captain John Field, and his
grandfather, Oliver Field, were both natives of
England, and the latter brought his family to
America, locating first in New York City. Later
he removed to Sing Sing, where he owned the
homestead known as Mt. Pleasant, and his last
days were spent in Saugerties.
Capt. John Field was reared on the banks of
the Hudson, and was always connected with the
water, running a packet, and owning a line of
boats used in freighting. He purchased property
in Saugerties, and engaged in the retail coal bus
iness and in general freighting until he had be
come the possessor of a comfortable competence,
when he retired to private life. During the Civil
War his boats were used in the Government serv
ice. He died in 1870, at the age of seventy-five.
In politics he was a Whig, and religiously was an
active and consistent member of the Reformed
Church, serving as Elder for a number of years.

His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah M.
Krows, was born in Saugerties, and was a daugh
ter of Frederick Krows, a native of Holland, who
left home at the age of twelve years, and shipped
before the mast, following the high seas for a
long period. He then became one of the early
settlers of Saugerties, and for years kept what
was known as the Krows Tavern, and later built
the Exchange Hotel, which was carried on by
his son. His death occurred at the advanced age
of ninety. Mrs. Field died in 1869. By her
marriage she became the mother of nine children
who grew to mature years, but only three are
now living. John, who was an Ensign in the
navy, is deceased; Augustus, who enlisted in the
infantry, and afterward was transferred to the
navy as pilot, has also passed away; Thomas
served as an engineer in the naval department,
and was also in the Quartermaster's department;
Charles, who engaged iu business with his father,
is deceased; and Ferdinand is a carpenter of
Saugerties. There were also three sisters, but
the only one living is Mrs. Overbaugh, of Chi
cago. George Field was reared in his native town,
and acquired his education in a public school and
an academy, and from his earliest youth has been
upon the water. He is one of the most familiar
and most esteemed men who have long been con
nected with the Hudson. At the age of eighteen
he became assistant engineer on one of his broth
er' s boats, and eight months later was made cap
tain ofthe boat "Campbell," with which he con
tinued for about two years. He was afterward
engineer on a river boat for two years, then spent
a year on Lake Champlain. In the spring of
1870 he came to Newburgh, and for one year was
engineer in the employ of Isaac Wood. He after
ward purchased an interest in three tugs, and en
gaged in the towing business for many years with
good success, continuing his efforts in that direc
tion until 1889, when he sold out. In that time
his firm built the tug "Field," and also the tug
"Coleman. ' ' The firm style was Coleman, Field
& Horton, and the connection was continued un
til 1889, when the senior member sold out.
Captain Field then went to Little Falls, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

585

purchased an interest in a paper-mill, the proper
ty ofthe Little Falls Paper Company, engaged in
the manufacture of tissue paper. Hewas for two
years in charge of the business, and his capable
management made it a paying investment. In
1891 he sold out, and returned to the river, build
ing the "R. G. Davis," a boat sixty feet long,
which he operated for two years. On selling he
embarked in the dredging business in connection
with the firm of Thomas S. Warvel & Marvel,
remodeled the dredge, and put in an Osgood im
proved dredge and six scows. In 1893 the
"Homer," a new tug, was built, and ot the en
tire business Captain Field is manager. He is
one of the best known men on the river, and in
his undertakings he has been very successful, ac
quiring a well earned prosperity.
The Captain was married, in Catskill, N. Y., to
Sarah E. , daughter of Abraham Post, a farmer of
that place, where the daughter was born, reared
and educated. They now have two children,
Bessie and George. Mrs. Field is a most excel
lent lady, possessing a refined and cultured taste,
which is manifest in her beautiful home, and the
grace with which she presides there. The Cap
tain belongs to Confidence Lodge No. 51, F. &
A. M. , of Saugerties, also to the Odd Fellows' so
ciety of that place, and in politics is a Republican.

D"^"^^"^3^

[" RANK A. SCOTT, President of the Board
jM of Excise Commissioners, and an architect
I f and builder of Newburgh, has been a life
long resident of this city, and was born here July
18, 1830. He is a son of John and Jane (Ged
ney) Scott, the former of whom was born in Ab
erdeen, Scotland, but emigrated to America in
early manhood and settled in Rahway, N. J., re
moving thence to Newburgh and engaging here
at his trade of builder. In this city he married a
daughter of John Gedney (whose family name
was originally spelled Gidney) , who was born at
the old Gidney homestead in Newburgh Town
ship, adjoining the city limits.
The Gidney family is of French-Huguenot or
igin. The great-great-grandfather of our sub

ject, David Gidney, came, in company with three
brothers, from France to the United States, and
with them settled in Westchester County, N. Y.,
and in 1754 removed to Orange County, and set
tled in Newburgh Town. Grandfather Gidney
was in the War of 1812. For a time he engaged
in farm work, but afterward sold his place and
settled in the village of Newburgh, where he made
his home until death. After leaving the farm he
engaged in the transportation business on the Hud
son, between Newburgh and New York City . He
married a daughter of John Barry, a native ofthe
North of Ireland and a man of great talent and
superior education, who was proprietor ofa school
to prepare young men for college. The Gidney
family is among the oldest in the county, and its
representatives have been known as men and
women of culture and refinement, broad knowl
edge and progressive spirit.
After his marriage John Scott engaged in busi
ness as a builder and mason, in which manner
his time was occupied until his death. He is re
membered as a gentleman of great industry, per
severance and skill in his chosen occupation, and
his death, which occurred in Newburgh, was
mourned by all who knew him. His wife, who
was born in 1799, died in 1882, at the age of
eighty -three. Her children were eight in number,
all but one of whom attained years of maturity,
and two are now living. The eldest son was one
of the earliest pioneers of California, having gone
there prior to the Mexican War. The long jour
ney to the Pacific Coast was made in Stephenson's
Company B, as a member ofa regiment ordered
to California for the purpose of settling that part
ofthe country. He was first an Orderly-Ser
geant, but afterwards was promoted to Lieutenant.
After some years he returned East, but later went
back to California as a member of Walker's ex
pedition, he being captain of the company. He
traveled with the regiment as far as Nicaragua,
but died there. A younger brother, William,
enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War,
took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and later ac
companied General Sherman on his memorable
march to the sea, he being a member of the
Fourth Minnesota Battery. From the effects of

586

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the hardships and exposure of forced marches and
camp life, illness was brought on, and his death
resulted. A sister, Harriet, is now Mrs. Jacob
M. Sloutenburgh, and resides in Newburgh.
In boyhood our subject attended the old Glebe
School, where he was under the preceptorship of
Professor Goodsell. At the age of seventeen he
went to New York City, where he was appren
ticed to the builder's trade. At the same time he
studied architecture in night schools. In 1854
he returned to Newburgh, where he worked at
his trade and continued the study of architecture.
In 1863 he went to Omaha, Neb., where he en
gaged in freighting with ox-teams. He made
one trip to Montana, via Salt Lake and the North
Platte to Sweet Water and South Pass. The
winter was spent in Salt Lake City, from which
place he went back to Denver and remained there
during the summer, engaged in business. In
December, 1865, he returned to Newburgh, but
in the spring of the following year he again went
West, settling in St. Joseph, Mo., where he en
gaged in contracting and building. While in
that city he superintended the erection of the old
Pacific House, the largest hotel there.
Returning to Newburgh in 1872, Mr. Scott has
since made this city his home and is engaged in
business as an architect and contractor. The
quality of his work, and his recognized skill, have
secured for him considerable patronage from other
cities, and he has had contracts for buildings in a
number of cities in the Hudson Valley. His res
idence is situated at No. 127 Johnston Street, and
his office is at No. 1 Front Street.
At Plattekill, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1852,
occurred the marriage of Mr. Scott and Miss Mary
Banks, who was born in that village, her father,
William, having been a farmer of Ulster County.
They have two children: Elsie Banks, a graduate
of Newburgh Academy, in which she is now a
teacher; and Annie Gedney, also a graduate of
the academy. In 1894 Mr. Scott received from
Mayor Odell the appointment of Excise Commis
sioner, and is now President of the board, his as
sociates being Robert J. Hill and Hiram Lozier.
He was made a Mason iu St. Joseph (Mo.) Lodge
No. 78, and is now a member of Hudson River

Lodge No 607, F. & A. M. In religious belief
he is a Unitarian and is one of the Trustees of the
church in Newburgh. Politically he favors Re
publican principles.

APT. ROBERT
genial gentleman,

S. CLARK, a pleasant,
who is a captain on the
{J river, and makes his home in Newburgh,
was born iu New York City, October 30, 1864,
and there remained until fifteen years of age, at
tending the public schools. At the age of eight
een he began sailing on the steamer "Sunshine,"
running between Hartford and Sag Harbor, and
later on the "Port Royal" for a year, running
between the same points. He began at the bot
tom of the business and worked his way steadily
upward, until to-day he is recognized as one of
the most careful pilots on the river.
On the 2d of March, 1882, Captain Clark came
to Newburgh and secured a position as wheel
man on the "Harte." Two years later he was
made pilot, and after three years became captain
on a vessel which plies between Newburgh and
Fishkill, transporting cars for the New York,
Lake Erie & Western and the West Shore Rail
roads across to Fishkill, N. Y., and for the New
York & New England at that place. The last-
named company owns the boat of which he is
captain. It takes on twenty -four cars on the
Newburgh side, and makes two landings for each
road. The winter of 1894-95 the Captain says
was the hardest he ever experienced, the boat
having constantly to guard against wrecking on
the ice, but, nevertheless, he did not lose a single
trip all winter, and kept boat- tracks open and
clean. The Captain was married in 1887, in Meriden,
Conn., to Miss Addie Lewis, who was born in
Clinton, Conn., where her father was engaged iu
the manufacture of bits. Our subject isa mem
ber of the New York Building and Loan Associa
tion, and has a beautiful home at No. 12 Liberty
Street, Washington Heights. He is a member

REV. JESSE F. SHAFER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

589

of Lawson Hose Company No. 5, is an hon
orary member of the Newburgh Firemen' s Vet
eran Association, and is also a member of the
iBtna Boat Club. In his political views he is a
Republican.

¦— 1 — •>>H®(i§j|®£«<'» — -*¦—*-

REV. JESSE F. SHAFER, one of the old
and honored residents of Newburgh, is pass
ing his declining years at his pleasant home
on Washington Heights, surrounded by the beau
ties of nature. For several years he was a min
ister in the Presbyterian Church, but was obliged
to give up that work on account of the failure of
his voice. Formerly he did most effective cam
paign service, and in the fall of 1867 was Repub
lican candidate for the office of Surrogate of Or
ange County, though he was beaten by the op
position. During the early part of the war, at
Kingston, N. Y., he assisted in raising men for
the Eightieth Regiment of New York Volunteers.
The great-grandfather of our subject, Frederick
Shafer, emigrated in boyhood from Hanover,
Germany, with his father, Dedrick, and at first
settled in Pennsylvania, but removed to Mont
gomery, Orange County, before the War of the
Revolution. The family were Lutherans in re
ligious faith, but our subject's grandfather, Dan
iel, became a member of the Reformed Dutch
Church, attending the old brick house of worship
in Montgomery. Daniel Shafer, Sr., was a farm
er and a tanner by occupation, his home being in
Keysertown, town of Montgomery, Orange Coun
ty. His son Daniel, Jr., married Catherine, a
daughter of Jonathan and Susan (Youngblood)
Decker. The former, who was of German and
Holland-Dutch ancestry, was a farmer of Shaw-
angunk, Ulster County, while his wife, Susan,
was of German lineage and a daughter of John
William Youngblood, whose old stone house,
built at the time of the French War, is still in a
fair state of preservation. This building, which
is situated in the town of Montgomery, about
three miles northwest of the village of that name,
25

was used as a German school fourteen years be
fore the War for Independence. Mrs. Decker died
in 1870, at the great age of ninety-three years.
Jesse F Shafer was born October 12, 1828, to
Daniel Shafer, Jr., and his wife, Catherine, in
Montgomery, Orange County. In their family
of eight children, five were sons, and all are de
ceased except our subject. He was reared on a
farm, and graduated from Montgomery Academy
in 1848. When only sixteen years of age he
taught his first term of school at Kerhonkson,
Ulster County, and afterwards taught at other
places, passing altogether about four years in that
occupation. In 1849 he took up the study of law
with Hon. Hugh B. Bull, of Montgomery, but
for a time was obliged to discontinue his work on
account of poor health. In 185 1 he attended the
State and National Law School at Ballston Spa,
Saratoga County, N. Y., the celebrated orator,
John W. Fowler, being the Principal at the time.
Here Mr. Shafer learned the art of ready and ac
curate extemporaneous speech, which has been
of great service to him throughout life. In 1852
he again studied law with his former preceptor,
Mr. Bull, and in July of that year was admitted
to the Bar. In 1852 he commenced practice in
Goshen, being in the office of the late Hon. C. H.
Winfield, an eminent advocate, who was then
District Attorney of the county. In 1854 and in
1855 he was in the office of Hon. Stephen W. Ful
lerton, at Newburgh, and with Hon. J. W. Fow
ler, also of this place, and the County Surrogate.
Here Mr. Shafer was of much service, helping in
the office business and iu the Justice Court.
In May, 1856, our subject went westward, in
tending to settle in practice in Kansas, but arriv
ing there during the height of the border ruffian
troubles, he deemed it best to return East, for a
season at least. During the winters of 1856-57,
he had charge of a school at Diamond Valley,
Orange County, and in the year last mentioned
went to Kingston, Ulster County, where he be
came a partner of his brother, Joseph D. , a lawyer
and District Attorney ofthe county, and together
they built up a large and successful practice.
During the campaign of i860 our subject made
eloquent speeches in Kingston, Woodstock and

59°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

many points in Ulster County for Abraham Lin
coln, and after Ft. Sumter was fired upon made
ardent and patriotic addresses, not only in Ulster,
but in Orange and Delaware Counties. He was
successful in helping to fill up the ranks of the
Eightieth New York Infantry Volunteers, then
preparing for three years' service at the front.
His old friend, Hon. C. H. Van Wyck, then of
Bloomingburg, Sullivan County, was engaged in
raising the Fifty-sixth New York Volunteer
Infantry, then being organized at Camp Van-
Wyck, near Newburgh, and Mr. Shafer conclud
ed to enlist in the regiment. October i, 1861, he
gave up his practice and comfortable home to
work in his country's cause, being assigned to
duty as Quartermaster-Sergeant, John C. Gerard,
of Newburgh, being Quartermaster. After serv
ing in this capacity until June 10, 1862, he was
promoted to be Second Lieutenant of Company
K, same regiment, and was with it in all its ar
duous service under MacClellan. August 15,
1862, he was made Acting Quartermaster of the
regiment, and November 17 ofthe same year was
commissioned First Lieutenant and Regimental
Quartermaster, acting as such until he tendered
his resignation, October 15, 1864. During Feb
ruary and March of 1863 he was Acting Quar
termaster of Colonel Howell's brigade at St. Hel
ena Island, S. C. , and in the early part of 1864 was
Post Quartermaster at Beaufort, S. C. He was
always found where duty called him and was fre
quently under fire. By long exposure to the ma
laria of the pestilential swamp of Chickahominy
and of the islands off the coast of South Carolina,
he was much broken down in health. In 1862
his partner left Kingston and his clients became
scattered, consequently his law practice was bro
ken up. He returned to his parents' home iu
Montgomery and worked on the farm, hoping to
recover his health.
In 1866 Mr. Shafer actively championed the
project to construct a new county out of parts of
Orange and Ulster Counties, to be called Highland,
with Newburgh as the county seat, but was not
successful in having the plan carried out. The
following year he helped to frame the first rail
road district of the town of Montgomery, which

was bonded for $60,000 to complete the Mont
gomery & Erie Railroad from Goshen to Mont
gomery, and but for this amount the road would
have been stranded. From 1869 to 1873 Mr.
Shafer owned and operated the old Youngblood
Farm, adjoining his father's, but his health was
not strong enough for such arduous work, and in
September, 1873, he moved to Newburgh, where
he practiced law for a year or so. In 1874, ow
ing to a change of mind and heart, he decided to
prepare for the ministry, and devoted his whole
energies, night and day, to that end, being coun
seled and advised from time to time by Rev. W.
H. Gleason and Rev. J. H. Carroll, D. D. In
the latter part of 1876 Mr. Shafer was licensed to
preach, and was ordained in November, 1877.
He occupied the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church
at Audenried, Carbon County, Pa., for a few
weeks, and a little later accepted a call from that
church, remaining in charge of this congrega
tion for nearly five years, and being very success
ful in his work. The village is situated in the
middle of the anthracite coalfields, and he became
a member of the Lehigh Presbytery. Later he re
signed his charge and in 1882 became stated sup
ply of the Presbyterian Church at Hughsonville,
Dutchess County, N. Y., remaining in this capac
ity until 1889, when, as before mentioned, the fail
ure of his voice caused him to retire. Occasionally,
however, he engages in general evangelical work,
besides devoting considerable attention to the pen
sion and bounty business, and in his hours of
leisure writes for the newspapers and engages in
historical research and study. He is Chaplain of
Ellis Post No. 52, G. A. R., and is also Chaplain
of the Fifty-sixth Regiment Veteran Association,
frequently making patriotic addresses before these
bodies. March 11, 1869, our subject married Ann H.,
daughter of Col. James I. Crawford, of Thompson
Ridge, this county. She came from one of the
oldest families in this portion of the state, whose
history is indissolubly interwoven with its an
nals. After a long and happy married life Mrs.
Shafer was called to the home beyond, June 10,
1 89 1. She left one daughter, Susie C, who was
married June 12, 1895, to Walter Carvey, of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

59i

Newburgh. Mr. Shafer now makes his home
with his daughter and son-in-law at No. 15 Over
look Place. Now, as ever, he looks on the bright
side of life, and with philosophy and Christian
resignation contemplates the past and has firm
trust and faith in a glorious future.
^HOMAS ELLISON. A position of influence
among the citizens of Newburgh is held by
the gentleman whose name introduces this
sketch, and who is numbered among the oldest
residents ofthe town of Newburgh. He is a native
of this county, having been born at New Wind
sor in 1813, to Thomas, Sr., and Harriet (Rum
sey) Ellison, the former of whom was born in
New York City, January 29, 1774, while the lat
ter was born in the state of Maryland. She was
the daughter of Charles Rumsey, an officer in the
Revolutionary War.
The first member of the Ellison family came
to America from England in 1668, landing in the
city of New York. The family has since grown
to be very large, and its members are highly re
spected wherever known. To Thomas and Har
riet Ellison there were born the following chil
dren: Mary J., who died September 14, 1842, and
who was the wife of Thomas James De Lancy;
John, who died March 29, 1835; Eliza, who died
in 1882; Henrietta and Caroline, deceased; Will
iam, who died at the age of sixteen; Thomas,
our subject; and Emily, who is the wife of John
Morton, and resides in New York City.
The great-grandfather of our subject, Thomas,
died in this county in 1724, leaving four sons,
John, Thomas, William and Joseph. He was a
farmer, but a man of large means for that period,
and resided on his farm until his death. The fa
ther of our subject died in 1822, at New Wind
sor, while his wife died five months afterward, in
New York City.
The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood
days in Westchester County, N. Y., and when
sixteen years of age entered Columbia College,
where he pursued his studies for some time. On
attaining his majority, he came to Orange Coun

ty and located on a portion of his father's old
homestead, which aggregated two hundred acres.
This place he made his home for some time, and
in 1875 we find him a resident of the estate which
he now occupies.
The lady to whom Mr. Ellison was married in
1836 was Miss Mary A. Ross, a native of West
chester County, N. Y. To them were born four
children, viz. : Mary A. ; Thomas W., who resides
in Texas; Anson McKnight, who died when
young; and one child who died unnamed in in
fancy. Mrs. Mary A. Ellison departed this life
September 30, 1846, and the lady to whom our
subject was united April 17, 1849, was Elizabeth
M. Baker, a native of Philadelphia, Pa. Theson
and daughter born of this marriage were Archi
bald, now deceased; and Matilda, who is at
home. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Ellison died in 1888,
greatly mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Elli
son and family are members of the Episcopal
Church, with which denomination the family has
been identified for many generations. In politics
he is a stanch Republican, and as an earnest, en
ergetic citizen he has proved an important factor
in the upbuilding and advancement of his com
munity.

CV-RVING OLIVER. This prominent young
I man of Cornwall on the Hudson is one of
J^ its best business men, ably carrying on a
splendid trade in the grocery line. He faithful
ly carries out the wishes of his patrons in every
detail, and therefore is well deserving of the suc
cess which has attended him from the very first.
The father of our subject, Frank Oliver, is at
present living in Amsterdam, this state, where he
is agent for an express company. His marriage
with Miss Lydia Reed resulted in the birth of
two sons and two daughters. Of these, Irving is
the eldest; Benjamin is an employe in his store;
and Frances and Augusta are living in Amster
dam. The subject of this sketch was born in Fish-

592

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

kill, N. Y., December 25, 1862, but spent his
boyhood days iu Cornwall, whither his parents
had removed. His education was obtained in
both the common and private schools, and he is
well informed on all subjects of interest. Prior
to engaging in business for himself, he worked
for eleven years in a grocery store, during which
time he became familiar with all the detail work.
He then bought out his employer and took in as
partner Charles Bogart, the firm's style being
Oliver & Bogart. The partnership was contin
ued for two years, when the senior member sold
his interest in the business to his partner and lo
cated elsewhere. He then engaged in business
with George Chatfield, but three years later that
gentleman retired, and Mr. Oliver has since con
ducted the business successfully alone. His store
is conveniently located in the business portion of
the city, and is well stocked with every variety
of fancy and staple groceries.
Mr. Oliver was married, in 1891, to Miss Net
tie, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Griggs)
Ward, of Cornwall. She was born in Grassy
Point, November 7, 1871, and by her union with
our subject has become the mother of a daughter,
Florence, who was born May 30, 1892. Socially
Mr. Oliver is an Odd Fellow, and in politics is a
true-blue Republican. He has many warm friends
iu the Baptist Church, with which he has been
connected for several years. He is a young man
of considerable financial ability, and ranks among
the prosperous men of Cornwall on the Hudson.

(TOHN P. CONVERY is one of the old and
I honored residents of Newburgh, and for
G/ thirty years has been engaged in contracting
and building in this place. Many of the finest
public and private structures were erected under
his supervision, and give abundant proof of his
ability. His reputation for excellence of work
manship, faithfulness to his contracts and reason
able prices has been the means of his obtaining
much of the best trade in the city and surround
ing towns, and during the busy season he has
employed as many as one hundred hands. For

six years he was President ofthe Journeyman's
Association, and at one time was President of
the Builders' Union.
A native of Ireland, our subject was born in
County Derry, about 1835, being a son of Hugh
and Mary (O'Neil) Convery. The father was
an agriculturist, and made a good living for his
family by dealing in livestock, as he shipped cat
tle from Ireland to the English markets. In
1838 he brought his children to the United States
(his wife having previously died) , and took up
his residence in New York City. There he en
gaged in. . steamboating for many years, or until
shortly before his demise, which occurred in 1865.
J. P. Convery is the next to the eldest of five
children, one of whom is deceased. He was only
three years old when his father came to the
United States on the good ship "Henrietta
Mary," the voyage from Liverpool to New York
taking five weeks. Young Convery attended the
public schools until 1848, when he began serv
ing an apprenticeship as a brick-mason in Hobo
ken, N. J., where he resided for three years. In
1853 he came to Newburgh, being employed by
Francis Boyd, W. Girard, and others for a num
ber of years. In 1865 he concluded to engage
in contracting and building, and has since given
his energies to this calling. As is well known
here, he built St. Mary's Church, the First Ward
Schoolhouse, St. John's parsonage at Monticello,
N. Y., the residences of William Bourley and
Captain Keals on Grand Street, the home of
Captain Barry on Lander Street, some eighty res
idences at Newport on the Heights; finished the
Palatine Hotel, and at present owns three houses,
Nos. 108, no and 112 Ren wick Street. He also
built the Catholic Lyceum on Liberty Street,
Shaw's shops, Colonel Weygant' s and Mr. Cath
cart 's residences, besides portions of the Delany
boiler works and Chadwick 's building. At
Haverstraw he built for William Lyle one of
the finest residences on the Hudson.
The union of Mr. Convery and Ann O'Neil
was celebrated in Newburgh, October 14, 1854,
the lady being a native of County Derry, Ireland.
Ten children have been born to this worthy
couple. Mary and Tillie make their home in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

593

New York City; John is a resident of Florida;
Daniel J. is a mason and builder of Brooklyn;
James and Joseph, both of whom are also masons,
reside in Newburgh; Annie and Blanche are at
home; Charles L- is an architect and mason of
this city; and Francis is still at home.
From 1856 to i860 Mr. Convery lived in Iowa
City, Iowa, and while there assisted in changing
the old capitol into a state university. He is a
firm believer in the principles of the Democratic
party, but has never been an office-seeker. Re
ligiously he is connected with St. Patrick's
Church, and belongs to the Holy Name Society.
Personally he is very pleasant and courteous to
one and all, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-
citizens.

H^=

=+

gAVIN R. M. WILCOX. So many men in
these days of large chances have made hand
some competencies, having begun business
with nothing, that such cases have ceased to be
remarkable. The qualifications, however, neces
sary to bring about such success can never cease
to be worthy of our admiration. The gentleman
whose name introduces this sketch is one of the
army of progressive, pushing and capable men
who are never satisfied short of success. In early
life he had neither money nor influence, but by
the exercise of his fine executive and financial
ability he has succeeded iu achieving prosperity
and gaining a high social position among the res
idents of Newburgh.
A native of Scotland, Mr. Wilcox was born in
Wigtonshire May 16, 1849. He is of English
descent, his paternal grandfather, Edward Wil
cox, having spent his entire life in that portion
of Great Britain, where he was engaged as a miner
in the lead and tin regions. The father, John
¦ Wilcox, was born in Cornwall, England, near
Land's End, and in boyhood learned mining.
While in the employ of an English company he
was sent by them to Wigtonshire for the purpose
of developing a lead mine at Black Craig. This

he operated for a time, but later was engaged in
mining for coal iu Ayrshire, where he was super
intendent and manager ofa mine.
While in Scotland John Wilcox married Jessie
McGregor, a native of Wigtonshire and a daugh
ter of Douglas McGregor. The latter was a typ
ical Highlander, of the Rob Roy type, and fol
lowed the business of a land steward. In 1866
John Wilcox brought his family to America, and
settled in Newburgh, where he died soon after
ward, at the age of fifty-three. His wife died in
this city in September, 1894, at seventy-three
years. The father was twice married, having by
his first union two sons, both deceased. By his
second marriage he had two sons and three
daughters, of whom one son and one daughter are
living. At the age of five years our subject was taken
by his parents to Ayrshire, where he passed his
boyhood years, and for some years attended the
high school at Darmellington . In August, 1866,
he took passage, with the other members of the
family, on the sailing-vessel "William Tapscott,"
and after a voyage of six weeks from Liverpool
he arrived in New York. Soon after arriving in
this country he was apprenticed as a pattern
maker under Charles Brett, with whom he served
four years. He then took a position in the Sev
erance Paper Machine Works, where he remained
until the factory was burned down, seven months
later. In 187 1 he became an employe of the
Newburgh Steam Engine Works, and the fol
lowing year was promoted to be foreman, which
position he held until 1883, resigning to engage
in business for himself.
Forming a partnership with Thomas and Will
iam H. Coldwell our subject embarked in the
manufacture of general light machinery and
steam-heating apparatus, the factory being situ
ated on Washington Street. After one year the
firm of Coldwell, Wilcox & Co. purchased the
old Thomas Speir Foundry on Broadway, and this
they operated as a foundry and machine works
until the spring of 1889. They then purchased
their present site and built the works on the New
Windsor river road, adjoining the city limits,
where they own a lot 175x700 feet. In May,

594

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1890, the business was incorporated as the Cold-
well- Wilcox Company, with a capital stock of
$53,000. The officers are Theo. W. Pierce, of
New York City, President; Albert S. Pierce, of
Newburgh, Treasurer; and G. R. M. Wilcox,
Secretary and General Manager.
The main building is 170x130 feet in dimen
sions and two stories in height. There are foun
dry, machine, blacksmith and pattern depart
ments, each fully supplied with necessary equip
ments. Among the products are rock-crushers,
elevators, high-pressure steam valves and all
kinds of heavy valves, as well as sugar machin
ery for the Cuban trade. Employment is fur
nished to one hundred hands, and the concern is
one of the most extensive of its kind north of New
York City.
In Newburgh, in 1872, Mr. Wilcox married
Miss Alice E. Van Duzer, who was born in
Mountainville, Orange County, and is a daughter
of Henry O. Van Duzer, at one time a merchant
of Newburgh. They are the parents of five chil
dren, G. Ruby, Ivie, Ethel, Frank and Annetta.
In politics Mr. Wilcox favors Republican prin
ciples.

W*~$£<^

HENRY M. ROE, a native of Orange Coun
ty, born in the town of Chester in 1852, is
the youngest son of Nathaniel and Sarah
(Board) Roe, both of whom were natives of Or
ange County. Here the former spent his entire
life, dying December 9, 1884. The latter is yet
living, and, at the age of eighty years, enjoys
good health. The father was a good, houest
citizen, one who treated his fellow-men well, and
one who was content to fill his humble part in
life, never striving for public honors. The only
official position filled by him was that of Super
visor of his town. In his death the community
lost a valuable citizen, the wife a kind husband,
and the children an indulgent father.
Henry M. Roe was reared on a farm, and re
ceived his primary education in the district
schools of Oxford, in the town of Blooming Grove,
and subsequently attended Chester Academy.

With the exception of the time spent in school,
he has resided upon the farm where he now lives
since the age of three years. He owns two hun
dred and twenty-three acres of nicely improved
land, and is extensively engaged in the dairy
business. His comfortable and substantial resi
dence is just outside the corporate limits of the
town of Chester, and his outbuildings, which are
large and roomy, give shelter to over sixty milch
cows. All of his milk is shipped direct to New
York City. When the water-works plant was
placed at Chester, in 1892, the pipe was run
through his land for a distance of six thousand
feet, and was placed within thirteen feet of his
residence, thus giving him good water privileges,
and making his farm one of the best in the county.
Our subject was married, May 13, 1885, to
Miss Helene Seeley, a daughter of David R. See
ley, a native of Orange County. Three children
have been born to them: Seeley, Sarah Board
and Henry M. Mr. and Mrs. Roe are members
of the Presbyterian Church at Chester, of which
the former is a Deacon, and in the same church
his father was an Elder for many years. He
takes an active interest in the Master's work,
and is a radical temperance man, using his whole
influence against the manufacture and sale of in
toxicating liquors. Our subject is a Democrat at
all times and under all circumstances, and has
never desired public office. Few men in the
town of Chester are better known, and none are
more highly respected.

^????????????f^»»»»»-5.»*.fr».fr.8.;x>. 'HOMAS W. BIRDSALL is one of the
wealthy agriculturists of the town of New
burgh. His birth occurred on this home
stead, which contains between two hundred and
fifty and two hundred and sixty acres of land,
which he inherited from his father, he being
the only son. He was very successful in general
farming and stock-raising, and for a number of '
years has given considerable attention to growing
fruit. He was early trained to habits of industry
and perseverance in all his undertakings, and has
steadily prospered by his exercise of these charac-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

595

teristics. He was a dutiful son, is a good hus
band and father, and as a neighbor and citizen is
highly regarded by all who know him. In all re
lations of life he endeavors to do his duty and to
advance the welfare of others rather than his own.
Our subject's grandfather, Barack Birdsall, was
of English ancestry, and a native of Westchester
County, N. Y. He was one of the first bearing
the name to settle in Orange County, whither he
came as early as 1784 and bought a large tract pf
land, which has since been in the possession of
his descendants. His death occurred here when
he had attained a good old age. His son, Thomas
P., father of our subject, was born on this farm
March 14, 1797; here he was reared and here he
also died, April 9, 1853. When he arrived at
mature years he married Hannah T. Pine, who
was born December 5, 1800, and who bore him
four children, namely: Elias, deceased; Sarah C,
the widow of George Hallett; Thomas W. ; and
Helen, who is deceased. Mrs. Birdsall died June
16, 1853.
The birth of Thomas W. Birdsall occurred Au
gust 15, 1832. On arriving at suitable years he
wedded Catherine Birdsall, their union being
celebrated March 29, 1855. Their eldest son,
Thomas P., is a successful physician of Patterson,
N. Y. He married Cynthia Green March 20,
1879. They have four children, T. Walter, Gregg
C. , Lewis and Rollin. George H., the second
son, assists his father in business. He married
Ella Fowler February 15, 1893, and they have
one child, William T. Charles C, who lives at
home, is a successful school teacher. Helen mar
ried Eugene J. Fowler June 19, 1895. Following
his forefathers' example, Mr. Birdsall has always
devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, and dur
ing his youth became thoroughly familiar with
its various branches. He was scarcely twenty-
one years of age when he assumed entire manage
ment of the farm which he has since conducted.
In his religious belief Mr. Birdsall is identified
with the Orthodox Society of Friends. He takes
an active part in church work and has been an
Elder and Overseer. Politically he is a stanch
Republican, and has served as Town Trustee and
as Commissioner of Highways. His private life

is above reproach, for he is always desirous of
putting in practice the teachings of the Golden
Rule, and is strictly honorable in all his dealings.

Gz

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(Jonathan d. wilson is one of the
I most successful and prominent contractors of
(2/ Orange County, his home being in New
burgh. He started out in life for himself a pen
niless boy, dependent entirely upon his own ef
forts, and has steadily worked his way upward,
achieving prosperity as the result of honest and
diligent effort. His excellent workmanship and
his scrupulous fairness have gained him an ex
tensive patronage, and he is now numbered
among the wealthy men of Newburgh.
Mr. Wilson was born near Delaware, Ohio, on
the Sciota River, on the 8th of May, 1850. His
father, George Wilson, was a native of Hastings,
England, and there acquired a common-school
education and learned the baker's trade. In
1829, at the age of eighteen, he sailed to New
York, where he was employed as a bookkeeper,
and afterward engaged in the milk business. In
1842 he removed to Delaware County, Ohio,
where he carried on farming, and in 1857 came
to Newburgh, where he bought out his brother
Henry and conducted a bakery until his retire
ment from active business. He married Priscilla
Selmes, who was born in Hastings, England, and
when a child of seven years came to America with
her parents. Her brother was Tilden Selmes,
the extensive milk dealer of New York City, who
removed to Hannibal, Mo., where he served as
Mayor and spent his remaining days. He was a
Colonel in the Union army, commanding a Mis
souri regiment during the Civil War.
George Wilson died in 1881, at the age of sev
enty-two years, and his. widow resides in New
burgh, at the age of seventy -nine. She is a mem
ber of the Episcopal Church. Their children are
John M., Supervisor of Newburgh; Mrs. Suther
land, of this city; William, who died in 1873; Til
den H., who was senior partner of our subject for

596

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

twenty-four years, or until his death, March 19,
1892. When only fifteen years of age he enlisted
in the three-months service in the Nineteenth
New York Infantry.
J. D. Wilson is the youngest of the family, and
from the age of seven was reared in Newburgh.
When a youth of fifteen he was apprenticed to
Franklin Gerard, a mason and ornamental plas
terer, with whom he remained for three years,
when he went to New York City, where he se
cured work on many fine buildings and received
$5 per day for his sendees. After a year he re
turned to Newburgh, and in June, 1869, formed
a partnership with his brother Tilden H. as a
contractor and builder. Before he had attained
his majority he had erected a residence of his
own, and has since followed contracting. The
firm has taken contracts for more than four
hundred buildings in Newburgh, including the
Academy of Music, in which Mr. Wilson is a
stockholder; the Jewish Synagogue, the parson
age of the First Methodist Church, the Schaffer
Building, the residences of C. J. Lawson, Major
Weston, Capt. Joseph Dickey, Colonel Cantine,
and two residences for W. H. Fowler, The Na
tional Bank of Newburgh and the Quassaick
Bank (two of the finest business blocks in the
city), and the fire-engine house of the Leonard
Steamer. The firm also erected nearly all the
residences on South Miller Street, which they
sold, together with many others in Washington
Heights and elsewhere in the city.
Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Katie A.
Todd, a native of Paterson, N. J., and a daugh
ter of William Todd. They have one son, Jon
athan D., Jr., who graduated from the academy
atthis place and is now studying in Yale College
as a member of the Class of '97. The mother
and son are members ofthe First Methodist Epis
copal Church, and Mr. Wilson and his family are
people of prominence in this community. Their
beautiful home is located at No. 26 South Miller
Street, and in addition Mr. Wilson owns much
valuable city property and is a stockholder in the
Quassaick National Bank.
For six years Mr. Wilson has served as As
sessor ofthe Second Ward, and is now a member

of the Board of Civil Service Examiners. He was
on the Board of Education in 1893, and served as
Chairman of the Finance Committee, but de
clined a re-election. In politics he was formerly
a Democrat, but for the last six or seven years
has been a Republican. Socially he is connected
with Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M.;
Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; Hudson
River Commandery No. 35, K. T. ; and is a de-
mitted member of Acme Lodge, I. O. O. F. He
carries forward to successful completion whatever
he undertakes, is a citizen devoted to the best in
terests ofthe community, a man whose well spent
life is worthy of emulation, and an important fac
tor in the development and progress of the
county.

I-^HH^

HORACE E. HURD, one of the enterprising
young farmers of the town of Newburgh,
owns the original farm on which his father
first settled. For the past fifteen years he has
found it very profitable to give the main part ot
his time and attention to the dairy business, and
to raising fruit, for which his farm seems adapted.
He comes from an old family of New England,
and has in his possession a genealogical table and
history which trace the Hurds back as far as
1680. Many of his ancestors have been noted in
the professions, and have distinguished them
selves as patriots. One of his great-uncles served
in the War of the Revolution.
The parents of our subject were Burr and Eliz
abeth (Lee) Hurd, natives of Sullivan County,
N. Y., and Vermont, respectively. The former
was a son of Isaiah Hurd, who was a native of
Connecticut. Our subject's parents were married
in Newburgh, April 27., 1847, an(l had two chil
dren, of whom the only daughter, Mary E., died
in 1874. Mr. Hurd was a farmer by occupation,
and became a resident of this county in 1828,
settling iu the town of Newburgh, and for some
seven years leased land. In 1835 he purchased
the farm on which his son is now living, and here
he continued to dwell until his demise, which
occurred April 12, 1882. He was interred in

NATHAN S. TAYLOR.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

599

Woodlawn Cemetery, and ere long his faithful
wife was placed by his side, her death occurring
July 5 following. They were both members of
the Presbyterian Church, and were loved and re
spected By all who had the pleasure of their ac
quaintance. Horace E. Hurd was born June 4, 1854, on
the farm which he now manages, and of which
he is the proprietor. After attending the district
schools until he was fourteen years of age, he en
tered a private school at Cornwall, from which
he graduated iu his seventeenth year. As he was
the only son, he always remained with his father,
and after completing his education assumed the
work and care of the homestead.
May 10, 1875, Mr. Hurd married Sarah B.
Hasbrook, who was born in Ulster County, N. Y. ,
February 12, 1853. The couple have one son,
Harry H., who was born February 9, 1877, an(l
who is a youth of much promise. The cause of
education has always found a warm friend in our
subject, who has frequently served as School
Trustee in his home district. He takes au inter
ested part in the various activities of the Presby
terian Church, to which he belongs, and of which
he is now an Elder. He has also served as Su
perintendent of the Sunday-school. On political
matters he prefers to give his allegiance to no
particular party, being very independent in his

views.

Ifi

|J)ATHAN S- TAYLOR, instructor in vocal
PY music and Director of the First Presbyterian
| £s Church choir in Newburgh, is a recognized
leader in musical circles, and organized the
Amphion Quartet, whose services are in great
demand in this vicinity. Without exception, he
stands at the head of the profession in the county,
and outside of New York City is the finest tenor
in the state.
The birth of our subject occurred in Oxford,
in the town of Blooming Grove, September 16,
1853. His father, Peter B. Taylor, is represented
in the history of our subject's brother, Grant B.,

whose sketch appears on another page of this
work. From 1862 young Taylor resided in New
burgh, attending the public schools and academy.
He was a mere boy when his taste for music be
came evident, and he was given instruction un
der the best teachers, among whom was M. L-
Bartlett, who is well known in New York City.
For about five years he was in the employ of
Messrs. Fowler & Velie, who carried on a mer
cantile business in Newburgh, but at the end of
that time he left them to devote his entire atten
tion to the musical profession. For the past
twenty years he has been agent for the Fischer
piano, and also has the agency for the Hamilton
S. Gordon piano. As a piano-tuner he is an ex
pert, and his patrons are scattered over a wide
extent of country, many of them being in Dutch
ess, Rockland, Putnam and Ulster Counties, as
well as in the cities of New York and Brooklyn.
Mr. Taylor took a course of instruction in vocal
music from William C. Courtney, the great Eng
lish tenor, and in 1883 commenced giving lessons
in voice culture. From 1872 until 1878 he was
the tenor in the First Presbyterian Church choir;
in the last-mentioned year he became chorister
in the American Reformed Church, and in 1886
was induced to assume the directorship of the
First Presbyterian Church choir. The Amphion
Quartet, of which he is the leader, comprises
himself, his two brothers, Grant B. and Peter B.,
Jr., and G. W. Peck. Several times during the
season the pupils of Mr. Taylor give a musicale
under his direction, and, it is needless to say, ac
quit themselves with credit.
In 1876 Mr. Taylor was married, in Newburgh,
to Miss Nellie Kidd, who was born in Gaylords
Bridge, Conn. Her parents are Andrew and Mary
(Canfield) Kidd, the former born in Montgomery
Town, September 27, 1827, and the latter a na
tive of New Milford, Conn. The great-great
grandfather of Mrs. Taylor, Robert Kidd, was a
native of England, and was one ofthe early settlers
of the town of Montgomery. He participated in
the War for Independence, and was present at the
battle of Ft. Montgomery. By trade he was a tail
or, being employed at that business in Connecticut
until 1855, when he came to this city, and for

6oo

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

many years was a presser of straw hats, but at
present is a merchant on Water Street. Mr. and
Mrs. Taylor have but one child, a daughter,
Carolyn R.
Socially Mr. Taylor belongs to Hudson River
Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M. ; Newburgh Coun
cil No. 1320, R. A., and in his political belief is a
stanch Republican. Both he and his estimable
wife are members of the American Reformed
Church, in which he holds the office of Deacon.
He is Chairman of the Music Committee of the
congregation, and is director of singing in the
Bethel Sunday-school.

 »  »>S-ll^®lJ^^®^lhC<«.

~«~f-

["RANKLIN MULLINER is engaged in
Yy general farming in the town of New Wind-
| sor, where he has resided for over sixty
years, and for more than half of that period has
lived on his present homestead, which is well im
proved and which is considered one of the best in
this locality. He is always foremost in the sup
port of worthy public enterprises, and has been
one of the Town Trustees for a number of years,
to the entire satisfaction of those concerned.
A son of Franklin Mulliner, Sr., our subject was
born April 22, 1832, in another portion of this
town, of which the father was likewise a native.
William Mulliner, grandfather of our subject, was
born in Ireland, and at an early day left there to
seek a home and fortune in the New World, tak
ing up his permanent residence in this vicinity.
Franklin Mulliner, Sr., married Jane Morrison,
and their union was blessed by four children, of
whom the three eldest, William, Robert and Da
vid, are deceased. The father died May 3, 1870,
and was buried in Goodhill Cemetery. The
mother departed this life in 1836, thus leaving
our subject the only representative ofthe family.
On arriving at man's estate, Franklin Mulliner
of this sketch removed to the farm where he is
now living, although until twenty-six years old he
assisted his father in the management of his farm.
November 11, 1857, he married Miss Maria L-

Miller, and they have two children, a son and
daughter: Augustus D., who is his father's right-
hand man in business; and Mary L- , who has re
ceived a superior education and is still at home.
She is a graduate of the high school at Newburgh
and is an accomplished young lady.
When Mr. Mulliner became the owner of this
farm it comprised two hundred and fifty-two acres,
but since then he has steadily added to it, until he
now has six hundred and eighty-four acres, most
of which is valuable and well improved land.
For upwards of twenty years he has been inter
ested in raising fine Holstein cattle of the thor
oughbred variety, making a good income from
this source alone. Politically he is a Republican
and for the past twelve years has been Postmas
ter of the village of Rocklet. For many years he
has been an active member of the Presbyterian
church and contributes liberally toward religious
purposes.

(TAMES FINNEGAN. At No. 330 Liberty
I Street, in that portion of Newburgh usually
(2/ known as the ' 'old town, ' ' stands the grocery
store owned and carried on by Mr. Finnegan.
Though a native of Ireland, his life has been al
most entirely spent in Orange County, and he is
a loyal American citizen, contributing to measures
calculated to advance the welfare of city and
country. He started in business without capital,
but having used good judgment in his various
enterprises he has gained a competence.
The father of our subject, Stephen Finnegan,
was born, reared and married in Ireland, and
after emigrating to the United States spent sev
eral years in Newburgh, but returned to his na
tive land, where he resided for a short time.
Shortly after the birth of his son James, which
occurred in County Meath, Ireland, in 1847, he
again crossed the Atlantic, bringing his family
with him. He was the first engineer in the powder-
mills near Orange Lake, and later embarked in
the grocery business at No. 330 Liberty Street,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

60 1

Newburgh. His death occurred in this city in
1887, when he was seventy-five years of age.
His wife, Bridget (McGinnis) Finnegan, was a
native of Ireland, and at present makes her home
in Newburgh.
James is the youngest surviving member of the
four children comprising his father's family. His
boyhood years passed without any incident ot
importance. He was a lad in his teens when the
Civil War broke out, and at once offered his serv
ices to the Union. Enlisting in the ranks, he be
came a member of the Thirty-seventh New Jer
sey Infantry, in which he remained until the ex
piration of his term of service. Upon returning
home he resumed work in his father's store,
which has since become his own property. By
his marriage with Miss Ellen, a daughter of
Thomas Ryan, five children were born, two of
whom are deceased. Those living are Mary,
Stephen and James, all of whom are attending
school in Newburgh. Socially Mr. Finnegan is
identified with J. W. Fullerton Post, G. A. R.,
in which organization he takes an active interest.

(TOSIAH M. WARD, M. D. , who since June
j 1893, has been engaged in the practice of his
O profession in Goshen, is rapidly building up
a good business, being well versed in all that per
tains to his profession. He was born in Wilson
County, N. C, March 17, 1866, while his father,
D. G. Ward, was born in Onslow County, that
state. He was a wealthy southern gentleman,
and the son of Joseph Ward, a native of Wales.
The latter was graduated from a noted medical
college in London, England, and during the War
of 18 1 2 served as surgeon in the British navy.
When peace was established he remained in the
United States, locating in Onslow County, N. C,
where much land had been given him, and where
he became an extensive planter. He was a very
able surgeon for his day, and until retiring from
practice had a large patronage.
The father of our subject followed in the foot

steps of his honored sire and also chose the med
ical profession for his calling in life. He was
graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, at
Philadelphia, and located for practice in Wilson
County, N. C, where he was one of the finest
physicians and surgeons for a period of fifty years.
He then retired to his valuable farm and passed
the remaining years of his life in peace and quiet,
dying in 1887, at the age of seventy-two years.
He was greatly interested in political affairs, and
for three terms represented his district in the Leg
islature of North Carolina. He also held nearly
all the offices of his county, in one and all of
which he gave perfect satisfaction.
Our subject's mother, Adelaide Moye, was a
native of Pitt County, N. C. , and the daughter
of Hon. Macon Moye, who was also born in that
state, of French descent. He, too, was a large
and wealthy planter, and at different times was a
member of both the State Legislature and Senate.
Mrs. Ward, who died in her fiftieth year, be
came the mother of four sons and two daughters,
of whom our subject was the third-born.
The subject of this sketch attended the district
school of his native county, after which he was
sent to the Bingham Military School, from which
he was graduated. He then entered Wake For
rest College in North Carolina, and after complet
ing the junior course became a student in the
Bellevue Hospital College in New York, taking
a special course of six years. From this noted
institution he was graduated in 1889, with the
degree of Doctor of Medicine. The first year he
was engaged in practice in Brooklyn, but at the
end of that time, being obliged to go elsewhere on
account of failing health, he sought his southern
home. After spending some time in rest, he re
turned north and located in Goshen, where he
has a conveniently arranged office in his residence
on Main Street, and where he devotes his entire
time and energies to his calling.
Dr. Ward was married in New York City, in
1887, to Miss Kate Hamilton, who was born in
Delaware County, N. Y. To them has been born
a daughter, Ruth. Socially the Doctor is a Ma
son, having attained the degree of Knight Tem
plar. In politics he casts his vote in favor of Dem-

602

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ocratic candidates. Mrs. Ward is a most esti
mable and accomplished lady and a devoted mem
ber of the Episcopal Church.

-jo^raf

SEORGE H. MAPES is one of the promi
nent citizens and agriculturists of the town
of Chester, and was born in 1837, on the
farm where he now lives. He is the sixth in a
family of eight children born to John and Eliza
(Denton) Mapes, both of whom are natives of
Orange County, the former born upon the same
farm on which our subject now resides. His en
tire life was spent in agricultural pursuits, and he
died early in the '50s. The mother was born in
the town of Warwick, and died about 1873.
The subject of this sketch, like so many residents
and respected citizens of Orange County, was.
reared on a farm and has always followed the
occupation of a farmer. His primary education
was received in the district schools, and subse
quently he attended Chester Academy for a short
time. His farm consists of one hundred and sev
enty-five acres of well improved land, and in ad
dition to general farming he is extensively en
gaged in the dairy business. On his farm are
found many head of fine horses and cattle. Of
the former he has a few that have developed con
siderable speed, "Lizzie M." possessing a mark
of 35^-
On the 28th of April, 1868, Mr. Mapes was
united in marriage with Miss Clara DeKay, who
was a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth DeKay,
and who was born 011 the old homostead in Or
ange County, situated just northeast of Goshen.
The great-grandfather of Mrs. Mapes on the
maternal side was Col. Thomas DeKay. (1774.)
His father, also named Thomas, and the pioneer
of the family, was a French-Huguenot, and is said
to have located in New York, where he obtained
sixty acres of land. This he exchanged some
ten years after his first purchase for one thousand
additional acres of the Wawayanda Patent. In
the subsequent adjustment of the boundary line
between New York and New Jersey, his residence
came within the latter state. It is still in pos

session of Henry B. DeKay at Vernon, one of
the Directors of the Warwick Valley Railroad.
Maj. Thomas B. DeKay, the grandfather of our
subject's wife, was born on the homestead in New
Jersey, as was her mother, Elizabeth. Maj. T.
B. DeKay was a man of wealth and prominence
in the community, and at his demise his loss was
universally felt. * Four children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Mapes: Elizabeth, wife of Will
iam F. Durland, ofthe town of Chester; Thad-
deus D., Grace PI. and John. C, all of whom re
main at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Mapes and their daughter are
members of the Presbyterian Church iu Chester.
In politics he is a Democrat and has served his
town as Road Commissioner, Excise Commission
er, Roadmaster and School Trustee. He is a
man universally respected, and a most worthy cit
izen of Orange County.

IOATHANIEL VAN SICKLE. Among the
yl successful business men of Goshen is this
I is gentleman, who comes from an old and prom
inent family in the Eastern States, and, as his
name indicates, is of Holland-Dutch descent, his
ancestors having settled at a remote period on
Long Island. Of late years he has been living
retired from active business, but looks after his
property interests and other enterprises. He is
a stockholder in the Goshen National Bank, and
has contributed considerably toward building
Orange Avenue.
Our subject was born in Sussex County, N. J.,
near the Orange County line, March 11, 1825.
His fathei, Andrew, was a native of the same
county, having been born in Wantage Township.
The grandfather, Andrew, Sr., who was born
near Philadelphia, Pa., married a Miss Louden,
and subsequently settled on a farm in Wantage
Township, where he died when he had reached
fourscore years. Andrew Van Sickle, Jr. , owned
three hundred acres of land, which was mainly
devoted to dairy purposes. When only seven-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

603

teen years of age he enlisted in the War of 1812,
and in later life held a number of township and
county offices. Like his father, he lived to attain
a ripe old age, dying when in his seventy-ninth
year. His wife, Elizabeth (Reed) Van Sickle,
was born in Orange County, and lived to be sev
enty-seven years of age. Of her nine children, all
but one grew to maturity. Mary A., Mrs. Mey
ers, died at the age of seventy years; William de
parted this life in Sussex County; Capt. Daniel
is referred to later in this article; Bowdawine, a
farmer of Sussex County, died at the age of sixty
years; our subject is the next in order of birth;
Peter, who was County Clerk of Sussex County
from 1870 to 1873 is now living retired in Port
Jervis; Walter died in Sussex County ; and Eliza
beth, wife of Arra Van Sickle, died in Goshen.
The early education of our subject was ob
tained in the district schools in the vicinity of his
father's farm. He remained at home until he
was twenty-two years of age, and in 1847 engaged
in farming. In 1854 he purchased a farm in the
town of Goshen, the tract comprising one hun
dred and thirty acres. For a few years he was
in partnership with his brother Daniel in the
butter business, buying and selling dairy prod
ucts. While he lived on the farm he was one
of the Directors of the Orange County Agricult
ural Society, and dealt extensively in cattle. He
laid out a driving-park, which was noted for hav
ing the best half-mile track in the state, and here
the county agricultural fair was held each year.
In 1873 he sold out these interests and came to
this place, erecting a good brick residence on
Church Street. He uses bis ballot in behalf of
the Democracy, and has frequently served as dele
gate to conventions.
In 1847 Mr. Van Sickle was married, in this
county, to Mary A., daughter of John Wilcox, who
owned Merrett's Island, some six hundred acres
altogether. Mrs. Van Sickle was born there, and
was called ta her final rest October 2, 1892. Her
only child, Annie, a graduate of the Goshen
schools, is now living with her father
Daniel Van Sickle, a brother of our subject,
was born in 182 1, in Wantage Township, Sussex
County, N. J., and was married in that state to

Harriet Edwards, a native of Orange County,
N. Y. She was a daughter of Rev., John Ed
wards, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and the owner of a valuable farm. Mrs.
Van Sickle died in 1852, leaving three children:
Andrew, now of New York City; Edward, for
merly a practicing attorney of the metropolis, but
who died in Goshen at the age of forty-two years;
and Addie, who married John D. Tuthill, for
merly a native of Goshen, but now deceased.
Their only child, Francis Dean, is engaged in the
real-estate business in New York City. In May,
1895, Mrs. Tuthill married Wells Hulse, of Go
shen. In 1 85 1 Daniel Van Sickle located in this place,
where he became a commission butter merchant,
and controlled the market in New York City for
seventeen years, having a branch store on Reed
Street. In 1868 he was elected on the Demo
cratic ticket to serve as Sheriff of the county, and
served from January, 1869, to January, 1872,
making a faithful and efficient officer. He in
vested a large sum of money in a tract of about
forty acres, and commenced building and plant
ing the same. Golden Hill, the extension of
Murray Avenue, is situated in this portion of the
town, and over forty residences belonging to our
best citizens have been constructed thereon. Mr.
Van Sickle died in Goshen, at the old home on
Main Street, in 1891.
.  ^S-iP  ;

WILLIAM B. MEAD, editor of the Goshen
Democrat, is senior partner of the firm of
Mead & Roys. The journal of which they
are the proprietors is well known in the newspa
per world, and is one of the oldest in the state,
having beeu established in 1800. Since the or
ganization of the Republican party it has been
recognized as a strong and loyal advocate of the
principles and platform upheld by the same.
Though in a certain sense conservative, it takes
the lead on many of the practical questions of
the day, and endeavors to give in a concise and
newsy way a summary of current events.
W. B. Mead was born in Goshen, March 6,

604

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1843. When a boy he attended school at Farmer's
Hall Academy, under David L. Towle, Principal,
and later went to the private school of Rev.
Daniel Wells. Since the fall of 1858 his life
history has been interwoven with that of the
Democrat, as at that time he entered upon his
journalistic career as au apprentice in its office.
During the six years which followed he was em
ployed in various capacities, becoming thorough
ly acquainted with the details of the business,
and in March, 1864, was promoted to the position
of foreman. On New Year's Day, 1865, he be
came a member of the firm of Charles Mead &
Son, which connection existed for twenty-seven
years, or until the senior member retired, Jan
uary 1, 1892. The latter's interest was pur
chased by Edwin L. Roys, and the firm has since
been known as Mead & Roys. The editorial
management of the paper is under the direction
of the subject of this sketch.
Charles Mead, the father of William B., was a
son of Xenophon and Abigail (Burr) Mead, the
latter being a relative of Aaron Burr, of Revolu
tionary fame. Charles Mead was born in New
burgh, November 19, 18 19, and at the age of fif
teen years began learning the printer's trade at
Goshen, where he remained until 1839. He then
moved to Carbondale, Pa. , where for a year he
edited and published the Carbondale fournal. In
the years 1841-42 he was employed as a com
positor on "Graham's Magazine," published in
Philadelphia. May 9, 1842, he married Caroline A., daugh
ter of the late Daniel Warden, of Goshen, and
they became the parents of two sous, William B.
and Charles A. The mother was born April 11,
1821, and died November 11, 1880. Two years
later Mr. Mead married Fannie J., daughter of
the late Charles T. Jackson, of Goshen. About
1842 Mr. Mead purchased the Democrat, and con
tinued as its editor a period of fifty years. From
1843 until 1854 he did the printing for the New
York & Erie Railroad. January 1, 1865, he took
into partnership with him his son William B.,
and thus the firm continued until January 1,
1892. His death occurred but little more than a
year later, on the 22d of April, 1893. He was

a man who was highly esteemed by his large cir
cle of acquaintances, and by his upright, straight
forward life won the respect of every one.
October 18, 1865, William B. Mead was mar
ried, in Goshen, to Miss Susan E. Coleman, eld
est daughter of Bradner Coleman, now deceased.
Mrs. Mead is a native of Orange County, and is
a lady of good education and social attainments.

RICHARD MILBURN, a prominent citizen
of the town of Chester, was born in Sussex
County, N. J., in 1809. He is the eldest of
three children born to Samuel and Catherine
(Demerest) Milburn, both of whom were born in
New Jersey, and there spent their early lives,
but who came to Orange County when Richard
was a youth. Samuel Milburn was a blacksmith
by trade, and followed that occupation for many
years. He was a quiet, unassuming man, and
died respected by all who knew him. His esti
mable wife, the mother of Richard, died when he
was but eight years of age.
Richard Milburn had very limited advantages
for an education. After his mother's death he
made his home with strangers, but they kept
him at work instead of sending him to school.
He was reared to farm work, and at the age of
twenty-one began life's struggles for himself.
After attaining his majority, he began work as a
farm laborer, pursuing that occupation for a
while. From his earnings he saved enough to
purchase a farm in Delaware County, where he
lived four years, when he sold out and returned
to Orange County. Soon afterwards he went
West to seek his fortune. He stopped in Iowa,
expecting to purchase land, but not being satis
fied, he again returned to Orange County and
embarked in the creamery business at Sugar
Loaf, being thus successfully engaged for sixteen
years. About 1885, however, he sold out and has
since been living in retirement at his pleasant
home near Sugar Loaf.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

605

Richard Milburn was married, in 1835, to Miss
Mary Ann Conklin, a daughter of Lewis and
Hannah (Tidd) Conklin, of New Jersey, but who
later came to Orange County, where Mrs. Mil-
burn was born. Two children were born to our
subject and wife: Anna Amelia, wife of Dr. A.
P. Furris, a practising physician of Florida; and
James N., who lives at Sugar Loaf. Mrs. Mary
A. Milburn died in 1876, and Mr. Milburn sub
sequently married Elizabeth Holbert, a native of
Orange County, who died in 1889. One child
was born of this union, Charles, who lives at
home with his father. In politics Mr. Milburn is
a Democrat, but. has never aspired to official
honors. As a citizen, he is esteemed and re
spected by all who know him.

C^—

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(17 —

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Gl ARON INNIS. Those interested in pioneer
LI experiences would derive much pleasure
/ I from conversation with this gentleman, who
well remembers many incidents of early life in
this locality. He was born in the town of New
burgh, where he is at present residing, June 27,
1828, to William and Elizabeth (Waring) Innis.
The father was also a native of this town, and was
born October 31, 1783. He was in turn the son
of James Innis, one of the earliest settlers of
Orange County, who came hither from Scotland.
Mrs. Elizabeth Innis was born here November
22, 1787, and was the daughter of James and
Phila Waring, also natives of this county. She
was killed in 1844, by being thrown from a
wagon. The parental household included the following
sons and daughters: Sarah M., who was born
May 13, 1811; Benjamin R., December 2, 1813;
Rebecca, October 19, 1815; James W., April 6,
1819; John G., April 27, 182 1; Philena, May 30,
1823; William T., June 24, 1826; and Aaron, of
this sketch, who was the youngest of the house
hold. The father of this family was a hatter by

trade. When a young man, and after becoming
fully acquainted with this industry, he went to
New York City, where he was employed at his
trade for five years. At the expiration of that
time he returned to Orange County, working for
others until about 1803, when he began in busi
ness for himself, manufacturing a high grade of
hats. Success followed his efforts, and he built
up a large and paying business in Orange Coun
ty. He departed this life April 2, 1879, and his
remains were interred in Fostertown Cemetery.
The original of this sketch was reared to ma
ture years in this town, and gained a moderately
good education in its district schools. When
ready to embark in life for himself, he was mar
ried, February 20, 1850, to Miss Phoebe A. War
ing, who was born March 25, 1823, in Orange
County. Her parents were Matthew and Jane
Waring, both of whom are now deceased. To
Mr. and Mrs. Innis there have been born four
children. Albert, who was born November 7,
1853, married Lucinda Griggs, and their children
are James W. and George; William B. was born
in January, 1855, and is now living in Nebraska,
engaged in farming and in raising seeds for the
market; Matthew W., who was born July 8,
i860, now makes his home with our subject; and
Lizzie J., born December 15, 1865, is also at
home. Upon attaining his majority, our subject learn
ed the butcher's trade, working for two years at
Fostertown, after which he went to Virginia,
where he was employed in farming for a twelve
month. Later he returned to his native county
and purchased a farm of sixty acres, upon which
he made his home until coming to his present lo
cation in 1861. His farm, which is devoted to
fruit-growing and dairy farming, comprises eighty
well cultivated acres.
Mr. Innis is a member of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, in which he has held the positions
of Treasurer and Steward. He has been Asses
sor of his town for the past three years, and in
this capacity discharges the duties of the office
in a most satisfactory and efficient manner. In
politics he is a Prohibitionist, and through his in
fluence many voters have been persuaded to

6o6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

change their views. He is largely interested in
public measures that promise to benefit the com
munity in which he lives.
§ * i=i <""~T "> 1=3 ' §>
V A ISS MARY A. MOSS. Among the promi-
Jr nent women of Newburgh we are pleased
(**) to present the name of Miss Moss, who is
well known as an efficient and successful piano
instructor, having happily those talents which
qualify her for imparting knowledge to others.
The family of which Miss Moss is a member is
noted for musical ability. Miss Moss is a native
of Manchester, England, and is a daughter of
John R. and Hannah J. (Kenworthy) Moss, who
with their family came to America, and for a
few years resided in Brooklyn, N. Y. Later
they moved to Newburgh, where Mrs. Moss died
shortly afterward. John R. Moss devoted him
self to the musical profession, and there are many
of our townspeople who well remember him as
a gifted musician, an excellent teacher and a gen
tleman in every sense of that term. In 1859 Mr.
Moss married again, his second wife being Eliza
Wood, a daughter of Joshua Wood, of Cold
Spring, N. Y., who survives him.
During the Civil War Mr. Moss served as Band
Master of the Hawkins' Zouaves, with a commis
sion as Second Lieutenant. He was captured by
the Confederates, and for some time was confined
in Libby Prison, but was finally exchanged and
honorably discharged from the service at Wash
ington. At the close of the war Mr. Moss be
came associated with Chickering & Sons, piano
manufacturers, of New York City, where he re
mained until his death, in 1887, at the age of
sixty-eight years. By his first marriage he had
seven children, of whom five are living: Of these
Jennie Holmes Harcourt is well known in New
burgh as a former teacher here, and as the wife
of the late Charles Fletcher Holmes. Her daugh
ter, Miss Madeleine Holmes, is an enthusiastic
teacher of the piano and organ at Marlborough,
N. Y. Mary A. Moss is the subject of this sketch.
John H. Moss is an esteemed and respected citi
zen of Newburgh, and the inventor and manu

facturer ofthe Standard Dumb-waiter. His son,
Clarence B., is one of the rising young lawyers
of this city. Joseph W. Moss is a well known
and prosperous merchant of Matteawan, N. Y.,
whose son , George H. , is associated with him in
business. George A. Moss is a prominent mer
chant of San Francisco, Cal.
Six children of his second marriage are living.
Frank Moss is a lawyer of New York City, well
known there and throughout the state for his con
nection with the Society for the Prevention of
Crime (Dr. Parkhurst's), of which he is a Direc
tor and counsel. Lincoln Moss is first assistant
engineer of the Manhattan Elevated Railroad, of
New York City. Adrian Moss holds a position
in the same company. Jessie Moss is a public-
school teacher in New York City. Olive Moss is
also a public-school teacher in New York City.
Aldine is the wife of Edwin M. Carter, well known
in banking circles in New York City. It is a
noteworthy fact that musical ability is very
marked in both branches of the family.

dEmc

^L_

HADDEUS S. DURLAND is a. native of
the town of Chester, and was born in 1848.
He was the third child born to Andrew J.
and Elizabeth (Barney) Durland, both of whom
were also natives of Orange County. The father
was reared a farmer, and spent his entire life in
agricultural pursuits. About the year 1850 he
left home, intending to go to New York City,
but, as he was never afterward heard from, the
general supposition is that he was murdered.
His good wife, the mother of our subject, closed
her eyes in death in 1854, leaving a precious
memory. Four children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Durland: Jane, the wife of John F. Mackie,
of Chicago; Charles, deceased; ThaddeusS., our
subject; and Andrew J., who also is deceased.
When but a boy of two years, Thaddeus S.
Durland was sent to live with his uncle, Gabriel
Seeley, by whom he was reared. He attended
the district schools and spent his early life upon
the farm, assisting in the general work, and since
attaining his majority has been actively engaged

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

609

in farming and stock-raising. He has now three
hundred acres of land lying along the Lake Erie &
New York Railroad, and personally superintends
the farm work, though making his home in the
village of Chester.
In national and state affairs Mr. Durland al
ways supports the Republican party, but in local
affairs he is conservative and votes for the man
that he considers best fitted for the office. Never
aspiring to an official position himself, he has
usually refused office of every kind, but has
served his fellow-citizens in several local positions
and is at present a member of the Board of Trus
tees of Chester, and also one of the Water Works
Commissioners.

HOLLAND EMSLIE. The old adage that
"practice makes perfect" is fully verified in
the case of Mr. Emslie, who was apprenticed
to learn the carpenter's trade in 1867. At the
present writing he is one of the leading contract
ors and builders of Orange County, his place of
business being at Cornwall Landing, although he
resides at Cornwall. He has built some of the
handsomest dwellings in this section, besides
many of the large office and public buildings.
James Emslie,- the father of our subject, was
born in Aberdeen, Scotland, about 1818, and his
death occurred when he was seventy-four years of
age. He was a baker by trade, and for many
years carried on this business in connection with
conducting a thriving trade as a groceryman at
Cornwall, which place, many years ago, was
called Canterbury. Our subject worked for him
until a lad of sixteen years, when he began to
make his own way in the world.
The maiden name of the mother of Holland
was Jane Weston. She was born in London, Eng
land, and was sixty-nine years of age at the time
of her decease, in 1889. She became the mother
of five sons and two daughters, of whom we make
the following mention: William H. enlisted, on
the outbreak of the late war, iu 1861, in the
26

Second Regiment of New York Cavalry; as a
member of Company E, he participated in all the
engagements in which his regiment fought, and
while on picket duty was captured and confined
in Andersonville Prison, where he died in June,
1863. Sarah Emslie married John Hancon, and
is now living at Cornwall; Mary became the wife
of Daniel Lunsman, a carpenter by trade, who is
now in the employ of our subject; James, like his
father, was a baker, and the owner of a grocery
until his death, which occurred about three years
ago; our subject was the next-born; Samuel is
engaged in the meat business at Cornwall; and
Richard is traveling salesman for a large grocery
house of Newburgh.
The subject of this sketch was born at Corn
wall, October 15, 1851. His educational oppor
tunities were very limited, as he was compelled
to drive a bread wagon for three days of each
week, thus leaving only two days in which he
could go to school. He was very quick to learn,
however, and in this most unsatisfactory manner
gained a fair knowledge of the common branches
taught. Mr. Emslie, as before stated, began to learn
the carpenter's trade when sixteen years old.
The first year as an apprentice was spent at Corn
wall, after which he went west to Dutchess Coun
ty, but after eight months returned home. The
greater portion of this time was lost, as he had
been stricken down with typhoid fever, which
compelled him to abandon all departments of la
bor for several weeks. After completing his
trade, however, he went to work for Mead &
Taft, of this place, and so valuable did he prove
to these gentlemen that he was soon made fore
man and later became superintendent, having
charge of their immense business. He continued
with them for sixteen years, and then determined
to carry on a business of his own. About nine
years ago the firm of Taylor & Emslie was or
ganized, with our subject as junior partner.
Four years thereafter he sold his interest to Mr.
Taylor, and, purchasing the property where his
factory is now located, has operated alone since
that time. He soon built up an extensive trade,
his business each year amounting to about $300,-

6io

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ooo. An energetic and reliable business man, he
never fails to meet with a cordial reception in any
community where his business takes him.
When twenty-three years of age Mr. Emslie
was married to Miss Ora L- Griffin, of Kingston,
this state. She was born in Ulster County, Oc
tober 16, 1852, and is the daughter of David
Griffin. In our subject's family are three chil
dren: Richard, who is associated with his father in
business; Eva and Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Emslie
are identified with the Episcopal Church, in
which he has been an active worker and Vestry
man for many years. In politics he is a stanch
supporter of Republican principles, and on this
ticket was elected Supervisor in the spring of
'93, for a term of two years. He has been
greatly interested in educational matters and has
rendered efficient service as Trustee of the School
Board for the past nine years. A thoroughly re
liable citizen and intelligent business man, he is
one whose life wins respect from those about
him.

?N3§j5=->*

P QlLLIAM H. SENIOR, a leading business
\ A / man of Montgomery, is head ofthe firm of
V V William H. Senior & Co. , dealers in gen
eral merchandise. For half a century the name
of Senior has been connected with the business
history of this place, the first company being
composed of his father and uncle, George and
Thomas H. Senior, and was known as George
Senior & Co. , which name was retained for some
years. About twenty-five years ago our subject
was also admitted- to partnership, and on the
withdrawal of his uncle the firm name was
changed to George Senior & Son, and remained
thus for about six years. Later it became Will
iam H. Senior & Co., our subject's brother,
George E., being connected with him.
The firm occupies a double three-story build
ing, 44x85 feet, erected in 1890, which is entire
ly occupied by the business. They carry a full
and complete stock of general merchandise, con
sisting of dry goods, clothing, furnishing goods,

groceries, boots and shoes, etc. The stock is
valued at about $20,000 and the annual business
done amounts to about $35,000. Mr. Senior is
an enlightened, prosperous merchant, and his
store on Clinton Street is one of the largest and
most complete emporiums of supplies in this sec
tion of the state. Four assistants are employed.
In Dutchess County, N. Y., near Fishkill,
Mr. Senior was born on the 31st of July, 1843,
and was about one year old when he became a
resident of this village. The family is of English
origin and may be traced back for many genera
tions as a very substantial people, belonging to
the middle class in the commonwealth in Eng
land. Its chief stronghold is in and about the
precincts of Dorsetshire. It was about 1830 that
William Senior, the grandfather of our subject,
concluded to better his condition by leaving the
home of his ancestors and becoming a citizen of the
great Republic of the West, then under the ad
ministration of President Andrew Jackson. With
his family, consisting of his wife and two sons,
Thomas and George, he crossed the Atlantic, lo
cating in Dutchess County, N. Y. After fourteen
years' residence in that county the sons removed
to this village. These gentlemen are still living,
and in their retirement from a long and honorable
business career enjoy universal respect and con
fidence. William H. Senior obtained an excellent edu
cation in the Academy of Montgomery, and,
choosing the mercantile profession, was for sev
eral years a clerk in the store of which he is now
proprietor. On the 13th of December, 1872, he
was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Hada-
way, of New York City, and to them were born
four children, one daughter and three sons: Will
iam, who is iu his father's store; Julia, who died
at the age of four years; Harry, who is learning
the jeweler's trade; and Renwick, who is still in
school. Mr. Senior has no desire or taste for notoriety
and prefers quiet to noisy fame, substance to show,
and though positive in his convictions and in
dependent in action, has never aspired to lead
ership, office or place. He has clear, compre
hensive and sagacious business judgment, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

611

is obliging, candid, neighborly, upright and pro
gressive. He welcomed and aided the advent of
the Montgomery & Erie Railroad; sturdily helped
to secure that most wise and efficient measure,
the corporation of the Academy of Montgomery,
or the union free-school system of his district,
and his name appears on the list of the Board of
Education of the "Academic and Union School
of Montgomery." He is a stanch Republican, a
strong protectionist and an admirer of the gallant
Ohio statesman and Governor, William McKin-
ley. Religiously he is a consistent member of
the Presbyterian Church.
s  a-"********-^^********1-,,  9
GjUGUSTUS D. BURNET, who is engaged in
LI general farming and dairying on a valuable ¦
/ I tract of land in the town of Montgomery,
has for about forty-five years, or during the span
of his lifetime, been identified with the affairs of
this section, where he has numerous warm friends
and acquaintances. He was born May 30, 1850,
in this town, and was the eldest of the three chil
dren comprising the family of Jacob R. and Eliz
abeth G. (Roberts) Burnet. The former was born
iu Little Britain, in the town of New Windsor, and
was there reared and married. Soon after his mar
riage he came to this town, purchasing a farm
near the village of Montgomery, where he made
his home until his decease, which pccurred when
he was seventy-seven years old. As an agricult
urist he made a decided success, being well and
favorably known, and was classed among the
substantial residents of the locality. His parents
were also natives of New York, and for several
generations back the records show the family to
be prominent in the state. Mrs. Elizabeth Bur
net was born in the town of Blooming Grove,
this county, and her death occurred in 1891.
Augustus D. was given the advantage of ob
taining a good education, and after reaching ma
ture years he was married. For the first two
years after starting in life for himself, he rented
property, after which he purchased the land on
which he has made his home ever since. The
lady who became his wife January 28, 1880, was

Miss Mary Van Alst, daughter of Charles J. Van
Alst, whose sketch may be found on another
page in this book. The four children granted to
them were: Bessie R., born March 2, 1883; Flora
May, March 17, 1885; Charles A., February 12,
1887; and Mary Edith, September 7, 1890. In
political faith Mr. Burnet affiliates with the Re
publican party, which he believes to be in the
right. He has never been an aspirant for office,
much preferring to devote his time to his private
interests, and finds that he has all he can do to
operate his farm. His estate includes one hundred
and five broad acres, embellished with a pleas
ant residence and all the buildings necessary to
carry on a first-class farm. The family are sur
rounded by every comfort that can enhance their
happiness, and enjoy the esteem of all to whom
they are personally known. Mr. Burnet is a
member in excellent standing of the Reformed
Church, and aids in every way that he can to ex
tend the boundaries of the good work in the
county.

-*— »- — ?}>H®^S)®f'«<;»  « — *"-

(TOHN C. HOWELL. The gentleman whose
I honored name appears at the opening of this
G/ sketch is a representative of the men of en
ergy, ability and enterprise who have made
Orange County so prominent in the state. His
name is associated with the agricultural interests
of the town of Newburgh, where he owns and
operates a valuable farm of one hundred and fifty
acres. The place contains all the improvements
of a model estate, including a set of neat and sub
stantial farm buildings.
Upon the farm where he now resides Mr. How
ell was born July 23, 1829. He is a son of Rens
selaer and Olive (Belknap) Howell, the former
born on Long Island, March 23, 1797, and the
latter bom in this county, November 1, 1800.
They became the parents of five children, namely:
David B., living in Newburgh; Rensselaer, who
makes his home in that city; John C, of this
sketch; Mary F., who died in 1877; and Sarah,

6l2

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who departed this life in 1 842 . The father of this
family came to Orange County in 181 9 and set
tled on a tract of two hundred acres, where he
resided for two years. He then moved his fam
ily into a rude cabin, which still stands on the
home farm. This tract was then a wild, un
broken wilderness, and in order to erect a dwell
ing the trees had to be cleared from the spot
selected. On this place the father died in Decem
ber, 1884, and the mother in i860.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the
old homestead, of which he assumed the manage
ment in 1870. He was married, September 7,
1854, to Miss Mary E. Brewster, and to them
were born two children. David B., who married
Kitty McCortney, resides with his father; and
Sarah F. is now the wife of Henry J. Reilly, a
resident of Montgomery. The wife and mother
died November 10, 1883, and the lady whom our
subject chose for his second companion and to
whom he was married March 31, 1885, was Mrs.
Catherine (Drake) Derland.
Iu politics Mr. Howell affiliates with the Dem
ocratic party, and in religious affairs he belongs
to the Presbyterian Church, worshiping with the
congregation nearest his home. He has been a
very hard worker and his fine farm and comforta
ble buildings prove his industry. He has made
most of the improvements on the place himself,
but gives his attention especially to dairy farm
ing, having on his place about twenty-five milch
cows of the Holstein breed, which he finds to be
the best. Thus briefly we have tried to outline
the life of one of the oldest residents of Orange
County, who counts his friends here as legion.
0AVID B. PARSHALL- The residents of
the town of Montgomery are well acquaint
ed with Mr. Parshall, who has passed his
entire life here and has taken an active part in
the development of its material interests. He was
born in the village of Walden, this town, and
having always lived in the same locality has been
a witness of its growth and an important factor in

its development. The farm upon which he re
sides is one which his wife inherited from her fa
ther. Its value has been largely increased by the
improvements he has made, and the neat appear
ance of buildings, fences, etc. , indicates the thrift
of the owner.
The father of our subject, David Parshall, was
of French lineage and was born in Little Britain,
whence in 1822 he came to Waldeu. He was a
farmer by occupation, and followed that calling
successfully until his death, at the age of forty-
eight years. He was a soldier in the War of
1812. His wife, who bore the maiden name of
Christina Kidd, was of American parentage and
of Irish descent; she was born in Walden, when
that now flourishing village was a sparsely pop
ulated hamlet, and here she died at the age of
sixty-seven. The youngest of the family of eight children,
David B. Parshall was born in Walden, August
11, 1826, and in the common and select schools
of his native place his education was obtained.
On attaining his majority he inherited a farm
that now lies within the corporate limits of Wal
den, and this he sold about 1865 for $200 per
acre. Since that time he has made his home on
the farm bequeathed to his wife by her father,
and here he engages in general farming and in
the dairy business. Interested in educational af
fairs, he has served as Trustee of the schools, and
has been elected to other local offices upon the
ticket of the Democratic party, of which he is a
member. In religious belief he is an Episco
palian. The lady who presides over the pleasant home
of Mr. Parshall was known in maidenhood as
Susan Bogart. She was born in the town of
Montgomery in 1833, being the daughter of
David G. and Hannah (Dill) Bogart. Her pa
ternal grandfather, Nicholas Bogart, was num
bered among the earliest settlers of this locality,
and was for years one of its influential citizens.
In addition to farming he carried on a silversmith
business. By the marriage of our subject and his
wife, which was solemnized October 10, i860,
there were born three children, namely: David
B., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits near

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

613

the old homestead; Isabelle, wife of William S.
Hanlon, of Montgomery; and Alice, a popular
and accomplished young lady, who is with her
parents.

Gl SAHEL H. COOLEY, a leading farmer and
LI stock-raiser of the town of New Windsor, is
/ | widely known on account of the interest he
takes in fine cattle and the prizes he has won at
various county and state fairs. Wherever he
has exhibited his valuable Jersey cattle, he has
taken premiums, and at the World's Fair, where
he had twelve animals on exhibition, he was
honored with ten premiums, which indicates the
high grade of his stock.
Justus Cooley, father of A. H., was born in
Ulster County, near Plattekill, where his father,
also Justus, of English descent, had settled at
an early day. The father, was a farmer by oc
cupation, and in 1841 moved to Orange Coun
ty, settling on a farm of two hundred and ten
acres, now owned by our subject. Here his death
occurred June 14, 1879, and his remains were in
terred in the cemetery at Pleasant Valley, Ulster
County. His wife survived him some ten years.
They were members of the Society of Friends,
and were most worthy people. The wife bore
the maiden name of Elizabeth Pine, and by her
marriage became the mother of nine children, as
follows: James H'., deceased; Fannie, wife of Dr.
J. A. Maubey, of Newburgh; Asahel H.; Mary;
Elizabeth; Justus, a resident of Plainfield, N. J.,
and a practicing physician; Charles, a farmer;
Helen, who is engaged in teaching in New York
City; and Maurice, a civil engineer of Toledo,
Ohio. The birth of A. H. Cooley occurred July 1,
1844, on the homestead, and until he was four
teen years of age he attended the district schools
of the neighborhood. He then went to New
York City in order to have better educational op
portunities and was a student there for two years.
Returning to the farm, he remained here, gradual
ly assuming much of the care pertaining thereto,

and after his father's death took charge of the
place and named it Chestuutwood Farm.
In 1878 Mr. Cooley commenced breeding reg
istered Jersey cattle on a small scale and has since
increased his herd to seventy -five. Of the twelve
head of cattle sent by him to the World's Fair
every animal received a prize but two, and they
were highly commended. He took second prize
on the herd of one bull and five cows, and second
prize on "Mahkeenac Second" (23703) in aged
bull class, also second on bull-calf; first prize 'on
two animals, the produce of one cow, and second
prize on "Minette Pogis" (15525) for get of one
sire; second prize on three-year-old cow, also on
two-year-old cow, and third prize on heifer calf.
All the above winners were bred at Chestnut-
wood Farm. At the New York State Fairs he
has won seven gold medals and a large number
of class prizes. He has also won herd prizes at
New Jersey and Connecticut fairs. "Mahkeenac' '
has won more prizes than any bull of his age in
the state, having been shown since he was a calf,
and has won prizes in every class. Mr. Cooley
owns the well improved farm of two hundred and
ten acres formerly owned by his father, where
he raises a general line of crops common to this
locality. Like his father before him, he is a mem
ber of the Society of Friends. Politically he is
affiliated with the Republican party.

<|TRVING H. LOUGH RAN. Prominent
I among the men who have the interests of
X Walden at heart may be mentioned Mr.
Loughran, who is an influential attorney and also
Justice of the Peace of this city. He is a native
of New York, for his birth occurred in Ashland,
Greene County, September 17, 1855, and in this
state the first three years of his life were spent.
His parents were Ferdinand and Margaret (Rog
ers) Loughran, who in 1858 removed with our
subject to Newark, N. J. The father, who was a
hatter by trade, later moved to Matteawan, N. Y. ,
where they remained until the son was ten years
of age.
Mr. Loughran was the recipient ofa fair educa-

614

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tion. He first attended the public schools, and
after graduating from the high school attended
an academy. At the age of eighteen he began
reading law iu the office of Henry H. Hustis, a
practicing attorney of Fishkill, N. Y., remaining
with him until his admission to the Bar, in 1880.
He took his examination in Brooklyn, before the
general term of the Supreme Court, and at once
began practicing, locating in Walden. Here he
has been quite successful and has practiced in all
the courts. His popularity as a Justice of the
Peace is shown by the fact that he has served
the public in that capacity for three terms of four
years each, and at the March election was chosen
for a fourth term.
At the present time our subject is Supervisor
ofthe town of Montgomery, having been the in
cumbent of that office for three terms of one year
each, and for one term of two years. He is also
a member of the Law Committee of the Board of
Supervisors, and has faithfully fulfilled the duties
pertaining to his office. He is a man much in*
terested in public enterprises, and can be depend
ed upon to aid in all movements for the upbuild
ing of his town and county.
Politically Mr. Loughran is a stanch Republi
can and a firm believer in the principles espoused
by that party. He is generally sent as a delegate
to the district conventions, and was for a time a
member of the County Central Committee. He
has a great deal of influence politically, and iu
campaign times has "stumped" the county in the
interests of his party. He is one of the largest
stockholders in the Wallkill Valley Electric-light
Company, in which he is holding the office of
Secretary, and of which he is a Director. This
company was organized in the year 1893, and
has a plant which cost $16,000. Our subject is
also attorney for the Walden Savings Bank. He
is identified with the New York State Bar Asso
ciation. Socially Mr. Loughran is a Mason, being con
nected with Wallkill Lodge No. 627, and High
land Chapter and Hudson River Commandery
No. 35, K. T. , both of Newburgh. He is also
connected with Mecca Temple of the Mystic
Shrine, of New York City, and belongs to Wal

den Lodge No. 267, K. of P., and to the New
burgh Lodge of Elks. In all these organizations
he has been very active and is recognized as a
valuable worker in whatever he undertakes.

+— -M»H8e<E^

-?—

(JOHN B. ROGERS, E. E., until May 1,
I 1895, was Treasurer ofthe Highland Pumi
ce ture Manufacturing Company of Newburgh.
He is a representative of a prominent family, and
was born iu Oshkosh, Wis., February 12, 1872,
while his father, John B. Rogers, Sr. , and his
grandfather, Daniel T. Rogers, were both natives
of Newburgh. The great-grandfather, Daniel
Rogers, was a native of Rhode Island, and was
the owner of a line of coasting- vessels. He re
moved to Newburgh, and established the Orange
County Powder Works, three miles from the city,
developing there a good business, which is now
conducted under the name ofthe Laflin-Rand Pow
der-mill Company. On selling out he lived re
tired until his death, in 1880, at the advanced
age of ninety-two. He was a direct descendant
of John Rogers, the martyr. His father, Col.
Daniel Rogers, also resided in Rhode Island, and
was a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The grandfather of our subject studied law,
but did not practice it, giving his attention to
other interests. He was the first Superintendent
of the Water Works after their establishment,
and for many years served on the Board of Edu
cation. He was one of the organizers of the
Church of the Corner-stone, or the Reformed
Episcopal, and in politics was a Republican. He
wedded Mary Brown, a native of Newburgh, and
a daughter of Rev. John Brown, D. D., an Epis
copal minister, who was born iu New York City,
and who established St. George's congregation
and built the church. He also organized St.
Thomas' Church of New Windsor, and there
erected a house of worship. He continued his
pastoral duties until his death, which occurred
at the advanced age of ninety-seven. His mar
riage united him with Miss Frances Ludlow, a
sister of Lieut. August Ludlow, of the United
States navy, who was on the frigate "Chesa-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

615

peake' ' with Lawrence when the latter uttered
the memorable words, "Don't give up the ship."
The grandfather of our subject died in 1883,
at the age of sixty-three. John B. Rogers, Sr. ,
was reared, educated and married in Newburgh,
and then removed to Oshkosh, Wis., where he
engaged in business as a hardware merchant.
He afterward went to Philadelphia, Pa., where
he lived retired. He next located in Warwick,
N. Y., and thence came to Newburgh, where he
died iu 1881, at the age of thirty-three. He
married Elizabeth T. Jordan, who was born in
Sullivan County, N. Y., daughter of William
Jordan, an extensive tanner of Newburgh, who
on his retirement from business life located in
Brooklyn, where his death occurred. Mrs. Rogers
is still living in Newburgh, and is a member of
the Reformed Episcopal Church. Her grand
mother was of Holland descent. In the family
were three children, John B., Mary and William
J., all of whom are in Newburgh.
It will thus be seen that our subject comes of a
family that has long been connected with the
history and development of this region, and he
worthily bears the honored name. He was
reared in Philadelphia, Warwick and Newburgh,
and pursued his education at Cornwall Heights,
tnen attended Holbrook Military. Academy at
Sing Sing until 1890, when he entered the Junior
class of Union College, and was graduated in
1892 with the degree of Electrical Engineer. Dur
ing all this time he was working in Edison's shop.
He then spent eighteen months as a clerk in the
Western National Bank of New York City, and
in June, 1893, returned to Newburgh, becoming
one of the organizers of the Highland Furniture
Manufacturing Company, of which he was Secre
tary and Treasurer until 1894, holding the latter
position until May 1, 1895. The shops have two
departments — the wholesale department, where all
kinds of chairs are manufactured, and the cabinet
department, where they do all kinds of special
cabinet-work and interior wood-finishing. Since
resigning from the latter company, Mr. Rogers
has been connected with the New York Life In
surance Company as special agent.
As a member of the Edge Hill Mining Com

pany, our subject is interested in a gold mine in
Nova Scotia, near Truro, the company being
formed by a number of bank clerks in New York,
and incorporated under the laws of Kentucky.
He is also interested in a lumber business in
Orange County, and is a stockholder in a na
tional bank of Newburgh, and in the Anglo-
American Building and Loan Association, of
which he is agent, in Warwick. He is interested
in the fire department, being a member of Wash
ington Steamer No. 4, and belongs to the Sons of
the Revolution, while politically he is identified
with the Democratic party.
In October, 1893, Mr. Rogers was united in
marriage with Miss R. G. Belknap, the wedding
ceremony being performed in Newburgh. The
lady is a native of this city, and a daughter of
Moses Cook Belknap, late President ofthe High
land National Bank. By this union one son has
been born, John B.

ROBERT KEARNS, M. D. The medical
profession opens au inviting field for young
men of energy, decision of purpose, keen
discriminating powers and large intellect. To
such a one the study of the science is attractive,
its rewards assured. Nor are the physicians of Or
ange County deficient in skill and intellectual ac
umen; in fact, in many respects, they lead the
profession in this portion ofthe state, and by their
knowledge of the medical science have enlarged
the usefulness ofthe work.
To no one do these words more aptly apply
than to the subject of this notice, a popular phy
sician of Montgomery, and one who, by his de
cided talents, has won recognition not often ac
corded to men so young as he. He is skillful in
the diagnosis of cases and wise iu the selection of
remedial agencies. His experience has been a
varied one, and has included practice in almost
every department of the profession, his hospital
work having been especially helpful to him.
The school days of Dr. Kearus were passed in

6i6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Paterson, N. J., where he was born February 10,
1866, and where his father, Robert, was a ma
chinist in the locomotive works. He attended
the public schools of his native place and complet
ed the studies ofthe high school, from which he
was graduated. Resolving to enter the medical
profession, he began his readings under private
tutelage, and after two years thus spent he en
tered the College ot Physicians and Surgeons in
New York City, remaining in that institution
until his graduation with the Class of '88, at the
conclusion ofa four-years course. He had some
practical experience in professional work at the
House of Relief on Chambers Street, and served
for one year as house physician in St. Joseph's
College at Paterson N. J., where he had exten
sive experience in general practice.
Opening an office for practice at Paterson, the
Doctor, however, soon came from that city to
Montgomery, where he has conducted an increas
ing practice since January, 1891. He is interest
ed in everything pertaining to the profession,
and is an active member of the Orange County
Medical Society, the meetings of which he at
tends whenever his professional duties permit.
He is a careful, painstaking, conscientious physi
cian, and takes a personal interest in the welfare
of his patients, who in turn have the fullest confi
dence in his skill and ability. Since coming to
? Montgomery he was married, June 10, 1892, to
Miss Carrie Probasco, a cultured lady, in whose
death, January 27, 1894, he suffered a deep be
reavement. He has made many friends among
the people, both of Montgomery and the sur
rounding country, and has the regard of all with
whom he has had professional or social relations.
¦  ^*£P  •

pQlLLIAM CRABTREE, senior member of
\ A / the firm of Crabtree & Patchett, manu-
V V facturers of woolen goods at Montgomery,
is an enterprising business man and reckons as
his friends all with whom he has had dealings,
a fact which speaks well for his upright character.
Mr. Crabtree is of English birth, and was born

October 30, 1840, near Bradford, Yorkshire. His
parents, John and Hannah (Battersby) Crabtree,
had born to them three children, of whom Will
iam was the eldest. Mary married James Sheard,
and now resides in Montgomery ; the other daugh
ter died in infancy.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his
native shire, and as soon as old enough entered
a worsted factory, learning a branch of the busi
ness with John Foster & Son, owners of one of
the largest worsted manufactories in the world.
In 1864 young William decided to try his fortune
in the New World, and, coming at once hither,
located iu Philadelphia, where he remained at
work until 1880. In 1869 his parents moved to
Warren County, 111. , and made their home on a
farm. There the father died in his fifty-third
year, his wife surviving him many years, and pass
ing away at the advanced age of seventy-five
years. On coming to Montgomery in 1880, Mr. Crab
tree purchased a worsted-mill in company with
Mr. Patchett. In 1891 the original factory was
burned, but they at once erected the present mill,
and the plant is now valued at $75,000. Onan
average they employ one hundred hands, and
make large quantities of worsted yarns, which
are used almost entirely for knitting purposes.
The enterprise is one of the important industries
in the county, and that the firm has shown itself
fully capable of its management is evident by the
confidence reposed in it by the merchants and
moneyed men of the place.
July 30, 1867, occurred the marriage of Will
iam Crabtree and Miss Harriet Patchett, also a
native of Yorkshire, England. Her birth occurred
about 1842, and she is the daughter of Edmund
and Elizabeth (Robertshaw) Patchett. By her
union with our subject she has become the moth
er of five sons, namely: Harry, engaged in the
factory; Edward, John A., William E. and
Charles B. The older sons have charge of cer
tain departments in the woolen factory, in which
special lines they have been well trained.
Our subject is a Republican iu politics, and so
cially belongs to Wallkill Lodge No. 627, F. &
A. M. In him the Reformed Church recognizes

JOHN DONOHUE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

619

one of its most valued members. He is an hon
ored resident of the community, and during the
years of his residence here has maintained an un
blemished character.

+=

z+

(JOHN DONOHUE, superintendent of the
I Baker- Rose Gold Cure Sanitarium, located at
Q) Cornwall on the Hudson, has met with phe
nomenal success in the management of this insti
tution, as well as in carrying on others of a similar
character. It occupies one of the most attractive
locations in the world, and is well adapted in every
particular for carrying on the work for which it is
intended. Mr. Donohue has been at the head of
this noted institution for two years, but during
that short time has instituted many reforms in its
management, and is one of the most popular men
in the place.
The sanitarium was originally established by a
company who controlled the Baker-Rose cure, for
whom our subject came here as superintendent.
It was not long, however, before he obtained con
trol of the institution and made it a private sani
tarium. The business of the same has increased
under his management to such an extent that ad
ditional room is needed. It has been found nec
essary also to open an office in New York City for
the transaction of business, their location being
at No. 156 Fifth Avenue. No institution of the
kind in the United States has met with such
marked success, and the patronage and results
abundantly testify to the efficiency of the system.
Our subject conies from an illustrious family.
His father, Daniel Donohue, a native of County
Carey, Ireland, was one of the wealthy family of
Donohues which figured so prominently in Parlia
ment. His mother, who bore the maiden name
of Mary O'Connell, also came from a family
which took a noted part in public life in the Em
erald Isle. She departed this life at the age of
thirty-nine years, while her husband lived to the
age of sixty-three. They were the parents of
twelve children, six of whom are now living, as

follows: John, the subject of this sketch; Maggie,
who makes her home in New York City; Nellie
and Minnie, who live in Albany ; Jeremiah, follow
ing the trade of a stone-cutter in Saratoga; and
James, whose home is also in that city.
Our subject was born in Greenfield, Saratoga
County, N. Y. , June 3, 1858. He attended the
common schools until a lad of thirteen years,
when, his mother dying about this time, he left
home and began to do for himself. He is, how
ever, a well read man, possessing a sound practi
cal education, obtained by observation and actual
contact with the world.
Upon leaving home our subject first obtained a
position as a watchman on the Lakes, but was
soon promoted to be Quartermaster. After fol
lowing the Lakes for three years he returned home
and learned the mason's trade from his father.
Later he was made foreman of the work at differ
ent points on the West Shore Railroad, with
which he remained until 1883, when he located at
Utica, where he purchased a home and accumu
lated considerable property. In the latter place
he first engaged in contracting, and later was in
the fire and life insurance business.
In 1892 Mr. Donohue entered the law office of
M. H. Sexton, a prominent attorney of Utica,
and under his instruction read Blackstone for two
years, although he never made the profession a
business for any length of time. His knowledge
of the Baker- Rose Gold Cure commenced with his
personal use of the same treatment received. He
was then made superintendent of the sanitarium
at Saratoga under the original company control
ling the cure. Cornwall on the Hudson was se
lected as an eligible site for an institution of this
kind, and as soon as the buildings were completed
the patients from Saratoga removed hither. Mr.
Donohue was installed as superintendent, and,
as before noted, the ownership was afterward
changed, he becoming the proprietor.
Mr. Donohue was married, in February, 1881,
to Miss Sarah J. O'Neal, a native of Mechanics
ville, Saratoga County, N. Y. To them were
born the following six children: Annie, John,
Willie (deceased) , Thomas, Willie (the second
of that name) and James, the eldest eleven and

620

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the youngest three years of age. When our sub
ject located at this place it was with the intention
of making it his permanent home. Although a
comparatively new comer, he is widely and favor
ably known and commands the respect and confi-
fidence ofthe best people of the community. He
possesses the requisite amount of push and energy
to make a success of his undertakings, and is al
together a genial and pleasant gentleman. So
cially he is a member of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, and in politics is a stanch sup
porter of Democratic principles. He was reared
in the faith of the Catholic Church, of which he
is a devout member.

QATHANIEb TUTHILL is a native of
I / Orange County, his birth having occurred
lis on the farm where he is now residing in
1820. His estate, Which is one hundred and
eighty-five acres in extent, is one ofthe best sit
uated in the town, and by former years of indus
try he has acquired sufficient means to enable him
to pass in comfort the remaining years of his life.
His parents, Joseph W. and Catherine (Denton)
Tuthill, were also natives of Orange County, the
father's birth occurring in this town. He was a
well-to-do farmer of this locality and was well
known in public life, having served acceptably as
Town Assessor for a period of fifteen years. He
was a hard-working, honest man, and accumu
lated a fair share of this world's goods. His
death, which occurred in 1850, was greatly la
mented, for in him the community lost one of its
best residents. His wife survived him some
years, dying in 1857. The paternal grandfather
of our subject was born on Long Island, and dur
ing the Revolutionary War served as a soldier in
the ranks of the Continental army, and was pres
ent at the siege of Ft. Montgomery.
The subject of this sketch, who was next to the
eldest in the parental family, first attended the
schools taught in his district, and completed his
education in Farmers' Hall Academy, at Goshen.
He afterward returned to the home place, where
he was well trained in the duties pertaining to

farming, and has made this his home ever since.
Like many ofthe large farmers in this vicinity, he
is greatly interested in the dairy business, which
he finds to be very profitable. The buildings on
the old place are substantially made and are such
as are usually found on a first-class farm.
Miss Hannah Hawkins became the wife of our
subject iu 1854. She was the daughter of Ira and
Hannah (Vail) Hawkins, the latter ofwhom was
the daughter of General Vail, and all of whom
were born in this county. To Mr. and Mrs.
Tuthill there were granted four children: Ira H.,
who died when a lad of six years; Mary Kate,
the wife of Sylvanus J. Howell, of this county;
Emma W. and Nathaniel, Jr., at home. The
wife and mother passed to the land beyond in
1885. Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian
Church of Goshen, in which he has been Trustee
for the past twelve years. In politics he is a
Democrat, and though never aspiring to official
positions has never let an opportunity pass to vote
for the success of the party of his choice. Mr.
Tuthill, now in his seventy-sixth year, is enjoy
ing good health, and it is the sincere wish of his
many friends that he may live many years. He
is a great reader, and the writings of the best
prose and verse writers may be found in his home.
By those who are well acquainted with him he is
held to be a man of sterling worth and integrity,
and with pleasure we represent him in this volume.
'¦!¦ >»»lji > >!¦

KVCHOLAS I. QUACKENBOS. During the
r7 early days of the settlement of America,
I is when large numbers of sturdy Dutch pio
neers crossed the Atlantic and founded New Am
sterdam, two brothers named QuackenBoss came
to this country, one ofwhom, settling in Albany,
took the name of Quackenbush, while the other,
remaining in New York City, adopted the name
of Quackenbos. From the latter of the two broth
ers, the subject of this notice is descended. For
generations the family has been one of wealth,
prominence and influence, and it has given to
New York many of its leading merchants, attor-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

621

neys and physicians. One of its most prominent
members was George P. Quackenbos, the noted
school-book author, who was a cousin of our sub
ject. The family are heirs to a large estate at The
Hague, Holland, which was left by a Mrs. Web
ber, an eccentric old lady, who bequeathed it to
her descendants in the fifth generation. In the
eighteenth century an effort was made to secure a
division of the property and Aaron Burr was sent
to Holland for that purpose, but he was unsuc
cessful, as indeed have been all those who have
endeavored to get action on the fund. The fa
ther of our subject, Mangle Minthorn Quacken
bos, was a descendant, through his mother, of
the Tompkins family, one of the old established
families of Staten Island. He was born in New
York City December 2, 1792, and spent his life
there principally, though for a short time he so
journed in Canada. Being a man of keen insight
into intricate commercial affairs, he was prospered
in his undertakings, and became the owner of a
large amount of valuable real estate, in addition
to the property which was bequeathed to him.
The old homestead was situated on Third Street
and the Bowery, the property extending across
the island and comprising about two hundred
acres. For some years after 18 12 he kept a large
military guard on his place.
Identified with the early history of New York
City, M. M. Quackenbos served for a number of
years as one of its Aldermen, and was in other
ways prominent in public affairs. He was se
curity on the bond for a Government Custom
Collector, and, difficulty arising, he was for a
long time in litigation with the Government, and
after his death the estate paid $100,000 to the
Government in order to adjust the claim. He
passed away July 17, 1864, when less than sev
enty-two years of age. His wife, Juliana M.
Clark, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., October 20,
1795, and died in New York, March 20, 1889,
aged ninety-three years. She was a member of
one of the old and influential families of New
York, and was a lady of most estimable character,
a worthy descendant of her honored ancestors.
The family of M. M. Quackenbos consisted of

thirteen children, five ofwhom attained years of
maturity. An elder brother of our subject, John
M., who was born July 10, 1817, is still living,
and makes his home in New York City. A sis
ter, Louisa C, became the wife of C. W. Wads-
worth, the late Minister to Mexico, and since his
death she has continued to live iu the city ot
Mexico. Nicholas I. was born at No. 25 River-
ton Street, New York City, April 14, 1838, and
is the seventh generation in descent from the
original representative of the family in America.
The rudiments of his education were gained in the
public schools, and afterward he attended the
Poughkeepsie Collegiate School.
At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Quacken
bos came to Montgomery, Orange County, where
he purchased a tract of land and has since en
gaged in farming. He is the owner of one hun
dred acres lying in the city, and this is well im
proved, being one of the most beautiful suburban
homes of the county. The residence, built ac
cording to a modern style of architecture, is com
modious and elegantly appointed, and the sur
rounding farm buildings are first-class. In many
respects it is an ideal home, comfortable, attract
ive and inviting, the abode of a refined and cul
tured family.
The first marriage of Mr. Quackenbos occurred
November 2, 1859, when he was united with Miss
Mary, daughter of John Carvey, of Montgomery.
This lady was born August 9, 1841, and died
February 12, 1875. They were the parents of
three sons and two daughters, namely: John C,
Edward M. and Robert, all of whom are con
nected with the Home Building and Loan Asso
ciation at Reading, Pa.; Jennie S., an accom
plished and popular young lady; and Susan C,
Mrs. E. G. Swezey, of Goshen, N. Y. Mr.
Quackenbos was again married, September 1,
1875, his wife being Miss Catherine Rowena
Mould, who was born February 24, 1850, and is
the daughter of John and Emily (Douglas)
Mould, of Orange County. Four children bless
their union, named as follows: Julia Minthorn
(known as Minna) , Harrison M. , Frederic A. and
George N.
While Mr. Quackenbos has never been pre-

622

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

vailed upon to accept public office, he is inter
ested in municipal matters and politically gives
his vote to the candidates and principles of the
Republican party. He is a frequent attendant at
the meetings ofthe Republicans ofthe county,
and in conventions his voice may often be heard
in explanation or defense of some progressive
measure. He was reared in the Episcopalian
faith, but is now identified with the Dutch Re
formed Church in Montgomery.
^=9mG — _.

"HOMAS HARVEY SENIOR, a retired
merchant of Montgomery, is one of the
worthy citizens that England has furnished
to the Empire State. He was born in Dorsetshire,
September 22, 1819, and with the family came to
the United States in 1830. His boyhood days
were quietly passed, and at the age of seventeen
he began to learn the hatter's trade in Danbury,
Conn., serving a four-years apprenticeship. For
his services he was given $40 per year and his
board, and so proficient had he become during
the last two years that he was able to earn jour
neyman's wages of $7.50 per week. Thus at the
end of his apprenticeship he had saved about
$200. After working as a journeyman in Con
necticut for a year, he established a business of
his own in Danbury, which he successfully con
ducted for five years, and then removed to Mont
gomery, N. Y.
In 1846 Mr. Senior began business in this
place, and engaged in hat-making for four years,
after which he joined his brother George in busi
ness as a general merchant. They continued op
erations together for seventeen years, their efforts
being crowned with prosperity. Our subject
then retired from the firm, and in company with
his son, Thomas W., then just from college, he
established a grocery and meat-market, with
which he was connected for four years. Since
then, however, he has practically lived a retired
life, for his industry and enterprise iu former
years have brought to him a comfortable compe
tence, and he is resting in the enjoyment of the
fruits of his former toil. For forty-five years he

has lived at his present home place, which con
sists ofa small tract of land, and to a limited ex
tent he carries on gardening. Thus he occupies
his time, for indolence and idleness are utterly for
eign to his nature, and he finds it almost impos
sible to retire altogether from work. Almost from
its organization he has been one of the stockhold
ers of the Montgomery & Erie Railroad.
In 1848 was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Senior and Lucinda F. Sears, daughter of Simon
Sears. Their only child, Thomas Weller, is en
gaged in the engraving- business and makes his
home with his parents. Mr. Senior is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he
has served as Trustee and Steward for some years,
and his wife belongs to the Dutch Reformed
Church. In politics Mr. Senior was formerly a
Democrat, but is now a Prohibitionist. He has
served as Trustee of Montgomery on various oc
casions and has always given his support to meas
ures that are calculated to promote the general
welfare and to every interest that will prove of
benefit either socially, morally or intellectually.
He is well known as a most earnest temperance
worker and has been identified with temperance
movements since the days of the old Washing-
tonian Societies. A pleasant, intelligent gentle
man, he has hosts of warm friends, and all who
know him esteem him highly.

c=i

"¦"¦"a

^~H^

t=_

EYRUS A. BOWNE. As a representative of
a well known family of Orange County, Mr.
Bowne has added luster to the honored name
he bears. His accurate judgment and superior
ability have been displayed in the successful man
agement of his business affairs. Throughout the
town of Montgomery, where his farm of one hun
dred and nine acres is located, he is regarded with
the highest respect and confidence as a man of
unimpeachable integrity. He was born on this
farm March 16, 1857. Mr- Bowne is known
throughout the state as a maker of a fine grade
of butter, which he markets at fancy prices in the
large cities, and has customers whom he supplies
the year round.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

623

Our subject was the youngest member of the
family of nine sons and daughters born to Cyrus
H. and Hester (Wood) Bowne. Of these, Anna
married Jenson Fowler, and died when fifty years
of age; Susan is the wife of William Y. Dennis
ton, a farmer of this town; Samuel W. is a mem
ber of the firm of Scott & Bowne, of New York
City, and is engaged in the manufacture of Scott's
Emulsion, on the corner of Rose and Pearl Streets,
in the Scott & Bowne Building. Mr. Bowne gives
his attention to the business in the United States,
while the senior partner looks after the foreign
trade. James H. Bowne, the fourth of the family,
is living in Duluth, Minn. ; Agnes is the wife of
Jonas Hawkins, a farmer of this town; Obediah is
superintendent of the compounding room for the
Scott & Bowne Company of New York; Emma
married John Campbell, and resides on Long Isl-
land; Kate is unmarried, and resides with the
family of William Y. Denniston.
The father of this family was born in Dutchess
County, N. Y. , where he was reared on a farm.
He came to Orange County when a young man,
starting out in life for himself, being accompanied
on the trip by his widowed mother. In 1834 he
married and purchased the farm on which his
son, our subject, now resides. This he was very
successful in operating, and made it his home un
til his decease, which occurred when he was fifty
years of age. He was a member and Trustee of
the Goodwill Presbyterian Church, with which
he had been connected for many years. Mrs.
Hester Bowne was born in Orange County, and
was the daughter of Washington Wood, a specu
lator and prominent man of his community. He
was seventy-four years of age at the time of his
decease, in September, 1891.
The subject of this sketch remained at home
until attaining his majority, with the exception
of the time spent in school at Walden and Hud
son. When eighteen he assumed the manage
ment of the homestead, it being the wish of his
mother that he should remain with her. She is
now deceased. She was an intelligent lady, re
served and quiet in disposition, and a devoted
member of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church.
September 19, 1883, Cyrus A. Bowne was mar

ried to Miss Corinne H. Miller, of the town of
Hamptonburgh, this county. Their union was
blessed by the birth of three children, namely:
Carrie, who died when a year old; Ernest and an
infant. In politics our subject is a Republican on
national issues, but during local elections casts a
ballot iu favor of the man whom he considers will
best fill the office. He, too, is a member of the
Presbyterian Church.

(TOHN L- D. EAGER, Police Justice and Jus-
I tice of the Peace of Montgomery, is one of
(2/ the leading business men of this place, where
he is connected with the hide and leather busi
ness. He was born in Walden, May 20, 1851,
and is a son of Paul Isaac L. and Fanny M. (Bo-
dine) Eager, both still living in Montgomery.
At the age of eighteen years, John L. D. Eager
left home, going to Newburgh, where for eight
years he clerked for the firm of Homer Ramsdell
& Co., after which he embarked in the coal trade
for himself at Montgomery, carrying on a suc
cessful business until 1893. During that time he
also dealt in hide and tallow, and is a member of
the National Hide and Leather Association. He
does an extensive hide business, preparing sheep
skins for the tannery, and handles about thirteen
thousand pelts per year. He occupies a two-story
building, 28x67 feet, supplied with the latest ma
chinery for the trade, and deals mostly in coun
try hides. The hide and leather paper of Chi
cago speaks quite highly of his business, which
he conducts on honorable, straightforward prin
ciples, and the goods which he turns out are of
the highest grades. He works in close connec
tion with the woolen-mill in Montgomery. The
wool is removed by modern process, and the hides
are taken to a tannery in Middletown, where they
are worked into glove and shoe leather. He has
an almost exclusively out-of-town trade, and is
meeting with a well deserved success, as his work
justly merits.
On the 17th of March, 1876, Mr. Eager was
united in marriage with Miss Emma Decker, a
daughter of William and Maria (Russell) Deck-

624

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

er, who belonged to the family of that name in
Deckertown, N. J. She was born in Syracuse,
N. Y., where her father was a leading merchant,
and is a granddaughter of John B. Decker. Mr.
and Mrs. Eager have become the parents of three
sons, Leonard, Clarence and Ray.
In political matters Mr. Eager has ever taken
an active part, and casts his ballot in support of
the Republican party, being numbered among
the leading advocates of its principles. In both
town and county politics he is very active. For
eight years he has served as Justice ofthe Peace,
and for fourteen years has been Police Justice,
during whicli time his rulings have always been
impartial, meting out justice without fear or fa
vor. Socially he is identified with the Order of
Foresters of America. Upright and methodical in
all his business methods, he has gained the con
fidence and esteem of all with whom he has had
any transactions and his friends are many.

(TAMES E. WELLS. The family of which
I this gentleman is an honored member has
C2/ been represented in Orange County since
1740, John Wells, the first ofthe name, having
located here many years before the Revolutionary
War. Succeeding generations have been closely
identified with the growth and development of
this community. To its progress they have con
tributed liberally of their toil and their means,
and it stands out to-day conspicuously as a mon
ument to their enterprise and thrift, a spot to
which the entire state can point as a fitting result
of the labor and intelligence of the original pio
neers, whose brawn and sinews have erected a
center of wealth and modern progress.
Tradition says that the Wells family originated
in France, and that the name was originally De
Wells, the prefix, however, having been dropped
on their removal to England. Rev. William
Wells, the first of the name concerning whom we
have any authentic record, was rector of St. Pe
ter's Church, Norwich, England, from 1598 to
1620. His son, Hon. William Wells, was bom
in Norwich in 1608, and in 1635 emigrated to

America on the ship ' 'True Love, ' ' which landed
him in Boston. From there he went to Southold,
L- L, and in that city continued to reside until
his death, November 3, 1671. His profession
was that of an attorney, and he was prominent
both in England and in Long Island.
Next in line of descent was Justice Joshua Wells,
a native of Southold, L- I., born in 1664 and
died in 1744. His son John was born in South-
old in 1689, and remained in that place until his
death. John, Jr., was born in Southold in 1715,
and became the founder of the family in Goshen,
N. Y., where he died July 4, 1776, expiring
about the time of the famous Declaration of Inde
pendence. Joshua, son of the last-named John
Wells, was born in Goshen, N. Y., May 2, 1747,
and died in this town December 23, 1820. Fol
lowing him was Joshua, Jr., who was born Sep
tember 6, 177*9, and passed from earth November
24, 1867. His son Alfred, our subject's father,
was born November 17, 1805, and died June 7,
1 89 1. He married Lydia Westbrook Nyce, of
Pike County, Pa., the daughter of John and
Lana (Westbrook) Nyce. The Nyce family
trace their ancestry back to Crefeld, Germany,
and the first to emigrate was Hans DeNuse (as
the name was formerly spelled), in 1683. He
settled at Germantown, near Philadelphia, and
died there in 1736. From him descended the
Nyce family in America. For many years the
father of our subject was a successful business
man of Goshen, and is remembered as one of its
progressive and upright citizens. Politically he
affiliated with the Whigs until the disintegration
of that party, after which time he advocated the
principles of the Democracy until his death.
The old Wells homestead, situated in the town
of Goshen and about one and one-half miles west
of the city of that name, is now in possession
of the fifth generation of the family, having been
originally settled by John Wells. The family of
which our subject is a member consisted of the
following children: James E.; John N., a resi
dent of San Francisco, Cal.; Mary F., wife of
Lewis E. Coleman, of Goshen, N. Y. ; Kate R.,
Mrs. Samuel M. Slaughter, of Crystal Run, N. Y. ';
Dr. George W., of Richmond Hill, L. I., now

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

625

Medical Director for the Manhattan Life Insur
ance Company of New York, and also editor of
the Medical Examiner, a journal devoted to life
insurance; Moses A., of Chicago, 111.; Charlotte,
widow of S. W. Slaughter, and a resident of
Waverly, N. Y.; and Charles S., of Goshen,
N. Y. Jerome, Eugene F. and Lewis A. are de
ceased. The education of our subject was mainly ac
quired in the Farmers' Hall Academy at Goshen,
of which he is a graduate. Arriving at man's
estate, he embarked in agricultural pursuits,
which he has since followed, though not con
stantly. Some years ago he was appointed by
the Farmers' Milk Company, of Orange County,
as their agent in New York and Jersey City.
He had charge of their business in those cities
about one year, after which he became a partner
in the firm of Wells & Stage, commission dealers
in milk on the Erie Railroad and branches, with
office at No. 284 Greenwich Street, New York.
The enterprise proved a profitable one, and Mr.
Wells' connection with it was a source of revenue
to himself.
For some years Mr. Wells has devoted his at
tention principally to the cultivation of his val
uable farm in the town of Goshen. The place
comprises one hundred and thirty acres, embel
lished with all the modern improvements, and
is numbered among the most comfortable rural
homes of the county. The marriage of Mr.
Wells united him with Miss Frances E. , daughter
of William S. and Sarah T. (Wood) Conkling,
for many years residents of Orange County. Mrs.
Wells was born on the farm where she now re
sides, which was the old Conkling homestead,
and by her marriage has become the mother of
two children, William A. and Selena, both of
whom are at home. She is a devoted member of
the Presbyterian Church at Goshen, to which our
subject also belongs. A Republican in politics,
he was elected upon his party ticket to represent
the town of Goshen upon the County Board of
Supervisors, in which capacity he has served
since the spring of 1894. For the last fifteen
years he has been a Director ofthe Orange County
Agricultural Society. He is a man who has ever

maintained a deep interest in the welfare of the
people and the progress of the county and state,
and his labors have been instrumental in accom
plishing many needed reforms. He deservedly
ranks as one ofthe best citizens ofthe county,
and one who, by his strict sense of probity and
honor, has won a position of prominence among
his fellow-men.

(TOHN T. HOWELL, M. D., of Newburgh,
| is a member of a family of English origin,
C/ which was identified with the early history
of Long Island. From Southampton, in 1775,
Edward Howell and his three brothers removed
to Orange County and settled in the vicinity of
Goshen. The next in line of descent was his
youngest son, Josiah, whose youngest son, Abra
ham P., is our subject's father. He was born in
182 1, and is still an active and well known resi
dent of Middletown. His wife is Hannah Smith,
a daughter of Joshua Smith, who was a member
of an old family in the town of Goshen.
In the parental family there were five children,
and all but oue of the number are still living,
John T. being the youngest son. He was born
near Middletown, April 23, 1862, and was named
for his uncle, Dr. John Taylor, a physician of
that town. He received his education at Wall-
kill Academy, and began his medical studies in
1 88 1, graduating from the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of New York (the medical depart
ment of Columbia College) in 1884. He after
ward received the appointment of surgeon in
Bellevue Hospital, where he remained for two
years. On leaving the hospital Dr. Howell opened an
office on the comer of Grand and South Streets,
Newburgh, which property he purchased and im
proved. Soon after coming to this city he received
the appointment of surgeon to St. Luke's Hos
pital, and has since served in that capacity, also
becoming consulting surgeon to the hospital. In
1892 he was elected to the office of President of
the Medical Society of the County of Orange, and
is still actively connected with that association.

626

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He is a member of the Medical Society of the
State of New York, the New York Academy of
Medicine, and the Society of Alumni of Bellevue
Hospital. While conducting a general practice
he has made a specialty of surgery, and his suc
cesses in that department of his profession have
been notable.
Politically the Doctor is a Republican, and in
religious belief is a Presbyterian, adhering to the
faith of his forefathers. His marriage, which
took place in this city in 1889, united him with
Miss Sarah T. Steele, of Newburgh, daughter of
Robert Steele, deceased. They are the parents
of three children, named Mary T., John T., Jr.,
and Josephine C.

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"HEODORE D. BARKER, who is engaged
in the harness and saddlery trade, is one of
the successful business men of Walden. He
established his business here in 1856, and, having
been in the city thirty-nine years, is one of the
oldest business men in the place. Starting with
an investment of $200 in stock, he located on
the street where he has ever since remained, and
has gradually extended his business as his pros
perity has increased.
The present store of our subject was erected
by himself, and was completed about two years
ago. For thirty years previous to that time he
had occupied the building on the opposite side of
the street, but on account of a new foundation be
ing placed under the building next to his it caused
his own to collapse, and the floor and ceilings fell
in, necessitating his removal. His present build
ings, which are very comfortable and commodious,
consist of a double and a single store, with about
fifty feet frontage.
Mr. Barker's residence is one of the old land
marks, known as the old Capron residence, and
is in the very heart of the town. It is one of the
largest and most extensive places in the city, and
is as quaint as it is old. Our subject's birth oc
curred in Warwick, Orange County, August 17,
1837, an(l he was the son of Dayton Barker, a cab

inet-maker and an old-style pettifogger, who died
when Theodore was only two years old. He also
was a native of this county, his birth occurring
in Hamptonburgh. His father, whose name was
William, emigrated from England, locating in
the town of Hamptonburgh.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was
Mary Bailey, and her early death left our subject
an orphan at the age of three years. He was the
next to the youngest in a family of seven children,
and is the only one of the family now living. He
was reared by his brothers and sisters who were
old enough to keep the family together, and when
he was twelve years old went to live with an
uncle, with whom he remained until old enough
to learn his trade, they making their home on his
grandfather's old farm in the town of Hampton
burgh . At the age of fifteen he began to learn his
trade at Otisville, and before reaching his major
ity had gone into business for himself. He has
also been interested in real estate, and has made
many improvements on his property.
When twenty years of age Mr. Barker was
married to Miss Sarah Jane McDougall, of Mont
gomery. She died after a married life of fifteen
years, leaving no children. His second marriage
united him with Miss Josephine Todd, of East
Walden, who bore him one son, Theodore James
Todd Barker, now fourteen years old. She died
ten years after her marriage, and Mr. Barker was
a third time married, this union being with Mrs.
Mary A. (Surdan) Harlow, also of Walden. Both
our subject and his wife are esteemed members of
the Reformed Church, belonging to the old church
on the hill. In this congregation our subject has
served as Deacon and Elder for many years. So
cially he has been identified with the Indepen
dent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty years.
Politically our subject is a Democrat, and has
served his town in many offices. He was Trus
tee of the village for fourteen years, and was
President of the board for some time. By a ma
jority of twenty-five, in a town of two hundred
and twenty-five Republican majority, he was
elected Collector on the Democratic ticket. He
has been very active in politics, and always sup
ports the candidates of his party.

WILLIAM C. SMITH.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

629

(DQlLLIAM COLEMAN SMITH was born in
\Al New York City' July I9, l811' and was
V V therefore in his eighty-second year at the
time of his decease, May 28, 1893. He moved to
the farm in the town of Woodbury where his
family now resides many years ago, and was
very successful in its cultivation, laying aside a
snug little fortune to keep him in his later years.
He learned the trade of a mason in his young
manhood, and later spent some time in the gro
cery business. In March, 1854, he came to the
old homestead, where he led a quiet rural life
until his death.
The lady to whom our subject was married
was Miss Mary Fullmer, who was born in New
York City, July 4, 1830. She was the daughter
of Hon. Peter Fullmer, a distinguished politician
and Alderman of the Sixteenth Ward of that city.
His wife was Miss Catherine Anderson, a lady of
German descent. Peter Fullmer was born in
Herkimer County, May 6, 1804, and died No
vember 28, 1876. A brother of Peter, whose
name was Christian, settled in Michigan in the
early part of this century. There he and a
brother were killed by the Indians. A sister was
scalped at the same time, but lived to be quite
old. Peter and his sister Nancy hid themselves
in a haystack, while the mother fled and was
saved. After the death of his father Peter was
bound out, but was so cruelly used that he ran
away and returned to his mother, who was living
sixty miles distant. He later learned the trade
of a wheelwright and established a large and pay
ing business, which is still being carried on. He
became very wealthy, and spent the latter years
of his life retired from work. He was a true
Christian gentleman, and for many years was a
Deacon in the Eighteenth Street Methodist Epis
copal Church. He was very prominent in his lo
cality, and was Captain of the Light-horse Brig
ade. Mrs. Smith has in her possession the
epaulets, of his uniform, to which is tied the
crape bow worn at Harrison's funeral. An old
book of Psalms, printed in the German language
in 1730, and owned by his grandfather, is also
among the relics kept by Mrs. Smith. Mr.
Smith was a Thirty-second Degree Mason and a

warm friend of the Vanderbilts, Astors and many
of the distinguished residents of the city. At one
time he was nominated for Mayor of New York
City and was defeated by only three votes.
William Coleman Smith was a son of Obediah
and Elizabeth (Coleman) Smith, natives of Corn
wall on the Hudson. His father was a native of
England, and his mother was of Welsh origin.
By his marriage with Miss Fullmer our subject
became the father of ten children. Sarah, the
eldest, married William Crawford, who is now re
siding near Turner; Catherine Ann is deceased;
the third of the family died unnamed; Martha
Washington married Timothy L- Sturtevant, who
was killed by a train in 1888; Peter is baggage-
master on the Erie Road at Chambers Street,
New York City; the next in order of birth was a
daughter who died in infancy; William C, Jr.,
is baggagemaster on the Erie Road at Twenty-
third Street; Ella Wallace and Mary F are at
home; and Arminda T. died when fourteen years
of age. Mrs. Smith has been connected with the
Methodist Episcopal Church since her nineteenth
year. Mr. Smith was a life-long Republican in
politics, but in no sense of the word was he an
office-seeker. He was greatly devoted to his
wife and family, and was interested in every
movement tending to improve his home locality.
Religiously he was a Quaker.

-J— I  »>K®(©)®^<« • — "* — *-

pGjADE BUCKLEY, one ofthe leading citi-
\ A / zens of Germantown, a suburb of Port
V Y Jervis, is a man who combines the virtues
of energy and industry with excellent judgment,
which have brought great success to his efforts
and labors. He has been connected with several
of the most important enterprises of Orange
County, and as a business man ranks among the
foremost. Mr. Buckley was born only a few miles from
Port Jervis, in Hardeston Township, Sussex Coun
ty, N. J., January 1, 1823, and is the youngest
child of Reuben Buckley. The family is an old

27

630

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

one, and among the early settlers of this state was
Rev. Dr. Buckley, a noted Methodist Episcopal
minister of New York, who later removed to New
Jersey. John Buckley, the grandfather of our
subject, with several brothers, located in Hacketts-
town, N. J. In his family were seven children,
George, Reuben, Jones, John, Robert, Amos and
Anna. His son Reuben settled in Hardeston
Township, Sussex County, and there wedded
Sarah Wade, daughter of Simon Wade, who went
to that- county during the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Wade there purchased a farm of Robert Og-
den, and wedded Abigail Beardslee, of Pough
keepsie, N. Y. His death occurred on the 21st
of September, 18 17, at the age of sixty-eight
years. He had a brother, Nathan Wade, who
was killed at the massacre of Minisink during the
Revolution, and his name appears on the monu
ment in Goshen. The parents of our subject
spent their entire lives in Sussex County, N. J.,
where the father died iu 1827, at an early age,
his birth having occurred April 9, 1778; and the
mother departed this life on the 17th of January,
1867, at the age of seventy-eight years. In their
family were the following children: Simon,
Robert, Edwin, Charles, Clarissa and Wade.
On attaining a sufficient age Wade Buckley
began farming, in connection with his brothers
Edwin and Charles. They operated a farm about
twelve miles from Port Jervis, but on the con
struction of the railroad to this place in 1846,
they here located and engaged in the butchering
business, supplying meat to the contractors of the
railroads. In connection with the two butcher-
shops, Mr. Buckley also purchased considerable
land along the Delaware River, extending up the
river west of the suburb of Germantown, as far as
Sparrow Bush. He carried on farming until
about a year ago, when he sold out. He dealt
extensively in cattle, most of which he shipped to
New York City. He laid out an addition to
Port Jervis, and has done much for the advance
ment and welfare of the village, having there
erected several buildings.
In 1874, in connection with Charles Brox
(whose sketch appears on another page of this
work), Mr. Buckley built the glass factory, which

he operated for several years, employing one
hundred and thirty men. Later he erected the
shoe factory, which gave employment to one hun
dred and twenty hands, but difficulties arose with
the employes, most of whom were members ofthe
Knights of Labor. After suffering losses that
would tend to discourage any business man, and
not meeting with the sympathy and backing his
cause deserved from the business men, he finally
closed the factory and later sold the same to the
present company. For ten years he has been a
Director of the Water Works Company, was a
stockholder and Director of the First National
Bank for some years, and is still a stockholder of
the same, but has repeatedly refused to become a
Director again.
Mr. Buckley was married, May 29, 1854, in
Sussex County, N. J., to Miss Anna. Maria West
brook, but his wife died March 21, 1856, leaving
one child, Edwin, who died three days later.
His second marriage, which occurred March 15,
1870, united him with Miss Emeline Whittaker,
of Deckertown, N. J. She is a daughter of Jona
than Whittaker, deceased, formerly President of
the bank at that place. Mrs. Buckley is a lady of
culture and refinement, and an artist of no mean
ability, as her admirable paintings will show.
She has received excellent training in this Hue,
and has done considerable work in oil, including
flowers, fruit, landscape and portrait painting.
The two brothers of Mr. Buckley who for some
time were connected with him in business are now
both deceased. Edwin died October 23, 1882, at
the age of seventy-one years and twenty-three
days, and for the last twenty-five years of his life
had lived retired; and Charles passed away Octo
ber 20, 1884, at the age of seventy years, eleven
months and twelve days. His wife, formerly
Rachel Chandler, of Orange County, died in July,
1894, at the age of eighty years.
In politics Mr. Buckley takes no active part,
but generally votes the Democratic ticket, and has
served his village as Trustee. In the Presbyte
rian Church, of which he is a member, he is
serving in the capacity of Elder. He has ever
been au excellent business man, a careful inves
tor and has been strictly honest in his transactions.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

631

He always pays his debts, and as he has dealt
extensively in real estate, he has been a heavy
tax-payer. His pleasant home is in the suburb of
Germantown, where he and his estimable wife
extend a courteous hospitality to their many
friends and acquaintance's.

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q5 EORGE S. GILLETT. Situated in the sub-
— urbs of Middletown is a tract of land occu-
J pied by the subject of this sketch. This is
one of the prettiest homesteads of the town of
Wallkill, and its pleasing improvements attract
the favorable notice of the passer-by. The fam
ily residence is a building of modern design of
architecture, and its interior furnishings hap
pily correspond with the exterior appearance, the
whole forming a harmonious picture in the land
scape of the region.
Not alone as a business man, but also as a vet
eran of the late war, Mr. Gillett is entitled to the
regard of his associates. He spent several of his
best years, hazarding strength, liberty and even
life, in the service of his country, displaying gal
lantry which won the recognition of those above
him in authority. He is a native of this county,
and was born in the town of Wallkill, August
20, 1843, his parents being Charles and Julia
(Reeves) Gillett, also natives of this county. His
father, an agriculturist by occupation, devoted
his life to farm work, and passed away at the
home of his daughter, near Middletown. His
wife had died some years prior to his demise.
The education obtained by our subject was
limited to such knowledge as brief and irregular
attendance at the district schools could afford.
When a youth of eighteen years, he resolved to
enter the service ofthe Union, and aid in defend
ing the Stars and Stripes. Enlisting in the First
New York Mounted Rifle Regiment, he remained
in active service for three years, meantime par
ticipating in the many engagements iu which his
company took part. He was ever in the thickest
of the fight, yet was never wounded nor captured
by the enemy. For one year after his return
home he remained beneath the parental roof, aft

er which he engaged, in the livery business at
Middletown for two years, and then entered the
employ of the Erie Railroad. For more than
twenty years he was in the railroad business, and
during the last eleven years of that period he held
the position of passenger conductor. In 1892 he
retired from the railroad business and settled up
on the fine place where he now resides.
The year of his settlement 011 this place, 1892,
Mr. Gillett was united in marriage with Mrs.
Minnie B. (Guernsy) Hulse, the widow of Le
Grand Hulse, and an excellent lady, who ably
assists her husband in the discharge of all his
duties, and is all that a helpmate and true wife
can be. By her first marriage she had four chil
dren, who now survive, namely: Clarence L. ,
Mortimer, Sylvester and. Hattie A., all of whom
are with their mother. The first marriage of
Mr. Gillett was in 1867, when Miss Mary Eudora
Pimm became his wife, but she died twenty
years later.
Mr. Gillett is dowered with a vigorous, well
balanced mind, and has positive convictions upon
all important topics. As might be expected, he
has allied himself with the Grand Army, and is
an active worker in the lodge of Middletown.
With his wife, he holds membership in the First
Presbyterian Church of this city. A pronounced
Republican in politics, he possesses qualifications
that eminently fit him for offices of trust, and is
at present serving efficiently as one of the Excise
Commissioners. He has also served as Collector
of the town and in other local positions.

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~ MMET CRAWFORD. Though a resident
^ of Howells for a comparatively brief period
__ only, Mr. Crawford has built up a large
trade in the general mercantile business. In his
store is a full line of goods suited to meet the
wants of his customers, and he carries everything
to be found in a first-class country store. The
people of the village and the surrounding coun
try are accustomed to patronize his establishment,
and have come to place confidence in his reliabil
ity as a business man.

632

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

A native of the town of Wallkill, Mr. Craw
ford is a young man, having been born January
2Q, 1867. He is a son of John W. and Esther
(Redfield) Crawford, who were born, reared and
married in this county, and after their union con
tinued to reside here. The father, who engaged
in farm pursuits, died in 1890, and his wife is
still living, making her home in this town. Em
met attended the district schools in early boy
hood, and subsequently was a student in Wall-
kill Academy at Middletown. Aiding his father
in the management of the farm, he early became
familiar with agriculture, and followed that call
ing until 1893. In April of that year he came to
Howells, and here he has since engaged in mer
chandising. In 1890 Mr. Crawford was united in marriage
with Miss Josephine, daughter of N. B. and
Nancy (Beyea) Horton, of this county. They
are the parents of one daughter, named Emily.
Politically Mr. Crawford is a Democrat, and
while he has never displayed any partisanship iu
his preferences, he is firm in his allegiance to his
party, and may always be depended upon to sus
tain its principles.

(JACOB MILLS. More than forty years have
I passed since Mr. Mills laid down the bur-
C2/ dens of life and bade farewell to the scenes of
time. Few of those who are now active in busi
ness affairs remember him, but the older residents
of the county, and especially ofthe town of Wall-
kill, have not forgotten his genial face and kind
ly manner, nor the influence of his noble life, and
they will peruse with interest this brief record of
his life, a tribute to his memory from his daugh
ter, Mrs. J. H. Harlow.
Born in the town of Wallkill in 1794, our sub
ject was a son of Jacob Mills, Sr. , who was a na
tive of Long Island, but removed thence to Or
ange County in a very early day. The educa
tional advantages of our subject were extremely
limited, and the opportunities now offered to boys

did not fall to his lot. However, he was a lad of
retentive memory and acute observation, so he
was enabled to overcome in part the defects of
his schooling. When he was eighteen years of
age the War of 18 12 broke out, and he was
among the first to offer his services in his coun
try's defense, enlisting in the army, and serving
with valor and great bravery.
The marriage of Mr. Mills united him with
Miss Eliza, daughter of William and Elizabeth
(Denton) Hurten, of this county. They became
the parents of eleven children, six of whom are
living, namely: Sarah M., wife of James H. Har
low, who is engaged in the grocery business at
Middletown; Elsie H., wife of Robert Youey, and
a resident of Middletown; J. Denton, a promi
nent farmer living near Scotchtown, this county;
John E., who is engaged in the milk business in
New York City; Kate, wife of James E. Voak, a
farmer of this county; and Miss Addie D., who
lives in Mechanicstown, Orange County.
Socially Mr. Mills was a member of the old
Huffman Lodge, an anti-Masonic organization,
and politically was a Democrat. At the age of
sixty-one, about 1855, he passed from earth, leav
ing the influence of his upright life as a priceless
heritage to posterity. His wife survived him
twenty-five yea'rs, her death occurring in 1880.
She was a woman of earnest Christian faith, and
belonged to the Presbyterian Church of Scotch-
town. No family in the town was more worthy
of esteem than were they. Their long and useful
lives identified them intimately with the history
of this section, and wherever known they were
esteemed and loved for their many noble attri
butes of character.

~cZ-

pGJlLTON BENNET, an attomey-at-law of
\ A / Port Jervis, is one of the ablest members
V V of the Bar in Orange County, where his
ability is widely recognized. He is one of the
honored and highly respected citizens of this
place, and now makes his home at No. 51 Ball
Street. He is a native of Orange County, born
in Tri-States, formerly Carpenter's Point, on the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hi

20th of July, 1859, and is a son of David and
Lanah (Ennes) Bennet, the former still a resi
dent of Tri-States, but the latter departed this
life about eight years ago.
James Bennet, Jr., the son of James, who was
the founder of the family in America, was the
grandfather of our subject. In 1840 he left the
old homestead in Montague, N. J. , which he traded
for the old Westfall Farm at Carpenter's Point,
where he located. He was quite a prominent
man of the community, and served iu the State
Legislature during the session of 1855-56, when
he helped to pass the Maine Law. He was a man
of strong temperance principles, and a member
of the Republican party, serving as one of the
delegates to Syracuse, N. Y., on its formation.
In the county, he was one of the leaders of his
party, and for many years was Justice of the
Peace. His last public office was that of Asses
sor, which position he held for nine years, or un
til his death, in 1873, at the age of sixty-five
years. His business interests were quite exten
sive, and at one time he was the owner of a mill,
which was burned about ten years ago. He had
a wide acquaintance throughout this portion of
the state, and by all was held in the highest re
gard. In his family were eight children. David,
Soveryne and Wilhelme W. are residents of
Tri-States; Cornelius was killed in the Banks
expedition at Pleasant Hill, La., on the Red
River; Gale lives in Tri-States; Esther died in
infancy; Sarah, who was unmarried, died at the
age of thirty years; and James also makes his
home in Tri-States.
The boyhood days of Wilton Bennet were
passed in his native village, and he took an aca
demic course at Oak Ridge Seminary in Union
ville, Orange County. At the age of eighteen
years he became bookkeeper for his uncle, Gale
Bennet, with whom he remained for four years.
During this time and later he was correspondent
for the New York World and local papers, and
also did considerable literary work. He began
reading law in the office of Lewis E. Carr, at
torney for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Com
pany at Albany, and with him remained until his
admission to the Bar, in December, 1884. In

January, 1885, he opened his office at this place.
He also has an office at No. 253 Broadway, New
York City, where he may be found every other
day. Mr. Bennet has been engaged on many im
portant cases, including one of the most sensa
tional trials ever held in the county, that of the
State vs. Fred McGuire, in which he served as
attorney for the defense. McGuire was accused
of the murder of Mrs. Amelia G. Gregory,
wife of Noah Gregory, of the town of Wallkill.
He was convicted in the County Court, from
which the case was then taken to the Court of
Appeals, where the decision was affirmed. It
was one of the longest trials ever held in the
county, and the case occupies four hundred and
twenty-eight pages of the printed reports of the
Court of Appeals. In this case the Middletown
Argus charged Mr. Bennet with being guilty of
subordinate perjury, as a witness for the defense,
who was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment
in the state penitentiary for perjury, claimed,
while intoxicated, that our subject had instructed
him to so testify. Mr. Bennet sued the Argus
for libel, and after a hotly contested trial the re
sult was nominal damages, but the end sought
was the vindication of his position in the case.
Iu this trial he was ably assisted by Judge H. B.
Fullerton. In political sentiment Mr. Bennet is a Republi
can, and is very active in his party, having
served as a member of the County Central Com
mittee and as Chairman of the Town Commit
tee, and is the author of the by-laws of the local
Republican club. When he first began practice
he served for four years as Town Clerk, and has
been a candidate for County Judge. He has just
completed a term of two years as Corporation At
torney, during which time all cases were decided
in favor ofthe city.
In September, 1886, Mr. Bennet wedded Miss
Addie L- Baird, of Tri-States, and a daughter of
Samuel and Sarah Baird. By this union four
children have beeu born: Olive, Bessie, Wilton
and Hazel. Mr. Bennet has given considerable
attention to private theatricals, in which he is
quite a success, his roles being mostly of the melo-

634

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dramatic order, such as Marc Anthony in ' 'Julius
Caesar." He is one of the leading actors in the
Dramatic Club, and for two years served as Presi
dent of the Orange Lyceum. He has delivered
several fine orations, and is also a ready after-
dinner speaker. One of his lectures, ' ' The
Young Lawyer, ' ' has been repeated several times.
Socially he is identified with the Knights of
Pythias fraternity and the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows.

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Cites,

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(TOHN S. TAYLOR, of the firm of Taylor &
I Bateman, dealers in coal, lumber, feed, flour,
C/ etc., of Walden, is one of the most enter
prising business men in the place. The present
firm was organized in 1875, when A. Bateman
became the partner of Mr. Taylor, and since the
former's death, about fifteen years ago, his wid
ow, M. L. Bateman, has been a member of the
company. In 1868 the business was first opened
under the style of Taylor, Barlew & Co. , his fa
ther, Isaac Taylor, and G. L. Barlew being con
nected with him. At the end of a year and a-
half, however, the father and son composed the
firm, which assumed the name of J. S. Taylor &
Co. In 1875 the firms of J. S. Taylor & Co.
and A. Bateman & Co., composed of A. Bate
man and J. M. Stevenson, were consolidated and
the present name was adopted. They own a
steammill in the village, and are doing an excel
lent business, having secured a large and lucra
tive patronage.
Mr. Taylor was born in Warwick on the 6th of
December, 1832, and is a son of Isaac and Mar
garet (Smith) Taylor, the former a native of Sus
sex County, N. J., ar _i the latter of Warwick.
Their marriage was celebrated in Orange County,
and the father was engaged in farming and the
lumber business in Warwick for many years. In
that place he made his home and there died about
ten years ago, at the age of seventy-two. Al
though he was interested in business in Walden,
he never resided there. Besides his other busi

ness interests he was also engaged in dealing in
real estate. His wife is a daughter of John
Smith, a farmer of Warwick, where his death oc
curred, and belongs to an old and honored fami
ly of Orange County. She is still living on the
old homestead and has reached the advanced age
of eighty-eight years.
John S. Taylor remained with his parents un
til reaching the age of twenty-five, when he was
married, and for teu years operated two hundred
and forty acres of the old farm, which he then
owned. At the end of that period, however, he
came to Walden and started his present business.
He has been very successful financially, and since
coming to Walden has erected about a dozen cot
tages, some of which he still owns. He has nev
er taken an active part in political matters and is
not bound by party ties, preferring to vote for the
man best qualified to fill the office, regardless of
the party to which he belongs. He has ever been
interested in the welfare of the community, and
for ten years served as Trustee of the village.
Mr. Taylor has been twice married, his first
union being with Miss Mary H. Brook, of War
wick, who died April 30, 1886, leaving two sons:
Newton L- , a merchant of Norfolk, Neb. ; and
Isaac B. , who is assisting his father in the lumber
and coal business. On the 16th of November,
1887, Mr. Taylor wedded Mrs. F. A. Rowland, a
widow, whose maiden name was Frances A.
Whitehead, a sister of Edward Whitehead, ofthe
Walden Knife Company.
With the Methodist Episcopal Church Mr.
Taylor holds membership, and during the twen
ty-six years that have passed since he joined
that denomination he has ever taken a prominent
part in its work, being most of the time one of
the Church Trustees. The first Methodist meet
ings held in Walden were in 18 17, in the ball
room of an old public house, as at that time there
was no religious society of any kind in the vicin
ity and consequently no houses of worship.
About two years later a school building was'
erected on Ulster Avenue, which was used as a
house of worship for several years. In May,
1850, the trustees of the-Methodist organization in
this place purchased the church building owned

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

635

by the Scotch Covenanter Society, situated on the
site of their present church. In 1870, under the
pastorate of Rev. E. E. Pinny, this building was
renovated and enlarged, and was occupied by the
society until 1893. The membership has grown
from a mere handful of earnest, devoted men and
women until it now numbers about four hundred,
and the Sunday-school and Epworth League are
equally strong. The old church has been entire
ly remodeled for a Sunday-school room, and is
now joined to the new church building, which
contains seats for six hundred people, so that the
two can be thrown into one large room, with a
seating capacity of one thousand. It was dedi
cated in May, 1894, at a cost of about $22,000,
and is a handsome structure of brick, with a
tower one hundred feet high and beautiful win
dows of stained glass. Mr. Taylor has been
quite active in the upbuilding and advancement
of the church, giving liberally to its support, as
well as aiding in its spiritual welfare, and is
accounted one of its most prominent and influ
ential members.

Gl ARON WHITLOCK is of the third genera-
Ll tion of the name who have resided on the
/ | farm where he now lives. It is situated on
the Neversink River, in the town of Deerpark,
four miles northeast of Port Jervis, and here our
subject was born November 19, 18 16. The house
that is now standing was commenced in 1826, the
same year the canal was built His grandfather,
Nathan Whitlock, who was born in Connecticut,
came to Orange County, N. Y. , from that state
about 1795, and purchased the old homestead,
which was first settled by a Mr. Cartwright, who
lived upon this farm until his death, which oc
curred when he was advanced in years, and he
was buried in the old cemetery at Carpenter's
Point. Iu Connecticut the grandfather had mar
ried a Miss Sprigner, and among their children
was Daniel, who died near Lyons, N. Y., and
who was the grandfather of Mrs. H. G. Cudde-

back, she being a daughter of Benjamin Whit
lock. Jared was a contractor and builder of El
mira, N. Y.; Moses and Charles died while
young; and Joel was the father of our subject.
Joel Whitlock was born in Connecticut, Janu
ary 24, 1777, and by his marriage with Elizabeth
Huff, who was born at Stillwater, N. Y., May 6,
1779, he had eight children. Jemima, who died
at the age of fifty years, was the wife of Samuel
Swartwout, who resided near Lyons, N. Y. ; Jo
seph died in infancy; Alfred, who was a resident
of Cayuga, County, N. Y., died April 9, 1875.
at the age of sixty-eight years; Joseph died at
the age of thirty-nine, leaving three daughters,
Eliza, Jane and Jemima; Harvey, who lived in
Cayuga County, died in 1868, at the age of fifty-
seven years; Eliza, the wife of Levi W. Van
Etten, a resident of Moravia, N. Y. , died at the
age of forty years; Aaron is next in order of
birth; and John lives near Howells Depot. The
father was engaged in the lumber business in
connection with his son-in-law, Samuel Swart
wout, on Half Way Brook, where they had a
mill, and rafted the lumber down the Delaware
River to Philadelphia. Mr. Whitlock owned
seventy-five acres of bottom-land, with eighty
acres of wooded lots extending to the hill. He
was a well built man, and attended to his business
interests up to the time of his death, which oc
curred November 20, 1848, at the age of seventy -
one years, nine months and twenty-six days.
His wife survived him about nine years, dying
March 1, 1857, at the age of seventy-seven years,
nine months and twenty-five days. He was a
consistent Christian gentleman, a member of the
Reformed Church of Port Jervis. As services
were held only every alternate Sunday, on the
others he would conduct meetings at the Hugue
not schoolhouse. He was one of the leading
members at the prayer-meeting, and lived strictly
up to the dictates of the church, of which his wife
was also a worthy member. In politics he voted
with the Republican party.
On the 30th of January, 1845, Aaron Whit
lock was united in marriage with Carolina Dur
land, who was born near Greenville, December
25, 1824, and who was a daughter of John H.

636

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Hannah (Owens) Durland. Her father, who
belonged to one of the old families of this county,
was a farmer of Huguenot, where his death oc
curred at the age of eighty years. To our sub
ject and his wife were born the following children:
John D., who died at the age of twelve years;
Elizabeth, who is keeping house for her father;
Coe, who in connection with his brother George
is operating the farm ; Wilfred L. , who died in
infancy; Joel, who died at the age of seventeen
years; and George, at home. The mother of this
famil) departed this life on the 20th of December,
1884. The son, Coe Whitlock, was married, June
13, 1877, to Mary A. Hawkes, and to them have
been born two children, Melvin Holsey and
Laura Alice.
The sympathies of Mr. Whitlock are with the
Republican party, which he supports by his bal
lot, though he takes no prominent part in politics,
preferring to give his attention wholly to his
farm and dairy interests, in which he has been
quite successful. He believes in settling all dis
putes amicably, and has never had a law suit.
He is one of the honored, respected citizens of
Orange County. His family, which is widely
known and highly esteemed, are all members of
the Reformed Church.

3****'^if

0ANIEL H. EATON was for many years a
citizen ofthe town of Wawayanda, and was
born in the town of Greenville, September
16, 1818. There he grew to manhood on his fa
ther's farm, receiving such education as the com
mon schools afforded. In 1837 he married Miss
Emily Blakely, and to them one child was born,
William T. The latter married Ellen Moe, and
they have one child, Charles W.
While still a youth, our subject commenced to
learn the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he
worked for a time, and then learned the carpen
ter's trade, at which he afterwards worked for a
good many years. Soon after his marriage he
removed to Westchester County, where he worked
at his trade for one year, and then moved back to
Orange County. However, he soon returned to

Westchester County, where he had charge of a
farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and
where he remained until 1876, when he returned
to Orange County and purchased two hundred
and ninety acres of land. April 16, 1895, his
death occurred here, and his remains were in
terred in the Ridgebury . Cemetery. For many
years he was a Mason, firmly believing in the
principles of that order. A kind husband and fa
ther, a good citizen, his death was sincerely
mourned by all who knew him.

IMOTHY W. HORTON resides in the town
of Wallkill, where he is extensively engaged
in the milk business. He was born in this
town in 1819, being the son of Barnabas and Je-
rusha (Wheat) Horton, natives of Orange Coun
ty, who spent their entire lives here. The fa
ther, who was a man of great industry and un
tiring perseverance, was identified with agricult
ural pursuits throughout his entire active life
and met with fair success in his enterprises. He
died on the home farm in 1867. His wife had
passed away twenty years prior to his demise.
Utilizing the excellent education he had ob
tained in boyhood, our subject began to teach
school at the age of nineteen years, and this pro
fession he followed for a period of ten years, since
which time he has engaged in general farming.
He is the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of
finely improved land, embellished with a resi
dence of modern style of architecture, together
with neat outbuildings, adapted to the work of the
farm. For the past twenty-three years he has
sold milk at Middletown, and has a large trade
among the people there.
In 1845 Mr. Horton married Miss Sarah A.,
daughter of Peter and Durinda Beyea, natives of
Sullivan County, this state. Six children blessed
their union, namely: Chauncey E., who lives in
New York City; William A., also a resident of
that place; Mary A., wife of William S. Wheat,
of New York City; James M., at home; Seymour!
of New York City; and Ella, who married Frank
Beyea, of this county. Politically Mr. Horton

m

ii

fl's/""

REV. LUTHER LITTELL.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

639

has generally affiliated with the Democratic
party, but has never aspired to political honors,
although at the earnest solicitation of his friends
he served for two years as a member ofthe Board
of Supervisors. He and his wife are now in the
twilight of life, aged respectively seventy-six and
sixty-nine, and they are spending their declining
days quietly and happily iu their comfortable
rural home.

s>H<*"-

~*~ f-

KEV. LUTHER LITTELL, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church at Mt. Hope, was born
April 21, 1824, at New Providence, N. J.,
and is the seventh in the family of" ten children
born to John and Mary (Conkling) Littell. His
father was also a native of New Providence,
where he was reared, and where for many years
he was engaged in the mercantile business. He
was also a surveyor, and did a great deal of
work in that line in his native county. He was
quite a literary man, and in his political views
was originally a Whig, but afterward became a
Republican. In political matters he always took
an active interest, and for about forty years was
Justice of the Peace. He also served his county
in the Legislature for two terms. In the Presby
terian Church, of which he was a member, he
served as Elder for many years, always taking a
great interest in religious affairs. His death oc
curred when he was seventy-five years of age. His
parents were also natives of New Jersey, and the
family history dates back to Anthony Littell, who
came from near London, England, to this coun
try about 1700. Our subject had an uncle, a
brother of his father, who was a Colonel in the
War of 18 12, and for whom our subject was
named. Mary Conkling, the mother of our subject, was
born in Basking Ridge, N. J., and her death oc
curred at the age of eighty-seven years. She was
an active member of the Presbyterian Church,
and always had at heart the interest of her Mas
ter's cause. Notwithstanding her extreme age,

she was a well preserved woman up to the time
of her death. Her family history dates back to
the time when Amos Conkling came from Eng
land, in 1642, and settled in Massachusetts. (See
the Littell Genealogy, prepared by John Littell in
1852.) When our subject was about ten years of age
his parents sent him to a boarding-school at
Plainfield, N. J., later to Bloomfield for one year,
thence to Madison, that state, where he pursued
his studies until seventeen years of age, and
then entered Princeton College, from which he
graduated in 1844, when twenty years old. Soon
after graduating he began teaching in Westfield
(N. J.) Academy, where he remained one year,
then went to Rising Sun, Md., where he re
mained two years, teaching in a select boarding-
school. At the . expiration of this time he en
tered the Princeton Theological Seminary, where
he graduated in 1850. Later he came to Mt.
Hope, where he was ordained to the ministry,
and was pastor ofthe church until 1881. A call
was then received from the Presbyterian Church
at Holt, Mich., which he accepted, and where
he served as pastor for three years. Later he
went to Morrice, in the same state, where he
remained five years. When he was called to
Michigan he had served as pastor of the Mt.
Hope Church for thirty-one years. After being
away about ten years, he was persuaded by some
of the old members to return and again take up
the work at this place. During his absence the
cause had in a measure declined, and it became
necessary that some one should take hold of the
work and build the church up again.
On the 3d of May, 1853, Mr. Littell was united
in marriage with Miss Mary Ann-Hall, of Penn
Yan, Yates County, N. Y., and to them were
born three children, all of whom have passed to
the better world. Charles H. died at the age of
twenty-three years, one week after his graduation
from Princeton College; Frank Hall died at the
age of fourteen years; and Anna M. died iu in
fancy. In his political views Mr. Littell is a stanch
Republican, and takes quite an active part in lo
cal politics. But it is to the ministry that his

640

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

talents are given. For nearly a half-century he
has been proclaiming the Gospel of the Son of
God, and the good that he has done and the souls
that he has saved will never be known until eter
nity.

WILLARD M. CLARK, School Commis
sioner and a successful farmer of the town
of Wallkill, was born in the town of Green
ville, this county, August 23, 1861. He is a son
of William L- and Catherine C. (Winters) Clark,
who were born, reared and married in this coun
ty, and have always made their home here. For
many years his father has been engaged in agri
cultural pursuits, in which occupation he has
been more than ordinarily successful. With the
best interests of his community he has been close
ly associated, and to his public spirit much of its
progress is due. For a period of fourteen years he
has represented his towu on the Board of Super
visors, and for two terms he was Chairman of
that body. In April, 1892, he moved to the vil
lage of Port Jervis, and accepted a position with
the Erie Railroad, with which corporation he has
been connected for a period of thirty years. He
and his wife are residents of that city at present
and expect to spend their remaining days in that
place. Having completed the course of study in the
district schools, the subject of this notice entered
the Albany Normal College, at Albany, where
he completed his education, fitting himself for
the profession of a teacher. On the completion
of his studies, he returned to Orange County, and
entered upon professional work, being employed
as a teacher here from 1885 until 1890. During
the latter year, owing to a failure of health, he
retired from teaching, and purchased the farm
where he has since resided. In the fall of 1890
he was elected to the office of School Commis
sioner, and at the expiration of his term, in 1893,
he was re-elected to the position, and is the pres
ent incumbent of the office. His popularity in
the county was abundantly attested at his re

election in 1893, when the entire Republican
ticket was elected, except School Commissioner,
but that office was given to him by a majority of
sixteen hundred. He is one of the most promi
nent Democrats in the county and is a leader in
the ranks of his party.
On Christmas Day of 1888 Mr. Clark was
united in marriage with Miss Mamie E., daugh
ter of David M. and Ruama (Wilcox) Clark, all
of whom were born in this county. They occupy
a leading position in social circles and are valued
residents of their community. In religious mat
ters they affiliate with the Methodists, and are
earnest workers in that church. In every under
taking Mr. Clark has displayed foresight, tact
and ability, and his popularity in the county is
the result of his honorable life, genial manners
and affability of disposition.

q) IDEON C. HARDING. Well known among
_ the farmers of the county is Mr. Harding, a
J resident farmer of Mt. Hope, and one whose
name is the synonym for integrity and honesty.
A native of Orange County, he was born in the
town of Wawayanda, April 11, 1841, and is a
son of Stephen and Fannie (Racien) Harding.
His father, who was born in the town of Mt.
Hope, spent the first thirty years of his life here,
but then removed to the town of Wawayanda,
where he purchased property and spent his re
maining years. His death occurred upon a farm
there when he was sixty-two years of age. He
was a man of influence among his neighbors, and
at one time served as Clerk of the town. His
wife, who was born in 1818, is still living and
now makes her home in Middletown.
The subject of this sketch remained at home
until twenty-seven years of age, and received his
education in the schools of the neighborhood.
On leaving home he went to Johnson, this coun
ty, where he engaged in general merchandising,
and also for some time held the positions of sta
tion agent and Postmaster. He remained a resi
dent of Johnson for twelve years, then sold out,
in 1879, and settled upon the farm where he has

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

641

since resided. November 3, 1869, he married
Miss Lamira Seybolt, who was born in the town
of Greenville, being the daughter of Lewis and
Phoebe (Durland) Seybolt, members of old and
well known families of this section. Three chil
dren comprise their family circle, Flora, Charles
Spencer and Nettie Mary, all of whom are at
home. Politically Mr. Harding is a Democrat. In
public matters he takes an active part, and his
popularity is proved by the fact that, though in
a strong Republican town, he has served as Su
pervisor for six terms. For three years he was
County Superintendent of the Poor. While re
siding in the town of Minisink he held the offices
of Commissioner of Excise and Commissioner of
Highways. Socially he is a member of the In-,
dependent Order of Odd Fellows. As a citizen
he enjoys the respect and esteem of all, and is
worthy of the regard in which he is held.

pGjILUAM TYNDALL, ofthe firm of Tyn-
\ A / dall & Son, Middletown, was born in
V V Bridgehampton, Suffolk County, L- L, be
ing the eldest of three children comprising the
family of William and Elizabeth (Thompson)
Tyndall. The paternal grandfather was a native
of England, but in early manhood emigrated to
the United States and settled in Bridgehampton,
where he continued to reside until death. The
father, who was a native of that city, removed
from there to Orange County, and is now engaged
in the livery business as the senior member of the
firm of Tyndall & Son. The wife and mother,
who was born on Long Island, is still living, and
enjoys with her husband the friendship of a large
circle of acquaintances.
In the city where he was born, the subject of
this article passed the years of boyhood and
youth, and there he attended the common school
and the Bridgehampton Commercial and Liter
ary Institute under Prof. L- W. Hallock. In
the year 1889 he came to Middletown, and for a
period of one year was a student at Wallkill Acad
emy. In the spring of 1893 he became a partner

in the livery business at Middletown, under the
firm name of Tyndall & Son. Their stables are
located at No. 30 Union Street, with extension to
Franklin Street. The building has a frontage of
thirty-two feet on Union, and one hundred feet
on Franklin Street, with a depth of one hundred
and thirty-two feet, and two wings, one 40x60,
the other 30x60. There are forty stalls in the
stables, and in addition there are a harness-room
and an office, also quarters for the storage of vehi
cles, hay and feed. Among the horses are a
number of thoroughbreds. Carriages, buggies,
phaetons and coaches are kept on hand, and they
also have the only coupe in the city.
Adjoining the city limits, and near the State
Hospital, the firm has a large farm, where they
keep a large number of horses, some belonging to
parties in New York City. The pasturage is ex
cellent, and the grazing unsurpassed, so that the
place is peculiarly adapted for the use to which it
is put. There are one hundred and thirty acres
in the farm, and that part which is not utilized
for pasturage is devoted to the raising of grain.
Our subject was one of the organizers and a char
ter member of the Liverymen and Undertakers'
Association, and politically he advocates Repub
lican principles.

(TOHNJ. BRYANT, proprietor of "The El-
I berton," at Middletown, is a native of Ver-
Q) non, Sussex County, N. J., born August 6,
1848, and is a son of Robert and Frances (Fife)
Bryant, both ofwhom were natives of Ireland.
Robert Bryant grew to manhood in his native
country, and there learned the trade of a shoe
maker, which occupation he followed for many
years. He received but a limited education in
the schools of his native country, and at the age
of twenty-four years, desiring to better himself in
life, he determined to cross the Atlantic and set- '
tie in the United States. With his wife and
mother, he located in Vernon, N. J., where he
followed his trade for a time, and then engaged
in farming, in which occupation he continued un
til his death, at the age of sixty years. His wife,

642

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the mother of our subject, is yet living, and re
sides on the old home place in Sussex County,
N. J. Of the five sons and three daughters
who comprised the parental family, only four
of the sons are living.
The subject of this sketch, who was the eldest
son in the family, remained at home and assisted
in farm work until eighteen years of age. Dur
ing this time, as opportunity was afforded him,
he attended the public schools, in which he re
ceived a fair education. From the farm he went
to Newton, N. J., to learn the harness trade
with Francis Grey. After remaining with him
one year, however, he worked at the machinist's
trade for two years at Charlotteburg, that state.
From the latter place he went to Oakland, Bergen
County, then to LaFayette, and from there to
Sparta, from which place he went to Ogdensburg,
N. J., where he ran a hotel four years.
In 1882 Mr. Bryant came to Middletown and
purchased the Fulton Hotel, continuing to run
the same until 1888, when he purchased "The
Elberton." After its purchase he remodeled it
considerably, putting in the brick front, and now
has a building 50x100 feet, three stories in height.
The house is first-class in every particular, and is
located on King Street, near the Erie Depot.
Mr. Bryant is a thoroughly equipped hotel-man,
and understands well how to please the traveling
public. His house is nearly always full of guests,
and those who once patronize him are sure to do
so again. Socially he is a member of Harmony
Lodge, F. & A. M., at Newton, N. J., and is a
member of the Eagle Hose Company at this
place.

+=

=+

G| LBERT H. PRATT, a successful business
LI man in Middletown, was born in Leicester-
/ I shire, England, May 30, 1841, and is a son
of Edward and Fannie (Hampton) Pratt, both of
whom were natives of that country. The father was
a railroad contractor for many years in England,
and followed that occupation until his death.
The mother is still living in her native country, |

and is now eighty-four years of age. In the pa
rental family were thirteen children who grew to
maturity. One son, Edward Pratt, was acci
dentally killed at Melbourne, Australia, where he
was engaged in business as a gold broker. An
other son, Frederick, was accidentally drowned
at the Kimberly Diamond Mines in Africa, where
he was engaged in prospecting. The eleven re
maining children are yet living in their native
country, save Alfred, who is engaged in painting
in Middletown, and the subject of this sketch.
Albert H. Pratt was fourth in the family, and
remained at his home in Birmingham, England,
until 1856, when, although but fifteen years of
age, he left the parental roof, and went out into
the world to seek his fortune. Leaving home, he
sailed for Australia, on the vessel "Lord Bur
leigh," but landed at Auckland, New Zealand,
where he remained a few months, and then pro
ceeded to Sydney, Australia. In the latter city
he was employed in various ways, including seal-
fishing. He then went into the mines at Lam
ming Falls, four hundred miles from Sydney, and
there engaged at mining, off and on, for about
two and a-half years. Later he took up the
painter's trade, and for three years engaged in
that occupation in Australia, being reasonably
successful. In 1863, after having spent seven
years in that country, he returned to England,
and the following year came to New York City,
where he engaged in the hotel business for one
year. In 1866 he located in Middletown, work
ing at his trade as a journeyman until 1868, when
he commenced business for himself, and has since
continued as a contracting painter. He has been
engaged in the business longer than any other
firm in Middletown. All the buildings of the
asylum, save one, were painted by him. He also
did the painting on the Armory, Thrall Hospital,
and the Armstrong & Lyon Block. In the busy
seasou he employs from twelve to fifteen men.
Mr. Pratt was married in Brooklyn, N. Y., to
Miss Louisa Clive, a native of England, and they
have one child, Flora. The family reside in their
neat residence on the corner of Wallkill and Lake
Avenues. Since coming to the United States, our
subject has been quite successful in a financial

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

643

way, and owns stock in the Homestead Building
and Loan Association. He is a member of Mid
dletown Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F., and of Em
pire Lodge of the American Legion of Honor, in
which latter body he has filled all the chairs. A
member of Grace Episcopal Church, he takes
an active interest in the work of that body. Iu
politics he is a Democrat.
Mr. Pratt has been quite an extensive traveler,
and has visited every part of Australia, Van Die-
man's Land, New Zealand and the islands of the
southern Pacific. He has rounded Cape Horn
and Cape of Good Hope, and was never in a
wreck of any kind.
 g>#P  • ..

•pGJlLLIAM C. SEBRING, M. D. Though
\ A / one of the youngest, Dr. Sebring is also
V V one of the leading physicians of Pine Bush
and the town of Crawford, and evidently possesses
the energy and determination that will elevate
him to a prominent position in the medical pro
fession of Orange County. He has been an in
dustrious student, and has the faculty of apply
ing, in his practical experience, the knowledge
which he has acquired through study. His
practice is profitable, and is constantly increas
ing, and he has gained the confidence of the peo
ple of the community, who predict for him an un
usually brilliant career in his profession.
The Sebring family has been intimately asso
ciated with the development of New York for
nearly three centuries, the first representatives
having come hither from Holland about 1600.
The father of our subject, Rev. A. J. Sebring,
was born in Seneca County, N. Y., and received
an excellent education, being a graduate of Rut-
ger's College. In early manhood he entered the
ministry ofthe Dutch Reformed Church, and has
devoted his entire life to the preaching of the
Gospel, being at present the pastor of the church
at Saugerties, N. Y. He is now (1895) sixty-
two years of age.
By his marriage with Caroline Campbell, Rev.
A. J. Sebring had four children, ofwhom the sec
ond in order of birth and the only survivor is

William C. He was born in Melleuville, Colum
bia County, N. Y., August 12, 1867, and accom
panied his father iu the various removals incident
to a change of pastorate. After completing the
studies of the common schools, at the age of nine
teen he entered Rutgers College, where he re
mained for two years. Later he spent two years
in Amherst College, where he completed his liter
ary education.
Upon leaving college, our subject accepted a
position as traveling salesman for a Boston house,
with which concern he remained for two years,
resigning his place in order to enter upon the
study of medicine. He became a student in the
Albany Medical College, from which institution,
after three years devoted to the study of the pro
fession, he was graduated in the spring of 1893.
Locating in Searsville, he remained there a year,
and in 1894 came to Pine Bush, where he has
built up a good practice and gained a large num
ber of warm personal friends.
Miss May M. Elting, an accomplished and re
fined lady, became the wife of Dr. Sebring De
cember 28, 1893, and unto their union a son,
Courtney C, has been born. Mrs. Sebring was
born in Leeds, N. Y., and was educated at Cook's
Collegiate Institute at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. She
is a devoted wife and mother, carefully looking
after the interests of her household, and is a kind
and true friend to all who come under her in
fluence.

NENRY V. HULSE was born in the town
of Wallkill, August 18, 1820, being a son
of Benjamin and Dollie (Reeve) Hulse, who
were also natives of this town. In childhood he
attended the district schools, which were far in
ferior to those of the present day, but in which,
nevertheless, he gained a fund of practical knowl
edge that was of inestimable value to him in suc
ceeding years. He chose for his life occupation
the calling of a farmer, and having been reared
to this he was particularly adapted to prosecute
it successfully.

644

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Settling in the town of Wallkill, Mr. Hulse
married and began active farm pursuits, which
he continued uninterruptedly until the time of
his death, May 18, 1893. In his enterprises he
was successful. He became the owner of a beau
tiful farm, to the cultivation and. improvement of
which he gave the best years of his life. Acquir
ing a comfortable property, he retired to some ex
tent from the hard work which had filled his
active years, and in his old age he lived in com
fort, surrounded by everything that could con
duce to his happiness. He did not take an active
part in public affairs, but was deeply interested
in any project originated for the benefit of the
people, and gave liberally to public-spirited en
terprises. November 13, 1850, Mr. Hulse and Miss Mary
E. Hulse were united in marriage, and their
forty-three years of wedded life were years of
mutual helpfulness and common interests. Mrs.
Hulse is a daughter of Benjamin and Clarissa
(Wade) Hulse, the former a native of Orange
County, the latter born in New York City. They
married and settled in this county, where Mary E.
was born, reared and educated. By her marriage
she became the mother of a son and daughter.
The son, Wellington W., died at the age of thir
ty-five years. The daughter, Miss Georgiana R.,
resides with her mother, and superintends the
management of the old homestead in the town of
Wallkill. They are estimable ladies, and have
a large circle of friends in this locality.

1 ¦ pM f k | \ | \ |

¦3 «.m ...-¦.

C5EORGE E. PUTNEY, M. D., was for more
_ than thirty-two years prior to his death a
^ successful practicing physician of Howells.
He was born iu Montgomery, February 25, 1826,
his parents being Amzi and Lucretia (Hamilton)
Putney, natives of Connecticut, who came to this
county in an early day. His educational ad
vantages consisted of some years' attendance at
the district schools and Montgomery Academy,
and so well did he improve his opportunities that
at the age of sixteen he entered upon the teach
er's profession. After entering upon his medical

studies, he also continued teaching, thus gaining
the funds necessary for the completion of his
course. Before he was twenty-three years of age
he was graduated from the Vermont Medical Col
lege at Castleton, Vt. , after which he practiced in
the New York Hospital for one year, but failing
health induced him to resign that position and
return to Orange County. Opening an office at
Howells, he remained here until his death, suc
cessfully carrying on his large practice.
Aside from his professional duties, Dr. Putney
was identified with many prominent local enter
prises, and took an active part in everything per
taining to the growth and development of How
ells. He was an active member of the Congre
gational Church, and at the time of his death he
was serving as Superintendent of the Sunday-
school. Politically he was a Republican, and an
influential man in his party. Throughout this
part of the county he had a very extensive ac
quaintance, and was recognized as a skilled prac
titioner. The first marriage of Dr. Putney occurred in
1846, when Miss Mary Goldsmith became his
wife. She died in 1867, leaving two children:
George, a druggist at Ithaca, N. Y.; and Flora,
who is married and lives in Middletown. The
second wife of Dr. Putney was Helen M., daugh
ter of Benson and Louisa (Howell) Tuthill, na
tives of this county. Her father was a tanner
and currier by trade, which he followed for many
years at Hamburg, N. J., and afterward was sim
ilarly engaged in the town of Mt. Hope, this
county. His latter years were devoted exclu
sively to agricultural pursuits, and he died Janu
ary 11, 1880, at an advanced age. His wife, the
mother of Mrs. Putney, died May 28, 1890. The
Howell family was among the pioneers of this
county, and the Tuthills have also been estab
lished here for many generations.
Dr. Putney died June 30, 1882, leaving two
children by his second marriage: Miss Lulu, who
is with her mother, and Benson T., a drug clerk
in Middletown. Since the death of her husband
Mrs. Putney has continued the drug business
which her husband carried on for a number of
years. In March, 1883, she was appointed Post-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

645

mistress at Howells, and this position she has
since filled efficiently and with success. As a
business woman, she is keen, judicious and tact
ful, and she has carried on her financial matters
in such a manner as to secure a good income.
She is well known throughout this locality, and
has the regard of all her acquaintances.

SEORGE J. LITTLETON, agent for the
Anchor Brewing Company at Dobbs Ferry,
was born in Newburgh September 13, 1870.
His father, Thomas, of whom full mention is
made elsewhere in this volume, was born in Lon
don, England, but was reared in Ireland, whence
in early manhood he emigrated to the United
States and settled in Pennsylvania, working in
the mines near Pittsburg. Thence he removed
to Newburgh, where he has since engaged in the
grocery business at No. 274 Washington Street,
corner of Mills Street. Prominent in the Demo
cratic party, he has occupied a number of public
positions, to which he has been elected upon that
ticket. For two terms of three years each he was
Almshouse Commissioner, and he has held other
local offices. In religion he is a member of St.
Patrick's Catholic Church. After coming to this
country he married Miss Margaret Smith, who
was born in New York State and died here after
becoming the mother of seven sons and two
daughters. Two of the sons are deceased.
George J., who was third in order of birth,
was reared in Newburgh, where he attended the
public schools and Newburgh Free Academy,
completing his education in Chapman's Business
College. His first position was as clerk in his fa
ther's store, after which he became a bookkeeper
for David Gardner, a wholesale butcher of this
city, with whom he remained until 1888. For
two years afterward he was bookkeeper for the
Anchor Brewing Company at Newburgh, after
which he became their representative at this place.
The company has its office and salesrooms on
Front Street, iu the rear of the Erie Railroad

freight office. Their storeroom has a capacity of
seven hundred kegs, and the icehouse holds forty
tons. There are two trucks used in the business,
and the output is two hundred barrels per week.
The beer is received from the company's steamer
"Island Belle," and from this point is delivered
at any place in the city or shipped to the agencies
at Highland Falls, Kingston, Nyack, Hudson
and Wappinger's Falls.
Socially Mr. Littleton is connected with the
Foresters, Shepherds and Elks. In the Queen
City Club he is Past President, Past Vice-Pres
ident and a Trustee. He is a member of the
Liquor Dealers' Association of Newburgh, the
Maennerchor Society, the West Cornwall Gun
Club and the Newburgh Guards. His religious
membership is in St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
A Democrat in politics, he has represented his
party as delegate to county and assembly conven
tions, and for years has served as County Com
missioner. He has been Ward Committeeman
for a number of years, and has been Secretary of
the board.

j! AWRENCE W. KORTRIGHT, a reliable
I C and successful business man of Mechanics-
|_2J town, was bom in the town of Goshen, and
is the son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Brown) Kort-
right, also natives of this county. His father
and he were born upon the same farm. The
former, when a young man, learned the trade of
a carpenter, and for many years was extensively
engaged at that occupation, meeting with good
success in its prosecution. He died in 1867, at an
advanced age, having lived an honest, upright
life, and left to his descendants an untarnished
name. His wife died some time prior to his de
mise. The subject of this sketch was born November
28, 1826. In youth he had such advantages as
the schools of the early part of the century af
forded, which were quite meager in comparison
with those of the present day. At the age of
twenty-five he left the shelter of the parental roof
and began for himself in the world. Beginning

646

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

as a farmer, he was successfully engaged in that
occupation until 1859, when he came to Median -
icstown and embarked in the grocery business.
After one year, however, he began butchering,
and has since carried on an extensive business in
that line, selling meats at retail in the village
and surrounding country. As a business man
he is reliable, honest in his dealings, and prompt
in meeting his engagements, so that he has gained
the confidence of his customers.
April 28, 1855, Mr- Kortright married Miss
Harriet, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Seely)
Eaton, all natives of this county. They are the
parents of two sons and one daughter, namely:
William T., who married Miss Lillian Carr, of
Sussex County, N. J., and lives in Mechanics-
town; Martha E., at home; and Frederick L- ,
who is in Ithaca, N. Y., where he is engaged as
a professor in Cornell University. He married
Miss Flora M. Corwin, of Middletown, N. Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Kortright are members of the
Congregational Church at Middletown, and gen
erous contributors to religious enterprises. While
a Democrat in politics, he has never accepted
any offices save a few minor positions, but has
been content to take a quiet part in public affairs.

EOL. JOHN D. WOOD, the obliging agent
at the Mechanicstown station, was born in
this county in 1827, being a son of Alfred
and Rosetta (Dunning) Wood, who were born,
reared and married here. The father was a son
of John Wood, who was one of George Washing
ton's minutemen, and who was a loyal patriot,
rendering good service in the War ofthe Revolu
tion. Alfred Wood was a soldier in the War of
18 1 2. During much of his active life he was en
gaged as a builder, but when advanced in years
he turned his attention to farming, and was thus
engaged at the time of his death, in 1880. His
wife passed away four years prior to his demise.
After gaining the rudiments of his education in

the common schools, our subject took an academic
course. At the age of twenty-one he secured a
position as clerk in a dry -goods and grocery
store, but after two years in that occupation he
began farming, continuing in that vocation until
1862. At that time, responding to his country's
call for volunteers to defend the Union, he donned
the blue and enlisted fti Company H, One Hun
dred and Sixty-eighth New York Infantry. He
was mustered in as Captain in Newburgh, and
remained in active service for two years, partici
pating with his company in many engagements
of importance. He escaped without having been
wounded or imprisoned by the enemy, but the
hardships of camp life, and the exposure incident
to marching, made considerable inroads on his
constitution, and he is now suffering from the
effect of his army service.
On being mustered out of the service, Captain
Wood was promoted to Brevet-Major, and after
his return he was chosen Colonel of the One Hun
dred and Ninety-first National Guard, serving in
that capacity for seven years. For sixteen years
he has served his fellow-citizens in the office of
Justice of the Peace, and he also served two terms
as Justice of Sessions. For the past fourteen
years he has been railroad and express agent at
Mechanicstown, where he is also engaged in the
feed business.
Colonel Wood was united in marriage, in 1856,
with Miss Mary L. , daughter of Moses and Eliz
abeth (Valentine) Sawyer, all natives of this
county. Eight children were born to their union,
but three are deceased. Those living are named
as follows: Jessie, wife of C. V. Puff, of this coun
ty; Clara L-, who married Frank Van Voris, also
of this county; Arthur S., who married Miss Em
ily Mapes, a member of one of the leading fami
lies ofthe county, and who now makes his home
in Philadelphia, Jefferson County, N. Y.; Lillie
May, wife of Verner M. Weeks, of Fond du Lac,
Wis. ; and Alfred W. , a dispatcher in the New
York Central Railroad office at Albany.
Like all old soldiers, Colonel Wood is interested
iu Grand Army affairs and is connected with the
order. With his wife, he holds membership in
the Presbyterian Church. In politics he votes

JAMES J. MILLS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

649

the Democratic ticket. He is interested in public
affairs to the extent of encouraging every worthy
movement with his influence and means, and is
respected for his honorable character and upright
life.  
0R. JAMES J. MILLS, a leading dentist of
Port Jervis, is one of its representative citi
zens, who has done much for the prosperity
of the village, and now resides in his pleasant
home at No. 14 Orange Street. He is a native
of Orange County, born at Mt. Hope on the 9th
of May, 1851, and is a son of Hon. Andrew J.
arid Maria (Greene) Mills. The family is de
scended from Timothy Mills, who was twice mar
ried, and by the first union had a son and daugh
ter, the former being Isaac, who was born March
13, 1697, and died July 8, 1767. He was followed
by Isaac, Jr., who was born February 19, 1727,
and married Sarah Phillips. His death occurred
April 25, 1783, and he was interred at Mills' Pond,
on Long Island. His son, Ebenezer, who was
probably the first of the family to come to Orange
County, was born on the 3d of August, 1757,
and married Abigail Vail. His death occurred
in Middletown, N. Y., February 23, 1834. Isaac
was the next indirect line and was born March 5,
1788. He was united in marriage with Clarissa
Hulse, and passed away at Mt. Hope, on the 18th
of January, 1856.
The latter's son, Hon. Andrew J. Mills, is the
father of the Doctor. He was born in Middle-
town, February 22, 182 1, in the Jefferson House,
which was kept by his father, and which is now
known as the Holding House. He afterward re
sided for a number of years on what is known as
the "reservoir farm," near Pilgrims' Corners, re
moving when about twenty years old to Otisville,
and later to Mt. Hope, where he bought the hotel
property where he died, and which he owned for
nearly forty years. During the war, from i860
until 1864, he conducted a hotel in Albany, N. Y.
On the 28th of May, 1842, he wedded Miss Maria
Greene, by whom he had four children: John
Greene, late of Washington, D. C; Mary E.,
wife of. John W. Truesdale, of Katonah, West-
28

Chester County; Charlotte C, who died April 7,
1881; and Dr. James J., of this sketch. The fa
ther gave his allegiance to the Democratic party
throughout most of his life, though for a short
time he supported the Greenback party. He was
known throughout this portion of the state as a
composer and singer of political songs, and during
the exciting campaigns his services in this capac
ity were in great demand. He often represented
his town in Democratic conventions, and at the
time of his death was Assessor of Mt. Hope. In
1854 he was a member of the Assembly for what
was then the Third District of Orange County.
The next term he was defeated by James Bennett,
but was renominated and elected for the session
of 1856. His death, which occurred on the 12th
of May, 188 1, was deeply mourned by the entire
community. The mother of our subject is still living and
makes her home with the Doctor. She is a well
preserved, genial lady, who takes great pride in
her two sons. She is a sister of Hon. George W.
Greene, of Goshen, N. Y., and was born on the
19th of January, 1822, to Charles S. and Polly
( Woodward) Greene. Her maternal grandmother
belonged to the Hilliard family of Connecticut,
and she had two sisters, one of whom became the
mother of Jesse Grant, the father of the General,
and the other the mother of Nathan Hale. They
belonged to one of the oldest and best known fam
ilies of the Empire State. Mrs. Mill's paternal
grandfather, Daniel Greene, was a nephew of
Gen. Nathanael Greene, of Revolutionary fame,
and belonged to the Greene family of Rhode Isl
and. Dr. James J. Mills was reared in Mt. Hope,
and at the age of sixteen years entered Hudnut's
drug store of New York City, which was owned
by the son of Rev. William H. Hudnut, of Port
Jervis. At the end of two years, in 1870, he be
came a clerk in the Astor House drug store,
where he remained for the same length of time,
when he went West, traveling through many
states, and for a time served as a druggist in Du
buque, Iowa.
Returning to Mt. Hope, the Doctor remained at
home for a time, but inT876 entered the office of

650

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

W. S. Elliott, D. D. S., M. D. S. and M. D., the
famous dentist and inventor of dental instruments,
and has since followed that profession with great
success. On the 8th of April, 1878, he located in
Port Jervis, where he has now conducted an office
for seventeen years. The Doctor has also been
connected with other business interests, having
an extensive storehouse in Port Jervis, and has
also dealt considerably in coal. He put in the
first book-bindery in the city, and the first charter
for the electric-light company was taken out in
his name, he helping to establish the original
plant. On the ist of January, 1878, Dr. Mills wedded
Miss Estella Newton, daughter of Nelson and
Mary Ann (Penney) Newton. Her father, who
was born on Long Island, practiced his profes
sion in Brooklyn for a time, but later removed to
Forestburg, Sullivan County, where he was mar
ried to Miss Penney, a daughter of John and
Sarah (Ketchum) Penney, the former a lumber
man of Sullivan County. Later he removed to
Mt. Hope, where he died at the age of ninety-
four years. Dr. Newton practiced in Mt. Hope
until his death, which occurred in 1859, at the
age of thirty-three years, leaving one child, Mrs.
Mills. His widow later became the wife of Dan
iel Seybolt, of the town of Mt. Hope, a mail agent,
who, together with three of his companions, was
burned in the wreck at Tioga on the Erie Rail
road, January 23, 1881. He had two children
by his former marriage, George H. and Charles
E. Mrs. Seybolt now makes her home with Dr.
Mills. The Doctor has been instrumental in securing
many improvements in Port Jervis, not least
among them being a most admirable system of
sewerage, which by his persistent efforts was
adopted. For six years he served on the Board
of Education, three years on the Excise Board,
and for three terms was President of the Board of
Health. He is a stalwart Democrat in political
sentiment, attending the conventions of his party
for nearly twenty years, and last April was elected
a member of the Board of Trustees, in which ca
pacity he is now serving.
Dr. Mills is au active worker in the American

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
and does all in his power to see that its laws are
carried out. In the Knights of Pythias fraternity
he is Past Chancellor, and is Commander of the
Legion of Honor. He is quite a cyclist, and is
now serving as President of the Orange County
Wheel Association. He belongs to the Wantage
Outing Club, which numbers thirty members in
Port Jervis and Deckertown, and which every
year spends a few weeks either in the mountains
or at Lake Rutherford, in Sussex County, N. J.
With all his social enjoyments the Doctor gives
most of his time to his profession, in which he
is one of the leading representatives in Orange
County, and belongs to the Second District Den
tal Society of the state, while he is a permanent
member of the New York State Dental Society.
He is a noted numismatist, collector of rare coins,
geological and Indian relics, and has one of the
most complete private collections of coins, ancient
and modern, numbering over five thousand speci
mens. This has been his hobby for years, and
he now has some thirty-five cabinets of these
coins on exhibition in the rooms of the Young
Men's Christian Association.

(3 EDGAR SMITH is one of the good farmers
•\ ofthe town of Goshen, and the estate of one
\zJ hundred and fifteen acres which he is culti
vating is improved with substantial and neatly
kept buildings and fences and is one of the most
valuable in this section.
Our subject was born in the town of Goshen
December 6, i860, and is the eldest ofthe fam
ily born to Stephen Augustus and Harriet (Hulse)
Smith, natives also of Orange County. The fa
ther was a farmer of note, and until his demise,
in 1893, was engaged in cultivating the soil. He
had always lived in this county, and was in turn
theson of Stephen Smith, one ofthe old land
marks ofthe county, who died in 1891, at the re
markable age of ninety-three years. Mrs. Har
riet Smith is still living, in the enjoyment of good
health, and makes her home on the old place,
which is under the management of her son Em-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

651

mett. This farm has been in the family for many
years, and on it three generations of the Smiths
have been born and reared.
After attending the district school our subject
entered the Peekskill Military Academy, where
he pursued the higher branches of study. Hav
ing been reared to farm work, he very naturally
chose agriculture as his vocation in life, and that
he made no mistake in his choice is shown by his
success. His standing in the community is high,
and his ideas and methods of performing work
are practical.
In 1887 S. Edgar Smith and Miss Emma J.
Smith were united in marriage. She is the
daughter of Stephen and Emily (Randolph)
Smith, whose birth also occurred in Orange
County. To our subject and his wife have been
born four children, named, respectively : Clarence,
Hattie, Stephen and Raymond Randolph. They
are bright and interesting children, and it is the
intention of the parents to give them good edu
cations. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who are both members of
the Presbyterian Church of Goshen, are people of
generous disposition and contribute liberally to
the relief of those in need. The political affilia
tion of Mr. Smith is with the Democratic party.
He possesses a genial, jovial disposition, and gets
all the enjoyment possible out of existence. Al
though only thirty-five years of age, he is one of
the town's most substantial citizens and progress
ive residents.

_w<0)

I>-^<!

.@s=^

(Qy~-

JOHN H. WOODS is one of the most popular
and efficient employes of the Eastern Divi
sion of the Erie Railroad, and has his home
and headquarters at Port Jervis. Since he was a
youth his entire attention has been given to rail
roading and he is thoroughly acquainted with the
construction of locomotives. Though others may
have as exact scientific theory in regard to the
proper manufacture of engines, few excell him in
practical knowledge ofthe subject.
Our subject's parents were Samuel H. and
Margaret (Sisco) Woods. The former was an

engineer on the Erie lines running from Port Jer
vis, and about 1844 became an employe on the
Eastern Division. For a few years his run was
between Piermont and this village, where he lo
cated in 1849. His services were uninterrupted
until the strike of 1856, when for six years he
was an employe of the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western Road at Scranton. In 1862 he resumed
his work with the Erie, and was with the com-.
pany at the time of his death, June 27, 1864, as
the result of a collision which occurred a few
miles east of Southfield. A freight train had
broken in two and his train crashed into the oth
er. He jumped from his engine and when found
was dead. His service as an engineer covered
over twenty years. He was a native of Philadel-
, phia, his birth having occurred in 181 1. His
wife, who was born in New Jersey, was called to
her final rest in 1889.
The birth of J. H. Woods occurred in Pomp-
ton, N. J., October 9, 1839, and his boyhood
passed pleasantly in Port Jervis and Scranton.
March 12, i860, he began running an engine at
Scranton with the railroad company of which his
father was then an employe, having previously
worked for two and a-half years as a machinist.
In October, 1859, he was given the position of
fireman on au engine, and six months later was
promoted to take charge of a locomotive. For a
year he worked on the Delaware & Hudson Rail
road, and in 1863 was engaged on the Erie Rail
road, where he continued for three years. The
following three years he was employed by various
roads and by the Dixon Manufacturing Company.
In 1869 he returned to this village and has since
been on the Eastern Division, his run at present
being on No. 10 eastbound and No. 5 westbound
express trains. This is considered one of the fin
est runs on the road, as the distance is only eigh
ty-eight miles and it is only to old and reliable en
gineers that this desirable position is given.
May 10, 1878, about nine o'clock in the evening,
while on an eastbound train a mile from Port Jer
vis, an obstruction, maliciously placed upon the
track, caused the engine to leave the rails, and as
a result, it was overturned, crashing down the
bank thirty feet. Mr. Woods and his fireman

652

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and brakeman jumped for their lives, and thus
escaped fatality, but Mr. Woods' right leg was
broken and he was obliged to be off duty for six
months. He is a member of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, and is Secretary or First
Assistant in Division No. 54 at Port Jervis,
having been identified with the order since 1864.
He is also a member of the Society of United
Friends. In political creed he is a Republican.
In November, 1861, Mr. Woods was married,
at Scranton, Pa., to Miss Sarah Hetherby, of that
city. They have had five children, two ofwhom
are deceased; one son and two daughters are liv
ing, namely: Ella, Maggie and Sam H. Ella is
at home, and the other daughter, Maggie, is the
wife of Ed Swinton, of this jilace; Sam H. is at
tending school. Mr. and Mrs. Woods and fam
ily are identified with the Presbyterian Church.
6  '  ¦°~-^T^T<>[^-~  E
WON. LUTHER R. MARSH. The life which
this narrative sketches began April 4, 18 13,
in the picturesque village of Pompey Hill,
N. Y., a town that once wielded an important in
fluence in Onondaga County, being both a politi
cal and an educational centre, but which, with
advancing commercial enterprises, lost its prestige
and power, and now lies remote from the ordi
nary routes of commerce and travel. From it, in
days past, have gone forth men and women of
national, and indeed of world-wide, fame, who
could trace their first advances in the arts, sciences
or literature to the impetus given them in that
little town that now lies deserted.
The history ofthe Marsh family is one of in
terest, and extends back in this country to an
early period in the settlement of New England.
John Marsh, who was one of the early settlers of
Hadley, Mass., moved down the Connecticut
River in 1630, and settled in Hartford, Conn.,
where he married Annie, daughter of John Web
ster, Governor of the colony and the lineal ances
tor of Noah Webster, the lexicographer. Rev.
Elisha Marsh, great-grandson of John Marsh,
was the first minister of Westminster, Mass.,
where he held the pastorate from 1742 to 1757.

The anecdotes that are told of him indicate that
he was a man of unique character, possessing
keen wit and the gift of ready repartee, combined
with firmness of convictions and depth of intel
lect. His assertion that "obedience is the con
dition of salvation" caused his arraignment, in
1747, on the charge of heresy, but the charge was
not sustained, and he was released; however, ten
years later, he was dismissed from the pastorate,
for the opinions which he held, though considered
orthodox now, were then too much in advance of
the time to be appreciated.
The son of Rev. Elisha, Capt. Elisha Marsh,
was the father of Luther Marsh, who in turn was
the father ofthe subject of this sketch. Luther
Marsh, in company with his brother Elisha,
moved to Onondaga County, N. Y., and after a
time settled at Pompey. He acquired considera
ble prominence and was elected High Sheriff of
the county. Like his grandfather, he was a man
of superior ability, a ready wit and genial com
panion, and as an instance of his wit it is said
that, during the War of 18 12, when the officers
met for the purpose of writing to Governor Tomp
kins for field pieces, Captain Jennings and the
other officers tried their hands at the letter, but
could not produce anything satisfactory, so Mr.
Marsh was asked to assist. He immediately wrote
these lines:
"Great Daniel D., we send to thee
For two great guns and trimmings!
Send them to hand, or you'll be damned,
By order of Captain Jennings."
This was signed and sent, and brought the
guns. Years afterward Governor Tompkins often
delighted his guests at dinner by repeating, for
their benefit, this remarkable requisition for field
pieces. The first wife of Luther Marsh was Emma,
daughter of Thomas Hooker Rawson, at one
time State Superintendent, of the salt springs at
Salina, afterward a physician at Canandaigua,
N. Y. , where he was buried. The Rawson fam
ily is descended from Edward Rawson, who came
from England to Newburyport in 1636, and two
years later was elected Town Clerk, Notary and
Register, which position he filled until his remov-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

653

al to Boston in 1650, to accept the office of Secre
tary of the colony. The latter position he filled
for thirty-six years, being annually elected by the
people, and the records ofthe colony, in his neat
handwriting, are preserved at Worcester. Rev.
Grindal Rawson, our subject's great-grandfa
ther, married, in 1798, Dorothy, the great-
granddaughter of Rev. Charles Chauncey, sec
ond President ot Harvard College, and a descend
ant of the Earl of Pembroke.
Luther and Emma Marsh were the parents of
the subject of this notice, who was reared to
manhood in Pompey. His mother died when he
was seven years old, and his father afterward
married Margaret Leonard. His education was
commenced in Pompey Academy, and continued
at Captain Partridge's Military School at Middle-
town, Conn. On leaving school he engaged as a
clerk in a country store at Onondaga Hill, and
as soon as possible commenced the study of law,
for which profession he seemed by nature admir
ably fitted. In law offices at Skaneateles, Man-
lius and Utica, he laid the foundation of that
broad superstructure of legal knowledge which he
afterward acquired. In 1836 he was admitted to
the Bar at Albany, when on his way to New
York to accept an invitation from Henry R.
Storrs to take a position in his office. About a
year later, however, Mr. Storrs died, which event
caused a complete change of his plans, and he
soon afterward went to Utica, where his associa
tion with Samuel P. Lyman, General Superintend
ent of Construction of the New York & Lake
Erie Railroad, then building, introduced him into
the legal business of that company.
Returning to New York City about 1844, Mr.
Marsh soon afterward formed a partnership with
O. W. Sturtevant, and while they were together
Daniel Webster, on retiring from the Senate,
came to New York City and opened an office
with Marsh & Sturtevant at No. 4 Wall Street,
continuing with them until his re-election to the
Senate. The little tin sign, "Daniel Webster,"
Mr. Marsh has had framed, and cherishes it
among his valued souvenirs of the past. In
1 855-56 he was in partnership with William H.
Leonard, afterward Judge ofthe Supreme Court,

and John T. Hoffman, afterward Governor, un
der the firm name of Marsh, Leonard & Hoffman.
When that connection was dissolved he was for a
time alone, but later, with Frederick A. Coe and
Alexander Hamilton Wallis, formed the firm
of Marsh, Coe & Wallis. After the death of
Mr. Coe, in 1870, the name was changed to
Marsh & Wallis, and as such remained un
til the death ofthe junior member in 1879. Mr.
Marsh then became associated with Col. William
G. Wilson and the son of Mr. Wallis, as Marsh,
Wilson & Wallis.
September 15, 1845, Mr. Marsh married Miss
Jane E., daughter of Alvan Stewart, one of the
leaders of the anti-slavery crusade. Since 1868
Mr. Marsh has been a member of the Union
League Club of New York City, formerly was one
of its Vice-Presidents, and has delivered a num
ber of eloquent addresses before the club. His
literary and oratorical ability has been one of his
most distinguishing features, and for many years
he was in almost constant demand as a public
lecturer, addressing the people upon themes of
vital importance. Some of his orations are gems
of beauty, worthy of perpetuation in permanent
form. Alike brilliant, fascinating, polished and
entertaining, he commanded the attention of even-
audience, whom he moved to tears or won to
laughter at will.
While Mr. Marsh contributed iu many ways to
the progress of New York, space will permit the
mention of but a few, and perhaps the most im
portant of these was the abolition of intramural
interments in the city. As is well known, it had
been the custom from an early day to bury the
dead in churchyards within the city, and to such
an extent had this practice been carried on, that
the ground in many cases had been raised sev
eral feet above the original surface by these long-
continued accumulations. For blocks in every
direction the atmosphere became permeated with
the effluvium and was very offensive. The evil
had been intrenched in vested interests and was
most difficult to attack and overcome, but Mr.
Marsh succeeded in gaining the case, and thereaft
er no burials were allowed in churchyards. Mr.
Marsh devoted about seven years to the acquisi-

654

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tion and consummation of new parks for New
York City, and through his labors thirty-eight
hundred acres were appropriated for this purpose,
the appraisal ofthe property consuming four years.
Six large volumes were printed, but success was
finally achieved. As Chairman of the commis
sion to estimate the damages arising from the
State Reservation at Niagara Falls, he contrib
uted essentially to that beneficent achievement.
Nature endowed Mr. Marsh with rare gifts,
among which were a superb physique and intel
lectual ability of a high order, logical, discrimi
nating and comprehensive. His career as an
attorney is one reflecting the greatest credit upon
his varied mental powers. Notwithstanding his
advanced age, his mind is clear and his reasoning
faculties as keen as in years gone by, which fact
is no doubt due to his temperate habits and syste
matic exercise of body. In 1888, after an active
career of fifty-two years, he retired from the pro
fession, and is devoting his latter days to a study
of the mysteries of the future world.

-J— »  »}3^®(|||fl®<H!<i  1  {-

EEORGE WICKHAM is a member of one
ofthe oldest families in Orange County, and
for generations many bearing that name have
resided in the vicinity of Middletown. The old
Wickham place was a part of the patent of the
Minisink Angle, purchased by Messrs. Wickham
and Moore, and included what are now the farms
of Judge Low, Mr. Tryon and Mr. Gardner. It
was very wild land, and was in the shape of a
parallelogram. Forty acres of the home farm lie
within the city limits, and the greater part of it
he platted himself. He laid out Sprote Street,
on which he has sold many lots, besides other
tracts. The old Montgomery turnpike is now
known as Wickham Avenue, it being so named
in honor of our subject.
The Wickhams trace their ancestry back for
many generations to one Wyckeham, who was
Bishop of Winchester, and a man of considerable
note. Joseph Wickham, the great-great-great

grandfather of our subject, came from England
with two others of the same name, and settled on
Long Island. The first of the family to settle in
Orange County was Samuel Wickham, the great-
great-grandfather of our subject, who came from
Sag Harbor, and purchased the patent already
mentioned. His son, Israel Wickham, the great
grandfather, was a farmer in the town of Wall-
kill, where he was born; he lived on the present
site of the Ursuline Academy. His son, also
named Israel, was born in this city, where he spent
his entire life. The latter's son, Israel H., was
the father of our subject, and his birth occurred
at the foot of Mill Street, in Middletown. By oc
cupation he was a farmer, and for many years
was a Justice of the Peace, which office he held at
the time of his death, at the age of sixty-four
years. In politics he was an old-line Whig. He
married Sallie Wisner, who was born in Middle-
town, and who was a daughter of Henry B. Wis
ner. She died here in 1868, at the age of sixty-
six years, firm in the faith of the Presbyterian
Church. Two children were born unto the par
ents of our subject: Maria, Mrs. Young, who died
in Middletown; and George.
George Wickham was reared on the old farm,
and received his education in the public "schools
and Middletown Academy. For some years he
had the management ofthe home farm, and after
the death of his father came into possession of
the property. In Middletown he married Miss
Mary A. Sprote, a daughter of Morgan L. and
Juliet (Conkling) Sprote. Her father was born
in the town of Wallkill, and for years was a man- .
ufacturer and business man in Middletown. He
died in 1876, but his wife makes her home with
our subject, and is now ninety-four years old.
Two children were born to our subject and his
wife, Julia and Harvey L. The latter received
his literary education in Middletown Academy,
and his musical education in various colleges. He
was graduated from the Metropolitan College of
Music, and also from the College of Music in Lon
don, receiving degrees from each institution, and
is at present a teacher of vocal and instrumental
music, and the organist of Grace Church in Mid
dletown. In his profession there are few men that

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

655

rank higher. In June, 1895, he married Miss
Parsons, of New York City. The daughter, Ju
lia, is a vocalist of more than ordinary ability,
and has taken lessons under some of the most
noted professors in New York City.
Mr. Wickham isa member ofthe First Presby
terian Church, in which body he is an Elder. In
politics he is a Republican. He is a natural mu
sician, and a vocalist of exceptional merit. Since
1852 he has been a member of the choir of the
First Presbyterian Church, and has been its lead
er for fourteen years. The musical ability of Mr.
Wickham and family is recognized by the public,
and they are often called upon to sing for various
purposes.

(TAMES F. MOORE, foreman of the car-shops
I of the New York, Ontario & Western Rail-
(2/ road, has been connected with that road at
this place since 1874. He was born in New York
City, August 15, 1853, but comes of an old Or
ange County family. His grandfather, David
Moore, was a farmer in the town of Wawayanda,
who late in life retired to Middletown, where he
lived on Academy Avenue. His wife, Elizabeth
(Fullerton) Moore, died there, after which he re
moved to Howells Depot, where he died some
years ago, at a very advanced age. Alexander
Dour Moore, the father of our subject, was born
in the town of Wawayanda, but in early man
hood removed to New York City, where he was
engaged in the grocery business. During the
Civil War he was a recruiting officer, in which
capacity he enlisted many men. He married
Margaret Collins, who died when our subject was
a babe, leaving two children: Elizabeth, now
Mrs. Lee, of Howells Depot, and our subject.
The father died some years ago.
When but seven years of age, the subject of
this sketch was bound out to the Shakers in Col
umbia County. When fifteen years old he ran
away, but was caught by the Shakers at twelve
o'clock at night, when five miles from their set
tlement. He was taken back, and punished ac

cording to their discipline. In less than one
year he ran away again, and when only three
miles from the settlement was overtaken, but he
defied them to take him back. While with the
Shakers he learned the millwright's trade, and for
a time worked at the same in Pittsfield, but later
learned the carpenter's trade.
In 1874 Mr. Moore came to Middletown, and
entered the employ of the New York, Oswego &
Midland Railroad, now the New York, Ontario
& Western, as carpenter, and continued with the
company one year. The company at that time
was financially embarrassed, and the men clubbed
together and filed a mechanic's lien on buildings
erected to secure their wages. Mr. Moore then
went to New York City, where he remained one
year working at his trade, and later returned to
Middletown, and again entered the employ ofthe
New York, Oswego & Midland Railroad, under
Merritt Carey. Until 1876 he was engaged in the
erection of depot buildings at various places, and
then entered the car-shops here, which at that
time were quite small. Our subject commenced
working as a journeyman, but in 1890 was made
assistant foreman under Mr. Tandy, and in
March, 1892, was made foreman ofthe car-shops
by G. W. West. He now has full charge of the
shops, having sixty-two men in his department
under his supervision. They manufacture all
kinds of cars, and do much of the repair-work of
the road. In the prosecution of the business, Mr.
Moore has made many useful inventions which
have been adopted by the company.
Mr. Moore was married, in Middletown, to Miss
Elizabeth M. Osborn, a native of Hobart, Dela
ware County, and they have one child, George D. ,
a lad of nine summers. Mr. Moore is a member
of Lancelot Lodge, K. of P., and of the New
York Club of Master Car-Builders. For five
years he served as a member of the Twenty- fourth
Separate Company, New York Guards, enlisting
as a private, and was honorably discharged as a
Sergeant. He was a member of Eagle Hose
Company No. 2, for seven years, serving as its
Secretary two years, and is now an honorary
member. In politics he is a stanch Republican,
and has served his party as a member of the City

656

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Central Committee. A quiet, unassuming man,
in every position in life in which he has been
called upon to fill he has discharged his duties in
a faithful and acceptable manner.

EOLDWELL- WILCOX COMPANY. In 1884
Messrs. Thomas Coldwell, G. R. M. Wilcox
and William H. Coldwell formed an organ
ization under the firm name of Coldwell, Wilcox
& Co. They started as manufacturers of brush
and general machinery, fencing and fancy-iron
work, fire escapes, etc., and also in steam-heating
outfits for public and private buildings. They
soon found that their quarters in the Oakley soap
factory building were entirely too small for their
business, and accordingly, in the fall of 1885, they
purchased the Speir & Wilson foundry on Broad
way, and took in A. S. Peirce as a partner. This
plant they occupied until the fall of 1889. In
connection with this foundry they for a time
rented from James Bigler the machine-shop, in
cluding all the tools therein, connected with the
old Ward & Stanton firm. In the summer of
1889 they begaii the erection of a new plant in New
Windsor, south of the Pennsylvania Coal Works.
This site was selected on account of its unsur
passed shipping facilities, having a switch from
the West Shore Railroad on the front, and the river
in the rear. They erected a foundry building 130X
60 feet, a machine-shop 70x80 feet, and a cleaning-
room 80x30 feet, and the first cast was taken off in
November, 1889. These buildings were equipped
with the best modern tools, and with specially
made traveling cranes for the handling of heavy
work. Soon, however, they drifted into the man
ufacture of heavy general machinery, such as
gate-valves, sluice-gates, hoisting apparatus, tun
nel lining, ladders, and also the iron work used
in dams, gate-houses, etc. They manufactured
and set in position all the iron work in the famous
Sodam Dam at Brewster, N. Y.; furnished the
material for the large dam at Purdy' s Station,
known as Titicus Dam; and fully equipped the

gate-houses of the new Croton Aqueduct, situated
at One Hundred and Thirty-first Street and Tenth
Avenue, those at Ardsley, South Yonkers, Po-
cantico and at One Hundred and Nineteenth
Street and Tenth Avenue, New York City.
In 1890, Coldwell, Wilcox & Co. became finan
cially embarrassed, and were re-organized and in
corporated under the name of the Coldwell- Wil
cox Company. May 7, 1891, their plant was en
tirely destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt on a
somewhat larger scale, and since that time they
have continued in the same general line of busi
ness, although they have added other lines, such
as sugar machinery for export to Cuba, rock
and ore breakers, greenhouse specialties, etc.
The present officers ofthe company are Theodore
W. Peirce, 189 Duane Street, New York City,
Treasurer; A. S. Peirce, Newburgh, Secretary;
G. R. M. Wilcox, Newburgh, General Manager.
Their business at present is in a flourishing con
dition, a large force of men being employed, and
new tools are being constantly added to their al
ready extensive plant.
The firm have recently supplied alb the steam
valves, separators and expansion joints for the
famous Baltimore & Ohio Tunnel Power House,
Baltimore, which is said to be the finest plant of its
kind in the world. It has been inspected by all
the best engineers, of the country, as itis the first
long tunnel in which an electrical locomotive has
taken the place of the noisy and smoky steam lo
comotive.

- -i****^*W****F

H7JISTER MARY HILDEGARDE is Superior
/\ of Mt. St. Mary's Academy at Newburgh,
\Z/ which is one of the most prominent institu
tions of learning in the city. It was founded in
1883, under the direction of the Sisters of St.
Dominic, and was chartered in 1888. It is under
the visitation of the Board of Regents of the Uni
versity of the State of New York. The property
was formerly the country seat of the late Harvey
Weed, and was sold by his successor, Mr. Mc-
Alpine, to the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic.
The institution is delightfully situated on an

COLDWELL-WILCOX CO., NEWBURGH.

MOUNT ST. MARY'S ACADEMY, NEWBURGH.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

659

elevation, commanding a view of the Hudson for
miles. The grounds, six acres in extent, are
handsomely designed, with walks, carriage drives
and lawns for exercise and recreation. The man
sion has recently been enlarged, and is now a
commodious and handsome structure, expressly
arranged for a boarding-school, and furnished
with every modern improvement.
Those in charge of Mt. St. Mary's Academy
aim to make the institute a school of the highest
grade, to stimulate a love for study, and to sur
round the pupils with influences ennobling the
character by conducing to the highest culture,
tending to form the heart to virtue, as well as to
cultivate the mind. The course of instruction
embraces two departments, elementary and aca
demic. In the latter the studies are Christian
doctrine, grammar, epistolary correspondence,
composition, elocution, penmanship, physical ge
ography, arithmetic, bookkeeping, algebra, geom
etry, physiology, etiquette, calisthenics, sacred
and profane history, civil government, rhetoric,
literature, natural philosophy, astronomy, type
writing, shorthand, French, instrumental and
vocal music, drawing, painting, wax-flower mak
ing, and plain and fancy needle-work. Three
times each year written examinations are held by
the Board of Regents for all pupils who are old
enough to receive benefit from such work. At
the completion of the course, if the final exam
inations are accepted, the graduates receive their
diplomas from the State University.
*%==3====«^^--t"^-^=ae====c===^
0SCAR E. JONES, architect, contractor and
builder, residing in Middletown, was born
April 5, 1867, in the town of Thompson,
Sullivan County, N. Y., of which county his fa
ther, H. W. Jones, was also a native. His ma
ternal grandfather, Solomon J. Halcott, was a
pioneer of that county, and was well known
throughout all that region. He was a mill
wright, and also operated a tannery for a number
of years, but engaged principally in farming.
During the War of 18 12 he served as Major, and
died at the age of seventy- eight years. H. W.

Jones, the father, was also a farmer by occupa
tion, and for forty-four years lived on a farm of
one hundred and forty acres, four miles from
Monticello. In early life he engaged in lumber
ing during the winter months. For many years
he was a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist.
He married Helen L- Halcott, also a native of
Sullivan County, and five children were born to
them: George H., a carpenter of Brooklyn,
N. Y. ; Katie, now Mrs. Shaw, of Middletown;
Oscar E., our subject; De Witt, in the employ
of his brother Oscar E. ; and Charles W. , a car
penter in Middletown.
Oscar E. Jones was reared on the old farm in
Sullivan County, and was educated in the com
mon schools. When eighteen years of age he
went to Trout Brook, Delaware County, where
he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade.
After remaining there one year, he came to Mid
dletown and entered the employ of W. W. Car
penter, with whom he remained four years, en
gaged at the carpenter's trade, during which
time he did not lose three days. After having
been in the latter's employ but three months he
was made foreman. On leaving that gentleman
he contracted for himself a few months, and later
engaged with Charles Taylor for one year, and
subsequently with John Wood. In 1890 he
again began contracting for himself, in which he
has since continued, and is now located at No.
27 Canal Street. He erected the store building
and dwelling of Thomas Watts, built two dwell
ing-houses for himself on Highland Avenue,
which he sold, and then erected one on Watkins
Avenue, which he traded for a fifty-acre farm,
one and a-half miles out on Wawayanda Avenue
and one-half mile from the city limits. He here
carries on general farming and dairying, having
about fifteen cows. He is the owner of a standard-
bred horse, "Susie," that has made a mile
in 2:30.
Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Quinn, who is a native of Middletown, and
two children have been born unto them: Oscar
B. and Wilbur A. Oil the 12th of November,
1889, Mr. Jones enlisted in the Twenty-fourth
Separate Company, New York State Militia, and is

66o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

still an active member. In politics he is a strong
Republican, and religiously a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.

HENRY C. McBRAIR, D. D. S., a success
ful and rising young dentist of Middletown,
has an office on Franklin Square, corner of
Main and South Streets, where he occupies a
suite of six rooms. Every equipment is provided
for the successful prosecution of his profession.
Besides the reception, there are one extracting
and two operating rooms, and one or two assist
ants are employed. The rooms are heated by
steam and lighted by electricity. The machinery
is operated by electricity, and there is an electric
porcelain furnace for crown work, together with
every convenience and improvement which mod
ern investigation has made in the science.
Dr. McBrair was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. ,
and is the only child of James and Mary (Rey
nolds) McBrair, natives, respectively, of New
York and Brooklyn, and both now deceased.
The parental grandfather was a resident of New
York, where he had large and valuable real-es
tate interests, and to which city his father had
come from Scotland. The education of our sub
ject was obtained in Wallkill Academy, Rock
land College at Nyack and Exeter College at
Exeter, N. H. Under Dr. Barnes he began the
study of dentistry, and in 1888 entered the Balti
more Dental College, from which he was grad
uated two years later with the degree of D. D. S.
and with high honors. On his return to Middle-
town he engaged in practice with Dr. Barnes un
til the latter retired from the profession in 1893,
since which time he has been alone.
In this city Dr. McBrair married Miss Caro
line, daughter of N. T. Hayes, of whom men
tion is elsewhere made. They have a comfort
able home at No. 35 Highland Avenue, and one
child, Uzal Lawrence, has been born to bless their
union. Socially the Doctor is identified with the
Middletown Club, and is also an honorary mem
ber ofthe Monhagan Hose Company. While in
terested in all progressive enterprises, his pro

fession has received the largest share of his at
tention, and in everything pertaining to the
science he is well informed. He holds member
ship in the Second District Dental Society of
New York City. As a skilled practitioner he
holds a high place in the estimation of the peo
ple, a fact which his large practice sufficiently
attests.

Gz

&

JA

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V®tt

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Q HARLES A. YOUNG, of the town of Wall-
I ( kill, was born on the farm where he now
\J lives, July 5, 1861, he being the only child
in the parental family living. His parents were
Thomas H. and Mary J. (Collard) Young, both
of whom were also natives of the town of Wall-
kill. The father was prominently identified with
agricultural pursuits during his life, and was one
who was content to live in the peaceful enjoyment
of rural life, caring little for the strife of the
world. He died in 1893, loved and respected by
all who knew him. His estimable wife, the
mother of our subject, is still living, enjoying
good health, and is well known and universally
respected. The subject of this sketch received his early
education in the district school of his town, and
then spent one year in the academy at Middle-
town, where he finished his school life. From
his youth he was inured to hard work, and has
spent his entire life on the farm. He now owns
one hundred acres of nicely improved land, and
his buildings are of the most substantial char
acter. Mr. Young was married, in October, 1884, to
Miss Marietta Coleman, daughter of Thomas and
Mary (Vail) Coleman, both of whom are natives
and old citizens of Orange County. By this union,
there have been born four children: Thomas W.,
Anna May, Benjamin V. and Harold C, bright
and interesting children, at home with their
parents. In politics Mr. Young is a Democrat at all times
and under all circumstances, and is opposed to
all monopolies. He has never aspired to official

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

66 1

distinction, although he has served his fellow-
citizens in local positions. While yet a young
man, he is quite well and favorably known, and
endeavors by an upright life to secure and main
tain the respect of his friends and his neighbors.

-i-:

=+

(T AMES L. CARPENTER was born in Orange
I County, and his course through life has been
G/ such as to reflect credit on its citizenship.
The town of Wallkill is the place of his birtfi,
and here he still makes his home. He owns and
occupies a valuable farm of eighty acres, where
for many years he was actively engaged in the but
ter business, but for some time past he has lived
in retirement from active cares, enjoying in the
twilight of his useful career freedom from irksome
cares. Born in 1817, Mr. Carpenter is the only sur
vivor of twelve children born to the union of
William and Abbie (Vail) Carpenter, likewise
natives of this county. His father, who was an
active factor in the initial development of this lo
cality, engaged in the occupation of a farmer
throughout the larger portion of his life. A val
ued citizen, he served his fellow-citizens for some
time in the capacity of Justice of the Peace. He
died here at an advanced age, having survived
his wife some years.
The educational advantages enjoyed by our
subject in youth were exceedingly meager, as
from an early age he was obliged to earn his own
livelihood. His has been an active, busy life,
and he has always been known for his industry,
perseverance and energy. His entire life has been
spent on a farm, though he has given his atten
tion to the butter industry rather than to general
farming. Through the exercise of good judg
ment he accumulated a comfortable amount of
this world's goods, and can now enjoy the fruits
of earlier toil.
In 1839 Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage
with Mary A., daughter of Ira Hazen, of Sullivan
County, N. Y. Two children came to bless this

union, of whom the daughter, Jeanette, died at
the age of twenty; and the son, G. A., resides on
the home farm. While Mr. Carpenter has never
allied himself with any denomination, he has con
tributed to the support ofthe Methodist Church,
of which his wife is a member. They have now
reached the respective ages of seventy-nine and
eighty, and in 1889 celebrated their golden wed
ding, upon which auspicious occasion they were
the recipients of congratulations from hosts of
friends. Politically, while not active, Mr. Car
penter is a loyal Republican, and his ballot al
ways goes to promote the interests of his chosen
party. •  *^*£P  :
HENRY W DUNNING, a farmer of the town
of Wallkill, was born in the town of Hamp
tonburgh, this county, March 16, 1830, but
when two weeks old he was brought by his par
ents to the farm where he still lives and which
has been his home ever since. He is a son of
Henry and Catherine (Arnot) Dunning, both na
tives of this county. His father, who was born
on the farm where our subject now lives, spent
the most of his life here, and died at this place in
1873. The grandfather, John Dunning, was also
born here, and resided on this farm until 1830,
when he sold out to his son Henry. The great
grandfather, John, Sr. , purchased the old home
stead in 1772, and our subject has in his posses
sion the original deed to the place, moth-eaten
and worn, but a valued souvenir, nevertheless.
Throughout the long period that the family has
been identified with the history of this locality, they
have been known as men and women of energetic,
industrious disposition, with a preference for the
occupation of a farmer. Little is known concern
ing the founding of the family in America, aside
from the fact that the original representative came
from Holland, and that one ofthe members of the
family came to Orange County at a very early
day. In the district schools and in Wallkill Academy
at Middletown, our subject gained an excellent
education, being thus fitted for active life. Farm
ing has been his life work, and he is engaged in

662

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cultivating the tract where for so many years his
forefathers dwelt. In 1857 hewas united in mar
riage with Miss Mary E. , daughter of Chauncey
H. and Lucy (Slawson) Clark, natives of this
county. Mrs. Mary E. Dunning died in 1865,
leaving two children: Carrie, who is the wife of
Edwin Hurtin, a resident of Middletown; and
Arthur H., who is at home. In 1868 our subject
married Miss Eugenia Slawson, a well educated
and amiable lady, daughter of Lemuel H. and
Harriet (Clark) Slawson, of this county. One
son blesses this union, Harry S., who is a theo
logical student in a Presbyterian seminary.
With his wife, Mr. Dunning holds membership
in the Presbyterian Church, in which he holds
the office of Elder. Politically he is an unswerv-.
ing Republican and is prominent in the local
ranks of his party. He has served his fellow-
citizens in various positions of trust, among them
as Inspector of Elections and Highway Commis
sioner. The latter position he has filled satisfac
torily for a period of six years. He is a man of
strong, firm character and of large enterprise,
and has been useful in aiding undertakings that
have promoted the progress of the town and
county.

mmm&*mm*m=

^"62

EHARLES S. KNAPP is one of the enter
prising farmers of the town of Goshen, and
here his birth occurred October 18, 1850.
There were five children bom to his parents,
Thomas and Adeline (Prindell) Knapp, both na
tives of this county . The father, who was prom
inently identified with the farming interests of
Orange County during his lifetime, was a quiet,
unassuming man, attending strictly to his own
affairs. He died November 25, 1893, from the
effects of injuries received on a train. His good
wife, however, is still living and enjoys good
health. When two and one-half years of" age the subject
of this sketch went to live with an uncle, with
whom he remained until the death of that gen
tleman. For several years he looked after his
mother's affairs, and at the same time managed

his uncle's estate. In 1891, however, he located
upon the farm where he is at present residing,
which is the property of his mother-in- law, Mrs.
Redfield. Although it comprises only sixty-
three acres, it is cultivated in such a manner as
to yield to its owner a handsome income. He
makes a specialty of dairy farming, and in this
branch of agriculture is meeting with success, as
indeed he has in almost everything which he
has undertaken.
Mr. Knapp was married, October 17, 1876, to
Miss Alice Redfield, a daughter of David and
Helen (Fullerton) Redfield, natives of this coun
ty. Their union has been blessed by the birth
of three children, bearing the respective names of
Emma, Calvin and Helen. They are all intel
ligent and well educated, and at present are at
home with their parents. Socially our subject is
a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, in
which order he has passed all the chairs and is
now Past Grand. He is a Democrat at all times
and under all circumstances and is therefore op
posed to monopolies. He has never aspired to
political honors, but has on numerous occasions
been called upon to represent his fellow-towns
men in positions of honor and trust.

QOBERT CAIRNS is remembered by the
kC older residents of Orange County as a man
r \ of noble character and progressive views,
one whose allegiance was always given to the
right against the wrong, and whose enterprise
did much to foster local interests. A quarter of
a century has elapsed since his death, but those
who knew him have not forgotten the example
of his upright life. From it may be gleaned les
sons of value to the present generation, for he
proved that a man, though beginning without
capital, may gain an honest and honorable suc
cess. Born in 1807, Mr. Cairns was a native of this
county and spent his entire life here, closely
associated with the agricultural interests of the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

663

town of Wallkill. His parents were William
and Priscilla (Anderson) Cairns, the former a
native of Scotland, who emigrated to America in
an early day. Under the training of his parents
he was fitted for a position of usefulness in the
world. He was a very progressive man, and no
citizen stood higher, morally or socially, than
did he. After a busy life he passed away in
1 87 1, aged sixty-four.
The lady who was the efficient helpmate of
Mr. Cairns during the twenty-eight years of their
wedded life, and who was united with him in
March, 1843, bore the maiden name of Frances
Pelton, and was born in the town of Mt. Hope,
this county, her parents being George and Sarah
(Tuthill) Pelton. In the district schools of Mt.
Hope she received a fair education, and under
the training of her parents gained housewifely
skill. Of her marriage seven children were born,
but three are deceased. Those who survive are
Charles and John T., who have charge of the
homestead; Mary, who resides with her mother,
relieving her of the work of superintending the
house; and Clara, wife of Thomas Lee, a farmer
of this county. Mrs. Cairns and her son Charles
are members of the Congregational Church.
Though seventy-two years of age, she is quite
strong physically, and it is the hope of her many
friends that she may enjoy good health for many
years yet to come.

QHILIP H. MINSHULL, general foreman
yr of the New York, Ontario & Western shops
\H at Middletown, is one of the oldest machin
ists in the employ of that company. He was
born in Three Rivers, Canada, and is a son of
Edward and Maria (McGunn) Minshull, the
former a native of England, but of Welsh extrac
tion. He learned the machinist's trade in Eng
land, and in 1854 came to America, locating at
Lowell, Mass. , where he worked at his trade for
a short time, and then removed to Canada. In
i860 he returned to the States and located at Os

wego, N. Y., where for two years he was em
ployed by the Oswego & Syracuse Railroad. La
ter, or until about 1869, he was with the Erie
Railroad at Susquehanna, Pa. At that time the
New York, Ontario & Western Road was opened,
and he commenced work in the machine-shops of
that road as foreman. In 1879 he was made
Master Mechanic, with headquarters at Middle-
town, retaining this position until his retirement
in 1891. He is now a Park Commissioner, having
had charge of the improvements at Thrall Park,
and is a natural landscape-gardener.
Our subject's mother is a native of Liverpool,
England, and both the parents are members of
the Catholic Church. Of their family of seven
sons and four daughters, the first four were born
in England, and the others in America. All the
sons are railroad men, and all are machinists but
one, he being a telegraph operator. One son,
John, was master mechanic of the New York,
Ontario & Western Railroad at Middletown, but
was accidentally killed near East Branch, N. Y.,
in 1879.
The subject of this sketch was fifth in the fam
ily of eleven children, and was the first of the
family born in America. He was born March 28,
1856, in Canada, but was reared in Oswego,
N. Y., there attending the public schools until
the age of fifteen years, when for one year he
worked in a planing-mill. In 1872 he entered
the employ ofthe New York, Oswego & Midland
Railroad as an apprentice in the shops at Oswego.
After remaining there until 1875, he came to
Middletown, and for two years was employed in
the shops at this place, then located on Wickham
Avenue. At that time there were only three
machinists employed here. He next engaged as
fireman on a locomotive running between Middle-
town and Norwich, but after remaining in that
position one year, he returned to the shops at
Middletown, and in 1879 was made assistant fore
man. In 1880 he became foreman, and in 1892
was made general foreman of all the shops at this
place, having under his supervision from three
hundred to four hundred men.
The marriage of Mr. Minshull and Miss Georgia
Wallace occurred in Middletown. She is a native

664

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of this place and a daughter of W. S. Wallace,
who is now living a retired life. For some years
Mr. Minshull has been a member of the American
Railway Master Mechanics' Association, and as
already stated is one of the oldest employes in
his department on the New York, Ontario &
Western Railroad. He is a man of good natural
ability.

¦WP^^El,! I , I

r i ' ¦ '-¦*

p GJlLLIAM T. WALLACE. To secure suc-
\ A / cess in business, a man must be energetic,
V V persevering, capable and judicious; with
these characteristics, he need have no fear of fail
ure. It is largely due to these qualities, which
he possesses in a large degree, that Mr. Wallace
owes the prosperity that has attended his efforts
in business. He is recognized as one of the
stirring and progressive men of Pine Bush, where
he owns and carries on a coal, lumber and feed
business. A considerable portion of his property
is in land, his possessions including seven acres
of valuable real estate that is platted in town lots.
The parents of our subject, John C. and Mar
garet (Hamilton) Wallace, were natives of Ire
land, but emigrated to America early in life.
They were married in Orange County, where the
father died, and where the mother still makes her
home. Their family consisted of ten children, of
whom William T. is the next to the eldest.
Further mention of the family may be found in
the biography of his brother, James H., which
is presented on another page of this volume.
William T. attended the common schools and the
academy at Montgomery, also was a student in
the Manhattan public school in New York City,
after which, at the age of eighteen, he began
teaching in Orange County. For three years he
was thus engaged iu the district schools, and for
a similar period served as Principal of the public
schools of Montgomery.
After his marriage Mr. Wallace came to the
town of Crawford, where he cultivated a rented
farm for two years, and then embarked in the
business whicli he still carries on successfully.
November 16, 1877, he was united in marriage

with Miss Lizzie, daughter of John and Sarah M.
(Sneider) Jamison, of the town of Crawford.
Their four children are named Mabel, Bertha,
Harold and John J.
From the time Mr. Wallace located in Pine
Bush nothing that could in any way benefit the
village or add to its attractiveness failed to receive
his attention and support. By some it was pro
posed to remove Graham's Church from its lo
cation in the country to the village, but owing to
Mr. Wallace and others interested in the enter
prise, viz.: Mr. Lowrey, the McKinneys, Mr.
Brown and Mrs. H. N. Van Keuren, leading spirits
in the movement, the old church was left in the
country, and the present beautiful church and
parsonage were built. A growing and united con
gregation, presided over by Rev. T. H. Macken
zie, is the result. Nothing that has tended to the
benefit of the place or people has been refused
Mr. Wallace's support, both in time and money,
and in every enterprise he has been ably sup
ported and encouraged by his brother, J. H.
Wallace, and to their united efforts much of the
improvement of the village is due.
Our subject gives his ballot to the principles
and candidates ofthe Democratic party. His so
cial connections are with Wallkill Lodge No.
627, F. & A. M., of Walden, and Hiawatha
Lodge No. 262, K. of P., of Pine Bush. In re
ligious belief he and his wife are Presbyterians,
and active workers in that church.

fTMMETT A. SMITH. An honorable posi-
fy tion among the young agriculturists of Or-
|_ ange County is held by the gentleman above
named, who is successfully carrying on a farm of
one hundred and fifty acres, lying in the town of
Goshen. The farm is the old homestead of the
late Stephen A. Smith, which is now owned by
his widow. The well tilled acres are devoted to
raising mixed crops and the ordinary amount of
stock, both grains and animals being of good
quality. The home-like dwelling and the vari
ous outbuildings, well kept orchards and garden,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

665

indicate to the passer-by that the land is occupied
by a family of enterprise and good judgment.
Our subject is a native of this town, and was
, born June 22, 1864. He is the younger ofthe
two children born to Stephen A. and Harriet
(Hulse) Smith, also natives of Orange County.
The father devoted the active years of his life to
agricultural pursuits, and worked his way up to
a high position among his fellow-farmers. He
was quiet and unassuming in his manners, and
was well liked by all who knew him. He de
parted this life September 12, 1893, mourned by
a host of friends and neighbors. His good wife
is still living, and enjoys good health. Mr. Smith
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and
in politics was a Democrat.
The subject of this sketch acquired his prim
ary education in the district schools near his home,
after which he was sent to Goshen, carrying on
his studies there until entering the military
school at Peekskill, this state. After completing
his education he was employed for a time as
clerk in a mercantile establishment at Middle-
town. He then returned home to the old farm,
and has ever since devoted his entire time and
attention to the cultivation of the soil. He is
managing the farm in a thoroughly profitable and
efficient manner, indicating that he was reared to
a full knowledge of the business.
The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss May K.
Crist was solemnized May 30, 1888, at the home
of her parents in Hamptonburgh. The lady is
the daughter of Thomas B. and Jane (Monell)
Crist, natives of New York State, who are now
living in Hamptonburgh, where Mrs. Smith was
born, January 9, 1866. By her union with our
subject she has become the mother of a daughter,
May Odette, a bright and interesting child, and
the pride of the household. The parents are
members of the Presbyterian Church, and are
active workers in the congregation. The mother
of Mr. Smith also resides on the old homestead,
and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Smith takes no active part in politics ex
cept to deposit his vote, which is always a Demo
cratic one. He keeps himself thoroughly posted
on all subjects of interest, and ranks among the

well-to-do agriculturists of this town. He makes
a specialty of dairy farming, not, however, to
the neglect of other departments of farm work.

454&

HOMAS H. DEMEREST is the proprietor
and genial landlord of the Demerest House
at Warwick. This house is one of the
largest in the county, with a lot frontage of three
hundred and fifty feet, and a depth of one hun
dred. The building, which is four stories above
the ground, is lighted by gas, heated throughout
by steam and has a fine supply of water, and the
table is abundantly supplied with all the delica
cies of the season. The house was opened by
Mr. Demerest in 1865, in the old frame building
which was removed in 1888 to give place to the
new building. There is uo more popular house
in Orange County than the Demerest.
The subject of this sketch was born in War
wick, June 12, 1842, and is the son of Philetus
and Louisiana (Ward) Demerest, both of whom
are natives of Orange County. In his early life
the father was a tailor by trade, and carried on
the business for many years. For the past twen
ty years he has been living a retired life in War
wick, and is now past fourscore years of age.
He is a well preserved man and is well known
to all the older inhabitants of this section of the
county. The maternal grandfather of our sub
ject was among the earliest settlers of Orange
County and here passed many years of his life.
He was one of the crack shots of his day, and
was associated in the chase with such celebrated
hunters as Frank Forrester and Frank Herbert,
of world-wide fame, and whose daring and skill
ful exploits have formed the subject of more than
one pleasing volume of hunters' life in the ' 'Wood
lands' ' of the Warwick Valley. He died about
1850. The mother of our subject died in 1888. She
was a woman of excellent character, having the
love and affection of all her family and friends.
The boyhood and youth of Thomas H. Dem
erest were spent under the parental roof, and he
received such education as was afforded by the
Warwick schools. He remained at home until

666

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

embarking in the hotel business in 1865. In 1868
he married Miss Mary Taylor, a daughter of
Isaac and Peggy (Smith) Taylor, all natives of
Orange County, and who came from quite promi
nent families. Three children were born to our
subject and wife, two of whom are living, PerieS.
and Aileen, both of whom are yet at home, and
are now students in the Warwick Academy. So
cially Mr. Demerest belongs to Lodge No. 544,
F. & A. M., of Warwick, with which he has
been identified for twenty years. Politically he
is a Democrat.

Gz

:£)

m?

~>

(TOEL D. NORTHUP, a retired railroad man,
I residing in Otisville, was born January 10,
Q) 1819, in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County,
and is a son of Daniel and Annie (Filkins)
Northup, both of whom are natives of Rensselaer
County. The early life of Daniel Northup was
spent on the Erie Canal, and later he was agent
for the canal company in New York City. He
died when about sixty -five years of age, and his
wife died at sixty-four. Her father served in the
Revolutionary War.
When the subject of this sketch was ten years
old, he went to Ogdensburg to live with his
grandfather, working his way on the canal. For
four years he remained with his grandparents on
the farm, and walked three miles to school. He
then returned home and drove a horse on the
Erie Canal from Troy to Buffalo. From time to
time he was promoted, and when only nineteen
years old was made captain. After serving the
canal company nine years he went to New Jersey,
and for two years was engaged in farming. He
then went back on the canal, where he remained
one year, and later returned to Washington,
N. J., being engaged in boating. Afterward he
ran a steamboat on Long Island Sound, between
New York City and Providence, and later ran on
the Hudson River from Albany to New York
City. In this occupation he continued until
1849, when he went to work as a baggageman for

what was at that time the Hudson River Railroad,
now the New York Central, running from New
York City to Poughkeepsie. In 1850 he went to
work on the Newburgh branch of the Erie Rail
road as baggageman and extra conductor, but only
continued in that capacity for a short time, when
he was promoted and made a regular conductor,
continuing as such until 1889, or for a period of
about forty years. He then retired from business
and has since made his home at Otisville.
Mr. Northup was married, December 2, 1839,
to Miss Hannah Bright, of Washington, N. J.,
who was born May 24, 1820, and died January
26, 1895. She was a member ofthe old-school
Baptist Church. There were seven children born
unto them, two dying in infancy. Those living
are: William D., an employe of the Erie Railroad,
residing in Otisville; Joel, a merchant in Otis
ville; Augusta, wife of H. F. Merriman, of Jer
sey City; Hannah, the wife of C. F. Blizzard, of
Port Jervis; and Irene C, widow of George H.
Tears, now making her home with her father.
In politics Mr. Northup is a Democrat, but it
can truthfully be said that he never had any as
pirations for office-holding. As stated in the be
ginning of this sketch, he is living a retired life
in the village of Otisville, where he is greatly es
teemed by those who know him.

HORACE DUNNING. The farm owned and
occupied by this gentleman consists of one
hundred acres and lies in the town of Wall-
kill. The land is naturally good, and is kept in
a state of fertility by the use of the best fertiliz
ing agents, and by a proper rotation of crops;
while upon it the various improvements have
been made which stamp it as the abode of an in
telligent and thrifty family. The residence,
though an old building, is in a good state of pres
ervation, being in fact more substantial than many
buildings more recently erected. Since it came
into his possession Mr. Dunning, has rebuilt and

HENRY B. SWARTWOUT, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

669

enlarged it, making many improvements, so that
it now is one of the most attractive homes in the
town. All the outbuildings have received care
ful attention, and the estate is kept is a very
presentable condition.
In this house the life of our, subject began in
November, 1833. His father, Henry Dunning,
who was also born on this farm, devoted his at
tention to agricultural pursuits during most of
his life, though iu early manhood he learned the
trade of a wagon-maker, which he followed for a
few years. For his wife he chose Miss Catherine
Amot, also a native of this county, and they- be
came the parents of five children. The father
died in 1873, at the age of seventy-nine years,
his birth having occurred in 1794. His wife
died in 1867, six years prior to his demise.
After completing the studies of the common
schools, the subject of this notice entered Wallkill
Academy. He was reared on the home farm,
and remained beneath the parental roof until he
was twenty-eight years of age, when he started
out for himself. After a period of five, years he
returned to the old home, and here he has since
resided, being successfully engaged in the culti
vation of the land. Until recently he made a
specialty of the butter business, but does not now
engage in it.
March 13, 1862, Mr. Dunning was united in
marriage with Miss Clara A., daughter of John
E. S. and Phcebe M. (Cash) Gardner, natives of
this county. Their union was blessed by the
birth of five children who are still living: Louisa,
Horace H, Smith G., C. Kate and Merritt E.
All are at home except Smith G., who is a min
ister at Alden, Minn. The devoted wife and
mother died January 12, 1895, and her death was
a heavy blow to the family, as well as a source of
sorrow to her many acquaintances.
The religious connections of Mr. Dunning are
with the Presbyterian Church, in the work of
which he takes a commendable interest. As
every good citizen should, he interests himself
in politics, and is well informed regarding the
issues of the age. Politically he has always been
true to the teachings of the Republican party.
He may be found actively co-operating with the

public-spirited citizens of the town of Wallkill
in any enterprise looking to its improvement,
morally, socially and commercially.

HENRY B. SWARTWOUT, M. D., is one of
the best known physicians and surgeons of
Port Jervis, where he has practiced his pro
fession for about ten years, and is also one ofthe
doctors connected with the Port Jervis Hospital.
His pleasant home is situated at No. 17 East
Main Street. His birth occurred in Port Jervis,
on the 4th of February, 1861, and he is a son of
Peter P. and Hannah (Cuddeback) Swartwout.
The farm on which he was born has always been
in the possession of the family, the original ances
tor locating there about 1690, and it is situated
011 the Neversink, about five miles from Port
Jervis. As near as can be determined, Jacob Cudde
back, Thomas, Anthony and Bernardus Swart
wout and Peter Gumaer settled in Deerpark,
Orange County, about 1690, though the place
was then known by the Indian name of Peenpack
Flats. There was a fine flowing spring at the
place, and they chose sites close to this, not
only for access to its contents, but to assist each
other in case of necessity. The Indians were very
peaceable and granted the right of these settlers
to come among them. With one exception, that
at Plum Point, near New Windsor, this was the
earliest settlement by white men within the pres
ent limits of Orange County, and their nearest
neighbors were- twenty-five or thirty miles dis
tant, on the road to Kingston. Messrs. Cudde
back and Gumaer were among the French- Hu
guenot refugees who fled from their native coun
try after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in
1685. It is thought that the name of the father of the
three Swartwout brothers was Gerardus, and the
family probably came to this vicinity either from
New York or some other point on the Hudson.
They were originally from Holland, and were
among the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam .
Only one of the brothers, Anthony, located per-

29

670

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

manently in Deerpark. On the 14th of October,
1697, the Governor of New York granted a pat
ent for twelve hundred acres of land to the little
settlement, which had been increased by the ar
rival of Jan Tyse and David Jamison, though they
were not actual settlers, the former living at
Kingston, and the latter in "t^ew York. For
about twenty years few if any others joined the.
little colony, with the exception of Harmanus
Van Inwegen, who married a sister ofthe Swart -
wouts, and who was given part of the granted
lands to settle among them and assist in its im
provement and defense against the Jersey claim
ants to the property.
Anthony Swartwout had two sons, Samuel and
James. The former wedded Esther Gumaer,
and to them was born a daughter, Elizabeth,
who became the wife of Benjamin Dupuy, a son
of Moses Dupuy, of Rochester, Ulster County,
N. Y., who was Justice ofthe Peace, and died at
Owasco, N. Y., at the age of seventy years. Her
death occurred at the age of sixty years, and his
at the age of eighty. Maj. James (Jacobus)
Swartwout married Anna Gumaer, and they had
five children, Gerardus, Philip, James, Cornelius
and Anna. The eldest son was killed during the
French and Indian War. Philip, who married
Antje Wynkoop, owned his father's estate, and
during the Revolution was serving as Justice of
the Peace, and was on the Committee of Safety.
The Major married a second time, this union be
ing with Deborah Swartwout, by whom he had
one son and three daughters: Peter; Esther, who
became the wife of Abraham Cuddeback; Jane,
and the other's name is not on record. Together
with his wife and two eldest sons he was killed
by the Indians and another son was wounded.
The Major was a large, portly, dignified man,
suitable for a military officer, and his spirit was
as noble as his appearance. He had black curly
hair, blue eyes and fair skin. He was witty and
humorous, and his judgment was respected and
consulted. In appearance Philip Swartwout bore a very
close resemblance to General Washington, in
features as well as size. He was very influential,
and during the Revolution held the office of Jus

tice of the Peace. He inherited his father's es
tate, which was incumbered, but he finally paid
off all indebtedness. The third son of Major
Swartwout was James, who married Jane Horn-
beck, and who was a blacksmith by trade. He
was followed by Philip, the grandfather of our
subject. The father ofthe Doctor, Peter P. Swartwout,
was killed in a railroad accident at the age of
sixty-eight years, in 1885. He was coming home
from New York, and when the train reached
the upper yards at Port Jervis he stepped off, but
fell and fractured the base of his skull, and after
living five days died. His wife still resides on
the old home farm with her son. She is a sister
of Elting Cuddeback. (See sketch of the latter
elsewhere in this volume. ) In her family of nine
children, eight grew to maturity and five are
still living.
Dr. Swartwout is the youngest of the family,
and until eighteen years of age attended the com
mon schools of the neighborhood, but at that
time came to Port Jervis, where he prepared for
college, being a student at Port Jervis Academy.
He then entered Cornell University, where he re
mained for two years. Deciding to follow the
medical profession, he entered the office of Dr.
W L- Cuddeback, where he studied, and later en
tered the Bellevue Medical College of New York
City, from which he graduated in the Class of
'85. He then remained for one year in the
New York Chambers Street Hospital as interne.
After his marriage, on the 10th of March, 1886,
with Miss Carrie B. Peck, daughter of George
V. Peck, of Port Jervis, the Doctor and his wife
went abroad, where he visited the Vienna Hos
pital, which contains over five thousand beds,
and there took a post-graduate course, under the
management of the Vienna University surgeons,
including such men as Billroth, who makes a
specialty of surgery, and Carl Braun, who treats
diseases of women. He had special work under
Professor Braun on the diseases of women and
obstetrics. In the fall of 1886 he returned home,
where he began the practice of his profession
alone, but was associated with Dr. J. H. Hunt in
his hospital work. In 1892, in connection with

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

671

Dr. W. L- Cuddeback, he purchased the Hunt
Memorial Hospital, and they now conduct the
same. It is one of the best institutions of the
kind in this portion of the state, and has a ca
pacity of two dozen beds. He also has au ex
tensive private practice, and is entirely devoted
to his profession, of which he is a close student.
He stands high among his professional brethren,
and wins the confidence and respect of all with
whom he comes in contact.
The Doctor and Mrs. Swartwout became the
parents of three children, but Henry Lewis died
at the age of one year. Those living are Flor
ence, who is now seven years of age, and Char
lotte, who is sixteen months old. Mrs. Swart
wout is a member of the Reformed Church,
which he also attends, although not a member.
He belongs to the Orange County, the State and
International Medical Associations of Railroad
Surgeons, and also to the Erie Railway Surgeons.
For several years Drs. Swartwout & Cuddeback
have been Surgeons for the Erie Railroad. So
cially Dr. Swartwout is a member ofthe Deerpark
Club, and in politics is a stanch Democrat.

«i=*3|t*=:»~

61 ZARIAH R. VAN WORMER, who is well
Ll known in the railroad circles of Port Jervis,
/ I has for the past three years been engineer
on the vestibule trains No. 5 westbound, and
the St. Louis Express No. 12. For twelve years
he was in charge of engine No. 377, and from the
time it started had charge of the milk train.
Since 1863 he has been a member ofthe Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, and he formerly
belonged to Division No. 41 at Williamsport.
Born near Albany, October 8, 1837, our subject
is a son of James and Maria (Young) Van Wor
mer. The family settled in Broome County, near
Conklin, eight miles up the Susquehanna River
from Binghamton, and here the lad resided until
his eighteenth year. In the fall of 1855 he came
to Port Jervis and at once obtained a position as
fireman on the Delaware Division, with Freeman

Clanson as engineer. At the end of two years he
went to Elmira, and for six months was fireman
on the Williamsport & Elmira Railroad. From
the spring of 1859 until the summer of 1863 he
ran a Rogers engine.
In 1863 Mr. Van Wormer went to visit friends
in the army ofthe Rappahannock, and at Warren-
ton was induced to take an engine iu the Gov
ernment service on the Orange & Alexandria
Railroad, the run terminating at Culpeper, Va.
Later Mr. Van Wormer had an engine on the City
Point & Petersburg Railroad, and in the winter
of 1864 entered the shops as an engine dispatcher,
remaining there until the close ofthe war. When
the notable explosion occurred on the ammunition
barge at City Point, he was on his engine about
one hundred feet distant. Dozens of people were
killed in the vicinity, and the crew of the engine
behind his own were also destroyed. About this
time he became acquainted with Mr. Glasier, now
Chief Train Dispatcher at Port Jervis. For two
days during his Government service his train was
used in conveying the wounded from Aquia
Creek, after Grant's army had withdrawn. It
was feared that the train might be attacked by
the rebels, but fortunately it was not molested.
In 1865 Mr. Van Wormer became an employe of
the Philadelphia & Erie Road, and for two years
ran between Sunbury and Renovo. Since 1868
he has been a resident of Port Jervis, running on
the Delaware Division. In his political faith he
is a stanch Republican.
October 10, 1877, Mr. Van Wormer married
Elizabeth Bessinger, then of Narrowsburg, N. Y.
The couple have two daughters, Jennie, who was
born May 10, 1879, and Lizzie born October 31,
1882, and both are receiving good educations iu
the public schools.

8 EANDER C. GILLESPIE was long one of
It the most esteemed and public-spirited men
t*y of the town of Crawford, where he owned a
well improved tract, containing about three hun
dred and fifty acres, the land being divided into
three farms. A very progressive agriculturist,

672

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he was not averse to accepting new and practical
ideas in regard to the management of his farm.
Our subject was born August 20, 1834, on the
farm in the town of Crawford which is now oc
cupied by his son Charles W Here he spent
his entire life, and among those who knew him
best he was most highly esteemed. The lady
whom our subject married, December 28, 1859,
was Miss Margaret Winfield, the daughter of Dr.
Charles H. Winfield, a prominent physician of
this town. She departed this life April 9, 1876,
leaving a family of seven sons and daughters, of
whom Charles W., the eldest, now owns and
operates a part of the home farm ; Jonathan is en
gaged in sheep-raising in California; Stephen is
a member of the police force of New York City;
David assists his brother Charles in the manage
ment of the homestead; Levi is a well-to-do farm
er of Ulster County; Julia is the wife of William
R. Smith, of Pine Bush; and Mary is unmarried
and lives with her brother Levi. On the nth of
January, 1882, occurred Mr. Gillespie's second
marriage, the lady of his choice being Sarah F.
Lord, a daughter of Silas Lord, of Burlingham.
One child was born of this marriage, Margaret,
who is living in Middletown with her mother,
who is a resident of that city.
During his lifetime our subject was an active
supporter of Republican principles, and served
for many years as County Committeeman of this
town. He was public-spirited and took a deep
interest in the welfare and improvement of his
home locality, being foremost in every enterprise
which would in any way benefit the community.
Mr. Gillespie was a member in excellent standing
of the United Presbyterian Church, as was also
his first wife. His death occurred very suddenly
of heart disease, January 25, 1891, and he was
laid to rest in Crawford Cemetery. Charles W.
Gillespie is ranked among the young progressive
farmers of this town. On the 24th of January,
r888, he chose for his bride Miss Emma McEl-
hone, whose father is a prosperous farmer of Ul
ster County.
The paternal ancestors of our subject for many
generations back were natives of this town, and
the name is therefore a very familiar one to the

residents of this locality. Mr. Gillespie left his
family well provided for, as at the time of his de
mise he owned about three hundred and fifty acres
of land. He always lived an honest and indus
trious life, and was ranked among the prosperous
men of Orange County.

KEELSON VAN KEUREN. Within the limits
\J of Orange County there can be found no fam-
\is ily whose members enjoy to a larger degree
the confidence and regard of the people, than that
of which the gentleman named is a representative.
Several of that name have raised themselves to
positions of prominence, their success being due
to the qualities of honesty, industry and sagacity
which they possessed. These are also character
istics of our subject, and to them is his prosperity
largely attributable. -
In the town of Crawford, not many miles dis
tant from his present home in Pine Bush, the sub
ject of this biography was born, September 12,
1826. He was the third among eight children,
five sons and three daughters, who comprised the
family of Abraham and Catherine (Jordan) Van
Keuren. His father, also a native of the town of
Crawford, followed the tailor's trade during his
entire life, and died here when about sixty-four
years of age. The mother, who was born in this
state, died in Orange County when advanced in
years. Few advantages fell to the lot of our subject in
youth. At the age of eleven he was bound out
to a farmer, with whom he remained a year. He
then apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a
wagon-maker, at which he served for four years.
On completing the trade he followed it for two
years in the employ of others, and then purchased
a shop, which he conducted about seventeen
years. Finally changing his occupation, he pur
chased a farm, on which he engaged in general
agricultural pursuits until 1885, meeting with fair
success in his undertakings. Since 1885 he has
rented the farm and works in the wagon-shop iu
Pine Bush.
In February, 1851, Mr. Van Keuren was united

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

673

in marriage with Miss Harriet Smith, of the town
of Crawford, who died in 1883, leaving two Chil
dren, namely: Henry, a farmer near the old home;
and Catherine. The second marriage of Mr. Van
Keuren united him with Miss Ida M. See, of
Brooklyn, N. Y., and they are the parents of one
daughter, Ethel Augusta, who was born January
9, 1890. Financially Mr. Van Keuren is well-to-
do, owning besides his shop in Pine Bush a neat
residence and sixty acres of valuable land adjoin
ing the village. Believing that a knowledge of
public affairs on the part of the people is neces
sary to the successful maintenance of the Govern
ment, he keeps himself well posted concerning
current events of national or local importance,
being a Republican in his political views. A man
of decided religious opinions, he is an active mem
ber of the United Presbyterian Church, and a
prominent worker in the congregation.

(JOHN D. WOOD, Secretary and Treasurer
I of the Middletown Ice Company, was born in
G) Chester, N. Y., in 1855. His father, John
D., was born in Sugar Loaf, this county, and was
a son of Squire Jesse G. Wood, a native of this
locality, and for many years a farmer and Justice
of the Peace, also a merchant of Sugar Loaf, dy
ing there in 1863, at the age of eighty -four. The
old Wood homestead is now owned by Thaddeus
Banker, of Chester.
Settling in Chester, John D. Wood, Sr., carried
on a mercantile business there for a long time,
and his death occurred in that place December
29, 1880, when he was sixty-three years of age.
In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and po
litically he was a Democrat until the nomination
of Lincoln for the Presidency, after which he sup
ported the Republican party. He first married
Elizabeth Helme, a native of the town of Chester,
where she died at the age of forty-two years.
Five children were born of that union, of whom
three are now living, John D. being the youngest.
The others are Winfield, who is connected with

the iron works in Brooklyn; and Mrs. Alice
Sproull, of New York City. One sister died in
girlhood, and a brother, Fred, who enlisted un
der Captain Nichol in Company G, One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry, served
as Orderly-Sergeant until he fell at the battle of
Chancellorsville. Of the second marriage of John
D. Wood, Sr. , there was born a son, named after
his soldier brother, Fred, and who now lives in
Middletown. Reared in Chester, our subject attended the
academy there and completed the course of study
in that institution. For two years afterward he
was a clerk in the transportation department of
Homer Ramsdell & Co., between Newburgh and
New York, after which he was clerk in the offices
of the Erie Railroad in Jersey City. Later he
was bookkeeper and paymaster for Drake, Strat-
ton & Co., of Pittsburg, Pa., then was with them
at Baltimore, Md., and afterward took charge of
their New York office.
Coming to Middletown in 1888, Mr. Wood
formed a partnership with L- G. Wilson, and
bought out the ice business of D. Foster Williams,
which they carried on until March of 1892. They
then bought the Midland Lake Ice Company, and
consolidated the two, incorporating the new con
cern under the title of the Middletown Ice Com
pany, of which Mr. Wood has since been Secretary
and Treasurer. The company own forty-two acres,
and during the summer months run six or. seven
wagons. They have two large houses, divided
into eight rooms, with a capacity of seven thou
sand tons. Fire destroyed their largest house,
but they immediately rebuilt upon a larger scale
than before.
January 1, 1893, Mr. Wood and Mr. Wilson
formed a partnership with Mr. Bodine in the coal
business, and the firm of Bodine & Co. carried on
business until the death of the senior member,
February 1, 1895, since which time the business
has been carried on under the title of Wilson &
Wood. They have their office at No. 15 Depot
Street, where connection is made with the Erie
Road by a siding. They carry all varieties of coal,
and transact a large retail business.
At Thompsonville, Sullivan County, Mr. Wood

674

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was united in marriage with Miss Stella O'Neill,
who was born there, where her father, James, was
a farmer. They reside at No. 124 West Main
Street. Mr. Wood is a member of the Board of
Trade, and socially is connected with Hoffman
Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M. He and his wife
attend the First Congregational Church, and are
well known in social circles. Politically he is an
advocate of Republican principles.

""LIJAH CARPENTER THAYER. Among
^ the attractive estates of the town of Hamp-
_ tonburgh, there is one comprising one hun
dred and forty acres, to which the eye of the
passer-by returns again and again. Everything
about the place has an air of neatness and order,
while a complete set of excellent buildings and
good fences add to the pleasing prospect. This
farm was formerly owned by our subject, and came
into his possession in 1855. He was born in
Newburgh, October 3, 1823, and was the son of
William and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Thayer, the
former of whom was born in Boston. He can
trace his ancestry back to the year 1630, when
the first representatives, Thomas and Marjory
Thayer, came to America from Braintree, Eng
land, and settled in Braintree, Mass. His great
grandfather bore the name of Elijah, and his
great-great-grandfather was David Thayer. Both
of the latter served as patriots iu the Revolution
ary War and became people of prominence in
their community.
The old homestead of the Thayer family was
located in a suburb of Newburgh, which is now
occupied by the Catholic Sisters, and the fine
stone building thereon was erected by William
Thayer, our subject's father. Upon this estate
Elijah C. was reared, and there he acquired a
good knowledge of farming, which was of great
value to him when he assumed the management
of the farm in the town of Hamptonburgh. This
is a part of the four-hundred-acre tract at one
time owned by William Thayer and his brother
John. The farm was given to our subject by his
uucle John in the year of his marriage, 1855.

September 13, 1855, our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Mary J., the daughter of
Hamilton and Maria (Mould) Morrison, and to
them six children were born, namely: Lizzie Au
gusta; William Hamilton, deceased; Minnie Mor
rison, Eugene, Estelle and Anna Dolson, all liv
ing at home. From the time our subject took
possession of the farm until his decease, he gave
his attention solely to agriculture. He was more
than usually successful in this vocation, and at
the time of his death left a good property, which is
now occupied by Mrs. Thayer and the children.
He departed this life August 19, 1878, and was
buried in Goodwill Cemetery. He was a man
who was of great benefit to the community in
which he resided, being at all times interested
in public matters and a willing contributor to
worthy causes. In politics he always voted the
Democratic ticket. With his family, he was a
constant attendant at the Goodwill Presbyterian
Church in the town of Montgomery.

«*==3fe=>

HOMAS NELSON, of the town of Wallkill,
was born in Ireland in 1841, being a son of
Thomas and Jane (Kenna) Nelson, natives
of the Emerald Isle, who spent their entire lives
in the land of their birth. The mother died in
1847. The father, whose occupation has been
that of an agriculturist, is still living in Ireland,
though now ninety years of age. In the schools
of Ireland our subject conducted his studies until
he was eighteen years of age, when the necessity
of earning a livelihood put an end to his school
days. Believing that the United States offered better
opportunities for a young man than were possi
ble in Ireland, at the age of twenty-two Mr. Nel
son took passage on a ship, and after an unevent
ful voyage landed in the New World. The first
three months of his residence in this country
were spent in New York City, after which he
went to Washington County, N. Y., remaining
there for three years. He then came to Orange

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

675

County, and here he has since made his home,
being the owner and occupant of a finely im
proved farm of one hundred and four acres. He
is extensively engaged in the milk business, and
also carries on general agricultural pursuits. Mr.
Nelson has a brother and a half-brother living in
Orange County, the former a farmer in Maple-
dale, the latter following agriculture in Denton,
this town.
August 23, 1875, Mr. Nelson married Mary E.,
daughter of Gilbert Ogden, an old and highly re
spected citizen of this county, and a Union soldier
in the Civil War. This union was blessed by the
birth of three children, namely: Smiley; Emma
Agnes, deceased; and Letitia Jane. The politi
cal views adopted by Mr. Nelson bring him into
active co-operation with the Republican party,
and he is one of its influential representatives in
his neighborhood. He has rendered efficient
service in the position of Road Master, and has
held other offices of local trust. In the commu
nity where he lives he is highly esteemed for his
sterling qualities and the uprightness of his deal
ings with his fellow-citizens.

£)#G

[~)ROF. JAMES F. TUTHILL, Superintend-
yr ent of Schools, and Principal of Wallkill
[Si Academy at Middletown, has been very suc
cessful as a teacher, and also as Superintendent of
City Schools, having raised the standard of the
Wallkill Academy from the fifty-fourth to the
thirteenth grade in the state. The family are of
English descent, tracing their ancestry to John
Tuthill, who came from England and located at
Long Island. Our subject is the son of Col. H. G.
and Catherine A. (Townley) Tuthill, and was born
in Corning, N. Y. His father was born in Cat
taraugus County, while his grandfather, Samuel
Tuthill, was a native of Vermont. The latter re
moved to Otto, Cattaraugus County, and was one
of the pioneer farmers of that locality.
The father resided at Nunda, N. Y., until the
breaking out of the war, when he raised a com
pany for the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment,
New York Volunteer Infantry, and was commis

sioned as Captain. He soon rose to the rank of
Colonel, and was in several of the principal en
gagements of the war. During his service he was
wouuded three times, at the battle of Gettysburg
receiving a wound that nearly cost him his life.
His regiment was with General Reynolds at the
time, and he was carried to a cellar, where he was
left three days without care, the place being in
the hands of the rebels. He still carries the bul
let received on that occasion. Upon his recovery
he was sent to Baltimore, where he had charge of
the Hicks Hospital, and remained there until the
fall of 1865, when he was mustered out and hon
orably discharged. He then located in Corning,
as superintendent for the Walker & Lathrop
Mills. Later, however, he left the concern and
is now practicing architecture at Corning. For
many years he was Supervisor of the Poor at
that place, where he is highly esteemed. He is
a member of the Grand Army of the Republic,
and in politics is a Republican. Religiously he
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He furnished the architectural design for the
handsome new church recently erected by that
congregation. His wife is a native of Ithaca, N. Y.
Professor Tuthill, who was the second child
born in the parental family, was reared in Corn
ing, and is a graduate of the high school of that
place. Soon after graduating he entered Cornell
University, from which he graduated in 1882,
with the degree of A. B. Later he went to
Owego, where he was assistant in the Owego
Academy until 1886, and during an interim had
charge of the school. Upon being offered addi
tional inducements he came to Middletown, where
he served in the capacity of Principal for a year,
when he resigned. For four years at Gouverueur
he was Superintendent and Principal of Schools,
which he organized under the union free-school
system. In 1891 he again came to Middletown,
and was engaged as Superintendent of Schools,
later becoming Principal of the Wallkill Academy.
On taking charge of the work here he re-graded
the schools and academy, and, as already stated,
has brought its ranking up from the fifty-fourth to
the thirteenth grade. The average attendance of
the schools has increased three hundred without

676

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a corresponding increase in the census. By his
energy and tact he has placed the school iu the
front rank, and graduates from the academy are
received without further examination into any
college in the land. As a teacher he has taken
high rank, and has made many valuable contri
butions on educational matters. For some time
he was President of the Orange County Teachers'
Association, and in its proceedings he takes a
special interest.
While residing in Gouverneur, N. Y., Profes
sor Tuthill married Miss Susie S. Crysler, a na
tive of that place. She is a graduate of Ives Sem
inary, and is now the efficient supervisor of music
in the Middletown schools. She is a member of
the Presbyterian Church, of whicli her husband is
an attendant.

•pGjlLLIAM W. CARPENTER, of Middle-
\ A / town, won a high reputation for his un-
Y V flinching courage and devotion to the
cause of the Union during the Civil War, in
"those dark days that tried men's souls," and
tested their patriotism, their manhood and the
value of their citizenship. His record of three
years' service for the Union was one of which
he and his may well be proud. Entering the
ranks in 1862 as a private, he was honorably dis
charged as Sergeant, after having participated
in every engagement in which his regiment took
part. The Carpenter family is of patriotic ancestry
and English descent. Our subject's grandfather,
Noah Carpenter, resided near Montgomery, this
county, where he operated a farm. He was a sol
dier in the War of 181 2, ever true to the princi
ples of liberty for which his forefathers had fought
in Revolutionary times. His death occurred on
his farm. The father of our subject, Edward M. ,
was born in this county, and for some time en
gaged as contractor and builder in Middletown.
In politics he advocated Republican principles.
He died at the age of seventy-five. His wife,

who passed away at seventy-seven years, was
Elizabeth McPherson, a native of this county,
where her father was a farmer. The McPherson
family traced its lineage to Scotch- Irish forefa
thers. The eldest of three children, two of whom
are living, the subject of this sketch was born in
the town of Wawayanda July 1, 1836. He was
reared in the parental home, one and one-half
miles from Middletown, and attended the district
schools and those of Middletown. At the age of
eighteen he began to work at the carpenter's
trade, which he learned under his father's super
vision. In i860, forming a partnership with his
brother, he engaged in contracting and building,
and continued in that business until the outbreak
of the war.
Iu 1862 Mr. Carpenter was mustered into the
Union army, at Goshen, as a private in Company
K, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York
Infantry, and participated in all the engagements
in which his regiment had a part. Fortunately
he was never injured, though he had many nar
row escapes, sometimes the bullets grazing his
neck or penetrating his cap or knapsack. In
June, 1865, he was mustered out at Newburgh
and honorably discharged as Sergeant. Upon
returning home he worked at his trade for a year
or more, then began as a contractor and builder,
which he has since made his business. Among
the buildings which he has designed and erected
are the William T. Hulse residence and the Mc-
Williams house adjoining, three for Mr. Tolen
on Highland Avenue, the I. C. Jordan home on
West Main, Charles Gardner's and Ed Couklin's
houses on Highland Avenue, Dr. Everett's block
on North Street, the Low Block on Linden Ave
nue, the Todd Block and the North Street Church.
At various times he has also erected several resi
dences for himself, and these he has sold. He re
sides at No. 19 Linden Avenue, where he has a
beautiful home, fitted up in a manner reflecting
the elegant tastes ofthe family.
In Middletown, November 6, 1867, Mr. Car
penter married Miss Amelia A. Mapes, who was
born iu Centerville. Her father, Samuel C, was
a native of that place, where her grandfather,

rMr

ffi- #t"

IPm^L * - ^^Jfe,

m*k \

^¦^v '•'
i
*
HON. W. E. MCCORMICK.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

679

Eber, engaged in farm pursuits, The former re
moved to the town of Wallkill, where he tilled
the soil of a farm until his death, at the age of
seventy-two years. The mother of Mrs. Carpen
ter bore the maiden name of Mary A. Holly and
was born in this county, her father, Richard
Holly, being a farmer here. Mrs. Carpenter was
the eldest of seven children, and by her marriage
has four children, namely: William C, who is
engaged in business with his father; Mary Lib-
bie; Addie B., a graduate of the academy; and
Samuel M., a clerk in a grocery store. Mr. Car
penter is a member of Capt. W. J. Jackson Post,
G. A. R., and formerly was identified with Gen
eral Lyon Post. In religious belief he is identi
fied with the Congregational Church, and polit
ically he is a faithful supporter of Republican
principles.

e^+«~ =

HON. WILLIAM EDWARD McCORMICK,
a wide-awake and enterprising citizen of
Port Jervis, is now engaged in the insurance
and real-estate business, in which he is meeting
with a well merited success. In Ithaca, Tomp
kins County, N. Y., he was born on the 17th of
April, 1831, and is a son of Jacob Miller McCor-
mick, a prominent citizen of Ithaca, and a repre
sentative of a family from the North of Ireland.
He served as Sergeant in the WTar of 1812, and
was offered a Lieutenant's commission in the
regular army subsequently, but declined, prefer
ring to work at his trade, that of a gunsmith, in
Elmira, N. Y. The grandfather, David McCor-
mick, was a son of Joseph McCormick, who re
sided near the Giant's Causeway, County Antrim,
Ireland. With his widowed mother and her fam
ily he emigrated to Chester County, Pa., in 1760.
The family tree was compiled by Robert Laird
McCormick, Vice-President ofthe Wisconsin His
torical Society, and a resident of Hayward, Wis.
On the maternal side our subject is of German
descent, his mother being Catherine Conrad, a
daughter of Peter Conrad, of Cayuga Lake, N.
Y. In the parental family were eight children,

of whom William E. was fourth in order of birth,
but he has only one sister now living, Emma C. ,
wife of Benjamin C. Farnum, of Port Jervis.
In Ithaca, N. Y., the boyhood days of our sub
ject were passed, and at the age of nineteen years
he graduated with the degree of A. B. from Union
College with the Class of '50. He then entered
upon the study of law in the office of Ferris &
Cushiug, both prominent attorneys of Ithaca, and
was admitted to the Bar at Binghamton in 1852.
He began practice at Ithaca, but later became
connected with railroad work, for which he was
fitted, having taken a course of civil engineering
in Union College. His first labors were in In
diana, where he had a classmate who was follow
ing the same profession. Later he came to New
York, intending to practice law, but was pre
vailed upon by Mr. Whiton, the Superintendent
ofthe Eastern Division, to accept a position with
the Erie Railroad, with which he remained for
fifteen years. In 1856 he came to Port Jervis as
fuel agent for the Delaware Division, and later
was resident engineer and paymaster, while Hugh
Riddle was Division Superintendent, but after
ward was connected with the freight department
in New York City and Chicago.
In 1870 Mr. McCormick located permanently
iu Port Jervis, where he has since been engaged
in the real-estate and insurance business, and has
built up a good trade, having charge of a num
ber of first-class properties. He also deals in mu
sical instruments. His political views coincide
with those of the Democratic party, and as a
leading and influential citizen he takes great in
terest in the success of the tickets placed in the
field by that party, and not only votes himself,
but strives, to the utmost of his powers, to induce
others to see the question in the same light. He
has held nearly all of the local offices, and for two
years served as President of the Board of Village
Trustees, while for three years he was Justice of
the Peace. He is now Police Justice. In 1891
he was elected to the State Legislature, and dur
ing his term of service was on the Committees of
Insurance, State Prisons and Elections. He
made an able Representative, and received the
commendation not only of his constituents, but

68o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD:

of those opposed to him politically. He is re
spected and esteemed by the entire population of
Port Jervis and vicinity, and is regarded as truly
honorable and upright in all things, being one
who can be depended upon as a friend and coun
selor.

REV. C. M. WINCHESTER, pastor of the
Free Christian Church, is a brilliant orator,
ready speaker, and is a man of large infor
mation. He is also a successful real-estate man,
and the promoter of many enterprises that have
placed Middletown in. the front rank of the cities
of New York. A native of Hill, Grafton Coun
ty, N. H., born March 20, 1837, he traces his
ancestry back to John Winchester, who came
from England in 1635, in the good ship "Eliza
beth," Captain Stag commanding. The Winches
ters, who were Puritans, are a long-lived race,
one of the number living to be over one hundred
years of age. Isaac Winchester, the grandfa
ther of our subject, was a native of New Hamp
shire, and later removed to Rhode Island, where
he died. Luther, the father of our subject, is still
living, at the age of eighty-five years, in Provi
dence, R. I., but is living a retired life. He
married Tirzah J. Quimby, who was born in
New Hampshire, and who was a daughter of
Squire Quimby. She died at the age of seventy
years, after having become the mother of twelve
children, seven of whom are living, and all re
siding in Rhode Island, save our subject. One
son, George, was a member of the First Rhode
Island Volunteer Infantry, known as Burnside
Sharpshooters, for three months, when he re-en
listed and served nine months. Silas was a mem
ber of the Eleventh Rhode Island Regiment for
nine months, and now resides in Providence.
Frank is a shoe merchant at that place. Charles
H. George, a brother-in-law of our subject, was
Postmaster at Providence about ten years, and is
now President of the Roger Williams Bank in
that city.
Our subject was six years of age when his
parents removed to Rhode Island and located at

Providence. He was there educated in the pub
lic school, and graduated from the evening school.
When fifteen years of age, he went to work to aid
in the support of the family, taking a position in
a hardware store, where he remained six years
and eleven months. While there he took up the
study of theology, selling a gold watch and chain
to obtain books. When twenty-two years of age
he was ordained at Bristol as a minister in the
Methodist Episcopal Church. For seven years
he preached in St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal
Church at Providence, while he was clerk in a
shipping-house. Being well acquainted with the
sailors, he was invited to preach at Sailors' Beth
el Church, which he continued to do for five
years, at the same time continuing in the ship
ping business. In the mean time, he took entire
charge of the business, and later, in partnership
with a Mr. Cole, bought out the firm from Sand
wich Island, and the business was continued un
der the firm name of Winchester & Cole. The
business requiring so much of his attention, he
sold out in order to give his entire time to the
Bethel Church, and succeeded in making it self-
sustaining. While at Sailors' Bethel Church, he
withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and united with the Independent Christian
Church. He was now invited to Boston, as pas
tor in charge of the North End Mission, where
he continued as pastor for three years, and then
resigned his charge. His idea was that a minis
ter could be self-supporting, so at Brockton,
twenty miles from Boston, he hired the music
hall, and rented a house in Winchester Park and
started without any outside backing. He also
preached at the Poor House, and supported him
self and family on what the people saw fit to con
tribute. While at Brockton, he lectured all
through Massachusetts, with such men as Wen
dell Phillips, and others, who recommended him
very highly to a Lyceum course. He began a
series of lectures for the New York Co-operative
Temperance Union, and lectured forty days in
Suffolk County, L. I., and was then scheduled
to travel through Orange County. On coming
to Middletown, some of the citizens who were op
posed to the cause advocated bv him determined

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

681

to drive him out. He accepted their challenge,
and cancelled all his other engagements, and for
five months continued to lecture three times a
day, receiving the signature of between three and
four thousand people to the temperance pledge.
During this time he edited a daily temperance
newspaper. After completing his course of five months at
Middletown, some of the citizens desired him to
locate here and preach the Gospel to them. He
asked those that would unite with him in the or
ganization of a Free Christian Church to come
forward. Only five responded to his call, and
they rented a place, later bought it, and the
church was duly organized. He had a large con
gregation from the very first, but the organiza
tion grew, until in due time it was incorporated.
He then organized a Gospel Temperance Union,
of which he has been President ever since. Of
course he had no salary, but he was not above
work, and gradually settled down to a line of
business, which was to do everything for the
church and also try to make a living for himself
and family. Success has crowned his efforts,
and he has built five houses for the church.
He gradually drifted into the real-estate business,
in partnership with Leander Brink, who has
stood by him from the first. They bought out
the New York Star Spring Bed Bottom Manu
facturing Company, of which Mr. Winchester is
Secretary and Treasurer, Leander Brink Presi
dent, and Mrs. Winchester Vice-President. In
partnership with Mr. Brink, he owns consider
able real estate, among which is the North Side
Park, adjoining the city, which comprises sixty-
four acres, all of which is laid out and platted.
They also own Columbia Park, comprising sev
enteen acres, lying within the city limits. The
additions made by them have been developed,
and they give to every poor man a chance to
secure a lot, and help with which to build, by
the payment of a small amount each month.
That Mr. Winchester is an enterprising man
is proven by the fact that he has been instrument
al in securing the street railways of Middletown,
and it is said that there would not have been one
constructed but for him. At the present time he

is engaged in promoting a line from Middletown
to Deckertown, which embraces a boulevard one
hundred feet wide and twenty two miles through
a fine scenic country, and which will require a
half-million dollars to complete.
Mr. Winchester has been twice married, first
in Providence, R. I., when he was united with
Mary A. Jackson, a native of Connecticut, and a
daughter of Capt. Henry W. Jackson, a promi
nent merchant in Providence. She died, leaving
five children. Henry W. is a hardware mer
chant in Providence, in the employ of C. H.
George; Lillian is Mrs. W. H. Thorn, of Brook
lyn, N. Y. ; Charles M., Jr., is foreman of the
book department of Wyncook & Hallenbeck, one
of the largest printing establishments in the
United States; Carrie, who died at the age of
nineteen, was a remarkable speaker and singer,
and her death was a sad blow to the father and
family; Augusta died in infancy. Mr. Winches
ter subsequently married, at Chelsea, Mass., Miss
Fanny Kelley, who is a native of Connecticut,
and a daughter of Henry M. Kelley. By this
marriage one sou was born, Ernest T. , who is a
student of the New York National Conservatory
of Music; he is a fine musician, and is one of the
best organists in the country.
Mr. Winchester has been a resident of Middle-
town since 1877, with the exception of one year,
which he spent at Dayton, Ohio, as manager ofa
printing house. He is a member of Phoenix
Fire Company, of which he has been Chaplain
for years. He has been a member of St. John's
Lodge, F. & A. M., of Providence, R. I., since
1868, and was Chaplain of that lodge a number
of years. He has been President of the Gospel
Temperance Union of Middletown for eighteen
years. On his birthday each year he gives a
dinner to his fire company. The dinner, or
Rhode Island Clam Chowder, as it is called, is a
great success, and is appreciated by all the in
vited guests.
In 1862 Mr. Winchester enlisted in Company
B, Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, as
Orderly-Sergeant of the company, and after the
battle of Fredericksburg was promoted to be
Lieutenant of the company. In Lossing's ' 'History

682

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

of the Rebellion," he is mentioned with credit.
He is now Regimental Chaplain of the veterans
of his regiment, and is Chaplain of General
Lyon Post, G. A. R., of Middletown. He was
the originator ofthe Soldiers' Plat of the Wallkill
Cemetery. In politics he is a thorough Prohi
bitionist, and believes that prohibition will pro
hibit. He lectures on temperance from time to
time, and is ever ready to speak a good word for
that cause.

+=

z+

30HN M. TALMADGE. Among the large
land-owners and wealthy agriculturists of
Orange County, we make mention of Mr.
Talmadge, who is a native of the town of Hamp
tonburgh, but who is residing at the present time
in Wawayanda. He was born March i, 1816,
and is therefore one of the oldest residents of the
place. Isaac Talmadge, the father of our subject, was
born in New Jersey, and he was in turn the son of
Nathaniel Talmadge of English descent. The
father came to Orange County when a boy,
locating in that part of Minisink which after
ward became the town of Wawayanda. On reach
ing mature years he chose for his wife Miss Mary
Hurd, and to them was born a family of twelve
children, of whom our subject, who was the fifth,
and his sister Hilah are the only survivors. The
others were as follows: Sallie Ann, Isaac R.;
Mary J., Silas H., Experience, Phebe, Nath
aniel W. and the two youngest. Hilah is the
wife of Gilbert Shears, and is living in the town
of Goshen, this county.
The father of the above family served as a sol
dier in the War of 181 2, acquitting himself brave
ly in that conflict. He was a farmer all his life,
and lived to the age of threescore years and ten.
John M. lived in the place of his birth for the
first sixteen years of his life, and when his par
ents removed to the town of Wawayanda he ac
companied them. He was well educated in the
schools ofthe neighborhood, and when seventeen

years old began learning the mason's trade.
After serving a two-years apprenticeship, he en
gaged in that business for himself, following it
with success for twenty years. He then turned his
attention to farming, and moved onto a tract of
fifty acres, which he made his home for a few
years, when he purchased an estate comprising
one hundred and seventy-five acres. This was
his home until 1873, when he came to his present
farm, which he has since improved, until, as
previously stated, he is now one of the largest
land-holders in the town. In this town and in
Goshen he owns between six and seven hundred
acres. His property has been accumulated en
tirely through his own efforts, for he started out
in life a poor boy.
In November, 1839, Mr. Talmadge was united
in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of Jef
frey and Jemima Howell. She survived her mar
riage only a few years, dying in 1842. Three
years later our subject was married to Miss Lydia
A. Tuttle, with whom he lived happily nearly a
half-century. She died in February, 1882.
In early life Mr. Talmadge voted the Whig
ticket, but of late years has cast his ballot and in
fluence in favor of Republican candidates. His
residence is the abode of hospitality, where the
stranger as well as his many personal friends are
accorded a welcome. Within his pleasant resi
dence Mr. Talmage is quietly passing the declin
ing years of his life, surrounded by every com
fort that can enhance his happiness, and enjoy
ing the esteem of all to whom he is personally
known.

¦ ¦ >¦»> Mi

61 LAN SON SLAUGHTER, deceased, was
Ll born in 1818, upon the farm where his fam-
/ I ily still resides. He was a son of Joseph and
Amelia (Booth) Slaughter, natives, respectively,
of Ulster and Orange Counties, N. Y. His edu
cation was commenced in the schools near his
father's home, and subsequently supplemented by
a course of study in the select schools of Goshen
and Middletown. By inheritance he succeeded
to the family homestead in the town of Wallkill,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

683

and there he spent his entire life, devoting his
attention to agricultural pursuits. In his cozy
and well appointed home he passed the sunset of
life serenely, fortified against want, and untram-
meled by the cares and anxieties that are attend
ant upon poverty.
In all matters pertaining to the prosperity of
the town of Wallkill, Mr. Slaughter was deeply
interested, and he was well informed concerning
the current topics of the times. Realizing the
value ofa good education, he did all in his power
to promote the interests of the common schools.
In religion, too, he was deeply interested, and for
eight years served as Elder of the Presbyterian
Church of Scotchtown. He remained true and
loyal to the doctrines of that denomination until
his death. Upon his character for honesty and
integrity a suspicion was never breathed. His
life was open to the view of the citizens of the
town, and not a stain could be found upon his
record. He passed from the scenes of life Decem
ber 26, 1883.
The lady who was Mr. Slaughter's faithful
helpmate in life, and who mourned him in death,
bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Bailey, and
is a daughter of Nathaniel and Jennet (White)
Bailey, of the town of Wallkill. Her grandfa
ther, Daniel Bailey, came from Long Island, and
was the progenitor of this branch of the family in
Orange County. The union of Mr. and Mrs.
Slaughter, which was solemnized October 1 1 ,
1843, was blessed by the birth of three daughters,
namely: Helen Jane, wife of George W. Ackerly,
ofthe town of Montgomery ; Jennet, who married
Robert G. Young; and Miss Ann Amelia, who
resides with her mother on the old homestead.
Upoii the farm is the noted Indian Spring. The
water has very superior medicinal qualities, and
is never failing in its supply. A number of In
dian relics have been at times found near the
spring, and some of these are still in possession of
the family.
Since the death of Mr. Slaughter his wife and
daughter have continued to reside in the house in
which the husband and father so many years re
sided, but the farm is now leased to a tenant, who
manages and superintends the same, furnishing a

comfortable income to the owners. The build
ings are neat and substantial, adapted to their
varied uses. Within the home hospitality abounds,
and visitors receive a cordial welcome.

-" — »  •>S^®lli9®<+S<»" — « — *-

3 AMES H. WALLACE. Identified with the
business interests ofthe village of Pine Bush
since 1879, Mr. Wallace is well known
throughout this section of Orange County as a
reliable, energetic and successful business man.
A Democrat in his political adherence, he was
appointed Postmaster under the second adminis
tration of President Cleveland, and is still serv
ing in that capacity. In addition to the duties of
the office, he devotes considerable time to the
management of his large store, where he carries
a full assortment of hardware, tinware, stoves,
buggies, wagons and agricultural implements.
Born on the farm on Crystal Run, in the town
of Wallkill, August 27, 1856, the subject of this
sketch is the fourth of nine children born to John
and Margaret (Hamilton) Wallace. His father,
who was born in Ireland, was brought by his par
ents to America in infancy, and grew to manhood
in Orange County, where he followed the occu
pation of a farmer throughout his entire active
life, meeting with fair success in his enterprises.
He died at the age of sixty-seven years. The
wife and mother, also a native of Ireland, is still
living and makes her home in Pine Bush.
At the age of seventeen James H. Wallace en
tered a tinshop in the village of Montgomery,
where he remained four years, gaining a thor
ough knowledge of the trade. Afterward he was
employed as a journeyman for one year, then in
1879 came to Pine Bush and opened a tinshop.
A short time later he added a stock of hardware,
and from time to time, as his means permitted, he
has increased his assortment of goods, until he
now has his store well equipped with everything
pertaining to the business.
October 8, 1879, Mr- Wallace was united in
marriage with Miss Elizabeth Righter, of Mont-

684

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

gomery, N. Y. They are the parents of a son,
Charles, now a student in the school at Mont
gomery. A stanch Democrat, as above stated,
Mr. Wallace is the present incumbent of the office
of Postmaster, the duties of which he is discharg
ing in a manner entirely satisfactory to the peo
ple. Socially he is identified with Wallkill Lodge
No. 627, F. & A. M., at Walden, and Hiawatha
Lodge No. 252, K. of P., of Pine Bush.

•^-MI

m\

yR. CHARLES SMITH, a veterinary sur
geon at Middletown, was born in the old
town of Minisink, now Greenville, July 5,
1827, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Mu-
lock) Smith, the former born in the town of War
wick, and the latter in the town of Minisink, now
Greenville. The grandfather of our subject, Jesse
Smith, was a farmer, and lived and died in the
town of Warwick. At an early day the father
located in the old town of Minisink, where he
purchased and improved a farm. Later he pur
chased another, and both of these he operated un
til his death, when past ninety years of age.
Naturally he was very healthy, and his death was
the result of palsy. He served in the War of
181 2, and religiously was an old-school Baptist.
His wife, Elizabeth Mulock, was a daughter of
Jesse Mulock, who was likewise a native of
Orange County, and a farmer in the old town of
Minisink. He died at the age of seventy years.
Seven children were included in the parental
family, but only two are now living: Jesse, who
resides in Ohio, and the subject of this sketch.
William Smith, a brother, died in New York
City. Charles Smith was the sixth in the family and
grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving
his education in the common schools and in
Ridgebury Academy. When twenty-two years
of age he left the parental roof and began the
study of veterinary surgery under Dr. Paul Smith,
of Germantown, where he remained four or five
years. He then began the practice for himself,
continuing there for some time, or until he be
came possessor of the home farm. Removing to

the home farm, which consisted of one hundred
and fifty acres, he carried on general farming and
dairying until 1874, when he sold out and located
in Middletown, opening au office for the practice
of his profession. Since that date he has resided
here, and is now one of the oldest veterinary sur
geons in the county. All his time is devoted to
his profession, and for some years he has been in
the employ of the New York Live Stock Insur
ance Company. His office is located at No. 17
North .Street, with a branch office at the Bell
House stable. Dr. Smith was married, in the
town of Greenville, to Miss Caroline Bennett, a
native of New Jersey, and they have two children,
Jessie Lulu and Edwin C. He is a member of the
old-school Baptist Church, and in politics he is a
Democrat.

*5*£P

|D QlLLIAM CLEMSON. A man of originality
\ A/ an<^ inventive genius, with sufficient de-
V V termination to enable him to rise above
circumstances and achieve a remarkable success,
such a record of the life of William Clemson
shows him to have been. Obliged in early man
hood to turn his attention to the manufacture of
saws, he noticed many defects in the machinery
then in use, and with characteristic patience and
energy worked until he had devised improved ap
paratus. After having for seven years operated
a machine for automatically and simultaneously
flattening, and tempering saws, he secured letters
patent in 1854, and two years later he perfected
a grinding-machine. Both were labor-saving
and conducive to better work. At various times
he patented thirty-five improvements for saws,
all tending to make them better and cheaper. So
important were his devices, that through them
the old-fashioned method of manufacturing saws
was completely revolutionized , and they are now
made on a scale of perfection and magnitude that
would not have been considered possible fifty
years ago.
Though for many generations residents of
England, the history ofthe Clemson family shows
that Germany was their original home. There
they were known as " Clem's sons," or sons of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

685

Clem, a supposed tutelary divinity of smiths or
armorers, who were regarded as important per
sonages in those times of war. During the six
teenth century, some members of the family set
tled in England, where the name took the form
of Clemson. The parents of William were Will
iam and Jane Clemson, natives of England and
strict Calvinists.
At the age of fourteen our subject left school,
and began an appienticeship to his father's trade,
the manufacture of steel wire, then a very remu
nerative occupation. Under the guidance of his
father, a man of considerable inventive ability
and mechanical talents, he gained a thorough
knowledge of his trade. On attaining his ma
jority, in 1842,. he left the place of his birth,
Warwickshire, England, and crossed the Atlantic
to Boston, where it was his intention to work at
his trade. The manufacture of wire, however,
was scarcely in existence at that time, so he was
obliged to secure some other means of livelihood.
He accepted a position in the saw manufactory of
Welch & Griffiths, of Arlington, Mass., where
he remained for two years.
Having a self-reliant nature and a determina
tion to rise in the world, Mr. Clemson was not
content to remain in the employ of others, and
although he had very little capital, he formed a
partnership with a fellow- workman, with whom
he began the manufacture of saws in a small
shop. For some time the struggle was hard, and
at times it seemed as if the obstacles were too
great to be overcome, but he never lost courage,
and in the end success was his. His leisure mo
ments were devoted to experimental research,
and in 1854, as before stated, he patented his
first invention. From that time forward he con
tinued his investigations, and patented many
other inventions, all pertaining to the manufact
ure of saws. By those who are familiar with the
business, he is called the father of the industry in
the United States.
In i860 Mr. Clemson formed a partnership with
E. P. Wheeler and Hon. E. M. Madden, capital
ists of Middletown, under the firm title of Wheel
er, Madden & Clemson. Later the name was
changed to Wheeler, Madden & Clemson Manu

facturing Company, and was carried on under
that title until the three original members were
dead. Since then it has been merged into the
National Saw Company, of which his son, George
N. Clemson, is the head. The industry is one
of the most important in Middletown, and fur
nishes employment to a large number of work
men, so that the fruits of our subject's labors are
being reaped by the people to-day.
Interested in the welfare of Middletown, Mr,
Clemson served for several terms as a member of
the Board of Trustees of the city. In his politi
cal views he refused to bind himself to any politi
cal organization, but gave his ballot to the man
whom he deemed best qualified to represent the
people. In his fraternal relations he was con
nected with Hoffman Lodge, F. & A. M., in this
city. Failing health obliged hini, early in 1889,
to retire almost wholly from business, and he
thence forward endeavored, by travel and medical
attention, to stay the progress of disease, but in
vain. He constantly grew worse, and January
12, 1890, passed from earth. His death was
mourned as a public loss. The press spoke in
terms of highest praise concerning his business
ability and upright life, and the people, especial
ly those with whom he had for years been asso
ciated, looked upon his demise as a personal be
reavement. Quiet and reserved in disposition, it
was not easy to gain his intimate friendship, but
when once gained he was a true and faithful
friend to the last.
The first marriage of Mr. Clemson occurred in
1845, when Miss Amelia Wright, of Arlington,
Mass., became his wife. She died in 1885, leav
ing five children, as follows: Frank, who lives in
Massachusetts; George N., President of the Na
tional Saw Works, and partner in the firm of
Clemson Brothers, who conduct a saw manufact
ory; Mrs. Maria Taylor, of Middletown; Rich
ard, who is interested in the National Saw Com
pany, but spends his time principally in the
South; and Mrs. Lillian Bird, of Boston.
In 1887 Mr. Clemson married Esther M. Smith,
who was born in the town of Greenville, this
county. Her father, Jacob F. Smith, was born iu
the town of Crawford, June 27, 1820, and for a

686

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

time was a fuller at Mechanicstown, but later
resided at Carpenter's Point. In i860 he came
to Middletown, where he was a car man at first,
but afterward carried on a grocery business on
East Main Street, and later resumed work as a
car man. He died in this city June 25, 1895.
Socially he belonged to Middletown Lodge No.
112, I. O. O. F.; Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F &
A. M.; and Midland Chapter, R. A. M. In
politics he was a Republican, aud in religion a
member of Grace Episcopal Church.
February 3, 1844, Mr. Smith married Miss
Chloe A. Brown, who was born at New Vernon,
June 8, 1825, and died January 23, 1895. Seven
children were born of their union, namely: Es
ther M.; Harriet L., Mrs. E. Stone, of Port Jer
vis; Linnie L-, widow of Charles Bell, of Mid
dletown; A. Eliza, who married F. E. Townsend,
of Jersey City; Adelaide C, of Newark; Nellie
A., widow of William Smith, of Middletown;
and Harry A., a resident of Middletown. By
her marriage with our subject, Mrs. Clemson has
a son, William E., and they occupy the old Clem
son homestead, a beautiful place at No. 11 Beat-
tie Avenue. Mrs. Clemson is a member of Grace
Episcopal Church.

""UGENE SMITH, whose valuable estate is
'j situated in the town of Wallkill, has been
_ engaged in farming from his boyhood, and
is as well acquainted with the details of agricult
ural work as any man to be found in a day's
journey. He is one of those men who make of
their business both an art and a science, and his
land bears upon it all the buildings and other im
provements which go to make up a well regulated
estate. The farm consists of one hundred and
twelve acres, and possesses considerable historic
interest, having at one time been the j>roj>erty of
Mr. Hasbrook, who owned the building iu which
George Washington made his headquarters dur
ing his stay in Newburgh.
In the town of Goshen, this county, Mr. Smith
was born October 31, 1865. His parents, Stephen
and Emily (Randolph) Smith, were also natives

of this county, and here the former died, Decem
ber 11, 1886, after a useful and honorable career
devoted to farm work. The wife and mother is
living on the old homestead two and a-half miles
west of Goshen, and is enjoying good health. Of
her family of thirteen children, all but one are
living, and they are worthy citizens of their va
rious localities. Our subject in boyhood was a
student in the district schools, and later attended
the Goshen Institute. At the closing exercises
of his last term there, before graduation, he was
awarded a gold medal in a declamation contest,
his superiority over the other contestants being
unanimously agreed upon by the committee of
judges, all ofwhom were personally unacquainted
with Mr. Smith.
With the exception of a year spent in New
York City, our subject has always followed the
occupation of a farmer. He settled in the town
of Wallkill in 1887, and here he has been engaged
in his chosen calling, winning the esteem of his
fellow -men by his upright life and considerate
dealings with those about him. He was fortun
ate in winning for his life companion a lady of
genuine worth of character, housewifely skill and
pleasing manners. She was known in girlhood as
Hattie Slaughter, and is a daughter of Samuel M.
and Catherine (Wells) Slaughter, members of old
and prominent families of this county. The mar
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith was solemnized
March 9, 1887, and resulted in the birth of four
sons, namely: Theodore Mills, Henry, Samuel
Slaughter and Ralph Wells.
Politically Mr. Smith lends his influence to the
Democratic party in national elections, but in lo
cal matters he is conservative, and the character
of the candidate for office usually decides to
whom his ballot shall be given. He aud his
wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of
Scotchtown, and he officiates as au Elder in the
congregation. He is an industrious and capable
young farmer, whose work is directed by wise
discretion and' good executive ability, and by
his unaided efforts he is gaining success in his
chosen calling. He is a man of exemplary hab
its and sound principles, and is highly regarded
in his community.

ANDREW V. JOVA, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(31 NDREW V JOVA, M. D. Not only as a
Li skilled physician and surgeon, but also as a
j 1 gentleman of the highest culture, wide
travel and broad knowledge, Dr. Jova is entitled
to especial mention in this volume. His has
been an eventful life, and while he has scarcely
yet reached the prime of his manly vigor and use
fulness, he has traveled throughout a large por
tion of the habitable globe, thereby gaining
breadth of intellectual vision and cosmopolitan
tastes. Though not an American by birth, he is
intensely devoted to the country of his adoption,
and is thoroughly in sympathy with the institu
tions of our Government.
The history of the Jova family, could it be pre
sented in detail, would be of the greatest interest
to our readers, showing, as it does, the rise of a
family into importance and wealth, then the loss
of its vast possessions through the vicissitudes of
war. The Doctor's grandfather, Juan Jova, was
born in Barcelona, Spain, and in early life was
master of a sailing-vessel which carried articles of
commerce from South American countries to the
mother country. As the government was unable
to pay the large sum of money which it owed
him, he was offered titles in lieu of the debt, but
these were refused. However, a compromise was
made, by which a portion of the money was paid.
He took this money and with it purchased a su
gar plantation of four thousand acres in Cuba.
Proceeding to his newly purchased estate, he re
sided there until his death, at seventy-two years of
age. Frederick Jova, the Doctor's father, was a na
tive of Cuba, and starting in business with the in
fluence of his father's possessions to aid him, he
added to his inheritance, and in time owned not
only the old homestead, but three other valuable
plantations. Prosperity smiled upon his efforts,
and he became one of the wealthiest men on the
island, his fortune being estimated at about
$3,000,000. However, he lost his vast posses
sions during the insurrection in Cuba, his prop
erty being seized and he himself, though innocent
of any connection with the outbreak, cast into
prison, where he was held for one year. He was
then sent, a political exile, to Spain, where he
30

remained a year, his life meantime being often in
great peril. At the expiration of that time he
was allowed to return to Cuba, but his fortune
was gone, his land had been seized, and nothing
remained to him but the old homestead. Here he
resided, enjoying iu his declining years a freedom
from the anxiety and peril of former days, until
his death, in December, 1894, at the age of about
seventy years. His wife died at the age of sixty-
three. He has four children living, of whom two
sons and one daughter reside on the old home
stead. The Doctor, who is the youngest of the family,
was born in Santa Clara, Cuba, March 23, 1859.
In 1870 he came to the United States and entered
St. John's College in New York City, from which
he was graduated in 1879 with the degree of
A. B. At once after completing his literary stud
ies, he entered the College of Physicians and Sur
geons in New York City, graduating from- that
institution in 1883 with the degree of M. D. For
one year afterward he was physician to St. Vin
cent's Hospital, New York, then made a brief
visit to Cuba, sailing from there to Paris, and en
tering the school of medicine in that city, where
he took a hospital course of two years. Going to
Berlin, he studied there for one year, then spent
eight months in attending the clinics of Vienna,
and finally returned to the United States. Dur
ing his stay in Europe he made a tour of the
continent and also, visited the British Isles.
After returning to the United States the Doctor
was for eighteen months on the staff of the French
Hospital in New York City, a position for which
he was fitted, not only by his extended medical
researches, but also on account of his familiarity
with the French language. He is a fluent lin
guist, speaking Spanish, German, French and
English. From New York he went to North
Carolina and passed the state examination, after
which he was a practicing physician at Hot
Springs for nearly one year. His mother's illness
caused him to leave the United States and return
to the old Cuban home, where he spent a year.
In 1891 Dr. Jova returned to the United States,
and in November of that year opened an office
in Newburgh, where he has since conducted a

690

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

large practice. He was induced to come hither
by the fact that his uncle, John J. Jova, the
"brick king," between whom and himself a deep
affection had always existed, was living at Rose
ton, which is only four miles distant from New
burgh; the uncle, however, has since died, hav
ing passed away in January, 1894. In addition
to the duties of a general practice, the Doctor is
Secretary of the Board of Examining Surgeons for
Pensions, having been appointed to this position
under the administration of President Cleveland.
He is on the medical staff of St. Luke's Hospital,
and is examining physician for the Prudential
Life Insurance Company, the Netherland Life In
surance Company and a number of associations.
In religious belief a Catholic, he holds member
ship in St. Mary's Church, and is physician for
the Catholic Benevolent Association and also the
Ladies' Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.
Politically he casts his ballot with the Democratic
party, but has never cared to actively identify
himself with political affairs, preferring to give
his attention to his profession. The Orange
County Medical Society, of which he is a member,
has chosen him to represent it in the State Medi
cal Association. His conspicuous talents and
thorough knowledge of the latest developments in
medical science have brought him into prom
inence among the physicians of the Hudson Val
ley, and he is recognized as one of the most bril
liant members of the medical fraternity.

*>-,>»,>» ^, *i

V/llLTON McEWEN, deceased, was at one
V time Postmaster at Warwick, and for nearly
(y twenty years made his home in Newburgh.
In 1836 he opened a store in the former place in
paatnership with Nathaniel Jones, carrying a full
line of groceries, dry goods and general merchan
dise. His first partner was succeeded by Hiram
Jones, who retired in a short time, selling his in
terest to Mr. McEwen, who was in business alone
from that time until 1865. He died at his home,
No. 201 Liberty Street, Newburgh, August 25,
1884. The first representative of the McEwen family

in America was Duncan McEwen, a native ofthe
Highlands of Scotland, born in 1755, who emi
grated to this country in Colonial days and be
came a participant in the Revolution. In 1783
he married Miss Martha Dickenson, who was
born on Long Island, June 10, 1765. He died in
the town of Wallkill, April 11, 1808, and his wife
survived him many years, her death occurring
January 1, 1841. Milton McEwen was born in
Bullville, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1807, and
passed his boyhood days upon a farm. In early
manhood he embarked in a mercantile business
in the village of Brunswick, after which he came
to Newburgh and was bookkeeper for David
Crawford, a dry-goods merchant on Water Street.
After his marriage, in 1836, he moved to War
wick, of which place hewas a prominent business
man for nearly thirty years.
On coming to Newburgh in 1865, Mr. McEwen
was for a few years associated with his son Levi
in the grocery business. While at Warwick he
held the office of Postmaster efficiently for many
years, having been appointed under a Democratic
administration, and the office was situated in his
own store. He was influential iu the building of
the railroad from Grey court to Warwick, and be
came a Director in the corporation. He was a
member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and was
for years Treasurer of the board. A man of no
ble and upright life, sincere and trustworthy in
all his relations, he justly won the high regard
and friendship of his associates.
In 1836 Milton McEwen and Margaret Bruyu
were married in the town of Montgomery, this
county. The lady was born in the town of Shaw-
angunk, Ulster County, in 18 14, being a daugh
ter of Severyn T. and Catherine (Hasbrouck)
Bruyn, natives of Ulster and Orange Counties,
respectively. The paternal grandfather of Mrs.
McEwen, Severyn Bruyn, was born in Holland,
and was one of the Huguenot refugees who early
settled in the vicinity of Shawaugunk. He won
the title of Colonel in the Colonial struggle for
Independence. Mrs. McEwen's father owned a
farm in Ulster County, and later operated one in
the town of Montgomery, this county, until his
death. Both he and his estimable wife were mem-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

691

bers of the Dutch Reformed Church. The latter
was born near Scotchtown, Orange County, and
was a daughter of Daniel Hasbrouck, a native of
Kingston, Ulster County, and a farmer by voca
tion. Mrs. McEwen is one of six children, and
with her brother Severyn, now in the West, is
the only survivor. Hasbrouck, the eldest of the
family, died in Illinois; Levi and Rachel died in
Montgomery; and Anderson in the village of
Fishkill. Mrs. McEwen was a resident of Mont
gomery before her marriage, and of her five chil
dren three grew to maturity. Kate H. is the wife
of Rev. P. H. Hawxhurst, D. D., of Brooklyu,
N. Y. ; and Sophia A. resides in Newburgh. Levi
died at the age of thirty years, in Savannah, Ga.,
whither he -had gone in hopes of benefiting his
health. Mrs. McEwen is a member of the Dutch
Reformed Church. ¦  ^^p  .

JAMES H. ROCKAFELLOW. As a worthy
representative of the intelligence, integrity
and moral worth of the people of Orange
County, the subject of this sketch occupies no
ordinary position. He is widely and favorably
known in this, his native county, and the fact
that he is well spoken of by high and low, rich
and poor, is sufficient indication of his character.
Mr. Rockafellow was born in the town of Craw
ford, February 4, 1833, and was the third iu the
family of Walter and Elizabeth (Ellis) Rockafel
low. The former was born in this county, where
he was reared and spent the greater part of his
life. His death occurred at Wallkill, when in his
sixty-eighth year. He was a loyal and patriotic
citizen, and during the War of 18 12 served as a
soldier in the ranks. In him the Reformed
Church found one of its most consistent members
and liberal contributors. The parents, who were
of German extraction, were farmers by occupa
tion, which vocation our subject also followed
with good success.
The mother of our subject was a native of Sul
livan County, this state. She survived her hus
band many years, and was eighty-four years of
age at the time of her demise. She, too, belonged

to the Reformed Church and was an active worker
in its various departments. Our subject remained
at home until a young man of twenty-six years,
when he was married, and, coming to this town,
purchased the farm which he now occupies, and
which he has resided upon ever since, with the
excejition of six years, when he rented his estate
and lived in the village of Montgomery.
The marriage of Mr. Rockafellow with Miss
Caroline McCune occurred October 25, 1858.
She was born in this county, and by her union
with our subject became the mother of four chil
dren, two of whom died young. Addie E. and
John W. are still at home, the latter aiding in
the management of the old place. It contains
one hundred and seven acres, well improved,
which our subject devotes mainly to dairy farm
ing. In the neighborhood where he has passed
his entire life he is highly respected for his in
dustrious habits, his courteous treatment of all
with whom he has dealings, and his sterling in
tegrity. This property is the result of his own
earnings, and of this fact he has every reason to
be proud.
He has never been interested in politics in the
sense of being an office-seeker, but never fails to
cast a ballot during elections in favor of Demo
cratic candidates. He attends strictly to his own
affairs, and by so doing has gained a good com
petence, which enables him to live comfortably.
g> ' **: c^r^"*T '*> E^*' si
(JOHN JAMES VANDEROEF, junior mem-
I ber ofthe firm of James Vanderoef & Son, of
Q/ Montgomery, is one of the successful busi
ness men of the city. From early manhood he
has been associated with his father in business,
and now has supervision of their yards, where
they have in stock large quantities of lumber,
coal, flour and feed, brick drain tile, lime, cement,
plaster and salt, the stock being valued at about
$9,000. The history of the Vanderoef family is given in
the biography of James Vanderoef, on another
page of this work. John James was born in Or
ange County, July 16, 1842, and has spent his en-

692

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tire life in the vicinity of his present home. In
1868 he married Miss Mary Luquere, of Mont
gomery, and a son, William P., was born to them
November 28, 1870; he is now his father's assist
ant in the lumber business, holding the position
of bookkeeper. January 15, 1880, Mr. Vander
oef married Miss Anna J., daughter of Hugh and
Isabel (Houston) Milliken, and two sons and one
daughter bless their union: Charles M., J. Clar
ence and Anna Bell.
The family residence is a new and comfortable
house, erected by Mr. Vanderoef near his father's
home. Both he and his wife are active members
of the Presbyterian Church, and belong to the
choir. Mrs. Vanderoef is a talented pianist, and
has gained more than a local reputation for skill
in music, having given years of study to that sci
ence under the best teachers. Her father, who
was born in Montgomery, has been a life- long res
ident of this city, and is now seventy-six years of
age. Notwithstanding his advanced years, he is
energetic, vigorous and robust, and still takes an
active interest in public affairs.

Gz

-G)

¦3"

®-*r

Tl!

"HOMAS D. HILL, who holds the respon
sible position of freight and passenger agent
of the Erie Railroad at Goshen, is also
agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company at
this place. He has proved himself to be very
efficient in these capacities, and is popular and
well liked by all who have dealings with him.
As a railroad man he is very successlul, and has
worked his way up to his present high standing
among his fellow -employes ofthe Erie Road from
the bottom of the ladder.
Our subject, who is a lineal descendant of John
Rolland Hill, the English evangelist, is a native
of New Jersey, having been born in Schraalen-
burg, Bergen County, September 21, 1858. His
father, David Hill, was a native of New York
City, while his father, Francis F., the grandfather
of our subject, was bora near Tappau, N. Y.
The latter, who married Adelia Post, was for

many years engaged as an auctioneer and also
dealt in real-estate at Hackensack, N. J., where
his death occurred. He held many local offices,
always being elected on the Democratic ticket.
The great-grandfather of Thomas D. was also a
native of the Empire State, and religiously was a
consistent member of the Reformed Church.
During the early years of his life, David Hill
was engaged in the livery and butcher business
at Hackensack, N. J., but later removed to Pat
erson, where he is employed by the Erie Road
at the River Street Station. He married Cath
erine A. Page, who was born in Freehold, Mon
mouth County, N. J., and who was bereft of both
parents when quite young. By her union with
David Hill she became the mother of two chil
dren, of whom Thomas D. is the eldest. His
brother, William E. , is at present engaged in the
diug business at Paterson, N. J.
The boyhood days of our subject were passed
in Hackensack, N. J., where he attended school
until a lad of fourteen years. Being then obliged
to earn his own money, he began clerking in a
grocery store, remaining thus occupied until 1874,
the year in which he entered the employ of the
Erie Road, being assigned as extra brakeman on
the Eastern Division. In 1880, however, he
went further west and secured the position of
fireman on the run between Salamanca, N. Y.,
and Kent, Ohio, on the New York, Pennsylvania
& Ohio Road. Two years and a-half later he re
turned to Paterson, and was made switchman of
the yards for the Erie Road, and for two years
thereafter was kept busy in the freight-house.
He was then promoted to be clerk, and was later
appointed chief clerk, holding the responsible po
sition until 1889, when he entered upon his work
as agent on River Street, Paterson. He remained
in charge of the station there until February 24,
1892, when he was appointed agent at Goshen
for the passenger aud freight departments. His
record as a railroad man has been a good one,
and he is very popular with the officials of the
road, who regard him as worthy and capable.
Mr. Hill was married, November 8, 1879, to
Miss Ella, the daughter of Rev. Joseph R. Ash,
a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. He

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

693

was formerly engaged in northern Minnesota,
where his daughter was born, but is now resid
ing in Paterson. To Mr. and Mrs. Hill have been
born three daughters, Myra, Ada and Edna May.
In social affairs Mr. Hill is a Mason of high
standing, being a member of Lodge No. 365, at
Goshen. He is Democratic in politics, believing
that the principles laid down in the platform of
that party are best adapted to the needs of the
Nation.

-J— 1  ?>>H®1§$®H-C;»  *-*+-

|RS. MARY A. SEARS. Known to the
majority of the residents of the town of
Montgomery and honored wherever known,
this estimable lady resides upon the farm of
thirty-two acres which was formerly the resi
dence of her mother. Not only does she possess
housewifely skill, but she is also fitted for the
successful management of her business affairs,
and superintends her estate in such a manner as
to secure the very best results therefrom. Among
the people of the community she has the reputa
tion of being a wise and energetic business
woman. Her friends are numerous, comprising
the best people of the town in which she has so
long resided.
The family of which Mrs. Sears is a member
consisted of five children. The eldest, Jacob W.
Jennings, now a resident of Jackson, Mich.,
served in the Civil War as Corporal in a cavalry
company, and was wounded in an engagement
with the Confederates; James, who died at the
age of about forty-nine, was a private in the late
war, and was wounded in battle; John, also a
soldier in the Union army, contracted consump
tion from exposure and the hardships of army
life, and died at the age of thirty-two; Johanna,
widow of Samuel J. Fleming, resides in Mont
gomery Town; Mary A. is next in order of birth;
Margaret Jane Malcomson, a half-sister, is the
wife of William Irskine, of Washington, D. C.
The father of our subject, Luke Jennings, was
born and reared in London, where he was

educated for the Episcopal ministry in accordance
with the desire of his parents. However, he had
no liking for that profession, and determined to
follow his own inclinations. Accordingly, at
the age of seventeen, he ran away from home and
came to America, settling in the town of Roches
ter, Ulster County, N. Y., where he engaged in
the mercantile business for a number of years.
Later he removed to the village of Shawangunk,
the same county, where he engaged in merchan
dising until his death, at fifty years of age. He
was successful in business affairs, and left his
family comfortably provided for.
Eva, mother of our subject, was born in the
town of Rochester, Ulster County, and died
April 23, 1894, at the age of eighty-one years.
In religious belief she was identified with the
United Presbyterian Church. Her mental and
physical faculties she retained almost unim
paired to the last days of her useful and busy
life. She was a daughter of Jacob and Hannah
(Van Ostrand) Wakeman, natives of Ulster
County, to which place the parents of the latter
had come from Holland.
Mary A. Jennings was born in Shawangunk,
Ulster County, August 18, 1844. The rudi
ments of her education were acquired in the
district schools, and at the age of eleven years
she entered the academy at Ellenville, where the
two following years were spent. Such rapid
progress did she make in her studies, that at the
age of thirteen she commenced to teach, following
this profession in the district schools in the sum
mer and attending school in the winter seasons.
For about a year she was a student in the State
Normal College of Albany, but was obliged to
discontinue her studies in that institution on
account of poor health. She taught both in
Ulster and Orange Counties until her marriage,
which event, occurring May 3, 1865, united her
with John M. Sears.
A native of New York City, Mr. Sears was
brought by his father to Newburgh at the age
of two years. He grew to manhood in Orange
County, and at the age of twenty-one was given
a farm of one hundred and five acres by his
father. Upon this place the remaining years of

694

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his life were spent, and here he died, February
29, 1876. Being a lover of equine flesh, he
made a specialty of the breeding of fine horses,
some of which were sold for $30,000. In his
stables were horses belonging to Commodore
Vanderbilt and other noted men, who employed
him to train trie animals for the turf. In politics
he was a Democrat, but did not take an active
part in public matters, preferring to give his
attention to his personal affairs.
• -===^2^fK^Al.J^P'*HH2i£22— •--
— -^feSSbtr"**" "i^*gSB^fe5— —

¦50-
0AVID CONSTABLE. It would be difficult,
if indeed it were not impossible, to decide
which ofthe states of our Union is the best,
but it is certainly within the bounds of truth to
say that the state of New York is one of the great
est and best, and equally true is it that Orange
County contains within its borders some of the
most beautiful scenery, finest improved farms, aud
most enterprising citizens, that are to be found in
the commonwealth.
To this class belongs David Constable, a life
long resident of the town of Montgomery, and an
energetic and progressive agriculturist. He re
sides upon the old homestead, where his birth oc
curred, and where were also born his forefathers
as far back as the fifth generation. The family,
having been identified for so many years with the
history and growth of this locality, is well known
throughout the county, its representatives having
been men of energy, capability and progressive
spirit. The father of our subject, Abraham Constable,
as well as his grandfather and great-grandfather,
were born on this farm, to which place the first
ancestor in America had come from Holland.
The father made this place his home until his
death, which occurred at the age of fifty years.
The mother, who bore the maiden name of Ann
Eliza Hadden, was born in the town of Mont
gomery, and died here December 29, 1893, at
seventy-eight years of age. She was a woman of
noble Christian character, and a devoted member
of the Reformed Church. Her mother was born
in Orange County, and was of Irish extraction.

Her father, a native of Ireland, came to America
at the age often years, and remained a resident
of New York until his death, at the age of eighty-
six. In the town of Montgomery the subject of this
notice was born June 30, 1855, and here he has
always resided. His boyhood years were divided
between attendance at the district schools and
helping his father in the cultivation of the farm.
Since attaining manhood he has superintended
the old home place, which under his efficient man
agement maintains the high degree of cultivation
to which it had been brought by his father. As
every good citizen should, he takes an active in
terest iu public affairs, and is well informed re
garding the political questions of the age, his sup
port being given to the Democratic party. Upon
his party ticket he was elected to the position of
Town Collector, which he held for one term. So
cially he is identified with the Knights of Pythias,
holding membership in Walden Lodge No. 267,
at Walden.

HERON L. MILLSPAUGH, tie leading
undertaker and embalmer of Walden, be
longs to one of the honored old families of
Orange County. The original settler, Philip
Millspaugh, who was of Holland descent, located
in the town of Montgomery, on the west side of
the Wallkill River, between Montgomery and
Walden. He served as a soldier during the Rev
olutionary War. On the old farm his son Jere
miah was born, January 17, 1776, and his death
occurred September 17, 1850. He was one of a
family of six children, Frederick, Moses, David,
Lewis, Jeremiah and Mary, all of whom reared
families in this county, but few of their descend
ants are now living here. A son of Moses is liv
ing in Bloomingburg, and is the only one bearing
the name of Millspaugh with the exception of our
subject and his brother Harvey, though both
Frederick and Lewis have grandchildren iii Or
ange County, but not ofthe name.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

695

November 30, 1800, Jeremiah Millspaugh wed
ded Sallie Crist, who was born February 24, 1779,
and departed this life January 31, 1847. In
their family were five children, two of whom died
in infancy. Those who arrived at maturity were
Gilbert (the father of our subject), Harvey and
Catherine Ann. The father was probably the first
tailor of Walden, and with him both Harvey and
Gilbert learned the trade. They lived on a tract
of twenty -two acres just on the edge of Walden,
and first began working at home, but later started
a shop in the village. Harvey, who was born
December 3, 1801, was united in marriage with
Mary Hammell, of Oneida County, N. Y., who
died about 1845, while he survived her about six
years, dying January 26, 1851. They had three
children: Gilbert, who died at the age of twenty-
eight years; John, who died at the age of twenty-
one; and Mary Adeline, who became the wife of
Cornelius Lowe, of Newburgh, and died at the
age of thirty-five, leaving a daughter, who is still
living. Catherine Ann, who was born December
18, 1809, married Lewis Crist, and lived on a farm
near Montgomery, where she died February 14,
1892. She became the mother of three children:
Jeremiah, a resident of Delaware; Ellen, widow
of George Hardesty, of West Cornwall; and Sarah
M., who was the wife of Nehemiah Andrews, of
the town of Montgomery, and who died at the
age of forty-five years.
The father of our subject, Gilberts. Millspaugh,
was born November 5, 1807, and January 6, 1831,
was married to Miss Sallie Jane Clineman, whose
birth occurred November 11, 1807, just six days
later than his. She was a daughter of Thomas
Clineman, whose father bore the same name and
.came from Frankfort -on-the-Main, Germany. He
settled in the town of Montgomery about as early
as the Millspaugh family. It is said that the
founder started out as a pack-peddler, but finally
became owner of one of the best farms in the coun
ty, where the family continued to live for over a
century. It was on the Wallkill River, two miles
north of Walden, and there he lived and died, as
did his son Thomas. On the old homestead Mrs.
Millspaugh was also born, and she passed from
this life April 8, 1844. The father followed the

tailor's trade up to the time of his death, which
occurred November 26, 1845, and at which time
he left a family of five small children. Harvey,
born September 15, 1833, is a resident of Walden;
Mary, born February 28, 1835, died at the age of
eight years; Sarah Jane, born August 20, 1837,
became the wife' of Henry Franklin, and died
April 1, 1865; Theron L-, born September 15,
1838, is the next of the family; and Ellen, born
April 26, 1840, is the wife of Isaac Buswell, a
locksmith of Rondout, Ulster County.
Theron L. Millspaugh, whose name heads this
sketch, remained with his paternal grandfather
until he had reached the age of thirteen years,
when he went to live with his maternal grand
mother on a farm one mile farther north, but as
her death occurred a year later, he then made his
home with his uncle, Thomas Clineman, on a
farm in the vicinity of Walden, in an old stone
house that had been standing for one hundred
years. For four years he remained with that gen
tleman, but at the age of seventeen went to Wal
den, where he learned cabinet-making with John
G. Woolsey. The latter had come here from
New York City, being hired by David Scott, the
first undertaker of the village, who here engaged
in business for fourteen years, and during that
time manufactured his own coffins, and brought
to the county the first hearse, which was quite
primitive in structure, having cloth sides instead
of glass. On the death of Mr. Scott Mr. Woolsey
succeeded to the business, which he also conduct
ed for fourteen years. Mr. Millspaugh served an
apprenticeship of three years, for the first year re
ceiving $20 and his board, for the second $25, and
for the third $30. On the death of Mr. Woolsey
our subject still had one more year to serve and
worked under a Mr. Corbitt, whom he hired to
instruct him in the business. On the ist of April,
1858, Mr. Millspaugh purchased the stock from
the widow, and for thirty-seven years has carried
on the business, being the oldest undertaker in
years of service in the county. For the first
twenty years he manufactured all of the furniture
and coffins he sold, and he has officiated at over
eighteen hundred funerals.
On the 26th of March, 1862, Mr. Millspaugh

696

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor D.
Smith, daughter of Hon. David H. Smith, of the
town of Montgomery, who was elected on the
Whig ticket to the State Legislature. She was
born on the State Road, September 20, 1838, just
five days after the birth of our subject. They
have two children, Hattie C. and Gilbert S. Hat-
tie, who was born March 22, 1865, is the wife of
Dr. J. E. Sadlier, of Poughkeepsie. Here also
there is a difference of only six days in the ages.
Gilbert is in business with his father.
Although his father was a strong Democrat,
Mr. Millspaugh always votes the Republican
ticket, and served for several years as Village
Trustee. Both he and his wife are consistent
members ofthe Reformed Church, in whose Sun
day-school work he has taken an active part for
fifty years. For twenty-two years he has been a
member of the Official Board of the church, the
first fourteen years being Deacon, and the remain
der of the time an Elder, which latter office he
still holds. In the temperance cause he takes a
deep interest, being strictly temperate himself,
having never taken a drink of anything intoxi
cating in his life. He has always taken an active
interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of
the village, having been instrumental in securing
many of its enterprises. He is very fond of fine
horses, and has been the breeder of several fine
and highly-bred animals.

<)C*****fr**»****fp**********»'*KX>
[~ RED B. SEELY. A prominent position
rrf among the well-to-do farmers and dairymen
| of Orange County is held by this gentleman,
who is the fortunate possessor of one of the finest
farms within its bounds. It is two hundred and
five acres in extent, and is embellished with all
necessary outbuildings of modern build, besides a
handsome brick residence, conveniently arranged
and finished, and furnished in a manner which
indicates its occupants to be people of taste and
means. Mr. Seely was bom in the town of Goshen, Sep
tember 14, 1845, and was the eldest but one of
the family of Charles B. and Hannah J. (Cole

man) Seely, also natives ofthe above town, with
in whose bounds their entire lives were spent.
The father was a prominent agriculturist of this
locality, and his death, which occurred in 1893,
was widely felt and mourned, for in him the coun
ty lost one of its best citizens. The Seely family
are landmarks in Orange County, for the grand
parents of our subject were also born and reared
here. Fred B., of this sketch, spent his early life on
the home farm. When but a lad he received a
serious injury, being thrown from a horse, which
injured his spine and prevented him from per
forming manual labor. He received his primary
schooling at Chester, after which he attended bus
iness college at Poughkeepsie. When a young
man of twenty years he assumed the management
of the Chester Flour and Feed-mills, successfully
carrying on the same for a period of twenty-two
years. About that time, desirous of settling down
to a life of quiet and comfort, he purchased this
property, which is one of the most beautiful and
attractive estates within the county. As stated
before, it comprises over two hundred acres of till
able land, adorned with a fine set of modern
buildings and a handsome brick residence. This
abode is furnished tastily, and is presided over
by a most intelligent and worthy lady.
Mr. Seely makes dairy farming his chief occu
pation, and has between seventy and eighty cows.
Although his experience as a farmer is not of
such long standing as many of the citizens of the
county, he is widely known and highly regarded,
and is classed among its best residents. When
ready to establish a home of his own, Mr. Seely
was married, in December, 1873, to Miss Ruth
A., daughter of Cornelius B. and Julia Ann
(Young) Davis, both natives of Orange County.
The father is still living, at the venerable age of
eighty-two, while his wife is many years his jun
ior. Mr. and Mrs. Seely have been blessed by
the birth of four children, named, respectively,
Howard, Julia Y., Floyd and Fred B., Jr. They
are bright and intelligent, and are all attending
school, it being the desire and ambition of their
parents that they may be well educated. With
their three eldest children the parents are mem-

PLEASANT VIEW FARM, RESIDENCE OF FRED B. SEELY,
Two and One-Half Miles Southeast of Goshen, N. Y.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

699

bers of the Presbyterian Church at Chester. In
politics Mr. Seely is a Democrat, and is conse
quently opposed to monopolies of all kinds. He
has never aspired to official honors, yet is always
ready and willing to do his part in advancing the
best interests ofthe community.

(TON AS Du BO IS has followed the occupation
I of an agriculturist upon the laud in the town
Q) of Montgomery which he purchased in 1875,
and since that time he has, by his untiring indus
try and indefatigable labor, been enabled to ac
quire considerable property and to lay the foun
dation of a competence that will remove the neces
sity of further labor when he reaches old age.
The situation of his farm, one mile from Walden,
is particularly convenient, enabling him to enjoy
all the comforts of rural life, yet bringing him
within reach of such advantages as a city offers.
The Du Bois family is one of the oldest in the
Hudson Valley, the first representative iu this
country, Louis Du Bois, having come here with
the original band of Huguenot settlers. The
parents of our subject, La Fever and Rebecca
(Du Bois) Du Bois, were born, reared and mar
ried in New Paltz (now known as Gardiner) , Ul
ster County, N. Y. , where they died, the former
at eighty, and the latter when seventy, years of
age. They were an intelligent, hospitable couple,
and were consistent Christians, holding member
ship in the Dutch Reformed Church.
The birth of our subject occurred in Gardiner,
N. Y., September 28, 1834, aud he was the eld
est of the family of five children. He remained
at home until he was twenty-eight, and then mar
ried, after which he lived on one of his father's
farms for eleven years. In 1875 he removed to
Orange County and purchased the farm which he
still owns, and to the cultivation of which he has
since given his attention. November 12, 1862,
he married Miss Sarah Ellen Deyo, of New Paltz
(now Gardiner), N. Y. This estimable lady died
January 28, 1890, leaving five children, as fol

lows: Eliza Catherine, who married Joseph John
son, and lives in this county; Mary Ella, wife of
George D. Jenkins, a farmer of New Paltz; Har-
man, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in
the town of Gardiner, Ulster County ; and Jesse
and Etting, who are still with their father.
In his political views Mr. Du Bois is an ardent
champion of Republican principles, and is well
informed concerning all questions affecting the
peace and prosperity of our country. For twen
ty-five years he has held membership in the Re
formed Church, in which he has officiated as Eld
er and Deacon, and to the support of which he is
a liberal contributor. His wife was also a mem
ber of that denomination. He has made agricult
ure his life calling, and the prosperity he has
achieved is the just reward of his perseverance
and excellent management. In addition to the
raising of cereals, he has for some years carried
on an extensive dairy business, and finds this de
partment of agriculture pleasant and profitable.

&•$••$••$•{

Si-5"S-**t

'•i-i-i-i-WtmS' •5"J-5"5-P

30HN D. BROWNELL, M. D. Among the
residents of Walden, perhaps none is bet
ter known or more generally esteemed than
is the subject of this sketch. His ability is un
questioned, and his success assured in this village,
where he has proved himself faithful to every
trust. An energetic and enterprising man, he
has advanced the public interests of the village
in many ways, and is thoroughly identified with
all movements calculated to benefit his commu
nity and county.
The subject of this sketch was born in Brinck-
erhoff, Dutchess County, N. Y., on the 5th of
June, 1858, and is the son of Nathaniel and Cor
nelia (White) Brownell, both of whom were na
tives of Greene County, where the latter died. J.
D. was the youngest of his parents' family, and
was only three years of age when his mother died.
The Brownell family was* of English and Irish
descent, and our subject's father was a farmer of
Dutchess County , where his death occurred in the
year 1871. The history of the mother's family,
it is believed, can be traced to the "Mayflower."

700

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

One of our subject's brothers is still on the old
farm in Dutchess County, and two others are en
gaged in agricultural pursuits elsewhere. The
eldest of the sons died a few years ago.
The Doctor remained on the home farm until
twenty-one years of age, receiving his college
education in the Albany State Normal, from which
he was graduated in June, 1878, after which he
engaged in teaching school. His first school was
in the Johnsville District, in Dutchess County,
and he remained there one year, following this
with a-half year in the Swartwoutville District, in
the same county. Subsequently he was for one
year and a-half Principal -ofthe public school of
Monroe. This was a graded school, with an en
rollment of three hundred pupils, and he em
ployed three assistant teachers.
Upon leaving this position, the Professor be
came Superintendent and Principal of the Ches
ter Union School and Academy, located in Ches
ter, remaining in that capacity for seven consecu
tive years. This institution had an enrollment
of five hundred pupils, and the Superintendent
had nine assistant teachers, the classes being con
ducted in the three buildings built for that pur
pose. Dr. Brownell counts his connection with
the Chester as one ofthe most satisfactory periods
of his life, for it was his privilege to start many of
the boys who are now occupying positions of great
responsibility, and to create in the minds of the
young people under his care a love for learning
and achievement. At the time he left Chester,
seventeen of his pupils were in preparatory schools
and colleges, and three of his former students are
now practicing medicine in this county, aroused
to interest in this profession by his teaching of
science and physiology. Beginning there with a
salary of $800, he was advanced until it amount
ed to $1,200 per annum. While there he was
President of the Orange County Teachers' Asso
ciation, and was active in all educational interests
ofthe entire county.
Resigning his position in Chester, Dr. Brown
ell began the study of medicine, entering first the
College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York
City, and after remaining there a year he went
to the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn,

from which he graduated two years later with
the degree of M. D., in the Class of '91. One of
his school boys received his degree just one year
afterward. Dr. Brownell began practice with Dr. E. P.
Turner, whose office was located at No. 30 State
Street, New York City, and continued with him
several months, but in the fall of 1891 located in
Walden, succeeding to the practice of Dr. Thomas
Millspaugh, then recently deceased. He has been
very successful here, and well deserves the con
fidence which the people of the town and vicinity
place in him. He is an active member of the
County Medical Association , and is especially .in
terested in the progress being made in surgery.
July 19, 1880, Miss Anna May Cooley became
the wife of our subject. She was born in Albany,
and was a classmate of the Doctor's in the Albany
Normal. The ceremony took place at the home
of the bride in the latter city. She was also a
teacher in this county , having taught for two or
three years near Washingtonville. To the union
of our subject and his wife there were born three
sons: Charles Sumner, who is fourteen years of
age; Ralph Chadwick, twelve; and Clifford White,
who is ten years old.
The death of the Doctor's wife occurred in
Chester, November 14, 1890, while the Doctor
was a student in the medical college. Her un
timely death was the result of heart disease, and
was deeply mourned by her many devoted friends
and loved ones. She was a member ofthe Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and a woman of many
noble and endearing qualities. Although the
day of the funeral was a very stormy one, and the
rain was pouring in torrents, the church could
not hold the people who gathered for a last look
at the much-loved face. Her body lies at rest in
the family cemetery, near the old home of the
Doctor in Dutchess County.
The second marriage of our subject occurred
May 19, 1892, when he was united with Miss
Emma Strong, of Washingtonville. She was a
warm friend of his first wife, and was also a distant
relative. The Doctor and his wife are both active
members of the Reformed Church, the former be
ing a member of the choir. He is a Republican

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

701

in politics, and has been Health Officer of Walden
for two years. For the past three years he has been
a member of the Board of Education here. Both
he and his wife are well known for their moral
worth and generous hospitality, and are much es
teemed in this locality.

•glUGUSTUS HILL, a farmer ofthe town of
TV Montgomery, was born May 4, 1838, on
|\ the old homestead where he now resides.
He is the sixth in a family of seven children born
to Nathaniel P. and Matilda (Crawford) Hill, the
others being James K. , who is a graduate of Yale
and a prominent attorney in New York City; Isa
bel, who died when about fifty-two years of age;
Nathaniel Peter, now of Colorado; Moses C, who
died when eleven years of age; Charles B., a
graduate of Yale, and a prominent lawyer of
New York City, who died when about thirty-five
years of age; and J. Alden, still living on the old
homestead. Of this family Nathaniel P. is probably the
most noted member. He is a graduate of an ex-
professor in Brown's University of Providence; is
President of the Colorado Smelting and Mining
Company (the largest of its kind in the world) ,
and organizer of the United Oil Company, of
which he has been President since its organiza
tion. In January, 1879, he was nominated and
elected United States Senator from Colorado for a
term of six years, beginning March 4, 1879, and
while in the Senate he secured the passage of a
large number of bills affecting his adopted state.
On the expiration of his term, he returned home
and gave his time and attention to his large min
ing and oil interests, holding no public office un
til January, 1891, when he was nominated by
President Harrison as one of three members of
the International Monetary Commission. Pres
ident Harrison, who was a fellow-Senator with
Senator Hill, recognized the value of his work in
the Senate, while Mr. Blaine, who was also inter

ested in the appointment, was equally familiar
with his record on the white-metal question. He
is a man of whom Orange County may well be
proud. The subject of this sketch has always lived on
the farm where he was born, and he inherited a
portion of the old homestead. He is a gradu
ate of Montgomery Academy. By his marriage
with Miss Julia M. Knapp, there were born four
children. Charles B., the eldest, is a graduate of
Yale University, and is now quite a successful
attorney in New York City. February 26, 1895,
he married Miss Sarah Cooper Rogers, a daugh
ter of Gen. George Rogers, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
Nathaniel P. is also a graduate of Yale Univer
sity, and is now a civil engineer in Colorado; he
is connected with- the Union Oil Company, of
which his uncle is President. Helen A. and Alice
Hale are now attending a collegiate school in
Englewood, preparatory to entering Vassar Col
lege. Charles B. and Nathaniel P. attended the
Williston Seminary at Easthampton, Mass., pre
paratory to entering Yale. Mr. Hill and family
are all ardent Republicans, and Mrs. Hill and
her two sons are members of the Presbyterian
Church at Montgomery.
The first appearance of the Hill family in Amer
ica was about 1730, when Nathaniel Hill, the
great-grandfather of our subject, who was born in
1705, came to this country from Country Cavan,
Ireland. He was of English stock, and a descen
dant of the family of the ancient Anglo-Norman
surname, members of which moved from England
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when, in
1573, Sir Moses Hill, Knight, and Peter Hill, his
son, accompanied the Earl of Essex at the head
ofthe English forces sent to suppress O' Neil's
rebellion. Both Moses Hill and his son Peter
were granted large estates, chiefly in County
Down. The records and many circumstances
connected with the life of Nathaniel Hill show
that he was a descendant of the landed gentry of
England, and that he came to this country pos
sessed of considerable wealth. Soon after his ar
rival he went to a Scotch-Irish settlement west of
the Hudson River, then known as Dwaars Kill,
in the precinct of Hanover, but now the town of

702

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Crawford. The first public record we have of
him is his enlistment in Captain Bayard's militia
in 1738.
Nathaniel Hill was a prosperous man. His son
Peter, grandfather of our subject, was born in this
county in 1751. When only twenty-four years
old he was commissioned Captain in Col. James
Clinton's regiment of militia, and became distin
guished on account of his gallant defense of Ft.
Montgomery. He died when about forty-four years
old. He married Isabelle Trimble, and about
1774 occupied the brick mansion built for him by
his father near Montgomery. His son, Nathan
iel P. Hill, the father of our subject, was born in
1 78 1, and was educated at Montgomery Acad
emy. In the War of 18 12 he was a Lieutenant in
Capt. Peter Milliken 's cavalry. Though he never
sought office, he was often called upon to fill po
sitions of responsibility, and was a member of
the Legislature in 1816-19-20 and 1825. In 1836
he was Presidential Elector aud voted for Martin
Van Buren. There are persons still living who
remember his popularity, for he was sought by
his neighbors to decide questions in dispute.
Judge Monuell once said that Nathaniel P. Hill
decided more cases off the Bench than any Judge
in Orange County on the Bench. He died in
1842, in his sixty-second year.

-******"*.

"""="1

^«

(=_

["RANK MOULD. Among the citizens of
JM Orange County this gentleman is known as
| one ofthe most energetic and liberal-spirited
farmers of the town of Montgomery. He belongs
to a family whose representatives were numbered
among the early settlers of New York, the remote
ancestors being natives of Holland. A shrewd
business man, he was successful in his mercantile
enterprise, and is meeting with excellent results
as an agriculturist. He commands the respect
of his fellow-men, his prominence among them
being due as much to his personal character as
to his ability and success in business affairs.
Upon the farm that he now owns the subject
of this sketch was born March 9, 1852, being the
seventh among eleven children born to John and

Emily (Douglas) Mould. Of his brothers and
sisters we note the following: Mary E. is the wife
of George W. Pierson, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y.;
Sarah is unmarried; Emma F. is the wife of Allen
Bryson, a farmer of this town; Jonathan is en
gaged in the dry-goods business at Reading, Pa. ;
Harrison D. is a traveling salesman, with head
quarters at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; Catherine mar
ried N. I. Quackenbos, whose sketch is presented
on another page of this volume; Frank is the
next in order of birth; Carrie is the wife of L- H.
Holmes, of Albany, N. Y.; Maria died at the age
of thirty-three years; Isaac W. passed from earth
when thirty-five years old; and Alice T., the
youngest, is unmarried.
The father of our subject was born on the old
homestead in this town, and here spent his entire
life, dying at the age of seventy-six. He was a
successful farmer, a strong Republican, and an
active member of the Montgomery Reformed
Church. His grandparents were born in Hol
land, and were the first representatives of the
family in the United States. Our subject's mother
is still living and is now (1895) seventy-six
years of age.
The boyhood years of our subject were passed
uneventfully on the home farm, his education
being gained in the schools of the neighborhood.
Upon attaining his majority he went to Reading,
Pa., where he engaged in a general mercantile
business with his brother Jonathan until 1894.
Disposing of his interest in the enterprise at that
time, he remained in Reading until the spring of
1895, when he returned to Orange County and
purchased the homestead where he was born.
This consists of one hundred acres of land, upon
which valuable improvements have been placed,
and which is devoted to the raising of the various
cereals. January 29, 1884, Mr. Mould was united in
marriage with Miss Annie Lewis, of Scranton,
Pa., who died in 1885. His present wife, with
whom he was united December 6, 1894, bore the
maiden name of Olivia S. Fleming, and prior to
her marriage was a resident of Reading, Pa. She
is the possessor of an intelligent mind, a Christian
character and many useful accomplishments, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

703

has made many friends among the people of
Montgomery Town. In politics Mr. Mould is a
thorough Republican. As a citizen he is public-
spirited, reliable and prominent, while his per
sonal character is that of an honorable, generous
and upright man.

Gz

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-G)

=E)

EHARLES H. KAUNE, one of the promi
nent citizens of Montgomery, was born No
vember 2, 1836, and passed his boyhood in
New York City and on Long Island. At the age
of fourteen years he became a clerk in a drug
store in New York City, where he remained un
til the breaking out of the Civil War. About
forty years ago his parents, Amos and Maria
(Wolfrom) Kaune, arrived in Montgomery, where
the father died at the age of seventy-five years.
For three years he had served during the Rebel
lion, in the Union army, and as he had some
knowledge of medicine, having studied it when a
young man, he was placed in charge of the trans
portation of the invalid and wounded soldiers
from the front to northern hospitals.
The brother of our subject, Amos A. Kaune,
who is now manager of the John G. Borden es
tate in Green Cove Springs, Fla., but a resident
of Montgomery, was also a soldier of the Union
army. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the navy,
becoming a seaman on board the frigate "Wa
bash." At Charleston, in August, 1863, he was
captured, while doing picket duty in the harbor.
A line of pickets had been established by each
side, and as the boat on which he was serving
was within the enemy's lines it was taken. He
jumped overboard, but becoming exhausted after
remaining in the water three hours, he landed on
Sullivan's Island, where he was taken prisoner.
For four months he was held at Charleston and
Columbia, S. C, and at Belle Isle, when he was
paroled, this terminating his service. At Fair
Haven, N. J., in 1866, he was married, and con
tinued to make that place his home until about
ten years ago, when he came to Montgomery.

In May, 1861, Charles H. Kaune also enlisted
in the navy and was placed on board the United
States frigate "Wabash." It was a steam ves
sel used in blockading the coast off Charleston,
and was under the command of Capt. Samuel
Mercer and Admiral Du Pont. It was engaged
in the bombardment of Ft. Hatteras and Clark,
N. C. , at the time of the Butler campaign. After
having served three years, Mr. Kaune was dis
charged, but was soon appointed Hospital Steward
on the steamers ' 'Union" and "Memphis, ' ' supply
vessels, where he remained until the close ofthe
war. After serving iii the Union cause for about
four years he received an honorable discharge.
For twenty-five years after retiring from the
service, Mr. Kaune engaged in the saloon busi
ness in Montgomery, and for the past two years
he has conducted a store, carrying a stock of gro
ceries, confectionery, tobacco, etc. He is also
considerably interested in real estate, and has
erected a fine residence in the southern part of the
village. On the 4th of April, 1872, Mr. Kaune wedded
Miss Laura Jewell, daughter of John and Martha
(Paynton) Jewell, of Montgomery, but who are
now both deceased. The father, who was a black
smith by trade, was born in this village, and was
a son of Jacob Jewell, a farmer. The latter's fa
ther was one of the earliest settlers of Orange
County, and his father, who was the founder of
the family in the New World , arrived here before
the Revolution. Mrs. Kaune' s mother was born
in Connecticut, and was a daughter of Asher
Paynton, with whom she came to this place when
fourteen years of age. She departed this life on
the 9th of September, 1894, at the age of sixty-
three years, and her husband died July 19, 1884,
at the age of fifty-nine years. Our subject and
his wife have five children. Mattie M., who grad
uated from the academy in the Class of '92, is a
musician, and has engaged in teaching music; she
has served as organist for Rev. F. Brady and also
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Laura K.
graduated from the academy in 1895; and Flor
ence N., Viola aud Wallace Paynton complete the
family. Politically Mr. Kaune affiliates with the Dem-

704

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ocracy, aud for several terms has served as Vil
lage Trustee. He is one of the enterprising citi-
izens of Montgomery, interested in its welfare,
and aids iu all public affairs that are calculated to
benefit the community. Socially he belongs to
the Grand Army of the Republic and the Ancient
Order of Foresters of America. He is now serv
ing as President of the local branch of the State
Association of Wine, Liquor and Beer Dealers.
He has made quite a study of floriculture, in
which he is greatly interested, and for twenty
years has given much attention to the cultivation
of dahlias. He has produced over one hundred
varieties and specimens, and now has a collection
of about two hundred, one of the finest anywhere
to be found, and of which the owner may justly be
proud.

jgjEORGE PIERSON, who has resided on his
l__ present estate in the town of Hampton-
^_J burgh for nearly fifty years, is well known in
Orange County, and is the fortunate possessor of
as comfortable a home and surroundings as could
be wished for. He comes of one of the oldest
and most respected families of the state, his great
grandfather, Silas Pierson, being the first to make
his home in this county.
Our subject was born in this town, January i,
1824, and is the son of Henry Pierson, also a na
tive of the same place, who in turn was the son
of Joseph Pierson, a substantial resident of the
county. Our subject's mother, who in maiden
hood was Miss Mary Shaw, was a native of Or
ange County, and four of her eight children grew
to manhood and womanhood. Of these, George,
of this sketch was the eldest; William H. lives in
this town; Sarah J. departed thislifein 1855; and
Cornelia W. died in 1893. The husband and fa
ther lived until 1866, when he was called hence.
His wife preceded him to the better land, dying
in 1853. Their remains lie side by side in the
Hamptonburgh Cemetery.
The old home farm on which Henry Pierson
was born was the birthplace of our subject. Like

the boys of that day, he first attended the district
school, conning his lessons while seated on slab
benches. Afterward he became a student of the
Amherst Academy at Amherst, Mass. He grew
to manhood under the parental roof, and when
ready to take unto himself a wife was married,
December 20, 1848, to Miss Mary E. Thompson,
daughter of Oliver Thompson, an old resident of
that county. Their union resulted in the birth
of four children. Mary K. is now the wife of
Thomas B. Tuthill, of Blooming Grove; Sarah J.
died in 1861; George M. resides with his father
on the homestead; and Margaret A. is the wife of
George G. Woodhull.
In 1849 Mr. Pierson moved onto the farm
where he now makes his home, and which has
been the scene of his labors for nearly a half-cent
ury. It contains one hundred and forty acres,
and is devoted to general farming, the owner,
however, making a specialty of dairy farming.
Our subject is interested at all times -in public
affairs, and has held the office of Justice of the
Peace since 1869, and is also serving as Assessor.
Socially he is a Mason of good standing, and in
religious matters is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, of which for many years he has been a
Trustee.

-t — »>>H®^w®J+fi<»- — t-

Gl NDREW K. WADE, who deals in stoves
Lj and tinware in Walden, was born August 10,
I I 1845, in Montgomery, and is a son of Jabez
P. and Susan (Millspaugh) Wade, the latter a
daughter of an old settler of Orange County. Our
subject's father died when he was an infant, his
mother surviving him some years, and dying in
Walden, at the age of sixty-eight. She kept her
family together with the assistance of the older
children, and succeeded in giving each a fair start
in life. Our subject was the youngest in the fam
ily of eight.
The family remained in Montgomery until 1859,
when they removed to Walden, Andrew K. at
that time being fourteen years of age. One year

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

705

later he entered the tinware shop of his brother
Joseph, and worked for him until he completed
his trade. He was then employed by his brother-
in-law, E. B. Tears, of New York City, until 1888,
when he succeeded him in his business, which he
has continued to prosecute until the present time.
In April, 1879, Mr. Wade was united in mar
riage with Miss Sarah Frances McVeigh, a native
of Walden, and daughter of William and Ruth
Ann (Newkirk) McVeigh. Her father was a car
penter, and resided in Walden for forty years.
Four children were born unto our subject and
wife, only one of whom is now living. Edward
died at the age of four years, and Frederick and
Elizabeth in infancy The living one is Frances
Willard, named for the great apostle of temper
ance. Politically Mr. Wade is a Democrat, and has
served his adopted city as Police Justice for one
year, and was subsequently elected Justice of the
Peace, but did not qualify. He served three terms
as Town Supervisor, and has ever been active as
a member of his party. Mrs. Wade is a lady of
culture, and is an enthusiastic admirer of Frances
Willard, an active member of the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union, and also of the Protest
ant Episcopal Church.

<7"HOMAS FARLEY, one of the oldest resi-
I C dents of Orange County, is still living on
V2/ his old homestead, where almost his entire
life has been passed. This place is located in the
town of Goshen and is one of the best in this
section. Our subject, who is now eighty-three
years of age, well remembers his early life in this
county and has been a witness of vast changes,
even in this old and thickly populated town.
Thomas Farley was born November 28, 18 12,
to Luke and Margaret (Gordon) Farley, both of
whom were born near Dublin, Ireland. They
spent their early lives in their native land, and
emigrated to America after their marriage, at
once taking up their abode in Orange County,
where they reared their family of sons and daugh
ters, and passed the remainder of their lives.

The father was a ropemaker in his native land,
and also followed this industry to some extent
after coming to this county, although the greater
part of his time was passed in agricultural pur
suits. He manufactured the rope with which
Tidd and Dunning, the murderers of Mr. Jen
nings, of this county, were executed many years
ago. The parents are now deceased, dying at
the respective ages of eighty-six and seventy-one
years. Our subject had very inferior advantages for
gaining an education, as he was set to work to
earn his own living when quite young, and in
order to attend school at all was obliged to work
harder mornings and evenings when his employer
could spare him. He continued to reside at home
off and on until attaining his twenty-fifth year,
and has almost continuously since that time been
engaged in farming. For four and Qne-half years,
however, he was in the milk business in New
York City, but on his return to this county lo
cated on his present homestead, where he has
lived ever since. The place contains substantial
improvements, and embraces one hundred and
fifty acres, which the owner devotes to general
farming. Mr. Farley is now advanced in years
and does little more than to oversee the opera
tion of his valuable land.
Our subject was married, in 1838, to Miss Mary
E. Coleman-, the daughter of John and Mary
(Robinson) Coleman, natives of Orange County.
To Mr. and Mrs. Farley there was born a
daughter, Mary, who is now the widow of Will
iam Harman and resides at Newburgh. Mrs.
Farley departed this life in 1841, and the follow
ing year her husband was married to Esther Nel
son, who departed this life January 29, 1869.
This union resulted in the birth of eight children,
four ofwhom are now living, namely: Helen M.,
the wife of Charles Knapp, of this county; Azubah
M., at home with her father^ James Gilbert, a
resident of Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Harvey N.,
who resides in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Farley is a member of the Presbyterian
Church at Chester, and during his younger years
was an active worker iii the same. He has voted
the Republican ticket ever since the organization

706

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of that party, but previous to that time was a
Whig. He is a gentleman genial in manner and
enjoys the high regard of all the residents of
Orange County, by whom he is well known.

<X!l'i**S**5*'3' ^.^.^.^.^.4*,5,-3* ^S,2**,5'* •5**5**5"5* ??•{••IOC5"
IJJELSON H. WILCOX, proprietor ofthe Oc-
| / cidental Livery and Boarding Stables at Go-
\is sheu, is a fine representative ofthe native-
born citizens of Orange County, and is classed
among its most prosperous business men. He
was born in the town of Greenville, June 15,
1843, to David and Mary (Ferguson) Wileox.
His father died when he was quite young and the
date of his birth is not positively known. Mrs.
Wilcox, who was born in Greenville, departed
this life March 31, 1880, at Port Jervis, in which
locality she was greatly esteemed and respected.
She became the mother of two sons and two
daughters, named, respectively, Elizabeth, Hen
ry, Ellen and Nelson H.
Our subject was reared in his native city, at
tending its common schools until commencing to
make his own way in the world, which he did as
soon as reaching his majority. His first work
was on farms in the vicinity, after which he was
employed on the Delaware & Hudson Canal.
About this time he was married to Miss Catherine
M. Barrett, a native of Port Jervis. He still con
tinued to work on the canal, and was finally made
captain of a boat, which position he held for
three years, running between Honesdale, Pa., and
Rondout, N. Y., a distance of one hundred and
eight miles.
Upon retiring from life on the canal our subject
began contracting to furnish wood for the Erie
Railroad Company, his headquarters being at
Port Jervis. In order to carry on this business
he was obliged to hire many men, but -at the end
of two years he abandoned it and became brake-
man on the same road, running between Port
Jervis and Jersey City. Six months later he was
made flagman, and subsequently he was promoted
to be conductor of a freight train , his route lying
between Port Jervis and Jersey City. He ran on
the road in this capacity for a period of thirteen

years, but in 1887 resigned and engaged in
the grocery business at Port Jervis. This he
conducted with good success until April, 1889,
when he disposed of his stock to good advantage,
and, coming to Goshen, bought an interest in the
Occidental Stables and has made his home iu
this city ever since. The location of the stable is
in the rear of the Occidental Hotel, from which
it derives its name. It is one of the largest estab
lishments of the kind in the place and has ample
accommodation for boarding twenty-five horses.
He carries a large variety of cabs, coupes and car
riages, and makes a specialty of furnishing ve
hicles for funerals, weddings, parties, etc. His
prices are popular, and he receives a liberal pat
ronage. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox there have been born
two children: Ernest, now in the employ of the
Ontario & Western Railroad Company at Port
Jervis; and James V., a tinsmith of Middletown.
Socially Mr. Wilcox is an Odd Fellow of good
standing, holding membership with Neversink
Lodge No. 358. In politics he is a stanch sup
porter of Democratic principles. Mrs. Wilcox is
a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in the work of which she takes an active
and prominent part.

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i,»$».f»«$»«5»t—

3OSEPH Y. DAVIS, a farmer of the town of
Chester, was born in the town of Monroe,
June 8, 1852, and is the son of Cornelius B.
and Julia Ann (Youngs) Davis, both natives of
Orange County, where they yet continue to re
side. They are living on the old farm, but the
father has retired from active business on account
of age, being eighty-three years old. His wife is
seventy-seven years of age, and both are yet in
the possession of fair health.
The subject of this sketch, who attended the
district schools of Orange County in youth, was
reared on the farm and has always followed the
occupation of a farmer. He has now one hun
dred and forty acres of nicely improved land, on
which are a neat residence and outbuildings, be
sides other improvements. On the 28th of April,

W. D. TRAPHAGEN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

709

1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Allie
J. Bertholf, ofthe town of Monroe, and a daugh
ter of James H. Bertholf. This union has been
blessed by the birth of three children: Harry B.,
Julia Anna and Ruth S., who are yet residing at
home with the parents.
Politically Mr Davis is a Republican and has
always been an advocate of the principles of that
party. He has never been an office-seeker, al
though he is at the present time serving as Road
Commissioner, School Trustee and Assessor of
the town. He is a progressive citizen and a good
farmer, and is respected by all who know him.

WILLIAM D. TRAPHAGEN is a very suc
cessful boot and shoe merchant of New
burgh, having a fine location at No. 2
Colden Street, where he has a frontage of thirty
feet, which affords fine display windows and excel
lent light. His life has been more than ordinar
ily eventful, especially so in his youth, when he
shipped before the mast on a sailing-vessel which
was engaged in the whaling trade.
Our subject comes from the sturdy old Knicker
bocker stock of New York, his ancestors having
emigrated hither from Holland. His grandfa
ther, James, was born at New Hurley, Ulster
County, where he operated a farm. His father,
Benjamin Traphagen, a native of the same sec
tion, also followed agricultural pursuits until he
retired, three years prior to his death, which oc
curred in Newburgh in June, 1869, when sixty-
nine years of age. For a long period he had
been a member of the Dutch Reformed Church,
and held official positions in the same. His wife
was Miss Sarah J. Decker before their marriage,
and her mother was Miss Helms, of Orange
County. Mrs. Traphagen was a native of Ulster
County, and died in 1854, when our subject was
only two years old. Of her three sons and two
daughters, all but one grew to maturity, but of
these W. D. is now the only survivor.
The birth of our subject occurred in New Hur

ley, October 21, 1852. He was brought up on a
farm until thirteen years old, obtaining such ed
ucational advantages as the district schools of
fered. From that time onward he resided in
Newburgh, and for two years clerked for the dry-
goods firm of Fowler & Velie. Then for a year
he was with James T. Lawson & Co., merchant
tailors. In 1869, however, his desire for a sea
faring life led him to start on a whaling voyage
from New Bedford, Mass., on the good ship
"Spartan," which proceeded to the southern Pa
cific Ocean by way of Cape Horn. For fifteen
days, on account ofa storm, they made no head
way, but after rounding the cape they cruised
along the coast of Chili, Peru and Ecuador.
The voyage lasted altogether about three years,
and at the end of twelve months young Trapha
gen was promoted to be harpooner, being the
youngest one on the coast. In spite of the hard
ships and dangers incident to the life, it had much
charm for one of his spirit, and on his return
home it was not long ere he again obtained a po
sition as a harpooner on the "Ohio," which
sailed from New Bedford in northern and south
ern Atlantic waters. The trip lasted three and
a-half years, during which time our subject had
some narrow escapes. Twice the boat in which
he was pursuing a whale was capsized or broken
to pieces by the lashing of the mighty denizen of
the deep, but he was rescued by his companions.
In the fall of 1875 the vessel returned to New
Bedford and the young man settled down to a
quiet business life.
In March, 1876, Mr. Traphagen entered the
employ of T. Bartlett & Son, who were engaged
in the shoe business, and continued with them
until February, 1880. He then purchased the
stock of boots and shoes of John W. Magee, and
conducted the business alone for three years at
No. 25 Water Street. In 1884 he entered into
partnership with S. J. Leslie at the same stand,
the firm being known as Traphagen & Leslie.
In July, 1890, this connection was severed, our
subject selling out his entire interest in the con
cern to Mr. Leslie. On the 30th of the following
August he settled upon his present location, buy
ing a full line of custom-made goods, and has

31

710

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

since represented many of the boot and shoe
makers ofthe country, among them being Hath
away, Soule & Harrington, Lonsbury & Soule
and the Heywood Boot and Shoe Company.
The pleasant residence of our subject at No.
91 Lander Street is presided over by his wife,
formerly Miss Hannah B. Jenkins, to whom he
was married in October, 1882. She was born at
New Hurley, and is the youngest daughter of
Capt. James R. Jenkins, now of Newburgh. She
was reared to womanhood and received her edu
cation in the schools of Newburgh.
At present Mr. Traphagen is the representa
tive of Lawson Hose Company No. 5, with which
he has been connected as a member for some
years. He was assistant foreman of the same
for two years, and for a like period acted as Sec
retary. A Mason of high standing, he belongs
to Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M.,
of which he is Past Master; is Scribe of High
land Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; and Senior
Wardeu of Hudson River Commandery No. 35,
K. T. In matters relating to national politics
he is a thorough-going Republican. A member
of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, he is now
serving ably as Assistant Superintendent of the
Sunday-school.

-*=1

"SJ

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**=-

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(JOHN W. ROE, of the town of Chester, was
I born upon the farm where he now lives
(2/ in 1824, being the youngest child born to
David and Clarissa (Carpenter) Roe, both of
whom were also natives of Orange County. Dur
ing his entire life David Roe was engaged in agri
cultural pursuits. He was a quiet, unassuming
citizen, and died in 1855, respected by all who
knew him. The subject of this sketch was reared
on the home farm, and received his education in
the Sugar Loaf schools. As a farmer he has
been quite successful, and now devotes his atten
tion principally to the dairy business. The farm
on which he resides is a beautiful one, and the
buildings are modern and substantial.
Mr. Roe was married, in 1855, to Mary Board,
daughter of James and Hulda (Hudson) Board,

natives of Orange County. Three children have
been born to them: Anna, now the wife of Will
iam J. Penoyer, of Orange County; David, of
Schuyler County; and Fannie, wife of Cyrus F.
Wood, who resides at Chester. Mrs. Roe is a
member of the Presbyterian Church at Chester.
In politics Mr. Roe is a Republican, believing
firmly in the principles of that party, and in all
national affairs voting his party's ticket. He has
served three years as Assessor of his town, but
neither his taste nor inclination are such as to
make him aspire to public office. As a citizen
he is widely known for his kindness to his fellow-
men and for his upright character. The Golden
Rule with him is his pride in life.

QROTHERHOOD WINE COMPANY. No
IC**! enterprise of Orange County has gained for
d/ its projectors greater success, or has proved
a more important factor in building up the com
munity, than the Brotherhood Wine Company,
which has its vineyards at Washingtonville. The
officers ofthe company are J. M. Emerson, Pres
ident; E. R. Emerson, Vice-President; and J. M.
Emerson, Jr. , Secretary and Treasurer, the head
quarters of the concern being at No. 38 Park Row,
Potter Building, New York.
This has the distinction of being one of the
oldest established wine industries in the United
States, the enterprise having been started by
Jaques Bros, in 1837, though the company was
not organized until two years later. From the
first the wine has had a reputation for purity and
bouquet, and these qualities have brought it into
prominence among the wine merchants as well as
with the general public. Iu 1894 a new stone
building was erected seventy feet high, fifty feet
wide and one hundred feet deep, which is a model
structure of its kind. It contains two large ce
mented arched cellars and is well appointed
throughout, having telegraph and telephone lines,
as well as other modern improvements.
In the cellar there are stored forty-eight casks ot

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

711

twenty -four hundred gallons each, and in the dry
wine vault there are two hundred thousand gallons
now on hand. From fifty to one hundred and fifty
cases are shipped daily from these cellars. An
underground tunnel leads back to the old cellars,
which are three hundred and fifteen feet long. A
part of them, 75x18 feet, was built in 1839, upon
the establishment of the business. In this part
there are twenty -two casks of about three hundred
gallons each, some of the wine being over a-half
century old. The fungus growth over these casks
and on the timbers of the cellar bears unmistaka
ble evidence of the age of the wine. The writer
saw a specimen of this fungus growth which was
at least one-half inch in thickness. It is a growth
peculiar to wine cellars and gets thicker as the
wine grows older. This wine is probably the
finest in the United States. The firm has been
offered $25 per gallon for it, and could doubtless
get almost any price they might ask for it. Such
a cellar of wine would grace the home of some
multi-millionaire, if they would sell it; they have,
however, plenty of wines of good age and can sat
isfy the most fastidious without tapping this par
ticular vintage.
Another part of this cellar was built in 1855,
and is three hundred and fifteen feet long. While
not, of course, as elegant and roomy as the new
vaults, it serves a good purpose. Over these cel
lars' are the bottle, box and mailing rooms, to
gether with the other departments necessary for
the successful prosecution of the work. Casks,
jugs and bottles are bought in car-load lots and
are systematically arranged, so as to present a
neat appearance. Olive oil is brought direct from
Syria. The fermenting room, which is in the
new building, has four vats of twenty-five hun
dred gallons' capacity each, and numerous smaller
ones. In this building is also situated the press
room, where the pure juice of the grape is ex
tracted and pressed.
The vineyards at Washingtonville comprise
about one hundred acres, and no less than sixty-
six varieties of grapes have been propagated.
From these different kinds the very best have
been selected and cultivated, which accounts in a
great measure for the excellent and superior

flavor of the wines. It has been found that the
finest grapes for some particular brands of wine
cannot be produced in New York State, and the
company, being fully alive to these material ele
ments, have arranged the business so that climate
and every outside influence has careful study and
consideration. Their clarets are manufactured
from seedling grapes, which they grow in Vir
ginia, and in this way they are enabled to pro
duce the very finest qualities.
Among the wines manufactured by the com
pany are all the standard brands, such as sherry,
Iona, Delaware, Regina, port, Tokay, Madeira,
Catawba, claret and altar and dry table wines.
They also sell large quantities of blackberry and
cherry brandies, the Brotherhood Stomach Bit
ters, Old Royal, Vintage 1875, Old XXXXX Rye,
Old Kentucky Bourbon, champagne of the best
grades, Palestine olive oil and cordials. The su
perior flavor of the wines is a subject of comment
by connoisseurs, and testimony both at home and
abroad is abundant as to the superiority and
purity of the wines of the Brotherhood Wine
Company. One of the finest wine exhibits at the World's
Fair was that made by this company, and it was
visited by thousands of people. The exhibit was
under the personal management of Henry M.
Fitch, who took thousands of dollars of orders for
the firm during the Exposition. In this way the
wine was brought into more general prominence
throughout the entire country. It has from the
first been the policy of the company to obtain
every modern appliance for the best and most
scientific treatment during all stages, from the
gathering ofthe fruit to the maturing of the wine.
It has also been their policy to obtain the best
known varieties of domestic and foreign grape
clippings, and continue experiments in trans
planting in this soil until the highest results may
be attained. All the processes, from the produc
tion of the grape to the rich, pure wine ready for
shipment, are under the personal superintendence
of a member of the company, so that they can
vouch for the absolute security of every quotation
on their price list.
The Vice-President and Superintendent of the

712

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Brotherhood Wine Company is E. R. Emerson,
son of J. M. Emerson, who was formerly in the
wine business, but now lives in New York City,
retired from active labor. E. R. Emerson was
born October 22, 1856, and received a good edu
cation in New York City, where he learned tel
egraphy and bookkeeping, working at the former
occupation for a number of years. Fifteen years
ago he turned his attention to the wine business,
and subsequently bought this plant, which, after
running for about eight years, was incorporated.
Socially he is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
He married Miss Ida Delacy, of Youngstown,
Ohio, and they have a daughter, Jessie, an ac
complished young lady.
The Secretary and Treasurer ofthe firm, J. M.
Emerson, Jr., was born November 1, 1852, in
New York City, where he was reared to manhood.
Until 1887 hewas engaged in the jewelry busi
ness, but at that time he turned his attention to
the wine business, in which he has since been
engaged. He is an able financier and has full
charge of that department of the business, which
under his efficieut management has been kept in
excellent condition. His entire attention is given
to the enterprise with which he is connected.
Fourteen men are employed by the company as
traveling salesmen, and an immense business is
carried on, the profits being larger each succeed
ing year. Between the vineyards at Washing
tonville and the office in New York City there is
a private telegraph line, and every means is taken
whereby the success of the business will be en
hanced. > — - — ^^"J^keS-"?^^?!' *[*v*5:S^Q3!fe:

-50~

(TAMES SMITH, a successful agriculturist of
I the town of Montgomery, was born April 10,
G/ 1 84 1, upon the farm where he still resides.
There were eight children born of the union of
David H. and Matilda (Kain) Smith, and but two
of the number survive. A biographical sketch of
Captain Isaac is presented elsewhere in this vol
ume. Jane Ann became the wife of Calvin R.
Brown, of Middletown, N. Y.; after her death he
married Mrs. Harriet (Dickerson) Crawford,

widow of Francis Crawford, by whom she had
one daughter, Nancy Jane, the widow of Charles
H. Winfield. By his second marriage Mr. Brown
had four children, three of whom survive. Ellen
married T. L- Millspaugh, represented elsewhere
in this work; and Francis C. resides with his
brother James, our subject.
Born upon the farm where our subject now
lives, David H. Smith spent his entire life here,
engaged as a tiller of the soil. As a farmer he
was successful and thrifty, as a citizen progress
ive and liberal-spirited. In his political belief
he was a Democrat, and in 1843 represented his
district in the General Assembly . His death oc
curred when he was fifty-four years of age. His
father, Capt. Henry Smith, was born in the town
of Montgomery, and received his title as the re
sult of meritorious service in the Revolution.
He was a member of the Assembly in 1800. By
trade he was a blacksmith, which he followed
until his retirement from active labors in old age,
and his death occurred when he was seventy-five
years of age. His parents were natives of Han
over, Germany, whence they emigrated to Amer
ica and settled in Orange County, prior to 1740.
The mother of our subject was born in this
town, and died here February 18, 1872. Her
great-grandfather, Rev. Joseph Houston, came to
Orange County in 1740, and was the first minis
ter of the Goodwill Church in the town of Mont
gomery. Our subject was orphaned by his fa
ther's death when he was a child of five years.
He was reared by his mother, who gave him the
best advantages the neighborhood afforded and
endeavored to prepare him for a position of honor
and usefulness in the world. November 24, 1881 ,
he married Miss Lida E., daughter of Hon.
Stephen Rapalje, of this town, and a descendant
of French ancestors, who were numbered among
the earliest settlers of Long Island. Mr. Rapalje
was born in Dutchess County, but spent the
greater part of his life in Orange County, where
he was a very prominent politician. For a num
ber of years he served as County Commissioner,
and he also represented his district in the Legis
lature. Two children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Smith, namely: Henry, whose birth occur-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

7i3

red August 24, 1882; and Jennie H., who was
born March 18, 1886.
Though not an active partisan, Mr. Smith be
lieves in the principles of the Republican party,
and these he never hesitates to defend. He has
filled the offices of Trustee and Clerk of Schools,
the duties of which he discharged in a manner
eminently satisfactory to the people of the town.
The old homestead, that has been the property of
the family since 1752, is now owned by him, he
having purchased the interest of the other heirs.
In addition to this place, which comprises one
hundred and sixty-one acres, he is the owner of
another farm in this town, the latter consisting of
one hundred and eighty-one acres. The personal
character of Mr. Smith is above reproach, good
principles marking his intercourse with his fel
low-men, and the utmost kindliness being dis
played toward those in need.

(TACOB DICKERSON, one ofthe representa-
I tive farmers and dairymen of the town of
Q) Montgomery, was born here September 1,
1834, and is the fifth in a family of ten children
born to Martinus M. and Maria (Samons) Dick
erson. Elizabeth died in infancy; Mary is the
widow of Dr. John B. Holt, of Newport; William
is a stone dealer in Sioux Falls, S. Dak. ; Matth
ew S. is general agent in the state of Minne
sota for the .ZEtna Life Insurance Company; Ja
cob is our subject; John A. is a broker of New
York City, but resides in New Jersey; George M.
isa resident of Ulster County; Charles, who is a
miller by trade, resides in Kingston, N. Y.; El
bert S., a railroad man, resides in New York
City; and Sarah Jane died in infancy.
The father of our subject was born in this town
about 1798, and spent his entire life on the farm
where he died, this event occurring about 1870,
when he was about seventy-two years of age.
He was quite successful in a business way, and
was Commissioner of Highways in this town
for fifteen years. Politically he was a strong
¦Democrat. His brother Jacob was a Captain in
the War of 18 12. William Dickerson, the grand

father of our subject, served in the Revolutionary
War. When a young man, about 1770, he came
from Holland, and located on Long Island, later
removing to this town, where he entered land and
where his death occurred while he was in middle
life. His wife's name was Elizabeth Millspaugh,
and she was a native of Germany.
Maria (Samons) Dickerson, the mother of our
subject, was born in Ulster County, and her death
occurred when she was about seventy-five years
old. She was a daughter of Matthew and Kath-
erine Samons, who were residents of the county,
but who were of Holland descent.
The subject of this sketch remained at home on
the farm where he was born, until he was about
twenty-eight years of age. His primary educa
tion was obtained in the common schools in his
native town, but this was later supplemented by
a short attendance at the New York Conference
Seminary. On the 26th of November, 1863, he
married Miss Jane B. Millspaugh, a native of
this town, born April 18, 1838, and the ninth in
a family of ten children born to Lucas E. and
Maria (Bodine) Millspaugh.
After his marriage, our subject began farming
on the farm owned by his wife's father, where he
remained until 1873, when he purchased the farm
where he now resides. Iu his family were three
children. Jesse M., the eldest, helps to manage
the home farm. Carrie M. died when about three
years old. William L-, the youngest, is a grad
uate of Cornell College; he also studied law, and
is now engaged in the practice of his profession
in the village of Montgomery. He is a bright,
active young man, having every evidence of mak
ing a success of his future life. Politically Mr.
Dickerson is a Democrat, but has always refused
official positions. The family are members of the
Reformed Church, of which Mr. Dickerson has
been an active worker for about forty years. His
home is on the bank of the Wallkill River, and
thirty acres of his farm are within the corporate
limits of the village of Walden.
The children comprising the family of Lucas
E. and Maria Millspaugh were as follows: Deli
lah, who died at the age of twenty-seven; Han
nah B., who married Egbert Millspaugh, and

7H

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

died at the age of seventy -four; Fredrick C, who
died young; Benjamin, who died in infancy; Ja
cob C. S., who died at the age of twenty -five;
Newton B., a resident of Newburgh; Augustus,
who died when about twenty years old ; Jesse F. ,
who died when about twenty-seven years old;
Jane B., the wife of our subject; and Mary
Frances, who died at the age of fourteen.
Lucas Millspaugh, the father of Mrs. Dicker-
sou, was born in 1797, in this town, near the vil
lage of Walden, and September 21, 18 16, he mar
ried Maria Bodine. He was a very prosperous
farmer, owning a large tract of land in the coun
ty, and his death occurred when he was seventy-
two years of age. Fredrick Millspaugh, his fa
ther, was also a native of this town, and lived to
an advanced age. He married Mary Newkirk.
Fredrick Millspaugh's father, Philip Millspaugh,
the grandfather of Lucas E., was born in this
town in 1774, and his father, the great-grandfather
of Lucas E., Peter Von Miltzbock (now called
Millspaugh), came to America about 1730, and
located in Orange County.
Mrs. Dickerson' s mother, Maria Bodine, was
born October 4, 1797, on the farm where our sub
ject now lives. She died in 1875, when seventy-
eight years of age, and was a daughter of Ben
jamin and Susan (Kimbark) Bodine, the former
ofwhom was born October 10, 1773. They were
married in 1796, and became the parents of
twelve children: Maria, Hannah, Delilah, Elsie
C, Amanda, William, George, Malcolm, Eliza
beth L- , John Howard, Francis M. and Susan L-
The Bodines were originally from France, and
settled in Orange County at an early date.

HORACE D. THOMPSON. Orange County
is justly proud of her native-born citizens,
who are honorably bearing their share in
sustaining her interests and extending her wealth.
Among these is the subject of this biographical
review, who is engaged in farming iu the town of
Wallkill, and is one of its most progressive and
enlightened agriculturists. His estate, which
comprises one hundred and seventy-six acres, is

under substantial improvement, the fields are well
tilled, and a neat set of farm buildings adorns the
place. Our subject was born on the farm where he is
now living, December 3, 1844, and is the young
est of the family born to Virgil and Mary Ann
(Decker) Thompson, natives of Montgomery.
In 1839, soon after his marriage, the father pur
chased three hundred acres of land in the town of
Wallkill, a part of which our subject now owns.
He was prominently identified with farm pur
suits during his lifetime, and for many years was
Vice-President ofthe Orange County Agricultural
Society. He was a quiet, unassuming man, and
although often solicited to hold office always de
clined to do so, preferring to give his time and at
tention to his own interests and let those serve
the public who desired to do so. His demise,
which occurred in 1882, was greatly mourned,
for he was honored and respected in this locality,
where his entire life had been spent. His wife
preceded him to the home beyond, dying in 1850.
Horace Thompson received his primary educa
tion in the district schools, after which he at
tended Farmers' Hall Academy at Goshen, and
later was a student in the private school conducted
by D. L. Towle, also of Goshen. His education,
however, was completed in the Ellenville High
School. When nineteen years of age he began
teaching school, following this profession with
ability for four years, but at the end of that
time abandoned it in order to give his undivided
attention to farming, which industry he has fol
lowed ever since. He has one of the best im
proved estates in the county, and its fine appear
ance reflects great credit upon the owner. The
house is a commanding one, surrounded by fine
shade trees, and the outbuilding are of modern
construction, with superior adaptation for carry
ing on the dairy business. On the farm is kept a
fine herd of Holstein cattle, and the milk is ship
ped to the Anglo-Swiss Condensery Company at
Middletown. The lady to whom our subject was married in
1875 was Miss Sarah M. Millspaugh, the daugh
ter of Dr. G. M. and Sarah (Cameron) Millspaugh,
natives of this state, who are prominent in their

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

7i5

community. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs.
Thompson has been blessed by the birth of four
children: Edward Cameron, now a student in the
college at Princeton, N. J.; and Charles Hudson,
Anna May and Harold. The parents are both
members of the Presbyterian Church, in which
the former is Elder. His political convictions
coincide with the principles promulgated by the
Republican party, to which he gives his hearty
support. He has held the position of Justice of
the Peace for some time aud is now Supervisor of
his town.

0ANIEL VAN ALST. The farm owned and
occupied by this gentleman lies in the town
of Montgomery, and though not one of the
largest, is certainly one of the best improved and
most attractive estates in Orange County. It
consists of forty-six acres of valuable land, em
bellished with a comfortable and commodious res
idence, together with the other buildings neces
sary for the successful management of the place.
In addition to the raising of cereals, considerable
attention is paid to market-gardening and to the
fruit business, both of which have proved profita
ble sources of revenue.
Referring to the family history of Mr. Van
Alst, we find that his father, Bergoone, was born
and reared in Dutchess County, and in early life
became familiar with agriculture, which he fol
lowed for his life occupation. When a young
man he came to Orange County, and here mar
ried Miss Jane Lowe, a native of the town of
Crawford, who died at the age of fifty-five years.
His death occurred when he was forty -two. His
parents were born in Dutchess County, to which
point the grandfather had come from Long Isl
and. The family is of Holland descent and was
represented among the early settlers of Long
Island. The subject of this notice was born June 1,
1831, and is the youngest of four children, the
others being: Ebenezer, a farmer of this town;

Mary, wife of Moses Mould, who were both killed
in a railroad wreck; and Charles J., a farmer re
siding near our subject. Orphaned by his fa
ther's death when he was ten years old, Daniel
continued to make his home with his mother un
til the age of twenty-one, and then embarked in
agricultural pursuits in the town of Crawford. In
1 86 1 he purchased the farm upon which he has
since made his home.
November 30, 1853, Mr. Van Alst married
Miss Sarah Sebolt, of this county, who at her
death left two children: Mary Jane, wife of John
D. Mould, of this town; and John M., who assists
his father in the cultivation of the farm. The
second wife of our subject bore the maiden name
of M. Adelaide Miller, and has been a life-long res
ident of this town, and by the people she is uni
versally esteemed for her many graces of charac
ter. Interested in everything that affects the
welfare of his fellow-men and conduces to the
prosperity ofthe county, Mr. Van Alst gives al
legiance to the Republican party, believing its
platform, if carried out, would bring the highest
good to the people. For nine years he served as
Assessor, and at other times he has been called
upon to serve in various local positions of trust.
He and his wife are members of the Reformed
Church, in which he has been both Deacon and
Elder for many years.
:  ^#P  ;

Gl BNER BOOKSTAVER. In making men-
LI tion of the leading farmers of the town of
/ I Montgomery, the name of Mr. Bookstaver
appears rightfully prominent as that of a man who
has been no unimportant factor in developing its
agricultural resources. Possessed of more than
ordinary intelligence, energetic, persevering and
progressive iu his ideas, he has always set his
mark high and has never been content with or
dinary results. In addition to general farming,
he has made a specialty of stock-raising and the
dairy business, and has managed both his agri
cultural and business affairs with that sound
judgment which seldom fails of success.
Upon the farm where he now resides the sub-

716

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ject of this article was born October 10, 1836,
being the second among the three children of
Daniel and Lettie M. (Weller) Bookstaver. The
eldest child, Henry W., is now Judge of the
Common Pleas Court in New York City and is a
man of prominence and influence. The youngest
child and only daughter is Catherine Elizabeth,
widow of Francis Crawford, who died in Orange
County at the age of forty -nine years.
The first representative of the family in Amer
ica was Jacob, our subject's great-great-grandfa
ther, who emigrated from Holland and purchased
a large tract of land in this town, a portion of the
tract being owned by our subject. Little is known
concerning this ancestor, save that he became a
naturalized American citizen in 1735. Our sub
ject's father and grandfather, both ofwhom bore
the name of Daniel, were born on the old home
stead, and the mother of the former, Elizabeth
Felter, also a native of this county, died at the age
of eighty-four. ' Her husband, who was a farmer,
died when only thirty years old. The father, whose
occupation was that of an agriculturist, died at
the age of sixty-nine. For many years he was an
Elder in the Reformed Church, of which he was
- an influential member. His wife, a native of this
town, is now eighty-five years old, and for some
years has made her home with our subject. Her
parents were born in this county and were of Eng
lish descent.
Upon attaining his majority our subject inher
ited the old homestead that has been in the family
since 1725. October 10, 1866, on the thirtieth
anniversary of his birth, he was united in mar
riage with Miss Anna Mould, who was born in
this town and is a daughter of Johannes and
Mary (Shafer) Mould. They are the parents of
a daughter, Lettie W., to whom they have given
excellent advantages and who is an accomplished
young lady.
Following in his father's footsteps in matters
political, our subject affiliates with the Demo
crats. He is a member of the Reformed Church
that his great-great-grandfather assisted in found
ing in 1732. The farm upon which he resides
and in the cultivation of which he is engaged
consists of one hundred and eighty acres, divided

into fields and pastures of convenient size for the
various kinds of farm work. He is a man occu
pying a good position in his community, one who
has made for himself a good record, and who gives
his support to the enterprises calculated for the
good of the people around him, socially, morally
and financially.

lO/Sfc^l

H

,-&W&>'

HI

H*^*

y/lATTHEW ROWE, who was for many
V years numbered among the prominent and
(jj successful agriculturists of Orange County,
died January 16, 1895. The estate which he oc
cupied during his entire life, and on which his
birth occurred in 18 19, is located in the town of
Montgomery, and is now occupied by his family.
His father, who bore the name of Moses Rowe,
was born February 28, 1790, on this same tract,
and here also he passed away, April 13, 1854.
He was a soldier in the War of 18 12, and was the
most successful farmer in the town. His father,
Matthew Rowe, was a native of Germany, and
came to America when a young man. He mar
ried a Miss Ricely, and located in Orange County,
being classed among its very earliest residents.
He was a farmer also, and purchased the tract of
land which has been handed down from father to
son for five generations. Our subject's mother,
formerly Miss Mary Mould, was born in 1791.
She, too, was a native of this county, being de
scended from one of its oldest families. Her
death occurred on the home farm, August 7,
1867. The lady to whom our subject was married
September 25, 1850, was Miss Eveline Clineman.
She was born September 22, 1824, and died
April 20, 1883. Their union resulted in the
birth of eight children, two of whom are deceased.
Moses, the eldest of the household, is a well-to:
do farmer of this county ; Thomas is farming on a
portion ofthe homestead; George is in Montana,
where he is carrying on a thriving business as
a furniture dealer; James is in partnership with
George in the above business; Lizzie is single,
and resides with her brother Moses; and Will-

JACOB FOSTER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

719

iam, the youngest of the family, and his brother
Thomas inherited the homestead.
In politics Mr. Rowe was a stanch supporter of
Republican principles, and in religious affairs
was a member of the Reformed Church. The
estate which he left is one hundred and ten acres
in extent, and this his son William and Thomas
manage, devoting it to general and dairy farming.
The latter are well educated and enterprising,
and are succeeding well in this vocation.

•^=*^>-3*e*<^F^

-j—

(TACOB FOSTER. Among those men who
I have commenced at the bottom round of the
Q) ladder of fortune and by dint of natural abil
ity and perseverance have worked their way to
the top, we find Jacob Foster. To such men as
he the country is indebted for the excellent exam
ple set for the youth of the land, as well as for
the good results which they have accomplished
in the communities where they have resided.
Our subject is now living in Highland Falls and
is in good circumstances.
Mr. Foster was born in Baden, Germany, Jan
uary 1, 1824, and made his home there until at
taining his twenty-fourth year. He was edu
cated in the model schools of that empire, after
which he learned the mason's and stonecutter's
trade. The voyage from the Old World to the
New consumed thirty-four days, and after arriv
ing in New York City he worked for a time athis
trade. He was a natural mechanic and was also
an- expert workman at the carpenter's trade. In
1848, upon leaving the metropolis, he went to
Rockland County, where he was variously em
ployed ten years, and then came to Highland
Falls, where he has since made his home. He
landed on the shores of the New World iu debt,
but so well has he succeeded in his undertakings
that he not only owes no man, but has a hand
some property, all of which, with the exception of
the assistance which - has been rendered him by
his good wife, he has accumulated alone.
Mr. Foster was married in New York City, in
May, 1850, to Miss Celestiue Jandel, who emi
grated to this country from France in the year

1849. To them was born a daughter, who was
named in honor of her mother, but who is now
deceased. Mr. Foster is the incumbent of the
position of Road Commissioner, which he has
held for three terms, and enjoys all the esteem
commanded by men of strict integrity and supe
rior strength of character. Especially is he re
spected for having so nobly fought the battle of
life, gaining for himself prominence without other
assistance than his ability and willingness to
work and his excellent judgment. He is a Re
publican in politics, and socially is a Mason of
high standing. In the Episcopal Church, of
which he is a member, he is an active worker.

+:

r+

(T W. CORWIN, who is one of the old settlers
I of Goshen, was the first Mayor ofthe place,
C2/ acting in that capacity for three years, and
was also a member of the Board of Trustees for
several years. He is now President of the Elec
tric-light Company, which he assisted to organ
ize, and in which he owns much of the stock,
and is also President of the Music Hall Company.
He enjoys the distinction of having been longer
engaged in the hardware business than any other
merchant in the county, and has met with good
success. The subject of this article is of Scotch descent,
but his grandfather, Eli, was a native of Long
Island. At an early day he settled near Scotch-
town, Orange County, where he improved a farm
and made his home until his death, which occur
red when he was well along in years. Jason, the
father of our subject, who was a man of influence
in his community, was born in this county, and
was brought up in the old-school Presbyterian
faith, to which he adhered in later years, serving
in the capacity of Elder. He fell heir to his fa
ther's homestead, and continued to dwell thereon
until his death, in his seventy-second year. In
the War of 18 12, he was Captain of an infantry
company, the old sword which he then carried
being now in possession of his son, and in poli-

720

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tics he was an old-line Whig. His wife, Jeanette,
a native of this county, was a daughter of Will
iam Millspaugh, who was of Scotch origin, and
who was born on Long Island. He was also one
ofthe pioneers in the vicinity of Scotchtown, and
was the owner of a valuable farm, which was re
claimed from the wilderness. Mrs. Corwin lived
to be over threescore and ten years old, and was
always a faithful member of the Presbyterian
Church. Of her eight children, only one, the
youngest and the subject of this biography, sur
vives. J. W. Corwin was born on the old farm near
Scotchtown, February 19, 1828, and in his youth
attended the district school of the neighborhood
in the winter. In 1846 he came to Goshen, and
for seven years clerked in the hardware store for
the old firm of Merriam & Smith. In 1853 Mr.
Corwin became interested in the firm, the name
becoming J. W. Corwin & Co., and this connec
tion was in existence for a number of years.
Then for twelve years, dating from 1869, the
style was that of Corwin & Merriam, the junior
member of the firm being a son of our subject's
first partner. In 188 1 Mr. Corwin became sole
proprietor, but January 1, 1893, became asso
ciated in business with one of his former clerks,
under the present title of Corwin & Kniffin.
Their hardware store on West Main Street is the
oldest site in this line of trade in the city. They
carry a full lines of stoves, tinware, shelf and
heavy hardware, etc., and in an adjoining build
ing have a- fine stock of harness and saddlery
supplies. One store is 22x60 feet, and the other
18x80, and the four floors of the two buildings
are all occupied. In the rear is a tinshop, -2ox
40 feet, three stories in height. Mr. Corwin
owns a valuable dairy farm at Big Island, six
miles from Goshen, which comprises two hun
dred and thirty acres. He has stocked the place
and manages it himself, at present having up
wards of sixty cows.
In Jersey City Mr. Corwin was married, De
cember 14, 1853, to Miss Sarah, daughter of
George Howell, an old settler of Goshen, in
which place Mrs. Corwin was born and reared.
Our subject and wife have a pleasant home on

Division Street, and delight to dispense hospital
ity to their large circle of friends. They are
members of the Presbyterian • Church, Mr. Cor
win being a member of the Board of Trustees.
He was a member of the Committee on Repairs
when the church was rebuilt, and he superin
tended the tearing down and reconstruction of
the tower. The present church edifice, valued
at $150,000, is the finest in the county. In his
political affiliations Mr. Corwin is a true-blue
Republican. He is very liberal and enterprising
and is a practical philanthropist, one who be
lieves in doing good as opportunity offers, and
not waiting, as so many do, until death to bestow
his fortune upon various organizations.

HENRY SEACORD, of the town of Hamp
tonburgh, was born here September 19,
1829, and is a son of Wilken and Jane
(Moorehouse) Seacord. The father was a native
of Westchester County, N. Y., and of French de
scent, the grandfather, J. Abraham Seacord, be
ing a native of France. In the parental family
were seven children, Alfred F., Martha, Henry,
Lydia A., Wilken, James and Almira.
Wilken Seacord, the father of our subject, was
a blacksmith by trade and came to Orange Coun
ty in 1823, locating in Craigsville, where he re
mained until 1829. He then went to Lincoln-
dale and purchased a small tract of land, which
he improved and on which he remained until his
death in 1863. Our subject learned the trade of
a blacksmith under his father, aud when twenty-
one years of age took charge of the shop, in which
he worked until 1891.
Mr. Seacord was first married in 1853 to Miss
Ann Goble, and they had four children, Oscar,
Hulda, William H. and Wilken. The wife and
mother died in 1880, and December 30, 1885, Mr.
Seacord married Miss Elizabeth Corwin. There
are no children born of this marriage.
About 1887 Mr. Seacord became interested in
insurance, and since 1891 has given his entire
time to that business. He is the agent of some
of the best fire and life insurance companies in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

721

the country, and is at all times prepared to place
risks for his friends and neighbors. He. is also
engaged in the real-estate business. Politically
he is a Republican, and in 1876 served his town
as a member of the Board of Supervisors. He is
a man highly esteemed for his many excellent
qualities of head and heart.

->— 1 — ?>2hK®(I||)®!+c'{«-

0EORGE WELLER was for many years a
I— resident of the town of Montgomery, and
vJ here his birth occurred June 11, 1802. His
early life was spent on the farm, and his educa
tion was limited to that of the common schools.
Early in life he opened a small store and also kept
the postoffice in the town of Montgomery. In
1824 he removed to Walden and engaged in a
mercantile and manufacturing business until about
1855, when he retired and purchased a beautiful
home east of Walden, where he removed, and
where he remained until his death, March 20,
1893. He was a successful businessman, and for
many years was Director of the Newburgh National
Bank, and was one of the organizers and President
of the Walden Savings Bank. In his younger days
he was Captain of a company of state militia. He
was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
of Walden, in which he was Senior Warden. In
his political views he was first an old-line Whig,
after which he became a Republican, and was
identified with that party ever afterward.
December 24, 1823, our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Elizabeth Glacian, who sub
sequently died, leaving three children, all of
whom died in childhood. October 20, 1841, Mr.
Weller married Miss Adeline Crist, born May 4,
1809, near Walden, and a daughter of William
Crist, a native of Germany, who came to this
country when quite young. He served as Cap
tain in the Revolutionary army, and was for some
years a member of the Legislature. His death
occurred when about seventy -five years old.
By Mr. Weller' s second union were born two
sons, twins, William and George, born July 4,

1842. The former now owns the old homestead,
to which he has added forty acres, making a farm
of two hundred acres of excellent land, and here
he carries on a general farming and dairy busi
ness. He was but thirteen years old when the
family came to this farm, which has ever since
been his home. His primary education was re
ceived in the common schools of Walden, and
this was supplemented by a course in College
Hill, at Poughkeepsie. October 10, 1867, he
married Miss Anna S. Littell, of Montgomery,
and to them has been born one child, Maggie L. ,
now the wife of William G. H. Smith, of Corn
ing, N. Y. Like his father, William Weller is a
stanch Republican, and takes an active part in
local politics. His brother George is connected
with the Walden Knife Company, and resides in
Walden. Our subject's wife died January 30,
1 89 1, firm in the faith of the Episcopal Church.
The father was a man who was well known, and
one who enjoyed the confidence and respect of
every one.
David Crist, a brother of Mrs. Weller, made
his home with our subject a great many years.
He organized Company H, ofthe One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry, which
he served as Captain, and he was shot near Pet-
tersburg by sharpshooters.

\A OSES LITTELL, of Walden, was bom near
V Westfield, N. J., September 1, 1809. At
0 sixteen years of age he went to New York
City, and served an apprenticeship to the build
er's trade, during which time he received -twen
ty-five cents per week. He was employed as a
brick mason and plasterer, and was very quick
and active. For some years he continued to
work as a journeyman, and then formed a part
nership in Brooklyn with a man named Hos-
kins, a carpenter, after which he began contract
ing and building. The business was prosper
ous, the firm employing many men, and they
continued in the work until 1856, when Mr. Lit
tell came to Orange County. On his arrival
here he was in good circumstances financially,

722

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

having purchased many city lots in Brooklyn,
which he improved, and which he sold from time
to time as opportunity offered. At the time of
his death he still owned several houses in that
city. As both his own and his wife's health had
become impaired, he purchased a farm, on which
he resided until 1864, when he sold out and
moved to Montgomery, where he remained for
eight years, and then came to Walden and pur
chased the house in which his widow yet resides,
and which is located on Ulster Avenue. He re
modeled the house, and the grounds surrounding
it he greatly improved, there residing until his
death, which occurred September 30, 1887, when
just past his seventy-eighth year. His death,
however, occurred at his old home in New Jer
sey, where he was visiting his old friends. He
owned a plat in Greenwood Cemetery, in Brook
lyn, and in that beautiful city of the dead his
body now lies buried.
Mr. Littell was twice married, his first union
being with Miss Madeline Storms, of Brooklyn.
She died about two years after coming to Wal
den, and her remains also lie in Greenwood Cem
etery. They had two children. AnnaS., bora
October 4, 1840, is now the wife of William C.
Weller, and resides near Walden; and Gersham,
born April 19, 1844, died at Newark, Ohio, in
1882, at the age of thirty-eight. Mr. Littell 's
second marriage occurred June 6, i860, and
united him with Miss Hannah P. Brush, of the
town of Crawford, and the daughter of Lewis and
Nancy (Crawford) Brush. Politically Mr. Lit
tell was a Republican, and religiously was con
nected with the Reformed Church, of which body
his wife is also a member. He was a man
greatly esteemed for his many virtues, and none
stood higher in the community in which he lived.
Lewis Brush, the father of Mrs. Littell, was
a native of Snifftown, L- I., and was mar
ried in the town of Crawford to Miss Nancy
Crawford. He was a woolen manufacturer and
had a woolen-mill in Ulster County, which was
finally destroyed by fire. His wife was a daugh
ter of Samuel I. and Jeannette (McCurdy) Craw
ford, and her grandfather, James Crawford, was
the one for whom the town was named. Her

father died in 1832, when about forty years of
age, and her mother, who survived him for
many years, died at the age of seventy-eight.
Her death occurred in the old Crawford House,
which she had secured a number of years previ
ous. Her family consisted of six children. Sam
uel C. , who was a provision dealer in New York
City for many years, died there at the age of
sixty-eight, leaving one son, Lewis T. Brush, the
only one of the name now living; Jeannette is
the widow of Theodore Goldsmith, of Orange
County, and now lives with Mrs. Littell; Hannah
is the next in order of birth; William, a well
known auctioneer of Montgomery, died at the
age of sixty-five; Mary died at the age of twelve
years; and Eleanore is a maiden lady living with
Mrs. Littell in Walden.

«•***#

¦{••{'??t:

™****(§ll'i2'§''fr***l

(TAMES R. BURNETT, a highly respected
I citizen and prominent dairy farmer of Orange
Q) County, makes his home on the old place in
the town of Montgomery which has been in the
family for over a half-century and which is one
hundred and thirty-one acres in extent. It is
under a high state of cultivation, improved with
all the conveniences and accessories of a model
farm, and our subject is managing it in a very
capable manner.
Mr. Burnett was born in the house where he
now lives, May 1, 1857. His parents were Jacob
R. and Elizabeth S. (Roberts) Burnett, the former
of whom was born, reared and married in the
town of New Windsor. From there he removed
to the town of Montgomery, purchasing the farm
near the village of that name which is now the
home of our subject. He was a well-to-do farmer,
and died there in 1893, when seventy -seven years
old. He came of a prominent old family of this
state, one which was for many years prominent
in public life. Our subject's mother, who was
born in Blooming Grove, died in 1891.
In the parental family were three children, of
whom Augustus D. is an influential farmer of this
town. Alice resides with her brother on the
home farm. James R. lived with his parents un-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

723

til their decease, when he fell heir to the home
place, and has continued to reside upon it ever
since. He was married, June 5, 1889, to Miss
Susan, the daughter of Charles and Susan (Wil
kin) Van Alst. For the family history of Mrs.
Burnett the reader is referred to the sketch of
C. J. Van Alst on another page.
Of the four children born to our subject and
his wife two have died in infancy, and those liv
ing are Elizabeth and James R. In politics Mr.
Burnett is a Republican, but takes no interest in
political affairs other than to cast a vote iu favor
of the candidates of his party. However, he
lends a helping hand to every enterprise which
tends to upbuild or improve the community and
is highly regarded by those who know him.

Gz

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=0

gENTON HOWELL, one of the native-born
sons of Orange County, is a respected citi
zen of the town of Goshen, where he owns
a valuable and well improved farm of one hun
dred and eighty-three acres. His present posi
tion of prosperity and influence has been attained
through the exercise of his native characteristics
and untiring effort.
Our subject was born in the town of Goshen
August 3, 1849, being the eldest in the family of
Ira H. and Jane (Green) Howell, who were also
born within the boundaries of this county. The
father of Ira H., Joshua Howell, was a native of
the town of Blooming Grove. About two hun
dred years ago the progenitors of the family set
tled on Long Island, where a number of genera
tions made their home. Jane Green, our sub
ject's mother, was the daughter of John Green,
ofthe town of Chester, and her great-grandfather
came from Switzerland. The father of our sub
ject was a well-to-do agriculturist, and in the
course of time acquired a goodly property. He
died February 6, 1891, when over seventy-two
years old, and his wife passed from earth June
26, 1869. He was a Democrat politically, and
both he and his wife were members of the Pres
byterian Church.

After completing his literary education in the
Chester Academy our subject took a course in
Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, fit
ting himself for a business life, and very soon
thereafter returned to the old farm, where he has
ever since lived. He very naturally chose farm
ing as his vocation, and of this he has made a
great success and now owns one hundred and
eighty-three acres of some of the most productive
land in the county. It is nicely improved in
every particular and the buildings are neat and
substantially constructed. Mr. Howell is an ex
tensive dairyman, but does not engage in this
branch of agriculture to the neglect of grain rais
ing, as each year he garners in abundant harvests.
Mr. Howell is a member of the Presbyterian
Church of Goshen and enjoys the respect of all
who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He
is true to the principles and doctrines of the Dem
ocratic party, and although he does not aspire to
official honors, never lets an opportunity pass
when he can be of assistance to his party. Mr.
Howell has never married and his beautiful home
is presided over by his sister, Miss Jennie M. His
only surviving brother, John I., resides in Elmira,
N. Y. Mr. Howell, who is universally respected
and who ranks among the substantial citizens of
Orange County, is liberal in spirit and is ever
ready to assist in all matters of mutual welfare.

^ITRVING A. KILMER, who died in New-
| burgh, March 23, 1893, was then in the prime
X of manhood, being but forty-two years of
age. He assisted in the organization and incor
poration of the Kilmer Manufacturing Company,
one of this city's most important industries, of
which he was the first Vice-President. To his
inventive genius the success of the concern was
largely due, and he was actively concerned in the
growth and development of the immense business.
He Was thoroughly acquainted with mechanics,
and was the author of many important inven
tions, among which were two kinds of barb-wire
machines, two rod reels, and many of the appli-

724

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ances of the Kilmer rodmill. At the time of his
death he had several practical improvements un
der way.
Mr. Kilmer was born at Howe's Cove, near
Cobleskill, Schoharie County, N. Y., being the
fourth in the family of Augustus Kilmer, who
invented the baling machine, and many articles
now manufactured iu the Kilmer works. Our
subject was reared and educated in Schoharie
County, and in 1876 aided in forming the com
pany which was then organized for the manu
facture of his father's inventions. He was a
young business man of known ability, and to his
efforts was due much of the success of the con
cern. When the works were removed to New
burgh, he came here and exercised a general su
perintendence over the new building and appli
ances. Socially he was a Mason, and at one time
he held the office of Master Mason in the lodge
at Newburgh. In his political belief his ballot
was used in favor of the Democracy, but he was
liberal in all his ideas and ever open to conviction.
With all his acquaintances he was very popular,
as he was a man of genial and cordial ways, and
one who readily acquired friends.
In November, 1875, Mr. Kilmer was married
to Miss Mary E. Rifenburgh, of Cobleskill, Scho
harie County, who died in October, 1887, leaving
three children, Foster M., Arthur E. and Grace
Vienna. Her early death was sincerely mourned
by her many friends.
In 1890 Mr. Kilmer was married, in the town
of New Windsor, to Miss Emma S. Greatsinger,
who was born in the town of Crawford. Her fa
ther, E. W. Greatsinger, who is elsewhere repre
sented in this volume, was born in Elmira, aud
until he retired followed farming. He volun
teered his services in the late War of the Rebellion,
and was one of the valiant soldiers of the Thirty-
fifth New York Regiment. Mrs. Kilmer owns a
pretty home on Washington Heights, and has
abundant means with which to gratify her tastes.
She is well educated and is a lady who is greatly
esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances. Her
mother, formerly a Miss Sarah E. Fowler, is a
native of Cold Springs, Dutchess County, and
now resides in Newburgh. Mrs. Kilmer is the

eldest of three children, and for several years
prior to her marriage lived on her father's im
proved homestead in the town of New Windsor.
She is the mother of one child, Walter Austin.
At present she is a stockholder in the Kilmer
Manufacturing Company, in which her husband
was formerly interested. Religiously she holds
membership with the Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church, and is an active member in the Young
Women's Christian Association.

0ANIEL MILLSPAUGH WADE, a retired
hardware dealer of Montgomery, was for al
most forty years connected with the busi
ness interests of this place. He was born here
December 16, 1832, to Jabez P. and Susan (Mills
paugh) Wade. The father, who was a native of
Northfield, N. J. , came to Montgomery, where
he followed the trade of blacksmithing. The
mother was a daughter of Nicholas and Catherine
(Crist) Millspaugh, the former of whom was born
in Orange County. His marriage was solem
nized in Montgomery, and he engaged in farming
about two miles from the village, on the Middle-
town road. In 1814, when about forty -two years
old, he died of consumption. His wife survived
him many years, dying at the age of seventy-one.
Mrs. Wade's sister, Elizabeth, became the wife
of Jacob Jewell, a hotel-keeper of Dutchess
County, N. Y., and she has six children living:
Daniel, who lives two miles south of Montgom
ery; Catherine, who makes her home in the vil
lage; and four children living in Dutchess Coun
ty. The father of our subject, who was born
September 22, 1802, died 011 the 19th of April,
1849, at the age of forty -six years, and his wife,
who was born August 25, 1803, died April 1,
1871, at the age of sixty-eight years. Their mar
riage was celebrated on the 19th of February,
1829, and to them were born the following chil
dren: Jane, Daniel M., Nathaniel (who died in
infancy), Nathaniel Jabez, Joseph C. Gridley,
Elizabeth, Adam N. and Andrew K.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

725

The boyhood days of Daniel M. Wade were
passed in Montgomery, but at the age of twelve
years he left home, going to the town of Craw
ford, where he worked on a farm. Four years
later he returned to this place, where he learned
the trade of a tinner with Benjamin Bull, who la
ter became a resident of Port Jervis. During his
five-years apprenticeship he received1 his board
and $25 for the first year, after which $5 was
added each year to his wages. When Mr. Bull
went to Port Jervis at the end of four years, he
left Mr. Wade some tools and stock, with which
the latter began business. He also borrowed a
small amount of money, and soon had a good
trade established, which he successfully carried on
until August, 1891, making about thirty -nine
years of continuous business. He added a small
stock of hardware, but dealt mostly in tinware,
including tin roofing and tin cornice. He em
ployed three men and had a very satisfactory
trade. On the 26th of March, 1856, a wedding cere
mony was performed which united the destinies
of Mr. Wade and Miss Charlotte C. David, a
daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Constable)
David. She was born in New Hurley, Ulster
County, January 18, 1836, and at the age of five
years came with her mother to Montgomery,
where the latter died in 1856. While she was
yet an infant her father had died, leaving one
son, a half-brother of Mrs. Wade, Henry David,
who now makes his home in Altoona, Iowa.
Our subject and his wife have no children of
their own, but they reared Elizabeth Righter from
the age of four years. She is the daughter of
Mr. Wade's sister Jane, and she remained with
them until her marriage with James H. Wallace,
of Pine Bush.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Wade are active workers
in the Presbyterian Church, iu which he has
served as Elder for fifteen years. In early life
he was a Democrat, but now gives his allegiance
to the Prohibition party, which embodies his
principles on temperance questions. For three
years he was Supervisor, also served as a mem
ber of the School Board, of which he was Presi
dent for some years, and has also been Trustee of

the village. His genial manners and sturdy in
tegrity have won him hosts of friends, and he is
highly regarded by all with whom he conies in
contact.

HON. JOSEPH DEAN, of Goshen, is As
semblyman from the Second District of Or
ange County, and is now representing his
Republican constituents in the One Hundred and
Eighty-seventh Session of the New York State
Legislature. He is very popular, and has hosts
of friends, who came to his aid while he was run
ning on the minority ticket and assisted in his
victory. He was nominated in the fall of 1893,
and was elected by a majority of sixteen in a
district where the opposite party counts on a ma
jority of eight hundred and sixty votes. He took
an active part in and championed several import
ant measures successfully, and while in the Leg
islature was a member of the Committees on Gas,
Electricity and Water Supply, Commerce and
Navigation, Public Lands and Forestry. In 1894
he was renominated and elected by ten hundred
and fifty-one majority.
The Deah family is of Danish descent, our sub
ject's ancestors having been prominent in the
Old Country, and from early times they have
been associated with the history of America. The
grandfather, John, who was born in New Jersey,
was a farmer in that state and in Burdett, N. Y.,
later going to Bradford County, Pa., where he
was one of the pioneers, and there his declining
years were spent. Our subject's father, William
Dean, was born in Burdett, N. Y., and was an
agriculturist in Bradford County until 1890, when
he settled in Wellsburg, N. Y. He is now in
his sixty-eighth year, and is actively interested
in the Republican party. He volunteered his
services during the Civil War, but was rejected,
and later became foreman of a construction corps
in the Government employ. His wife, Sarah,
was a native of the town of Minisink, and a
daughter of Joseph Doty, a farmer. The latter
came from a New Jersey family, and in former
years engaged in teaming all over the county.

726

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mrs. Dean is a devoted member of the Method
ist Episcopal Church. Of her three children,
our subject is the eldest; Gabe is at home, and
Frank is residing in Elmira.
Hon. Joseph Dean was born in Gillett, Brad
ford County, Pa., June 28, 1858, and was brought
up in the usual manner of farmer boys. His
early education was received in a district school,
and when he was eighteen years of age he left
home to seek his fortune. In February, 1877, he
went to the pine woods of Michigan, and for six
years was employed by the Covell Ocobock Com
pany, of Muskegon County, in the capacity of
bookkeeper. In 1882 he came to Goshen, and
in a short time was offered a position as book
keeper for the N. C. Sanford Company, lumber
and coal merchants, and continued as one of their
most efficient employes for some ten years. In
1892 he entered into partnership with H. C. Hor
ton, under the firm name of Horton & Dean, in
the book and stationery business. They have a
fine location on Main Street, opposite the depot,
aud have built up a large and successful trade.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Dean is identi
fied with Goshen Lodge No. 365, F. & A. M.;
with Orange Lodge No. 506, I. O. O. F. ; and with
the Order of Foresters. He is recognized as one
of the active and influential Republicans of this
county, and has made a good reputation as a
member of the Legislature.

T'l'l'l I I I

(TOHNTHEW COLEMAN. This name will
I be recognized by many of our readers as that
G/ of a resident of the town of Hamptonburgh,
where he is engaged in farming and dairying.
His landed estate consists of two hundred and
ten acres of well improved land, aud his present
prosperous condition is due to his own good sense
and enterprise. The farm is stocked with all
that goes to make up a well regulated estate, and
the family occupies a pleasant dwelling, where
home comforts and genial hospitality abound.
The first ofthe Colemans ofwhom our subject
has any knowledge is Benjamin, his grandfather,
who lived in the town of Hamptonburgh, and

was a farmer by occupation. He married Han
nah Finch, and his eldest son was named John
Finch. Our subject was born in the town of
Warwick, March 7, 1823, and is the youngest of
three children born to John Finch and Letty
(Thew) Coleman. Harriet became the wife of
Halstead Garnee, a farmer of this town, but both
are deceased; they left a daughter, Augusta.
William is also deceased, as are all of his descen
dants except one grandson, William E. McWill-
iams, of Middletown. John T. was reared to farm
life, and when ready to establish a home of his
own was married, October 27, 1847, to Miss
Mary L-, daughter of Joseph and Amelia (Booth)
Slaughter. Three children were granted to them,
but Joseph, the eldest, died at the age of eleven.
Harriet died when one year and ten months old,
and John T., Jr., is at home with his parents. He
is a finely educated young man, being a graduate
of Colby University at Waterville, Me. , and is a
member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
In 1870 Mr. Coleman, of this sketch, located
upon his present estate, which is a very fertile
tract, and which lies on the banks of the Wallkill
River. It is one of the largest in the town, and
the greater part ofthe owner's time is given to
dairy farming, although he does not neglect the
raising of the various cereals.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Coleman,
Isaac Slaughter, came of a Virginia family and
lived to be eighty-four years -old. During the
Revolutionary period he served as a soldier in the
Continental army, going from the plow to the
battlefield, and saw active service in the battles
of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. He afterward
came to Orange County and was one of the first
to make his home in this section. Among the
old pioneers he was well known, for his honorable
and upright life endeared him to all who knew
him. Mrs. Coleman, who was born July 5, 1826, com
pleted her education in the Albany Female Acad
emy. Her parents, who were old residents of
this community, lived to advanced years, both
dying at the age of seventy eight years; they were
members of the Presbyterian Church. Joseph
Slaughter, the father, who served as a soldier in

(g^g^g^z c

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

729

the War of 181 2, was very prominent in local af
fairs, taking au active part in all measures which
were calculated to upbuild his community, and
for about twenty years he held the office of Jus
tice ofthe Peace. For many terms he was Judge
ofthe county, and for one term served his con
stituents as a member of the Legislature. He
was successful in all that he undertook, and as an
official gained the confidence of the people. Mrs.
Coleman is a member of the Presbyterian Church
at Goshen. Her estimable character and useful
life have secured for her the respect of all ac
quaintances and the deepest regard of those who
know her best. •  0^

HON. FREDERIC BODINE, one of the most
prominent men of Montgomery, was born
here on the 18th of June, 1835, and is a
good exemplification of the commingling of races
which obtains such good results in this cosmo
politan land, for in his veins flows French, Eng
lish, Dutch and Irish blood. His paternal ances
tors were French Huguenots, who left France
after the massacre on St. Bartholomew's Day,
August 14, 1572. Three brothers of the name
later came to the United States, one locating on
Long Island, another going West (probably set
tling in Michigan), and the last going to Ulster
County, N. Y. William, the great-grandfather
of our subject, is descended from the one last
mentioned. He located on a farm a mile and
a-half west of Walden, the tract comprising three
hundred and fifty acres, and there his son Peter
was born. The latter, who served in the War of
18 1 2, was the grandfather of Frederic.
The father of our subject, Sylvanus Bodine,
was also born on the old homestead near Wal
den, and on reaching maturity married Sally Ann
Horton, a daughter of John Horton, of Goshen,
N. Y. After his marriage the father located on
a farm in the vicinity of his old home, where his
two sons were born, the brother of Frederic being
Amasa H., now a resident of Prattsburg, Steu
ben County, N. Y., where the father also re
moved in 1866. His death occurred at the age
32

of seventy-three years, March 23, 1879, and his
wife died at the age of eighty-three, July 3, 1890.
From early youth Frederic Bodine was depen
dent upon his own exertions for his advance
ment in life, working for . farmers and others in
the neighborhood during the summer and attend
ing school in the winter. After leaving the dis
trict schools he entered Montgomery Academy,
where his literary education was completed. He
was a diligent, tractable scholar, and being blessed
with a good memory, good reasoning powers,
great perseverance, and an earnest desire for
knowledge, made rapid progress, obtained good
mental discipline and a thorough English edu
cation. After teaching for several winters he
changed his pursuits, and in 1865 entered the
hardware business with Theodore Goldsmith in
Montgomery. On the 5th of June, 1862, Mr. Bodine wedded
Miss Mittie Graham, of Montgomery, an adopted
daughter of his partner, Mr. Goldsmith. While
an infant she had been left an orphan. She died
January 30, 1870, leaving one son, Theodore G.,
who was born November 10, 1864, and who for
the last ten years has been a druggist of Danbury,
Conn. Mr. Bodine was again married, on the 17th
of November, 1870, this union being with Mrs.
Emma (Sears) Decker, widow of George W.
Decker. She departed this life August 3, 1882,
leaving two children by her former marriage,
Georgiana and Joseph M. The former, who is
deaf and dumb, was educated at the New York
Institute, under the celebrated Dr. Isaac Peet,
and is a bright, gifted lady, possessing great ar
tistic talent. She is now a teacher in the State
Deaf and Dumb Institute of Cedar Springs, S. C. ,
and is the wife of Prof. T. H. Coleman, who
is connected with the same school. Joseph M.
Decker, who is a jeweler by trade, is now en
gaged in the insurance business in New Haven
and Hartford, Conn. On the 10th of May, 1883,
Mr. Bodine was united in marriage with Mrs.
Mary L- Vanderoef, widow of Charles Vanderoef,
of Montgomery, by whom she has two chil
dren: Harry W. and Lizzie, who both reside in
Montgomery. Mrs. Bodine, who bore the maiden
name of Wilcox, came from Peekskill, N. Y.,

73°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and by her second union had two children: Fred
eric, who died in infancy; and Sally Ann Horton,
who was born December 30, 1890, and was named
in honor of our subject's mother.
In October, 1865, Mr. Bodine obtained the Re
publican nomination for Member of the Assem
bly for his district, and was elected by a large
majority. He was placed on the Committees of
Towns and Villages and Schools and Colleges.
April 2, 1862, he delivered a speech in favor of in
creasing the tax on property of the state so as to
enlarge the school fund to such an amount as to
make our public schools indeed free. He opposed
the bill which provided for the construction of the
new Capitol, and if his views had prevailed $20,-
000,000 would have been saved to the tax-payers.
In the fall of 1866 he made a few speeches in be
half of the Republican ticket. Having always been
a reader of the Tribune of New York City, Mr.
Bodine in 1872 gave his support to Horace Gree
ley, and during the campaign made speeches in
his behalf, although at heart he was still an ar
dent Republican.
In 1866 Mr. Bodine removed to Steuben Coun
ty, where he engaged in farming at Prattsburg
for two years, but on the expiration of that time
he returned to Montgomery and resumed his
business connections with Mr. Goldsmith. In
1877, on account of a defaulting partner, he lost
the accumulations of a lifetime and was obliged
to begin life anew at the age of forty- two years.
Without grieving over the past, he looked reso
lutely and hopefully to the future. He studied
law with J. M. Wilkin, who had been his teacher
in the Academy of Montgomery, which is the
oldest institution of the kind in the state, and
which celebrated its centennial in 1890. In 1870
he was elected Justice of the Peace to succeed
Hon. Hugh B. Bull, and has continuously held
that office for twenty-five years. While discharg
ing the duties of the same he continued his law
studies, and was admitted to the Bar in 1880.
In that year Congress could not agree upon a
Superintendent of Census for the Fourth United
States District, comprising Orange, Ulster, Rock
land, Sullivan and Delaware Counties, N. Y.
The Republican representative, Hon. M. D. Sti

vers, editor of the Middletown Times, presented
Mr. Bodine' s name. At the same time Mr. Ben
edict, now Public Printer at Washington, but
then with D. R. Maiming, of Albany, asked
the Democratic Representative, Hon. William
Loundsbury, not to oppose our subject, who was
then at once selected. His appointment not being
made until June, he had only two months to do
the work, as it had to be completed by the sst of
August. Securing one hundred and sixty-five
assistants, the work was accomplished satisfac
torily and within the required time.
In 1866 the southern district of the town of
Montgomery was bonded for $60,000 to help build
a road from Montgomery to Goshen, and while
in the Legislature, on the 2d of January, 1866,
Mr. Bodine secured the charter for the same. He
was made one of the original Directors, which
position he has continued to fill. It is ten and
a-quarter miles in length, and is now leased to
the Erie Railroad Company. As one of the Com
missioners, Mr. Bodine has assisted in clearing
off the indebtedness until it now amounts to only
$3,000. He is also a Director of the Walden
Savings Bank. He has held a number of local
official positions, and is now serving as a mem
ber ofthe Board of Education. He holds mem
bership with the Presbyterian Church, in which
he is filling the office of Elder. A ready and
successful speaker, he has done efficient work for
the Republican party, of which he is an ardent
supporter. He is true to his word, faithful in his
friendship and kind to man and beast.

pGJlLLIAM HAMILTON is a member of
\ A / the firm of Hamilton & Todd, contractors
VV and builders of Newburgh, and is a char
ter member of and a Director in the Newburgh
Building and Loan Association. His shop is at
No. 63 Campbell Street, and during his thirteen
years' connection with his present partner he has
met with gratifying success, and during this pe
riod many residences of the city have been con
structed by them. A native of Ireland, our sub
ject was born near Lame, County Antrim, in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

73i

1848. In 1868, shortly before reaching his ma
jority, he determined to seek a home in the New
World and sailed from Londonderry on the steam
ship "Caledonia." Eighteen days were passed
on the briny deep, but the voyage was made in
safety, and New York City was reached on time.
From New York Mr. Hamilton came to New
burgh direct, spending the next three years as an
apprentice to the carpenter's trade with Samuel
McKee. After working at the carpenter's trade
as a journeyman for about eleven years, on the
ist of May, 1882, our subject started as a con
tractor and builder for himself, in partnership
with James Todd.
In 1873 Mr. Hamilton and Agnes Pollock were
married in Newburgh. She is a daughter of
Samuel Pollock, now deceased, and is a native of
this city. Eight children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Hamilton, but three of the number have
been called to the better land, namely: Joseph,
who died at the age of thirteen; Fred, who was
in his ninth, and Samuel in his seventh, year at
the time of their demise. Margaret is a graduate
of the Newburgh Academy. Jean, now attend
ing the State Normal College, also graduated
from the academy; and the younger members of
the family are Harold B., William, Jr., and Grace.
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the
Westminster Presbyterian Church, the former
being Secretary of the Board of Deacons. Polit
ically he uses his right of franchise in behalf of
the Prohibition party, which best expresses his
ideas on the great questions of the day.

¦»—>»>*»• 1 1 1 1

(JOSEPH WASNICK, now residing in the
I town of Goshen, was born across the seas, in
GJ Poland, February 24, 1843. He is now con
ducting a well improved farm of twenty -eight
acres, which, although not as large as many in
this vicinity, is very rich bottom land, and is
made to yield its owner good returns.
Our subject was the son of Nicola and Kath-
erine Wasnick, likewise born in Poland, where
the father passed his entire life. The mother,
who is now eighty-two years of age, accompanied

her son to America, and makes her home with
him at the present time. Joseph was sent to
school in his native land, gaining a fund of use
ful information, and when his school days were
over became a soldier in the German-Austrian
War, and also fought in the Franco-Prussian
War. When only nineteen years of age he served
as a soldier in the war between Poland and Rus
sia, which makes three conflicts in which he took
part in the Old World.
As there was not much opportunity for ad
vancement in Poland, Mr. Wasnick determined to
try his fortunes in the New World, of which he
had heard such glowing accounts. He accord
ingly embarked on a vessel which landed him
here in 1872, and at once located in the town of
Chester, this county. About 1883 he moved to
the beautiful farm upon which he is at present re
siding. His property is embellished with a sub
stantial brick residence, neat and well furnished,
and here also may be found the necessary out
buildings and the machinery and stock usually
found on an estate of a progressive and energetic
farmer. Joseph Wasnick was married, January 10, 1869,
to Miss Katherine, daughter of Mike Radombs,
a native of Poland. This union resulted in the
birth of seventeen children, eleven of whom are
living. Victoria became the wife of Richard
Flynn, and they live in New York City. The
others are John, Ella, Katie, Rosa, Josie, Frances,
Mary, Maggie, Frank and Theresa. Religiously
Mr. and Mrs. Wasnick are members of the
Catholic Church, and in politics he is a Demo
crat. He has two brothers, only one of whom,
Matthew, makes his home in this county.

EOL. EDGAR W. BASS has occupied the
chair of Mathematics at West Point for the
past seventeen years, and is recognized as a
scientist and scholar. It has been his privilege
to travel extensively while engaged in research.
From March 1, 1874, until September 29, 1875,
he was Assistant Astronomer, going with the

732

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

United States expedition to New Zealand to ob
serve the transit of Venus, which occurred in De
cember, 1874. In July, 1878, he held a like po
sition with a party which observed the solar
eclipse in Colorado. As a mathematician he is
an expert, and besides other publications is the
author of a "Differential Calculus."
Colonel Bass was born in Prairie du Chien,
Wis., October 30, 1843, but comes from old New
England stock. His grandfather, Samuel Bass,
was an old settler in the vicinity of Braintree,
Orange County, Vt. , in which state he died. The
Colonel's father, Jacob W. , a native of the same
locality, was the first of the family to go West,
as before his marriage he emigrated to Wiscon
sin. Early in the seventeenth century Deacon
Samuel Bass settled in Braintree, Mass., having
crossed the Atlantic from England.
Jacob W. Bass lived for a few years in Chicago
and Rockford, 111., engaged in merchandising,
but after moving to Prairie du Chien he turned
his attention to lumbering, and was proprietor of
the largest business of the kind on the Chippewa
River. Subsequently he moved to St. Paul, ar
riving there about 1848, and was the first Post
master of the place, acting in that capacity for
many years. He became well-to-do in commer
cial pursuits, and retired when he had acquired
a comfortable fortune. His death occurred in
1889, at the ripe age of seventy-four years. Many
of his investments were in real estate, and sev
eral additions were laid out under his supervision,
one being known by his own name. He was a
member of the Chicago Old Settlers' Associa
tion, and politically was first a Whig and later a
Republican. Both he and his faithful companion
and helpmate were members of the Episcopal
Church. Before her marriage she was Miss Mar
tha D. Branson, a native of Ohio. Her father,
Rev. Alfred Branson, was a minister in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. He was born at West
chester, N. Y., and was a pioneer in the Buck
eye State, and later lived in Wisconsin. He was
an old-fashioned circuit- rider, and established nu
merous churches and missions in the Northwest.
A man of remarkably strong constitution, he was
hale and hearty when well along in years, and

lived to be almost one hundred years old. Mrs.
Martha D. Bass is still living, and is a resident of
St. Paul. Of her two. children, Frank B. is a
prominent business man of St. Paul, and Edgar
W. is the subject of this sketch.
The first five years of his life Colonel Bass passed
in his native village, but in 1848 he removed
with his parents to St. Paul, where for some time
he was the only white boy. From 1856 to 1858
he attended a private academy at Elizabethtown,
N. J., and then, returning home, obtained a
clerkship in Thompson Bros.' Bank, now the
First National Bank, and held this place until
1862. August 13 of that year he enlisted in the
Eighth Minnesota Regiment of Volunteers, being
made Quartermaster's Sergeant the following De
cember. Up to June 1, 1864, he served in the cam
paigns against the Sioux Indians in the North
west, under General Sibley. June 30, 1864, he
was discharged from the service and entered the
United States Military Academy at West Point,
from which he was graduated with honors June
16, 1868. Upon his graduation he was made
Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers,
and from August 28, 1869, he served as instruc
tor in the department of Natural and Experi
mental Philosophy at the Military Academy.
February 14, 1871, he was commissioned First
Lieutenant of the Corps of Engineers, and after
his return home from New Zealand, of which
trip mention has previously been made, he was
placed in command of an engineer company at
Willet's Point, serving as such from Septem
ber 3, 1875, until February 28, 1876. Then he
was promoted to be Adjutant of the Engineering
Battalion, acting in that capacity until September
15, 1876, when he was made Assistant Professor
of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at the
Military Academy. May 2, 1878, he accepted
the chair of Mathematics, which he still occu
pies with credit to himself and to the full sat
isfaction of all concerned.
Personally Colonel Bass is very agreeable and
entertaining as a companion and friend. With
his large experience and fund of information he
can successfully instruct others, and wins friends
wherever he goes. Fraternally he belongs to the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

733

New York branch ofthe Loyal Legion, the Cent
ury Association of New York, and the Union
League Club ofthe same city.

•**

:h|h

ISAAC F. MANDIGO. Those for whom the
beauties of nature have a charm would enjoy
a visit to the home of Mr. Mandigo, in the
town of Highland. The farm where he resides,
and which he has owned since 1870, consists of
one hundred and sixty -seven acres, situated near
Ft. Montgomery, and lying five hundred feet
above the Hudson. From it may be obtained a
fine mountain view, as well as a charming out
look on the river. While a portion of the land is
too rough for the plough, that which is tillable
has been found to be very productive and proves
quite remunerative to the owner. One of the
most interesting and picturesque features of the
farm is the vine-covered ruin of the old Queens-
borough furnace, which is over one hundred years
old. The Mandigo family originated in Italy, and
was first represented in this country by our sub
ject's grandfather, who settled in America prior
to the Revolution and married after coming hith
er. Our subject's father, Luke Mandigo, was
born during the Revolutionary War, and died at
the age of eighty-seven. His wife, Hannah, was
a daughter of David and Mary (Garrison) Fau
rot, the former of French origin, and the latter a
member of one of the first families that settled in
America. Isaac F. was fourth among eight chil
dren, the others being John, Polly, Luke, Sallie,
Campbell, Peter and Judith,
In what is now the town of Highland, the sub
ject of this sketch was born September 24, 1808.
He was reared near Highland Falls and attended
school at Ft. Montgomery until he was fourteen,
spending the intervening summer months in farm
work. Learning the carpenter's trade, he was for
twenty years employed on the Government build
ings at West Point, and later took contract work
in his home neighborhood. In 1870 he purchased

the farm where he has since resided. He takes an
interest in public affairs, although his advanced
years no longer permit him to mingle actively
with his fellow-men. Politically he adheres to
the policy of the old-line Democrats. He is iden
tified with the Presbyterian Church, to which his
wife also belonged, and in social affairs he is con
nected with the Odd Fellows' lodge at New
burgh. At Ft. Montgomery, April 28, 1838, Mr. Man
digo was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane
Turner, who was born near that place, March 12,
18 19, and died October 24, 1894. She was a
daughter of Robert Turner, a native of Scotland,
who spent his life principally in Orange County.
Two children, Robert and Angeline R. , blessed
the union of our subject and his wife. The son,
who was born March 10, 1839, died March 26,
1885, and his wife, Algenette Rhodes, whom he
married July 3, 1872, was born April 26, 1846,
and died October 24, 1882. Their only son,
Isaac W., was born November 15, 1873, and
makes his home with his grandfather, assisting
in the management of the farm and also working
at the carpenter's trade. The daughter, Angel
ine R. , was born July 28, 1844, and was married
to John H. Frost, now deceased, February 3,
1873. Their two children are Robert, whose
birth occurred May 3, 1874, and Sarah Nellie,
born June 22, 1876.

-^M!

©II

HOMAS WAIT, one of the highly esteemed
citizens of Orange County, is now living re
tired from business cares in Montgomery,
surrounded by his many friends. He was born
at Neeley Town, in the town of Montgomery, on
the 7th of January, 1823, and has ever made this
county his home. His parents, Samuel and Mary
(Welch) Wait, were natives of Banwell, Somer
setshire, England, and came to the New World
about 1820, after which the father engaged in
farming near Neeley Town, N. Y., but in 1823
gave the management of the place to his son Ed
ward, and with his family removed to the village
of Montgomery. Previous to coming to America

734

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he had been a farmer and also a teasel-grower.
After the death of his wife he removed to Walden,
where he passed away at the age of eighty-eight
years and six months. There are now only two
survivors of the family: William, who makes his
home in Newburgh, and our subject.
Thomas Wait, who was the youngest of the
children, at the age of seventeen went to a farm
two miles east of Montgomery, which his father
had purchased and later sold to him on easy
terms. This place contained one hundred and
four acres, on "which he resided for a half-century,
and extended its boundaries until it comprised
one hundred and sixty acres of well improved and
valuable land. He also owned a tract of eighty-
four acres just one mile from Montgomery. The
old farm is now operated by his son George W. ,
as he removed to the village in 1892, and still
makes this place his home.
Mr. Wait was married, on the 27th of March,
1845, to Miss Mary Mould, and they have now
traveled life's journey together for half a century,
sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its
adversities and prosperities. The lady was born
in the town of Montgomery, and is a daughter of
John C. and Mary (Shafer) Mould. Mr. and
Mrs. Wait now reside at their, pleasant home in
Montgomery, a beautiful double house on Main
Street, which was erected to suit their tastes, and
is a desirable place. Of their family of fourteen
children, five died in infancy, and those living
are: Martha, wife of Chauncey Brooks, of Mont
gomery; Charles D., who is engaged iu the coal
and feed business in Montgomery; George W.,
who carries on the old home place; Mary Emma,
wife of Hiram H. Hawkins, a farmer of the town
of Hamptonburgh; Sarah F., wife of Frank Eager,
a farmer of Howell, Mich.; Effie, wife of Charles
W. Hill, a coal, feed and lumber merchant of
Walden; Wesley, a dentist of Newburgh, who
married General Rowland's daughter Emily, and
who has one child, Lucile; Alida, wife of Ira H.
Freen, an agriculturist of the town of Chester; and
Anna B., who is with her parents. Mr. Wait
has given his children good advantages, aiding
them materially in starting out in life for them
selves, and they are now numbered among the

representative citizens of the communities where
they reside. He also has seventeen grandchildren.
With the Methodist Episcopal Church our sub
ject and his wife hold membership, and are of the
Armenian faith, being quite liberal in their belief.
They do not see the hand of Providence in every
little happening in life, believing that each man
is made responsible for his own deeds. Politically
Mr. Wait is a Republican, and a great admirer of
McKinley and his views on the tariff question,
being iu favor of high protection. Although he
is of English origin, he cares very little about
that country, being a thorough American, and in
favor of everything that will benefit American
people. Although he is deeply interested in all
matters pertaining to her welfare, he is no poli
tician, not caring for the honors or emoluments
of public office. Before coming to Montgomery,
he was a hard worker, attending closely to the
duties of his farm, and success crowned his efforts,
securing him a comfortable competency, which
enables him to rest from active life and enjoy the
fruits of his former toil. He is a man of sound
judgment, and one whose opinions are held in
general respect.

(JOHN P. MONELL. Among the worthy and
I prominent citizens of this portion of the Em-
G) pire State is the above gentleman, who for
the past eight years has held the responsible po
sition of Superintendent of the Orange County
Poor Farm. In the parental family of three chil
dren he was the second, and his birth occurred
in the town of Minisink, March 22, 1840. His
parents, William and Julia Ann (Purdy) Monell,
were also natives of Orange County, within whose
bounds they passed all their lives. The former
was prominently identified with the agricultural
interests of this section, and was the owner of a
well improved farm in the town of Hampton
burgh. He was quiet and unassuming in man
ner, and although never seeking public honors,
was a stanch supporter of Democratic principles

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

735

and candidates. He departed this life in 1875,
mourned and respected by all who knew him.
The mother, who died in 1870, was a well edu
cated and most estimable lady, and greatly as
sisted her husband in attaining his standing in
the community.
Our subject first attended the district schools
at Waterloo, and subsequently became a student
in the academy at Unionville. Being reared to
farm life, he returned to that occupation after
completing his education, and on attaining his
twenty-first year began farming on his own ac
count on the old homestead. After the death of
his mother, he purchased the estate and conducted
it until the demise of his father, five years later,
when he abandoned farming for a time and en
gaged in the hotel business at La Grange. This
enterprise he carried on for seven years, during
which time he was elected County Farm Superin
tendent. Very soon thereafter he went to Go
shen, where, in connection with discharging the
duties of an official, he carried on a" hotel. At
the end of three years, at the request ofthe Board
of Supervisors, he disposed of his other interests
and devoted his undivided attention to the work
ofthe County Farm, and became resident Super
intendent. Mr. Monell was married, in October, 1861, to
Miss Mary, daughter of Robert and Margaret
(Wright) Boyd, natives of Orange County. Two
daughters came to bless this union: Julia A., now
the wife of Hiram T. Ostrander, who is engaged
in the painting business at Goshen; and Miss
May, at home with her father. The wife and
mother passed to her long home in April, 1895.
In social affairs our subject isa Mason, having
attained to the Royal Arch Degree, and has been
prominently identified with that order since at
taining his majority. He has filled all the chairs
in the Blue Lodge, and was Master for five years.
Politically he is a Democrat, which ticket he has
always voted in national affairs, although in local
politics he uses his influence in favor of the best
man, regardless of party lines. That he is very
popular in his community, is indicated by his
having been elected to his present responsible
office on four different occasions when the oppos

ing party was in power. He is just the right
man for the place, is kind and fair in his treat
ment of all, and his thorough knowledge of agri
cultural affairs makes him a valued man for the
position. He resigned the position of keeper in
August, 1895, and moved to the village of Go
shen, though he is still Superintendent.

r+^i

EHARLES FITZGERALD. This well
known farmer and machinist of the town of
Monroe, was born in Florida, Orange Coun
ty, October 11, 1834, and is the only survivor of
a family of four children, ofwhom the eldest and
youngest, a boy and girl, died in infancy, while
the other, George, passed away in the spring of
1893. The parents of this family, John and Mary
(Fenner) Fitzgerald, were natives, respectively,
of the towns of Chester and Tuxedo, this county.
The father was born in 1807 and died in 1838,
while the mother was born in 1805, and survived
her husband many years, dying about 1888, in
Port Jervis.
When Charles was a child of one year his par
ents moved to Oxford, and there his father died.
The widowed mother then moved to the town of
Woodbury, later went to Southfield, and thence
to Paterson. Accompanying her in her various
removals, he gained his education in the schools of
Woodbury and Southfield, and also attended a
private school at West Milford for one year. At
the age of eighteen he became fireman on the
railroad, and after four years ran an engine for a
short time. He was variously employed by the
company, having charge of a stationary engine,
superintending work on the road, looking after
the carrying out of contracts, etc., until i860,
when he took a three-years contract to saw wood
for the company.
In 1863 Mr. Fitzgerald purchased his present
farm, and two years later, after having closed his
contract with the railroad, he took possession of
this place. At once he began the sale of farming
implements and machinery through Monroe and
adjoining towns, to which, in 1872, he added the
sale of sewing-machines. In 1892 he began

736

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

handling bicycles, and in each of these specialties
he has been very successful. He has a well
equipped shop for repairs of all kinds of small
machinery, bicycles, guns, etc. , and the engine
that turns the shafts was built by one of his sons,
all ofwhom inherit their father's skill with tools.
At Chester, in i860, Mr. Fitzgerald was united
in marriage with Miss Harriet Hall, who was
born at Rochester, N. Y., when her parents, Hor
ace and Mahala (Jennings) Hall, were returning
to this county from Ohio. This union has been
blessed with ten children, but four of the family
died in infancy. Those living are Egbert, who
married Fannie Andrews, and is engaged as a lo
comotive fireman on the Erie Railroad: Daisy;
Henry, who is employed on the trolley road in
Pittsburg, Pa. ; Eva, who makes her home with
an aunt in Suffern; Reuben, who assists his fa
ther in the shop; and Ralph, who is attending
school. Politically Mr. Fitzgerald is a Republi
can, but has never taken an active part in public
affairs, having always given his close and undi
vided attention to his business affairs.

-J— •  *>2^®(©)®^-C<»  *-¦ f-

MEORGE W. FULLER. An excellent ex-
I— ample of the sturdy enterprise, thrift and
^| persistent industry characteristic of so many
of the business men of Newburgh may be found
in the life of George Fuller, who for a period of
nineteen years has been one of the prominent
grocers of this city. His place of business is lo
cated at No. 192 Washington Street, where the
purchaser will find first-class goods and receive
courteous treatment.
Mr. Fuller was born in this city in 1852,
aud is the son of Oliver Fuller, a native of Wal
den, this county. His grandfather, John Ful
ler, came from Hartford, Conn., and located
in this county, near Tuttletowu, and from that
time until his decease lived in ease and com
fort, retired from the active duties of life. The
father of our subject was a farmer in Walden,
whence he removed to Newburgh, and there he

died when George W. was an infant. Our sub
ject's mother, who was formerly Miss Mary Dor
cas, was born in Walden, and was the daughter
of John Dorcas, a farmer, and a native of this
state. The latter's father, Capt. Alexander Dor
cas, located in Orange County many years ago,
becoming the possessor of large landed interests,
and his last days were spent in leisure. The
mother, who is now seventy-eight years of age,
makes her home with our subject. She is an
Episcopalian in religious belief, a member of the
Church ofthe Good Shepherd.
The parental family included three children.
Arlington, who was a boiler-maker, is deceased.
Matilda married Winfield Scott, of this city. Our
subject completed his education in the high school
of this city, and although hewas not permitted
to take an entire course there, subsequently took
a full course at O. M. Smith's Business College at
Newburgh. When a lad of eleven years he was
obliged to look out for himself, beginning as a
clerk, but afterward he spent four years with the
Pennsylvania Coal Company. Later he was for
the same length of time with the Ramsdell Coal
Company, and was also occupied four years as
Collector on the Newburgh & Fishkill Ferry.
In March, 1877, Mr. Fuller started in business
for himself at No. 217 Washington Street, begin
ning at the very bottom of the ladder. As he
was shrewd and ambitious, his trade gradually in
creased, until he was obliged to open up in the ad
joining building. At this time, besides a large
stock of groceries, he put in a good line of boots
and shoes, and as his prices were very popular his
trade became large aad paying. He soon found,
however, that he was unable to give his attention
to both enterprises, and after three years disposed
of his boot and shoe store, but continued in the
grocery business. He also carries a large assort
ment of fine candies.
In 1888 Mr. Fuller erected his present fine
brick building, which is 25x50 feet iu dimensions
and which is admirably located on the corner of
Washington aud William Streets. It is three
stories in height and contains a good cellar,
which he finds very convenient for storage pur
poses. As he does both a wholesale and retail

THE BUSINESS BLOCK AND GROCERY STORE OF GEORGE W. FULLER,
Corner of Washington and Wii.i,iam Sts., Nkwhi-rch, N. Y.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

739

trade, he finds it necessary to occupy the entire
building, and employs several clerks, besides keep
ing two delivery wagons in use.
The lady to whom our subject was married in
Pleasant Valley, Ulster County, in 1883, was
Miss Elma M. Gee, a native of Madison County,
this state. She was the daughter of Amos and
Martha (Stewart) Gee, her father being a well
known carpenter and builder in his locality. To
Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have been born two chil
dren, Glennie M. and Susie M. Mr. Fuller has
been an honored and active member of Washing
ton Steamer Company No. 4, and the O. A. F.
for fifteen years. In the Church of the Good
Shepherd, of which he is a member, he is Sen
ior Warden. In political affairs he votes the
straight Republican ticket, and takes a warm in
terest in that party's welfare. He is intimately
connected with the financial affairs of his city,
and his opinions on matters of importance are
considered valuable.

 i'3"8"2*,i'(j

*****

ffi 
•*F=

(3GJILLIAM H. BAILEY, who is the owner
\ A / and occupant of a seventy-acre tract lying
V V on Upper Twin Lake, in the town of Wood
bury, was born November 12, 1837, at a place
known as Brooks Hollow, near the Forest of Dean
Mines, now in the town of 'Highland. The first
seven years of his life were spent near his birth
place, after which he accompanied his father to
his newly purchased property, consisting of about
five hundred acres of forest land around Twin
Lakes, and for the past forty years he has re
sided here.
Near Arden, May 9, 1858, Mr. Bailey was
united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann, daugh
ter of Henry Ryerson, ofthe town of Woodbury.
Thirteen children were born of their union, viz.:
William and Jacob, deceased; Mary Ida, wife of
Thomas Garrison; Jeremiah, who resides near
Queensborough; Emma Jane, wife of Ephraim
Ward, of Southfield; Martha, Mrs. Harry Swim, of
Highland Falls; Elizabeth, who married Charles
Edward Swim, of Highland Falls; Georgia Ann,
who also lives in the last-named village; Spencer,

who married Jennie Garrison, and lives near his
father's home; Elwood, an attendant in the Fal
kirk Sanitarium; Bertha, Thomas and Rhoda,
who are with their parents. Politically Mr. Bai
ley adheres to Democratic principles, but does
not identify himself actively with public affairs.
The father of our subject was born near Cen
tral Valley, January 16, 1804, and spent his en
tire life in the old town of Monroe, where he died
February 10, 1895, at the advanced age of nine
ty-one. For a time he made his home near the
Forest of Dean Mines, which he supplied with
charcoal for the furnaces. Charcoal-burning was
his chief occupation throughout life. About 1854
he returned to the place of his birth and pur
chased a tract of more than four hundred acres
around Twin Lakes, converting the timber into
charcoal, which he sold to the furnaces at South-
field and Arden.
Jacob Bailey, our subject's father, was a son of
Jeremiah and Sarah (Florence) Bailey, the latter
being the daughter of James Florence, an early
settler in the mountains near Central Valley.
The marriage of Jacob Bailey united him with
Mary Ann, daughter of Samuel and Abbie (Por
ter) Garrison, and unto them were born thir
teen children, of whom William H. is the eldest
son and fifth child. The political views of the
senior Mr. Bailey were of the most positive na
ture, and he was uncompromising in his defense
of Democratic principles, believing the platform
of that party one calculated to bring prosperity
to the largest number of people, rather than to
allow wealth to be in the hands of a few monop
olists.
ti&A  ^>

mn

=0

G\ DDISON CLARK. The town of Minisink
Tj has no more worthy representative of its
[~l flourishing agricultural interests than this
gentleman, who was born within the borders of
the county, educated in its schools, and in the
opening years of manhood took his place among
its busy and progressive farmers. While actively
engaged in laying up a competence, he has also

740

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

aided in promoting the material welfare of his
native county, and is entitled to the front rank
among its best citizens. Since twenty-eight years
of age he has made his home on his present
farm, situated one mile from Unionville, and con
sisting of one hundred and seven acres. In ad
dition to this property, he owns forty acres in the
town of Warwick and land in New Jersey, his
possessions aggregating four hundred and ninety-
one acres.
In that portion of the town of Minisink now
comprised within the limits of the town of Green
ville, Mr. Clark was born January 10, 1836. His
early years were spent upon the farm where he
was born, and from boyhood he was trained to a
knowledge of agricultural pursuits. It was nat
ural, therefore, that upon selecting a life occu
pation he should choose the one with which he
was most familiar, and toward which his tastes
inclined him. The wisdom of his choice the suc
ceeding years abundantly proved.
A very important event in the life of Mr. Clark
was his marriage, which took place in i860, and
united him with Miss Mary E. Elston. They
became the parents of one child, Sarah E., who
is the wife of Charles Durland and resides in Jer
sey City. Mrs. Clark died in 1868, and Decem
ber 7, 1870, Mr. Clark married Miss Mary J.
Caskey, of Deckertown, N. J. Her parents were
Alvah and Martha (Wilson) Caskey, both of
whom are deceased, and who also were natives
of New Jersey. To our subject and wife has
been born one son, Alvah, who assists iu manag
ing the home farm.
Mr. Clark was a young man of twenty-four
years when he commenced life's active labors on
his own account, and for the four following years
he remained on the old home farm. He then
purchased the farm in the town of Minisink
where he has since resided, and where, in addi
tion to general farming, he also engages largely
in the dairy business. The progressive spirit
which he possesses is evinced by the interest
which he takes in public matters, and which leads
him to keep thoroughly posted concerning cur
rent events affecting the public welfare. His po
litical adherence is with the Democratic party.

In religion Mr. and Mrs. Clark and family are
members of the Baptist Church, in which he is
officiating as Deacon. His life career has dis
tinguished him as a man of exceptional character,
of prompt and systematic business habits, com
bined with honorable and conscientious dealings,
and too much cannot be said of him as a man of
unswerving integrity, in whom all worthy re
forms find a champion.

<X>.fr.fr.{. ».»¦»*¦{.¦».»* |^.{..fr************X>
GlLVA W. EDSALL, D. D. S., though still a
Ll young man, has already acquired a good rep-
/ I utation as a skillful dental surgeon and has
built up an extensive practice in Warwick, where
he has one of the most beautiful and attractive
homes. He was born in Edenville, this county,
in January, 1861, and was the eldest but one in
the family granted to Thomas S. and Phebe A.
(Miller) Edsall, both of whom were also born in
this state. They are still living in Edenville, and
although well along in years enjoy good health.
Thomas Edsall has been a farmer all his life, and
so successful have his ventures proved that he is
now living in the enjoyment of a comfortable
home, procured in his younger yeais. He is the
owner of one hundred and forty acres of land lo
cated near Edenville, which is well improved in
every particular and admirably adapted for dairy
farming. The subject of this sketch received his primary
education in the public schools of Edenville, and
later in those of Warwick. When eighteen years
old he began the study of dentistry, and so thor
oughly did he apply himself that four years later
he was awarded a diploma of graduation from the
Philadelphia Dental College. He at once opened
an office at Warwick, and for the past twelve
years he and his partner, J. H. Wood, have en
joyed a lucrative practice. The office is fitted up
with all the latest appliances for filling and ex
tracting teeth, and their patrons are numbered
among the best people ofthe county.
Dr. Edsall and Miss Caroline, daughter of
Thomas and Caroline (Van Duser) Welling, were
united in marriage in December, 1892. Her par-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

74i

ents are living in Warwick, of which place they
are natives, and occupy a pleasant home. Their
daughter was also born there, and by her union
with Dr. Edsall she became the mother of two
children: Margaret, who died when six months
old; and Marian Welling, a lovely little daughter,
who is the pride of the household. Mrs. Edsall
is a cultured and refined lady, and in religious
affairs worships with the Dutch Reformed Church,
of which she is a member.
In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, never fail
ing to support the candidates of that party on all
occasions. Socially he is a Knight of Pythias,
taking great interest in the workings of that
order. He possesses a genial, frank disposition,
which makes him very popular, and with his
amiable wife he occupies a high position among
the best people of Warwick and vicinity.

""os-^i^Si&'^^lfe^^i^sr

(lAMES LAIN has borne an honorable part in
I the development of the town of Minisink,
(2/ and is to-day accounted one of its most
worthy citizens. Though for some years his
health has been less vigorous than formerly and
his frame less robust, he still oversees the man
agement of his farm and maintains the high stan
dard of its improvements. The place is devoted
principally to the dairy business, though some at
tention is also given to the raising of grain. The
farm consists of one hundred and forty-seven
acres, and its many improvements place it among
the valuables estates ofthe county.
In the town of Minisink Mr. Lain was born
December 2, 1829, and he grew to manhood upon
a farm, his youthful years being given to the te
dious occupation of developing and improving
the homestead. His educational advantages were
extremely limited; indeed, it may be safely said
that the broad knowledge which he now possesses
has been acquired through experience, observa
tion and reading, rather than through study in
the schools. At the age of twenty-four his mar
riage occurred, and since that event he has been
aided in his enterprises by the co-operation and
helpful assistance of his good wife. She bore the

maiden name of Mary Canfield, and their union,
which was solemnized January 5, 1854, was
blessed to them by the birth of four children,
namely: Lillie, who married Clark Sargeant, and
is deceased; William, who is a successful farmer;
Albert, deceased; and Carrie, who is with her
parents. *
At the time of his marriage Mr. Lain began for
himself as a farmer, and in the spring of the fol
lowing year he settled upon his present farm,
which consists of one hundred and forty-seven
acres. He has made all the improvements now
on the place, and keeps the buildings in excellent
repair. In politics he has never been active, and
while he is a Republican, thereis no trace of par
tisanship in his disposition. In the Baptist
Church, of which he is an honored member, he is
serving as Deacon, and his contributions to its
good works have been liberal.
A man of Mr. Lain's common sense and ster
ling principle is necessarily a person of influence
in his neighborhood, and we find that he is recog
nized and appreciated as one of the upright citi
zens of the town. Through his industrious efforts
in earlier years he has accumulated a sufficient
amount of this world's goods to provide his old
age against the encroachments of poverty. He is
a friend of the public schools, and of all measures
and enterprises calculated to build up the commu-
ity and promote the prosperity of the people.

|"^ETER J. WEYANT, whose large and valua-
yr ble farm lies in Beach Bottoms, near Queens-
[D borough, was born in Rockland County,
below Ft. Montgomery, August 23, 1838. In
boyhood he attended the Mountville schools,
where he gained a fair education, thus fitting him
self for the practical business affairs of life. At
the age of twenty-one he married, and about the
same time bought his present tract of land, a por
tion of which he has developed from the wilderness
into productive fields. His principal business is
that of supplying wood from his mountain tracts

742

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to various industries along the Hudson, which
enterprise he finds remunerative. So productive
are the mountains of timber that the third crop is
now being cleared away. The landed possessions
of Mr. Weyant aggregate five hundred acres, all
in one tract, the value of which is largely en
hanced by the dense forest growth, although that
portion of the place which is under cultivation
also yields a good income.
The subject of this notice is a son of Vincent
and Jane (Jaquish) Weyant, both ofwhom were
born near Ft. Montgomery, and whose marriage
resulted in the birth of seven children, our sub
ject being the youngest of the family. His fa
ther was the owner of nineteen hundred acres of
land, upon which he farmed to a small extent and
from which he sold timber and wood. His death
occurred in December, 1841, wheu he was fifty-
two years of age. He was a son of Tobias and
Jerusha (Smith) Weyant.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Solo
mon Jaquish, was born in America, of Welsh par
entage, and in an early day settled along the
Hudson River. Indians were at the time numer
ous and often hostile, and as they proved very
troublesome to him he one day wrote in his crude
way something on a slip of paper and this he sent
to the chief, who must have thought it a charm,
as the red men troubled him no more. He was
about sixteen at the time of the capture of Ft.
Montgomery. On the day of the fall of the fort,
he was hauling a load of potatoes to the troops
there. At the gate hewas met by an officer, who
asked him if he were of the legal age to fight
(eighteen) . Being told that he was not, the offi
cer told him to hasten away, saying that the fort
would be captured in an hour.
At Peekskill, September 4, 1858, Mr. Weyant
was united in marriage with Adelia Bulson, a na
tive of Rockland County and a daughter of Abra
ham and Elizabeth (Waldram) Bulson. Abra
ham was a drummer during the War of 1812,
and served in the campaign in Canada. Unto
the union of Mr. and Mrs. Weyant there were
born eleven children. Elizabeth, the eldest,
married Charles Thorpe, of Rockland County;
Sarah Ann is the wife of Charles Lewis, of High

land Falls; Rachel is Mrs. Charles Gee; Mary
married William Earls, of Ft. Montgomery; La
vina is the wife of David Rose; Mansfield assists
his father in the management of the home farm;
Catherine Amelia is the wife of Abraham Stevens,
of Englewood, N. J. ; Nellie married Arthur Aulb-
son ; Robert M. , Bertha and Nettie reside with
their parents. The religious connections of Mr.
Weyant are with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Politically he is a Republican, and upon that
ticket has been chosen to serve as School Trustee
and Collector. •  0#P  ' .

MEORGE MAKUEN, one of the enterprising
!_ sons of the Emerald Isle who have found
V_>| homes in the New World, is a successful agri
culturist of Orange County and owns over two
hundred acres in the town of Goshen. He was
born in County Down, in 1823, and was the young
est child of John andTheodosia (Hewitt) Makuen,
also natives of Ireland, where they passed their en
tire lives. The father dying when George was a
lad of twelve years, he was obliged to leave school
and assist in the support of the family. In this
work he was aided by an elder brother, and so
managed affairs that he was enabled to attend
night school, thus gaining a fair knowledge ofthe
common branches.
Our subject continued to reside in his native
land until thirty years of age, when he deter
mined to come to the New World. He accord
ingly embarked on a vessel which landed him at
New York. His destination being this county, he
soon found himself in the town of Goshen, where
he determined to stay. Being a practical tiller of
the soil, as soon as he was able to choose a loca
tion he began farming in his new home. He has
been successful in his various ventures, as will be
seen from the fact that he is now the owner of
over two hundred acres of some of the finest land
in the county. The buildings thereon are all neat
and substantial, and the place presents a very at
tractive appearance to the passer-by.
George Makuen and Miss Ellen Maginnis were
united in marriage in the fall of 1854. The lady

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

743

was a daughter of Timothy and Frances (Frost)
Maginnis, natives of Ireland, in which country
Mrs. Makuen was also born. In 1849 her parents
emigrated to America, where she met and mar
ried Mr. Makuen. Mr. Maginnis departed this
life in 1869, while his wife, who is still living,
has attained the venerable age of fourscore years
and five.
To our subject and his estimable wife there
have been born five children, of whom we make
the following mention: Hudson is a prominent
physician and engaged in practice at Philadel
phia, Pa.; Wilmet is a successful farmer of
Orange County; Aaron Van Duzen, John Cooper
and Eloise are at home. They are justly proud
of their children and have been very careful in
their training. Mr. and Mrs. Makuen are mem
bers in excellent standing of the Methodist Epis
copal Church of Goshen, and take an active in
terest in carrying on the good work in their
neighborhood. In politics the former is an ad
vocate of Democratic principles and is well in
formed regarding the issues of the party. He is
what may be called a self-made man, as it is by
his own perseverance and integrity that he has
gained his high position in the community, and
it is therefore with pleasure that we submit this
brief sketch of one who has made a name that is
honored by his fellow-citizens.

NENRY E. SMITH has made his abode in
Orange County for fifty-four years, or dur
ing his entire life, and was born on the farm
which he now calls his home, January 14, 1841.
He is one of the leading agriculturists of the town
of Goshen, and his estate, one hundred and four
acres in extent, is particularly adapted for dairy
purposes, for which it is largely used. The
owner is a practical agriculturist and a good gen
eral farmer and stock-raiser.
Henry J. and Eliza (Harlow) Smith were mar
ried May 22, 1838, and became the parents of
four children, of whom our subject was the sec

ond-born. Three of the family are deceased:
Emily E., who died in 1863; Phebe Ann in 1845;
and Jennie W. in 1847. The father's birth oc
curred July 25, 1798, on the same place on which
Henry E. is residing, and there he was actively
engaged in farming during his lifetime. He was
a quiet and unassuming man, and in every way
possible manifested his interest in the welfare and
progress of his community. Religiously he was
a Methodist, in the faith of which church he died
September 1, 1859, respected by a large circle of
friends and acquaintances. His wife departed
this life September 6, 1854.
After passing his boyhood days in attendance
at the district school, our subject was sent to
Goshen Academy, and afterward to the school at
Binghamton. It was his ambition and desire,
however, to follow in the footsteps of his father
and become an agriculturist. Accordingly, he
spent his time in gaining information regarding
the management of an estate, and on the death
of his father assumed control of the old home
stead, which he still owns. The property upon
which he resides presents to the passer-by a neat
and inviting appearance, and is kept under good
repair and the best of improvements by the owner.
August 31, 1864, Mr. Smith was joined in mar
riage with Miss C. Delia, daughter of John N.
and Mary Ellen Knapp, natives of this county.
This union has been blessed by the birth of four
children, two ofwhom are deceased: Henry N.,
who died in 1881; and Frank W., who passed
away in 1890. Charles W., who resides on the
home farm, married Miss Phebe J. Tuthill, Sep
tember 16, 1 89 1, and to them has been born a
son, Charles Edson. The other son, J. DeWitt
Smith, is single and at home.
Both our subject and, his estimable wife are
members of the Presbyterian Church at Go
shen, with which they have been connected since
1873 and 1867, respectively. In politics the
former is a Republican, tried and true. It has
never been his desire to hold office, but he has on
various occasions been elected to positions of
trust by his fellow-citizens.
The Smith family are old pioneers of Orange
County. The great-grandfather, Isaiah Smith,

744

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

emigrated from England, and settled on Long
Island many years prior to the Revolutionary
War. Later he moved to Orange County, and
bought the farm on which our subject now re
sides, September 26, 1773. His son Abel was
born on this farm that year, and died in 18 16.
The father of our subject was also born here, his
birth occurring July 25, 1798.

(I AMES CLARK. Near the Forest of Dean
I Mines, west of Montgomery , and in the town
\~) of Highland, is situated the farm owned and
operated by the subject of this notice. During
the period that has elapsed since he established
his home here, he has introduced a number of im
provements that considerably enhance the value
of the place, and has brought a portion ofthe land
under cultivation, so that it yields abundant har
vests. The farm consists of six hundred and six
teen acres, and while a part of it is not suitable
for cultivation, fully half might be put under the
plow if cleared and prepared for it. In 1878, the
year after coming here, he erected a substantial
and neatly appointed residence, which is fur
nished cosily, making a comfortable home for the
family. A fine spring comes out from the rocks
under the house, and this has been walled in, fur
nishing a supply of cold water opening off from
the kitchen.
Not far from the place where he now resides,
the subject of this notice was born October 30,
1830. He was reared in his native town, and
being one of a large family, whose parents were
poor, he was denied educational privileges, being
obliged to work from a very early age. How
ever, his lack of education was to a large extent
overcome by his native shrewdness. At the age
of twenty-one he began boating on the Hudson,
and this occupation he followed for five years.
Then learning the trade of a carpenter, he fol
lowed that calling for nine years in his neighbor
hood. He was then engaged by the manager of
the Forest of Dean Mines, for whom he worked
nine years and ten months, without losing a day.
During that time he built the two large wheels

now at the top ofthe mine, a fine piece of work,
that would do credit to an artisan who had
served a long apprenticeship. In 1877 he pur
chased his present farm, and here he has since en
gaged as an agriculturist.
James Clark, Sr., father of our subject, was a
son of Moses Clark, and was a life-long agricult
urist. He married Catherine Vought, whose
grandfather, Henry Vought, was a soldier in the
Revolution. Her father, Joseph Vought, was
bora January 19, 1792, and died in May, 1827;
her mother, who bore the maiden name of Amelia
Conklin, was a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Nel
son) Conklin. She was born October 17, 1786,
and died in March, 1823.
The lady who, February 12, 1859, became the
wife of our subject was Mary Louisa Weeks,
daughter of Daniel T. and Elizabeth (Brown)
Weeks and granddaughter on her mother's side of
Richard and Annie (Beal) Brown. Her father,
who was a man of great perseverance and industry,
resided for many years on the farm now owned by
our subject, and the little log house in which she
was married is still preserved on account of the
pleasant memories connected with it. Politically
Mr. Clark is a Democrat. He and his wife are the
parents of nine children, namely: Minnie, wife of
Isaac Odell, a mill operative at Canterbury, and
the mother of four children; Andrew, who married
Ida Rhodes; Lettie, Mrs. Thomas Dickens, who
has two children; Henry, Edward, Oscar, Mar
tha, Dora and Siretta.

EHARLES H. WEYANT, who is engaged in
the cultivation of a portion of the old Wey
ant homestead at Queensborough, was born
011 the Hudson River, at Jones Point, Rockland
County, May 7, 1859. At the age of seven years
he removed with his parents from the Point and
settled upon the tract of nineteen hundred acres
where the family still resides. His boyhood years
were passed in attendance at the Queensborough
school and in the labor incident to farm life. He

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

745

remained with his father until the latter's death,
when he built a large modern residence on his
share of the estate, a few rods from the old home.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were
John and Mary (Rider) Weyant, and the great-
grandparents were Tobias and Jerusha (Smith)
Weyant. Our subject's father, King Weyant,
was born at Mountville, February 5, 1818, and
married Elizabeth Kessler, a native of Jones
Point, Rockland County. After his marriage he
ran a boat between Albany and New York for
a year, after which he was for fourteen years in
charge of a wrecking vessel owned by an insur
ance company. Then turning his attention to the
manufacture of brick, he carried on an extensive
business in that line for many years at Green
Cove, Haverstraw aud Jones Point. In 1866 he
bought nineteen hundred acres at Old Queens
borough, which he placed under the finest im
provement, making of it one of the most valua
ble farms in Orange County. There he continued
to make his home until his death, September 4,
1884. The maternal grandparents of our subject were
Paul and Hannah (Lausell) Kessler. The for
mer was of German ancestry, and fought in the
Colonial army during the Revolutionary struggle.
The latter was a daughter of Edward Lausell,
who came to America as a British soldier during
the Revolution, and, being married while here,
settled permanently in this country after the close
of the war. The family of King and Elizabeth
Weyant consisted of twelve children, one of
whom died unnamed in infancy. The others
are Harvey, of Springfield, Mass.; Louisa, wife
of Robert Phillips, of Springfield, Mass.; Daniel,
whose home is in New London, Conn. ; Eliza
beth, who married Wesley Van Wart; Josephine,
deceased; Alice; Frank and King, deceased;
Lucy, wife of Rev. Herman Coons, of Newburgh;
Charles H., of this sketch; and Woolsey, de
ceased. On Christmas Day of 1879 Mr. Weyant was
united in marriage with Miss Agnes Lewis, at
the residence of her parents in the town of Wood
bury, two miles from the home of our subject.
Mrs. Weyant was born in Westchester County,

N. Y.,"andjsji*daughter of James and ^Elizabeth
(Thorpe) Lewis. Her mother, who was a daugh
ter of Abraham and Eliza (Brooks) Thorpe, died
when she was an infant, so she has no recollec
tion of her. Mr. Lewis is a son of Henry and
Ruth (Swim) Lewis, natives of Ft. Montgomery,
and by his marriage to Elizabeth Thorpe he had
four children, named as follows* William, who re
sides on the Lewis homestead; Anna, who mar
ried John Cook, a painter residing at Highland
Falls; Ruth, wife of Enoch Rose, a farmer living
near Ft. Montgomery; and Agnes, Mrs. Weyant.
In their religious belief our subject and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Politically he supports the Republican
principles and has served as School Trustee and
Collector, also officiated in other local offices of
trust. Eight children were born of his union,
namely: Garfield; King, deceased; Chester; Olive;
James, deceased; Clarence, Leonard and King.
The family is one of prominence socially, and its
various members are highly esteemed by the peo
ple of the town.
_r=^§»#P  :

(lOSIAH MERRITT, the owner of a valuable
I farm in the town of Woodbury, is a descen-
(2/ dant of a long line of Cornish mine- workers,
and was born in Heyertown, Cornwall, England,
February 26, 1830. He was a son of William
and Sarah Merritt, the former of whom died when
Josiah was an infant of nine months. Both the
father and mother were members of families that
had been long and intimately connected with the
mining industries of Cornwall.
In the mines of his native shire our subject
worked until twenty-six years of age, at which
time, having resolved to seek a home in America,
he set sail from Liverpool, and after an uneventful
voyage landed in Quebec. His first work in this
country was secured in the Ringwood Mines, after
which he worked in various mines in the East,
and then wenf to the Lake Superior region, where
he found employment in the iron and copper
mines. Later he worked in the iron mines at
Green Tree, Pa., and then had charge of the

746

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Bradley Mines, near his home, until they were
closed. In 1876 he bought his present farm of
fifty acres, and, abandoning work in the mines,
made for himself a home in which to spend his
declining days.
Of the family of twelve children born to his
parents, Mr. Merritt is the sole survivor. He
was united in marriage, September 4, 1864, with
Miss Mary Ann Van Gorden, who was born in
Montague, Sussex County, N. J., and became the
wife of our subject at Middletown. Her father
dying when she was six years old, the children
were taken care of by different families, and in
consequence of their separation know little of
one another and still less of their parentage. She
was the second among five daughters born to the
union of Abraham and Nancy (Tittsworth) Van
Gorden, and by her marriage became the mother
of two daughters, Blanche and Sarah Jane, both
deceased. Politically our subject is a Republican,
and for many years he served as Roadmaster, fill
ing that position with the greatest efficiency.

?¦*< ' \ * "^* «H ' •

HON. HENRY BACON, A. M., who has won
an eminent position as a member of the New
York Bar, has an office at No. 2 Wall
Street, and also one in Goshen. He has made his
home in this place for many years, and is the
owner of a fine residence on East Main Street,
which is known as the old Hoffman House. In
political circles he has been very prominent, tak
ing an active part in state and county campaigns,
and in 1892 was sent as a delegate to the National
Convention which convened in Chicago and nom
inated Cleveland. In 1886 he was elected a mem
ber of the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses from
the Fifteenth District, to fill a vacancy, during
which time he served on the Committee on Bank
ing aud Currency. He served on many other im
portant committees, being Chairman of that on
Manufactures, and conducted the investigation of
trusts. The report of this committee fills two
large volumes, his associates in this great under
taking being Wilson, Breckenridge of Arkan
sas, and Bynum of Indiana. In 1888 he was de

feated with the rest of his ticket, but nevertheless
was beaten by scarcely one hundred votes. In
1890 this defeat was amply compensated, as he
was elected by the largest majority ever received
by any Democratic candidate in this district. He
was then appointed Chairman of the Committee on
Banking and Currency; also was a member of the
Judiciary Committee in the Fifty -second Congress.
As Chairman of the committee he reported the
bill for the repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman Bill, in February, 1893.
Mr. Bacon was bora in Brooklyn, N. Y., in
March, 1846, and is a son of Prof. Daniel P. Ba
con, A. M., who was born in Fairfield County,
Conn., and who was related to the prominent
family of the name in that state. He was gradu
ated from Columbia College, and subsequently
conducted private schools in New York City and
Brooklyn. He was very successful in his chosen
profession and at length retired to pass his declin
ing days at his country seat near Sing Sing. His
wife, who was a Miss Mary Armitage, was born
in New York, but her father was a native of Eng
land. Our subject is the only surviving son in a
family of thirteen children, seven of whom grew
to mature years.
Mr. Bacon received superior educational ad
vantages, his preliminary education being re
ceived at the Episcopal Academy of Connecticut,
at Cheshire, until 1862. Later he entered the
Sophomore class of Union College, from which he
was duly graduated in 1865 with the degree of
Bachelor of Arts, and three years later had the
additional honor of Master of Arts conferred upon
him. He still keeps up his membership with the
college Phi Beta Kappa society. When only
twenty years of age he took up the study of law
under Hon. D. F. Gedney, who was then County
Judge of Orange County. He argued his first
case before the Supreme Court in February, 1867,
before he had attained his majority, and continued
in practice alone until 1869, when he formed a
partnership with B. F. Duryea, under the title of
Duryea & Bacon. At the end of seven or eight
years the partnership was dissolved by mutual
consent, and Mr. Bacon continued alone in prac
tice until he was" elected to Congress, when, in

GEORGE TALMAN WISNER.

I!

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OAK HILL, THE OLD WISNER HOMESTEAD, GOSHEN, N. Y.
Now the Residence of George T. Wisner.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

75i

1 886, he entered into partnership with Joseph
Merritt. In 1870 he built a fine law office build
ing on East Main Street, near the court house,
and in 1874 he established an office in New York
City. There he was a member of the firm of Ba
con, Leeds & Van Steinberg for a year, after
which the style became Bacon & Van Steinberg.
In May, 1895, the firm was changed to Bacon,
Hedges & Erdman, with offices at No. 2 Wall
Street, where they are now located. In 1892
Mr. Bacon was made President of the Goshen
National Bank, which was theu in a state of in
solvency'. He remained in that position until the
spring of 1893, when he resigned.
In 1867 occurred the marriage of Henry Bacon
and Helen, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Brandreth,
of Sing Sing, and they have one child, a daugh
ter, Florence. Mr. Bacon has for many years
been recognized as one of the prominent Demo
crats of the state and nation and takes front rank
as a member of the New York Bar.

•CjEORGE TALMAN WISNER, the prosper-
I— ous possessor of "Oak Hill Farm," is the
^>| great-grandson of Hon. Henry Wisner, of
well won Colonial fame. The first ancestor of
whom we have any record, Johannes Weisner (as
the name was originally spelled) , was born in that
cradle of indomitable martial spirit, of men who
must be free or die — Switzerland. Living until
manhood beneath the shadows of his native
mountains, he was then employed as a subaltern
officer of the Swiss contingent ofthe allied army,
commanded by the brave Dutchman, William,
Prince of Orange, whose great mission it was to
humble the pitiless ambition and chastise the
crimes of Louis XIV. of France.
After the Peace of Utrecht the English queen,
Anne, felt herself bound to provide, as far as pos
sible, homes for her disbanded soldiers. She sent
some ten thousand of them to America, in further
ance of this plan, and among these was Johannes
Weisner, who was accompanied by his wife, Eliz

abeth, and son Hendrick. A second son, Adam,
was born on the tedious voyage, and three
daughters after their arrival in America. The
family encamped for three weeks on Governor's
Island, after which, getting tired, the father went
to Hempstead, L. I. , whence he was sent to some
land on the Wawayanda Patent, in Orange Coun
ty. Here, in what was then a remote and thinly
peopled region, he became the owner ofa farm,
having purchased the same June 23, 17 15, for the
sum of thirty pounds, paid to the Snedicors, the
original owners of the patent. In the town of
Warwick, in sight of Mt. Eve, the brave old pio
neer remained until his death, in 1744. His sou
Hendrick, also a farmer, became the husband of
a New England girl, a Miss Shaw, and their son,
Hon. Col. Henry Wisner, became one ofthe most
prominent men of what were then the British
Colonies. This son Henry, who was born about 1720,
owed his success in life doubtless to an energy and
foresight inherited from his Swiss ancestors. He
married Sarah Norton, of Queens County, receiv
ing with her a farm. He himself owned land in the
vicinity of Goshen, on which he located and built
a house. This house was on the Florida Road,
one mile south of Goshen, and within its hospita
ble walls were entertained at one time General
Washington and Baron Von Stuben. Henry
Weisner served in the New York Colonial As
sembly from 1759 to 1769. In 1773, before the
unnatural mother on the other side of the Atlan
tic had spilled the blood of her American sons, he
anticipated public sentiment and broke off the
royal coat-of-arms from the corner-stone about to
be placed on the Goshen court house. In 1776
he was called to attend the first Continental Con
gress, which met at Philadelphia, and was ap
pointed one of the Committee of Safety. Being a
second time returned to the Continental Congress,
he voted for the adoption of the immortal Decla
ration of Independence, being the only man of
the New York delegates who had the courage to
do so, the rest believing themselves restrained by
the Continental Congress of New York. After
recording the votes of the declaration, he ex
claimed, ' 'The next thing we shall need is gun-

33

752

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

powder," a prediction which proved true. His
name, however, did not appear among the actual
signers of the declaration, owing to the fact that
he was called away to New York City to make a
survey for General Washington. Iu 1775, feel
ing keenly the disadvantages under which the re
volted colonies suffered for the lack of gunpowder,
he exerted himself to secure a supply of saltpetre
and built a powder-mill in the southern part of
Ulster County, and in 1776 two others in Orange
County. From 1776 until 1782 he served as a member
of the New York Senate, in 1778 was a member
of the New York Constitutional Convention, and
later a Regent of the University of New York.
During the whole momentous conflict with the
Mother Country he had the honor of the friend
ship of'the Father of his Country," aud of help
ing to place him in command of the American
army. His long and honorable career reached
its close on the 4th of November, 1790, when he
had reached the allotted term of threescore years
and ten. His descendants had lost all trace of
the exact location of his burial-place in the Hop
per Hill Cemetery at Phillipsburg until its discov
ery, September 24, 1894, by Capt. Lewis Wisner
and Capt. Charles B. Dalghren. The inscription
on the tomb reads: "Sacred to the memory of
Henry Wisner, who departed this life March 4,
1790, in the seventieth year of his age, a devoted
friend to the liberties of his country." He left
two sons, Henry and Gabriel, and a daughter.
Gabriel Wisner, who was born in the old house
on the Florida Road, owned a farm in the Wa
wayanda Patent, a short distance south of Goshen.
Evincing the same military spirit for which the
family was famous, while yet a young man he
entered the army during the Revolution as a
member ofa militia company from Goshen, com
manded by Captain Tusten, and was killed at
the Minisink massacre. The first intimation his
family had of his fate was the return of his rider
less horse. He left a widow (Elizabeth Waters
in her maidenhood) and three children: Sarah
Wisner, who married William Thorn; Henry G.,
and Gabriel, a prominent merchant in New York,
who died in 1848.

Henry G. Wisner, the father of the subject of
this sketch, was born in 1776, on his father's
farm in the Wawayanda Patent. He enjoyed
unusual educational advantages for those days,
being educated at Princeton College, from which
he was graduated in 1799, delivering the vale
dictory oration. After his college career had
closed he read law in New York City, was there
admitted to the Bar, and practiced his profession
for a short time, or until his physician advised
him to locate in the country for his health. Ac
cordingly he settled in Goshen, becoming one of
the most prominent and distinguished attorneys
in Orange County. During the War of 181 2 he
served as County Clerk. He made his home at
"Oak Hill," the present residence of his son, ad
joining the village of Goshen, though his estate,
which consisted of some six or eight hundred
acres, was located in different places. With the
same force of character which had distinguished
all his ancestors, he became an important factor
in the well-being of his locality, his influence being
especially felt in religious circles. He was one of
the founders of the Episcopal Church in his village
and was an intimate friend of Bishop Hobart. As
might have been expected, iu his political lean
ings he was a stanch Whig. Those who have seen
him remember him as a tall, slender man, hand
some and straight as an arrow. He died in Feb
ruary, 1842, having reached his sixty-fifth year.
Sarah Talman, the wife of Henry G. Wisner,
was born in New York City and was a daughter
of Samuel Talman, who was born on Long Island
and carried on business as a merchant in New
York City. Her brother, George F. Talman, was
a prominent attorney of that city and was Presi
dent of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company
of New York, and one of the chief factors in its
great success. Mrs. Wisner died at "Oak Hill"
in 1873, at the advanced age of eighty -nine years.
To herself and husband had been born ten chil
dren, nine of whom lived to grow up, but only
three of whom are living at present. William H. ,
a retired merchant of New York City, died in
January, 1895, in his eighty-ninth year; the sur
viving son is George Talman; and the daughters
are Mrs. George C. Miller, of Goshen; and Mrs.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

753

Frances Murray, widow of Hon. Ambrose Spen
cer Murray, ex-Member of Congress and Presi
dent ofthe Orange County Bank.
George Talman Wisner, who is living on the
old homestead at "Oak Hill," was born where
he now resides. He was educated here and then
went to New York City and engaged with his
brother Wi'liam H. in business. Fourteen years
later, on retiring from a mercantile life, he re
turned to the home of his ancestors, and is now
passing his declining years amid the familiar
scenes of his boyhood, where he is respected by
all for the integrity of his character and where by
his genial and kindly disposition he has won in
numerable friends. Mr. Wisner has never mar
ried. In politics he is now independent, though
in early life he was a Whig, and later, or until
1884, a Republican. In his religious connections
he is an attendant at the Episcopal Church in
Goshen. "Oak Hill," Mr. Wisner's residence, which
has been in the family for over a century, is situ
ated within the corporation limits of the village
of Goshen and comprises eighty acres. It is a
fine place, surrounded by beautiful lawns and
shaded by magnificent oak trees. Mr. Wisner is
a great admirer of fine animals, and devotes his
farm chiefly to the raising of stock, among which
are some thoroughbred horses. Besides his farm
ing interests, he is a Director and stockholder in
the Goshen National Bank, and has interests in
several other enterprises.
| 1 •=**^* {, ^<=> 5 . |
30SEPH SEARS EARL, who is engaged in
farming and the poultry business near High
land Mills, was born at Turner, March 18,
1828. When he was five years old his father re
moved two miles southwest of Turner, near the
O'Neal Mines, and there the seven ensuing years
were spent. At the age of twelve he accompan
ied the family to Niagara County, N. Y., where
they resided for two years in the town of Hart-
land. Removing thence to Lockport, three years
were passed in that place, during which time he
attended the city schools two winters. For two

years afterward he lived in the town of Pendle
ton, Niagara County, later spent a year in Lock-
port and two years in Monroe County, twelve
miles west of Rochester. While in Lockport he
learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he fol
lowed to some extent there.
After coming again to Orange County, Mr.
Earl worked for one year in the employ of his
brother-in-law, Elmer Earl, at Turner, and later
worked in a foundry in Westchester County dur
ing one winter. He then managed a farm for
Mrs. Elizabeth McKelvey for one year, after
which he worked around among different farmers,
making his home with his brother, John B., un
til his marriage. Upon establishing domestic ties
he purchased a farm of eighteen acres on the east
side of Mt. Basha Pond, but one year later he
bought out the interest of the heirs in the land
left by his father-in-law, and in that way secured
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres situated
on the west side of Mt. Basha Pond, south of
Monroe. Twelve years were spent on that place,
and he then bought a farm of one hundred and
thirteen acres near his present homestead, engag
ing in the cultivation of that place for eleven
years and then buying the farm of twenty acres
which he now owns and operates. This piece of
land has been owned by the Earls for the past
one hundred and fifty years. Here he has made
his home since October, 1880, and from the rais
ing of cereals and fruits he has derived a profita
ble income.
The parents of our subject, John and Martha
(Thorn) Earl, were natives of the town of Wood
bury, and the father, who was a miller in his
younger years, owned and carried on a small mill
at Turner for a long time.- He and his wife were
the parents of fourteen children, viz. : Ebenezer,
deceased; Abigail, Mrs. Thomas Lemoreux, de
ceased; Sarah, wife of Elmer Earl; Jesse, de
ceased; Elizabeth, Mrs. Andrew Lewis, deceased;
John B. , a resident of the town of Goshen; Martha,
who died in girlhood; Charles, whose home is
between Monroe and Southfield; Seth, deceased;
Mary Ann, Vashti and William, who died young;
Joseph Sears, of this sketch; and Mary Jane, Mrs.
Jacob Green, deceased.

754

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The first representative of the Earl family in
America was John Earl, who during the Revolu
tionary War kept a public house on the site of the
present mill, and at one time during the struggle
for independence he was robbed of three hundred
sovereigns by the noted freebooter, Claudius
Smith. All of his sons took part in the Revolu
tion. One of these sons, Richard by name, was
our subject's grandfather, and he, after the close
of the war, settled on a farm at the foot of the
Schuunemunk Mountain, the property having
been given him by his father. He married a Miss
Bull (whose first name was probably Sarah), a
descendant of William Bull, whose wife, Sarah
Wells, was the first white woman that settled in
Orange County.
October 22, 1855, Mr. Earl married Miss Car
oline B. Earl, who was born near Ann Arbor,
Mich., being a daughter of Daniel and Esther S.
(Sands) Earl. Her father was a son of Peter and
Sarah (Bull) Earl, the former, a son of John Earl,
the first representative of the family in this coun
try aud a brother of Richard Earl, grandfather of
our subject. Politically our subject is a Prohibi
tionist. He is interested in local matters and has
served as School Trustee, Road-master, Overseer
of the Poor thirteen years, Enrolling Officer dur
ing the war, and Collector of Taxes for one year.
By his marriage six children have been born, viz. :
Phoebe E.; Daniel, who died in boyhood; Henri
etta Matilda; Cornelia I., wife of Charles Jones;
Horace G. and Allen G., who are in the cashier's
office of the United States Express Company.

-4~*  •>lK®(llM*<«  1~

EHARLES D. DuBOIS. With the excep
tion of four years, during which time he
was a resident of Ohio, Mr. DuBois has
spent his entire life in the town of Minisink.
Here, in Smith Village, his birth occurred Octo
ber 23, 1828. He has, however, been a resident
of Westtown much of the time since infancy.
Reared from boyhood to habits of industry and
accurate observation of the methods of others, he

has been successful in his enterprises, and is able
to bestow upon his two children excellent advant
ages, encouraging and developing the worthy
traits of their character.
As the name indicates, the DuBois family is of
French descent. The first representative in Or
ange County was Dr. Nelson DuBois, grandfa
ther of our subject, who was born at Fishkill,
and, crossing the Hudson, made settlement in the
village of Warwick, where he became a promi
nent and successful physician. Among his chil
dren was John E. , who was born in the town of
Warwick, and married Orpha, daughter of John
Roberts. Their union resulted in the birth of
three children, namely: Charles D.; Edward W.,
who died in 1872; and Harriet, who passed from
earth in 1875.
Learning the harness-maker's trade in War
wick, John E. DuBois began work at his chosen
occupation when only seventeen years of age,
and from that time forward his was a busy life.
In 1824 he moved to the village of Smith, in the
town of Minisink, and there he had a harness-
shop for three years. From that place he moved
to Westtown, and engaged in the same business,
continuing thus engaged until shortly before his
demise. He died in Westtown, at the age of
eighty-five, and he was laid to rest in the Pres
byterian churchyard there. He had lived a con
sistent Christian life, and had served as an Elder
in the church. His wife, who was a member of
the same church as he, died in 1872, aged sixty-
eight. When a child of three years our subject was
taken by his parents to Westtown, and there he
grew to manhood. In the academy at that place
he received a good education, and on leaving
school began to learn the harness-maker's trade
under his father. He was seventeen years old
when he commenced, aud he remained with his
father until the retirement of the latter from act
ive labors, when the business was sold. He owns
three residences in Westtown, and is one of the
most energetic citizens of the place. Doubtless
no one is more closely identified with its pros
perity and more deeply interested in its progress
than is he, for with the exception of the time al-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

755

luded to before, when from 1863 to 1867 he car
ried on a drug business in Tiffin, Ohio, he has
lived here continuously since three years of age.
Since 1885 he has not been actively engaged in
business, having accumulated a sufficient amount
to enable him to cease to some extent the ardu
ous labors of former years. Politically he is a
Republican. In 1884 he married Miss Caroline
Hull, who was born in this town, and they are
the parents of two children, Grace and John.

J****,i"I****1?

pQlLLIAM E. BARNES, a prominent busi-
\ A / ness man of Warwick, was born in the
V V town of Minisink, March 3, 1828, and is
the son of John and Mary (Plowman) Barnes,
who were natives of Hamptonburgh, and who
spent their entire lives in this county. The fa
ther was by trade a carpenter, and followed that
occupation in Minisink and Montgomery until
his death, which occurred when William was but
nine years of age. The mother died some years
later at Newburgh. The grandfather of our sub
ject was in the Revolutionary War, under Wash
ington, and performed many honorable deeds
during those trying times.
William E. Barnes received but a limited edu
cation in the district schools of Orange County,
and after the death of his father it became neces
sary for him to do something for his own support,
spending four years of his boyhood in the family
of Marshal Wilkins, of Orange County. He
early learned the painter's trade, and in 1854 be
gan to follow that occupation in Warwick. While
there he accumulated a snug sum, and later
went to Chester, where he leased the Washing
ton Hotel, which he conducted for eight years.
He then moved to Wallkill, in Ulster County,
and was there engaged in the hotel business for
four years. From Wallkill he moved to Gardner
Station, and was there engaged in the same busi
ness for three years, when he went to Bloomfield,
N. J., where he also engaged in the hotel busi
ness, but was unsuccessful. He there lost two of
his children, and, meeting with reverses, in 1884
he returned to Warwick and established the pop

ular Turf Exchange, which he has successfully
conducted until the present time. No one has
ever left this place dissatisfied.
In 1857 Mr. Barnes was united in marriage
with Miss Mary E. Case, daughter of John B.
and Hannah (Fox) Case, the former dying in
1880, and the latter in July, 1868, as the result
of an accident. The paternal grandfather of
Mrs. Barnes, John F. Case, was a cooper by trade,
but for many years commanded a sloop on the
Hudson River, at which time he was a resident
of Greene County. His son John B. also followed
the cooper's trade, carrying on his business in
Orange County, where Mrs. Barnes was born.
The union of our subject and wife was blessed
with six children, two of whom are deceased.
Those living are William H., who is with his fa
ther in the hotel business; Louella, wife of Joseph
W. Elliott, of Jersey City; and Franke and Mamie
at home. Mr. Barnes belongs to the Odd Fel
lows and to the Knights of Pythias. In politics
he is a Democrat, but has never aspired to official
position. A whole-souled man, he is one who
takes pleasure in making comfortable those around
him.

G:

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1--

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-c

lAMUEL RAYNOR, of the town of War
wick, comes of good old Revolutionary stock,
his father, who was also named Samuel,
serving for a short time in that great struggle. The
latter married Abigail McElroy, who was born
in Rockland County, this state, but who came to
Orange County at an early day. Here they re
sided until death, the former dying in 1848 and
the latter in 1865.
The subject of this sketch was born in 1832, in
the town of Warwick, and was here educated
in the common schools. He was reared on a farm
and has followed the occupation of a farmer
throughout life, with the exception of three years.
In October, 1855, he married Miss Louisa Mont-
ross, a native of Sussex County, N. J., and a
daughter of Samuel and Abbie J. (Taylor) Mont-
ross, the former a native of New Jersey and the

756

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

latter of Orange County. Of the marriage of our
subject and wife five children survive: Fanny,
wife of Elba Ball, of Newark, N. J.; Samuel, of
New York City; Annie, wife of Robert Benedict,
also of New York City; Hattie, wife of George
Pitts, of Orange County; and Louisa, wife of John
Sly, of Passaic, N. J. The mother of these
children died in 1871, and in 1872 Mr. Raynor
was married to Mary Monell, of Orange County.
Four children survive this union, Fred C, Grace,
Ralph E. and Jay, at home with their parents.
Mrs. Raynor and her children are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr.
Raynor is a Republican, and has ever taken an
active part in political affairs. He has received
the endorsement of his fellow-citizens three terms
for Road Commissioner, and is now serving his
second term as Assessor. In every election he
has run ahead of his ticket, and when the town
was strongly Democratic he received a good ma
jority. His election to office shows the con
fidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens, and
none stands higher in the community in which
he lives than does he.

30HN WEYANT, who owns and occupies a
farm in the town of Highland, three miles
west of Ft. Montgomery, was born in Rock
land County, N. Y., October 2, 1832, and re
mained in the place of his birth until he was ten
years old, when he accompanied his father to Or
ange County. Until seventeen years of age he
attended the schools here, after which he began
boating on the Hudson, and was thus engaged
for six years. Later he was employed in a brick
yard for three years, then for two years engaged
in teaming at and near Ft. Montgomery. In the
spring of 1877 he purchased three hundred acres
of the Brooks homestead, including the old fam
ily residence, and here he has since resided.
The family of which our subject is a member
consisted of ten children, as follows: Hiram, Ed
win, Sarah and James, deceased; Henrietta; Will
iam, who lives in Ft. Montgomery; Catherine,
who married Philip Henry Cramer; John, of this

sketch; Susan, deceased; and Vincent, of High
land Falls. The father of this family was Mich
ael, a son of John Weyant, both of whom fol
lowed farming and teaming throughout their en
tire lives. The father was born February 14,
1802, and died December 27, 188 1, when over
seventy-nine years of age. The mother of our
subject, Mary, was a daughter of William De-
Grott, who was an extensive lime manufacturer
at Tompkins' Cove, in Rockland County, and is
remembered as a very genial, jovial old man. She
was born December 25, 1803, and departed this
life August 4, 1884, being over eighty years of
age. At Peekskill, N. Y., December 24, 1859, Mr.
Weyant married Miss Susan E. Rose, a native of
this county, and a daughter of Reuben and Char
lotte (Weyant) Rose. Her paternal grandpar
ents were David and Rebecca (Carter) Rose, the
latter in turn the daughter of Enoch Carter, a
soldier of the Revolutionary War, who utilized
his knowledge ofthe shoemaker's trade by mak
ing shoes for his comrades while in the service.
At three different times he was hung up on ac
count of refusing to tell where some fat cattle were
kept for the American army. At the solicitation
of his wife he was released. The father of Mrs.
Weyant was born September 30, 1795, and died
December 2, 1875. Tobias Weyant at one time
owned Iona Island, about one mile below Ft.
Montgomery. They were the parents of ten chil
dren, having five sons and five daughters. Enoch
Carter, a bas-relief of whom appears at Washing
ton's Headquarters, was one of Washington's
body-guard, and he was a cousin of David Rose,
as was his sister, Mrs. Woolsey, to whom the
watch of Martha Washington, exhibited at the
headquarters, once belonged.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Weyant was blessed
by the birth of three children, the eldest of whom,
Ella E., married James Macy, and is the mother
of two children, Susan E. and Matilda F. The
other members of the family are Carrie F. and
Elbert Ellsworth, deceased. They haveau adopt
ed son, Edward S. Our subject and his wife are
connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In politics he is a faithful adherent of Democratic

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

757

principles, and has served as Trustee of Schools,
rendering satisfactory service in that capacity. In
the church to which he belongs he has filled the
positions of Trustee and Steward, and is one of
the most useful members ofthe congregation.

•pQlLLIAM H. BENNET. A position of
\ A / Prominence among the agriculturists of Or-
V V ange County is held by this gentleman,
who owns and operates two hundred and twenty
acres of valuable land in the town of Goshen.
On this estate have been introduced all the im
provements of a modern, first-class farm, includ
ing substantial buildings adapted for the con
venience of the family and the promotion of the
farm work.
A native of this county, Mr. Bennet was born
in this town, November 12, 1834. His parents,
Gabriel and Mary A. (Jones) Bennet, natives of
the town of Goshen, passed their entire lives in
this county. Gabriel's birth occurred on the
same farm which is now owned by his son, our
subject, and to the work of farming he gave his
entire attention, becoming well known in this lo
cality. He was honest and upright in all his
transactions, and his death, in 1870, was mourned
by many of the residents of the neighborhood.
His good wife preceded him to the land beyond
by three years, dying in 1867. She was an in
telligent and noble lady, and devoted her life to
training her children to occupy good and useful
positions in the community.
Our subject completed his education when
eighteen years of age and then gave himself up
to the work of becoming an agriculturist. He
has made farming his business ever since, and
the fact that he operates successfully two hundred
and twenty acres speaks well for his ability as a
tiller of'the soil. His principal industry, how
ever, is dairy farming, although he raises the
various cereals in large quantities.
William H. Bennet and Miss Lyda Ann Smith
were united in marriage December 7, 1859. The

lady was the daughter of Hiram and Sarah Jane
(Bull) Smith, also natives of this county, and,
like the Bennets, were landmarks here. To Mr.
and Mrs. Bennet there were born five children,
three of whom are deceased. Those living are
Mary J., the wife of William H. Strong, a promi
nent dairy farmer of this community; and Gabriel
H., who married Miss Nellie I. Conklin, and re
sides on the home farm. The wife and mother
was called to her final home September 26, 1882,
and since that time her husband has continued
to live on the old place, which is presided over
by his daughter-in-law.
In politics our subject is a stanch supporter of
Republican principles, and on this ticket was
elected to the office of Assessor, which he has
filled creditably for the past eighteen years. Re
ligiously he is a member of the Presbyterian
Church at Goshen. He is highly regarded in
this community, and those who have known him
from boyhood are numbered among his best
friends.

-#^+«—

'& —

0ANIEL F. CARPENTER, one of the native
sons of Orange County, was born in the
town of Goshen, January 12, 1836. He is
well known in this locality as one of the most
progressive farmers and dairymen, and also de
serves mention for the brave service which he
rendered his country during the late Civil War,
having fought as a soldier of the Union army for
three years.
Our subject is the eldest son of John S. and
Agnes C. (Fulton) Carpenter, also natives of
this county, where they passed their entire lives.
The father was a blacksmith by trade, but dur
ing the later years of his life followed the occu
pation of an agriculturist. He was a quiet, un
assuming man, and was greatly mourned at the
time of his death, in 1854. His ancestors were
among the first residents of the county, and with
out an exception they were industrious and
worthy people. Mrs. Agnes Carpenter survived
her husband forty years, dying in 1894, when
seventy-six years of age.

758

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Daniel F., of this history, is a well educated
man, and supplemented the knowledge gained in
the schools of Goshen by a course of study at
Princeton, N. J. He was prevented from gradu
ating from this institution, however, on account
of failing eyesight, and after returning home de
voted himself to the care ofthe farm. During the
late war, in 1862, he enlisted in Company K, One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry,
and was mustered into service at Goshen. For
three years he suffered all the hardships and pri
vations of a soldier's life, and during that time
participated in many of the engagements in which
the company fought, including some of the most
important battles of that period. While before
Chancellorsville he was injured in the right' arm
by a gunshot wound, which prevented him from
taking part in any active engagement for some
time. As soon as he was able to leave the hos
pital, however, he was detailed to convey prison
ers to New Orleans, and while en route was ship
wrecked off the coast of Florida, and narrowly
escaped being killed by a fall from the upper-
deck into the hold of the ship, while attempting
to obey orders. At that time he was also suffer
ing from a wounded arm. He had enlisted for
three years, but as peace was established two
months prior to the expiration of his term of en
listment, he filled out his time doing guard duty.
When honorably discharged he returned home to
this county, where he has ever since made his
home. Mr. Carpenter owns fifty acres of productive
land, which he devotes largely to dairy purposes,
although he raises onions in great quantities. He
established a home of his own in 1874, when he
was married to Miss Mary, daughter of John and
Hannah (Bailey) Ryerson, of New Jersey. Mrs.
Carpenter, however, is a native of this county.
She is a well educated lady, and became the
mother of four children. Of these, Hannah died
when seven years of age; Mary Agnes, John H.
and Daniel J. are at home with their parents, and
are being given the best opportunities for an edu
cation which the locality affords. Both our sub
ject and his estimable wife are members of the
Presbyterian Church at Goshen, to which they

contribute liberally of their means, and take an
active part in church work. Socially Mr. Car
penter is a member of Cummings Post, G. A. R.,
at Goshen, and in politics never loses an oppor
tunity to cast his ballot and influence in favor of
Republican principles and candidates.

Gl LONZO J. WILLIAMS, a prominent citi-
Ll zen of Orange County, and also of the town
/ I of Warwick, is a native of New Jersey, hav
ing been born in Sussex County, April 6, 1847.
He was the eldest child born to Abram C. and
Sarah (Drew) Williams, both of whom were na
tives of New Jersey, and who lived and died in
that state. The father was for several years en
gaged in school teaching, and also carried on ag
ricultural pursuits. He died in 1853, and his
wife, the mother of our subject, survived him
twenty years, dying in 1873.
Alonzo Williams grew to manhood in his na
tive state, and his education, which was obtained
in the district schools, was supplemented by a
short course^ in the schools of Wantage, N. J.
The greater part of his life was spent on the farm,
but for two years he was engaged as clerk in a
grocery store. In early manhood he was in the
employ of ex-Gov. Daniel Haynes, of New Jer
sey, and for seven years was superintendent, hav
ing the management of his estates. His present
farm consists of one hundred and seven acres,
and in addition to general farming he is largely
engaged in the milk business.
Our subject and Miss Clarissa J. Brundage
were united in marriage in 1867. She was a
daughter of Increase M. and Hannah (Brown)'
Brundage, natives of Orange County. Two chil
dren survive that union, Catherine and Lizzie,
the latter being the wife of Curtis W. Miller, of
Garfield, N. J. Mrs. Williams died in 187 1, and
the following year Mr. Williams married Harriett
I. Wood, daughter of Edward and Sarah (Ed
sall) Wood, who are natives of Orange County.

HON. AMBROSE SPENCER MURRAY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

761

Five children survive this union: Clarissa, Nellie
V., Alfred R., Mary and G. Herbert, all ofwhom
are at home with their parents.
Mr. Williams is an Odd Fellow, having passed
through all the chairs in the order, and is a mem
ber of the Grand Lodge. He is also a member
of the American Mechanics. In politics he is a
Democrat, and for thirteen years served his fel
low-citizens as Assessor of the town. He has
also served as Collector, Excise Commissioner
and as a member of the Board of Health. As a
citizen he enjoys the confidence and respect of
friends and neighbors, and is well and favorably
known throughout almost the entire county. The
entire family are members of the Presbyterian
Church.

"?¦m^i 1 j '

fr. H rf ^ rf ¦ n yj^m '¦¦

NO N. AMBROSE SPENCER MURRAY.
More lasting than the crumbling granite of
stately monuments is the memory of gener
ous deeds, sympathetic words and tender thought-
fulness of those who have finished life's battles
and left us, having, however, but "gone before."
Although it has been ten years since Mr. Mur
ray's death occurred", his memory is still fresh in
the hearts of all who knew him, and his fair
name is a goodly heritage for his children.
Mr. Murray was a native of New York State
and was born in Wallkill November 27, 1807.
He was of Scotch descent, his grandfather,
George Murray, being a native of Scotland. The
latter's birth occurred in the town of Inverness,
where "he spent his early years, and he later came
to America as a soldier in the British army, being
with Braddock's army at the time of its defeat.
He was also with Wolfe at the battle of Quebec.
After Braddock's defeat he located near Reading,
Pa., and married Miss Snyder. Subsequently he
came to this state, locating in Orange County,
here spending the remainder of his life.
William Murray, our subject's father, was born
in this county in 1773, and here spent his entire
life, dying in the year 1849. His wife's maiden
name was Mary Ann Beakes, and her death oc
curred two years previous to that of her husband,

at the age of seventy-two years. As an agricult
urist he was very successful, his land lying near
Wallkill. In many ways he served the public,
and faithfully performed all duties imposed upon
him. He was a member of the Baptist Church,
and ever active in all benevolent projects. In
educational matters he was deeply interested, and
politically was a member of the Democratic party,
serving his party in many positions of trust. He
was Presidential Elector from New York, casting
his vote for James K. Polk for President of the
United States.
In the family of nine children, our subject was
third youngest. During his boyhood years he
attended the common schools, and at the age of
seventeen became a clerk in the store of his uncle,
Stacy Beckes, at Middletown, N. Y. There he
remained until 1831, when he came to Goshen
and entered the Orange County Bank, acting in
the capacity of clerk. Here he had an excellent
opportunity to develop his business capacity, and
so faithful was he in the performance of every
duty that he soon gained the confidence of his
employers and in 1834 was elected Cashier.
In 1845 occurred the death of the President,
Gen. George D. Wickham, and Mr. Murray was
elected to succeed him, occupying this position
until his death, or for a period of forty years.
Before the re-organization of the bank under the
national banking law, its bills were printed on
fine yellow-tinted paper, and on account of their
peculiar color, and the locality from which they
were issued, were known as "butter bills." On
account of the high standing of the bank and its
President, they were as good as gold wherever
presented. Mr. Murray was a Director of the Wallkill
Valley Railroad for many years, and served in a
like capacity the Erie Railroad, being connected
with the last-named for a term of fourteen years,
ending in 1867. He was one of the Directors of
the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of New
York, and his shrewd business ability made him
an invaluable member of the board. Politically
he was a Whig until the formation of the Repub
lican party in 1856, when he espoused its princi
ples and became active in the work of advancing

762

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

its interests. He was elected County Treasurer
in 1851, and served three years. In the fall of
1855 hewas elected from the Tenth Congressional
District, becoming a member of the Thirty-fourth
Congress, and by re-election was also a member
of the Thirty -fifth.
When Sumner, of Boston, was assaulted in
Congress he hastened to the scene, pulled Brooks
off and threw him from him. He had the name
of being the strongest man in Congress, but it
was really his Scotch pluck that gave him power
in such cases. He was a personal friend of ex-
Secretary of State W. H. Seward, and when the
feeling of slavery was so strong in Washington
and Seward was threatened, Mr. Murray and Ed
win B. Morgan were in the habit of escorting him
back and forth from the Executive Mansion to
protect him from violence.
February 18, 1836, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Murray and Miss Frances Wisner, the cere
mony being performed at "Oak Hill," Mrs. Mur
ray's childhood home. She was the daughter of
Henry G. Wisner, one of the most prominent
attorneys of Orange County, and was the great-
granddaughter of Hon. Henry Wisner, who was
a prominent member of the Continental Congress,
and whose sketch will be found on another page
of this volume. To our subject and his wife were
born nine children. Ellen, Mrs. John V. Beam,
Jr., who resides in Goshen, is a widow. George
Wickham succeeded his father to the presidency
of the Orange County Bank. Wisner died in
1876, at the age of thirty-three years. Gertrude
and Mary died young. Ambrose Spencer, Jr. , is
an attorney in New York City. Russell is a
merchant of the same city. Francis Wisner, who
is a physician, also resides in New York City; and
Malcolm died when young.
To Mr. Murray is due much credit for the de
velopment of this city and the surrounding coun
try, for he was a man who was prominent and
enterprising in everything he undertook. He re
modeled the old Orange County Bank, and itwas
due to his influence that it was the strongest,
most substantial bank of the county. His beau
tiful residence, situated 011 Main Street, is sur
rounded by a fine grove of forest trees. He was

the possessor of about three thousand acres in
one tract, and owned many other farms in the
county. For many years he was recognized as
one of the most prominent Republicans in the
state, and during the war rendered valuable serv
ice in behalf of the Union cause. He, as is his
wife, was one of the most prominent workers of
the Episcopal Church and was identified with
every good work. His death occurred November
9, 1885, and his loss was deeply mourned, not
only by his immediate family and acquaintances,
but by those whom he had known in his different
capacities of public service. His wife survives
and occupies the beautiful home which has ever
been a center of hospitality.

HARRISON COMPTON was born Novem
ber 14, 18 1 9, in the town of Monroe, upon
the farm where he now resides. This place
was entered in 1792 by his paternal grandfather,
Jacob Compton, who during the following year
built the present family residence, a substantial
structure, doubtless good for many years yet to
come. One of the bricks in the chimney has
carved upon it the words, "J. C, 1793." The
weatherboarding is of whitewood, the studding
of heavy hardwood timbers three feet apart, and
the nails were manufactured by hand by a neigh
boring blacksmith. Jacob Compton lived to en
joy the comforts of this home, and in it he died
at eighty years of age.
The father of our subject, Stephen Compton,
was born near the present home of our subject,
April 26, 1 79 1, and died October 5, 1867. Farming
was his life occupation, and he served as a soldier
in the War of 1 81 2. His wife was born in the
same neighborhood, September 10, 1793, and died
November 14, 1871. They were the parents of
four children that arrived at years of maturity,
three daughters dying in girlhood. The others
were Annie, Margaret, Harrison and Eunice.
Attending the district school at Turner until
eighteen years of age, our subject then took up

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

763

active life on the farm, which he inherited at the
death of his father. In the town of Monroe was
solemnized his marriage to Arminda Trickey,
who was born in 18 15, and died February 28,
1890. She was a daughter of David and Margaret
(Rhodes) Trickey, and a granddaughter, on her
father's side, of Jeremiah and Jemima (Stevens)
Trickey, and on her mother's side of Hope and
Mary (Jennings) Rhodes. The six children com
prising the family of Mr. and Mrs. Compton were
as follows: Mary Eliza, deceased; Lucinda, her
father's housekeeper; Abbie, deceased; Stephen,
who lives on a portion of our subject's farm;
George, residing in Paterson, N. J.; and Eliza
beth, wife of John W. Cargen, a farmer living
near Mr. Compton. In politics Mr. Compton is a
Jacksonian Democrat, and for many years he
served as School Trustee and Collector, filling
both positions satisfactorily.

—J-

=I>^r<i=

WILLDIE F. GIBSON, of the town of Wood
bury, is a member of a family that has been
long and honorably associated with Amer
ican history, and has been noted especially for pa
triotism. His great-grandfather, Henry Gibson,
a hero of the Revolution, was one ofthe picked
twelve of Washington's body-guard, and at his
death, which occurred at the great age of one
hundred and four, his body lay in state in New
burgh and the City Hall, New York City, and
was buried in what is known as the Washington
plot in Greenwood Cemetery. Our subject's
great-uncle, Urzal Knapp, was a member of the
same body-guard and was its last survivor. A
monument erected to his memory stands at Wash
ington's Headquarters in Newburgh. David
Gibson, our subject's grandfather, was a valiant
soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1874, at
the age of ninety-three.
Aside from patriotism, the most prominent
characteristic of the Gibson family is longevity.
John W. Gibson, father of our subject, is now
seventy years of age, and is hale, robust and act
ive, with mental and physical faculties superior to
those of many men twenty years his junior. He

married Miss Caroline Knapp, and they make
their home in the town of Chester. The subject
of this sketch was born in the town of Warwick,
February 6, 1856, and remained in his native
place until 1869, after which he worked at the
carpenter's trade in New York, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. As a journeyman carpenter he
traveled extensively throughout the United States,
spending some time in the Northern States, be
tween Illinois and Connecticut, and going as far
south as Virginia.
From 1882 until 1893 Mr. Gibson resided in
Jersey City, where he worked at his trade. In
the fall of 1893 he came to the town of Woodbury,
where he purchased a small farm, and here he
has since engaged in general agricultural pur
suits, making a specialty, however, ofthe dairy
business and the scientific manufacture of butter.
While in New Jersey he served for ten years as a
member of Company F, Fourth New Jersey Mili
tia. Socially he is a candidate for Masonic orders,
and is a member of Onward Lodge No. 159,
I. O. O. F., at Jersey City. Politically he be
lieves in the principles laid down by the Prohibi
tion party, and to these he gives his earnest sup
port. In 1879 Mr. Gibson was united in marriage
with Miss Mary E. Taylor, and three children
bless their union, Clara Mary, Ethelinda Taylor
and Elmer Floyd. The father of Mrs. Gibson,
William I. Taylor, was born July 7, 1825, on the
old Taylor homestead where Col. A. H. Taylor
now resides. He remained at home until his
marriage, after which he moved to Southfield and
for three years worked in the Peter Townsend
Iron Works. Later, going to Central Valley, he
engaged in cultivating the farm owned by his
aunt, Elizabeth Taylor. After having spent three
years there, he moved to New York City, where
he was employed in carting for five years. On
his return to Orange County, he operated rented
land near Central Valley for eight years more,
and then spent two years in New York, engaged
in carting. Next he rented a small place, but
after a year spent there the house was burned to
the ground and everything was lost save a little
clothing. He then returned to his father's home,

764

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but a few months later settled on the farm where
Supervisor Patterson now resides, and there he
stayed one year. Later he leased the Finn Farm
in the town of Warwick for three years, then
spent a similar period on James Wisner' s farm
near the village of Warwick, later had a truck
wagon in New York City for five years, afterward
was employed for one year in a tin and hardware
business at Port Jervis, and from that place went
to Branchville. N. J., a village whicli was ex
pected to "boom," but which failed to do so,
entailing a heavy loss upon him, as he had in
vested largely there.
On coming back to Orange County Mr. Taylor
settled at Warwick and engaged in hauling ore
and iron for four years, after which he carried on
a farm for a number of years on Big Island, then
leased the John N. Ryerson Farm in Hampton
burgh for a year, and from there went to Carmel,
Putnam County, but not liking the outlook there
he settled in Croton Falls, where he engaged
in teaming for two years. In Patterson, Put
nam County, he was employed for some months
in carting iron. His next position was as a
workman on the grade of the Ontario & West
ern Railroad from Cornwall to Middletown, at
which he spent the winter months. He then sold
his horses and wagons and, going back to New
York City, resumed the truck business, at which
he was engaged for nine years. On again com
ing to Highland Mills, he bought a house and
lot near the Schunnemunk Mountains, and April
1, 1895, purchased the oyster and fish business
near the village which he still conducts. He
keeps a wagon on the road selling fish and clams,
and during their season has on sale oysters and
ice cream. His present home is within sight of
his birthplace.
The first marriage of Mr. Taylor occurred No
vember 6, 1844, at Highland Mills, Miss Mary
Elizabeth Odell becoming his wife. This lady
was born iu Goshen, and became the mother of
four children, namely: Elizabeth; Nathaniel, de
ceased; TheoW., who is engaged in trucking;
and William I., deceased. The second marriage
of Mr. Taylor united him with Ethelinda E.
Odell, a native of Canterbury and daughter of

Isaac and Sarah (Dunn) Odell. Of that union
there were born Mary E. , wife of the subject of
this sketch; George W., deceased; and Myers P.,
who is engaged in the trucking business in New
York City. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are Methodists
in religion. In politics he was the first of the
family to break from the old Democratic party,
and he has given his loyal service to the Repub
lican party for years, believing that its principles,
if carried out, will promote the welfare of our
country.

-*— »  »>5-^® ^P)®f*C;«  **—-*-

(I WALLACE BUSH, of Central Valley, is a
I well known contractor and builder, and has
Q) erected a number of the most substantial resi
dences of this part of the county. In 1893 he
purchased a lot on the east side of the village,
aud there he erected a building which is utilized
for a hardware store and shop. Among the ele
gant private residences for which he has had the
contract may be mentioned those of George Cor
nell, George Leonard, E. W. Edwards and Mrs.
Mary B. Birdsall. In the spring of 1895 he built
a large summer boarding-house for John Ford,
near Woodbury Falls.
Referring to the history of the Bush family, we
find that the paternal grandparents of our subject
were Peter and Abigail (Smith) Bush. The
former was a son of Henry Bush, a representative .
of a good old Dutch family that has been identi
fied with American history from an early period
in the settlement of this country. The story is
told of his mother that one day when she had
just taken several loaves of bread out of the oven,
the famous bandit, Claudius Smith, came in and
took possession of the bread, throwing her a
guinea as he left.
The parents of our subject were Hudson M. and
Martha C. (Ford) Bush, the former born at Ar
den, the latter near Woodbury Falls. The mother
was a daughter of William and Esther (Camp
bell) Ford, and a granddaughter, on the mater
nal side, of Alexander and Martha (Mailler)

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

765

Campbell, and on the paternal side of David and
Mary (Townsend) Ford. David Ford spent his
entire life on the farm where he was born, and
which his father, Patrick, a native of Ireland,
had purchased many years prior to the Revolu
tion. Nathaniel Bush, a brother of our subject's
father, was for many years architect for the po
lice department of New York City, and resigned
when about seventy years of age.
The family of which our subject is a member
consisted of three children. His younger broth
er, Alexander, is deceased. The sister, Esther,
who is a graduate of the State Normal School,
taught for two years, then became the wife of
Stanley Shaw, Principal of the schools of South-
old, L- I. , and they have one son, Arnold Camp
bell. Our subject was born in the village of
Turner, October 5, 1865, and was about five
years old when the family came to Central Val
ley. Until the age of fourteen years he was a
student in the old schoolhouse on the hill, after
which he attended school at Institute Hall. Ow
ing to his father's affliction, the partial support
ofthe family devolved upon him. At the age of
fifteen he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade,
and worked diligently at that occupation during
the day, whileat night he studied hard in order that
he might pass the examination at the State Normal
School in Albany. He was successful in his en
deavor, and, moving with his mother to Albany,
became a student in the normal school, but ow
ing to the continuous ill health of his mother, he
was obliged to leave at the expiration ofthe first
term. His sister, however, remained until grad
uation. Returning to Orange County, Mr. Bush worked
for a month at his trade in Tuxedo, after which
he was commissioned by Dr. Ferguson, of the
Falkirk Sanitarium, near Central Valley, to plan
and superintend the Stanley Building, the finest
structure of the institution. The following year
he started in business for himself, buying out a
Mr. Thompson, but later he disposed ofthe stock,
and since then has given his attention to contract
ing and building. While not a member of any
denomination, Mr. Bush inclines to the faith of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which his

mother is connected. Politically he favors the
platform ofthe Prohibition party. Socially he is
a member of Standard Lodge No. 711, F. &
A. M., of Monroe, and Schunnemunk Lodge No.
276, of Highland Mills.

|CJ HARLES VAN FLEET. For many years
I C successfully engaged in business, Mr. Van
U Fleet is now practically retired from active
labors, having accumulated, during the course of
his long and honorable career, a sufficient amount
of this world's goods to provide for the closing
years of his life every comfort and many luxu
ries. His real-estate interests are valuable, and
include besides city property a tract of one hun
dred and sixty -four acres lying in Minisink, near
the town of Greenville, and he is half-owner of one
hundred and twelve acres in Sussex County,
N. J. Upon the latter place there is a stone-
quarry, which renders the property more valu
able. In Sussex County, N. J., within one mile of
Unionville, N. Y., the subject of this notice was
born January 15, 18 19. His father and grand
father, both named Samuel, were born in New
Jersey, and were of Holland-Dutch descent. The
latter, who was the first member of the family
to settle in Orange County, came hither in the
eighteenth century, and purchased large tracts of
land. Here he continued to make his home until
his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-
eight. Samuel, Jr., married Malinda Dady, a
native of Morristown, N. J., and they became the
parents of the following children : Jesse, deceased;
Charles, of this sketch; Hannah, who is deceased;
Amelia, also deceased; and Mary Jane, Mrs.
Charles Coleman, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The fa
ther engaged in farm work until his death, at
forty-nine years of age. His wife survived him
many years, dying when seventy-three.
Beneath the parental roof our subject passed
the years of boyhood and youth, and he remained
with his mother until his marriage. That im
portant event took place November 12, 1842,
when Miss Mary Everitt became his wife. Mrs.

766

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Van Fleet was born in Sussex County, N. J., and
was a daughter of Noah and Leah E. (Cole)
Everitt. By her marriage she had six children,
but two of the number died in infancy. The oth
ers are as follows: Albert, a merchant of Union
ville; Samuel, who is at home; Amelia, wife of
Dr. E. C. Tuthill, of Deckertown; and Wilber,
also at home.
For a number of years following his marriage,
Mr. Van Fleet was employed at the cooper's trade,
after which, for three years, he operated a rented
farm. For the four following years he made his
home in Middletown, from whicli city he returned
to the old homestead, and for three years was en
gaged in tilling the soil of its one hundred and
sixty-four acres. Next we find him in Union
ville, the proprietor of a flourishing mercantile
business, which he carried on for twelve years,
finally selling to his sons. Later he had charge
of a feed store for ten. years, and then sold it to
his youngest son, since which time he has lived
retired from active business. As above mentioned,
he still owns some valuable real estate, and is
financially well-to-do. Interested in religious
work, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church,
and a contributor to its support. While he has
not taken an active part in politics, every ac
quaintance is aware of the fact that he is a stanch
advocate of the Republican party and a champion
of its principles.

+=

z+

30EL H. CRISSEY was born in the town of
Warwick in 1841, and was the eldest child in
the family of George A. and Mary E. (For-
shee) Crissey, both of whom are natives of Orange
County. The father spent his entire life as a
farmer, and died in January, 1894, respected by
all who knew him. He lived to the advanced
age of seventy-seven, and the mother has now
reached the age of seventy-three years.
The subject of this sketch received a good
academic education, supplementing his district-
school course with an attendance of several terms

at the seminary at Florida and the Chester Acad
emy. With the exception of five years spent in
school, he has been actively engaged in farming
since early childhood. He has now two hundred
and thirty acres of land, the improvements on
which are of the most substantial character. In
1868 he married Miss Martha Sayer, who was
born in Orange County, and who is a daughter of
William E. and Mary (Brook) Sayer. The Say -
ers were among the early settlers of Orange
County, and the Brooks came from England in
1820. The union of our subject and his wife has
been blessed with two children. Elizabeth Alli
son is now the wife of George Morehouse Van
Duzer. He is a son of Charles R. and Deborah
(Morehouse) Van Duzer, also natives of the town
of Warwick. Genevieve M. , the other daughter,
is at home. Politically Mr. Crissey is a Repub
lican, and has an abiding faith in the purity of
his party's teachings. Official positions have no
attraction for him. He is a most worthy citizen,
and always endeavors to keep abreast of the
times.

EHARLES WEEKS, an old and highly re
spected citizen of the town of Woodbury,
was born about two miles from Highland
Mills, September 15, 1815. His parents, Samuel
and Margaret (Earl) Weeks, were also born near
Highland Mills, the former being a sou of Thomas
Weeks. In the parental family there were eight
children: Merritt, deceased; Milton; Merritt, the
second, deceased; Charles, Elizabeth, Phoebe,
Samuel R. and Addison. When Charles was very
young his parents removed to New York, and
during the eight years of their residence in
that city he attended school there. Returning to
Orange County, the father bought a farm between
the villages of Monroe and Highland Mills, and
upon that place our subject gained the rudiments
of his knowledge of agriculture. Five years or
more were spent on that place, when the family
returned to New York City and spent two years
there, during which time the father died.
While in the city our subject was employed
painting safes iii a safe factory. After the death

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

767

of his father, he accompanied the other members
of the family to this county and settled near High
land Mills, where he and his brother cultivated
their mother's farm. On reaching the age of
twenty-two he began to work out in the employ
of others, continuing in that way for a number of
years. His marriage, September 14, 1837, united
him with Miss Mary Fritz, who was born near
Highland Mills. When she was quite young, her
parents, Eber and Mary Fritz, removed to In
diana, but after a short time she was brought
back to Orange County and here was reared in
her- uncle's family. The Fritz family is of Dutch
descent. Two sons blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs.
Weeks: William Henry Herman, with whom our
subject makes his home; and Walter, who resides
at Cornwall on the Hudson. The elder son was
born in the town of Woodbury, June 18, 1840,
and lived in various parts of the towns of Mon
roe and Cornwall until eleven years of age, at
tending district schools. During the two years
that his father spent in New York City, he at
tended the schools there, and from that place
came back to the town of Woodbury, where he
has since resided. In the spring of 1874 he pur
chased a house and an acre of land, and has since
purchased eighteen acres, the whole comprising
a well improved farm. His attention is given
principally to work at the painter's trade, to
which he served an apprenticeship in 1862, and
which he has followed for about fourteen years in
the employ of James Florence.
At Bakertown, September 16, 1863, Mr. Weeks
married Miss Lucy Burling, who was born in
England, January 1, 1841, and died in the town
of Woodbury August 9, 1890. She was fourth
among the thirteen children of William and Mary
Ann (Betts) Burling, natives of England, by
whom she was brought to America at the age
of five years. The family settled in Brooklyn,
where her father followed the harness-maker's
trade. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weeks there were
born three children, namely: Charles, a harness-
maker residing in Brooklyn; Mary Elizabeth,
wife of Charles Florence; and Emma Augusta,
who is at home with her father. Mr. and Mrs.

Florence and their daughter Lucy also reside at
the old homestead. Mrs. Weeks was a devoted
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
our subject, together with his children, also holds
membership in that denomination. He takes an
active interest in local affairs and votes the Re
publican ticket, both in county and national
elections.

<X********»***fjj|************'>P>
(3 QlLLlAM T. JAYNE. Among the numer-
\ A / ous examples °f self-made men which Or-
V V ange County affords, this worthy resident
of the town of Goshen is a 'prominent example.
He was born in the town of Warwick, this coun
ty, in 1853, and is now making his home on a
fine piece of land located in the town of Goshen,
where he is engaged in farming and dairying on
an extensive scale.
The parents of our subject were Charles M.
and Eliza (Thompson) Jayne, natives of this
county, iu which section ofthe state they always
made their home. The father was a .well-to-do
agriculturist aud followed this vocation success
fully until retiring from active labors. He died in
1863, respected by all who knew him for his up
right and conscientious manner of living. His
estimable wife is still living and in the enjoy
ment of good health, although having attained the
age of seventy-six years.
William T. acquired his primary education in
the public schools, after which he carried on his
studies in the Seward Institute at Florida. It
was his desire to become a good farmer, and since
eighteen years of age he has made this his chief
aim in life, and now has his wish gratified, for he
is one of the best tillers of the soil in the locality.
He is now the possessor of a quarter-section of
fertile land, the greater part of which is devoted
to pasture for his large herd of milch cows. He
also raises onions in great quantities, finding the
soil of this locality to be particularly adapted for
growing this vegetable.
Miss Maggie A. Young became the wife of our
subject November 10, 1875. She was the daugh
ter of Robert and Margaret (Watkins) Young,

768

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

natives of this county, the latter of whom" is de
ceased, and the former is a resident of Durland-
ville. To Mr. and Mrs. Jayne there have been
born ten children, of whom Stewart is deceased.
Those living are Charles R., Carrie S., Wilhel-
mina, DeWitt C, Bessie, Emma W., Mabel, Phi-
lena Y. and William. The older members ofthe
family have been given good educations, and all
are at home with their parents.
Socially Mr. Jayne is a member of the Order
of Foresters of Goshen. In politics he has an
abiding faith in the purity of the teachings of the
Republican party, with which he never loses an
opportunity to vote. Although never seeking
official positions, he has been honored by various
town offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens
to bestow, and in discharging the duties of the
same he has at all times given satisfaction. He is a
kind husband, an indulgent parent, accommo
dating neighbor and worthy citizen, and we are
therefore pleased to be able to here present the
brief record of his life.

Gz

G

-G)

¦rzO

g)OAH H. BROOKS, the owner and occupant
fy of a portion of the old Brooks homestead in
lis the town of Highland, two and one-half
miles west of Ft. Montgomery, was born iu the
village of Monroe, this county, August 20, 1818.
The family of which he is a member was first
represented in America by his grandfather, John
Brooks, Sr. , who was born iu Haarlem, Holland,
January 24, 1741, emigrated to America prior to
the Revolutionary War, and enlisted in the Col
onial army during that conflict. At the capture
of old Ft Montgomery, he was taken prison
er by the British, and held until the close of the
war, when he was released. As his life occupa
tion he followed the trade of a tailor. His death
occurred December 3, 1834. He married a lady
who was born in Paris, France.
Our subject's father, John Brooks, Jr., was
born October 18, 1779, and died April 1, 1870.
Prior to the War of 181 2, he was a carman in

New York, and afterward, with a brother-in-law,
he came to the village of Monroe, where he
bought land. In 1821 he settled upon the place
now owned by our subject, and here he leased a
large tract of land in addition to that which he
owned. Turning his attention to the lumber
business, he gave constant employment to fifteen
or twenty men all the time, and was one of the
most extensive dealers in lumber that resided in
the county. He married Sarah, daughter of Will
iam and Mahala Reynolds.
When our subject was about two years old his
father moved to the northeast corner of the old
town of Monroe, where he purchased over two
thousand acres of timber-land, the property in
cluding the six hundred acres now comprising the
homestead. Blasting rocks from the fields, he
built over ten miles of stone wall, erected a com
fortable residence and substantial outbuildings,
investing about $1,300 in improvements. For
many years he had a contract for delivering twelve
to fifteen hundred cords of timber annually, and
he carried on a very extensive business.
After attaining his majority, our subject con
tinued to operate the farm, and made his home
with his father for fifty years, when the latter
deeded him three hundred acres of the property,
and, building a neat residence, he has lived here
ever since. His first marriage took place near
the village of Highland Mills, September 8, 1842,
and united him with Miss Hannah C. Rider, who
was born April 5, 1819, and died September 14,
1853. She was a daughter of Henry and Phila
delphia (Cocks) Rider, the former of whom was
a son of King Rider, Sr. The second marriage
of our subject took place March 15, 1854, when
Miss Sallie D. McElroy became his wife. This
lady was a daughter of Capt. Isaac McElroy, of
whom mention will be found in the sketch of
Morgan Shuit. She was born February 10, 18 14,
and died in 1891. Both wives of our subject were
of the Quaker faith. The first wife became the
mother of six children, namely: Martha Ann;
Charles H., who married Hannah Mandigo;
Sarah E. ; John R., who married Nettie Hender
son; Henry and Hannah. The second marriage
resulted in the birth of a sou, Titus A., who is

LUCAS OAKLEY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

77 1

now a journalist in New York City. Politically
Mr. Brooks is a defender of Republican principles,
and believes that party will, a few years hence,
restore our country to fts former condition of
peace and plenty.

j.}..|..j..}.,gfij

34.^.4.^. ^^^^.^.^.^.rrrr

•$*•£• *X**X*| 

I UCAS OAKLEY, up to the time of his death,
I C was one of the most successful men of New-
U burgh, and for years was connected with the
Jesse Oakley & Co.'s Soap Works as superin
tendent. In company with his brother John,
he operated the laundry-soap department and
erected a new building as the trade increased.
He was clear-headed and sagacious in his finan
cial transactions a id was courteous and honorable
in his treatment of his fellows.
Lucas Oakley was born at Salisbury Mills, Or
ange County, April 10, 1835, and was a son of
Isaac K. Oakley, who was born in Chatham, Col
umbia County, N. Y., May 27, 1802. John
Oakley, the ancestor of our subject, came from
England and settled in Suffolk County, N. Y.,
where he engaged in farming until his death.
His name was recorded in the history of Long
Island as having acted with others in saving the
Quakers from persecution on March 24, 1702.
He married into a Knickerbocker family of
¦Brooklyn and became the father of a large family,
some of his children settling in Huntington, L. I.,
and others in New York State proper, mainly in
Richmond, Dutchess and Orange Counties. One
of his sons, Samuel, according to family tradition,
was pressed into the British service with his team
and cattle. He married Sallie Wood, of Hunt
ington, who bore him four sons and four daugh
ters. One of the number was Timothy, grand
father of Lucas Oakley. This gentleman moved
to New Windsor, Orange County, in 1795, and
later purchased a farm, mill and store at New
Vernon, on the Shawangunk Kill. In 1801 he
disposed of his business interests in this county,
and a year later invested the proceeds in a farm
and mercantile establishment in Chatham, Col
umbia County. In 18 13, in partnership with a
young man from England, he erected one of the

first cotton-mills in the state, at Kinderhook. In
1823 he purchased the Salisbury Mills, and in
connection with his two sons, Samuel and Isaac
K., carried on merchandising and milling for sev
eral years. Then Samuel went to New York
City, and Isaac K. engaged in the trading and
teaming business at Highland Mills, subsequent
ly becoming owner of the Salisbury Mill proper
ty. The father, Timothy, retired from active
besiness a short time prior to his death, which oc
curred in 1844, in Cornwall. For thirteen terms
he was Supervisor, and at the beginning of the
War of 18 12 was a member of the State Assem
bly. In his boyhood Isaac K. Oakley attended school
at Chatham, Kinderhook and the Farmers' Hall
Academy at Goshen. His inclination leaning
toward a business rather than an agricultural life,
he went to Nassau, N. Y., when he was seventeen
years of age and there learned the leather and
tanning trade. Afterwards he was associated
with his father and brother, as previously relat
ed, and after the death of his mother, in 1833,
bought the Salisbury Mills from his father and
continued the business. A year later he built a
flouring and plaster-mill at Salisbury, and soon
afterwards a paper-mill. In 1835 he disposed of
the tannery at Highland Mills to Joshua T.
Cromwell. In 1853 he built the old paper-mill
on Quassaick Creek (now the Adams & Bishop
Mill) and operated it until 1866, when he sold
out. The same year he sold the Salisbury Mill,
retaining only thirteen acres ofthe old homestead,
on which he erected a residence, in which he
lived until his death. In 1854 he was chosen a
Director ofthe Quassaick Bank of this city, and
was President of it from 1876 until his demise, in
September, 1885. In 1872 he became a special
partner in the Oakley Soap Works of Newburgh.
His marriage united him with Christina, daugh
ter of Lucas and Maria Van Alen, of Kinderhook.
Her death occurred in February, 1866, at Salis
bury Mills, after she had become the mother of
five children. The second wife of Isaac Oakley
was Sarah E., daughter of Thomas and Catherine
Oakley, of Minisink. She was the granddaughter
of John Oakley, who was connected with the

34

772

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

American army under Washington at the time of
his encampment at Newburgh.
Lucas Oakley was educated under private tu
tors to some extent and attended a private school
at Maiden on Hudson. In his youth he learned
the business of manufacturing paper, and became
a practical workman. In 1857 he took charge of
his father's paper-mill on Quassaick Creek and
conducted it successfully for ten years. Moving
to the vicinity of Elmira, N. Y., at that time, he
embarked in the manufacture of machinery in
partnership with his brother John and E. E.
Clapp. That establishment was burned five years
later. He then came to Newburgh and became
superintendent ofthe Jesse Oakley & Co.'s soap
factory, remaining in this capacity until Septem
ber, 1883, when the affairs of the concern were
wound up, and he and his brother John became
proprietors of the laundry-soap department. In
a short time their trade had so increased that they
were obliged to build larger quarters. They had
been located in their new structure (now occupied
by the Granite City Soap Works) scarcely a year
when Mr. Oakley died. From the time of his fa
ther's death he had been a Director in the Quas
saick Bank. In the First Presbyterian Church, of
which he was a valued member, he served as
Trustee, and all worthy enterprises found in him
a friend. His death occurred at his residence iu
Newburgh, March 4, 1887.
February 16, 1859, Mr. Oakley was married,
in Newburgh, to Harriet Towner, who was born
in Monticello, N. Y., February 3, 1832. Her
father, Jesse Towner, was bora in Poultney, Vt.,
and with his brother and mother moved to Mont
icello, when that region was nothing but a wil
derness. He engaged in farming, while his bro
ther, John M., worked at his trade as a black
smith. October 3, 1826, Jesse Towner, who was
a man of integrity and marked financial ability,
was appointed County Treasurer, and served un
til November 16, 1833, when he was returned to
the office, which he held altogether some fifteen
years. His death occurred when he was over
threescore years, at his homestead near Monti
cello. His wife, who was formerly Mary Downs,
was born in Roxbury, Conn., and with her par

ents was one of the early settlers of Sullivan
County, arriving there in 18 10. Her father,
Levi Downs, of Connecticut, owned a farm and
kept a public house in Sullivan County. His
wife was formerly Miss Zillah Painter, of Rox
bury, Conn., whose ancestors were in the Revolu
tionary War. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Oak
ley was blessed with six children, two of whom
died in infancy," Isaac K. and Edith. Harriet
Bennett is the wife of Jacob S. Brill, of this city,
and the others in order are Mary Towner, Chris
tina Van Alen and Robert Denniston. In politics
Mr. Oakley was a stanch Republican.

~«;=3$£=;»

Gl ARON VAN DUZER WALLACE is the pro-
Ll prietor of a successful fire and life insurance
/ I agency, with headquarters at Goshen. He
is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and
is always deeply interested in whatever concerns
the advancement of his town and county. He
was born June 20, i860, in the town where he
now makes him home, and is the son of Harvey
Wallace, whose birth occurred in Crawford, N. Y.
Our subject's grandfather, William Wallace,
who was a native of the North of Ireland, came
to the United States when quite a young man.
He located in Orange County, and engaged in
agricultural pursuits in the town of Crawford,
where he died. Upon arriving at man's estate,
Harvey Wallace, our subject's father, became in
terested in merchandising in Goshen, the firm be
ing Wallace & Hemmingway. Their establish
ment was located on Main Street, where they
continued in business until the death ofthe former,
which occurred in the spring of 1869, when Mr.
Wallace was fifty years of age. He was an ar
dent Democrat in political belief, and a very
active member of that party. Religiously he af
filiated with the Presbyterian Church, and was
ever identified with all good works of that de
nomination. Hannah Van Duzer, our subject's
mother, was born in this town, and is a daughter
of Aaron Van Duzer, who belonged to an old and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

773

influential New York family, and who was for
merly a farmer of the town of Goshen. He up
held the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, of
which he was an active member, and was a prom
inent member of the Republican party. His
death occurred in the year 1867, at the age of
seventy-five years.
Of the children born to the union of Harvey
and Hannah (Van Duzer) Wallace, six grew to
mature years, and five are still living, three daugh
ters and two sons. Robert, our subject's only
surviving brother, is a hardware merchant of
Brooklyn. Aaron was next to the youngest in
the parental family.
Growing to manhood in Goshen, our subject
received the best school advantages the town af
forded, attending both the public and private
schools. At the age of sixteen he became en
gaged as clerk in the grocery house of L- G. An
drews, remaining in that position continuously
for five years, and giving his employer faithful
service. Upon severing his connection with this
establishment, he was employed by an insurance
agency, with which he also remained five years.
Later he succeeded L. G. Andrews in the grocery
business, continuing the same in the building lo
cated on the corner of Main and New Streets.
After being thus engaged for a period of three
years, he sold out to Mr. Seely, and in 1888
bought an interest in the insurance business, go
ing into partnership with Capt. W. E. Mapes,
under the firm title of Mapes & Wallace. One
year later he bought Captain Mapes' interest and
continued the business alone. Mr. Wallace in
sures principally against fire, and represents in
all fifteen leading companies, among which may
be mentioned the Liverpool, London and Globe;
the iEtna, Hartford and Phoenix, of Hartford;
the Home, of New York; the Lancashire, of Lan
cashire, England; and the Continental, of New
York. He travels a great deal, having in charge
the "road" business. He is also a notary public.
October 3, 1889, in this village, Mr. Wallace
was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Cud
deback, daughter of Hon.' Louis Cuddeback,
. who was descended from French-Huguenots. Her
' birth occurred in Cuddebackville, this county, in

which village her father was a merchant. He
was a member of the New York Assembly, and
in 1868, having been elected to the office of Coun
ty Clerk, he came to this place, spending the re
maining years of his life in this city. He was
interested in the organization of the Goshen Sav
ings Bank, and was for several years its Secreta
ry and Treasurer. His death occurred in 1889,
at the ripe age of eighty-three years.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace includes
two children, who bear the names of Augustus
Cuddeback and Helen, respectively. Mr. Wal
lace was elected Supervisor of Goshen on the
Democratic ticket, and after serving three years
declined re-nomination. He is a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Goshen Savings Bank,
is identified with the Orange County Board of
Underwriters, having been on its Executive Com
mittee several times, and in the summer of 1895
was elected a member ofthe Board of Education.
He is an active member of the Presbyterian
Church, and socially is identified with the Knights
of Pythias.

I

NENRY A. BENEDICT, who is numbered
among the oldest living residents of the town
of Warwick, was born on the farm upon
which he now resides in 18 18, and was the young
est child born to James and Mary (Wheeler)
Benedict, who were also natives of this town, and
who made it their home during their entire lives.
James Benedict was an agriculturist, beginning
his life in Orange County when the country was
quite a wilderness, and was a soldier in the War
of 1812, serving as Captain of a company of mili
tia. His death occurred about 1855. His wife
had preceded him to the grave.
When young, our subject was trained to farm
pursuits, and his advantages for an education
were limited indeed, being such as could be se
cured in the common schools of that early day.
As soon as he was old enough hewas put to work
on the farm, and he has since been continuously

774

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

employed at farm work. His marriage with Miss
Laura Wright, of Orange County, occurred in
1852. Ten children have been born to them:
James H., of Orange County ; John W. and Mary
L., at home; Robert W., of New York City;
Elizabeth T., Albert A., Hattie E., Phoebe A.,
William S. and Abigail B., all ofthe town of
Warwick. The home farm of our subject now comprises
two hundred and thirty acres of land, all of which
is under improvement. His residence and out
buildings are of modern structure and are such as
are seen on a first-class farm. In addition to
general farming, Mr. Benedict is also engaged in
dairying. He is a Democrat at all times, and un
der all circumstances, consequently opposed to all
monopolies. He has never aspired to political
honors, preferring to give his time to his own af
fairs. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict are seventy-seven
and sixty -nine years of age, respectively, but are
in fairly good health.

-^Ml

(I®®®1

Oil

(T AMES EDWARD MYER, proprietor of the
I railroad restaurant at Turner, was born in
Q) Highland Falls, June 13, 1855, and was there
reared to manhood. His education was com
menced in the district schools and supplemented
by a course of study in a select school taught by
Maurice S. Smith, after which he again attended
the public school. For a time after starting out
to earn his own livelihood he clerked in his
brother's store, and at the age of fifteen he ob
tained employment on a farm in the mountains,
where he remained for seventeen months. His
next position was in the employ of Benjamin
Hazard, working on his farm in the summer and
in his market during the winter months.
With Charles T. Ford, who succeeded Mr.
Hazard, our subject remained for one year. Upon
attaining his majority he embarked in the whole
sale cattle business, in partnership with Sidney
Smith, this connection continuing for two years.
For a similar period he was engaged in the
butcher business with Charles Brooks. After
his marriage he went west to Montana, and, set

tling at Phillipsburg, engaged in the meat busi
ness for seventeen months, and then for three
months worked on a diamond drill for the Hope
Mining Company. Again resuming work at his
trade, he carried on a meat-market at Phillips
burg for four years.
Western life, however, was not entirely pleas
ant, and not wishing to establish his permanent
home in Montana, Mr. Myer returned to New
York and opened a meat-market at Poughkeep
sie, where he remained in that business for two
years. Later, for the same length of time, he
engaged in the manufacture of a fertilizer, and
for one year worked at teaming. On his return
to Orange County, he took charge of the depot
restaurant, January 1, 1894, the management of
which he has since maintained.
The father of our subject, Martin Myer, was
born in Baden, Germany, and came to America
in 1841, settling first at West Point, where he
followed the trade of a shoemaker. While there
he made shoes for General Grant, then a cadet,
and had the personal acquaintance of all the ca
dets who have since become famous. For three
years he served as a member of Company D, New
York Light Artillery. He died at the home of
our subject in Poughkeepsie, January 16, 1893.
His wife, Margaret, was a daughter of Adam
Heinold, who was born June 16, 1790. Her
birth occurred in Baden, Germany, February 5,
1820, and January 3, 1839, she became the wife
of Martin Myer. While he was employed as a
shoemaker at West Point, she followed the trade
of a tailoress, and made clothing for the young
men whom he fitted with shoes. She passed from
earth April 10, 1862. By her union with Mr.
Myer there were born six children, viz.: Charles
William, deceased; John Adam, whose home is
at Highland Falls; Robert Franklin, a resident
of Bayonne, N. J.; George M., deceased; James
Edward; and Sylvanus Augustus, who died on
the day President Lincoln was shot.
February 15, 1880, the subject of this notice
was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth R.
Gillette, M. D., daughter of Dr. E. H. and Ra
chel K. (Mance) Gillette, residents of west New
York. Mrs. Myer was graduated in 1877 from

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

775

the Woman's Medical College of New York, and
is a member of the medical societies of Dutchess
and Orange Counties. In religious connections
she is identified with the Methodist Episcopal
Church at Turner. She is a lady of superior
ability, and has been successful in her profession.
Socially Mr. Myer is connected with Lodge No.
276, K. P., at Highland Mills, and in political
belief is a pronounced Prohibitionist. He and
his wife are the parents of a daughter and son :
Elizabeth Rachel, who is attending school at
Turner; and Edward Herman, a bright boy of
seven years.

^l&Gz

EHARLES EARL, a farmer residing in the
town of Monroe, was born in Turner, Feb
ruary 16, 1820. In the place of his birth
he attended school until seventeen, when he was
apprenticed to the trade of a saddle and harness
maker at Monroe, remaining in that village for
two years. Later he spent one year at Florida,
this county, three years at Ft. Montgomery, and
about the same length of time in Turner, after
which he bought a farm situated on the west side
of Mt. Basha Lake. Several years afterward he
sold that property, then rented for a time, and in
the spring of 1857 purchased his present farm,
consisting of ninety-three acres. At the time of
purchase the land was covered with heavy tim
ber, but he has cleared a portion of this and has
planted an orchard of fifty trees.
The family of which our subject is a member
originally comprised fourteen children, ofwhom,
however, only three survive, namely: John B.,
residing in the town of Goshen; Charles, of this
sketch; and J. Sears, to whose sketch on another
page the reader is referred for further informa
tion concerning the family. The parents, John
and Martha (Thorn) Earl, were born near High
land Mills, the former being a son of Richard
Earl, and the latter a daughter of Jesse Thorn.
In the village of Monroe the subject of this
sketch was united in marriage with Miss Mary
R. Trickey, February 22, 1845. Mrs. Earl was
born near Turner, on the 12th of August, 1824,

being a daughter of David and Margaret (Rhodes)
Trickey, the former of whom served in the War
of 1812. Her paternal grandparents were Jere
miah and Jemima (Stevens) Trickey, and her
maternal grandparents Hope and Mary (Jen
nings) Rhodes. Six children were born to the
union of Mr. and Mrs. Earl, the eldest of whom
Martha, married John Green, of Goshen, and
has four children. Elmer, whose home is in
Craigsville, first married Julia Maybee, and after
her death was united with Lizzie Davidson, hav
ing two children by each union. Jeremiah, de
ceased, married Sarah Elizabeth Smith, and had
five children. Samuel, who married Eva Young,
is a carpenter and lives at Long Branch; he is
the father of five children. Etta is the wife of
James Helmes, a dairyman of Goshen, and they
have one child. Isaac, who is the proprietor of
a feed store at Goshen, married Louisa Vale, of
Ramapo, and has six children.
During the existence of the Whig party, Mr.
Earl advocated its principles, and since its dis
integration he has adhered to the policy of the
old-line Democrats. For twenty years he has
rendered efficient service as School Trustee, and
for eighteen years he has served the town of Mon
roe as Poor Master. A sincere Christian, he has
been a member of the Presbyterian Church of
Monroe for fifty-four years, and his wife has been
connected with the same organization for a period
of forty-five years. They are a hospitable, gen
erous and neighborly couple, fond of doing good
to those around them, and taking a warm interest
in the welfare of others.

t=n

"SI

^H^

[¦""**¦"_

[""""5"""

EAPT. ISAAC SMITH. In summing up the
list of influential farmers of Orange County,
the name of Captain Smith should not be
omitted. His career, perhaps, is not widely dif
ferent from that of other residents of the town of
Montgomery who have spent their entire lives
within its limits, assisting in advancing its growth
and prosperity. Asvthe result of his labors, he
is now in the enjoyment of a comfortable home
as well as the esteem and confidence of those

776

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

around him. His place consists of one hundred
and twenty acres, of which he has purchased six
ty, the remainder having been bequeathed him
by his father. In addition to the raising of
cereals, he devotes considerable attention to the
fruit, and dairy business, and his services as a
machinist and blacksmith are also frequently
called into requisition by his neighbors.
The parents of our subject, David H. and Ma
tilda (Kain) Smith, were born in this town, where
the former was a prosperous farmer. Their fam
ily comprised twelve children, of whom three
sons and two daughters are still living. One of
the brothers, James, is represented elsewhere in
this volume, and to his biographical sketch the
reader is referred for information regarding the
family history. Isaac was born in this town,
January 28, 1826, and in boyhood received a com
mon-school education. He remained at home
until his marriage, at the age of twenty-six, at
which time he rented a portion of the old home
stead. When the estate was settled a few years
later, he bought the property, and has since made
it his home.
December 26, 1850, Captain Smith married
Miss Sarah J. Dickerson, of the town of Mont
gomery, and six children were bora unto them,
of whom four died in infancy. David H. is en
gaged in the manufacture of incubators at James-
burg, N. J., and Frank D., an energetic and
capable young man, manages the home farm for
his father. Mrs. Smith died August 11, 1895,
aged seventy years, three months and five days.
Politically our subject is a Republican, and has
been Assessor, Trustee of Schools and Commis
sioner of Highways of said town for four years,
filling these positions with credit to himself.
November 9, 1844, our subject joined the
Montgomery Guards as a private. After seven
years he was elected Second Lieutenant, four
years later became Captain, and while serving in
the latter office was called, June 2, 1862, into the
service ofthe Uniou. With his company of forty-
five men he went to Baltimore, and in that city
and the surrounding country he was stationed
for three months, returning home at the expira
tion of that time. He resigned as Captain of the

National Guards of this town in 1864, but was
again appointed in 1873, and held the office until
the troops were disbanded. He and his family are
members of the Reformed Church, and are prom
inent in the best social circles of the community.

IRAM TATE, editor and proprietor of the
Advertiser, of Warwick, was born in Orange
County in 1849, and is the son of Henry
aud Mary (Depuy) Tate, who were also natives of
this county. Throughout life his father was •
identified with agricultural pursuits, but in early
life also worked at the trade of shoemaking.
About 1858 he emigrated to Illinois, and there
spent the remainder of his life, dying in the city
of Chicago in 1890. His estimable wife is still
living. The subject of this sketch received his primary
schooling in Orange County and completed the
course at Fredonia, Chautauqua County, where
a state normal school is now located. When a
young man he learned the printer's trade, after
which he went to Middletown, working on differ
ent papers there until 1882, when he came to War
wick and purchased his present plant, which he
has successfully conducted ever since. The pa
per was an independent journal for many years,
but since 1888 it has been Republican in politics,
and is classed emong the leading Republican pa
pers of the county. It is commended for its con
sistent, conscientious course, even by those who
oppose it in politics, and its influence has always
been felt in public affairs.
Soon after becoming the editor of the Adver
tiser, Mr. Tate took up the matter of village im
provement, advocating the removal of yard fences,
and by his persistent efforts succeeded, until War
wick to-day is classed among the most beautiful
towns in the state. He was a strong advocate of
the development of the southern part of the vil
lage, and some of the leading business men have
model village homes in that section, among which
is his own residence on Oakland Avenue.
In 1 88 1 Mr. Tate was united in marriage with

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

777

Miss Mary, daughter of James N. Pronk, of
Middletown. They have two children, a son and
daughter. Religiously the parents affiliate with
the Calvary Baptist Church.

HARVEY BROOKS, who is engaged in farm
ing on the old Weyant homestead in Queens
borough,. town of Highland, was born in
New York City, February 28, 1852. He is a de
scendant, in the third generation, from John
Brooks, Sr. , who was born in Haarlem, Holland,
January 24, 1747, and followed the trade of a
tailor. During the War of the Revolution he
was a valiant soldier, and was captured at Ft.
Montgomery by the British, by whom he was
held until peace was declared. His wife was a
native of Paris, France.
John Brooks, Jr., our subject's grandfather,
was employed in New York City prior to the
War of 18 1 2, but about that time he and his
brother-in-law, a Mr. Reynolds, settled near Mon
roe, Orange County. In 182 1 he moved to a
large tract of land near Ft. Montgomery, where
he leased thousands of acres of timber-land, and
became an extensive dealer in wood. He was
born October 18, 1779, and passed away April 7,
1870, at the age of ninety-one years. His wife,
Sarah, was a daughter of William and Mahala
(Earl) Reynolds.
The father of our subject, John W. Brooks, was
born near the village of Monroe, January 29, 1806,
and died October 15, 1890. He married Cath
erine Sutherland, who was born in Clove Valley,
in 1812, and died in November, 1883., She was a
daughter of William and Sarah (Reynolds) Suth
erland, and a granddaughter of Patrick and Lu-
cretia Sutherland, the former a farmer of the
town of Cornwall, where he died in 1765. The
family is of Scotch origin.
Until seventeen years of age our subject re
sided in New York City, and during the last five
years of his residence there he worked in the
employ of the Northwestern Fur Company. The

seven ensuing years were spent on a farm, after
which he worked as teamster for a chemical com
pany in Putnam County, and from that place
went to Long Branch, where for five "years he
was superintendent of stock for a large building
and contracting firm. During the two following
years he held a similar position in New York
City. After his marriage he came to Orange
County, and has since resided on a part of the
Weyant homestead.
In New York City, April 15, 1886, Mr. Brooks
married Miss Alice A., daughter of King and
Elizabeth (Kessler) Weyant. Mrs. Brooks was
born at Verplanck's Point, Westchester County,
and by her union with our subject has become
the mother of three children, namely: Walter,
who died in infancy; Mabel A. and Russell H.
In religious belief Mrs. Brooks is identified with
the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr.
Brooks contributes, though not a member. In
politics he is a Republican, and has served as
School Clerk. The family of which he is a mem
ber consisted of eleven children, of whom six
died in infancy, the others being Carrie, wife of
William Wilson; Sarah and Mary, deceased;
Charles H., of Mystic Bridge, Conn.; and Har
vey, of this sketch, who was second in order of
birth.

•VftpA,

(•Alfred d. Leonard, m. d., of Central
LI Valley, was born May 20, 1853, near Pink,
/ | Wayne County, Pa. , and is the son of George
W. andPersis E. (Purdy) Leonard, the former a
native of Maine, and the latter of Pennsylvania.
(See sketch of Hiram L- Leonard in another part
of this work. ) He was reared in Wayne County,
and attended the district schools until about fif
teen years of age, and then spent three years ir
regularly in attendance at the Wayne County
Normal School, teaching in the mean time. Un
der the direction of Dr. George B. Curtiss, at
Hawley, Pa., he read medicine, and at the same
time had charge ofthe Doctor's drug store. Aft
er continuing with the latter for three years, he
attended the medical department of the University

778

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Pennsylvania during the winter term, and
graduated therefrom March 15, 1878, after which
he located at South Caanan, Pa., where he re
mained nine months. He then removed to Beth
any, that state, where he remained two years,
and in May, 1881, came to Central Valley, where
he has since made his home. Shortly after com
ing to this place, he built and established a drug
and fancy-goods store, and in May, 1893, asso
ciated with himself Charles Rivenburg, and they
are now conducting the business in partnership.
Dr. Leonard was united in marriage, December
4, 1878, at Prompton, Pa., with Miss Louisa Hall,
a native of that state, and a daughter of George
Hall, of Wayne County. Two sons have been
born to them, Leroy and Clarence. Mrs. Leon
ard is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while
the Doctor holds membership with the Baptist
Church. In politics he is an independent Repub
lican. While in Bethany, Pa., he served as Town
Councilman and Auditor. He is a member of the
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Independent
Order of Red Men.
George W. Leonard, the father of the Doctor,
was born in Sebec, Piscataquis County, Me., and
was a son of Lewis and Hannah (Blood) Leon
ard, who were the parents of six children: John,
Nancy, Ann, George W., Hiram L- and Alvin.
When George W. was ten years old, the family re
moved to New York, and later to Pennsylvania.
While residing in Maine he attended the district
school, and after his arrival in New York he at
tended the common schools during the winter
months. When ten years of age, he began work
ing at oar-making, and continued at that trade
until twenty-two years of a^e, when he began
farming, the state of his health requiring out
door exercise. He continued on his farm in
Wayne County, Pa., until the fall of 1894, when
he sold out and moved to Central Valley, where
he now resides. While in Pennsylvania he was
interested in bee culture, and realized more from
that industry than from farming proper.
On the 16th of October, 1862, George W. Leon
ard enlisted in Company D, in the One Hundred
and Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, and
served nine months under Colonel Blair, but was

on guard duty at Yorktown the greater part of the
time. He was in no heavy battles, being detailed
to hospital service, and on the 27th of July, 1863,
was honorably discharged from the service at
Harrisburg, Pa.
January 1, 1850, in Wayne County, Pa., George
W. Leonard and Persis E. Purdy were united in
marriage. She is a daughter of Reuben and
Clarinda (Purdy) Purdy, who were born and
married in Wayne County, Pa. Five children
were born of this union, and two are now liv
ing: Dr. Alfred D. and Reuben C, the latter be
ing engaged with his uncle, Hiram L- Leonard,
at Central Valley. The parents are members of
the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Leonard
was for some time a Prohibitionist, but of late
years he has again united with the Republican
party.

(JOHN L. STAGE has passed from the scenes
I of life, but this record of his life shows that
(2/ a man of his Christian character is not for
gotten. He was formerly one of the substantial
residents of the town of Goshen, and was well
and favorably known in this locality. His birth
occurred in Sussex County, N. J., in 1830, his
parents being Samuel G. and Lucette (Decker)
Stage, natives of New York.
The subject of this sketch was given the ad
vantages of a common-school education, and was
reared to a life of usefulness on his father's es
tate. Upon attaining his majority he began in
life for himself by engaging iu farming on a place
located eighteen miles from Elmira, N. Y. He
was there successfully occupied for a period of
six years, when he disposed of that tract, and,
coming to Orange County, selected the beautiful
place which his widow now occupies. He was
very industrious and prosperous, and as a con
sequence his widow now has everything comfort
able about her. Mr. Stage made a specialty of
dairy farming, although he raised grain and live
stock in large quantities.

HON. W. P. RICHARDSON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

781

The lady to whom our subject was united in
marriage March 22, 1865, was Miss Cornelia,
daughter of James and Eliza (Young) Dibble,
also natives of this state. Her father, who was
also a prominent agriculturist, departed this life
in 1893. His estimable wife, the mother of Mrs.
Stage, is still living. Mrs. Stage has been very
ably conducting the home place since her hus
band's decease, which occurred December 12,
1885. The farm is one hundred and fifty acres
in extent, and is known throughout this section
as the "Che Chunk Farm." Mrs. Stage is quite
prominent among the best people of the county,
and none know her but to respect and honor her.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stage there were born four
children. The eldest son, Arthur L- , is a promi
nent photographer in Michigan; Amanda C. is
next in order; Eliza L. is a trained nurse and a
graduate of the hospital on Blackwell's Island;
John J. completes the number. Mrs. Stage is a
devoted member of the Presbyterian Church and
active in all good works in her neighborhood.

-, _^^>-*^-<^^-!-
HON. WILLIAM P. RICHARDSON. Sit
uated one mile west of Goshen lies a beauti
ful country seat, surrounded by extensive
and well kept grounds, and furnished in a man
ner indicative of the refined tastes of the inmates.
The homestead consists of two hundred acres, de
voted to general agricultural purposes, though a
specialty is made of the raising of good grades of
horses and Holsteiu cattle. The improvements
upon the place are first-class, including a com
plete set of farm buildings and the machinery
necessary for the cultivation of the land.
Within this pleasant home resides ex-Senator
W. P. Richardson, one of the influential resi
dents of Orange County and formerly State Sena
tor from the Thirteenth New York District. So
prominent is he in this locality that our readers
will be pleased to learn something concerning his
life and lineage. He was born in Lawrence,
Mass., May 10, 1848, and is a son of Rev. John G.
and Sarah G. (Merrill) Richardson, natives, re
spectively, of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

His paternal great-grandfather, Capt. John Rich
ardson, was a Revolutionary soldier and a min-
uteman at Lexington. While in the Colonial army
he was wounded at Stillwater, N. Y. On the
maternal side the great-grandfather, Col. Samuel
Collins, was also a Revolutionary soldier and
fought through the entire war.
In 1642 William and Edward Richardson came
to America with their families and settled in
Newbury, Mass., they being the founders of that
place. From them descended this branch of the
Richardsons in America. The eldest child of
William was Joseph, and the latter married Mar
garet Godfrey. Her birth occurred October 9,
1663, and she was the first white girl born in
Newbury. The Richardsons trace their ancestry to a re
mote period in English history. In 1630 one
Richard Richardson, of Bradford, Yorkshire,
paid a fine of ^40 for declining the honor of
knighthood from Charles I. A receipt signed by
Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, the leading minis
ter of Charles I., is still in the possession of his
descendants. The old Richardson coat-of-arms,
which was brought to this country in 1642, by
William Richardson, is now in the possession of
ex-Senator Richardson.
A brother of our subject, David C, was a sol
dier in the Civil War. His father entered the
ministry of the Baptist Church in early life, and
followed that profession until his death, in 1890,
at about the age of seventy-five. When about
fifteen years old our subject accompanied his par
ents to Providence, R. I., where his father was
pastor of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church. He
attended the public schools for a time and then
entered the Lawnsdale High School, where he
completed his education. He started out in the
world for himself at the age of sixteen, clerking
in a drug store in Providence. Later he went to
Paterson, N. J., where he spent one year, also
being employed as a drug clerk. From there he
went to the West Indies, and spent a short time
in Cuba and the Bahama Islands.
Returning to Paterson, N. J., Mr. Richardson
secured a position as clerk in a hardware store,
and, saving his earnings, he finally accumulated a

782

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sufficient amount to enable him to embark in the
business for himself. Forming a partnership
therewith H. W. Mills, under the name of Rich
ardson & Mills, he carried on an increasing and
profitable trade until 1876, when he retired from
the hardware business. During the following
year he was engaged in the wholesale feed busi
ness in Paterson. In 1878 he came to Orange
County, N. Y., and settled in Goshen, where he
has since continued in the wholesale feed business,
making large shipments by car lots. In 1881 he
purchased and removed to his present suburban
home, where he has since led an active and busy
life, his various undertakings having been more
than ordinarily prospered.
The success which has rewarded the efforts of
Mr. Richardson is attributable to his tireless
exertions and sagacious judgment. He started
for himself without means, and on landing in
New York City on his return from the Bahama
Islands had but seventy-three cents in his pos
session. However, he had the sanguine disposi
tion of youth, and, undeterred by obstacles, he
worked energetically forward until his finances
were upon a solid basis. He has always been
more or less identified with public affairs, and
while a resident of Paterson served as Commis
sioner of the city schools. In 1888, at the time
of the election of Benjamin Harrison, he was
Presidential Elector for New York State. A
still greater honor was conferred upon him in
1889, when he was elected, upon the Republican
ticket, to the position of State Senator from the
Thirteenth District. So satisfactory were his
services, that two years later he was re-elected by
a majority threefold larger than that originally
given him, a fact which in itself proves his pop
ularity and efficiency as a public official. For
a number of years he also served as President of
the Farmers' Association of Orange County.
The marriage of Mr. Richardson united him
with Miss Annie E., daughter of the late John
Woodward, of New York, and three children
comprise their family: William G. , John W. and
Florence. Socially Mr. Richardson is actively
connected with the Masonic order at Goshen.
Beginning life in humble circumstances, he has

steadily, step by step, won a solid footing in the
business world, and is a fitting example of what
is in store as a reward for energy and directness
of purpose. As one of the standard-bearers of
the Republican party, he has made for himself
hosts of friends. Fortunate in his undertakings,
prompt and energetic as a business man, he de
serves the esteem of his friends and the respect
of his acquaintances, and through merit he has
won his position among the eminent men of the
county.

— -*- — •>>|K®(® ®£*0 — «~-*-

(TOHN D. MONTROSS was born September
1 26, 1833, near Old Queensborough, upon
(2/ the farm where he now resides, and from the
cultivation of which he receives a fair income.
He is a son of William V. and Margaret (Brush)
Montross, natives, respectively, of Putnam and
Rockland Counties, the former a son of Cornelius
Montross, and the latter a daughter of Peter
Brush. The parental family comprised twelve
children, of whom only four are now living.
They are Fannie, Mrs. Moses Lamereux; Ada-
line; John D.; and Louisa, wife of Abraham
Stevens. At the age of three years our subject was taken
by his parents to Matteawan, Dutchess County,
this state, and during the eleven years of his resi
dence there he was a student in the public
schools. On the return of the family to Queens
borough, the father rented the farm now owned
by Isaac F. Mandigo, and after a short residence
there he lived successively at Highland Falls
and Central Valley, retiring in 1869 to the birth
place of John D., who now owns forty-eight acres
there. At Matteawan, September 17, 1855, Mr. Mont
ross was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth
A., daughter of William and Rachel (Weyant) .
Rose. Her father was a son of Israel and Eliza
beth Rose, and her mother was a daughter of
Tobias and Jerusha (Smith) Weyant. She was
one of ten children born to the union of her par-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

7§3

ents, five of whom are living, namely: Clark,
who resides in Elizabethport, N. J.; Joseph, also
a resident of that place; Emily, wife of Andrew
Swim; Elizabeth Ann; and Andrew, whose home
is in Garrison, N. Y.
In their religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Mont
ross are active and earnest members of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and take a warm inter
est in the good works of that denomination.
They had eleven children, but two of the number
are deceased, the others being as follows: Frank,
who lives at Ft. Montgomery; Arthur, whose
home is in Central Valley; Eliza Jane, wife of
Charles L. Green, now of Connecticut; Eldora,
who married Benjamin Walsh, of Queensborough;
Fred, who assists his father in the cultivation of
the home farm; John, now at Haverstraw; Mar
tha, Mrs. Andrew J. Light; Harvey and Will
iam, who remain with their parents. Believing
that the principles of the Republican party best
subserve the welfare of the people. Mr. Montross
gives his ballot to that party, both in local and
national elections. For seven years he filled the
position of School Collector, and for three years he
served as Trustee, discharging the duties of these
positions with credit to himself and to the satis
faction of his fellow-citizens.

(TOHN R. HALSTEAD. July 5, 1893, the
I town of Minisink lost in the death of this
(2/ gentleman one of its most worthy citizens,
one who did honorable service in the development
of this locality, and made a home for himself,
gaining a high place among the neighboring
farmers. Here, where he was born April 2, 1831 ,
he grew to a sturdy, self-reliant manhood. His
education was secured in the schools of the earlier
half of the present century, which were not so
fully equipped as those of to-day, and were often
taught by instructors who were not proficient in
their calling.
The son of Joseph and Eliza (Roberts) Hal
stead, our subject was one of seven children, there
being three sons and four daughters. He was
born and reared upon a farm, and was graduated

from Goshen Academy. When only twelve years
of age he began to work, and from that time for
ward was mainly self-supporting. In boyhood
he had evinced a decided preference for the medi
cal profession, and at the age of twenty he went
to New York, and began the study of that
science. Lack of means, however, prevented
him from completing his medical education, and
being obliged to find a ready means of support, he
accepted a clerkship in Unionville, where he re
mained for three years. Later he carried on a
mercantile business in that place, and met with
good success, but after eight years in the enter
prise he sold his stock.
Removing to Meadville, Pa. , Mr. Halstead en
gaged in the planing and lumber mill business,
and was also interested in the coalyards. After
having spent five years in that place, he sold the
business and returned to Unionville, where he
purchased the farm of one hundred acres now
owned by his widow. Some years after his re
turn he purchased a general store in Unionville,
and this he conducted for fifteen years, meantime
also carrying on a fire-insurance business. In
political faith he was a Democrat, and at one
time held the office of Postmaster; also served as
Clerk, and for three years was Supervisor of the
town. Socially he was identified with the Ma
sonic fraternity.
The lady who, May 13, 1863, became the wife
of Mr. Halstead bore the maiden name of Emma
Sayer, and was born and reared in this county.
Six children were born of the marriage, but one
died in infancy; Frank T. died at the age of three
and one-half years; Minnie was taken from earth
December 20, 1893; and Harry died December 9,
1893, aged twenty-two. The only surviving chil
dren are John F. and Mary A. In his career as
a business man, Mr. Halstead manifested shrewd
ness, discretion and an intelligent understanding
of the principles of commerce, coupled with pru
dence and industrious habits. His credit was
always good and his character unimpeachable.
In his wife he had one who zealously aided him
in his work, and to her faithful co-operation and
excellent counsel was attributable much of his
success. She survives him, and holds a promi-

784

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nent place among the cultured ladies of the town.
In the establishment of the Home for Aged Ladies
of Middletown, she was deeply interested, and at
present she is officiating as one of the Board of
Managers.

-*-:

=+

•f^jEORGE W. GREENE, a wagon- maker and
I— blacksmith at Highland Mills, was born in
^>| this place October 16, 1846, and has made
it his home through life, with the exception of the
years when he lived in the neighboring village of
Central Valley. Until a lad of seventeen years
he attended the common schools, after which he
began for himself by working out on farms dur
ing the summer. In the spring of 1862, however,
he began working in his father's blacksmith-shop,
it being his intention to learn the trade. In
1870, after remaining with him for eight years, he
went to Central Valley, taking charge of the
blacksmith department of the large carriage fact
ory of R. F. Weygant. He was in the employ of
that gentleman for a period of twenty years, and
in 1890 returned to his old home in Highland
Mills, assuming charge of the business which
during that time had been conducted by his fa
ther and brother; Since returning here he has
given his attention specially to repair work, job
bing in both iron and wood.
The parents of our subject were Horatio Nel
son and Sarah Ann (Dickens) Greene, the for
mer of whom was born in the town of Monroe,
and the latter at Highland Mills. They are both
now deceased. The grandfather of our subject
was Samuel Greene. His father, Samuel Greene,
and his father-in-law, Mr. Marigold, forged the
great chain which was stretched across the river
at West Point for the purpose of preventing the
passage of British ships. A portion of this chain
is now at Washington's Headquarters at New
burgh, and is regarded as a valuable relic.
In August, 1868, George W. Greene was
united in marriage, in Highland Mills, to Miss
Mary E. Clark, daughter of Moses Clark. Her

death occurred in August, 1869. In December,
1870, he was married to Mary A. Campbell, the
daughter of Archibald and Mary (Weygant)
Campbell, of Highland Mills, the former of whom
was born January 1, 1809, and died May 2, 1879.
His parents were Charles and Isabel (Campbell)
Campbell, natives of Argyleshire, Scotland, who
emigrated to America about 1800, settling on
the eastern side of Pine Hill, near Highland
Mills. The lady who became the third compan
ion of our subject was Miss Frances Greene,
daughter of Henry Greene, of Florida, this coun
ty. By his first marriage Mr. Greene had one
child, who died in infancy. By his marriage
with Miss Campbell he had two children, of
whom Archie departed this life when nineteen
years of age. Jennie is living with her father.
Mr. and Mrs. Greene are devoted members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In social af
fairs he is a Mason of high standing, holding
membership with Standard Lodge No. 711, of
Monroe. He likewise is connected with Central
Valley Lodge No. 502, I. O. O. F.; Schunne-
munk Lodge No. 276, K. of P., at Highland
Mills; and Wawa Tribe No. 235, I. O. R. M., of
Central Valley.
During the late war our subject enlisted in the
Union service at Newburgh, but not being of age
his father compelled him to return home. In
politics he is a Republican, first, last and all
the time, and therefore takes great delight in the
success of his chosen party.

RICHARD A. LAIN. A list ofthe progress
ive farmers of the town of Minisink would
be incomplete without the name of R. A.
Lain, who is esteemed for sturdy virtues of char
acter, and for the display of industry in the cult
ivation of his farm. The one hundred and fifty
acres comprising the property are devoted to the
raising of diversified crops, and afford a very com
fortable support to the owner, who combines the
dairy business with the tilling of the soil. When
he was a young man he often hauled grain and
produce from his farm to Newburgh, the nearest

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

785

market, and from there they were shipped to New
York, the transportation of the goods consuming
two days. There has been a material change,
fortunately, during the past half-century, and he
has been an important factor in bringing about
the present prosperous state of things.
The first member of the Lain family who lo
cated in this county was our subject's grandfather,
William, who came from Long Island about 1770,
settling in the town of Minisink. He was then
about twenty-five years old. His wife was Keziah,
daughter of Increase Mather. On the farm where
he settled at the time of his arrival in the town,
he spent his remaining years, and here he died at
the age of sixty-seven. Among his children was
David, who was born January 20, 1791, on the
home farm in the town of Minisink, and who, in
18 12, married Millicent Aber, also a native of this
town, born in the year 1793; she died April 2,
1836. The parents of our subject had a large family
of children, the fourth of whom died unnamed in
infancy. The others were: Jonathan and John
L-, deceased; Richard A.; Emeline, the wife of
Peter Wintermute; Sarah, Mrs. Jesse Van Fleet;
Gideon O. ; Phoebe A. , who married Dennis Clark,
and both of whom are now deceased; Lebbens L- ;
James; William H. and David M. , the two latter
deceased. The second marriage of David Lain
was to Rhoda Lee, and six children were born of
this union, namely: Millicent A., who became
the wife of Lanson Dun, and is now deceased;
Charles; Caroline; Ira; Victoria; and Mary, the
wife of Ernest Thompson and the only survivor.
The entire life of David Lain was passed on
the farm where he was born, and there he died at
the age of seventy-nine years and five months.
His membership was in the Baptist Church, and
he was a man of deep religious convictions. Suc
cessful in his enterprises, he owned large tracts
of land, and at one time his possessions aggre
gated about eight hundred acres. His son, our
subject, was born on the home farm, February 3,
1818, and grew to manhood in the town of Min
isink. December 12, 1840, he married Miss Caro
line M. Alward, who was born April 20, 1820, in
Sussex County, N. J., being a daughter of Ste

phen and Sarah (Tuthill) Alward. Mr. and
Mrs. Lain became the parents of five children,
namely: Emeline, wife of Milton Terry, of Union
ville; Caroline M., who married Eber L- Brown,
and lives in Minisink; Sarah and Phcebe, deceased;
and Georgianna L. , wife of Charles W. Horton.
The spring of the year following his marriage
Mr. Lain settled upon the farm where he now
lives and upon which he has made all the im
provements. His wife is identified with the
Methodist Church, while he is a member of the
Baptist Church, in which he is serving as Deacon;
both take a deep interest in religious enterprises,
and possess consistent Christian characters. In
early manhood Mr. Lain had the satisfaction of
depositing his ballot for William Henry Harrison,
and nearly a half- century later he voted for the
grandson of that illustrious statesman. Political
ly he is true to Republican principles, which he
believes are for the best good of this country. As
a citizen he is well informed, energetic, and al
ways in favor of enterprises calculated to promote
the general welfare.

<X**** ******** j^************^
HON. ERASTUS STICKNEY, who resides
in the town of Wawayanda, was born 011 the
farm where he still lives, May 4, 18 10, and
is a son of LaFayette and Phoebe (Howell) Stick -
ney, the former a native of Massachusets, and
the latter of New York. They were the parents
of seven children, named as follows: Erastus,
Harriet, John, Charlotte, William, Julia and
Benjamin. The father, who was a man of wide
and deep learning, was by profession an attorney,
and for many years held a position as teacher in
the public schools. His death occurred at the
age of eighty-three years.
In the schools of Orange County the subject of
this sketch received a fair education, though the
advantages they offered at that time were far in
ferior to those of the present day. He grew to
manhood on the home farm, and here he has
spent his entire life, engaged in agricultural pur
suits. When eighteen years of age he com
menced to teach in the neighboring school, and

786

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

continued to follow that profession during the
winter months for a period of eleven years. With
that exception, he has devoted his entire atten
tion to agriculture, of which he has made a suc
cess. In 1836 Mr. Stickney married Miss Lucy R.
Allen, of Sullivan County, and they became the
parents of five children: Charles E., Erastus,
Frances R., Hattie and John. In politics Mr.
Stickney is a Jacksonian Democrat, devoted to
the principles of that party. In 1856 he was
elected a member of the Legislature, and the
manner in which he discharged the duties of that
responsible position was eminently satisfactory to
all. From 1846 to 1879 he served as Justice of
the Peace, and at different times he has held
almost all ofthe elective offices ofthe town. He
owns one hundred and forty acres of land, in a
high state of cultivation, and superintends the
management of his place, though he is now, ow
ing to advancing years, unable to engage active
ly in farm work, as was his custom in former
years. A life-long resident of this county, his
friends are numbered by the hundred, and no
man has a better reputation for honesty and in
dustry than Erastus Stickney.

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EHARLES RIVENBURG, a prominent resi
dent of Central Valley, is an active partner
in the drug store of Leonard & Riveuburg,
and is also School Commissioner of the First Dis
trict. He is a native of this state, having been
born at Mechanicsville, Saratoga County, Decem
ber 1, i860, to Capt. Abram and Anna C. (Weav
er) Rivenburg. His parents were born in Col
umbia County, N. Y., and his father, who was
for twenty years a captain on a river vessel, is now
Postmaster and a merchant of Cheviot, Columbia
County. Capt. Abram was the son of Adam Riven
burg, also ofthe above county. At Mellenville,
that county, the father was the proprietor of a
large wagon-making establishment, and he mar

ried Anna C. Weaver, the daughter of John
Weaver, whose wife bore the maiden name of
Catherine Youghans.
The subject of this sketch was reared to mature
years in Columbia County, whither his father re
moved when he was only two years of age. The
father was engaged as teacher in the academy at
Mechanicsville for many years and was very suc
cessful in this vocation. Charles attended the
village schools until about sixteen years of age,
when he received instruction at home one year
from a private teacher. In 1878 he became a
student in the normal at Albany, taking a course
of eighteen months. After this he was Principal
of the Cheviot school for one year, and was then
hired by a New York firm as head bookkeeper
and cashier. After resigning this position he
taught in the village schools of Hillsdale, Fishkill
and Central Valley until 1893, when he was
elected School Commissioner from the First Dis
trict of Orange County.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Han
nah Emigh took place at Fishkill December 24,
1885. This lady was the daughter of Ward and
Helen (Champlain) Emigh, the former of whom
was a very prominent attorney in the state, and a
graduate of Yale. He was engaged in practice for
many years at Beekman, N. Y. , but at the time of
his decease, in 1872, made his home in Fishkill.
He in turn was the son of George P. and Elizabeth
(Premble) Emigh, natives of Dutchess County,
N. Y., and New Haven, Conn., respectively.
George P. Emigh followed farming all his life,
as did his father, Peter. Helen Champlain was
born in Beekman, Dutchess County, and was
the daughter of Gibbons and Hannah (Merritt)
Champlain, the former born in Beekman, and the
latter in Fishkill. Gibbons was the son of Elisha
and Polly Champlain, and his wife was the
daughter of Stephen Merritt, a wagon-maker by
trade. Mrs. .Rivenburg departed this life July 23,
1895, after a brief illness. Mr. Rivenburg is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as
was his estimable wife. In politics he is a stanch
Republican and never loses an opportunity to cast
a vote in favor of its candidates. Socially he be-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

787

longs to Standard Lodge No. 711, F. & A. M.;
Central Valley Lodge No. 502, I. O. O. F. ;
and Wawa Tribe No. 235, I. O. R. M. He is a
stockholder in the building and loan association,
and also interested in the land improvement com
pany. He combines the business of au insurance
agent and notary public with his duties as School
Commissioner, representing some of the old and
reliable companies of the East.

j*****

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EEORGE ALBERT WALSH is successfully
engaged in the cultivation of a valuable farm
situated in the town of Highland, near the
village of Highland Falls. He is a native of this
town and was born December 9, 1841, on a farm
adjoining his present place. His father, Benja
min, was a son of John and Mary (Parker)
Walsh, and was employed in the manufacture of
furnaces throughout the most of his active busi
ness life. The mother, Harriet, was a daughter
of John and Sarah (James) Clark, and a grand
daughter of - Moses and Phcebe (Lamereux)
Clark. When our subject was a lad of five years he
was taken by his parents to Queensborough, and
there the eleven ensuing years were spent. His
education was carried on for a time in that place,
and later he prosecuted his studies at Kruger's,
four miles from Peekskill. Beginning life for
himself upon attaining his majority, he was em
ployed as a boatman on the Hudson River for
eighteen months, after which for twelve years he
followed teaming. In the spring of 1890 he
came to his present home, where he operates the
valuable farm in which his mother-in-law has a
life interest.
Shortly before the close of the Civil War, Mr.
Walsh enlisted in the Union army, becoming a
member of the Fifty-sixth New York Infantry in
March, 1865. He remained in the service until
October, 1865, when he was honorably dis
charged at Charleston, S. C. He has always
been a promoter of projects calculated to promote
the welfare of his fellow-citizens, and in his polit
ical belief he is a Democrat. At one time he was

identified with the Knights of Honor, but at
present is not actively connected with that organ
ization .
At Highland Falls, March 14, 1867, Mr. Walsh
married Miss Caroline Clark, and they are the
parents of four children: Lillie, who married Al
bert Taylor, a carpenter and builder of Cornwall,
and who has one child; Cassie, who is at home;
Anthony, who is an apprentice to the carpenter's
trade under Albert Taylor; and Harry, who aids
his father on the home farm. Mrs. Walsh is a
daughter of James and Catherine (Vought) Clark,
the former of whom was born in Orange County
in 1790, and died here in 1872. Her mother is a
daughter of Joseph and Amelia (Conklin) Vought,
the former born January 19, 1782, and died in
May, 1827; the latter born October 17, 1786, and
died in March, 1823. By the marriage of James
and Catherine Clark, eleven children were born,
one of whom, James, Jr., is represented on an
other page in this volume. In character Mrs.
Walsh is kind-hearted, genial, accommodating and
hospitable, and she has trained her children for
positions of honor in the social and business
world.

| EWIS POTTER, owner of the "natural
It bridge" farm in the town of Highland, was
|_J born at Ft. Montgomery, August 17, 1825,
and the first fourteen years of his life were passed
in the place of his birth. He then came to For
est of Dean, and for the four ensuing years was
in the employ of Daniel Slosson, upon the farm
which he now owns. As soon as he had a suf
ficient amount saved to warrant independent
action, he began farm work on his own account,
and for a number of years thereafter he rented
farms in Forest of Dean and Ft. Montgomery.
His next venture was the purchase of a yoke of
oxen, and thus equipped he engaged in teaming
for three years, after which he was employed on
the Hudson River for one year, and for two years
tilled the soil in partnership with his brother.
After his marriage Mr. Potter rented a farm

788

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

near Ft. Montgomery, and this place he worked
for nine years on shares. He then was employed
for a year in New Jersey, but the following year
returned home and began the cultivation of the
place where his family had resided during his
absence. On this property, which was situated
near Ft. Montgomery, he engaged in general
agricultural pursuits for three years, and later
rented a farm near the mines for ten years. De
sirous, however, of having property of his own,
in 1873 he bought one hundred and twenty-six
acres, and upon that tract he settled two years
later. He has since added several hundred acres
to the estate, which, under his efficient manage
ment, is one of the most productive farms in the
neighborhood. The place is a very old one, and
one field was cleared and has been in cultivation
since a period antedating the Revolution.
It is worthy of note that our subject's grand
father, Aaron, and great-grandfather Potter were
participants in the Revolutionary struggle, and
took an active part in the battle of Ft. Montgom
ery, where the latter was killed and the former
had part of his ear shot away. For a time after
the Revolution Aaron Potter lived on Long
Island, whence he came to Orange County and
took up a large tract of land near Highland Mills.
After his death his son Thomas, our subject's
father, removed to Ft. Montgomery, and died at
the home of his daughter there. His wife bore
the maiden name of Margaret Weyant, and was
a daughter of Tobias Weyant, of Highland Mills.
The marriage of our subject took place at For
est of Dean, February 16, 1850, at which time he
took as his wife Miss Phcebe, daughter of James
and Catherine (Vought) Clark. Her father, who
was a farmer by occupation, was a son of Moses
Clark. Her mother was a daughter of Joseph
and Amelia (Conklin) Vought, and the latter in
turn was a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Nelson)
Conklin. Henry, father of Joseph Vought, was
a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Mrs.
Potter is the eldest of eleven children, of whom
all but two are living. Our subject was the
eighth among fourteen children, and he and his
brother John M., who was third in order of birth,
are the only survivors.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Potter consisted of
five children, namely: Millie Ann, who married
Thomas Cox and is now deceased; Sarah Jane,
who died in infancy; Jane, wife of George Van
Tassell; Catherine, who passed away in infancy;
and Mary Emma, wife of Fred Holman, a fire
man in an apartment house in New York City.
The latter has one child, Arthur J., a fine lad of
six years. In politics Mr. Potter upholds the
principles of Democracy, and has been prominent
in the local ranks of his party. For thirty years
he has served as Collector, and he has also filled
the position of School Director.

0ANIEL C. BUDD, a self-made man of the
town of Goshen, is the owner of ninety-six-
acres of productive land, which he largely
devotes to dairy farming, finding this branch of
agriculture to be a very profitable one. His birth
occurred in the town of Goshen, April 17, 1853,
and he was the eldest of the household of John
N. and Phebe C. (Case) Budd, both of whom
were also born in this county, where they spent
their entire lives. The father was a well-to-do
farmer, and although quiet and unassuming in
manner, took a prominent part in advancing the
agricultural interests of his community. At his
death, which occurred in 1868, he was universal
ly mourned, for in him the county lost one of its
best residents. Mrs. Budd preceded him to the
grave by many years, dying November 27, 1855,
when our subject was only two years of age. He
first attended the schools taught in his district
after which he became a student in the academy
at Monticello.
After completing his education, our subject re
turned to the home farm and gave his attention
to learning the details of conducting a farm . Upon
reaching his majority he began for himself, and
as a result of investing his means in land from
time to time, he is now the owner of a tract
of nearly one hundred acres, which is productive
and well cared for. On this may be found a large

WILLIAM A. LAWRENCE.

W. A. LAWRENCE & SON, NEUFCHATEL AND CREAM CHEESE FACTORY,

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BROOK VIEW FARM, THE PROPERTY OF W. A. LAWRENCE,
One-Fourth Mile North oe West Chester, on Goshen Road, Orange County, N. Y.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

793

herd of milch cows, Mr. Budd making a special
ty of dairying. He was married in 1879 to Miss
Fannie E. Wickham, the daughter of Albert and
Harriet (Budd) Wickham, natives of this state.
Mr. and Mrs. Budd are the parents of two chil
dren: Etta Elizabeth, born October 26, 1880, and
Mary Wickham, February 27, 1882. They are
bright and interesting children, and are pursuing
their studies in the public schools. Our subject
and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
Church at Goshen, and take an active part in
both religious and benevolent work. In politics
the former is a Republican. He is a man who
stands well with every class in the neighborhood
and is one of the town's most substantial and
progressive residents.

ILLIAM A. LAWRENCE, Mayor of
Chester, and one of her best business men, is
the senior member of the firm of Lawrence
& Durland, the largest manufacturers of the
' ' Neufchatel ' ' and ' ' Star ' ' brands of cream
cheese in the United States. Mr. Lawrence has
been engaged in this business since he was a
young man of twenty years, and is therefore well
posted in every detail of the work required in the
manufacture of these fine brands of cheese, which
find a ready market in this and other countries
of the globe. Mr. Lawrence is very enterprising
and capable in a commercial sense, and has been
the architect of his own fortune.
Our subject was born in Florida, N. Y., Janu
ary 29, 1842, and was the fourth of the eight
children comprising the household of Thomas
and Sarah (Randall) Lawrence, natives of the
town of Warwick. The father worked at his
trade of a carpenter for many years, and was
afterward interested in a sawmill. Upon dispos
ing of this business he engaged in farming, in
which venture he was remarkably successful for
one embarking in it so late in life. He was a
quiet and unassuming man, and died in 1852.
His wife is still living, and, although quite ad
vanced in years, enjoys excellent health.
Thomas Lawrence emigrated with his family to
35

Michigan some time in the '40s, and it was at
Niles, that state, that his death occurred. A short
time thereafter the mother returned to her native
home with her children, and has here continued
to live ever since. William A. first attended
school at Florida, N. Y., and subsequently car
ried on his studies at Vernon, N. J. After that,
or until attaining his twentieth year, he worked
on the farm, but not finding this occupation to be
a congenial one, he engaged in the manufacture
of cheese at Chester. The business grew rapidly,
and to-day Lawrence & Durland are known
throughout the United States as the makers of
two excellent brands of cheese. Their sales the
last year amounted to $120,000, which indicates
in some manner the extent of their enterprise.
September 12, 1861, Mr. Lawrence was mar
ried to Miss S. Theresa Holbert, the daughter of
James and Susan (Drake) Holbert, natives of this
county. To our subject and his wife was born
a son, Theodore F. , who is now associated with
his father in business, being a very valuable as
sistant. Mrs. Theresa Lawrence died May 24,
1871, and June 13, 1872, our subject chose for
his second companion Mrs. Mary (May) Mur
ray, whose birth occurred in New Jersey. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are members in excellent
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and in this body the former has been Trustee for
many years. Socially he is a Mason of high
standing, having passed the blue lodge, chapter
and Knight-Templar degrees. He is very prom
inent in the fraternity, and is well known to the
many noted men who are connected with this
body in the United States. He is a Democrat in
politics and in favor of protecting home indus
tries. Although a very busy man and never aspiring
to office, Mr. Lawrence has been complimented
by the people of Chester, who have elected him
to various positions of honor, among them being
Mayor of the village, which office he has occu
pied since the organization of the village under a
city charter in 1893. He is a man who is highly
esteemed by all who know him, for he has always
been honest and upright in his dealings with all
and greatly interested in the welfare of his com-

794

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

munity. In the office of Justice of the Peace,
which he is now filling, he gives entire satisfaction
by the efficient maimer in which he discharges
his duties. In manner he is genial, cordial and
kind-hearted, and thus readily makes friends.

^m

?A.

flLLIAM KNIGHT SMITH, who for many
years prior to his death was identified
with the farming interests of the town of
Monroe, was born there August 23, 1829, and
died November 16, 1892. His boyhood years
were spent on a farm, and in the intervals of
work on the home place he attended the neigh
boring schools. Having learned the carpenter's
trade, he followed that occupation, and after some
years became a contractor and builder. In Bell-
vale, and later in Brooklyn, he was employed at
his trade, and in the latter city he married. Upon
returning to this county he purchased, in 1855, a
farm that adjoins the present homestead, but
twelve years later he sold that place and bought
one hundred and thirty acres of land, where he
continued to reside until his death, and there his
widow still remains.
The parents of our subject, David C. and
Cornelia (Conklin) Smith, were among the
earliest settlers of the Upper Clove. The father
was a son of David and Abbie (Clark) Smith,
aud the latter a daughter of David and Fannie
(Knight) Conklin. During his residence in
Brooklyn, February 9, 1854, William K. Smith
was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Ann
Stansbury, who was born in Peekskill, N. Y.
When she was a girl of twelve years her parents,
Lorenzo D. and Sarah P. (Valentine) Stansbury,
moved to Brooklyn, where her father was en
gaged as an architect and builder, an occupation
that seems to have been a favorite one in the fam
ily for many generations back.
Lorenzo D. Stansbury was a son of John and
Rachel Stansbury, and his wife was a daughter
of John and Ann (Fosdick) Valentine. The
maternal grandfather of Mrs. Smith, Mr. Valen
tine, was born in Flushing, L- L, and was im
pressed by the British into their army during the

Revolutionary War. At the earliest opportunity
he escaped to American lines, and going to Gen
eral Washington offered to serve for his own
country. It was a hazardous undertaking, as he
did not know but that he might be executed for
wearing British uniform, but his offer was ac
cepted and he entered the Colonial ranks. He
served in a cavalry regiment for seven years and
six months, and was honorably discharged at
the close of the war, after which he returned to
Long Island.
The wife of this Revolutionary hero was born
at Oyster Bay, L. I., in 1764, and died Septem
ber 16, 1827. She was one of six children born
to Samuel Fosdick, Jr., and his first wife, Deb
orah, daughter of Morris and Deborah Shadbolt,
the former of whom was a man of prominence in
Colonial days. Mr. Fosdick was born in New
London, Conn., March 11, 1710, and was eight
years old when his father moved to Charlestown,
Mass., and twenty when he settled at Oyster
Bay, L- I. His occupation was that of a car
penter and builder.
Samuel Fosdick, Sr., was born in New London,
Conn., September 16, 1684. His first wife, the
mother of Samuel, Jr., was known in maiden
hood as Susanna Turner, and died in Charles
town. After removing to Oyster Bay he again
married. He was the first member of the Fos
dick family who settled on Long Island. His fa
ther, Capt. Samuel Fosdick, was born at Charles
town, Mass., December 15, 1655, and in 1680
moved to New London. He married Mercy,
daughter of John and Ruth (Brewster) Pickett,
and granddaughter of Benjamin Brewster, whose
father, Jonathan, was a son of Elder William
Brewster, of "Mayflower' ' fame. Captain Fosdick
served as a subaltern in King Philip's War, and
was actively connected with the militia, gaining
in that way the title by which he was usually
known. During the years 1694-96-97-98 and
1700 he served as a Deputy iu the General Court
from New London.
The Captain's father, John, was born in Eng
land in 1626, was a carpenter by trade, and
must have been a resident of Maiden for a time,
as the records mention "Fosdick of Maiden."

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

795

All but about two years of his life in America
were spent at New London, where he married
Ann, daughter of Stephen and Ann Shapleigh.
His father, Stephen Fosdick, was born in Lin
colnshire, England, in 1583, and like many of
his descendants he was a builder by trade. Al
though a Quaker, he was received as a citizen by
the people of New London at a time when the
members of his sect were everywhere undergoing
persecution. Four children were born to the union of our
subject and his wife. The eldest, Sarah E., is
the widow of J. T. Earl, and lives at Washing
tonville; Lorenzo D., the next in order of birth,
died many years ago; Fannie C. is the wife of The
odore Weygant,- Jr. , a bookkeeper for the Ramapo
Iron Company at Hillburn, Rockland County;
and the youngest, Flora, an accomplished young
lady, makes her home with her mother, for
whom she affectionately cares in her declining
years. Mrs. Smith is identified with the Method
ist Episcopal Church, while her husband always
inclined to the Presbyterian faith, in which he
was reared. He was interested in all matters
pertaining to the welfare of his community, but
especially iu educational affairs, and rendered ef
ficient service as School Trustee for many years.

$+£

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QHARLES CLARK, a farmer residing iu the
1 C town of Highland, near the village of High-
V.J land Falls, was born near Ft. Montgomery,
October 16, 1858. He is the son of John S. and
Susan (Mulloy) Clark, both 'of whom were born
near Forest of Dean, and who were married April
23> l853- The paternal grandparents, Isaac and
Miriam (Swim) Clark, were natives, respectively,
of Ft. Montgomery and Queensborough Forge,
and the former was a son of Moses and Phoebe
(Lamereux) Clark.
The Lamereux family originated in France and
was of noble Huguenot blood. Phoebe was a
daughter of Peter and Phoebe (Wood) Lamereux,
the former a member of that devoted Huguenot
band who suffered persecution and exile from the
land of their birth. So sudden was their depart

ure, on account of the great peril that threatened
their lives, that they left their lights burning in
their houses and fled at night, leaving their large
estates to be confiscated by their persecutors. On-
settling in America, Peter Lamereux became an
enthusiastic adherent of Colonial principles, and
on the outbreak of the Revolution he cheerfully
gave his entire property to help in carrying on
the war. The place upon which he lived he mort
gaged, and it was several years before he released
it from debt. For supplies furnished the army
he received pay in continental money, which, be
ing worthless, he gave to the children to play
with and they destroyed it. In after years all
money of that denomination was redeemed, but
he of course was unable to derive any benefit from
this offer.
Our subject's grandmother, Miriam, was a
daughter of John and Polly (Sheldon) Swim, and
on her father's side she was of French descent.
Susan Mulloy, mother of our subject, was a daugh
ter of Daniel and Hannah (Davenport) Mulloy,
natives, respectively, of Greene and Orange Coun
ties, the latter having been born near the village
of Monroe. Daniel Mulloy was a son of John and
Susan (Wooding) Mulloy, while his wife was a
daughter of Robert and Susannah (Lamoreux)
Davenport, born, respectively, at Highland Mills
and Central Valley. Robert Davenport worked
on the walls around old Ft. Putnam, overlooking
West Point. He was appointed Lieutenant, and
took part in the battle of Ft. Montgomery and
was wounded in that engagement. The family
of Daniel and Hannah Mulloy consisted of three
children, namely: Charles D., who resides near
Central Valley; Susan, the mother of our subject;
and Emily, who married Andrew Hallet, of
Stroudsburg, Pa. The family of which our sub
ject is a member consists of four children, named
as follows: Minetta Frances, who married E.
Pierce Clonan, superintendent of a mine; Han
nah, wife of George H. Pascoe, of Hopewell Junc
tion, N. Y.; Charles and Delaphine.
Receiving in boyhood' years excellent educa
tional advantages, Mr. Clark utilized these by
teaching school, which profession he followed for
five terms. Of it he has made a success, and be-

796

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing deeply interested in educational matters, he
has been selected to serve as School Trustee for
three terms in succession. He makes his home
on the old farm, and his mother and sister reside
with him. Politically he advocates Republican
principles, and takes a warm interest in local af
fairs. Since January, 1891, he has served as
Justice of the Peace. Socially he is identified
with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to Onda-
ora Lodge No. 305, at Highland Falls.
S-"5S*S^£22_

61 NDREW H. MERRITT, a veteran of the
LA late war, and a farmer in the town of Wood-
/ I bury, was born in the town of Blooming
Grove, on the 19th of December, 1835. His edu
cation was limited to a brief attendance at the
public schools prior to the age of twelve years,
after which he gave his attention wholly to work.
Though he continued to make his home with his
father, he was employed principally by others.
When fifteen he 'began an apprenticeship to the
carpenter's trade, which he became thoroughly
familiar with. Upon attaining his majority he
went to Illinois and spent two years in Whiteside
County, being engaged principally at his trade.
After the panic of 1857, the work decreased to
such an extent that he abandoned the occupation,
and secured a position on a farm.
After his return to New York, Mr. Merritt
lived with his father and worked at his trade un
til 1862. On the 22d of August of that year, he
enlisted at Washingtonville in Company G, One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry,
under Colonel Ellis. He served for a period of
two years and ten months, until the close of the
war, and was honorably discharged, June 2, 1865.
His service was mostly in Virginia, with the
Army ofthe Potomac. Among the engagements
in which he participated were those of Fredericks
burg, Chancellorsville, Beverly Ford, Gettysburg,
Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Poe River,
Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold
Harbor, siege of Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Boyd-
ton, Hatcher's Run, capture of Petersburg, Sail
or's Creek and Lee's surrender at Appomattox,

besides a number of skirmishes which, though of
less importance, were equally perilous to life. He
was fortunate in escaping injury, though at one
time he was slightly wounded by a piece of shell
striking his wrist.
When the war was ended, Mr. Merritt returned
to his father's home and helped in the farm work.
Soon he married, after which he worked at his
trade until September, 1866, and then bought a
tract of one hundred and forty-two acres. Of
this he has since sold eighty acres, and upon the
remainder he raises fruits and vegetables, hav
ing one of the best garden-truck farms of the
town. The father of our subject, Caleb Merritt, was
born in the town of New Windsor, May 10, 1800,
and throughout life followed principally the trade
of a cooper, dying at the age of seventy-nine. He
married Charity Taylor, who was born in the
town of Blooming Grove in 1802, and died in
1865. Twelve children comprised their family,
named as follows: John M., deceased; Ann Eliza,
who married Peter Conklin; Francis. E., who
lives at Monroe; Hannah, wife of Thomas Alex
ander, of Washingtonville; William E., a resi
dent of Blooming Grove; Harriet A., Mrs. An
drew J. Thompson, deceased; Andrew H. , of
this sketch; James M., a resident of New York
City; Sarah Jane, who died in childhood; Heze
kiah, of Blooming Grove; Sarah Jane, Mrs. Ru
dolph Fourch, who lives in Clinton, Conn.; and
Alexander, whose home is in Middletown. The
paternal grandfather, Daniel Merritt, married a
Miss Hulse, and was a cooper by trade, though
when advanced in years he turned his attention
to raising fruit, which he shipped to New York.
He died about 1845.
December 27, 1865, Mr. Merritt married Miss
Elizabeth M. Clark, a native of New York City,
where her parents, Thomas R. and Amelia
(Smith) Clark, were also born. She was one of a
large family, and lost her parents and a number
of her brothers and sisters during the cholera
epidemic in 1849. The only child of Mr. and
Mrs. Merritt, Charles E., was born January 8,
1868, and married, May 8, 1889, Miss America
Earl, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Conklin)

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

797

Earl, deceased. Four children were born to them,
ofwhom three daughters are living, Ethel, Laura
and Ada. In religious belief Mrs. Merritt is con
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, to
which our subject is a liberal contributor. Politi
cally he is a pronounced Republican, and socially
belongs to the American Mechanics' Lodge No.
59, at Monroe. In addition to raising fruit and
vegetables, he takes great interest in poultry, and
owns an incubator which has proved a remark
able success. He is an energetic, enterprising
man, and is highly regarded by the people ofthe
town.

(I ESSE C. BROWN, who is engaged in farm-
I ing on a valuable place located two miles
(2/ north of Central Valley, was born on the old
homestead adjoining his property, April 5, 1839.
This former tract, which is ninety-five acres in
extent, was granted to the great-great-grand
father of our subject in 1774 by King George of
England, and on it all the sons of the family have
been born from that time down to our subject.
Jacob Brown, Sr. , the gentleman above referred
to, was the father of Jacob, Jr. , who was the great
grandfather of our subject. His son was Jesse
Brown, who in turn became the father of Samuel.
The latter, who was the father of our subject, lived
to be sixty-six years old, dying in March, 1876.
He followed farming all his life, and with the
exception of two years always lived on the home
farm. After his father's death his mother moved
to Croton, Westchester County, in order that he
might have better educational advantages, and
there he lived for two years. Samuel Brown and
his father were Quakers, and consequently were
very much opposed to war. In the parental fam
ily were three children, our subject's brother and
sister being David T. aud Euphemia, both of
whom are deceased.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the
home farm and attended school until nineteen
years of age. He then spent one year as a stu
dent in the Macedon Academy, near Rochester,

and the following winter attended Cornell's In
stitute at Highland Mills. He then returned
home and engaged in farming with his father on
shares until 1866, when he assumed the full con
trol of the work. After his father's death he
built his present fine residence, which gave ac
commodation to summer boarders until recently.
At the present time the house is occupied solely
by the members of Mr. Brown's family. In 1892
he sold a portion ofthe old homestead, which had
been in the family for over one hundred years,
reserving to himself one hundred and thirty acres,
which he devotes mainly to dairy farming.
Mr. Brown was married, October 26, 1866, in
Westchester County, to Miss Mary E. Hallock, a
native of England and the adopted daughter of
Samuel Hallock. Her father, a Mr. Page, came
to America about 1836 or 1837 and soon after
ward died. To our subject and his wife there
have been born four children: Alfred H., a baker
of Central Valley, this county; Euphemia, the
wife of Sidney B. Cornell, of the town of Wood
bury; Arthur J. and David T., at home. Mr.
and Mrs. Brown are members of the Society of
Friends. Nevertheless the former volunteered
his services during the late war, going to New
burgh to enlist, but was not accepted on account
of a disabled arm. Mr. Brown is a true-blue Re
publican in politics, and although often urged by
his friends to hold office, has always refused to do
so, with the exception of filling the. position of
Commissioner of Highways for several terms.
He is a wide-awake, practical farmer and is meet
ing with success in his chosen vocation.

'HEODORE WEYGANT, who is a wagon-
maker at Highland Mills, was born near
this place September 13, 1828, and is a son
of Smith and Charity (Lamoreaux) Weygant,
the former a native of Highland Mills, and the
latter of Central Valley. When a young man,
Smith Weygant was a merchant, but later he
learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for
a few years, and subsequently was connected with
his brother in a furnace at Woodbury Falls.

798

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Thence he moved to a farm near Central Valley,
and was engaged in lumbering until his death.
He was the son of Francis and Rachel (Earl)
Weygant, both of whom were born near Highland
Mills. The great-grandfather of our subject, and
the father of Francis, was John Weygant. He
married Mary Polly, who was a native of Orange
County, where also his birth occurred.
The Earls and Weygants were among the ear
liest families of Orange County, and the home of
our subject is a part of the land originally taken
up by the Earls, it having been in the family for
over two hundred years. Smith and Charity
Weygant were the parents of eight children:
Mary, wife of Anthony D. Vail, of Kansas;
Theodore, our subject; Daniel, who died in in
fancy; Susan, wife of James W. Jackson, of
Plainfield, N. J.; John Wesley, who died in early
manhood in Florida; Fletcher S., of Central Val
ley; Hannah, widow of Henry T. Cromwell, of
Highland Mills; and Robert Francis, of Central
Valley. When less than a year old, Theodore Wey
gant was taken by his parents to Woodbury
Falls, where the family lived four years, remov
ing thence to Central Valley. He went to school
irregularly during his minority, and when about
twenty years old attended school west of where
Central Valley now stands. His father owned a
mountain tract where charcoal was made, and
he was employed hauling this to iron furnaces.
He remained home until his marriage in 1853,
but for several years prior to this had been doing
for himself, learning the wagon-maker's trade.
In the spring of 1853 he went to New York City,
where he remained about three months, working
at his trade. He then returned to his old home
and has lived within a mile of his birthplace ever
since. For one year he worked in a shop on his
father's place, and in the spring of 1854 came to
his present place of business, and for over forty-
one years has been serving the neighborhood as
a manufacturer and repairer of wagons, carriages
and farming implements.
Theodore Weygant and Miss Frances Bennett
were united in marriage, February 3, 1853. She
is a native of the town of Warwick, having been

born about a mile and a-half from Bellvale, and
is the daughter of Peter and Margaret (Horton)
Bennett. Her paternal grandfather came from
what was known as the old Saw Works, in Or
ange County, where he owned property, but later
traded this for property near Warwick. Frances
was fifth in a family of seven daughters and two
sons born to her parents. Ten children blessed
the union of our subject and wife, eight of whom
are now living: Charles H., residing near Mid
dletown; Smith, who died in his third year;
Margaret, now the wife of Charles Case, of Hack
ensack, N. J.; Theodore, who lives in Hillburn,
Rockland County; Minnie, at home; Wilbur, who
died in his second year; Lizzie, who married
Ernest Shroeder, of Los Angeles, Cal. ; George
employed at Summit Lake House, near Central
Valley; Roxanna, who married Albert B. Park-
man, General Superintendent of the Overman
Wheel Company, of Chicopee Falls, Mass.; and
Howard, at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Weygant are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Highland Mills.
In politics he has always been an uncompromis
ing Republican. For a number of years he was
a School Director, aud is now serving as Collector
for the school district. Few men are better
known in the neighborhood than Theodore Wey
gant and none is more highly respected.

(JOSEPH HENRY EARL, a resident of High-
I land Mills, was born here January 7, 1847, and
Q) is a son of Alexander and Melinda (Thorn)
Earl. His paternal grandparents were Jeremiah
and Bushby (Weeks) Earl, the latter being a
daughter of Jesse Weeks. The maternal grand
parents were Amos and Elizabeth (Mackay)
Thorn, the former a son of Jesse and Polly Thorn.
Both Amos Thorn and Jeremiah Earl were sol
diers in the War of 18 12, and defended the inter
ests of our country on many a stubbornly contest
ed battlefield.
The family of which our subject is a member
consisted of ten children, one of whom died un
named iu infancy. The others are: Bathsheba

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

799

Ann, Elizabeth T. , Joseph Henry, Amos, Wheel
er, Edgar,- Charles, Sanford and Jessie. Prior
to the age of eighteen our subject was a student
in the schools of Highland Mills and Central Val
ley, though some years before that he had begun
to be self-supporting. Beginning for himself
when thirteen, he worked on a farm by the day
until 1872, after which he engaged in teaming for
thirteen years. In 1885 he returned to Highland
Mills, where he has since been employed on a
farm. At Highland Mills, October 6, 1868, Mr. Earl
married Miss Phoebe A. Howell, who was born at
Goshen, being a daughter of George and Julia
Ann (Mapes) Howell, and a granddaughter, on
her mother's side, of Joshua and Phoebe (Beach)
Mapes. She was the only daughter of her par
ents, who had two sons, William H. H. and
Charles Ezra. Her marriage has been blessed
by the birth of seven children, of whom three sur
vive, George Henry, Melinda Ann and Mary
Frances. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Earl are
identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
His first ballot was cast for Grant, and from that
time to this he has never failed to support the
Republican candidate for the Presidency.

_*=)

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$+$

("""""""L

P GJlLLIAM J. SLY, Justice of the Peace of
\A/ *-he town of Warwick, is a native of the
V V town, and was born in 1828 to James C.
and Eliza (Howell) Sly, who were also natives
of this town. The father followed the calling of
a farmer during his life, and was a man highly
esteemed in the community in which he so long
resided. That his fellow-citizens reposed confi
dence in him was shown by his repeated election
to local office. He died in 1889, when eighty-
five years of age. The mother is yet living, at
the advanced age of ninety years.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
his native town, and at an early age was com
pelled to do his share of the farm work. His
education was obtained at a district school. In
November, 1856, he was married to Miss Sarah J.
Nanny, of Orange County, who died December

25, 1880. On the 1 8th of October, 1882, Mr.
Sly married Elizabeth F. Seeley, who is also a
native of this town. Three children survive this
marriage: Almeda T., William J. and Roberta,
all yet remaining under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Sly is a Democrat, and has
served his town in several local positions. He is
now filling his second term as Justice of the Peace,
in which he has always given great satisfaction,
and he brings hard common-sense to bear on such
cases as may be brought before him. The Squire
is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Amity,
in which body he long held the office of an Elder.
Strong in the faith, he endeavors to walk in the
footsteps of his Master, doing good as the op
portunity is afforded him. Mrs. Sly is also a
member of the Presbyterian Church, and in its
teachings takes great delight.
Squire Sly is one of the representative farmers
of Orange County. Having lived upon a farm
all his life, he is not only a theoretical, but a
practical farmer, as well as one who thoroughly
understands his business. He is a fond husband,
indulgent parent, accommodating neighbor and
valued citizen.

gEORGE CROMWELL, a lumber and coal
merchant of Highland Mills, was born in
this village August 7, 1855, and is the
youngest son of Joshua T. Cromwell, who set
tled iu the village in the year 1835 Our subject
grew to manhood in his native village, attending
the public schools until about thirteen years of
age. He then attended the private school of Eg
bert Cary, at Poughkeepsie, two winters, going
from there to Chappaqua, where he attended the
Quaker Seminary for two winters. In 1872 he
was appointed telegraph operator, express and
station agent at Highland Mills, which position
he held for twenty years. In 1888 he was ap
pointed Postmaster of this place, serving four
years. He resigned the railroad position in

8oo

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1892 in order that he might give his exclusive
attention to his lumber and coal and farming-im
plement business.
George Cromwell and Miss Annie E. Hunter
were united in marriage on the 16th of Octo
ber, 1878, at Monroe, of which place she is a
native. She is a daughter of Levi and Louisa
(Clark) Hunter, the former a native of Orange
County, and the latter of Ulster County. Levi
Hunter was a son of Levi, Sr., and Annie Hun
ter, and Louisa Clark was a daughter of Archi
bald and Annie Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Levi Hun
ter were the parents of nine children : Ella, the
widow of Phineas R. Hudson; William and Al
bert, deceased; Emma, wife of William Suther
land, of Monroe; Annie, wife of our subject; Ida,
wife of John Deming, of Paterson, N. J.; Phineas
and Charles, both of Paterson; and Carrie, the
wife of Frank Magennis, of New Mexico.
To our subject and his wife have been born
seven children, Joshua T., Louise H., George,
Elsie S., Elwood W., Sarah T. and Frank M.
Mr. Cromwell is a member of the Friends' Church
(Hicksite), while Mrs. Cromwell occasionally at-'
tends the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politi
cally he is a stanch Republican. He is a mem
ber of the Board of Health, and has also served
his time as an active member of the School
Board. For ten years he has been a notary pub
lic. He is also a charter member of Schunne-
munk Lodge No. 276, K. of P., of Highland
Mills, of which he is a Trustee.

3 AMES E. POUGH. Among the wide-awake
and enterprising business men of Montgom
ery whose names are scattered through the
pages of this volume, none is more worthy of
mention than the gentleman whose name heads
this brief biographical notice. His birth occurred
on the 30th of November, 1830, in Montgomery,
and he is the youngest in a family of seven chil
dren, three sons and four daughters, born to
Frederick and Elizabeth (Eisenberg) Pough.
On leaving the home farm, our subject served
au apprenticeship of two and a-half years to the

carpenter's trade. After his father's death his
mother removed to New York City, where she
remained for three years, when she returned to
Montgomery, making her home here until her
death. Our subject remained at home with his
mother, and after learning his trade for about
nine years worked as a journeyman, after which
he began contracting. He is a practical archi
tect, and has erected some of the most substantial
buildings of this village, including the school-
house. His work gives general satisfaction, and
his part of a contract is always religiously ful
filled. On the 8th of May, 1859, Mr. Pough was
united iu marriage with Miss Sarah Jane Caswell,
daughter of John R. and Corlinda (Van Arsdall)
Caswell, and she was born in Montgomery. Her
mother was a daughter of Richard and Catherine
(Rockafeller) Van Arsdall, and a cousin of Mr.
Pough' s mother, Elizabeth Eisenberg. By his
union our subject became the father of eleven
children. Odell S. died at the age of twenty-one
years; George, Warren and Minnie died in child
hood, within five days of one another; Eugene is
employed with his father; Carrie L-, a graduate
of the academy, has taught for five years, and is
now teaching near Walden; Anna B. is at home;
Ada died in infancy; and Homer and Jennie are
still attending school.
Formerly Mr. Pough supported the Democracy ;
later, on account of his temperance principles, he
became a Prohibitionist, but now votes indepen
dent of party ties, although his principles have
not changed. He is now serving as one of the
Village Trustees, in which capacity he has served
before. He and his wife are people of high con
sideration in social circles in this community,
and are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. For thirty years he has been connected
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He
is a keen, practical man, well gifted with mental
and physical vigor.
The Rockafeller family, to which Mrs. Pough
belongs, dates back about as early as any in the
county. Two brothers,. Christian and John Rock
afeller, came from Germany and settled in Or
ange County, N. Y., about 1740, the former

IS8B5ti*8tli

JOSHUA WARD OSTROM, M.D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

803

locating in the village of Montgomery, then
known as West Camp, but the latter made his
home in East Camp, now Esopus, Ulster County.
Christian, who was a blacksmith by trade, prob
ably opened the first shop of that kind in the
town of Montgomery, and here his death occurred
at the age of eighty-one. His son, John Rocka
feller, secured the old farm, owning about eight
hundred acres. He wedded Miss Crist, also of
an old family, and she owned property, as her
parents were quite wealthy. He died at about
the age of eighty-one years, leaving a daughter,
Charity, who became the wife of Uriah Johnson,
a soldier in the Revolutionary War, in which he
served for a year and a-half, when he was taken
ill, and, being sent home, died there at the end
of three months. His widow later became the
wife of Christian Eisenberg, who, with his broth
er John, was a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany.
They were pressed into military service, being
hired by King George of England during the
Revolutionary War. They were among the Hes
sians who served the British during that struggle,
but at its close Christian Eisenberg drifted into
Orange County, where he met and married Mrs.
Johnson. They remained upon the Rockafeller
farm, where her death occurred at the age of
eighty-three years, and his at the age of fifty-
five. Their third daughter, Elizabeth Eisenberg,
married Frederick Pough, the father of our sub
ject. One of La Fayette's soldiers, coming from
France after the Revolution, located in Phila
delphia, where he married Miss Hensler, and as
the result of this marriage Frederick Pough was
born. When about twenty years of age he was
apprenticed to a potter. One night he left a pot of
glazing fluid open upon a bench, and during the
night his employer, looking for something to
drink, found the fluid, which he swallowed, not
knowing what it was, and the next morning was
found dead. Threatened by arrest for his care
lessness, Frederick left, coming to Orange Coun
ty, where he later married the mother of our
subject. The name was first spelled Fought,
later the "t" was dropped, it becoming Fough,
but it afterward was changed to Pough, and now

some of the family use the modern spelling of
Puff. The father used the last mode from about
1818 until his death, which occurred in 1836, at
the age of fifty-three years. His wife was eighty-
one years of age at the time of her death.

G:

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-c.

(JOSHUA WARD OSTROM, M.D. In re-
I viewing the life of Dr. Ostrom one is reminded
(2/ ofthe saying, "How long we have lived, not
years but actions tell," for even when we take
into consideration the fact that he is the oldest
physician in point of years of practice in Orange
County, the length of his life seems increased by
the good deeds, helpful words and generous acts
which he has cast over the lives of others with
prodigal hand. His financial success is but the
sign of the faithfulness with which he has en
deavored to help his fellow-men, and his many
friends warmly appreciate the beauty of his life
and the potency of his example.
The Doctor is a native of this state, where he
has always made his home, and his birth occurred
in Marlboro, Ulster County, July 10, 1814. He
is the son of Rev. James I. Ostrom, who was born
in Dutchess County, N. Y., in which place the
grandfather was also born. The Doctor's father
was a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and
continued preaching in Marlboro until retiring
from the ministry. His death occurred when he
had nearly reached the age of ninety years.
The wife of Rev. J. I. Ostrom was before her
marriage Elizabeth Ward, the daughter of Col.
Joshua Ward, who made his home in Pleasant
Valley, Dutchess County. The Ward family
was of English descent, and Colonel Ward gained
his title in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Os
trom was the mother of ten children, only one
of whom is now living. Of this family the Doc
tor is the next to the eldest, and, as has been said,
the only survivor.
The early years of our subject's life were
passed in Marlboro, and there he began his edu
cation. Subsequently the family removed to Sa-

804

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lina, N. Y., and in that city he attended Fairfield
Academy, and later graduated from Fairfield Col
lege. Upon completing his college education he
spent some time reading medicine under Dr. Rob
ert Smith, finally entering the medical college at
Castleton, Vt., where he remained only one year.
He then went to New York City and became em
ployed in a drug store, and at the same time
pursued his studies under Dr. Bedford, one of the
professors of the New York Medical College.
After spending some time in the store he entered
the college, from which he graduated in 1839,
with the degree of M. D.
Coming to Goshen that year, Dr. Ostrom began
the practice of medicine and has remained here
continuously since. As before stated, he has been
very successful, both from a financial and profes
sional standpoint, and has never been away from
the city for a period exceeding four days and
nights, and then only when called away by duties
relating to his profession. At the time of his
coming to this place the city was a mere hamlet,
and it has been his pleasant duty to aid in its de
velopment and advance its interests. He soon
gained a good practice, which has grown with
the growth ofthe city.
For twelve years after beginning practice Dr.
Ostrom was a believer in allopathic treatment,
but since that time he has used homeopathic
methods. When it was decided to locate the state
asylum at Middletown, the Doctor was very act
ive in the plans for its erection, and was ap
pointed one of its first Trustees, in which office he
has since continued to serve. He was at one time
President of the board, receiving his appoint
ment from the Governor of the state. He built
the beautiful residence which he now occupies and
which is located on South Street, surrounded by
beautiful grounds, the tract including twelve
acres. He also owns the building on Main Street
in which his office is located.
The first marriage of Dr. Ostrom occurred in
Goshen December 1, 1840, aud united him with
Miss Emily Charlotte Gedney, daughter of Dr.
Gedney, of Newburgh. She died March 24, 1879,
leaving five children. Charlotte married Rev.
Mr. Couant, who is an Episcopal minister of Mill-

ersville, N. Y. Gunning S. Bedford, who was a
merchant of this city, died April 26, 1888, at the
age of forty-four years. Eliza became the wife of
Mr. Van Amee, who is an attorney of Middle-
town. Annie is the wife of Rev. Mr. Dowes, an
Episcopal minister of New York City; and Dr.
Homer I. is a prominent practicing physician of
New York City. He is a graduate of the New
York Medical College and has been very success
ful in the practice of his profession.
Emma Gertrude Lu Gar, widow of the late Ed
gar T. Lu Gar, of New York, became the second
wife of our subject, and their marriage occurred
in Newburgh April 26, 1881. Mrs. Ostrom, who
was born in New York City, is the daughter of
the late Prof. L. A. Benjamin, of that city. By
her former husband she had two children, only
one of whom is living, May G. T. Lu Gar, who
is residing with her mother. Of our subject's
second marriage one child, Frank Ward, was
born. The Doctor is a faithful and active mem
ber of the Presbyterian Church and is ever fore
most in her good works. Politically he is a
stanch Republican and has held positions of pub •
lie trust. He has been Trustee of the village of
Goshen and was President of the board for three
years. He is a member of the Orange County
Medical Society, of which he was President for
two terms and in the workings of which he took
an active part until retiring from the more oner
ous duties of his profession. Known and esteemed
by all, he is passing his declining days in the
peace and comfort of the knowledge of a life well
spent. -—>-** — 0^®i§|®2+s<» — «-~f—

DWARD H. SEAMAN. Among the prorn-
*y inent residents of Orange County we make
_ mention of Mr. Seaman, who is at present
living in the village of Monroe, where his birth
occurred August 7, 1849. He comes of an old
and honored family, and traces his ancestry back
to Capt. John Seaman, who came to America
from England about 1660, and located in Hemp
stead, L- L, where he aud six of his sons had a

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

805

patent of land. The coat-of-arms of the family
represented a seahorse. Of his first wife we have
no record, but it is known that his second mar
riage was with a Miss Moore, who bore him four
sons aud seven daughters.
Ofthe above family, Nathaniel, the third, son,
married Rachel, the daughter of John Titus.
They became the parents of nine children, and
died in 1759 and 1739, respectively. Their
youngest son, Samuel, Sr., married Martha Val
entine, and reared a family of eleven children, of
whom Samuel, Jr. , was the ninth. He married
Keziah, daughter of Thomas Titus, and their
marriage resulted in the birth of eight children.
Of these Silas was the second. He married a
Miss Greene, and five children were born to them,
of whom William was the third.
William Seaman, the father of our subject, was
born on what is now known as the Houghton
Farm, in the town of Cornwall, in April, 1817.
He was reared in Craigsville, whither his parents
removed when he was quite young. Samuel Sea
man, Jr. , owned a mill at this place, and in it the
father of our subject worked for a time. After
his marriage, however, he removed to Seaman-
ville, which place had been named in honor of
the family, and which was located within one mile
of the village of Monroe, and there opened a gen
eral store. After one year spent in conducting
the same, he moved into the village, and, pur
chasing a stock of goods, continued in the mer
cantile business until December 20, 1875. The
father was a prominent man in his locality, and
for nearly thirty years held the office of Justice of
the Peace. He proved very valuable in settling
up estates, drafting wills and drawing up legal
documents and deeds. Religiously he was a mem
ber of the Society of Friends.
William Seaman was married to Miss Hannah
Pearsall, in the town of Blooming Grove. She
was the daughter of Rowland and Mary (Bow
man) Pearsall, the latter of whom was born in
England. Her father's birth occurred on Long
Island, where he followed farming. He in turn
was the son of Wait Pearsall, who came to Or
ange County, and was engaged in cultivating the
soil until the time of his decease. In the parental

family were four children: William Henry, who
died in infancy ; Mary A., who married George
Greene, and who after his death became the wife
of Samuel Thompson, of Middletown; Sarah, the
wife of Warren M. Smith, of Monroe; and Ed
ward H.
The subject of this sketch attended the public
schools of Monroe until a lad of fourteen years,
when he began clerking in his father's store. In
1869 he was taken into the business as partner,
and continued to work with his father until the
death of the latter, in 1875. Then, on account
of ill-health, he sold out his stock of goods, and
for two years lived retired. In the spring of
1878 we find him living on a farm near Monroe,
where for twelve years he was occupied in tilling
the soil. In 1890, however, he returned to Mon
roe, and still makes this place his home.
The marriage of Mr. Seaman with Miss Libbie
Roe was celebrated October 22, 1872. She was
born near this village, and was the daughter of
John K. and Elizabeth Y. (Miller) Roe. Her
father was the son of Lewis H. and Sarah (King)
Roe, the former ofwhom was born in 1790. He
in turn was the son of Nathaniel Roe, whose birth
occurred in 1761. He married Mary Satterly,
who was born in 1763. Capt. Nathaniel was
the son of Jonas Roe, who settled on property in
the town of Chester in 1751, and this farm is still
in the possession of the family. He died in 1813,
aged eighty-one years. His wife, Susannah, died
within two days of his demise, and was at that
time in her eighty-third year. Jonas Roe was a
native of Scotland, and settled in Florida, Orange
County, in 1730, having a parchment deed to a
tract of land which was dated 1737.
To our subject and his wife there have been
born two children: George R., clerking in Mon
roe; and William E., a student in the schools of
that place. The parents are members of the
Presbyterian Church, and take an active part in
church work. Mr. Seaman has been Trustee of
his congregation since 1881. On the death of his
father he was appointed Justice of the Peace, and
held the office until resigning in 1877. He has
been in office most of the time since, and iu March,
1895, was re-elected for a term of four years. He

8o6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

represented his town on the Board of Supervisors
for three years, succeeding Morgan Shuit, who
was the incumbent of the office for thirty- three
years. He is an enterprising and progressive
citizen, and has the good- will of all who know
him. 3  -.  g-Bjg, J^> EL^o.  9
'OWNSEND THORN, who has made his
home in Highland Mills since the spring of
1895, was born near this village February
12, 1851, and is a son of James S. and Drusilla
(Weeks) Thorn. His father, whose birth oc
curred May 11, 1819, was a son of Capt. Amos
Thorn, an officer in the War of 18 12, and grew to
manhood in Orange County. June 15, 1848, he
married Drusilla Weeks, daughter of Capt. James
Weeks. She was born near Highland Mills Feb
ruary 18, 1824, and departed this life March 16,
1887. Two children blessed her marriage, the
other besides our subject being Mary A., Mrs.
Charles H. Smith, deceased.
Prior to the age,of sixteen the subject of this
sketch was a student in the school at Highland
Mills, but at that time he left school and be
gan life for himself. Apprenticing himself to
Robert Weygant, of Central Valley, he gained,
under the preceptorship of that gentleman, a thor
ough knowledge of the trade of a carriage-painter.
When twenty-three he went to New Jersey and
for several years was employed at Ramsey's, in
Paterson, N. J. From there he went west to Chi
cago, and for a number of years was in the em
ploy of the Western Union, Bell Telephone and
Pullman Palace Car Companies successively. On
his return East he made his headquarters in
Brooklyn, where he was employed most of the
time, though he also worked in New Jersey for a
short period. In 1888 he returned to Orange
County and established his home in Central Val
ley, where he remained three years. After a
short residence in Highland Mills he built a neat
cottage between the two villages, and there he
lived about three years, removing thence to
Highland Mills in the spring of 1895.
In Green Point, a suburb of Brooklyn, Mr.
Thorn was united in marriage, August 13, 1888,

with Miss Angenetta Van Horn, a native of Pat
erson, N. J. She is a daughter of John J. and
Maria E. (Quackenbush) Van Horn, natives, re
spectively, of East Paramiis and Pompton, N. J.
Her paternal grandparents were James and Sarah
E. (Herring) Van Horn, the latter of whom at
tained the age of almost one hundred years. Her
maternal grandparents were Abraham and Eliza
beth (Storms) Quackenbush, the former a native
of Pompton, N. J. The family of which she is a
member consisted of nine children, namely: Mrs.
Sarah E. Doremus, Mrs. Rachel J. Perry, Mrs.
Thorn, Rosanna (who died unmarried), James
E. , Mrs. Mary Emma Moen, John J. , Abraham Q.
aud Charles Wesley. The union of Mr. and Mrs.
Thorn has been blessed by the birth of six chil
dren, namely: James Howard, Charlotte, Charles,
Medford, Elmer and Angenetta Merea. Mrs.
Thorn is a lady of kind and amiable disposition,
and in religious faith is connected with the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. Politically our subject
advocates Republican principles, and in his so
cial connections he is a member of Purity Lodge
No. 337, I. O. O. F., at Brooklyn.

(JOHN WILLCOX, proprietor of the Amity
I House, was born in the town of Warwick in
G/ 1867, and is a son of William H. and Fran
ces N. ( Waterbury) Willcox, who are also natives
of this town. The father, one of the prominent
citizens and prosperous farmers of Orange Coun
ty, is living in a handsome residence on a splen
did farm near Amity, and has spent his entire life
in farm pursuits.
The primary education of our subject was ob
tained in a district school, and he subsequently
attended the Goshen Institute, but did not gradu
ate therefrom. He was reared on the farm and
assisted in its cultivation until twenty years of
age, when he went to Jersey City and engaged iu
the milk business. After following this for three
years, he returned to the farm and for the succeed
ing four years was engaged in tilling the soil. Iu

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

807

January, 1895, he took charge of the Amity
House, and although having served as a landlord
but a short time, he has shown ability in the dis
charge of the arduous duties of a hotel life. He
is a genial, whole-souled host, aud all who enter
under his roof are satisfied with the treatment
shown them.
In 1887 Mr. Willcox was united in marriage
with Catherine Ryerson, who is the daughter of
John F. and Catherine J. (Drew) Ryerson. Three
children have been born to them, namely: Will
iam J., George H. and Frances M., bright, inter
esting children, at home with their parents. In
politics Mr. Willcox is a Republican and has
abiding faith in the purity of that party. He has
neither sought nor accepted political office, pre
ferring to give his time and attention to his per
sonal affairs. ,

~oC

s<r

[5JEORGE E. YOUMANS, freight agent for
|_ the West Shore Railroad at Newburgh, was
\j[ born in Cold Spring, Putnam County, N. Y.,
May 7, 1855. He is a member of a family long
established in the United States, and his paternal
great-grandfather was a hero of the Revolution
ary War. The first of the name in this country
came hither from Holland during Colonial days,
since which time the representatives have been
honorably identified with the history of New York
through successive generations.
The parents of our subject, Phineas D. and
Hannah (Davenport) Youmans, were natives, re
spectively, of Phillipstown and Cold Spring, Put
nam County, N. Y., and both are still (1895)
living, the former being seventy-seven and the
latter seventy-four. The maternal grandfather,
Stephen Davenport, was born in Cold Spring, and
was a farmer throughout his entire life. His
father was a participant in the Revolutionary
War, and a descendant of English ancestors.
Entering the railroad business at an early age,
Phineas D. Youmans was for fifteen years road-
master of the Hudson River Division of the New
York Central. Later he removed to Syracuse,
where he was roadmaster on the Syracuse &

Binghamton Road for four years. He then for
two years made his home at Hoboken, during
which time he was assistant roadmaster of the
Morris & Essex Division of the Delaware, Lack
awanna & Western. Since retiring from active
work he has made his home at Fishkill-on-the-
Hudson, where he is highly esteemed as an up
right and honorable man. His support has
always been given to the Republican party, for
the candidates of which he never fails to cast his
ballot. He is a member of the Baptist Church,
to which his wife also belongs. Of their three
children, two attained mature years, George E.
being the younger. Stephen, who engaged in
railroading prior to the Rebellion, enlisted during
the war as a member of Company H, One Hun
dred and Twenty-eighth Infantry, but the hard
ships and exposures wrecked his health, and he
was an invalid from that time until his death, in
1879. The subject of this sketch was reared at Fish-
kill-on-the-Hudson, where he attended the public
schools. At the age of nineteen he began his
railroad career as brakeman on the Syracuse &
Binghamton Railroad, running between those
two cities for one year. In 1875 he went back to
Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, where be secured a posi
tion as local assistant agent for the New York
Central Road. Later he held a similar position
at Dutchess Junction. In 1884 he became an
employe of the West Shore Road, his first work
being that of freight agent at South Schenectady,
N. Y. , where he remained nearly five years. In
June, 1889, he was transferred to Newburgh,
where he has since resided, his office ranking
fourth on the Hudson River Division in amount of
freight business done. In his department employ
ment is furnished to thirty men, and while his
position is one of great responsibility and trust,
he fills it in a manner entirely acceptable to the
officials of the road.
Socially Mr. Youmans is a Master Mason, be
longing to Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M.,
and is also identified with the Royal Arcanum.
In political views he advocates Republican prin
ciples. His marriage took place in Fishkill-on-
the-Hudson, November 2, 1882, at which time

8o8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Miss Helen VosBurgh became his wife. This
lady was born in Stuyvesant, N. Y., and is a
daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth VosBurgh, the
former a principal of schools, now living retired
in Stuyvesant. Mrs. Youmans is a graduate of
the State Normal School at Albany, and prior to
her marriage taught school at Matteawan. Two
children bless the union, Warren and Leland.

C^-

LT-

«53

wn

=c)

HENRY TITUS CROMWELL was born at
Highland Mills, March 29, 1839, and passed
from this life December 2, 1889. Our sub
ject was reared iu his native village and attended
its schools until about twelve years of age, when
he entered the Quaker Academy at Chappaqua,
where he completed the course. He then entered
into partnership with his father and brother Oli
ver, under the firm name of J. T. Cromwell &
Sons, conducting a general store, gristmill, tan
nery and sawmill at Highland Mills. Oliver
took charge of the store, and our subject of the
tannery, while the father managed the entire bus
iness. They also had a tannery at Hawley, Pa.
Our subject remained with the firm until about
a year after his marriage, when he withdrew and
went to New York City, buying and selling for the
two tanneries, and also dealing largely in hides
from the West. He did a large commission busi
ness in New York, and at the time made his
home in Brooklyn. In 1878, his health failing, he
spent one winter in the South, and for the two
following years boarded with his father. He then
bought a farm between Highland Mills and Mon
roe, and after living there one year sold out and
purchased the old Weygant property at Central
Valley, where his wife was born. About this
time his father failed in business and he purchased
a store at Highland Mills, which he continued
until his death, December 2, 1889, at the age of
fifty years.
Henry T. Cromwell and Miss Hannah M.
Weygant, a daughter of Smith and Charity Wey
gant, were united in marriage November 26,

1862. (See sketch of H. W. Cromwell, and also
that of Theodore W. Weygant, in another part of
this work). To Mr. and Mrs. Cromwell were
born five children: Ella A., who died in infancy;
Henry W. ; Frank, who died when twenty months
old; Edward, who died in his sixth year; and
Elizabeth L-, who resides with her mother.
Mr. Cromwell was a member of John D. Wil
lard Lodge, F. & A. M. , which held its meetings
011 Broadway, New York City, and was also a
member of Schunnemunk Lodge No. 276, K. of
P. , of Highland Mills. In the home of his widow
may be seen a fine framed copy of the resolutions
passed by the Knights of Pythias, which is indeed
a beautiful work. By birthright Mr. Cromwell
was a Quaker, but was a regular attendant at the
Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn. Mrs. Crom
well was formerly a member of the .Presbyterian
Church at Brooklyn, but now holds membership
with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Central
Valley. Robert Lamereux, the grandfather of Mrs.
Cromwell, was of French origin. During his
time people traveled principally on horseback.
He was the first to own a carriage in Orange
County, and people came forty miles to see it.
He was also the first to have an ingrain carpet on
his floors, a curiosity in those days, for at that
time floors and tables were polished, no carpets or
table-covers being used. His household furniture
was of solid mahogany.

-3 — »-  ?3>«^®(^1)®^»<'«  1— f-

GHLEXANDER THOMPSON, engaged in
U farming near Turner, was born within a
/ I few feet of his present home, August 27,
1820, and is a son of Phineas H. and Rachel
(Young) Thompson, the former of whom was
born in the town of Goshen, July 4, 1788, and
died in 1852. During his entire life he followed
farming, and moved from Goshen about 18 10 to
the farm where our subject now resides. He was
the son of William Thompson, who married a
Miss Hudson, and who died in 1836, at the age

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

809

of seventy-five years. Rachel Young was born
in the town of Goshen, in 1792, and was the
daughter of Birdsey and Elizabeth (Hurd) Young,
natives of the towns of Goshen and Blooming
Grove, respectively. The farm of Birdsey Young
came to him from his father, the former selling it
to the father of our subject, and it has been iu
the family over one hundred years. A barn that
is over one hundred years old still stands on the
place. To Phineas H. and Rachel (Young) Thomp
son were born the following children: Elizabeth,
who at the age of eighty-two years makes her
home with our subject; Harrison, who died in
boyhood; Charles and Phineas H., deceased;
Alexander; Cornelia and Keturah, both deceased;
Isaac H., who makes his home near Turner;
Virgil, deceased; Edmond; and Nathan, who died
in infancy.
The subject of this sketch was reared on his
father's farm, and attended the district school,
which was east of his father's house, at the foot
of the mountain. His last schooling, however,
was received at Turner. April 1, 1836, he went
to Newburgh in a sleigh and there apprenticed
himself to a cabinet-maker, with whom he served
three years. As soon as he completed his trade,
¦he began work as a carpenter, and continued in
that line two years, when he began mill build
ing, finding the two trades much more profitable
than that of cabinet-making, and continued thus
engaged until about 1861. In the mean time, in
1857, he purchased his father's farm, which be
fore this time had been rented, and in 1861 he
moved upon it and has since followed farming
exclusively. Only once since that time has he
done any work at his trade. When the workmen
at the mines needed assistance, the manager
came to Mr. Thompson, who soon had everything
in good working order, much to the satisfaction
of the manager and proprietor of the mines.
Among the buildings erected by him are those of
the mining works in the southern part of Orange
County, those of Peter P. Parret, Peter Town-
send, Jacob Stout, Jacob M. Ryerson and Jere
miah Pearson. He worked two years contin
uously for Mr. Parret, and for the same length

of time was engaged in building at Warwick.
At Goshen he worked at his trade for one year,
and at Tuxedo Park he built a large house and
barn for Peter Lorillard.
Alexander Thompson and Miss Eleanor Bush
were married in 1856 at Arden, N. Y. She is
a daughter of Peter and Abbey (Smith; Bush,
natives of Rockland and Orange Counties, re
spectively. Three children have been born to
our subject aud wife: Phineas H., Eleanor B. and
Alexander, Jr. In politics Mr. Thompson is in
dependent, voting for the best man. For eight
een years he was School Trustee, having been
forced to accept the office when he first moved in
to the district. He insisted on improvements in
the school, until it was pronounced the best
school in the county, and was instrumental in
closing the rum holes at the mines on the Erie
Road. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Pres
byterian Church of Monroe. Alexander Thomp
son, Jr., is now serving his second term as Justice
of the Peace, being first elected when twenty-one
years of age.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was
an officer in the Revolutionary War, while two
of his father's brothers served in the War of 1812.
The sword of the Revolutionary hero has been
seen many times by Mr. Thompson. The father
of our subject was a Mason, and the Bible which
was used in the Masonic lodge of which he was
a member is now in our subject's possession.
<g  ,  ^-gLg_A-*^L*S_,? . «***
s  ¦  **¦ SP<T >!""""""] St
WILLIAM BARNES. Among the well-to-
do agriculturists of Orange County who
were born within its bounds, we make
mention of Mr. Barnes, who owns a well-im
proved estate near Turner. February 11, 1829,
his birth occurred iu the town of Cornwall, where
he was reared to mature years, and where he at
tended school until reaching the age of eighteen.
He continued to make his home with his parents
until of age, when, having served a three-years
apprenticeship at the plasterer's trade, he located
at Turner, there plying his trade for about thirty
years. In 1862, however, he purchased his pres-

8io

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ent farm, and until 1883 carried it on in connec
tion with his trade. Since that time he has giveu
his entire attention to his farming interests, and
is meeting with signal success iirhis undertaking.
Mr. Barnes is the son of Matthew and Mary
(Van Duzer) Barnes, the former born in western
New York about 1800. He came to Orange
County when a young man of eighteen years, and
here married, passing the remainder of his life in
farming. Mrs. Barnes, who departed this life in
1885, was the daughter of Benjamin Van Duzer,
a native of this county, and by her union with
Matthew Barnes became the mother of thirteen
children. Benjamin died in infancy; Mary mar
ried Joel Pinkney, now deceased, and she makes
her home at Turner; Isaac also resides near that
place; Van Duzer is living near Pine Island;
William, of this skerch, was the fifth-born; Sarah
married Joshua Fritz, who is deceased; Hiram,
now deceased, formerly lived at Marlboro, Ulster
County; Samuel died when twenty-one years of
age; Phebe became the wife of Andrew Thorn,
of Newburgh ; Nathaniel is living at Mountain-
ville; Ann is the widow of Samuel Quackenbush,
and makes her home 011 the old place in the town
of Cornwall; James Henry is a resident of Moun-
tainville; and John M. makes his home in Cen
tral Valley. The mother of this large family was
a member in excellent standing of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and reared her sons and daugh
ters to occupy good and useful positions in life.
The subject of this sketch was married, Feb
ruary 28, 1858, at Arden, to Miss Hannah Belch
er, who was born in that place. Her parents
were William and Margaret (James) Belcher, the
former of whom was born in Arden, in 1809,
and died in April, 1866. Mrs. Belcher's birth
occurred at old Ft. Montgomery, about 1812,
and she died the year following the demise of her
husband. The grandfather of Mrs. Barnes, James
Belcher, was a drummer iu the War of 18 12.
The five children born to William Belcher and
his estimable wife were Elizabeth, now deceased;
Hannah, the wife of our subject; Mahala, Mrs.
Smith Weygant, of Central Valley; Mary, the
wife of William H. Hazard, of Michigan; and
Peter. There were seven children born to Mr.

and Mrs. Barnes, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of
David M. Hollenbeck, a merchant of Turner;
Annie, deceased; Mary, who married Frank
O'Neal, a farmer near Monroe; William and
Grace, deceased; Frank, a bookkeeper for a firm
in Jersey City; and one who died unnamed. Mr.
and Mrs. Barnes regularly attend the Methodist
Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat,
and takes great interest in the success of his party,
although he could never be prevailed upon to
hold office.

V yiERRITT H. C. GARDNER, of the town
Y of Wawayanda, has resided on his present
(9 farm since he was fourteen years old, and he
is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres
of valuable land, upon which he carries on gen
eral farming, making, however, a specialty of the
dairy business. His property is the old home
stead of Dr. M. H. Cash, and is known as Rut-
ger's Place, which he inherited from his uncle,
Dr. Cash, after the death of his mother.
The grandfather of our subject was Ira, a
son of Samuel, and grandson of John Gardner.
He was born on Long Island and was of English
descent, being a member of the branch of the
family that settled Gardner's Island. Our sub
ject's father, John E. Smith Gardner, was a
farmer throughout his entire life, and politically
adhered closely to Republican tenets. In 1836
he married Miss Phcebe Millicent Cash, daughter
of Reuben and Millicent (Howell) Cash, and sis
ter of Dr. Merritt H. Cash, lor many years a
prominent physician and public man of this coun
ty, whose biography is given elsewhere in this
work. The parents of our subject had a family of
seven children, of whom we note the following:
Reuben F. lives in the town of Wallkill and
is engaged in farming; Clara was married to Hor
ace A. Dunning, and died January 12, 1895;
Charles E. is a member of the real-estate firm of
Gardner & McWilliams, of Middletown; Ira S.
is retired from business, and makes his home in
Middletown; H. Louise married J. W. Wilcox,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

813

of Pine Island; Merritt H. C. is next in order of
birth; Emmett V. R. is a farmer of Westtown.
The father of these children passed from earth
November 12, 1881, and his wife died August 25,
1875, at the age of sixty years. Both were mem
bers of the Presbyterian Church.
In the town of Wallkill the subject of this
sketch was born September 7, 1848. As above
stated, he has resided on his present farm since he
was fourteen, and agriculture has been his life
occupation. Politically he is a Republican. He
is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which
his family are also members. November 19,
1879, he married Miss Belle, daughter of Coe S.
and Frances Amelia (Stuart) Howell, her mother
being connected with the royal house of Stuart
of Scotland. They have two children, namely:
Coe Smith, who was born August 20, 1880; and
Ira Nathan, December 20, 1883.

j****,i'****'*'

(Joseph m. wilkin, a. b., a. m., is a
I prominent attorn ey-at-law of Montgomery,
(2/ and is President of the Montgomery & Erie
Railroad. He has gained his present high posi
tion at the Bar through a merit that has won him
a liberal patronage. The record of his life is as
follows: A native of the Empire State, he was
born in Hamptonburgh; on the 18th of April,
1828, and is a son of Daniel and Harriet (Haynes)
Wilkin. The ancestry of the family is traced
back to William Wilkin, the father of Daniel,
and the family, which is probably of Irish origin,
was founded in America in Colonial days. Mrs.
Wilkin was a daughter of David B. Haynes,
of the town of Montgomery. General Wilkin,
an uncle of Daniel, was a prominent man in
the Empire State. The father followed farm
ing, and both he and his wife had almost reached
the age of fourscore years when called to the
home beyond. They had a family of six chil
dren, of whom Joseph is the youngest. One
brother, Daniel F., resides in Nashville, Tenn.;
Moses B. is a machinist of Elmira, N. Y. ; and
John G. , who was Judge of Orange County for
some years, died in Middletown two years ago.
36

Joseph M. Wilkin is descended from Irish,
Dutch, English and French ancestry, and has in
herited many of the best traits of those nationali
ties. He was reared on the home farm until six
teen years of age, when he entered Montgomery
Academy, and later the Union College of Schenec
tady, N. Y., pursuing the classical and mathe
matical courses, and graduating in 1848 with the
degree of A. B. Three years later the degree of
A. M. was conferred upon him. Among his fel
low-graduates were Hon. Chester A. Arthur, and
Charles C. Knott, Judge of the District of Colum
bia. Mr. Wilkin accepted a position in Kinsley's
Classical and Mathematical School at West Point,
where he remained for three years. The gentle
man at the head of the school was an old army
officer and professor at West Point, and estab
lished his school on a military basis. On leaving
that institution, Mr. Wilkin accepted the Princi-
palship of Montgomery Academy, where he re
mained from 1851 until 1854. There are only
three older academies in the state, and Montgom
ery is still in a flourishing condition. It then
had an enrollment of about one hundred, and one
could pursue a preparatory or a business course.
Mr. Wilkin looks back over that period of his
life as one of the most successful, for he did good
work as a teacher. During that time also he
read law and attended Fowler's Law School of
Poughkeepsie, being admitted to the Bar at New
burgh in the fall of 1854, before the Supreme
Court of the state. He then went to Nashville,
Tenn., and began practice with his brother, Dan
iel Flavel Wilkin, there continuing until 1861,
when he returned to New York.
On the outbreak of the Civil War, our subject
was at home, but started to return to Nashville.
All communication was cut off at Louisville, and
in consequence he again came to New York,
where soon after he married Miss Catherine Cop
ley, of Montgomery, daughter of Harvey D. Cop
ley, a prominent citizen and extensive land-own
er. The family numbers four children, Louise C. ,
John Flavel, Hattie and Joseph M., Jr., all yet
at home.
Upon their marriage, Mr. Wilkin located upon
a farm belonging to his wife. When the Mont-

814

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

gomery & Erie Railroad was built, he became its
President, and has since held that position. The
line extends from Montgomery to Goshen, ten
and a-quarter miles, and is now leased to the Erie
Railroad Company. The road was built and
carried on by the stockholders for three years,
the stock being nearly all owned by Montgomery
parties. It had an authorized capital of $260,000,
but sold only $150,000 worth of stock. It has
been a paying investment, and the stockholders
have received more than they originally paid in.
From the beginning Mr. Wilkin has been its
popular President, and no dissenting vote has
ever been cast against him.
In connection with his other interests, Mr.
Wilkin was Vice-President of the Walden Na
tional Bank for some years. He has also prac
ticed law for many years, his business being
mostly in the Surrogate Courts. In politics he is
a stalwart Republican, deeply interested in the
success of his party. His family is one of prom
inence in the community, where true worth and
intelligence are received as the passport into good
society. They have a large library in their home,
which is situated three-fourths of a mile from the
town, and abounds in evidences of refined and cult
ured taste. Mr. Wilkin is a widely-read man, of
broad general information, is a successful lawyer
and business man, and withal is a courteous gen
tleman, whose excellences of character command
the highest respect.

| EWIS W. Y. MCCROSKERY, one of the
IX representative lawyers of Newburgh, is a son
U of ex-Mayor J. J. S. McCroskery, President
of The National Bank of Newburgh. He is a
leader in the ranks of the local Democracy, and
was elected in March, 1891, to serve four -years in
the office of City Recorder, in which he acquitted
himself with ability and with fidelity to the pub
lic. For a young man his rise has been rapid,
both in political and business circles. He was
admitted to the Bar May 12, 1882, and has con
ducted a general law practice in Newburgh since
that time. In July, 1886, he entered into part

nership with A. H. F. Seeger, but on the expira
tion of two years their connection was dissolved
by mutual consent, Mr. McCroskery continuing
in practice alone, with his office at No. 44 Third
Street. The McCroskery family is of Scotch-Irish lin
eage, but for several generations members of the
family have been residents of America. A his
tory of our subject's ancestry may be found in the
biography of his father, Hon. J. J. S. McCros
kery, which is given elsewhere in this volume.
The birth ofL- W. Y. McCroskery occurred in
Newburgh, November 8, i860, and he received a
good education in the public schools. In 1876
he was graduated from the free academy and took
up the study of law under Judge Charles F.
Brown and Hon. A. S. Cassedy. He was ad
mitted to the Bar as soon as he reached the legal
age, having been prepared to stand examination
some time before. He remained with his precep
tors for several years, then starting iu business
for himself. In the spring of 189 1 he was elected
by a Democratic majority of three hundred and
sixty-six votes to the office of City Recorder.
In September, 1879, Mr. McCroskery enlisted
as a private in Company E, Seventeenth Battalion
of the National Guard, State of New York, and
served for fourteen years, resigning his commis
sion as Captain August 19, 1893. He was suc
cessively promoted, being Corporal, Sergeant,
Second and First Lieutenant, and finally was
commissioned Captain by Governor Flower. In
1892, as First Lieutenant, he served with his
company during the ten-days riot in Buffalo.
For seven years he was a member of Lawson
Hose Company No. 5, and is now identified with
its Veteran Association, also with the Veteran As
sociation of the Tenth Separate Company, Na
tional Guard of New York. Fraternally he be
longs to Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. &
A. M., of which he is Junior Warden; Highland
Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; Hudson River Com
mandery No. 35, K. T.; and the Royal Arcanum.
Active in politics, he is a member of the county
committee, and has served on local committees in
an executive capacity.
In this city, February 15, 1888, Mr. McCros-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

815

kery married Margaret R. Corwin, who was born
and reared here. Her father, Isaac Corwin, was
superintendent of the Consumers' Gas Company
at the time of his death. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCroskery, a son
and daughter, namely: Marquis Corwin and
Maude Barclay. The parents are members of the
Union Presbyterian Church.

•MILAS G. CORWIN. The life of a farmer is
/\ not devoid of opportunities for the practice
V2/ of the sterling virtues of industry, persever
ance, honesty and brotherly kindness. On the
contrary, it affords abundant opportunity for the
efforts of all who wish to build up a fine charac
ter, while carrying on their chosen vocation.
That this is true, may be seen in the life and
character of Silas G. Corwin, an honored and life
long resident ofthe town of Mt. Hope. He has
always been active in those movements which
tend to advance the welfare of the community in
material affairs, and justly ranks among the most
prominent farmers of his locality.
The farm owned by Mr. Corwin, and now man
aged by his son Ira G., an energetic young agri
culturist, has been in the possession of the family
for about one hundred years. It is situated in
the town of Mt. Hope, and contains one hundred
acres. A full line of necessary and convenient
farm buildings stand upon the broad acres, and
evidences of practical, progressive oversight are
manifest on every hand. Upon this place our sub
ject was born October 21, 182 1, and he has known
no other home than this. He is a son of Joshua
and Priscilla (Mapes) Corwin, who had thirteen
children, all now deceased excepting five.
The father of our subject was born in the town
of Wallkill, October 19, 1785, and was there
reared to manhood, learning the cooper's trade in
his youth, and following that occupation for a
time in early manhood. On coming to the town
of Mt. Hope, he bought the farm now owned by
Silas G., and here he remained until his death,
which occurred in March, 1874, at the age of
eighty-nine. A Republican in politics, he was

prominent in local affairs, and served as Justice
ofthe Peace and Supervisor of the town. For
fifty years he officiated as Deacon in the Presby
terian Church, the doctrines of which he upheld,
not only by words, but also by the example of
his noble Christian life. His wife, who was born
in the town of Wallkill, November 23, 1788, died
in December, 1842; she was also a member of the
Presbyterian Church.
When only sixteen years of age, our subject
assumed the management of the home farm,
which he inherited at his father's death, and here
he has since made his home. October 22, 1846,
he married Miss Charity Ann Corwin, who was
born in the town of Wallkill, April 2, 1826, and
died June 26, 1894, leaving six children. They
are Daniel J., a railroad man living in Baltimore,
Md.; Ira G., who superintends the home farm;
Joseph K, a resident of Hoboken, N. J.; Sarah
F. , wife of I. E. Ketcham, whose sketch is pre
sented on another page of this volume; Mary E.,
Mrs. George W Brink, of Middletown; and Car
rie G. , wife of Edward Anderson, of New York
City. Mr. Corwin is well known by the people among
whom his youthful years were passed, and among
whom he has grown old, and all accord him the
respect due his a*ge and worth. He takes a lively
interest in political affairs, and is an advocate of
the principles of the Republican party. His has
been a busy life, and by his industry he has se
cured a competence that will fortify him against
want in the coming years, and will render manual
labor unnecessary in his declining days.

?2=3*fe**-*4»

'OMAS ESTRADA PALMA, of Central
Valley, is a native of Bayamo, Cuba, born
July 9, 1835, and is a son of Andres Estrada,
who was also a native of Cuba, and a large plant
er of the island. He took no part in public af
fairs, but devoted himself entirely to his business.
His death occurred when our subject was a stu
dent at Havana. The grandfather, Manuel Jose

8i6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Estrada, was also a large landed proprietor, and
a distinguished lawyer of the island. He was at
times Counselor for the city of Bayamo, and was
an author of some note, among his productions
being a history of the city of Bayamo. He died
when our subject was an infant. The mother of
our subject was Candelaria Palma, a daughter of
Thomas Palma, a large sugar-planter near Baya
mo. He married Candelaria Tomayo, a daugh
ter of Manuel Tomayo, who was also a large
landed proprietor, and the wealthiest man in the
city of Bayamo.
The subject of this sketch received his primary
education in his native city, attending school un
til fourteen years of age, when he entered the
University of Havana, taking a four-years course
in philosophy. Receiving his degree, he then
took a three-years course in law, going to Seville
to complete his studies. His father having died
while he was in Havana, it became necessary for
him to return home to attend to the large estates,
which had become entangled and were too much
of a charge for his mother.
In October, 1868, when the rebellion broke out
in Cuba, our subject took sides with the Revolu
tionists, fighting nine years. In October, 1877,
he was taken prisoner and confined one year in
the Figueras Castle, province of Catalonia, Spain.
Some four or five months after the close of the
war, he was released and went to Paris, where he
remained one month, then sailed for New York.
After remaining there a short time, he came to
Central Valley, here making his home with the
Cornells. In June, 1879, he went to Honduras,
and served as Postmaster- General in that country
five years. In 1884 he returned to Central Val
ley, and in the fall of 1885 established the Estrada
Palma Institute, over which he now presides. It
is a school for boys, in which they are prepared
for college, English, French and Spanish being
taught. April 8, 1882, while residing in Honduras, our
subject was married to Donna Genoveva Guar-
diola, a daughter of Santos Guardiola, President
of the Republic of Honduras. To them have
been born five children: Manuel Jose, Tom as
Andres, Candelaria, Carlos Joaquin and Luz.

The two last are twins, The first-named was
born in Honduras, and the others in Central Val
ley. Professor Estrada Palma is a man of extraordi
nary ability. During the war he was a Deputy
ofthe Chamber of Republic, and was then elected
President of the Republic. On the fall of the re
public his lands and possessions were confiscated.
After his release from prison, he was invited to
return to Cuba and receive back his estates if he
would swear allegiance to Spain, but he would
not again come under Spanish domination. The
Professor was reared in a Catholic country, but
is not now a member of any church, though he
has strong religious feeling, and is a believer in
God and in Jesus Christ. He supports the Meth
odist Episcopal Church of Central Valley. While
in Cuba he was made a Mason, but has never
united with the order in this country. He is now
a citizen of the United States, and is as loyal to
the Stars and Stripes as he was to the flag of the
Republic of Cuba. .  c)^f*  .

UGENE D. STOKEM, a prominent attor-
•p ney engaged in practice at Turner, is a na-
__ tive of this section, and was born November
7, 1836. He attended the schools of the town of
Woodbury until a lad of twelve years, when he
was sent to New York, carrying on his studies in
the grammar schools of that city for two years,
and for the next two years he attended the New
York Free Academy, located on Twenty-third
Street and Lexington Avenue.
For two years after his return home he was en
gaged in farming, but as he was desirous of study
ing law, he began fitting himself for that profes
sion, and went to Goshen and read in the office
of Hon. Charles Monell for a twelvemonth. He
next went to Port Jervis, and for three years was
in the office of Hon. Thomas J. Lyon, and May 12,
1859, he was admitted to practice at Poughkeep
sie. He continued with Mr. Lyon one year there
after, then came to Turner and was engaged in
practice until 1863.
December 10 of the above year, Mr. Stokem

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

817

enlisted in Company I, Fifty-fourth New York
Regiment, and with his comrades was sent to a
point near Charleston, where they remained until
the city was evacuated, when they entered the city,
and our subject stayed there until the expiration
of his term of enlistment. He served the greater
portion of the time on detached duty in the offices
of the Adjutant-General and Provost- Marshal.
Mr. Stokem was honorably discharged at Charles
ton, S. C, April 14, 1866, at which time he re
turned to Turner, where he has since given his at
tention to his profession. In addition to his oth
er duties he has managed and edited the Monroe
Times for the past twelve years.
The parents of our subject were Dr. John D.
and Sallie Ann (Lockwood) Stokem, both na
tives of the town of Fairfield, Conn., the former
of whom was born January 25, 1806, and died
February 25, 1884. The literary education of
the father was secured in his native state, while
he attended medical lectures in New York, in
which city he was the proprietor of a drug store
for a time. He afterward located at Cornwall,
where he made his home for a short period, and
then took up his abode in the old town of Mon
roe, where his son, our subject, was born. He
was an eminent physician and engaged in prac
tice here until his decease. June 27, 1827, in
Fairfield County, Conn., he was married to Miss
Sallie Ann Lockwood, whose birth occurred No
vember 2, 1807. She was the daughter of Ed
mund Lockwood, a wealthy agriculturist of that
county, who married a Miss Smith. Both the
Lockwoods and Smiths were of English descent.
Of a family of four children born to her parents,
Mrs. Stokem was the second.
Dr. John D. Stokem was the son of E. Lemuel
and Rachel Stokem, the former ofwhom was born
in the Nutmeg State, and died about the year
1855, when seventy-five years of age. He was a
farmer by occupation, following this in connec
tion with his trade of a carpenter. He was of
English descent, while his wife was of French ex
traction. To them were granted eight children,
ofwhom John D. was the eldest but one.
The parental family also included eight chil
dren. Cordelia A. is the widow of Thomas

Windsor, of Boundbrook. N. J.; Frances Amelia
is deceased, as is also Julian D. ; Eugene D. is the
subject of this sketch; Adolphus W is a success
ful architect and builder of Newark, N. J. ; Celes
ta P. married Charles Rhodes, a druggist of New
ark; Isadore V. is the wife of James Fullshier, a
resident of Brooklyn; and Julian D. (second),
now of Scranton, Pa., was formerly in Vanderbilt's
office in St. John's Park, N. Y. He is an expert
bookkeeper, telegraph operator and railroad clerk.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Jennie
McLaughlin occurred at Turner, January 10,
1867. The lady was born in the North of Ire
land, near Belfast, of Scotch-Irish parents, and
joined her sister, now Mrs. Kate Johnson, in
America. Mrs. Stokem 's parents were James and
Ann McLaughlin, and both spent their entire
lives in the Old Country.
Of the five children born to our subject and his
wife, two died unnamed in infancy ; Kittie passed
away when sixteen months old; Julian D. is en
gaged as a blacksmith at Midvale, N. J. ; and
Clara C. is the wife of John D. Rake. Mr. Stok
em has been a life-long Democrat, as were his fa
ther and grandfather before him. In April, 1883,
he assumed control of the Monroe Times, and is
now running the business on a good paying basis.
It is a well edited organ and independent in pol
itics. Mr. Stokem has been Justice of the Peace
for six years and notary public for fifteen years.

(JOHN G. EARL, Postmaster at Highland
J Mills, and the owner of a fine farm near that
G/ village, has held a number of important po
sitions in the town of Woodbury, aud is closely
identified with its progress and welfare. Politi
cally a Democrat, he is recognized as one ofthe
party leaders of the neighborhood. For four
years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace,
for three years served as Assessor, and was Col
lector and Supervisor one year. Both at Turner
and at his present place of residence he has
served as Trustee of schools.

8i8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The ancestors of Mr. Earl were among the
early settlers of this cotmtry, and his great-grand
father was a soldier in the War of the Revolu
tion. His father, Elmore, was a son of William
and Elizabeth (Gray) Earl, and was born near
Bull's Mills, Town of Chester, July 13, 1808.
Farming was his life occupation, and he followed
it continuously until his death, which occurred
iu December, 1869. His wife, Sarah, was a sis
ter of Joseph Sears Earl, to whose sketch on
another page the reader is referred for the fam
ily history. She was born May 9, 1808, and died
at the home of I. H. Thompson, June 29, 1895.
At Turner, this county, the birth of John G.
Earl occurred December 10, 1836. He attended
the common schools of his native place until eight
een years old, and was an inmate of his father's
home until twenty-four, at which time he se
cured a position as fireman on the Erie Railroad.
After a time he resigned and took charge of the
operating ofa stationary engine for the Greenwood
Iron Company at the O'Neal Mine, in which ca
pacity he was employed for eighteen months.
After running an engine in Middletown for three
months, he was employed as fireman on the rail
road for six months, and then took charge of
the boilers and gas house in the Turner Hotel
for Mr. Stevens, the proprietor, remaining at the
hotel for seven years, during which time he
married. In partnership with his brother, Mr. Earl pur
chased the old homestead, and there engaged in
farming for one year. In 187 1 he purchased a
house and lot in Turner, where he made his home
for nine years, in the mean time devoting his at
tention principally to trading in cattle. From
his uncle, Joseph S. Earl, in 1880 he bought one
hundred and thirteen acres near Highland Mills,
where he has since resided, engaging principally
in farm pursuits. He makes a specialty of the
dairy business, and has shipped as high as seven
ty-five hundred gallons of milk per year.
At Middletown, June 26, 1867, Mr. Earl mar
ried Catherine Daily, a native of Otisville, this
county, and daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Muldie) Daily, ofwhom the former died when
Mrs. Earl was a small child. Six children were

born to the union of our subject and his wife,
namely: Sarah, wife of Frederick Thomas, of
Central Valley; Emma, who is Deputy Postmas
ter at Highland Mills; Cora, who has taught
school and is now a student in the State Normal
at New Paltz, N. Y. ; Elizabeth; Elmore, who
carries the mail at Highland Mills; and John
Gilbert. Socially Mr. Earl is connected with
Huffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M., at Mid
dletown .

EHARLES E. WILLIAMS was born in New-
. burgh on the 2d of May, 1829, and passed
from this life April 4, 1895. He was a son
of Samuel Williams, whose birth occurred in
Canterbury, Orange County. The family is of
Welsh origin, and the first to come to America
was Richard Williams, who was accompanied by
his brother Jonas, and arrived here in 1660. Be
ing a Dissenter, he could not submit to the strin
gent and un-Christian regulations imposed on
him, and, like thousands of others, left the land
of his nativity for conscience' sake. He located
at Huntington, Long Island. From him in di
rect line to our subject there were Nathaniel, Na
thaniel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Jonas and Jonas,
the last-named being his grandfather, whose birth
occurred Novembers, I754, and who died July
25, 1825.
At the commencement of the Colonial troubles
the grandfather was about twenty-one years of
age, and as the British were at that time taking
military possession of the island, and the place
was getting too hot for many of the Whigs, he
located in the town of New Windsor, Orange
County, about 1775. In 1779 he wedded Abigail
Brewster, who was born November 23, 1761, and
who died December 22, 1804. They had a fam
ily of twelve children. Mrs. Williams was a
daughter of Samuel Brewster, of New Windsor
who owned a forge on "Murderer's Creek." Soon
after the Revolution Mr. Williams became the
owner of the estate, and for many years continued
the manufacture of iron extensively. The bar
iron which was used in constructing the chain

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

819

of Ft. Montgomery or cheval-de-frise from Pal-
lopets Island to Plum Point in 1777, under the
direction of General Clinton, was made at this
forge, which contained four fires. When Mr.
Williams first conducted the forge the ore was
transported from the Forest of Dean, in the town
of Monroe, in packs on the backs of mules and
horses, there being no wagon road at that time.
Before coming to Newburgh, when the Colonial
army was stationed at Morristown, N. J., Mr.
Williams had a contract to supply part of it with -
provisions, and though the avenues of transpor
tation were infested iu all directions by robbers
and Tories, still he executed his contract satisfac
torily to the Government, and without much loss
to himself from pillage. The money furnished
by the French Government to assist Congress in
carrying on the war was landed at New Haven,
Conn. , or some eastern port, aud from there was
transported to different points in the country
where it was needed to pay the army. A portion
of this money was brought here under a guard
from New Haven across the country and given to
Mr. Williams to pay the soldiers. He hid it in the
old dirt cellar under the Williams homestead un
til it could be paid out. He was an industrious
and enterprising man until age and infirmity de
prived him of his strength aud activity. Oliver
Cromwell's daughter Bridget married Charles
Fleetwood in 1652, and their son Thomas came
to Long Island, when the name was changed to
Fleet. Thomas Fleet married Ester Yarah, and
they had five sons and five daughters, and two of
the sons and two of the daughters married mem
bers of the Williams family. In February, 1827,
Mr. Williams departed this life at the age of seven
ty-three years, in the faith of the Presbyterian
Church. Samuel Williams, the father of our subject, was
engaged in importing tea at Newburgh during
the War of 1 8 1 2 , it being brought across the moun
tains to Newburgh from New Haven, Conn. He
continued to conduct a wholesale tea trade until
1839, when he became President of the Powell
Bank, which position he filled until the bank was
discontinued. He then lived retired until his
death, which occurred in 1862, at the age of

seventy-four years. He was a quiet, reserved
business man, and belonged to the Presbyterian
Church. In political sentiment he was first a
Whig and later a Republican. He was a mem
ber of the Board of Village Trustees, and was
also on the Board of Education. His wife, who
bore the maiden name of Mary A. Johnes, was
born in Morristown, N. J., and was a grand
daughter of Rev. Dr. Johnes, who was the first
minister of the old Presbyterian Church of that
place. It was built for him, and he there preached
until his death, when he had reached his fifty-
sixth year. While the American army was en
camped there during the Revolution, General
Washington and his staff attended his services.
Mrs. Williams died in Newburgh in 1875, at the
age of eighty-four years.
Our subject is one of a family of eight children
who grew to maturity, but only two are now liv
ing. Charlotte A., who was the wife of R. A.
Forsythe, died in Newburgh in 1893, at the age
of eighty years. Eliza Catherine is now Mrs.
Samuel A. Walsh, of New York City. Jonas,
who was a large stockholder and Treasurer of the
Beveridge Brewing Company, died in this city in
1887. William J., who was a Captain in the
Fifty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, was
killed at Seven Oaks, in his second engagement.
Harriet is now Mrs. Francis P. Weed, of Hart
ford, Conn. Charles E. was next in order of birth.
George A., who graduated from West Point, was
in the regular army under General Bragg, but
before the Civil War he had been appointed Pro
fessor of Spanish at West Point. Later he re
turned to his old company and regiment, with
which he remained until the close of the war,
during which he was made Major and breveted
Colonel. Later he was honorably retired from
the army, andresided in Newburgh until his death.
Samuel, a merchant of Olympia, Wash., died
there in 1893.
Charles E. Williams, whose name heads this
sketch, attended the Glebe School and the New
burgh Academy, but at the age of fourteen en
tered a dry-goods store as clerk, where he re
mained until 1846, when he went to New York
City, being employed in the same capacity until

820

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the spring of 1852. At that time he made a trip
to California via the Isthmus of Panama, and after
landing iu San Francisco, proceeded to Portland,
Ore. , where he remained for four years engaged
in general merchandising. Going to Olympia,
Wash., he there conducted a hardware business
until 1870, but during that time, in 1866, he had
returned to Newburgh and was married.
At Newark, N. J., February 13, 1866, Mr.
Williams married Miss Margaret S. Ryerson, a
native of Pompton, N. J., and a daughter of Peter
Martin Ryerson, who was also born there. The
Ryersons were French-Huguenots, who went to
Holland, but soon after came to America, settling
on Long Island, near the present site of Brooklyn.
The first of the family to come to this country
was Martin Ryerson, who came from Amsterdam
in 1646, and May 14, 1663, married Aneetje Rap-
plye, whose sister Sarah was the first white
child born on Long Island. Their third son,
Ryer, wedded Rebecca Van Der Shines, in 1695;
and their fourth son, Johannes, married Cathelyna
Berrie, January 13, 1741, the latter being a de
scendant of the Duke of Berrie. Johannes was
the first to locate at Pompton, N. J., and his fifth
son, Judge Martin Ryerson, was the grandfather
of Mrs. Williams. His marriage occurred Au
gust 16, 1778, and united him with Vrouche Van
Winkle. He was a large land-owner, and also
owned the mines and furnaces near Pompton and
Ringwood. His fourth son was Peter Martin
Reyerson, who wedded Mary Williams, Septem
ber 13, 1825. When La Fayette visited the United
States in 1824 he came to Newburgh, where a re
ception and ball were tendered him, the latter be
ing held in a hall attached to the old Orange
Hotel. Mrs. Ryerson, then Mary Williams, was
a young lady of eighteen, and she had the honor
of dancing with La Fayette. Mrs. Williams still
has the gloves worn on that occasion, on the
wrists of which are his portrait and the words
' 'Welcome to La Fayette. ' ' Mrs. Ryerson was a
daughter of Richard B. Williams, who belonged
to the same family as did our subject. Mr. Ryer
son, who was bom June 20, 1798, was a wealthy
land-owner and manufacturer of iron, having two
rolling-mills. He was a very influential man and

was commissioned Colonel of the Eighth New
Jersey Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.
He was killed at the battle of Williamsburg,
May 5, 1862. His wife survived him until 1888.
Of their sons we make the following mention:
Peter, who was a Lieutenant in a New Jersey
regiment, had been a cadet at West Point, and
was wounded and died in Tennessee; John died
at the opening of the war; David A. , Colonel in
the Thirteenth New Jersey Regiment, served dur
ing the war; and Richard was in the Provost-Mar
shal's office at Charleston, S. C.
To Mr. a'nd Mrs. Williams were born three chil
dren, May E. , Alice R. aud Harold E. , and the
family now reside at their beautiful home on
Montgomery Street. They are members of the
First Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Williams
served for several years as Trustee. He was a
Mason, being identified with Hudson River Lodge
No. 607, F. & A. M. At one time he was Pres
ident of the Board of Trade. In politics he was
a Republican.

3 AMES W. CAMPBELL, Justice ofthe Peace,
and for forty years a school teacher in Or
ange County, was born near Highland Mills,
November 14, 1834. He was reared on his fa
ther's farm, and remained at home until twenty-
four years of age. He attended the district school
until eighteen years old, when he received a cer
tificate to teach. For some years afterward he
taught during the winter season, and in the sum
mer worked on a farm. In the early days it was
customary for ladies to teach school in the sum
mer months, and therefore Mr. Campbell had to
seek other employment during that season.
On the ist of December, 1858, near Highland
Mills, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with
Miss Sarah A. Birdsall, daughter of William and
Catherine (Gurnee) Birdsall, the former a native
of Westchester County, and the latter of Rock
land County. After his marriage Mr. Campbell
bought a farm on the ridge west of the Methodist

HENRY HALL.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

823

Episcopal Church, and here resided from 1861
until 1865, when he sold out and rented farm
land for three years in the town of Cornwall. In
the spring of 1870 he purchased his present place,
which has been his home ever since. During the
years from 1873 to 1879 he taught school in
Rockland County, but since that time he has
been teaching within driving distance of his home.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Archi
bald and Mary (Weygant) Campbell, both of
whom were natives of Orange County. The
former was born January 1, 1809, and died May
2, 1879. He was the son of Charles and Isabel
(Campbell) Campbell, natives of Argyleshire,
Scotland, and who emigrated to this country
about 1800. Charles Campbell was one of the
Campbell Clan, and first located east of Highland
Mills, on the east side of Pine Hill. He followed
farming all his life. Archibald was sixth in a
family of four sons and three daughters. He be
came the father of eight children: James W., our
subject; Charles, who lives one mile west of
Highland Mills; Janett, wife of William Birdsall;
William Henry, who is now living in Larchmont,
and was a member of the One Hundred and Twen
ty-fourth New York Infantry; Mary Ann, who
married George W. Greene, and was born March
4, 1847, and died in August, 1891; George, who
lived two miles west of Highland Mills; and Isa
bel, the widow of Henry Pendleton, who lives
near Highland Mills.
Our subject and his wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Central Valley,
in which he has held official position ever since
he became a member. With but little intermis
sion he has been the Sunday -school Superintend
ent for the period of thirty years. He is the lo
cal preacher in the church, and has also pro
claimed the Gospel in regions round about. In
politics he has been a life-long Republican, and
cast his first vote for John C. Fremont, the first
Republican nominee for the office of President.
Mr. Campbell was the first Clerk of the town of
Woodbury after it was separated from Monroe,
and is now serving his second term as Assessor of
the town. In the spring of 189 1 he was elected
Justice of the Peace, and was re-elected to succeed

himself for the term beginning January 1, 1896.
Socially he is a member of Central Valley Lodge
No. 502, I. O. O. F. , having passed through all
the chairs in the lodge, and served as a delegate
to the Grand Lodge at Utica in 1894. He is also
a member of Wawa Tribe No. 135, I. O. R. M.
To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born five chil
dren, of whom four died in infancy. The only
surviving one is Alice, the wife of George W.
Weygant, residing near Highland Mills. They
have one child, Isabel, born December 29, 1888.
George W. Weygant was born June 23, 1854, and
is the son of Francis and Elizabeth Weygant.

~i=]

^r^

*""=*""

--§>

HENRY HALL- In noting the old and es
tablished industries of Orange County, men
tion should be made of the business carried
on by Mr. Hall, of Highland Mills. The enter
prise is an old one, and dates back to 1840, when
it was founded by Henry Hall. Thirty years after
ward the name was changed to Henry Hall &
Sons, and in 1882 the title became Henry Hall &
Sons' Company, the business being incorporated at
the same time. In 1884 our subject purchased the
concern and conducted it under the name of
Henry Hall, Jr., until 1895, when the "Jr." was
dropped, and the name is now the same as it
was when the business was established, fifty-five
years ago. A specialty is made of the manufact
ure of linen, silk and cotton twisted and braided
fish lines, snelled hooks, fish hooks, gut leaders
and rods, large quantities of which are turned
out every year.
The Hall family resided for many generations
in the neighborhood of Belfast, Ireland, where
one of their ancestors, Rev. Joseph Hall, Bishop
of Ulster, a man well known in the history of
Ireland, made his home. The earliest ancestor
of whom there is any record was our subject's
great-grandfather, Thomas Hall, who married a
Miss Johnson. Their son Henry, who married
Mary Ewert, was the first in a line of four of the
same name, ofwhom our subject's son, Henry, is
the last. Mary Ewert was of Scotch descent,
her ancestors having belonged to the McFarland

824

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

clan, and for a number of generations they were
connected with the flax spinning and weaving
trade. Alexander G. Hall, an uncle of our sub
ject, was a member of the Queen's body-guard,
and served during the Crimean War.
Henry Hall, our subject's father, was born in
Belfast, Ireland, January 31, 182 1, and died April
11, 1892. He emigrated to America in May,
1838, embarking at Liverpool in the sailing-ves
sel "Argyle," Captain Fletcher, and after eight
weeks on the ocean landed at the old battery in
New York. Doubling yarns in this country was
then almost unknown. He established a factory
on the corner of Flushing Avenue and Broad
way, Brooklyn, where he first manufactured
thread. This enterprise not proving as profit
able as he desired, he returned to Ireland to take
charge of the large linen-mill of his uncle, Will
iam Ewert. Two years were spent in that way,
after which he again came to the United States and
opened an office at No. 14 Cedar Street, New
York, where he acted as agent for his uncle's
large establishment. When General Grant was
on his tour around the world, he visited Belfast,
and was shown through the large flax-spinning
mills of Carlyle & Johnson, the former of whom
was a brother-in-law and the latter an uncle.
In the winter of 1843-44 Henry Hall revisited
Ireland, and while he and his wife were in Bel
fast, their son, our subject, was born, January 31,
1844. The first trip of the latter across the At
lantic was in March and April of 1844, ln the
sailing-vessel "Great Republic," the voyage re
quiring six weeks, and since then he has crossed
the ocean about twenty times. In 1850 the sen
ior Mr. Hall began the manufacture of linens
and damasks for himself in Belfast, Ireland, where
he built a large mill and remained until 1854.
At that time, as the result of having placed too
much confidence in friends, he failed in business,
after which he again came to America, hoping to
rebuild his shattered fortunes.
Securing capital, Mr. Hall built a rope walk at
Mott Haven, Manhattan Island, manufacturing
twines and whipcords (the latter of which at
that time were used for fishing lines), and selling
his goods through Harvey & Bassett. In 1858

he removed to Northport, L- L , where he built a
factory and engaged in the manufacture of linen
lilies, twines and small rope. Owing to the poor
shipping facilities at Northport, he removed to
Hauppauge, some eighteen miles distant, and
there remained until 1861, when he came to Wood
bury, as partner of Thomas H. Bate, continuing
the factory at Hauppauge under the charge of
our subject. In the Woodbury establishment were
manufactured fishing tackle of all kinds, rods,
reels, etc.
In 1868 Mr. Bate died, leaving the business in
a bad shape, and the executors refused to con
tinue the concern on the same terms as deceased,
so Mr. Hall closed out the enterprise at Wood
bury and removed to Highland Mills, establish
ing the business to which his son has succeeded.
In the parental family were eleven children, six
of whom survive. Ann Jane, Henry and Rev.
James were born in Belfast. Barbara, who was
born at Hauppauge, L- I., married Henry C.
Thorn, of Central Valley. He died February 21,
1 89 1, and she later married John Rogers. Alex
ander G. was born at Hauppauge, L. I.; and
Grace, who was born, on the ocean, was named
in honor of Captain Grace, of the National Line
of steamers.
Throughout almost his entire active life our sub
ject has been interested in his present enterprise.
When a boy, having a strong desire for a sea life,
he left his home and spent eighteen months at
sea. On his return home he resumed work in
the factory. From 1861 until 1863 he had charge
of the works on Long Island, and from the latter
date he was in the employ of his father until he
and his brother James were admitted as partners
in the business.
At St. James, Suffolk County, L. I., Mr. Hall
was united in marriage, July 6, 1862, with Miss
Esther Ann Caldwell, daughter of Capt. Ed
ward Caldwell, Jr., who was the son of a sea-
captain, aud himself also followed the sea for
many years, but was finally lost on the ocean
with his ship. From the many ports visited by
his ship he brought back curios, many of which
are now in possession of Mrs. Hall, bv whom
they are highly prized. In their religious belief

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

825

Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Episcopal
Church. They became the parents of seven chil
dren, namely: Sarah, Edward and Alexander,
deceased; Henry and George, who are associated
with their father in business; Annie, wife of
William C. Lawson, agent for the Erie Railroad
at Highland Mills; and William 0., who was
the youngest member of the family. Mr. Hall
has a cultivated taste for music, and for years
acted as leader of the band. In the local ranks
of the Republican party he has been influential
for twenty years or more, but, excepting the
minor offices, he has always refused political
preferment, choosing rather to devote his whole
time and attention to his business. Interested
in educational and religious matters, he has filled
the office of School Trustee for twenty-four years,
and for a long time held the position of Church
Trustee.

<*<*************fJ5J*S**************X>
EHAUNCEY B. KNIGHT, who for many
years occupied a prominent place among the
business men of Monroe, departed this life
July 24, 1880, greatly mourned by a host of warm
friends in this locality. Before entering further
into his life history we will make mention of his
ancestors. His great-grandfather, who bore the
name of Samuel Knight, lived at Goshen, and
among his children was Nicholas Knight, who
was born in 1755. He was a farmer by occupa
tion, and it is thought moved from Goshen to
Monroe after the War of 18 12. His marriage
united him with Elizabeth Case, whose birth oc
curred in 1 761. The ten children born to the
last-mentioned couple were David, Fannie, Jo
hanna, Daniel C, Cornelia, Jeremiah, Wilmot,
Benjamin, Walter E. and William G. Their son
Daniel C. was born in Goshen, May 5, 1789, and
died February 4, 1862. He, too, was a farmer,
and when establishing a home of his own married
Catherine Brooks. Their three children were
Chauncey B., our subject; Minerva, the wife of
James H. Bertholf; and John H., who married
Milicent Seeley.
The birth of our subject occurred September 5,

1822, in Monroe. He attended the village schools
until a lad of fourteen years, when he began
clerking, but a few years later he abandoned this
occupation and carried on his studies for one
year. At the end of this time he entered a store
in Newburgh, where he remained for several
years, then went to Elmira, where for one year he
was employed in a store. Afterward he returned
to Monroe and engaged in business for himself,
here spending the remainder of his life.
Mr. Knight was married, September 3, 1844, in
Monroe, to Miss Mary Thompson, whose birth
occurred in Goshen. Her parents were Rev. John
J. and Sarah (Webb) Thompson, natives, respect
ively, of Goshen and Middletown. The former
was the son of William W. Thompson, at one
time Sheriff of Orange County. The last-named
was the son of John, whose father, William, Sr. ,
was a native of Ireland, whence he crossed the
Atlantic many years ago, settling in America
prior to the Revolutionary War. He was a black
smith, and received a grant of one square mile of
land as a bonus for locating here. This tract was
located two miles south of Goshen, on the Florida
Road. William W. Thompson married Sarah
Allison, whose father, William Allison, was a
Colonel in the Revolutionary War, and the fam
ily still have in their possession his commission,
which was signed Gov. George Clinton. During
that conflict he was taken prisoner with his regi
ment, at the capture of Ft. Montgomery, and re
mained in captivity until the close of hostilities.
He married Miss Mary Jackson. His father was
Joseph Allison, of Southold, L- I., who, it is
supposed, was a native of Edinburgh.
Sarah Webb, Mrs. Knight's mother, was born
in Middletown and was the daughter of Col. Ben
jamin and Sarah (Vail) Webb, of Middletown
and Goshen, respectively. Hewas a Colonel of
militia in Middletown, and one of his sons, Jon
athan B., was a soldier in the War of 18 12. Col.
Benjamin was the son of Jonathan and Penelope
(Bennett) Webb, the former of whom purchased
a farm in an early day, which has been handed
down from father to son for one hundred years.
Sarah Vail was the daughter of Gilbert T. Vail,
who was killed in the Indian battle of Minisink.

826

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

His name is on the monument erected in memory
ofthe old soldiers of Goshen. His wife was Han
nah Arnot, one ofthe mothers of the Revolution,
her husband's death having left her with a large
family of children to care for.
To Chauncey B. Knight and his wife there
were born five children. Charles Thompson is
engaged in the grain business in Monroe; he
was married to Miss Rose Jenkins, of Newburgh.
Caroline married Rev. O. H. Elmer, of St. Paul,
Minn. Frederick J. is a civil engineer in Mon
roe; he married Mrs. Emma Irene Patterson, of
Washington, D. C. Henry B. is a feed and grain
merchant of Goshen. Mary Eugenia married
George R. Conklin, who is in partnership with
Charles T. Knight. The mother of this family is
a devoted member of the Presbyteriou Church of
Monroe. In politics our subject was a Repub
lican, on which ticket he was elected at various
times as Supervisor. He was a Mason of high
standing and took a great interest in the work of
that order. Honorable in his dealings, kindly
and social in domestic life, he was ever regarded
with a due measure of esteem by those about him.

+=

=+

(Jeremiah horton Thompson, one of
I the substantial agriculturists of the town of
(2/ Monroe, was born on the farm adjoining his
present estate, January 13, 1821. He was reared
in his native town and there attended school un
til his nineteenth year. He lived with his parents
until the time of his marriage, whicli occurred
when in his twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth year,
when he located upon his present farm. The
place did not contain many improvements at that
time, but Mr. Thompson has caused to be erected
substantial buildings of every description and
placed the fields under advanced tillage.
The parents of our subject were Nathaniel and
Sarah (Horton) Thompson, both born in the
town of Blooming Grove, the former December 2,
1792, and the latter March 15, 1797. They took
up their abode in the town of Monroe about 18 19,

purchasing at that time one hundred and fifty
acres of land. Nathaniel Thompson died Feb
ruary 7, 1879, and his good wife March 11, 1875.
The paternal grandparents were George and Eliz
abeth (Gregory) Thompson, farmers, who were
likewise born in Blooming Grove. The former
died about 1840, aged seventy-nine years, and his
wife in 1826, when in her sixtieth year.
The Thompson family in America originated
from one of three brothers who came hither from
the North of Ireland, the great-grandfather,
George Thompson, Sr., settling in the town of
Goshen. The other brothers were William and
James. George Thompson, Jr., was a lad of six
teen years on the outbreak of the Revolutionary
War, and although anxious to engage in battle,
was too young to be accepted. He had two
brothers, however, who participated in the battle
of Ft. Montgomery.
Nathaniel Thompson served in the War of
18 12, taking the place of his brother, who had
been drafted, but who through illness was pre
vented from going to the front. Mrs. Sarah
Thompson was the daughter of Jeremiah and
Mary (Goldsmith) Horton. Her father was
born October 24, 1759, on Long Island, and was
the son of Lieut. Israel and Sarah (Lee) Horton.
He made his home with Grandfather Lee until
sixteen years of age, when he came to Orange
County, aud, January 12, 1783, married Miss
Mary Goldsmith. He served as a soldier in the
War of the Revolution, and was under the com
mand of General Washington at various times.
By trade he was a stone-mason, and a farmer by
occupation. Hewas in the employ of the Gov
ernment during the building of old Ft. Putnam,
near West Point, and the contract for this job,
which bears his signature, is still in the posses
sion of the family. After locating in Blooming
Grove he erected the large stone residence which
is now occupied by the widow of his only son.
He departed this life September 7, 1841, and his
good wife died June 10, 1833.
Lieut. Israel Horton was the son of Jonathan
and Elizabeth (Goldsmith) Horton, and was born
011 Long Island about 1728. In 1755 he married
Miss Sarah Lee, who was born in 1730, and who

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

827

was the daughter of Rev. John Lee, of Lynn.
Israel moved to the town of Goshen with his
family iu 1762, and there made his home until
his decease, in 1771. Jonathan Horton was the
son of Jonathan, Sr., and Bertha (Conklin) Hor
ton, and he was born on Long Island about 1694.
In 1720 he married Miss Elizabeth Goldsmith,
the daughter of John Goldsmith. Jonathan, Sr.,
was in turn the son of Caleb and Abigail (Hal
lock) Horton, the former of whom was born about
1668, and was married in 1693. Caleb was the
son of Barnabus, whose birth occurred in 1640,
and his marriage with Miss Hallock was cele
brated in 1665. She was the daughter of Peter
Hallock, who came over in the "Mayflower."
Barnabus came to America in the ship ' 'Swallow,"
about 1633, and was one of thirteen on board
who brought their tombstones with them. His
epitaph was carved thereon, with the exception of
the date of his death.
The Hortons, who came to Orange County
from Long Island, were originally of English
stock. It is presumed, however, that they were
of Roman origin, as the name has been known
in English history since the conquest of Cae
sar, and in Anglo-Saxon means an enclosure.
The coat-of-arms is a stag's head. The first of
the family to make his home in America was
Barnabus, who first located at Southold, L. I.,
about 1633. He erected a house at that place
about 1660, which was still standing and in a
good state of preservation in 1873, when last
seen by the family,
The subject of this sketch was married, Decem
ber 5, 1846, to Miss Mary Webb, a native ofthe
town of Monroe, and the daughter of Samuel and
Abigail (Conklin) Webb, the former ofwhom was
a farmer and born in the town of Goshen. The
mother was a native of Monroe and a daughter of
Daniel Conklin. Samuel Webb was the son of
Charles and Martha (Van Vaeter) Webb, proba
bly natives of Goshen. Samuel, a brother of
Charles, was killed by the Indians, as was also his
father, who likewise bore the same name. The
latter was a very large man, being six feet nine
inches, and the Indian who killed him boasted
that he had killed the biggest man in the settle

ment. Charles Webb moved to the town of Mon
roe in 1798, settling near Mt. Basha Pond, and
there the family lived for four or five generations.
Samuel was born about the close of the Revolu
tionary period, and was five years of age when
Washington was elected first President. He was
Ensign in the War of 1 8 1 2 , was later promoted to
be Captain, and at the close of the conflict was
commissioned Colonel.
He was a noted athlete and was very prominent
after the war in the militia as trainer. In 1823
he was elected to the General Assembly, and
served several terms as Justice of the Peace. In
political affairs he took a great interest and was a
man of influence in his party.
By her union with our subject Mrs. Thompson
became the mother of three children. Sarah
Abigail, now deceased; Anna D., who died when
thirty years of age; and Nancy, at home with her
parents. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the
Presbyterian Church. Like his ancestors, our
subject was in early life an old-line Whig, and
now votes for Republican candidates. He has al
ways refused official positions, and with the ex
ception of serving for seven or eight years as In
spector of Elections has not held office. During
the war he was a member of the Union League,
and helped forward the cause of the Union as
much as possible.

:}****£ *$* *5* *$* *§* x

^ITSAAC BARNES, one of the successful busi-
I ness men of Turner, was born in the town of
X Cornwall, October 25, 1826, and there passed
the first twenty-two years of his life. In the
mean time he had been given the privileges of the
district school, making the best of his opportuni
ties, for he fully realized the advantages to be
gained by having a good education.
A year after attaining his majority our subject
left home, and, coming to Turner, engaged to
work for Peter Turner. In 1859, however, he
went to Bay City, Mich., and remained there un
til 1866, working in the lumber business. At
the expiration of that time he returned to Turner
and has made it his home ever since. The oar-

828

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ents of our subject were Matthew and Mary
(Van Duzer) Barnes, the former born in the west
ern portion of this state in 1800. When a young
man he came to Orange County and here met and
married his wife. They located on a farm, and
passed the remainder of their lives in its cultiva
tion. Mrs. Barnes, who was the daughter of
Benjamin Van Duzer, died in 1885.
The parental household included thirteen chil
dren, of whom the eldest, Benjamin, died in in
fancy ; Mary married Joel Pmkney, who is now
deceased, and she resides in Turner; William is
a well-to-do agriculturist near this place; Van
Duzer is living near Pine Island;. Sarah married
Joshua Fritz, who is deceased; Hiram, now de
ceased, was for many years a resident of Marlboro,
Ulster County; Samuel died when a young man
of twenty-one years; Phebe became the wife of
Andrew Thorn, of Newburgh; Nathaniel is liv
ing at Mountain ville; Ann is the widow of Sam
uel Quackenbush and is still living on the old
home farm in the town of Cornwall; James Henry
is a resident of Mountainville; and John M. is liv
ing in Central Valley.
Our subject was married at Turner, October 26,
1854, to Miss Sarah J. Rumsey, a native of this
place, and the daughter of Courtland and Michal
(Thorn) Rumsey, natives, respectively, of High
land and Central Valley. Courtland Rumsey
was the son of Jeremiah and Esther (Earl) Rum
sey, farmers who lived near Highland Mills in
the early days. Michal was the daughter of Da
vid and Euphemia (Earl) Thorn, who were born
and reared upon a tract of land which is now in
cluded within the limits of Central Valley.
To Courtland Rumsey and his wife there were
born five children, of whom we make the follow
ing mention: Euphemia married Thomas R. Earl,
of Turner; Sarah J., Mrs. Barnes, was the second-
born; William Henry is fireman on the Erie Road,
with headquarters at Middletown; Elizabeth L-
died in infancy; and Charles M. is Ferry Master
at Chambers Street, in New York City.
The seven children who came to bless the home
of our subject and wife were: Mary E., now the
wife of John D. Forsdick, of Port Jervis; Hannah,
who died when fourteen years of age; William I. ,

a resident of Port Jervis; Carrie, whose death oc
curred when in her third year; Charles H., at
home; Emma G., who married Adam Jacqmein,
a barber of the village of Monroe-; and Euphemia
R., the wife of B. F. Quick, of Port Jervis.
In religious affairs our subject is not connected
with any denomination, although he contributes
liberally to the support ofthe Presbyterian Church,
to which his wife belongs. In politics he is a
Democrat, and on that ticket has been elected
Constable and Road Commissioner, serving in
the former position for nine years.

— 2-

_=33).

' -^g>

M£-<g

— = — j~

(Sidney b. Cornell. Among the young
7\ farmers of Orange County who are pursu
it ing their course in life with great energy
and much skill, we call the attention of the reader
to Mr. Cornell, who is gaining very satisfactory
results from operating a fine farm in the town of
Woodbury, near Central Valley. He was born
in the town of Cornwall, October 7, 1866, and
there lived until a lad of fourteen years, in the
mean time attending the district school. He
then went to Green Point, now a part of the city
of Brooklyn, and for a period of five years clerked
for J. S. Drake, who afterward became his
brother-in-law, and who was a hay and grain
merchant. Upon leaving his employ our sub
ject opened up in this line for himself, aud con
tinued there until November 6, 1893. April 15,
1894, he came to this county and took up his
abode on his present estate, which was left to
Mrs. Cornell by her grandfather. The farm is
located near that of his father-in-law, Jesse C.
Brown, and was formerly part of the old home
stead. William M. Cornell, the father of our subject,
who is now one of the prosperous farmers of
Orange County, was born in the town of Monroe,
August 19, 1826. His father, who bore the
name of Josiah, was a large land-owner, having
in his possession about seven hundred acres of
land, which he divided among his children. Our
subject's mother was formerly Miss Sarah Cor
nell, and was the daughter of Harrison and Char-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

829

ity (Earl) Cornell. She was married to our sub
ject's father at Highland Mills, November 24,
1859, and to them were born six sons and daugh
ters, viz.: Charlotte, who married John S . Drake,
of Green Point, L- I. ; Harrison, a farmer liv
ing near his father; Josiah, who is a resident of
Central Valley; Sidney, our subject; and Charity
and Charles, at home. The parents were mem
bers of the Society of Friends. For a more com
plete history of the parents, we refer the reader
to the sketch of the father, found elsewhere in
this volume.
Our subject was married, December 24, 1891,
to Miss Euphemia Brown, the daughter of Jesse
C. Brown, who was born on the old homestead,
of which our subject's farm is a part. To Mr.
and Mrs. Cornell there were born two children:
Gertrude, who was born May 24, 1893; and one
who died unnamed in infancy. In religious af
fairs both our subject and his wife belong to the
Quaker Church, and in politics he is a Republi
can. Mr. Cornell follows dairy farming prin
cipally, in which line he is meeting with success.
He is a man of exemplary habits and is classed
among the most worthy citizens of the locality.

EHRISTOPHER HAGERTY, for many years
a successful farmer of Orange County, died
June 13, 1895. The place upon which he
made his home is situated in the town of Minisink,
and is quite valuable, owing to the fact that it is
largely devoted to the cultivation of fruit, and
also because it is advantageously located adjacent
to Unionville. In addition to this property he
also owned one hundred and sixty acres of land
in the town of Warwick, embodied in a well im
proved farm, containing all the modern improve
ments. His attention was devoted to the super
vision of his property, and he received a good in
come from his land.
Across the line in the neighboring county of
Sussex, N. J., Christopher Hagerty was born
August 7, 1823. The early years of his life were
quietly and busily passed upon the farm were he
was born, and in boyhood he gained a thorough

knowledge of all the details incident to farm
work, becoming in that way fitted to superintend
large and important agricultural interests. He
remained beneath the parental roof until he was
twenty-eight years of age, when he married aud
established a home of his own.
The marriage of Mr. Hagerty occurred May
12, 1 85 1, when he was united with Miss Jemima
Kinney, daughter of David Kinney, of Sussex
County, N. J. After his marriage he rented the
old homestead for five years, and being industri
ous and economical, at the expiration of that
time he was able to purchase property. He
bought one hundred and fifty-six acres of land in
the town of Warwick, and there engaged in the
work incident to the cultivation of a first-class
farm. In 1874 he removed to Unionville and
subsequently bought additional land, so that his
place here comprises about sixteen acres.
Mr. Hagerty began life without capital and
worked his way steadily upward, overcoming the
obstacles in his path, until he was numbered
among the substantial citizens of his community.
Politically his energies were put forth in the in
terests of the Republican party. He was identi
fied with the Baptist Church at Glenwood, and
his wife is at present a member of the Methodist
Church. He gave hearty encouragement to en
terprises that would in any way contribute to the
advancement of the community. Honesty and
probity characterized his dealings, and his char
acter is above reproach.

5JILBERT TURNER, a farmer in the town of
a Woodbury, near Turner, was born within
one hundred yards of his present residence,
March 11, 1822. The family has long resided
in this county. Peter Turner, the father of our
subject, was born in 1791, and came to Orange
County in 1808. His main occupation was that
of a farmer, but for some years he was engaged
in keeping a hotel where the village of Central
Valley is now located. He also kept a general

83o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

store and wood depot at Ft. Montgomery, selling
wood to various sloops on the Hudson River.
At Turner he also followed milling, and there
had a general store and tavern. It was for him
that the village of Turner was named. He died
in 1873, at the age of eighty-two. Peter Turner
was the son of Gilbert Turner, who was born near
Peekskill, August 12, 1768, and followed farming
in his native county and in Orange County until
his death, December 10, 1824. At the time he
settled in Orange County wild game was in abund
ance and he shot wild turkeys on his farm. In
dians used to camp on his farm, and the country
was full of gray forest wolves. He married Han
nah Brewster, who was born in Putnam County,
October 14, 1763, and died March 18, 1839.
Peter Turner, the father of our subject, married
Mary Ann Galloway, who was born near Central
Valley, and who was a daughter of James and
Miriam (Archer) Galloway, the former born on
the farm where Gilbert Turner now resides, and
the latter between Monroe and Turner, on what
is known as the Ola Archer Farm. To Peter
and Mary Ann Turner were born five children:
Charles, who resides near Monroe; Theron, who
died in 1890, in the town of Cornwall; James, who
died in 1892, at Newark, N. J.; Gilbert, our sub
ject; and a daughter who died in infancy.
When five years of age Gilbert Turner removed
with his parents to Lamoreaux Tavern, which
was located in what is now the village of Central
Valley. The family resided here two years, and
then moved to old Ft. Montgomery. When a boy
he remembers tying his fishing-line to the ring
to which the chain across the river was fastened.
Afterward, while at Newburgh, he saw the links
of the chain taken from the river. The family
resided at Ft. Montgomery five years, then re
turned to the farm and remained two years, going
thence to Ft. Montgomery, where they remained
seven years more. Our subject first attended the
district school at the latter place, and remembers
finding human bones among the rocks there. He
attended school off and on until his twentieth
year, but when eighteen years of age he started
in life for himself, clerking in the store of Victor
M. Purdy at Canterbury, where he remained two

years. He then returned home and took care of
the mill for his father at Turner, and also engaged
in farm work for two years. Later he went to
Milton, Ulster County, and clerked in a store for
one year, and afterward spent one year at home
working for his father. Subsequently he went
to Poughkeepsie and spent four years as a clerk
in the largest store in that city, that of Bowen,
Trowbridge & Co. , and for the next five years
was at home, assisting his father in his business.
On the 28th of June, 1847, our subject was
united in marriage, in the city of New York, with
Miss Martha Susanna Pollard, who was born in
that city, and who received her education in pri
vate schools, and also in Cooper Institute. She
is a daughter of Capt. William and Eliza (Mc-
Keag) Pollard, the former of whom was born in
Portland, Me., and followed the seas about twenty
years. The latter resides in Brooklyn, at the age
of ninety-four years. Mrs. Turner's paternal
grandfather was also a sea-captain and lost his
life at sea, his vessel being wrecked. Her fa '-.her
was also on the same vessel, but he and some
other seamen were saved by lashing themselves
to a mast. Our subject has in his possession an
old Bible that was carried on that trip, and his
wife has a collection of curios from every country
in Europe, brought home by her father. In her
father's family were ten children, four sons and
six daughters, of whom Mrs. Turner is second in
order of birth and the eldest daughter.
To our subject and wife were bom eight chil
dren, six of whom are now living: Franklin C,
who resides west of the Missouri River, and is
connected with the beef trust; Peter, living on the
old Archer Farm, between Turner and Monroe;
George, a car man of New York City; Duane,
who died at the age of thirty-two; Eliza Wilhem-
etta, who was killed by the cars; Mary Ann, who
married IJoward B. Youngs, at Rye, Westchester
County, a produce dealer at that place; Alexan
der, who is engaged in farming near Newburgh;
aud Theron S. , who married Miss Ellen Odell,
and is residing with our subject. Politically Mr.
Turner has always been a liberal Republican,
voting for the best man in local affairs. Though
against his wishes, he has served several times as

MRS. GEORGE GOUGE.

GEORGE GOUGE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

835

Road Commissioner, but would never accept any
other office. Mrs. Turner is a member of the
Presbyterian Church of Monroe. The family en
joy the respect of every one with whom they are
acquainted, and are numbered among the best
citizens in Orange County.

EEORGE GOUGE, whose decease occurred
March 14, 1885, was for many years a pros
perous and wide-awake business man of Or
ange County, and was a farmer of some promi
nence. His estate, which was located in the
town of Hamptonburgh, he purchased in 1864.
It comprised one hundred and forty acres of pro
ductive land, and this he cultivated in a most
thorough and profitable manner.
Mr. Gouge was born in Trenton, Oneida Coun
ty, this state, June 10, 1810. His parents were
Jacob and Mary Gouge, who were born near
Springfield, Mass., and who departed this life
many years ago. Our subject was fairly well
educated in the schools near his home, and when
ready to establish a home of his own was married
to Miss Matilda Booth, a native of the town of
Hamptonburgh, her birth occurring April 26,
1825. She was the' daughter of Jesse and Hilah
(Hawkins) Booth, well-to-do residents of this
section. The subject of this sketch was trained in his
native place, and when about eighteen -years of
age learned the blacksmith's trade. Wishing to
better his condition financially, he decided to
change his location, and went to Wisconsin. See
ing a good opportunity, he speculated largely
in land, which he subsequently sold to good ad
vantage, and then returned to Oneida County.
Shortly afterward, however, in 1856, hearing of
the beautiful country in and around Hampton
burgh, he came to Orange County, locating in
the town of Hamptonburgh, where he took charge
of a creamery, operating the same for a period of
twenty-two years in partnership with Nathaniel
D. Woodhull, who joined him shortly after the
business was thoroughly established. In the
mean time, however, in 1864, he purchased and

located upon the farm now occupied by Mrs.
Gouge, and divided his attention between it and
the creamery.
Mr. Gouge was a prominent man in his neigh
borhood, and for a time was Town Supervisor.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian
Church of Hamptonburgh, and was also a Mason
of high standing. In his death the county lost
one of its most progressive and enterprising resi
dents. Mrs. Gouge has a pleasant home in the
village of Campbell Hall, where she spends the
summer months, sojourning in the South or on
the Pacific Coast in the winter. She was former
ly a member of the Associate Reformed Church,
but is now a devoted member of the First Pres
byterian Church of Hamptonburgh, located at
Campbell Hall. The edifice is a pleasing struct
ure, to the erection of which Mrs. Gouge was
a very liberal contributor.

i^^in.

NENRY W. CROMWELL, a leading mer
chant of Highland Mills, was born in Brook
lyn, N. Y., December 28, 1866, and is a
son of Henry T. and Hannah M. (Weygant)
Cromwell, the former a native of Highland Mills,
and the latter of Central Valley, N. Y. The
Cromwell family is of ancient English origin, and
the American branch of the family is directly de
scended from the father of Oliver Cromwell, the
Great Commoner of England. Joseph Cromwell,
the brother of Oliver, emigrated to America, and
the branch of the family in Orange County is de
scended from him. Rich was another brother of
Oliver; then comes Colonel John, the third son
of Rich, who had a son also named John. The
latter emigrated from Holland to the New Neth
erlands, and iu 1686 resided at Long Neck,
Westchester County, N. Y., which place was
afterwards known as Cromwell's Neck. He mar
ried and left two sons, John and James. John
Cromwell, the third, was born December 5, 1727,
and married Anna Hopkins, of Long Island,
who was born January 12, 1730. John was an
active patriot during the Revolutionary War, and
died in 1805.

37

836

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The earliest record of the family in the old
family Bible now in possession of our subject,
and inscribed in the quaint Quaker style, is as
follows: "John Cromwell, born fifth day, twelfth
month, A. D. 1727; Anna, his wife, born first
month, twelfth day, 1730." Their marriage
must have occurred about 1750, as their first
born, James, was born November 6, 1752. Daniel,
Naomi, Esther Hannah, John, Joseph and Will
iam, their remaining children, were born between
1752 and 1773. James was married, May 16,
1782, to Charlotte Hunt, whose birth occurred
November 11, 1762. To them were born ten
children, Hannah, Rebecca, Daniel, James, Oliver,
David, Ann, William and Mary, twins, and John.
Oliver's birth occurred April 8, 1792, and he died
May 4, 1843. His marriage, December 22, 1813,
united him with Sarah Titus, who was born June
28, 1794, and died November 7, 1848. They
had ten children, Joshua T. , Ann, Mary, Thomas,
Hannah, James, John, Phcebe, William and Char
lotte. Joshua T. was born March 24, 1815,
and was married, February 4, 1836, to Miss Eliz
abeth Little Titus, whose birth occurred June 29,
181 1. To them were born eleven children: Mar
tha, Sarah, Henry T., Oliver, Phcebe, Mary,
Mary, Charles, Edward, George and Elizabeth.
Hannah M. (Weygant) Cromwell, the mother
of our subject, is a daughter of Smith and Char
ity (Lamoreaux) Weygant, the former being a
son of Rev. Francis and Rachael Earl Weygant,
both of whom were born near Central Valley.
Smith Weygant was a farmer, and owned large
tracts of mountain land, which furnished im
mense quantities of charcoal to the furnaces in the
county. He also owned a large saw and planing
mill. Rev. Francis Weygant was a Methodist
Episcopal minister, and died on the old homestead,
near the Methodist Episcopal Church at Highland
Mills. Charity Lamoreaux was the daughter of
Robert and Hannah (Lent) Lamoreaux.
To Henry T. and Hannah M. Cromwell were
born five children: Ella, who died in infancy;
Henry W., the subject of this sketch; Frank,.
who died at the age of eighteen months; Edward,
who died at the age of six years; aud Bessie,
now residing with her parents.

Henry W. Cromwell, the subject of this sketch,
remained in Brooklyn until fourteen years of age,
during which time he attended the Brooklyn
public schools, and the year following he at
tended the Unionville school. In 1883 he was
with his parents on the farm, but from that year
until 1886 was with his father in his store at
Highland Mills, and the succeeding four years
was in the grocery business in New York City.
On the ist of March, 1890, as his father had died
December 2, 1889, he succeeded to the business
and took charge of the store where he is now
located. He carries a general stock of merchan
dise and enjoys a large trade.
The subject of this sketch was married, August
14, 1886, in New York City, to Miss Nellie Davis,
who was born in Cornwall, and who is a daugh
ter of John L. and Jane (McKelvey) Davis, the
former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter
of Orange County. Three children have been
born unto them: Ethel W., Helen T. and Ma
rion. Mrs. Cromwell is a member of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Crom
well is a Republican, and socially is a member of
Standard Lodge No. 711, of Monroe. He is also
a member of Schunnemunk Lodge No. 276, K.
of P., of Highland Mills.

0 LIVER B. TYRRELL. As one of the old
residents of Orange County, and a man
whose energies have been devoted to the de
velopment of its agricultural resources, the name
of Mr. Tyrrell well deserves mention in this work.
His farm is one of the best in the town of Mt.
Hope, and does credit to his judgment iu select
ing such a locality as the place of his future resi
dence, and to his industry in bringing it into a
state of superior cultivation. The one hundred
acres comprising the place are devoted to general
farming and the dairy industry, from which lines
of activity he receives a substantial income.
Noting the parental history of our subject, we
find that his father, Joseph P. Tyrrell, was born

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

837

in Connecticut, and learned the hatter's trade at
Danbury, that state. About 1790, when a young
man, he removed to Ulster County, N. Y., and
purchased a farm, where he spent the remainder
of his life, dying at the age of about seventy-five.
Politically he favored Republican principles. He
was a man of Christian belief, and found a relig
ious home in the Methodist Church. In his un
dertakings he was fairly successful, and though
not able to give his children every advantage,
nevertheless started them in life with habits of
industry and perseverance well formed. His wife,
who bore the maiden name of Sophia Bessley,
was born in Ulster County, and died when about
forty-five years of age. She, too, was a member
of the Methodist Church.
In Ulster County the subject of this notice was
born August 23, 1823, and there he attended the
district schools. At the age of seventeen he went
to Sullivan County and learned the carpenter's
trade, which he followed there until November,
1849, the date of his removal to Orange County.
On coming here he purchased a farm in the town
of Wallkill, and followed agricultural pursuits in
connection with his trade for fourteen years.
Finally disposing of that place, he bought his pres
ent farm in the town of Mt. Hope, and here he
has since made his home, devoting his time to
farm work and his trade.
The lady who became the wife of Mr. Tyrrell
January 16, 1847, was Mrs. (Mapes) Hulse, of
the town of Wallkill. Eight children were born
unto them, namely: William Henry, who died at
the age of four years; Alice J., who married Gab
riel M. Pollard, and died at the age of thirty-four
years; Ettie, who departed this life when four
years old; John, who is engaged in the milk bus
iness in Jersey City; Charles B., proprietor of a
grocery store in Middletown; George H., who
now manages the home farm; Elsworth O., a
railroadman residing in Middletown; and Libbie,
who died at three years of age.
An active worker in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, Mr. Tyrrell has served as Trustee for
twenty years, and has in that time filled nearly
all the offices of the church. In politics his
opinions are no less pronounced than upon other

subjects, and he gives his unqualified support to
the men and measures of the Republican party.
He deservedly ranks as one of the best citizens of
the town and one who, by his strict sense of hon
or, has won the position for himself.

"PHRAIM MANNING. Few men have
""j lived more quietly or unostentatiously than
__ Mr. Manning, yet few have exerted a more
salutary influence upon the immediate society in
which they move, or impressed the community
with a more profound reliance on their honor,
ability and sterling worth. He owns a beautiful
farm of one hundred and fifty acres, situated in
the town of Mt. Hope, and improved with all the
accessories of a modern estate, including a neat
residence. Near it are such structures as the
practical development of a model farm calls for,
while through the proper rotation of crops and
fertilizing of the soil, the land has been brought
under excellent cultivation.
Born in the town of Greenville, this county,
December 11, 1839, Ephraim Manning is the
elder of two sons comprising the family of Joseph
and Eveline (Blizard) Manning. Merritt C, the
younger, is in the milk business in New York
City. The father was born in the town of Green
ville, April 14, 1814, and was reared on a farm,
becoming familiar in youth with the occupation of
an agriculturist, which he made his life calling.
In his political views he was a Democrat and took
an active part in local politics, filling the major
ity of the town offices. After a long and useful
life, he passed to the home beyond, June 28, 1891.
The old homestead, which is still in possession
of members of the family, was purchased by the
grandfather of our subject, Benjamin Manning,
who was of English descent. Our subject's
mother was born iu the town of Greenville in
18 19, and is still living, making her home with
her son Ephraim.
After completing the studies of the common
schools, our subject became a student in the
academy at Mt. Rose, Pa., where he finished his
education. Upon attaining his majority he was

838

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married, and about the same time purchased the
farm where he has since resided. His union with
Miss Caroline A. Rundle, of the town of Green
ville, was solemnized November 21, 1861, aud
was blessed with two children: Albert, who is en
gaged in business in New York City ; and Eva K. ,
wife of Abraham Wyckoff, of Hopewell, Mercer
County, N. J.
While never willing to accept official positions,
Mr. Manning is deeply interested in public mat
ters, and is au unswerving advocate of the Dem
ocratic party. His wife is identified with the
Old-school Baptist Church, and he is in sympathy
with the religious sentiments of the same and a
contributor to its success, but is not connected
with it by membership. He is a man of great
self-reliance, one who by experience has learned
to depend upon himself. In disposition he is
straightforward, unassuming, energetic, and his
friends are numerous in the town where he makes
his home.

|")ESTCOME POTTER CONKLIN has long
Y\ been prominently identified with the history
r \ of Orange County, both in an official and
civil capacity. For many years he has been the
efficient Police Magistrate of Chester, in which
village he was born October 14, 1847. He is a
member of a family long and prominently con
nected with the history of this state, and is a
descendant, through his mother, of Judge Piatt
Potter, an eminent jurist and author of two vol
umes, published in 1779, entitled "Potter on
Corporation;" also a treatise on "Equity Juris
prudence.' '
Restcome, the father of Judge Potter, and the
great-grandfather of our subject, was a native ot
Massachusetts, but took up his abode in New
York City early in life. During the war with
England, he engaged in military service under the
command of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame;
later he received a Colonel's commission in the
militia from Gov. George Clinton, for whom he
named one of his sons. In 1 806 he brought his

family to Saratoga County, where he engaged in
farming. Soon after coming here, he was chosen
to represent the people in an official capacity,
and at different times held various important posi
tions. For sixteen years he was Judge of the
Common Pleas Court, and for some time he
served as Supreme Judge of New York. He
died in 1853, esteemed by all who knew him.
It is in honor of this ancestor that our subject is
named, and this sketch will serve to explain how
this strikingly unusual name was conferred upon
him. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Ben
jamin- Conklin, was united in marriage, in 1799,
with Mehitable Mather, daughter of Ebenezer
Mather, of historic fame. Their sixth child was
Walter H, our subject's father, and a native of
this county. After the death of his parents, which
occurred when he was thirteen years old, he made
his home with his brother Daniel, and when
young was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade.
As soon as he became proficient in this business,
he established a merchant-tailoring store at Ams
terdam, N. Y.
While in that city, in 1842, Mr. Conklin mar
ried Lucretia Chamberlain, and they became the
parents of six children, of whom Jennie and Rest
come Potter are the only survivors. Their daugh
ter Charlotte D. married W. H. Sparks, and is
now deceased. Jennie E. is the wife of Thomas
W. Brooks, of Washingtonville, N. Y. In 1845
the father removed to Chester and there contin
ued the merchant-tailoring business until his
death, which occurred July 25, 1895, at the age
of seventy-five years. For forty-five years he had
served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church,
and his loss was deeply felt in his congregation.
His wife, who was born in Amsterdam, N. Y.,
still makes her home in Chester, and is now
(1895) iu her seventy-eighth year.
In boyhood the subject of this notice attended
Chester Academy, and later completed his edu
cation in the Cooperstown (N. Y.) Seminary.
After leaving school he gave his attention to agri
cultural pursuits, and for many years he has been
extensively engaged in raising onions. He has
never joined the army of Benedicts, preferring to

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

839

live in single blessedness. In religious matters
he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and
discharges the duties of Trustee in a satisfactory
manner. He has always voted for Republican
candidates, and never lets an opportunity pass
when he can use his influence for furthering the
interests of his party in the county. The cause
of education has had in him au able champion,
who has done much toward advancing the stand
ard of scholarship in Chester, and he is at pres
ent serving as a member of the Board of Educa
tion. In 1892 he was elected Justice of the
- Peace and Police Magistrate, and is still the in
cumbent of both of these responsible positions.

P QlLLIAM WILSON, a farmer residing near
\KI Highland Mills, is a native of Aberdeen,
VV Scotland, and was born July 10, 1858, in
the village of Fetterangus, located in the north
eastern part of that shire. He is the second in a
family often children, ofwhom only two besides
himself came to America, the others being Alfred
Noble, who resides in the town of Woodbury,
and Joseph, whose home is near Boston, Mass.
The parents, John and Ann (Massie) Wilson,
were born in Scotland, where the father followed
the shoemaker's trade in Fetterangus until his
death. In that village the mother still makes
her home. The paternal grandparents of our sub
ject were John and Christina (Noble) Wilson,
the former of whom was a stonemason by trade;
the latter was a daughter of Peter and Jane
(Williamson) Noble. The maternal grandpar
ents, William Massie and his wife, who was a
Miss Jeffrey, were life-long residents of Scotland,
where he engaged in building stone walls.
In the parish school of Fetterangus the sub
ject of this notice passed the days of early youth
in close attention to his books, but at the age of
eleven he was obliged to discontinue his studies
and begin the battle of life for himself. Until
fourteen he was employed on a farm, after which
he worked with his father at the shoemaker's
trade, following that occupation iu the Old Coun
try until 1885, when he came to America and

settled in New York City. There he secured a
position in McComber's store, at No. 52 East
Tenth Street, where he was employed for ten
years. At the death ofthe foreman, in 1892, he
was promoted to that position, which he held un
til January 1, 1895. Meantime, in 1892, he had
purchased a farm of fifty-three acres, known as
the Rumsey Homestead, and situated in the town
of Woodbury, Orange County. Hither he came
in 1895 and established his permanent home.
While in New York City, November 3, 1887,
Mr. Wilson married Miss Carrie Brooks, a na
tive of that place. Her parents, John Walter and
Catherine (Sutherland) Brooks, .were natives, re
spectively, of Ft. Montgomery and Monroe, Or
ange County, and the former was a son of John,
Jr., and Sarah (Reynolds) Brooks. John, Jr.,
was a son of John, Sr. , a soldier in the Colonial
army during the Revolution, who was taken by
the British during the engagement of Ft. Mont
gomery. A brother of Sarah Reynolds, William,
who helped to plant the first trees in Greenwood
Cemetery, died at the age of ninety-nine years
and eight months. The mother of Mrs. Wilson
was a daughter of William and Sarah (Reynolds)
Sutherland, and the latter was a daughter of
William and Mahala (Earl) Reynolds. Mr.
and Mrs. Brooks were the parents of thirteen
children, of whom only three are now living.
In religious belief our subject and his wife are
Presbyterians, and their membership is in the
First Church, on Thirty-fourth Street, New York.
Politically he is a Republican.

Gl NDREW J. GUMAER. The name of this
I I gentleman is closely linked with the history
/ I of the little village of Guymard, for he was
one of its founders, and has been devoted to its
welfare from the first. He is the proprietor of
a mercantile business here, and being a man of
wise judgment and business foresight, he has been
enabled to make a success of his enterprises. In
addition to his property in 'this place, he is the

840

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

owner of a beautiful farm in the Neversink Val
ley, and also has about two hundred acres in the
town of Deerpark.
Mr. Gumaer was born in the town of Deer-
park, November 4, 1833, and was next to the
youngest of the family of seven, five sons and two
daughters, born to Peter E. and Esther (Cudde
back) Gumaer, to whom reference is made in the
sketch of Peter L. Gumaer, elsewhere presented.
Our subject remained at home until he became of
age, meantime working in a store at the Locks
with his brothers. Afterward he continued with
his brothers, owning an interest in the enterprise.
At the time of his father's death, when the estate
was divided, he sold his interest in the store to
his brothers, but kept the farm.
A few years later, forming a partnership with
his brothers, Ezekiel P., Jacob C. E. and Peter
L- , our subject built a private wagon road through
the mountains to where the station of Guymard
is now located, and founded this place on the
Erie Railroad. In digging the cuts in the moun
tains for the road, they discovered mineral, which,
upon investigation, proved to be lead and zinc
ore. There being an abundant supply of the ore,
it was deemed wise to open a mine. According
ly a stock company was formed, which opened a
mine on the land now occupied by the village of
Guymard. In a short time our subject sold his
interest, and when the village was established,
his brothers, Peter L. and Jacob, came here and
opened a store, while he and the other brother
carried on the store at the Locks, in the town of
Deerpark. In 1875 he sold out the business at
the Locks and came to Guymard, where he has
since been engaged in merchandising.
In 1862 Mr. Gumaer married Miss Annie E.
Strong, of the town of Deerpark, but she died
after four years of wedded life. Iu 1868 he was
united with Miss Adelia R. Strong, a sister of his
first wife. She died March 7, 1890, leaving four
children, namely: William I., who operates his
father's farm in the town of Deerpark; Annie E.,
a successful teacher of music; Andrew A. and Ce
cil E. , who are with their father. Politically Mr.
Gumaer is a Republican, but the demands of his
business have engrossed his attention to such an

extent as to prevent participation in public affairs,
hence he has always refused office.. As a busi
ness man he is keen and shrewd, and has attained
unaided his present financial success.

d****(-I****'*

"^SAAC E. KETCHAM. This well known
I resident of the town of Mt. Hope, who is en-
X gaged in the milling business and farming
pursuits, was born August 6, 1848, upon the
farm where he now resides. He is the youngest
of four children comprising the family of Amos
and Sallie (Seybolt) Ketcham, the others being
as follows: Lamira, wife of E. Sweezy, of Orange
County; George, a miller, whose home is in Mid
dletown; and C. C. V., who died at the age of
about fifty-one years.
Our subject's father was born August 21, 1810,
on the farm now owned by our subject, and here
he spent the greater portion of his life, but when
advanced in years he moved to Otisville, and
there his death occurred June 8, 1887. In 1848
he built the mill in which Isaac E. is interested,
and which is the third mill erected on that site by
members of the Ketcham family. Politically he
was a firm Republican, and took an active part in
local affairs. He represented his fellow-citizens
in various positions of trust, among which may
be mentioned those of Supervisor and Assessor.
The paternal grandparents of our subject, Isaac
and Elizabeth (Beyed) Ketcham, were born Au
gust 7, 1780, and August 7, 1788, respectively,
and the latter died April 13, 1854, while the
former survived her many years, passing away
January 15, 187 1. It is worthy of mention that
his birth occurred upon the place where our subject
is now living. He went to the front during the
War of 1812, and took an active part in the same.
Our subject's mother was born in the town of
Mt. Hope, May 12, 18 14, and died February 11,
1871; her remains were buried in Otisville Ceme
tery. At the death of his parents, the subject of this
sketch inherited the old homestead, and here he
has since engaged in farm pursuits. September
17, 1871, he married Miss Sarah Frances Corwin,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

841

daughter of Silas and Charity (Corwin) Corwin,
of this town, and ten children were born unto
them. The eldest, Amos, was born December
15, 1872, and was drowned October 23, 1875.
The names and dates of birth of the other chil
dren are as follows: Gilbert C, June 9, 1874;
Sweezie, January 7, 1876; Ella E., May 26,
1877; Charles W., June 16, 1879; Etta L-, Jan
uary 9, 1 881; Albert R., November 13, 1882;
Robert T., August 13, 1884; Theodore W., April
18, 1887; and Isaac, August 7, 1889.
Believing that the principles of the Republican
party are calculated to advance the interests of
our people, Mr. Ketcham gives his ballot and in
fluence to its measures and candidates. He is
now serving his third term as Justice of the Peace
in the town , and he has also been Collector for
four years. In religious belief he is a Presby
terian, while his wife holds membership in the
Methodist Church. The farm upon which he re
sides comprises one hundred acres, all well im
proved, and is devoted to general farming and to
the milk industry, in which he has met with suc
cess. Fraternally he is a member of Hoffman
Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M,, of Middletown.

£)#G

ft> QlLLIAM H. CARPENTER. The town of
\ A / Mt. Hope contains no better example of
V V the quiet, efficient discharge of agricultural
duties than that afforded by Mr. Carpenter. Early
in life he determined to become a farmer, and,
giving all the strength of his mind to becoming
proficient in his chosen work, he has succeeded
well, having an estate of one hundred and thirty-
five acres, which produces abundantly of various
crops in their season, and is furnished with such
improvements as make it a place of most inviting
appearance. A native of the town of Wallkill, born Feb
ruary 11, 1840, the subject of this article is the
youngest child of William C. and Mary (Jessup)
Carpenter. He is the only surviving member of
the family, his brother, Theodore, having died at
the age of thirty, and his sister, Clara E., at the
age of nineteen years. The father was born in

the town of Warwick, and was reared on a farm
there, but after attaining manhood removed to
the town of Wawayanda, where he spent the re
maining years of his life. In his undertakings
he was moderately successful. He was a faithful
member ofthe Presbyterian Church, aud in the
hope of eternal happiness fell asleep at the age
of seventy-three. A Democrat in politics, he
served as Justice of the Peace for a quarter of a
century, and was Highway Commissioner for a
number of years in early life.
The first wife of William C. Carpenter, Mary
Jessup, as she was known in maidenhood, was
born in the town of Minisink, and died at the age
of twenty -two, when her youngest child was an
infant. Afterward the father married Maria Reed,
who died leaving one child, E. Dallas, now a
resident of Slate Hill, this county. His third
marriage united him with Emeline Carpenter,
who is now living in Middletown; the children
bosn of that marriage are Simon, Bud and Kirby.
At the time of his mother's death our subject was
a year old. He was reared by his step mother, and
attended school near his home, where he laid the
foundation of his education. For a time he was
a student in the Wallkill Academy, but was
obliged to abandon his studies 011 account of poor
health. Upon attaining his majority, our subject was
given a farm by his father, and that place he
made his home for six years. He then went to
Chemung County, N. Y., and purchased a tract
of land, upon which he engaged in farming for
fourteen years. On his return to this county, he
settled in the town of Mt. Hope, purchasing the
place where he now resides. November 16, 1859,
he married Miss Emily Wilson, a native of this
county, and there were born unto them three
children: Mary, wife of Charles Leigh, of New
York City; and two who died in childhood.
As a Democrat Mr. Carpenter has always taken
an active part in politics. He is now serving his
second term as Justice of the Peace, aud his elec
tion to that position proves his popularity, as the
town is strongly Republican. Socially he is a
member of Chemung Valley Lodge No. 350, F. &
A. M., and Cayuta Chapter No. 450, at Waver-

842

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ly. In former years he was identified with the
Commandery, but there is none near enough his
home to permit his attendance at the present time.
In religious views he is a Presbyterian, and holds
membership with the church of that denomina
tion near his home. With commendable public
spirit he favors all efforts to advance the welfare
of the community, and has contributed his quota
to the development of its interests.

NON. ANANIAS BREWSTER HULSE, one
ofthe best known residents of Orange Coun
ty, has held some official position since
twenty-seven years of age, when he was elected
Town Clerk. He was next honored by being
chosen as a member ofthe State Assembly, serv
ing acceptably for one term. After this he was
Assessor for three years, School Trustee for a
period of eighteen years, and January 1, 1896, will
have served his seventeenth year as Justice of the
Peace. Mr. Hulse comes of good old German stock.
His earliest ancestor in this country of whom
anything definite is known was one Jesse Hulse,
who was born on Long Island, November 22,
1779, and died July 14, 1855, in the town of
Blooming Grove. His two brothers, Stephen
and Ebenzer, moved to Ohio, and all trace of
them has since been lost. Jesse was a carpen
ter by trade, and probably came to Orange
County as a journeyman. He married Miss
Hannah Moor, a native of New Jersey, her birth
occurring October 30, 1779. She died April 28,
1863, after becoming the mother of four children.
Of this family Alfred Preston, the father of our
subject, was the eldest. Sally Moor Hulse died
unmarried, when eighty-three years of age;
Martha was twenty -five at the time of her demise;
and Ebenezer E. departed this life in Blooming
Grove. The father of our subject was born in the town
of Cornwall, near Bethlehem, February 4, 1805,
and died in February, 1887. He was quite young
at the time his parents removed to the town of
Blooming Grove, where he was reared to mature

years, aud where he engaged in farm pursuits all
his life. He was a leading politician and was
prominent in the tanks of the Democratic party.
For many years he served as Road Commissioner,
and in every position which he was called upon
to fill never failed to give satisfaction. He mar
ried Miss Harriet Chatfield Turtle, who was born
in the town of Blooming Grove, and who was the
daughter of James I. and Hulda (Brewster) Tut-
tle. Her father, who was also a native of this
county, was in the early days a mason by trade,
but passed his last years on a farm. His parents
were George and Anna (Hulse) Turtle.
Hulda Brewster was born in the town of Bloom
ing Grove, and was the daughter of Daniel and
Esther (Chatfield) Brewster, natives of Massa
chusetts, who also lived for a time on Long Island.
Daniel Brewster, who was the son of John, was
Town Clerk for a period of fifty years, and was
in other ways prominent in public affairs. His
father was a direct descendant of old Elder Brew
ster, one of the passengers in the "Mayflower."
Esther Chatfield was born on Long Island, and
her mother was a Miss Hunting.
The parental family included six sons and
daughters, namely: Ananias B., of this sketch;
Jesse, living in the town of Monroe; Dr. Hulda
T. , who first married Neil Campbell, and after
his death became the wife of Robert Gunn, of
New York City; Hannah, deceased, formerly the
wife of Col. T. Benton Brooks, of New Windsor;
Esther B., who married Ethan Carpenter, but is
now deceased; and Fannie, who was a graduate
of the state normal. The latter, who has also
departed this life, was the wife of Charles M.
Lawler, Superintendent of the Reading Railroad.
The birth of our subject occurred in the town
of Blooming Grove, on what is now known as
the Woodhull Farm, January 1, 1830. He re
mained in that town until a lad of six years,
when his parents moved to a farm near the vil
lage of Monroe. Here young Hulse attended the
public schools until reaching his seventeenth
year, and ever since that time has kept himself
well informed on what is going on around him.
He was an inmate of the parental household un
til thirty-four years of age, in the mean time

"S

~%.a

SAMUEL WICKHAM MILLS, D D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

845

proving of valuable assistance to his father in
managing the estate. The year following he
moved into the village of Monroe and began deal
ing in flour and feed. A twelvemonth later,
however, he established a grocery business, and
for three years was the proprietor of a thriving
trade. Since that time he has been an auc
tioneer, and so successful has he been in dispos
ing of goods that his services are greatly in de
mand. Mr. Hulse, like his father and grandfa
ther before him, is a Democrat, and has been
elected on that ticket to many of the important
offices which it has been within the gift of his
fellow -townsmen to bestow. For some twenty
years he has been Road Master, and during that
time made many valuable improvements in the
roads. Hon. A. B. Hulse was married February 24,
1866, in the town of Monroe, to Miss Susan Mc-
Kelvey Forshee, a native of this town. Her par
ents were Barnard and Eliza (McKelvey) Forshee,
also natives of the town of Monroe. Her pater
nal grandfather also bore the name of Barnard,
and was a well-to-do farmer. He married a Miss
Annie Cole, who, it is thought, was of Dutch
origin, while the grandfather was of French de
scent. Eliza McKelvey was the daughter of John
and Charity (Cooper) McKelvey, both natives
of this town. John McKelvey was the son of an
old Revolutionary soldier, who was of Scotch-
Irish descent. Charity Cooper was descended
from the same family as was Peter Cooper, ot
steamboat fame.
To our subject and his estimable wife there
were born three children. Alfred Preston, who
died in December, 1894, was a finely educated
and highly esteemed young man, and held the
important position of Chief Clerk on the Elgin
Belt Line Railroad, with headquarters at Chica
go. He was married on his death-bed to Miss
Olive Hopewell, of Areola, 111. The second of
the household was Miss Eliza Forshee, who mar
ried Newton N. Millington, of Monroe, Wis.;
they have a son, Newton Caldwell. Harriet
Chatfield married Theodore F. Lawrence, of
Chester, this county.
John McKelvey Forshee, a brother of Mrs.

Hulse, was assistant surgeon of the Fire Zouaves
during the late war, and was later surgeon of the
One Hundred and Sixty-sixth New York In
fantry. He served through the Peninsula cam
paign under MacClellan, and during his army
life contracted typhoid fever, from which he died
while at home on a furlough.

(cjAMUEL WICKHAM MILLS, D. D., one of
?\ the highly respected citizens of Port J ervis,
\~) is a native of Orange County, born in the
town of Wallkill, near Scotchtown, five miles
north of Middletown, on the 5th of April, 1820,
and is a son of Samuel and Esther (Stitt) Mills.
His mother was a daughter of John and Nancy
(McCullough) Stitt, of Bloomingburg, Sullivan
County, N. Y. The Mills family came from
Yorkshire, England. Some of the name are of
Holland extraction, the first to come to America
being Peter Vander Mulin (the name meaning
"from the mills"), who settled in Windsor,
Conn. , where the family took the English name
of Mills. The English family can be traced back
to the DeMolis, founded in 1083, in Devon, Eng
land, the name being derived from Meulles of
Normandy. Members ofthe family bearing that
name went to England with William the Con
queror in 1066. The name has several times
been changed, being Milne in 1530, Mills in 1560,
Millne in 1584, Milles in 16 12, and Mylle from
1627 to 1665, these being found in the records of
Yorkshire, England.
John Mills came with Governor Winthrop to
Massachusetts in 1629 or 1630, his name appear
ing thirty-third on the roll ofthe first church of
Boston, in which church his two daughters, Joy
and Remembrance, were baptized in October,
1630. He became a freeman of Boston in 1632,
but later removed to Braintree, Mass. , where he
served as Township Clerk in 1653. His will was
made in 1670, and he left his estate to his son
John, asking also that one of John's sons be edu-

846

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cated for the ministry, as many of his predecessors
were of that profession. Richard Mills was a
pioneer schoolmaster on Long Island and in Con
necticut. Samuel Mills, of Dedham, Mass., and
Samuel Mills, of Windsor, Conn., came from
England at an early date, but it is not known
whether they were related to the branch of the
family to which our subject belongs. George
Mills, who was probably the ancestor ofthe Long
Island branch, came from Yorkshire, England,
about 1665, and died in Jamaica, L- L, in 1694,
at the age of eighty-nine years. He is supposed
to have been a brother of John Mills, of Boston.
From George, in a direct line to our subject,
are Samuel, Jonathan, Timothy, Jonathan, Jacob
and Samuel, the latter the father of our subject.
George's son Samuel was born on Long Island in
1631, and died in Jamaica, L- I., in 1726, at the
age of ninety-five, a notice of his death appearing
in the New York Gazette, March 12, 1726. He
had sixteen children, nine ofwhom were living at
the time of his death, together with eighty grand
children and fifty-four great-grandchildren. His
son Jonathan was born at Jamaica, N. Y., was
married in 1710, and had four children : Timothy,
Samuel, Isaac and Jonathan. The records show
that he purchased a piece of land March 3, 1677.
Timothy, born in 1677, left Jamaica and settled
at Mills' Pond in 1693, to which he gave the
name. He died March 30, 175 1. His first wife,
Elizabeth, had two children, and the second wife,
Sarah, had eleven. Jonathan, the sixth of the
latter marriage, was born October 23, 17 10,
and was married in 1737 to Ruth Rudyard, of
Perth Amboy, N. J. They had six children, and
after her death he was again married, January
25. l15t>, this time to Dorothy Miller, and to
them were born three children. His death occur
red at Mills' Pond, October 23, 1798. Of the
first marriage, Jacob and Timothy were twins,
born December 22, 1746.
At the age of nineteen Jacob Mills began whal
ing, which he followed for six or seven months
out of the year. He came to Orange County be
tween 1768 and 1770, near New Windsor, and
started a tannery. When he first moved here he
bought twenty-two hundred and fifty acres of land

in the town of Wallkill, five miles north of Mid
dletown, and the place was known as Millsburg.
On the 27th of December, 1773, he was married,
in Goshen, to Catherine Denton. During the
Revolutionary War he made shoes for the soldiers
of the militia company to which he belonged, and
received his pay in Continental money, which
was worth but very little. His company was
ordered to Ft. Montgomery, but it was captured
before they arrived. His tannery was enlarged,
and in 1791 he built a stone house near the same,
and there our subject was born. He occupied
that house until 1807, when he erected a large
frame dwelling. He died at the home of his son
Charles, in 1841, at the age of ninety -five years.
He was quite a liberal man, and assisted largely
in building the Presbyterian Church at Scotch-
town. In his family were twelve children, six
sons and six daughters, and with the exception of
Catherine all reared families of their own. Will
iam Wickham was the only one that did not live
in Orange County. He made his home on Long
Island, where he was heir to his uncle's property
at Mills' Pond. At the time of his death Jacob
Mills had ninety-seven grandchildren, forty-eight
grandsons and forty-nine granddaughters, nearly
all of whom became farmers. There was one
physician, one clergyman, and one Sheriff of
Orange County.
Samuel Mills, the father of our subject, suc
ceeded to the old home place. He was born Au
gust 27, 1776, and died on the 13th of November,
i860, at the age of eighty-five. He cast his last
vote just before his death. On the 13th of Janu
ary, 1807, he married Esther Stitt, who was born
August 28, 1787, and her death occurred Novem
ber 11, 1863. Of their family we note the follow
ing: Catherine married Archibald Slaughter, and
died June 8, 1888, in her eighty -first year; Nancy,
wife of Hiram S. Dunning, died in her thirty-
fourth year, March 3, 1843; William died Oc
tober 31, 1885, at Petersburg,' Va., in his seven
ty-sixth year; Caroline, wife of DeWitt Slaugh
ter, died November 9, 1861, in her fiftieth year-
Mary Jane, the wife of Robert J. Bull, of Wall-
kill, is now in her eighty-first year; John Stitt
died when young; Sarah Elizabeth, who was the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

847

wife of Gen. Alfred D. Hurtin, died April 24,
1886, in her seventieth year; Jacob Stitt passed
away when young; Samuel Wickham is next in
order of birth; James Jackson lives at Scotchtown;
Albert died on the old homestead in his sixty-
sixth year, July 25, 1890, where his widow still
resides; Edwin lives near Phillipsburg, this
county; and Ruth died in childhood. The father
of this family carried on a tannery and also en
gaged in farming, owning a large tract of land,
which comprised three farms. He was quite a
successful business man, and assisted his children
very materially.
We now come to the personal history of Rev.
Samuel Wickham Mills. He was the ninth in
the family, and remained at home until reaching
the age of fifteen, when he entered Rutgers Col
lege at New Brunswick, N. J., from which he
was graduated in the Class of '38, at the age of
eighteen. He then began studying in the Theo
logical Seminary of the Reformed Church at
New Brunswick, from which he was graduated
in 1842. Among his classmates at Rutgers there
were many who afterward became quite noted,
among them being John DeWitt, who became
Professor of Ancient Languages at the Theological
Seminary at New Brunswick; Theodoric R. West
brook, Supreme Judge of New York, who made
his home at Kingston, this state, and died while
serving on the Bench; and Dr. James A. H. Cor
nell, a minister of New Baltimore, N. Y., who
has been quite prominent in church work in the
state. Upon his graduation from college he was
awarded the English salutatory, which at that
time was third in the list of honors conferred by
the faculty of the college.
At Bloomingburg, Sullivan County, in May,
1843, Mr. Mills was ordained and began his pas
toral work. At the end of fifteen years he located
at Port Jervis, where he engaged in preaching for
fourteen years, or until 1872, the date of his ar
rival here being in February, 1858. He here
erected the present Reformed Church edifice at a
cost of $44,000, one of the principal contributors
being Henry H. Farnham, who gave $13,000, be
sides a fine organ. The architect was Isaac G.
Perry, the present Capital Commissioner of Al

bany, and a noted man. Rev. Mr. Mills was
very fortunate in the erection of the church, as
the entire amount of its construction was obtained
before the dedication. During his ministry here
he received two hundred and forty-nine members
into the church. Of late he has had no charge,
but does supply duty, and has preached in nearly
all of the churches in this section of the country.
He is a member of the classis of Orange, in the
higher judicatories ofthe Reformed Church, and
during his pastorates, as well as since, has repre
sented the same. He gives entire satisfaction
wherever he goes, and is an untiring worker
among all classes. He has served as President of
the Minisink Valley Historical Society since its
organization in 1889. For thirty-seven years, or
up to June, 1895, he was Corresponding Secre
tary of the Orange County Bible Society, and then
was made President ofthe society.
Rev. Mr. Mills was married, on the 17th of
January, 1844, to Miss Almeda J. Bailey, a
daughter of Nathaniel Bailey, of Middletown, and
a sister of Daniel H. Bailey, later Mayor of the
same city. She was born February 28, 1822, and
her death occurred on the 12th of March, 1867.
By her marriage she became the mother of six
children: Harriet Bailey, who died in childhood
on the 2d of April, 1847; Esther, the wife of C. E.
Cuddeback, an attorney of Port Jervis; Anna,
whose death occurred April 5, 1879, at the age of
twenty-nine years; Theodore Denton, a doctor of
Middletown; Cornelia Hunter, who died Novem
ber 24, 1 87 1, at the age of seventeen years; and
Mary Delia, wife of J. Alex Stitt, an attorney of
New York City. On the 29th of November,
1870, Rev. Mr. Mills was again married, Miss
Amira St. John becoming his wife. She is a
daughter of Stephen St. John, of Port Jervis.
Mr. Mills is a well read, cultured- gentleman,
and a natural pulpit orator. His record has been
an honorable one, his years have been fruitful
with deeds of usefulness and kindness, with malice
towards none and friendliness towards all who
have come under his influence, and he has gained
the respect and honor ofthe whole community.
He is now living in his handsome residence on
the main street of Port Jervis, lying at the foot of

848

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the mountain, which looms grandly above it for
several hundred feet, and is surrounded by beau
tiful grounds. In this lovely spot he intends to
spend his remaining days.

EHAUNCEY CARPENTER. While using
his influence to advance the development
aud financial standing of this county, Mr.
Carpenter has acquired considerable property and
is classed among the well-to-do farmers of the
town of Greenville. In the management of his
interests he has displayed excellent judgment and
good business talents, and through his efforts the
farm upon which he was born, and which is still
his home, has been placed in the best possible
shape, its substantial buildings and other im
provements showing his thrift and industry.
Born February 2, 1839, the subject of this
article is the eldest of eight children comprising
the family of Oliver L. and Julia M. (Raynor)
Carpenter. His father, who also was born on this
farm, spent the greater portion of his life here,
but at the age of sixty-eight he retired from act
ive business cares and removed to Port Jervis,
where he purchased residence property. His
death occurred at the age of seventy-eight. A
successful farmer, his landed possessions aggre
gated six hundred acres at the time of his death.
In his political views he was a Democrat, but al
ways refused to accept public office. His wife,
also a native of this county, is still living and
makes her home in Port Jervis. Notwithstand
ing her eighty-one years, she enjoys good health
- and is a well preserved woman.
With the exception of the time spent in Mt.
Holly Institute in Burlington County, N. J., our
subject remained at home with his parents until
he attained his majority. For two years he taught
in the district school, and then for one year taught
in the village school at Ridgebury. He had pre
pared himself for the occcupation of a civil engi
neer, but instead of engaging in that calling he
began the cultivation of one of his father's farms,
and here he has since resided. In all his under
takings he has been assisted by his efficient and

amiable helpmate, and his success may be largely
attributed to her active co-operation. She was in
maidenhood Miss Frances A. Curtis, of the town
of Minisink, and became his wife April 16, 1863.
xFive children were born to them, but two died in
infancy. The three who survive are Ida, wife of
William Wehner, of New York City; Florence
Annie, Mrs. Perry Van Ness Moore, of this town;
and Louis E. , who is at home.
As a member of the Democratic party, Mr.
Carpenter takes a deep interest in local affairs.
Upon his party ticket he has been elected to a
number of town offices, having served as Col
lector for two years and as Justice of the Peace
for twelve years. Socially he is identified with
the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge in
Port Jervis. Mrs. Carpenter is a member of the
Mt. Salem Baptist Church. Our subject's farm
of two hundred acres is under excellent cultiva
tion and bears a full line of improvements. He
is a genial, good-hearted man, ever ready to re
spond to the calls of the needy, and stands high
in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.

— ^-r^am

IRA P. HALLOCK. A life-long farmer, pro
gressive in his ideas regarding the occupation,
anxious to excel, and energetic in disposition,
Mr. Hallock has secured a valuable estate, and is
enabled to surround his family with all the com
forts of life. His farm is situated in the town
of Greenville and comprises two hundred acres,
upon which have been placed various improve
ments, stamping it as the abode of one who has
prospered in worldly affairs and possesses sound
judgment. Upon the farm where he now lives, Mr. Hal
lock was born September 14, 1847, being the
youngest of the seven children of Parker and
Sallie (Helm) Hallock. His brothers and sis
ters were as follows: Mary, Mrs. Edson Mul-
ford, who died at the age of twenty-four; Orange,
who died at fifty-six years; Nimgad, who died
in infancy; Helen, widow of Ira Mulock, and at
present residing with her mother; Elmina, whose
death occurred at four years; and Hortense, wife

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

849

of Charles M. Mulford, a resident of Stuart, Neb.
Mrs. Mulock was also born on the old homestead
now occupied by her brother, Ira P. Hallock.
She was educated in the home schools, and in
New York City, November 2, 1854, she married
Ira Mulock. After their marriage they lived on
a farm near Centerville, in the town of Green
ville, for eighteen years, and in the spring of
1874 moved to Canon City, Colo., where Mr.
Mulock was engaged in the cattle business. In
1889 he settled in Monterey, Mexico, where he
staid one year, and also spent one year at Agua
Caliente. Altogether he was in Mexico about
five years, though Mrs. Mulock was with him
there only two years. He died February 2, 1 893,
in Agua Caliente, Mexico, and is buried in
Canon City. To Mr. and Mrs. Mulock were
born five children, three of whom reside in Colo
rado, one in El Paso, Tex. , and one at Agua
Caliente. Our subject's father was born in the town of
Greenville, July 15, 1802, and spent his entire
life upon a farm here, dying at the age of sixty-
five. In his political belief he was a Republican,
and took a prominent part in local affairs. The
family history in America dates back to Peter
Hallock, who emigrated from England to this
country in 1640 and settled on Long Island, at
what is now known as Hallock' s Neck. Our
subject's mother was born in the town of Mt.
Hope, July 25, 1806, being a daughter of Brew
ster and Polly (Vance) Helm. Her father, who
was of Scotch ancestry, was born in Orange
County, followed the occupation of a farmer, and
served in the War of 18 12. Her mother was
born in New Jersey, and died at an advanced
age, in the town of Mt. Hope. Mrs. Hallock is
still living on the old homestead and is now
(1895) eighty -nine years of age. It is a remark
able fact that she is one of a family of five still
living, all more than seventy years of age, her
younger sisters being eighty-four, seventy-nine
and seventy-three, respectively, while her brother
is about seventy-one. They are all well preserved,
and in good health considering their advanced
years. In youth our subject attended the common

schools and the business college at Binghamton,
this state, spending one term in the latter institu
tion. Upon gaining his majority he inherited
the farm where he has since made his home, with
the exception of three years in New York City,
during which time he was engaged in the milk
business. Though he has always refused to ac
cept office, he has decided opinions upon the
great questions of the day, and champions Re
publican principles. In addition to general farm
ing, he devotes some attention to the dairy busi
ness, which he finds remunerative.
May 7, 1873, Mr. Hallock married Miss Velma
E. Skinner, of the town of Deerpark, this coun
ty, who was born in March, 1853, being the
daughter of Thomas and Juliette (Pierson) Skin
ner. Six children comprise their family: Harry
E., Walter L., Norman, Percy, Bertha and Ethel,
all of whom have been carefully reared and given
good educations, and so fitted for useful and hon
orable positions in life.

-*=].

"=]

€^

cs_

(""""""T

(3AMUEL C. HOWELL, a resident of the
•\ town of Wallkill and a well known citizen of
\~J the village of Howells, was born in this town
May 21, 1807, being the only son of William A.
and Elizabeth (Calaiider) Howell. His father,
who was born in Orange County in 1780, was the
son of Edward and Clementina (Albertson) How
ell, both natives of Long Island. The former was
born in 1745, and came to Orange County after
his marriage, in 1779. The maternal grandfather
of Samuel C. Howell, for whom he was named,
was a Virginian by birth and a Lieutenant of
light - horse cavalry during the Revolutionary
War. William A. Howell was engaged in farm
work until his death, August 28, 181 1. The
mother, who was born December 11, 1780, be
came the wife of Mr. Howell December 22, 1803,
and departed this life in September, i860, having
long survived her husband.
At the time of his father's death, our subject
was only about four years of age, and he, being
the only son, was early obliged to aid in the main
tenance of the family. When a young man he

85o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked
in Middletown when that now thriving city was
a hamlet containing a few houses. In 1834 he
married Miss Sallie Jane, daughter of Joseph and
Anna (Whitter) Beaks, who was born in the
town of Wallkill, February 20, 181 2, and who
is still living, enjoying excellent health for one of
her age. Nine children were born to them, six
sons and three daughters, namely: Albert J., a
prosperous farmer of the town of Mt. Hope;
Frances E. , who resides with and looks after the
welfare of her parents; Joseph, a representative
farmer of Mt. Hope; William Harrison, a mem
ber of Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-
fourth New York Infantry, in which he enlisted,
in 1862, as a private, and was afterward promoted
to be Corporal, serving in that capacity until he
was killed in battle at Spottsylvania Court House,
Va., May 12, 1864; Henry, also of Company E,
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, who
was wounded in the leg in the same engagement,
and who is now Under-Sheriff of the county,
making his home in Newburgh; James T. , owner
of the old homestead in the town of Mt. Hope,
and a resident of Jersey City; Sidney, who lives
in Ohio; Annie E., wife of Herbert Dolson, of
Norwich, N. Y.; and Mary L-, who died at the
age of six years.
At the time of his marriage our subject pur
chased a small farm in the town of Mt. Hope, aud
to this he added from time to time until he owned
four hundred acres of valuable land in this and
Wallkill Towns. When the New York & Erie
Railroad was built through here he built a depot
and established the village named Howells in his
honor. He was the first railroad agent and Post
master at the place, but the work of these posi
tions was done entirely by deputies, his attention
being devoted to the management of his farm.
To the establishment of the church and other en
terprises that were calculated to benefit the people,
he was a very liberal contributor. For a number
of years he served as Assessor and took a promi
nent part in the local work of the Republican
party. The life of Mr. Howell is one from which may
be gleaned lessons for the young. Orphaned in

childhood, he was early forced to become self-
supporting, but this fact, instead of being an in
jury, was perhaps helpful to him, as it caused
him to develop in his character traits of self-
reliance and sound judgment that secured his
success in later years. No one has done as much
for the village of Howells as has he. Anything
that will promote the welfare of the place receives
his hearty co-operation, and while he is now too
old himself to carry out projects for its advance
ment, he still takes the warmest interest in its
growth and progress.
Joseph B. Howell, our subject's son, was born
in the town of Mt. Hope, May 7, 1839, and re
mained with his parents on the home farm until
he attained his majority. November 9, 1865, he
married Miss Mary H. Corwin, who was born in
the town of Wallkill, April 9, 1845, being a
daughter of George W. and Lamira (Horton)
Corwin. Her father was born in the town of
Wallkill, April 25, 1812, and in early life engaged
in merchandising, but later engaged in farming.
His death occurred October 26, 1892. He was a
son of Daniel Corwin, who was bom on Long
Island and served in the War of 181 2. The
mother of Mrs. Howell was born near Blooming
burg, Sullivan County, this state, became the
wife of Mr. Corwin December 18, 1838, and died
in the town of Wallkill October 30, 1879. She
was buried in the Baptist Cemetery at New
Vernon. Three children blessed the union of Joseph B.
and Mary H. Howell. Mary Lena, the eldest,
was born August 4, 1866, and is now the wife of
George F. Fish, a wholesale celery dealer of New
York, but a resident of Middletown and a man of
prominence there. George E., who was born
June 26, 1868, received a good education in the
Binghamton Business College, and is now con
nected with the American Poultry Fancier, at
Johnstown, N. Y.; he isa young man of superior
ability, and is quite successful in his undertak-
takings. One died in infancy. At the time of
his marriage Joseph B. Howell purchased from
his father a tract of about ninety acres, and here
he has since made his home, being engaged in
dairy farming. He is a man of depth of thought,

ANDREW J. MOORE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

851

originality in his methods and sufficient persever
ance and judgment to carry out his plans, making
of them a success. In his neighborhood he is
popular, aud all who know him give him their
respect and esteem.

Hi-Z

="f

G\ NDREW JACKSON MOORE. This pop.
| I ular citizen of Goshen was for about five
/ I years Postmaster of this village, and is at
present filling the position of Deputy Postmaster.
For ten years he was a soldier in the regular
army, a part of that time participating in the bat
tles of the Rebellion. He is favorably known
throughout this portion of the state, and as one
of the representative men of the county we are
pleased to present a sketch of his life to our
readers. Our subject was born in Newburgh, December
31, 1838. His father, Patrick Moore, was born
in Queen's County, Ireland, whence he emigrated
to America in boyhood and settled at oiice in
Newburgh. In 1840 he began to work as a
butcher, and continued to follow that trade until
his death, which occurred August 10, 187 1. In
politics he was a Democrat. His wife, whose
maiden name was Eleanor Duell, was a native of
this state, and died October 10, 1883, when sev
enty-nine years of age. Her children were three
in number, two daughters and a son, Andrew J.
being the second-born.
After completing his studies in Farmers' Hall
Academy, Mr. Moore enlisted in the regular
army, and was mustered in as a member of the
Second United States Dragoons at Carlisle, Pa.,
from which place he went, in May, 1859, to join
the regiment at Camp Floyd, Utah, making the
overland march from Leavenworth, Kan., a dis
tance of thirteen hundred miles. It was the duty
of the regiment to protect the residents of that
section from the Indians and Mormons, but more
especially to escort emigrant trains to the Far
West. July 27, 1 86 1, the regiment started east
ward, marching to Leavenworth, thence to St.

Joe, Mo., from there to Hannibal and on to
Quincy, 111. On reaching Washington, D. C,
they were re-organized and formed into a cavalry
reserve brigade.
As a soldier in the Civil War, Mr. Moore par
ticipated in every engagement in which the Army
of the Potomac fought until he was mustered out,
November 1, 1863, with the rank of First Ser
geant. August 31, 1862, at Chantilly, Va., a
squad of seventy men of the Second Dragoons
was out on a reconnoitering expedition, and
was surprised by General Stuart's brigade of
cavalry. A skirmish ensued with a slight loss,
and fifty-six of the seventy men were captured.
However, owing to the request of Col. Beverly
Robertson, late Adjutant ofthe Second, who was
present at the time, the men were paroled on the
field, and were also allowed to retain their private
property. On the ist of January, 1863, Mr.
Moore joined his regiment, having been ex
changed in December previous.
Returning home at the expiration of his period
of service, Mr. Moore worked for his father un
til June 24, 1867, when he again enlisted in the
regular army and was commissioned drill instruc
tor at Carlisle barracks. He held that position
until June, 1868, when he was made First Ser
geant in Company C, Third United States Cav
alry, and with his regiment was sent to New
Mexico on the Canadian River expedition, and
participated in the battles fought during that ex
pedition. After peace was established they re
mained at Ft. Bascombe, N. M., until 1869,
when they were ordered to Arizona and made
their headquarters in that territory until Decem
ber 1, 187 1, when they marched to Wyoming.
Mr. Moore was honorably discharged while at
Ft. Russell, June 24, 1872, and immediately re
turned to Goshen.
The father of our subject having died during
his last period of service in the army, he there
after cared for his mother until her death. His
first business venture was in the cigar trade. In
1874 he opened a cigar store in Goshen, and con
ducted it with success until he was appointed
Postmaster in 1887. He assumed the duties of
the office May 1 of that year, and served until

852

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1892, since whicli time he has been Deputy. The
office is second-class, and three clerks are em
ployed in addition to the Postmaster.
In 1873 Mr. Moore was made Clerk ofthe vil
lage, and he served in that capacity until ap
pointed Postmaster. For four years he was Town
Clerk, for six years Supervisor of the town, and
in 1880 was Chairman of the Board of Super
visors. Socially he is a Mason of high stand
ing, and is connected with the Society of the
Army of the Potomac and Cavalry Corps; he is
also Past Commander of Cummings Post No. 176,
G. A. R. Politically he is a Democrat, and has
frequently been a delegate to the county conven
tions of his party.

QETER L. GUMAER, Postmaster and station
If agent at Guymard, in the town of Mt. Hope,
[3 was born in the town of Deerpark, January
29, 1827, being the fourth among the seven chil
dren of Peter E. and Esther (Cuddeback) Gum
aer. Of the others we note the following: Morgan
was born January 27, 1815, and is now deceased;
Ezekiel P. was born May 10, 1817, and died June
25> *"877* Jacob C. E., whose birth occurred
October 18, 1820, is- a farmer in'Ovid, Mich.;
Naomi, who was born January 20, 1830, died
May 2, 1862; Andrew J., born November 4,
1833, is represented elsewhere in this volume;
Esther Harriet was born August 30, 1835, and
now lives in New York City.
The father of our subject was born in the town
of Deerpark, May 28, 1771, and followed the oc
cupation of a farmer throughout life, giving some
attention also to surveying. Though self-edu
cated, he was very well informed, and was known
as an able writer and a man of broad knowledge.
At different times he held almost all of the offices
of the town. He was successful, and at the time
of his death, December 18, 1869, owned consider
able land. During the War of 18 12 he served as
a Captain in the militia. His wife, who was bora
in Montague, N. J., November 30, 1793, died
April 6, 1870, and both are buried in the Laurel
Grove Cemetery. The history of the family in

this county dates back to Peter Gumaer, a native
of France, who emigrated to America, and set
tled in the town of Deerpark, where he lies buried.
During the winter months, our subject in boy
hood was a student in the district schools, while
in the summer he worked on a farm. When he
was fifteen, his brother built a grocery store on
the Delaware & Hudson Canal at Port Clinton,
and he and two other brothers also became inter
ested in the enterprise, carrying on a grocery at
that place. For twenty years he retained his in
terest in that business. In 1857 the four brothers
began building a wagon road from Port Clinton
to the top of the Shawangunk Mountains, which
they completed about 1 86 1 . They then purchased
a large tract of land on the mountain, and started
the village of Guymard, our subject building the
depot and an hotel. He was appointed Postmas
ter, express agent and ticket agent, in addition
to which he carried on the hotel for fourteen
years and erected the majority ofthe buildings in
the place. At one time he was quite wealthy,
but through financial reverses he lost almost all
of his money. He has to some extent retrieved his
losses, and is now in comfortable circumstances.
December 29, 1853, Mr. Gumaer married Miss
Sarah Jane Mulock, daughter of Joshua and Sal
lie (Greenleaf) Mulock. Six children were born
of their union, namely: Georgiana, who was born
February 14, 1855, and died May 10, 1872;
Laertes W., who was born November 22, 1857,
and is now in the employ of the Commercial Cable
Company of New York City; Chauncey I., who
was born February 20, i860, and resides in Alma,
Colo., where he is prominently connected with
the mining interests; Franklin Peter, born Au
gust 20, 1863, and now engaged in the real-es
tate business in Denver, Colo.; Marie Louise,
born April 15, 1866, a talented professional sing
er, who has traveled throughout the United
States, giving concerts in the large cities; Georo-e
S., who was born August 12, 1874, and is now°a
law student in Paterson, N. J.
In his views upon matters of general import
ance Mr. Gumaer is frank and firm. He favors
Greenback principles and the free coinage of sil
ver, which he believes would greatly enhance the

HENRV D. FOWLER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

855

prosperity of our country. Socially he belongs to
the Masonic order at Middletown . He is a man
of strict honesty and generous disposition, willing
to aid in local enterprises and especially interest
ed in the progress of the village where he makes
his home.

QC*************3J5il************X>
HENRY D_. FOWLER, a prominent and pro
gressive farmer ofthe town of Newburgh, is
now living on the old homestead where his
father, who bore the name of Peter V. B. Fowler,
was born, the date of the event being February
20, 1800. The grandfather, Caleb Fowler, also
lived and died on the old home farm, the latter's
father, Isaac, Jr., having removed to this locality
from Westchester County, N. Y. He was of
Welsh descent, and became fairly well-to-do in
his labors as an agriculturist. The paternal
grandmother of our subject, before her marriage,
was a Miss Sebring, and her mother was in maid
enhood a Miss Van Ben Schoten; both families
resided in Dutchess County. The father of our
subject was named in part for his great-grand
mother's family, as were also two of his brothers,
Matthew and Jacob V. B.
Our subject's mother, formerly Eliza DuBois,
was a native of Dutchess County, and the daugh
ter of Garrett and Hannah (Cooper) Du Bois.
She married Peter Fowler October 20, 1826, and
became the mother of four children, all sons. Of
these; Henry D., of this sketch, was the eldest;
Abram was born July 17, 1830, and died October
7, 1854; Caleb G. was born October 27, 1835, and
died January 29, 1879; and Peter, born July 20,
1844, died in February, 1855.
When twenty-one years of age, Peter Fowler
left home, and, going to Loyd, was engaged in
farming near that place for some time. From
there he went to Shawangunk, Ulster County,
and there lived until 1833, when he returned to the
old homestead and made it his permanent home,
dying in 1875. He was a devoted member of the
Presbyterian Church, active in all the good works
of the congregation which he attended. His wife
departed this life April 12, 1866, and her remains
38

were interred in Highland Cemetery, at Middle
Hope, where her husband was also buried.
The subject of this sketch was born in Shawan
gunk, July 26, 1827, and was therefore a lad of
six years when his parents returned to the home
farm, where he has continued to reside ever since,
with the exception of the time spent in gaining
an education. He spent five years, from the age
of twelve to seventeen, as a student in the acad
emy at Newburgh, after which he attended the
Montgomery Academy for a year. He was then
prepared to enter the academy at Andover, Mass. ,
and upon completing the course in that institu
tion was enrolled as a student at Amherst Acad
emy, and later at College Hill, Poughkeepsie.
Upon finishing his education he returned home,
and has since given his time and attention to the
cultivation of his valuable property.
Mr. Fowler was united in marriage, October 20,
1853, at Newburgh, to Miss Anna, daughter of
M. W. and Elizabeth (Jennings) Du Bois, natives
and citizens of Newburgh. Mrs. Fowler was
born in Orange County, and by her union with
our subject became the mother of seven children,
namely: Eliza D., Abram D., William J., Charles
D., Wygant D., and two children who died in in
fancy. Charles D. married Louisa Storm, the
daughter of John T. Storm, and a resident of
Dutchess County, N. Y. They have two chil
dren, Annie and Henry.
Politically Mr. Fowler is a Republican, and has
always voted that ticket. He is a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and is liberal in his contri
butions to the same.

-5~j — *)>&(mjj)®<*GZ* — **—-"-

(JAMES F. DURLAND, a farmer residing in
I the town of Deerpark, was born January 17,
Q) 18 17, in the town of Greenville, this county,
being the youngest ofthe twelve children of John
and Martha (Holbert) Durland. His father was
born and reared in Chester, this county, and
when a young man removed thence to the town
of Greenville, where he purchased a tract of un-

856

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

improved land in the wilderness. This section
of the state was then sparsely settled, and his was
the pioneer task of clearing the land and bringing
it under cultivation. He lived to enjoy some ofthe
fruits of his labors, to see the town thickly popu
lated, and cities spring up within its borders. He
died April 5, 1837, at the age of sixty-four.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was a
Captain in the Revolutionary War, and soon after
the close of the conflict settled in Chester, where
his remaining years were spent. Our subject's
mother was born in 1769, in Chester, and spent
her entire life in this county, dying December 1,
1835, at the age of sixty-six. In religious be
lief she was a member of the Baptist Church.
Her father was one of the heroes of the struggle
for independence, in which he rendered valiant
service for the colonies.
Of the family of twelve'children, our subject is
the only survivor. He was seven years old when
his father lost his home and the family broke up
housekeeping. From that age until he attained
his majority, he made his home with an older
brother on a farm, and upon starting out for him
self rented a farm in the town of Deerpark, where
he tilled the soil for four years. By using econ
omy and good management, he saved a sufficient
amount to enable him to become a land-owner.
He purchased one hundred acres of unimproved
land in the Shawangunk Mountains, where he
built a cabin and began the difficult task of clear
ing his property. Later he sold that place and
purchased the farm which he uow owns. At the
time of settling here there were but three children
in this school district and the country was infest
ed with wild animals, presenting little promise of
its present highly cultivated state.
December 22, 1838, Mr. Durland married Miss
Thirsa Drake, of Sullivan County, and they be
came the parents of four children. George died
at the age of twenty-two years. Mary, Mrs. Sam
uel W. Patterson, died at the age of thirty-eight,
leaving three children: Dr. Chauncey, deceased;
George W., who lives in New York City; aud
Alva Elmer, who makes his home with his grand
father. Nathan is a resident of Sparrow Bush,
and has one son, James F. Angeline is the wife

of George Van Etten, of the town of Greenville,
aud they have one son, Clement. For many years
Mr. Durland was active in local affairs, contrib
uting to the progress of the community. Politi
cally he has always voted the Democratic ticket.
For fifteen years he was Assessor, and for fifty
years he served as Roadmaster, beginning in the
latter position when the roads of the district were
only six miles long and there were only eighteen
days' work required per year. He is now the
owner of two hundred and twenty -three acres of
good land in Orange and Sullivan Counties, all
of which has been accumulated through his own
efforts, and from the cultivation of which he re
ceives a fair income. He is one of the oldest res
idents of the town, and is a man of honor and the
utmost probity of character, who is in every way
worthy of the esteem in which he is held.

,»,) » ii 1 1 1

/i'i' 1 ¦ « •-

W| RS. IDA P. GRAHAM. In traveling
lr through the town of Mt. Hope, the many
(•*} friends of Mrs. Graham seldom pass the
pleasant place where she makes her home without
stopping for a social chat or protracted visit. She
is popular in the neighborhood, and justly so, for
she is a lady of great kindness of heart, energetic
and capable, looking after the management of
the place and training her children so that, in
future years, they may fill positions of honor with
credit to themselves and to her.
Mrs. Graham has spent her entire life in this
county, and she is therefore well acquainted with
the people of this locality. She was born in Otis
ville, July 7, 1855, and is the only child of Dr.
Sanford and Dr. Maria (Stevens) Plumb, both of
whom were physicians of that place. Her girl
hood years were passed beneath the parental roof,
and she was given by her parents the best educa
tional advantages the schools ofthe village afford
ed, becoming an accomplished lady, well fitted to
take charge of a home of her own.
September 29, 1880, the subject of this sketch
was united in marriage with George Graham,
who was born in the town of Mt. Hope, on the
farm now occupied by his family. At present he

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

857

is in Australia. Four children were born of this
union, namely: Jessie P.;. Nellie L-, who died in
infancy; Mary E. ; and Theodore, who passed away
in early childhood. The two surviving children
are bright and intelligent, and are attending the
district schools of the neighborhood.

Gz

V..T

=0 D

-c

WILLIAM D. HUNT. The first represent
ative of the Hunt family who settled in
this county was Aaron, father of the sub
ject of this sketch, and a native of New York
City, in which place the earlier part of his life
was passed. July 31, 182 1, he was united in
marriage with Millicent Knapp, and they became
the parents of two sous, the elder of whom, Na
thaniel, passed away August 4, 1841. Shortly
after his marriage the father removed, in com
pany with the paternal grandfather, to Orange
County, and settled upon a tract o£ two hundred
and sixty-one acres, now owned aud operated
by the subject of this notice. He commenced
the cultivation of this place, and succeeded in
introducing a number of improvements. Death,
however, cut short his career and removed him
from the scene of his usefulness when he was
forty-five years of age. The first day of 1835
was his last upon earth and his first in eternity.
His wife survived him for more than thirty years,
her death occurring April 20, 1867, at. the age
of sixty-five years and ten months.
Upon the farm where he still resides our sub
ject was born May 5, 1823. In boyhood he at
tended the schools of this locality, alternating
work at home with attendance at school. At the
age of twenty-two he married Miss Sarah Young,
the ceremony which united them being performed
October 28, 1845. Mrs. Hunt was born in Sus
sex .County, N. J., July 24, 1824, a daughter of
Robert and Sarah (Wintermute) Young, old res-
dents of that county. By her marriage Mrs.
Hunt became the mother of three children, one
of whom died in infancy. Sarah M., the elder
daughter, is the widow of John Martin, who died

August 5, 1879; they had a family of four chil
dren, namely: William D., George L-, John R.
and Lewis, the last-named deceased. Emma,
the younger daughter, is the wife of R. B. Wick
ham, a farmer of the town of Wawayanda, and
they have four children: William, Howard, Clar
ence and Mabel B.
When Mr. Hunt was a boy of twelve years his
father died, and he was a mere lad when force
of circumstances obliged him to assume the man
agement of the home place. His mother con
tinued to reside with him until her death. He is
the owner of two hundred and sixty-one acres,
comprising the estate originally purchased and
improved by his father. It is regarded as one of
the best farms in the town of Wawayanda, and is
devoted to general farming and dairying. As
an agriculturist, Mr. Hunt is progressive, quick
to seize opportunities and possessed of great en
ergy, so as a natural consequence he has met
with success. While he is not identified with
any denomination, he is a believer in Christian
ity and contributes to the support of the Presby
terian Church, of which his wife is a member.
His political belief from boyhood years has caused
him to ally himself with the Democratic party,
and he always votes the party ticket and supports
the platform of that organization.

^H«fll-|sjfe

¦55-

0 LIVER GREEN. One of the most thrifty,
progressive and liberal-minded citizens of
this county is the gentleman with whose
name this sketch is introduced. His home is lo
cated in the town of Mt. Hope, where he owns
one hundred and fifty acres of land, supplied with
a complete line of buildings and the various im
provements that might be expected of a man of
progressive ideas. Farming having been his life
work, he is thoroughly informed regarding the
peculiar qualities of soil, the best methods of fer
tilizing and the rotation of crops which will pro
duce the best results.
In that portion of the town of Minisink now
comprised in the town of Greenville, Oliver Green
was born June 25, 18 17, being the eldest of the

858

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nine children of Daniel and Catherine (Vantyle)
Green. His father was born October 6, 1794,
in the town of Wallkill, on the ground where the
city of Middletown now stands. There his boy
hood days were passed, and thence he accompanied
his parents to the town of Greenville, settling
upon a farm, where he spent the remainder of his
life. At the time of his death he was sixty-three
years of age. In politics he was a loyal adher
ent of Democratic principles. He served as a
private in the War of 181 2, and was a man of
patriotic impulses, interested in the prosperity of
our country and devoted to its welfare. His fa
ther was born April 2, 1760, in Connecticut,
from which state he removed to New York. Our
subject's mother was born February 12, 1792, in
the town of Greenville, and died at the age of
seventy-eight. The parental family consisted of the following
children: Mahala, widow of Levi Van Fleet, of
Ulster County, N. Y.; Elizabeth, widow of Dan
iel Bodell, and a resident of Illinois; Ira, a rail
road man residing in Rockland County, N. Y. ;
James, Caroline, Louis, Horace and Oscar, all de
ceased. Our subject being the eldest of this large
family, and his parents being poor, he was obliged
to become self-supporting at an early age. In
youth he learned the cooper's trade, which he
followed near Port Jervis for six years. He then
purchased a small farm in the town of Mt. Hope,
and there engaged in tilling the soil for ten years,
after which he disposed of the place and bought
the farm that he now owns.
July 3, 1 84 1, occurred the marriage of Oliver
Green and Miss Susie Hallock. This lady was
born in the town of Mt. Hope, May 31, 1820,
and is the daughter of Joseph and Esther (Young)
Hallock, natives, respectively, ofthe town of Mt.
Hope and Long Island. Mr. Hallock was a
soldier in the War of 181 2. Farming was his
life occupation, and this he followed both in New
York and later in Illinois. His death occurred
in Lee County, that state, February 15, 1849.
His wife died in the town of Greenville, January
14, 1827.
Mr. Green is a firm supporter of the princi
ples of Democracy, believing that when thor

oughly carried out they best promote the public
welfare. Socially he affiliates with Port Jervis
Lodge No. 328, F. & A. M., at Port Jervis. At
various times he has been chosen to represent his
fellow-citizens in official capacities, including that
of Assessor of the town, in which he rendered
efficient service. He takes an earnest interest in
all that seems in his judgment adapted to build
up the material prosperity, moral or educational
advancement of the community, and the respect
in which he is held is in accord with his ability
and worth of character.

(JOHN B. BRADNER, a merchant of Bellvale,
I was born in that village in 1849, being fourth
(2/ in the family of ten children born to Adol-
phus B. and Pauline (Weymer) Bradner. The
father has been engaged in carpentering the great
er part of his life, having learned that trade when
a youth. Although past his fourscore years, he
enjoys fair health, and makes his home iu Bell
vale, where he has always resided. The mother
died May 12, 1888.
The Bradner family is an old one, and can be
traced back a number of generations. Rev. John
Bradner emigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland,
about 1 72 1, and was the first minister in Goshen.
His son Colville owned what is now the Henry A.
Benedict Farm, near Stone Bridge. In 1790 he
also purchased of John Taylor, of New York City,
the farm at Bellvale now known as the Bradner
homestead. His son John, a direct descendant
of the Rev. John Bradner, was the grandfather of
our subject, and was one often children born to
Colville Bradner and wife. He always resided on
the Bellvale purchase, and by his marriage with
Mary Robinson thirteen children were born.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
his native county, and attended the district school
of Bellvale during his youth. At the age of four
teen he began working on a farm, being thus em
ployed for four years. When eighteen vears old
he commenced clerking in the general merchan-

JOHN B. BRADNER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

861

dise store of A. J. Burt, at Bellvale, and after
remaining in that capacity seven years, was taken
into partnership, business being conducted under
the firm name of Burt & Bradner. This partner
ship continued for two and a-half years, when Mr.
Bradner withdrew from the firm, built a store of
his own and engaged in business at Greenwood
Lake. His was the first store at that point, and
there he conducted a successful trade for nine
years. At the end of that time he retired from
business and built a comfortable and commodious
home at Bellvale. In October, 1890, Mr. Brad
ner re-engaged in business at that place, occupy
ing the store in which he had formerly been iu
business. He carries a fine stock, suitable to the
trade of his locality, and is recognized as one of
the wide-awake business men of Orange County.
He is the owner of a finely productive orange
grove in Florida, where also, in connection with
L- Y. Jenness, he is interested in real estate.
In 1873 Mr. Bradner was united in marriage
to Miss Clara R. Hunt, daughter of Nathan and
Esther (Rhodes) Hunt, natives of Orange Coun
ty. Their union was blessed by the birth of four
children, only two of whom are now living, Ida
Beatrice and Pauline, both residing with their
parents. In politics Mr. Bradner is a Democrat,
and is at present the efficient Postmaster of Bell
vale. In educational matters he has always taken
a deep interest. He was elected to the office of
School Trustee, filling that position for three
years satisfactorily, and is now one of the Trus
tees of the Warwick Savings Bank. As a busi
ness man he has been very successful.

\m

31*^

(JAMES SMEETON WILCOXSON, foreman
I of the blacksmith shops of the Erie Railroad
Q) at Port Jervis, was born at Ripley, Derby
shire, England, in July, 1838. In the Butterley
Iron Works at Alfreton, Derbyshire, he learned
the blacksmith's trade, at which he served an
apprenticeship of seven years, between the ages of
fourteen and twenty-one. His wages were small,
varying from five to eleven shillings, English
money, with a discount for shop club demands.

Through his long apprenticeship he gained a
thorough knowledge of his trade and also became
familiar with all lines of mechanical work. For
a time he was employed in Manchester, and
thence in 1864 he went to London, where he se
cured employment in the shops of the Metropol
itan UndergroundjRailroad.
The fidelity with which Mr. Wilcoxson dis
charged the duties of his position was appre
ciated by the officers of the road, and he was made
foreman of the shops, having charge of about six
teen men. He continued in that place until 1869,
when he resigned and emigrated to America,
coming direct to Port Jervis. For two years he
was employed in the Erie shops, but was laid off
at the time of the removal of the works to Jersey
City. He then went to Scranton, Pa., and for
eighteen months was employed in the Dixon Lo
comotive Works, after which he returned to Port
Jervis. In the spring of 1875 he was made fore
man of the shops and has since held that position,
having usually fifteen or twenty men under him.
His entire time and attention are concentrated
upon his position, the duties of which he dis
charges in a manner eminently satisfactory to his
employers. Socially Mr. Wilcoxson is identified with the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights
of Honor. In national elections he votes with
the Republican party, but in local matters he
gives his support to the best man, irrespective of
politics. Soon after going to London he married
Miss Charlotte Tarr, and they are the parents of
four daughters: Lottie, who is a bookkeeper;
Olive; Ida, a teacher in the Bellvale schools, this
county; and Emma. The family attend the Epis
copal Church, of which Mr. Wilcoxson is a
member. ^HOMAS BRADLEY. The hotel business
in Goshen is well represented by Mr. Brad
ley, the genial host of the Occidental Hotel,
which he is conducting in partnership with A. H.
May. He is a native of this village, and was born
September 26, i860. His father, John Bradley,

862

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was a native of Ireland, whence the grandfather,
Daniel, came many years ago, settling in Goshen,
where he afterward lived and died. John Brad
ley is still a resident of this village, but is not at
present engaged in any active business.
The mother of our subject, prior to her mar
riage, was known as Jane O'Donnell. She be
came the mother of twelve children, only three
of whom are now living, those besides Thomas
being Mrs. Margaret Conor and James, both of
whom are residents of Goshen.
The subject of this sketch has made his own
way in the world since he was a lad of twelve
years. Prior to that time, however, he attended
the public schools, but the information of which
he is now the possessor has been acquired largely
by experience and reading. He has always been
a great lover of horse-flesh, and began in life as
groom to a trainer. He was in the employ of
George T. Wisner for many years, and in 1881
accepted the position of trainer with Mr. Gurney,
continuing with him until 1 884. He next worked
for Preston Brothers, of Brooklyn, acting in the
same capacity, and during the five years he con
tinued there drove in many noted races. Among
the famous horses which he drove were "Stephen
G. Onward," "Breeze Medium" and "Kersey."
In 1885 Mr. Bradley came with these animals
to Goshen, being under contract with Preston
Brothers, of Brooklyn. The horses were under
his charge iu the races which followed until 1889,
when he began in business for himself, training
and preparing for the races "Nora L," who made
a record of 2:29}^; "Nellie," 2:29^; and "Fitz-
clark," 2:31^. He also owned and trained
"Blackstone, ' ' a stallion whose record was 2 : 23)4*)
"Peter Mack," 2:29 %; and "Orange Bud,"
2:22^. In the year 1892 our subject, in company with
A. H. May, purchased the property of the Occi
dental Hotel, which has been reriiodeled and re
furnished, making of it one of the best hotels in
the city. It is centrally located on Main Street,
and is first-class in every particular, and Mr.
Bradley possesses the qualities necessary for con
ducting a first-class hotel. For some time he was
the incumbent of the positioii of Excise Com

missioner, only resigning in order to give his un
divided attention to his hotel business. He is a
stanch supporter of Democratic principles, and in
religious matters is a devout Catholic. Socially
he is a member of the order of Foresters.

0AVID DOREMUS, one of the most popular
conductors on the Erie Railroad, whose home
and headquarters are at Port Jervis, runs the
fine vestibule train No. 5 from Jersey City to
Binghamton, and has charge of No. 10, au east-
bound vestibule train. He has been conductor
of the former some fifteen years, and of the latter
for two years, and for thirty -eight years has served
as a conductor in the employ of this company.
The birth of David Doremus occurred in Tap-
pantown, Rockland County, N. Y., November 17,
1 83 1. This village is the place famous for the
execution of Major Andre, as history relates.
Our subject's parents were John and Sarah E.
(Blanche) Doremus, the former of whom was en
gaged in the meat business for several years.
After his father's death our subject became his
successor in the business, which he carried on for
four years. In February, 1856, the young man
embarked in railroading at Piermont, on the Hud
son, then the eastern end of the Erie Road, in the
capacity of flagman. His ability was not long
undiscovered, for in April, 1857, he was made
conductor of an extra freight train. Two years
later he was given a regular train and crew, and
was thus employed until February, 1865, when
he was promoted to be passenger conductor, and
as such is still serving. For eleven years he made
the full run from Jersey City to Binghamton, and
his faithful attention to duty deserves the credit
which he receives from his superiors. He has
been very fortunate, in that his trains have es
caped disaster, and though he has encountered a
few of minor consequence, no wreck has been
sufficient to injure any of his passengers.
February 14, 1861, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Doremus and Sarah Catherine Gecox, of Al
pine, N. J., opposite Yonkers, N. Y. William

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

863

G. , the eldest son of this worthy couple, is in the
baggage department of the railway service, run
ning between New York and Buffalo; Frank P.
is a fireman on the eastern division; and Edgar
W. is engaged in the confectionery and station
ery business. The young men all possess good
business ability, have received fair educational
advantages, and at the present time are all un
married. Mrs. Doremus is au active member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and takes great
interest in religious and charitable enterprises.
Mr. Doremus is a member of Piermont Lodge,
I. O. O. F. , and is also identified with the Knights
of Honor of Port Jervis. In politics he is affili
ated with the Republican party.

fi) GJlLLIAM H. REEVE, a blacksmith of the
\ A / town of Mt. Hope, was born May 18, 1844,
V V in the town of Wallkill, near Middletown,
and is a son of David W. and Harriet E. (Reeve)
Reeve. The former was a farmer, and was born
in Orange County, on the old homestead in the
town of Wallkill. His death occurred when he
was about thirty-five years of age. Our subject
was only about three years old when his father
died, and for a short time he lived with A. J.
Horton. He was then sent to his grandfather,
Elijah Reeve, at New Vernon. The grandfather
had been a farmer and distiller at Howell's De
pot for a great many years, but spent his latter
days at New Vernon, which was quite a village
at that time. Here William remained until he
was twelve years old, when he went to live with
L- D. Hoyt, of the town of Wallkill, where he
spent the next four years. From Wallkill he
went to Otisville to learn the wagon-maker's
trade, but the man with whom he worked sus
pended after he had been with him six months,
and as there was no other place open where he
could finish his trade, he commenced to learn the
blacksmith's trade in the same village, but only
remained there six months, going thence to
Westtown, where he worked six months. Ashe
was seriously injured by a horse jumping on him,
he returned to his grandparents at New Vernon,

where he was laid up for about a year. He fin
ished His trade in that village, and then worked
in different places at his trade for a couple of
years, after which he started a shop for himself,
but at the expiration of four years sold out and
went to Cuddebackville, where he ran a shop for
four years. Moving back to New Vernon, he
rented a shop for several years, and then built his
present shop, in which he has since carried on a
successful business.
The subject of this sketch married Miss Eliza
beth Young, and five children have been born to
them: Minnie J., now the wife of Everett E.
Nichols, of Binghamton; Frank A., now in New
York City; May E., Grace E. and Etta, all of
whom are at home.
Politically Mr. Reeve is a Democrat, and has
served as Constable ofthe town. Socially he is a
member of Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M.,
of Middletown. Besides his shop he is the owner
of a good house and lot. All that he has repre
sents his own earnings, as he did not inherit a
dollar.

?:=3$e*=->

gEORGE W. THOMPSON, an energetic
and successful farmer of the town of Mon
roe, was born March 2, 1824, in the house
where he still resides. He was reared on the
home farm, and attended the district schools until
about sixteen years of age, gaining an education
that fitted him for successfully following the
teacher's profession. While employed on the
farm in the summer months, he taught school for
two winters, but since the death of his father he
has given his attention wholly to the manage
ment of the farm. His principal industry is the
dairy business, although he raises a small amount
of grain and feed for his cattle.
The first marriage of Mr. Thompson took place
January 5, 1848, at which time Miss Charity
Conklin became his wife. She was born iu the
town of Monroe and was a daughter of Sylvester
and Charity (Reynolds) Conklin. Two children
were born of this union, ofwhom Mary died at

864

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the age of six years. Georgiana, who received
an excellent education in a female seminary, is
the wife of John H. Carpenter, a son of Lewis
and Georgiana (Wood) Carpenter. Mrs. Charity
Thompson died March 15, 1875. In Brooklyn,
N. Y., May 26, 1876, our subject was united in
marriage with Louisa Dixon, daughter of Will
iam and Jane (Roberts) Dixon. Mrs. Thompson
was born in Rochester, N. Y., December 11,
1841, and is the mother of one child, Frank Hor
ton, born May 30, 1878, a bright and promising
young man.
During the existence of the Whig party Mr.
Thompson was a supporter of its principles and
advocated Henry Clay for the Presidency, being
a great admirer of that statesman. Upon the
dissolution of the Whig party he became a Re
publican. He remembers having seen President
Lincoln during the war. For many years he
served as Inspector of Elections. Ever loyal to
the Government, he was a member of the Union
League during the Rebellion. He is an excellent
civil engineer, and has done considerable survey
ing in the neighborhood. He has held the posi
tion of Treasurer of the Monroe Dairy Association
since its organization.

— S-

^§>*<P=

(JAMES CREEGAN, one of the honored and
J highly respected citizens of Port Jervis, was
(2/ for many years connected with the business
and commercial interests of this city, though he
is now living comparatively retired. He still
looks after his extensive real-estate interests,
however, and is agent tor steamship and fire-in
surance companies. He makes his home at No.
87 Ball Street.
Mr. Creegan is a native of the Emerald Isle,
born in County Leitrim, about sixty-five years
ago, and is a son of Miles and Bridget (Kane)
Creegan. His father, who was a wealthy man,
was an extensive farmer of Ireland. At the age
of sixteen, James first came to America in search
of an older brother, who had crossed the Atlantic
about a year previously, in 1844. He found his
brother in Rhode Island, but as the latter refused

to return with him, our subject went back to Ire
land alone, In 1847 he again came to the United
States, going to Rhode Island, where his brother
was still located. He was then employed on the
construction of a railroad in Massachusetts, re
maining with that company until its completion.
The Chemung Branch of the Erie Railroad was
then being built, and Mr. Creegan intended to
work on the same, but on passing through Or
ange County he stopped at Port Jervis, where he
had a cousin living, who advised him to remain.
This was in July, 1849, and he has since made
this place his home.
For seven years Mr. Creegan was employed in
the railroad service as oil man on a train running
from Port Jervis; afterward he was made brake-
man, and then was connected with the Delaware
Division. With the capital he had saved from
his wages, he opened a general store at the Sus
quehanna depot of the Pennsylvania & Delaware
Division ofthe Erie Railroad, and there remained
in business for three years, receiving an excel
lent trade. He then built a store in Port Jervis,
at the corner of King and Brown Streets, putting
in a full stock of general merchandise. He also
made a contract to supply wood to the railroad
company, following this for eleven years, or until
coal came into general use. During that time he
purchased land, from which he cut the timber, and
also bought wood of the farmers. He often had
in his employ as many as one hundred men chop
ping wood at fifty cents per cord, paying them
regularly every Saturday night. In this way he
cleared five hundred acres of timber-land. For
thirty years he carried on mercantile pursuits,
and as he was the only man of his nationality
that conducted a store in Port Jervis, he received
a liberal patronage.
By industry, enterprise and good management,
Mr. Creegan accumulated considerable capital,
and has invested over $1 15,000 in real estate. He
has built several houses in this village, and in
1867 erected a fine three-story block on Pike
Street. This is a double building, divided into
storerooms, with a mansard roof, and has a
frontage of seventy feet, and a depth of sixty-five
feet. It is known as the Creegan Block, and is

J. EDWARD BAKER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

867

situated in the very heart of the business district.
As it was erected when both labor and material
were high, it cost $60,000, and in it Mr. Creegan
carried on business until disposing of his stock of
merchandise. He has a farm in Pike County,
Pa. , three miles from Port Jervis, comprising one
thousand acres, much of which is woodland. He
oversees the cultivation of the land, and is also
engaged to some extent in stock-raising. He is
also the owner of the Cacy Drake Farm of one
hundred acres, which is situated eight miles from
Port Jervis, on the plank road in the town of
Deerpark, and this he rents.
Mr. Creegan was united in marriage with Miss
Bridget M. Blighe, of Deposit, N. Y., on the 23d
of June, 1853. She is a daughter of Michael and
Bridget (Burk) Blighe, and her birth occurred in
Williamstown, County Galway, Ireland. She
left her native land at the age of thirteen, and
sailed for America, where she has since resided.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Creegan are devout members
ofthe Catholic Church, of which they are liberal
supporters. He is entirely independent of party
lines in politics, in the exercise of his elec
tive franchise considering rather the fitness of
the man for the office than the party. He has
never cared for political preferment, having but
once filled office, which was in 1858, when he
served as Village Trustee. He has led an hon
est, upright life, and by his fellow-townsmen is
held in the highest respect. In 187 1 he and his
wife returned to their old home in Ireland, where
they visited a few weeks, spending one mouth in
the city of Galway. They made the trip both
ways on the Cunard steamer "Abyssinia."

1=1

"-"¦"""a

$+$

("=

(J EDWARD BAKER, who for a number of
1 years prior to his death was one of the in-
Q) fluential business men of Newburgh, was
born near Buffalo, N. Y. , being a son of Michael
H. and Emily (Shay) Baker, the former a native
of Germany, and the latter of Erie County, N. Y.
He was a mere child when he was orphaned
by his mother's death. In Newburgh, where
his boyhood days were passed, he was educated

in Professor Brown's private school. He had a
natural talent for stone lettering and cutting, and
worked at that business for several years.
At the suggestion of his father, who desired to
have our subject engage in business with him, a
partnership was formed between the two and they
embarked in the manufacture of soda. This con
nection continued until the death of the father, in
1885, when the son succeeded to the business and
continued to engage in it until his death, Novem
ber 23, 1893, at the age of thirty-two years. In
politics he was a Democrat, but having no taste
for public life he steadfastly refused to accept of
ficial positions. He was liberal to all churches
and charitable enterprises, and it may with truth
be said of him that his was an honest, upright
and moral life. He was a member of the Colum
bian Hose Company of the Newburgh Fire De
partment, and was interested in other enterprises
having for their object the promotion of the wel
fare of the people. Socially he was a member of
the Knights of Pythias, being of the Uniformed
Rank, and was also identified with the Indepen
dent Order of Odd Fellows, both the subordinate
lodge and encampment.
The lady who was Mr. Baker's faithful help
mate in life, and who since his death has suc
cessfully continued the business in which he en
gaged, bore the maiden name of Rosa Viola
Ramsperger, and was born in Poughkeepsie,
Dutchess County, N. Y. Her father, William
Ramsperger, was born in Leiz, Sigmaringen,
Hohenzollern, Germany, and on emigrating to
America settled in Poughkeepsie, where he mar
ried Rosa Miller, a native of Munich, Germany.
He was a mason by trade, and followed that busi
ness for a time after coming to this country, but
afterward engaged in the grocery business.
Reared to womanhood in Poughkeepsie, Mrs.
Baker was educated in E. Turnow's select school
of that city. In 1886 she became the wife of J.
Edward Baker, and has since made her home in
Newburgh. She is a member of the German
Lutheran Church of this city, and is active in all
church and benevolent work. On the death of
her husband she succeeded to the management of
the business, which she has since carried on in a

868

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

manner indicative of her ability and sound judg
ment. The location of the works is at No. 417
Washington Street, which is likewise the family
residence. All kinds of soft drinks are manufact
ured, but the principal business is that of manu
facturing and bottling soda-water, and bottling
beer. During the busy season, five teams are
kept on the road, distributing the products ofthe
factory in Newburgh and the surrounding towns.
Goods are shipped into neighboring cities, and no
better soft drinks are manufactured. Mrs. Baker
has shown herself a woman of good business abil
ity, and has not only succeeded in retaining, but
has enlarged, the trade of the manufactory.

S. RUSSELL, M. D., although a young
man, is a prominent physician of Highland
Mills. He was born in New York City,
January 2, 1870, and is a son of John H. and
Charlotte (Macy) Russell, the former a native of
Philadelphia, Pa., and the latter of Brooklyn,
N. Y. The Russells were Presbyterians in their
religious belief, while the Macys were Quakeis.
John H. Russell was the son of DeWitt Clinton
Russell, and the family are descendants of An-
neke Jans, who married John Bogardus. The
Russells were originally from Rose Hill, England,
from which the family name originated. Lord
John Russell, of historic fame, was one of the
ancestors of the Doctor.
Dr. Russell is the eldest and only surviving
child of the parental family. He was reared 111
New York City, and attended the city schools un
til fifteen years of age, at which time he graduat
ed from the public school. Then for two years
he attended the College ofthe City of New York,
taking only a half-course on account of ill health,
and the following year took private instruction.
In 1888 he entered the medical department of
the University ofthe City of New York, in which
he continued until the summer of 1892. Owing to
ill-health he gave out after completing half of the
examination, but on account of his high standing-

was granted a private examination, the first in
the history of the university, but was not allowed
to receive his diploma until the end of the school
year, in 1893. He then took a post-graduate
course, during which time he delivered lectures.
He had the peculiar distinction of being lecturer to
the class with which he was to graduate. Dur
ing his post-graduate year he practiced his pro
fession to some extent in New York City. After
receiving his diploma, he rested a few months
and then located in Highland Mills.
In New York City, September 12, 1893, Dr.
Russell was married to Miss Nellie Tanner, a na
tive of New York City, and a daughter of William
J. and Ellen E. (Bartlett) Tanner. They have
one son, Stanleigh Seaton. In politics Dr. Rus
sell has been a life-long Republican. He is a
member ofthe Alpha Delta Phi, a college frater
nity. As soon as he was graduated, in 1893, he
was offered a position as assistant in Materia
Medica in the medical department ofthe Univer
sity ofthe City of New York, and also as instructor
in Materia Medica in the Loomis Laboratory.
The next year (1894) ne was engaged as Profes
sor of Materia Medica and Pathology in the New
York Dental School, which position he now holds,
and goes to the city twice a week to deliver lec
tures. He also has an office in the city and is build
ing up quite a practice in his profession. In High
land Mills he is Health Officer and Town Physi
cian. Few men, under the adverse circumstan
ces in which he has labored on account of deli
cate health, have ever attained such high stand
ing. The future is certainly a bright one for him
in his chosen profession.

±WG:

EHARLES FREDERICK LaMONT, who is
one of the prominent citizens of Turner, is
the maufacturerer of crystalized eggs, his
factory being located in St. Louis, Mo., 'with
branch offices in New York City and Chicago. He
was born in the metropolis, February 21, 1858,
and there passed the first eight years of" his life!
His father at that time came to Turner, purchas
ing the property where his son, our subject, now

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

869

makes his home. He first attended the district
school at Turner, afterward the Seward Institute
at Florida, Orange County, aud completed his
education in the Yonkers Military Academy.
When twenty-three years of age he engaged in
business with his father in the manufacture of
crystalized eggs, and since purchasing the right
from his father has had complete control of the
business. They had an exhibit at the Centennial
Exposition, and since that time the business has
developed until it is now an immense concern.
Arbuckle, the well known coffee man, uses over
one hundred thousand pounds of this article per
year. Mr. LaMont spends the summer in St.
Louis, where eggs are cheapest, and the rest of
the year may be found either at his New York of
fice or at Turner.
Our subject is the son of Charles A. and Re-
gina (Warren) LaMont, the former ofwhom was
born in the town of Monroe. To them were born
fourteen children, of whom eight are now living.
Charles F., of this sketch, was the eldest of the
household. He was united in marriage, March
22, 1882, to Miss Alice McKelvey, who was born
at Turner, and who is the daughter of Rensselaer
and Rachel (Weyant) McKelvey, the former born
in Turner, December 11, 1814, and died April 10,
1868. Mrs. McKelvey was born at Highland
Mills, in 1819, and is now making her home with
her daughter, Mrs. LaMont. Mrs. McKelvey is
a daughter of John and Mary (Hazard) Weyant,
natives of Orange County, and by her marriage
became the mother of seven children. The pa
ternal grandparents of Mrs. LaMont were John
and Mary (Stewart) McKelvey, natives of Scot
land, the grandmother being related to the royal
house of Stuart.
To our subject and his excellent wife there were
born a son and daughter, both of whom are de
ceased. They have taken into their home and
hearts a nephew of Mrs. LaMont, who was named
for our subject, Charles Frederick. Mrs. La
Mont is a devoted member ofthe Methodist Epis
copal Church, and an active worker in the same.
Mr. LaMont belongs to Standard Lodge No.
711, F. & A. M., of Monroe, and in politics is a
straightforward Democrat. That he is very pop

ular in his community is shown by the fact that
he has served for several years as Supervisor in
a Republican district. He is prominent in local
politics and in public affairs and for some time
was a member of the County Central Committee.

j»JJ*^*»J»»J>« ^S§

\ (js* *&* *?• «j* 1—

0AVID MARSTON. The town of Newburgh
is a rich agricultural center, and the men who
conduct its farming interests are enterpris
ing and self-reliant. Among these the subject of
this sketch occupies no unimportant place. He
was born in this town, June 18, 1822, and is a son
of William and Elizabeth (Wyatt) Marston, the
former a native of Queens County, L. I. Our
subject's maternal grandfather was Dr. William
Wyatt, a member of a prominent family of Ulster
County, that early settled within its limits.
The parental family consisted of two sons and
two daughters besides the subject of this sketch,
namely: Samuel, William H., Catherine and Ann
E. Our subject remained at home until he was
ten years of age, when he went to live on an ad
joining farm with his uncle, David Wyatt, re
maining with that gentleman until he was about
twenty-two years old. October 30, 1844, he was
united in marriage with Miss Martha Gillies,
whose birth occurred in Fostertown, June 16,
1826. She is the daughter of Jacob and Martha
(Waring) Gillies, natives of the town of New
burgh and now deceased.
After his marriage Mr. Marston located in New
York City, where he resided for ten years, being
employed by a wholesale jobbing house. During
his sojourn in that city he saved some money,
and on returning to Orange County settled on the
old homestead, where he has since resided. His
farm comprises seventy acres, and upon it are a
substantial residence, and the necessary barns and
outbuildings. In addition to general farming,
he has a number of high-bred horses and cattle,
and also devotes considerable attention to fruit
growing, which is a very important industry in
this portion ofthe country.
Of recent years Mr. Marston has found cause
to change his political views, and he now votes

870

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

for Prohibition candidates. In religious affairs
he and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. They are the parents of seven
children, namely: Mary, Elvira, Lucy, Wilber,
William, Catherine and Jacob G.

30HN D. CARPENTER. The first repre
sentative of the Carpenter family in Orange
County was Solomon Carpenter, a native of
Long Island, who, coming to the town of Goshen,
there married a Miss Dunning, and continued to
reside until his death. Among his children was
Benjamin, whose wife, Margaret, was a daughter
of Maj. John Decker, or Johannes Decker, as he
was called by the Dutch. Under date of Febru
ary 28, 1776, he was commissioned Major by the
Provincial Congress, and so prominent and bold
did he become in his attacks upon the enemy,
that a reward was offered for his scalp by the
British Government. In the hope to secure this
reward, the Indians, led by the infamous Brant,
made a desperate attempt to capture him, but he
escaped, though several of his comrades were
killed. When the squad of red men came into
the little village, Margaret was in the schoolhouse
with a number of other children, but fortunately
none of them were attacked. She attained an
advanced age, dying when eighty-four years old.
Settling in Orange County, Benjamin Carpen
ter secured the strip of laud between the Never
sink and Delaware Rivers, on the boundary line
of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.
This place was called Carpenter's Point, but is
known at the present time as Tri States. At the
junction of the two rivers he kept a ferry, an oc
cupation in which he found considerable work,
for all the travelers going westward crossed the
Delaware at this point. He was nearly seventy
years of age when he passed from this life.
Concerning the children of Benjamin Carpenter
we note the following: Sallie married Solomon
Van Vleet, and removed to Allegheny County,
Pa. ; Eleanor became the wife of Levi Van Etten,
and their son was the late Dr. Sol Van Etten;
John Decker is the subject of this sketch; Solo

mon died unmarried when thirty years old; Ben
jamin married, reared a family, removed to Bing
hamton and died there; Margaret, the youngest,
is the widow of John Van Etten and is living at
Sparrow Bush.
John D. Carpenter married Catherine Westfall,
daughter of Simon Westfall, of Sparrow Bush.
Her grandfather, Simeon, was a son of Simon
Westfall, who owned the old stone house and mill
at Carpenter's Point. After his marriage Mr.
Carpenter for many years made his home in Car
penter's Point, but the last years of himself and
wife were passed in Farley, Dubuque County,
Iowa, his two sons having removed to that state.
His wife died at the age of sixty-four, and he sur
vived until in his ninetieth year. In religious
belief he was identified with the Methodist Epis
copal Church. His two daughters still live at
Port Jervis: Margaret, the widow of George Cud
deback, of the town of Deerpark; and Asenath,
who became the wife of Nathan Skinner, and is
now living with her son, John N. At the age of
fourteen years she became a member of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, but later she identified
herself with the Reformed Church, and to this
organization she has since belonged.
The wife of John D. Carpenter was of Dutch
descent, but the Westfall family was represented
in America from an early period of its settlement.
The first of the name to come here were two
brothers, Julian and Symon, who emigrated from
Holland and settled in New York. Julian,' Jr.,
a son of Symon, was the father of Simon, and a
son of the latter, Simeon by name, was the father
of David. Simon married Jeannette Westbrook,
April 17, 1743, the ceremony being performed by
Justice Peter Kuyckendall. As above stated, the
stone house and mill at Carpenter's Point were
erected by him. Later they were partially de
stroyed, but were re-built, and the house stood as
a residence until about twenty years ago.
Among the eleven children of Simon and Jean
nette Westfall, Simeon was the fourth. He mar
ried Sarah Cole, who was a daughter of David
Cole, and she died in 1837, aged ninety-five.
They lived across the river in Matamoras, direct
ly opposite the Erie depot in Port Jervis. On

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

871

that site, before the Revolution, he built a large
stone house that still stands, a landmark of those
old days. For a time during the war it was used
as a fort, and it stands opposite "Sim's Clip," a
ledge of rocks in the river named for him. Their
son David married Jennie Cuddeback, and re
sided in Matamoras, Pa.
Their youngest daughter, Sarah, was married
over sixty years ago to Hon. James Burnett.
She was born March 29, 1802, and died in Feb
ruary, 1895, when almost ninety-three years old.
Her five brothers and one sister also attained ad
vanced ages. At the age of twenty-five she joined
the Reformed Church, becoming a member of the
old church that stood near the cemetery for many
years, but was taken down long since. At the
time of her death she was the oldest member ofthe
church, both in respect to age and years of mem
bership. Not only was she well posted in regard
to the early history of this section, but she also
kept informed regarding current events, and was
in many respects a remarkable woman, possessing
mental powers of a high order. In family his
tory she was especially well informed. She was
conversant with the many legends connected with
the vicinity, and had a fund of anecdotes of rare
and thrilling interest. Her death broke the chain
that bound the present with the past.

+=

=+

EHARLES H. TOWNSEND was born in the
house where he now resides at Highland
Mills, November 12, 1838. He attended the
village school until about twelve years of age,
and then went to Cornwall, where for two years
he attended the private school of Alfred C. Roe,
a brother of E. P. Roe, and was later in a school
on Long Island, in what is now the village of
Buckran. When his school days were over he
returned to Highland Mills, and remained at
home with his mother until her death. His fa
ther died when he was but twelve years of age.
At Highland Mills, December 28, 1858, he was
married to a daughter of Joshua T. Cromwell.

The Townsend family is one of the oldest of
which our country can boast. It can show an
unbroken line back to the Norman Conquest in
1066, in which year we first find mention of
them. After William of Normandy had defeated
Harold, he divided the spoils among his most
valiant leaders. It was from this source that
Raynham or Roverhouse, in Norfolk (still in the
possession ofthe Townsends), was deeded to De-
Harille Townsend, who was the first of the blood
in England. About forty years afterward, Hen
ry came over to England with a number of nobles
iu his train, who intermarried with the wealthy
daughters of the adventurous spirits who had fol
lowed William of Normandy. So it happened
that one Ludovicus or Loomis, a Norman of the
bluest blood, married a daughter of De Harille and
assumed the family name of Townsend. The land
surrounding Raynham has not only remained in
tact for eight hundred years, but has been added
to from time to time according as the reigning
sovereign has desired to repay a Townsend for
distinguished services. In 1483 the head of the
house was raised to a baronetcy by Richard III.
Nearly one hundred years later Roger Townsend
was knighted for gallantry by Admiral Howard,
after the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
The Townsends were always strong Protest
ants, continually maintaining their aversion to
the Romish supremacy, and this same Roger
Townsend, with Sir Francis Drake and others,
manned and fought in their own vessels when
Rome endeavored to exterminate Protestant wor
ship in England. About the year 1827, Caroline
Drake, a lineal descendant of Sir Francis, and al
so ofthe poet, Joseph Rodman, married John R.
Townsend, of New York, a descendant ofthe
above-mentioned Roger Townsend.
Of the Irish branch, Col. Rich Townsend was
so able and valiant a leader under Oliver Crom
well that the large estate in the county of Cork
where the family now resides was presented to
him. In 1630-33 the Townsend brothers landed on
the shores of Massachusetts Bay, having left the
mother country on account of religious intolerance
then existing there; but they held such advanced

872

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ideas of free government, free speech and free re
ligion, that they were obliged to leave Massachu
setts for Long Island, where, at Oyster Bay and
Glen Cove, they were granted large tracts from
the Crown, which land is still in the possession
ofthe family, the old homestead remaining stand
ing until this day. Of the three brothers who
came to America in 1630, Henry (first) was the
progenitor of the family to which our subject be
longs. He settled at Oyster Bay prior to Decem
ber 16, 1 66 1, as the Mill Grant bears that date,
and was admitted as a townsman November 4
of the same year. For the benefit of the poor he
gave a legacy to the town of Jamaica, which was
enjoyed by them until a very recent date. He
was a very busy man and prominent in the com
munity, owning a saw and grist mill, which gave
employment to many men. For years he held
the office of Town Clerk, and made many surveys
in the neighborhood. He was employed with
his nephew Thomas in all public business, such
as adjusting boundaries, procuring patents, and
buying land of the Indians. He assisted in the
settlement of his brother's estate, was executor of
several wills, and was one of those appointed by
Capt. John Underhill to see that his children were
not wronged in case his widow married again.
While active in the affairs of others, he was not
neglectful of his own, having accumulated much
property, which was divided among his children.
His wife was Annie Coles, a daughter of Robert
Coles. Of eight children, Henry (second) was the next
ancestor of our subject. He married Deborah,
daughter of Capt. John Underhill. He died prior
to 1703. There were four children, Henry (third)
being second in order of birth. He married Eli-
phal, daughter of John and Mary (Townsend)
Wright. He succeeded his uncle, John Mill, as
surveyor, and bought back land sold by his fa
ther. He was a man of great promise, but died
in 1709, at an early age. Two children were born
of this marriage: Henry (fourth) and Absalom.
The former married Elizabeth Titus, a beautiful
Quaker, and removed to Chester, Orange Coun
ty, N. Y. Of eight children, Henry (fifth) was
second in order of birth. He was born in 1725,

and died March 28, 1803. He married Annie
Wright, who died September 17, 1825, at the age
of ninety. Of his children, Betsey and Zebulon
are of interest to this branch ofthe family. Mrs.
Townsend is descended from Betse) , whose second
marriage united her with Robert Little. One of
their daughters, Martha married Henry Titus.
The latter's daughter, Elizabeth, married Joshua
T. Cromwell. Zebulon, who married Anna Cook,
died October 4, 1836. His wife survived him
until March 3, 185 1, dying at the age of eighty-
eight years. Of their five children, Henry, fa
ther of our subject, was the youngest. He was
born May 9, 1803, and married Harriet Conk
lin, who was born in 1789. He died September
29, 1849. To them were born the following chil
dren: Charles, our subject; Henry, Margaret,
Mary and Edward. All died young, with the
exception of our subject.
The grandfather of our subject came to High
land Mills and in 1804 purchased the homestead
on which our subject resides. He followed farm
ing and also owned a mill, which he usually rent
ed. It was built iu 1756 and was burned July 3,
1873. Later it was rebuilt and sold to the broth
er-in-law of our subject, now deceased.
To Charles H. Townsend and wife were born
nine children, four ofwhom are now living: Har
riet, wife of William Mackintosh, managing ed
itor of the Buffalo News; Elizabeth, living with
her sister in Buffalo; Margaret and Rosamond.
Mrs. Townsend is a member of the Quaker
Church, of which body Mr. Townsend' s father
was also a member. In politics our subject is a
Republican, and shouted for Fremont, the first
Republican nominee for President, but cast his
first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln.
^-^%£P  .

p GJlLLIAM N. CASE. Very few of the resi-
\ A / dents of the town of Deerpark have been
W identified with its history for so long a
period as has the venerable gentleman who forms
the subject of this notice. Though not a native
of this county, he was brought here when so
young that he remembers no other home than

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

873

this. He witnessed the development of the town,
the growth of its material interests, the progress
of its commercial enterprises, and the springing
up of thriving villages. Now in his old age, he
can recall with pleasure the many incidents con
nected with the early history of this part of the
county, and can also dwell with pride upon his
own connection with the increasing prosperity of
the community.
Mr. Case is now ninety-one years of age, hav
ing been born April 14, 1804. A native of New
Jersey, he was the eldest ofthe nine children of
Henry and Catherine (Nearpass) Case, who were
born in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respective
ly. Ofthe family he and his brothers, John D.,
of Pennsylvania; Henry A., of Sparrow Bush;
and Jacob, of Deerpark, are the only survivors.
The father came to the town of Deerpark about
1806, and had the distinction of being one ofthe
first white settlers of this part of the county.
Here he remained until his death, which occurred
when he was about fourscore years of age. His
wife passed from earth when sixty years old.
Upon attaining his majority, the subject of this
sketch rented one of his father' s farms in this towu ,
"and after a time he purchased the property. His
interests were varied, and he was prospered in
his different undertakings. For some time he
ran a sawmill, also_kept an hotel, and dealt ex
tensively in timber and lumber. August 13,
1827, he married Miss Sarah Cuddeback, of this
town, who died April 12, 1888. Seven children
were born of this union, namely: Benjamin, who
died at the age of sixty-four years; Henry, a
farmer of Sullivan County; Samuel, whose death
occurred at the age of about fifty-four; Jacob, who
has charge of the old homestead, and looks after
the welfare of his father in his declining years;
Jeremiah, an agriculturist of this town; and Kate
and Charlotte, both deceased.
In his younger years Mr. Case took a warm in
terest in public affairs, favoring all measures cal
culated to advance the welfare of the town. Po
litically he has always adhered to the Democracy.
For many years he filled the position of Justice of
the Peace, and he was also Supervisor for a year.
In the Methodist Episcopal Church he has held

the majority of the offices, and while he is no
longer able to take an active part in religious
matters, his faith is as bright as it was in the days
of his prime. Notwithstanding his advanced
years, he is well preserved, and is comparatively
robust and strong. A good and upright man, his
memory will be held iu veneration long after he
shall have passed from the scenes of his lifetime
associations.

<X+* ** fr*******:**^************^***
(JOHN FIELD, an employe ofthe New York,
I Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company,
Q) residing in Otisville, is a native of England,
born in the city of Chester, in July, 1838. He
remained at home until about fifteen years old,
when, for a period of five years, he was compan
ion and servant to a gentleman who traveled over
England, Ireland, Wales, and a part of France.
On leaving his employ, he set sail for America,
and on arriving at New York City proceeded at
once to Otisville, where he has since made his
home. On his arrival here he began hauling
wood to market, but continued in that occupa
tion only a short time, when he accepted a posi
tion with the New York, Lake Erie & Western
Railroad, and has been in the employ of that
company ever since. During this time he has
never been reported, discharged or laid off. He
began work for the company as a section-hand,
but was soon transferred to the milk train run
ning from Otisville to Jersey City.
Mr. Field was united in marriage, in 1855,
with Mary Griffith, a native ofthe southern part of
Wales, who came to this country in early life,
and who died in Otisville, in 1885, leaving six
children: Marietta, widow of Anson Drake, of
the town of Mt. Hope, who now makes her home
with our subject; William, who makes his home
in Otisville, and is employed on the Erie Rail
road; Nellie, who still remains at home; Joseph,
a telegraph operator on the Erie Railroad; John,
Jr., a flagman on the same road, who makes his
home in Otisville; and George, a telegraph oper
ator in New York City.
In his political views Mr. Field is a Democrat,

874

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but is very liberal, being perfectly willing that
others should have the same privilege that he
asks for himself in voting for men and measures.
He is a well informed man, and is content to live
a quiet and peaceable life, living as far as he can
in accordance with the Golden Rule.

-*— «  •)2-^®(®)®'>#<<  -t-

0TTO ANDREA, of the town of Woodbury,
was born iu Frankfort-on-the-Main, Octo
ber 15, 1 82 1. The family is descended from
Jacob Andrea, a German divine, who was born at
Waiblingen, Wurtemberg, March 25, 1528, and
died June 7, 1590. He studied at Stuttgart and
Tubingen, and was ordained pastor in the former
town in 1549. In 1557 he became preacher to
Duke Christopher of Wurtemberg, whom he ac
companied to the Diets of Ratisbon and Frank
fort. In 1562 he was appointed a Professor of
Theology and Classics in the University at Tu
bingen, and Provost ofthe Church of St. George,
and from this time took a prominent part in the
movements and discussions of the Protestant
Church. He was especially instrumental in the
adoption of Formula Concordes as the common
profession of faith of the two Protestant parties.
His grandson, Johann Valentine, a voluminous
German author, born at Heninberg August 17,
1586, died at Stuttgart June 27, 1654. After
traveling over Germany, Switzerland, Italy and
France, he filled various ecclesiastical positions
for some time, and officiated at the chapel of the
Duke of Wurtemberg. His "Mythologse Chris
tiana" and other Latin works have been partly
translated into German by Herder and Sontag.
In 1633 he published a work advocating repub
lican Christianity in Germany. His German
writings included several poems, among which
"Christlich Gemuel" is highly praised by Her
der, who declares that Andrea boldly announced
truths in the seventeenth century which no one
would dare to express in the eighteenth century.
He first made known the order of Rosicrucians in
two or three publications, and is regarded by

some as the founder of the order. His autobiog
raphy was published in 1849 in Latin. He was
a friend of Luther.
Otto Andrea is a son of Bernard and Johanna
(Clause) Andrea. The father was also born in
Frankfort-on-the-Main, his birth occurring Au
gust 7, 1781, and his death in 1871. He was a
merchant at Frankfort, but retired from business
long before his death. Bernard Andrea was
known as Chef Andrea, the title being one given
to ex-Burgomasters of the city. Johanna, his wife,
was a daughter of a citizen of Aix-la-Chapelle,
where he was a large manufacturer of cloth. She
died in 1834, at an advanced age.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his na
tive city, and until sixteen years of age attended
the gymnasium. He then went to school at Ve-
vay, Switzerland, where he remained about one
year; thence went to Bordeaux, France, where he
entered a mercantile house and remained two
years. Later he went to London, and for one year
was employed in a mercantile house in that city.
From London he came to New York City in 1841 ,
but remained only a short time, when he went to
Havana, Cuba. Disliking the institutions of the
Spanish country, he returned to New York City-
after two months' residence in Havana, and
there remained until 1858. From New York he
went to Switzerland, and there engaged in busi
ness until 1866, when he again returned to New
York, and as a member of the firm of Andrea,
Graven & Co. , importers of silk, he continued in
business until 1888.
In 1872 Mr. Andrea purchased a home in
Orange County, and on retiring from business
lived here permanently. The land lies a short
distance from Central Valley, and here he takes
great delight in growing roses and violets, the
propagation of which he commenced in 1881.
On the 23d of April, 1845, Mr. Andrea was
united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Matilda
Gale, a daughter of Anthony and Maria (Helme)
Gale. To them were born five children: Jo
hanna, who married Bernard Andrea, a cousin,
whose home during his lifetime was in Vienna';
Pauline, who married Carl Schroeder, of New
York, now deceased; George C, of New York

JOHN EDSALL McCAIN.

CHARLES THOMAS McCAIN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

879

City, who succeeded to his father's business;
Otto, who was associated with his brother George,
and makes his home in the town of Woodbury,
near Highland Mills; and Gertrude, who died in
infancy, in Frankfort.
Mrs. Andrea traces her ancestry back to Johann
Weisner, who was a Swiss soldier in the allied
army under the Prince of Orange and then under
the Duke of Marlborough, until peace was de
clared in the reign of Queen Anne. He then
came to America and had large grants of land in
Orange County. His son, Hendrick Weisner,
and his grandson, Henry Weisner, were members
of Coleman Assembly from 1767 to 1769. Henry
Weisner married Sarah Walters in 1769. Mary
Weisner, his daughter, married Phineas Helme,
and Anna Helme, their daughter, married Oba
diah Helme. Their daughter, Maria D. , married
Anthony Gale, the father of Gertrude Matilda
Gale, the wife of our subject.

»*¦?*»*»

»- I I I ' L-«

(7fENECA JESSUP. Though he has resided
7\ upon his present farm for a short time only,
\~J Mr. Jessup is well known throughout Orange
County, for he was born here and has been a res
ident within its borders throughout his entire
life. The farm of one hundred acres upon which
he settled in August, 1893, is pleasantly situated
in the town of Goshen, and is under a high state
of cultivation. It is embellished with a good set
of buildings, the most conspicuous of which is the
family residence. Near it are such structures as
the practical development of a model farm calls
for, while through the proper rotation of crops
and fertilizing of the soil the land has been
brought under excellent cultivation.
The Jessup family is of English origin, and
the first representatives in America settled in
Montauk Point, L. I. Some of its member par
ticipated in the Revolutionary War, and our sub
ject's grandfather was a soldier in the War of
1812. His father, Samuel Jessup, was a native of
Orange County, and a resident of the town of
Warwick. His mother, Hannah (Steinmetz)
Jessup, was a native of Chemung County. She
39

was a granddaughter of Jacob Steinmetz, a soldier
in the American Revolution. The family came
originally from Holland and at an early period
settled in the Mohawk Valley. Of their children
the following survive: Charles L.,a resident of
the town of Warwick; James J., whose home is
in Lincoln, Neb.; Seneca; Sarah, wife of J. W.
Martin, of New York City; John and Samuel,
who are living in Chicago, 111.
In Orange County, where he was born June
11, 1849, the subject of this notice passed the
years of boyhood and youth, alternating work on
the home farm in the town of Warwick with at
tendance at the common schools. On completing
the studies of the public schools he entered the
Seward Institute at Florida, this county, from
which institution he was graduated after a five-
years course of study. In 1868 he removed from
Warwick to the town of Goshen, and settled one-
half mile south of where he now resides, remov
ing to his present place in August, 1893. He
still owns one hundred and sixty-eight acres ly
ing one-half mile south of his present home, and
his wife owns two hundred acres of well improved
land, one hundred of which comprise the home
stead where the family resides.
The marriage of Mr. Jessup, November 25,
1868, united him with Miss Jennie A., daughter
ofthe late John Edsall McCain, au old settler of
the town of Warwick. The McCain family has
been identified with the history of this county
since Colonial days, and seven brothers served in
the Revolutionary War, one of whom was killed
at the battle of Monmouth, and another was the
gallant Gen. William McCain. Few, if any,
families of this county can show such a record of
patriotism as this family exhibited during the
Revolution. They were people of influence in
this locality, and by intermarriage with the Sew
ard, Edsa'l and Johnson families allied themselves
with other pioneer residents of the county.
John Edsall McCain married Abigail, daugh
ter of David and Sarah (Davis) McCamly, and a
relative of the Gedney and Sands families, pio
neers of Orange County and of English descent.
The great-grandfather of Mrs. McCain, David
McCamly, who emigrated to America October 9,

88o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1729, was one ofthe earliest settlers of the town
of Warwick, and became the owner of twenty-five
hundred acres of land there. His son David,
Mrs. McCain's grandfather, grew to manhood on
the home farm, leaving it for service in the Colo
nial army, iu which he was promoted to the rank
of Colonel. The McCamly family was of Scotch-
Irish lineage. John Edsall McCain and his wife
were the parents of two daughters, the other be
sides Mrs. Jessup being Amelia, who married Dr.
Andrew Jessup, and they are both now deceased.
The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Jessup, John
Seward and Jennie A., have been given the ad
vantages of good educations, and are intelligent
and well informed. By his energy and resolute
force of character, Mr. Jessup has not only ad
vanced his material success, but has given an im
petus to the growth ofthe town, and has actively
forwarded various enterprises for its advancement
in important directions. In politics he has always
affiliated with the Democratic party and uniformly
votes that ticket. He has met with good success,
all of which is attributable to his energy and in
dustry, backed by a large share of common sense
and the assistance of his estimable wife.

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6HARLES THOMAS McCAIN. The record
made by the McCain family during the early
settlement of America is one of which their
posterity may well be proud. Identified with the
history of Orange County from a period antedat
ing the Revolution, they have been prominent
here both iu times of peace and war — as soldiers
valiant and as citizens progressive. The first of
the name to come to this country were seven
brothers, Robert, Joseph, William, James, Alex
ander, Thomas and Edward, who became mem
bers of the Committee of Safety June 2, 1775,
and afterward served as soldiers in the war with
England. Of these brothers, Thomas was the grandfather
of our subject. He married Charlotte Johnson,
who was born near Florida, Orange County, of

English parentage, being one of eleven children
and an only daughter. Her father and brothers
removed to Virginia, and afterward settled in
Tennessee. On his mother's side our subject was
a descendant, in the third generation, of Richard
Edsall, a native of Wales, and one of the early
settlers of the Vernon Valley, owning twelve hun
dred acres of land in Orange and Sussex Coun
ties. Richard Edsall, Jr., our subject's grand
father, was Captain of a company in Col. John
Seward's Sussex County regiment. In 1771 he
married Mary Seward, who was born in 1752,
being the eldest child of Col. John and Mary
(Sweezy) Seward. Eight months after her mar
riage she died at Merritt' s Island, and her body
was buried in the Dutch Reformed Churchyard
at Warwick. The second wife of Capt. Edsall
was also a Miss Seward, being a niece of Col.
John Seward.
The subject of this sketch was born near Am
ity, this county, December 27, 1821, being fourth
among the seven children of Thomas and Amelia
(Edsall) McCain. Five of the family reached
mature years, namely: Phcebe, born in 18 10, who
married Thomas Hinchman, of Bedford, Mich.;
John Edsall, born in 18 15, and ofwhom mention
is made in the sketch of Seneca Jessup, on
another page; Charles Thomas, of this sketch;
James Seward, born in 1825; and Edward H.,
born in 1827. The two youngest brothers in
1849 went to California, where Edward, a young
man of superior intellectual ability, died the fol
lowing year. J. Seward became a successful mer
chant of San Francisco, being senior member of
the wholesale house of McCain, Flood & Mc-
Clure, and afterward became interested in silver
mining, borax and salt works.
The marriage of Thomas McCain and Amelia
Edsall took place March 18, 1809, and twenty
years later, in 1829, he passed away, so that the
care and maintenance of the children devolved
upon the mother, a woman possessing many es
timable qualities and much strength of character.
The sons and daughter were given excellent
educational advantages, and under her wise train
ing were fitted for the honorable positions which
they afterward filled. Charles Thomas was a

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pupil of Samuel G. Hopkins, and later began
the study of medicine. Afterward, however, he
turned his attention to civil engineering, and be
came a recognized authority on land-surveying.
For several years he was School Superintendent
of the town of Warwick. In 1853 he and his
brother, John Edsall, left the farm where three
generations of the family had been born, and re
moved to their late residence, two miles south of
Goshen. Politically hewas a Democrat and took
a quiet interest in public affairs. He was a man
of keen intellect, and of indomitable energy and
perseverance, possessing the greatest integrity
and decision of character, and always performing
with strictest honesty all offices of trust and re
sponsibility. He had never married, and passed
away May 15, 1893, mourned by a large circle of
old-time friends.

NENRY BENJAMIN FULLERTON, Spe
cial County Judge of Orange County, is
probably the youngest Judge in the United
States, and as an attorney he ranks high, while
he is the silver-tongued orator of Orange Coun
ty. He was born in Sparrow Bush, two and
a-half miles west of Port Jervis, on the 4th of
March, 1868, and is a son of Peter Mills Fuller-
ton, a tanner and currier of Sparrow Bush. The
family was originally from Ireland, and the first
to come to America was William Fullerton. The
genealogy can be traced from that gentleman to
our subject, the next in direct line being William,
Jr., and he was followed by Stephen, Daniel,
Peter and Henry Benjamin.
William Fullerton, Sr. , came from Dublin, Ire
land, and died in 1786. He had married Sarah
Cooley, and their son William was the first of
the name to settle in Orange County. His death
occurred February 21, 18 17, at the age of fifty-
one years. His children were William, Daniel,
Stephen W. and Elizabeth. Stephen W. married
Esther Stevens, a daughter of Holloway Stevens,
and to them were born the following children:
Daniel, Elizabeth, William (an ex-Judge of the
Court of Appeals, who is a famous lawyer of New

York City), Mary, Holloway S., Stephen W.
(also an attorney of New York City, and ex -Coun
ty Judge of Orange County, who resides in Go
shen), Peter P., Benjamin S., John H., Elsie T.,
Esther L. and Frances E. Daniel E. Fullerton,
the next in direct line, first married Sarah Car
penter, and after her death married Miss De Witt,
who still survives. He was au attorney of prom
inence in Orange County, and resided at the old
homestead where his great-grandfather, William
Fullerton, had located. He died at the age of
sixty years. By his first marriage he had the
following children: Helen, Mary, Peter M., and
Capt. Stephen W., an attorney, who died while
in the sendee at the age of thirty years, being a
member of the Union army during the Civil War.
The following children were born of the second
marriage: Angeline, Harriet, Millie, Julia, Jen
nie, Ogden and Daniel.
Peter Fullerton, the father of our subject, served
as a soldier during the Rebellion, enlisting at the
first regular call for troops, when he became a
member of Company D, Eighteenth New York
Volunteers, and later re-enlisted in the One Hun
dred and Twenty-fourth New York Regiment.
He was wounded in the shoulder by a spent ball,
at the battle of Gettysburg. He enlisted as a
private, but later was made Corporal, and after
four years of valiant service he received an hon
orable discharge, in June, 1865. He emigrated
to Kansas, but did not make his home long in
that state, and on his return to New York located
at New Hampton, where he resided for two years.
He then settled at Sparrow Bush, where he was
employed as a tanner and currier until his death,
which occurred in June, 1892, at the age of fifty-
four years. He was not a public man, but by all
who knew him was held in the highest respect.
Peter Fullerton wedded Catherine A. Van Fred-
enberg, the only daughter of Aaron and Maria
(De Witt) Van Fredenberg, who were descended
from old Holland families, who came to America
about 1645. Mrs. Fullerton, who is still living,
became the mother of two children: Henry Ben
jamin and Kittie B., the latter a teacher in the
public schools of Sparrow Bush.
Henry B. Fullerton received his primary edu-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cation in the common schools, and later attended
the Port Jervis Academy. He has supplemented
his school work by extensive reading. At the
age of eighteen he began reading law in the office
of C. E. Cuddeback, and was admitted to the Bar
in Marion, Kan., in September, 1889. In De
cember of the same year he was admitted to gen
eral practice at Brooklyn, and in February, 1890,
he opened an office at Port Jervis, where he has
built up a lucrative practice. At the age of nine
teen years, while still a student, he defended two
young men by the name of Conkling and Hed-
diug, having received permission by the court.
At the first trial the-jury disagreed, but later the
young men were acquitted. This made him a
reputation as a defender, and as a pleader and
cross-examiner he ranks among the first. Dur
ing all his clerkship he had been trying cases, so
he had a splendid career opened up before his ad
mission to the Bar. His work has covered sev
eral important cases, one of which was that of
Bennett vs. McCardle, which attracted great at
tention. He was the plaintiff's attorney, and the
leading lawyer on the opposite side was L- E.
Carr, one of the prominent attorneys of Orange
County. The jury brought in a verdict for nomi
nal damages, which was practically a vindication
for Bennett. Mr. Carr, who is now located at
Albany, as attorney for the Delaware & Hudson
Railroad Company, is a man of fine oratorical
powers, but here he was overshadowed by Judge
Fullerton, who delivered one ofthe ablest speeches
of his life.
Before the Judge was eighteen years old he
was known as a campaign speaker, aud worked
in the interest of the Republican party for two
weeks during the campaign of 1888, while in
1892, during seven weeks, he delivered forty-two
speeches in the northern part of the state. For
three weeks in 1894 he was engaged in the state
campaign. As an orator he has won distinction
that is simply remarkable for one so young, aud
on Decoration Day and the Fourth of July he
has often been called upon to use his powers. At
Monticello, on the 4th of July, 1893, he is said
to have delivered one of the finest orations ever
heard in the county. In 1893 he was nominated

for the office of Special County Judge, and was
elected by a majority of twenty-two hundred and
sixty-four, one of the largest ever given in the
county. He holds court in chambers, and his
jurisdiction is co-ordinate with the County Judge,
John J. Beattie, of Warwick. The Judge was
appointed to the position of City Attorney for
Port Jervis in May, 1895, which appointment is
another proof ofthe ability of this young man.
The Fullerton family has always been noted
for its brilliancy, and among the men ofthe fam
ily there are several distinguished, lawyers, of
whom our subject is not the least. The Judge is
a careful student of his profession, and qualified
to hold the responsible position he has been called
upon to fill. He is frank and engaging in man
ner, and wins the confidence and respect of all
with whom he comes in contact.

WILLIAM J. COLLIER was born in Port
Jervis, July 1, 1853, being the eldest ofthe
five children of Thomas R. and Margaret
(McLaughlin) Collier. Of his brothers and sis
ter we note the following: Thomas R., Jr., is an
engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad in New
Mexico. James E. , who at one time was an in
fluential business man of Port Jervis, removed to
Colorado, where he has the principal undertaking
establishment of Pueblo, and indeed of that sec
tion of the state. Patrick H., who learned the
undertaking business with his brother James, is
now engaged at that occupation, together with
the livery business, in partnership with our sub
ject; for three years he has served on the police
force and as Constable, and he has also done
considerable detective work here. Mary. A., the
youngest-born, married Thomas Mahan, of Port
Jervis. The father of our subject was born May 20,
1831, in Queens County, near Dublin, Ireland,
and was there reared to manhood. Coming to
America in early manhood, he settled at Port Jer
vis and secured a position on the Erie Railroad,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

883

which was then building. For two years he
worked as brakeman, but the killing of one of his
friends by the cars caused him to resign and se
lect an occupation less dangerous to life and limb.
He purchased a horse and truck and'began cart
ing, which business he energetically prosecuted
until he had several delivery wagons and drays.
For thirty years he had all the business in this
line in Port Jervis, and for some time he delivered
the goods for both glass factories. For a while
he kept 'a hotel, which was one of the leading
headquarters for traveling men in this part of the
state. At the time that Dunn and Davis fought
here, Dunn stopped at the hotel and trained for
three months, eventually winning in the fight,
that was the greatest affair of the kind ever held
here. In addition to his other enterprises, Thomas R.
Collier also engaged in the livery business on a
small scale. He was sub-contractor in building
the Barrett Bridge across the Delaware River at
this place, and transferred the rock down the river
for the bridge. When the bridge was completed
he was the first man who crossed it with a horse.
He owned the first ballroom, in Port Jervis. A
liberal, free-hearted man, he had a host of friends
and was very popular in the city where he made
his home for so many years. In him the poor
had always a friend, aud it is probable that he
gave more in charity than any other resident of
the place. In his religious belief he was a Cath
olic. His death occurred August 5, 1882. He
was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, and the fun
eral was one of the largest ever held in the city.
Our subject's mother was born March 15, 1837,
in Ireland, near the birthplace of her husband.
She came to America in girlhood, and September
19, 1852, became the wife of Mr. Collier. Her
death occurred April 12, 1873, in the New York.
City Hospital, where an operation for the removal
of a tumor had been unsuccessfully performed.
Iu religious belief she was a Catholic, and her
body rests beside that of her husband in St. Mary's
Cemetery. Her mother, Margaret, came to this
country a few years after she did, and from that
time until her death, at the age of about ninety,
made her home with Mrs. Collier. Our subject's

father was a second time married, his wife being
Miss Mary Connell, of Paterson, N. J. They had
one son, Stephen, who is now a machinist and
lives in Paterson.
Upou attaining his majority the subject of this
sketch began to work at the baker's trade, which
he followed two years, after which he was in a
grocery store one year, and ran a boat on the
Delaware & Hudson Canal a year. For thir
teen years he was manager and collector for his
father-in-law, Fred Redaker, who ran the brewery
in Port Jervis, after which for a year he was as
sistant superintendent of the Rock Island Eleva
tor in Chicago. At the time of his father's death
he returned to Port Jervis and purchased a livery
stable on Pike Street, which he carried on for ten
years, then bought the Delaware House stable
property that he still owns. June 17, 1883, he
married Miss Barbara Redaker, of Port Jervis,
and they are the parents of four children, Thomas
Fred, William J., Jr., Kittie May and Lillian
Margaret. Iu 1890 Mr. Collier purchased his brother
James' undertaking business, which he has since
managed, and which is probably the largest in
the city. As a detective he has gained consider- <
able local fame, having captured several horse
thieves. Though interested in politics as a mem
ber ofthe Democratic party, he has never accept
ed local positions of trust.

V/lRS. ANN (VAN ETTEN) MORRISON,
Y a highly esteemed lady of Orange County,
(¦*} was born July 18, 1829, in the house where
she still makes her home, 011 a fine farm of one
hundred and nineteen acres of good land. Her
grandfather, Levi Van Etten, purchased this
place before the Revolutionary War, and was
living here at the time of the Brant Raid, on the
20th of July, 1779, at which time this leader, with
a number of Indians and Tories, destroyed nearly
all the household goods, homes and stock in the
vicinity. They also murdered and beheaded a
school teacher at the schoolhouse, which was
only a short distance from Mrs. Morrison's home.

884

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The first of the Van Etten family to locate in
the town of Deerpark was Jacob and his wife,
who bore the maiden name of Antje Westbrook.
Their son, Anthony Van Etten, who wedded
Hannah Decker, was the father of Levi, Mrs.
Morrison's grandfather. The latter was quite
wealthy, and he and his wife, Jane (Westbrook)
Van Etten, were the owners of several slaves.
Among their children was Hon. Thomas Van
Etten, the father of our subject.
Thomas Van Etten was born on the old home
stead, May 4, 1795, where he spent his entire
life, but he added to the farm until at one time he
owned from five to six hundred acres of rich
farming land. He was married, August 5, 1816,
to Miss Sally Van Auken, whose birth occurred
April 11, 1800, and she was a daughter of Evert
and Sarah (Westbrook) Van Auken. By this
union nine children were born. Lydia, wife of
Judge Martin Cole, of Sussex County, N. J., died
at the age of seventy-nine years; Belinda passed
away at the age of fifty-eight years; Isaac is also
deceased; Ann is the subject of this review; Sarah
resides with her daughter in Cedarville, Ohio;
Mark is a resident of Sussex County, N. J.; Cor
nelia wedded R. F. Gardner, of Middletown;
Thomas lives in Sauk Rapids, Minn.; and Hud
son died at the age of forty-seven years. The
father was one of the prominent men of Orange
County, and in 1836 represented his district in
the State Assembly, being elected on the Demo
cratic ticket, of which party he was one of the
leaders in this community. His death occurred
August 12, 1861, at the age of sixty-six years,
four months aud eight days, and his wife died on
the 5th of December, 1871. (See sketch of
Thomas Van Etten elsewhere in this volume.)
On the 2d of February, 1861, Miss Ann Van
Etten became the wife of John H. Morrison, who
was born in Wurtsboro, Sullivan County, and
was a son of Dr. John Adams and Catherine
(Nyce) Morrison. After their marriage they lo
cated, on a farm in Sullivan County, where the
husband engaged in agricultural pursuits on the
old Morrison homestead. There they continued
to live until his death, which occurred in 1875, at
the age of forty-eight years. In their family were

four children, three daughters and a son, but the
former all died within two weeks of each other of
diphtheria. They were Sally, who was named
in honor of her grandmother; Katie Nyce, named
in honor of another grandmother; and Delia The
only survivor is George, who was born on the
1 8th of August, 1 87 1, and is still with his mother,
helping in the management of the home place.
About 1883 Mrs. Morrison returned to her old
home in the town of Deerpark, and in connection
with her brother Mark later came into possession
of the farm, which now contains one hundred and
nineteen acres.

30HN PIERSON, a representative farmer of
the town of Mount Hope, was born Septem
ber 13, 1834, on the farm that he now owns.
His parents, Silas G. and Salome B. (Cook)
Pierson, had a family of four children, two of
whom died in infancy. Those living are our sub
ject, who is the eldest, and Harriet N., who mar
ried Alsop Dodge, a merchant in Otisville. The
father was born in 1799, on the same farm that
our subject now owns, and here he spent his en
tire life, dying at the age of forty -three years.
He was a successful farmer, and a member of the
Presbyterian Church. The mother was born July
28, 1804, in Hampshire County, Mass., and her
death occurred March 1, 1892, in the town of Mt.
Hope. She was also a member of the Presbyte
rian Church.
The subject of this sketch and his sister inher
ited the property at their parents' death. John
attended the common schools of the neighbor
hood and afterward attended for a time Middle-
town Academy and a school at Bethany, Pa.
January 1, 1863, he married Miss Lizzie Halsey,
of Sullivan County, and to them were born eight
children: Silas G., a bookkeeper at Denver,
Colo.; Frank H., still at home; John M., also a
bookkeeper at Denver; Helen G., a nurse in the
Presbyterian Hospital in New York City; Cora,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

885

at home; Salome C, now in Philadelphia attend
ing school; and Susan C, at home. One died in
infancy. Mr. Pierson has been residing on his farm a
period of sixty-one years. He is well known and
universally respected, and iu politics is a Repub
lican. He has been Assessor ot the town three
terms, and Inspector of Elections several years.
He is a prosperous farmer, and owns two hundred
and twelve acres of good land. Religiously he
and his family are members of the Presbyterian
Church.

(JOHN J. BROSS, Justice ofthe Peace and one
I of the representative farmers of the town of
Q) Deerpark, was born in Port Jervis July 22,
1824, being the next to the eldest among the five
children of Abraham B. and Phcebe (Donnelly)
Bross. His father was born and reared in this
county, and after learning the trade of a shoe
maker put up a shop in the town. Until his
death, which occurred at the age of forty-six, he
followed his trade at Sparrow Bush. In his po
litical views he was a Republican and always
took an interest in matters of public importance.
The mother of our subject was born in Penn
sylvania and died at the home of our subject
when seventy-four years old. Her father was
stolen by the Indians in infancy, and when re
stored to his family some years later did not even
know his real name. Our subject remained with
his parents until he became of age, meantime
working at the shoemaker's trade until the death
of his father. Afterward he began to work on
the Delaware River rafts, which occupation he
followed each spring for forty consecutive years.
During the other portions of the year he gives his
attention to farm work.
During the progress of the Civil War Mr. Bross,
whose sympathies were thoroughly enlisted on
the side of the Union, became a member of the
Twentieth New York Light Artillery, entering
the service September 1, 1864, and remaining
until July 31, 1865, when he was honorably dis

charged. During the most of the time that he
was in the service he was on detached duty in
and near New York. He is a Republican politi
cally, and upon that ticket he has been elected to
numerous local offices. From 1855 to 1858 and
from 186 1 to 1864 he served as Justice of the
Peace, and iu 1894 he was again chosen for that
position, which he is filling at the present time.
In addition to that place he has also been Con
stable and Tax Collector.
In December, 1847, Mr. Bross married Miss
Laura Cole, of New Jersey. They are the par
ents of three daughters. Mary F. is the wife of
William Campbell, an attorney of New York
City. Martha is the wife of Professor McLain,
who is connected with the Brockport (N. Y.)
Normal School; and Jessie F., who taught in the
school in Yonkers, N. Y., eleven years, is now a
student in the normal school of Brockport. Mr.
Bross and his family are connected with the Bap
tist Church, toward which he is a liberal contrib
utor. The farm which he owns and operates
consists of one hundred and sixty acres and is
under a high state of cultivation, being consid
ered one of the finest places in the town.

-1*+** SUS
-****^3

^,****,_y****F

DGAR L. REQUA, who makes his home
O at Highland Mills, spends the most of his
_ _ time, however, in traveling over the states
of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine
and Vermont, in the interest of Lee, Tweedy &
Co. , importers of foreign dress goods, hosiery and
underwear, of New York City, and is now com
pleting his thirtieth year as commercial traveler.
Our subject was born in the town of Ossening,
Westchester County, September 14, 1845. His
parents afterward removed to a point near Sing
Sing, where Edgar L- attended the district school
until reaching his fourteenth year. The family
later moved to Tarrytown, where our subject was
for two years a student in Newman's Academy.
He then entered a drug store, with the intention
of learning the business, but meeting with an ac-

886

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cident a year afterward was compelled to give up
his position and use crutches for some time.
Upon regaining his health young Requa began
working as office boy in a dry-goods store in
Sing Sing, and later became a clerk. A year aft
erward he made application and was given a po
sition with A. T. Stewart, of New York, and
under Mr. Leyman was advanced three times in
one year. His object iu going to the city was to
get a position iu a jobbing house, and soon there
after he was taken into the establishment of Wil
son & Co., dealers in notions and fancy goods.
After remaining with them a year, he applied for
a position with Johnson & Wagner, fancy dry-
goods merchants. He was accepted and was sent
out on six-months trips in southern New Jersey,
his duties being to settle old claims and do col
lecting for the firm. He was soon promoted to
be general manager of the house, and held this
position six months, when he resigned and took a
position with another firm as commercial traveler,
remaining with them ten years. We next find
him with McCabe & Conway, importers of fancy
goods and notions, where he remained for five
years, or until the firm failed. Mr. Requa then
obtained a position with Lee, Tweedy & Co. , in
whose interest he has traveled since 1881. He is
one of the best known men on the road, and his
long experience has made him a very valuable
man to his employers.
Our subject is the son of Justice Dearmont and
Julia Ann (Hunt) Requa, both of whom were
born in Westchester County. The former was iu
early life a painter by trade, but later drifted into
the mercantile business, becoming the proprietor
of a large business, but was ruined in the panic
of 1857.
The mother of our subject was the daughter of
Lewis and Rachel (Ogden) Hunt, farmers of
Westchester County. Her union with Mr. Requa
resulted in the birth of eight children, of whom
Edgar L., of this history, was the eldest. Frank
lin served in the War of the Rebellion, and died
in the regular army in Dakota, several years
after peace was established; Mary is the wife of
Charles Post, of Farmers' Mills, Putnam Coun
ty; Julia Aim is deceased; Charlotte is the wife

of Archibald Damman; Jessie and Minnie, twins,
are both married, the former to Sidney Sherwood,
of Sing Sing, and the latter to James M. Fergu
son, of the same place; and Justice died -in in
fancy. Our subject traces his ancestry back to three
brothers, who fled from their native land, France,
and landed at New Rochelle. Edgar L- was
married in New York City, June 3, 1868, to Miss
Annie M. Hunter, whose birth occurred there in
1845. Her parents were Alanson and Caroline
M. (Brower) Hunter, the former of whom was
the son of James Hunter. The Hunter family
was of English origin, while the Browers were
New Jersey Dutch people. Mrs. Requa was one
in a family of three sons and three daughters:
James; Annie M. , Mrs. Requa; Charles, George
and Sarah, deceased; and Isaiah, a resident of
Highland Mills.
To our subject and his estimable wife there
have been born two sons and two daughters, viz. :
Edgar, now in Cleveland, where he is studying
for the ministry; Gertrude, Eugene and Carrie.
The parents are members of the Orthodox
Friends' Society. Socially our subject is a char
ter member of Schunnemunk Lodge No. 276, of
Highland Mills, which he has represented in the
grand lodge every year but two since its or
ganization. Since 1867 he has. been a Mason,
and at present is identified with Standard Lodge
No. 711, of Monroe. He was for many years an
Odd Fellow, but is now a demitted member.
Mr. Requa is very much interested in breeding
fancy poultry, handling the Single Combs, Brown
Leghorns and Buff Cochan Bantams. During
the existence of the Hudson River Poultry, Dog
and Pet Stock Association, he was its President.
He is a member of the Orange County Agricult
ural Society, and in the year 1894 was superin
tendent of the poulty department, which made
the largest showing of poultry in the United
States, there being on exhibition over five thou
sand birds. This society also exhibited poultry
at the World's Fair, taking the first, second,
third, fourth and fifth premiums. It also won
the prize at the Madison Square Poultry Show
many years ago. In politics Mr. Requa is a Re-

EDSON L. CLARK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

publican, and since 1880 has been Chairman of
the committee for the town of Woodbury, and
has also been a delegate of the Republican League
to the state convention.

^-*-£#~

 a

DSON L. CLARK. This progressive and
^ successful young business man of Newburgh ,
_ who is engaged as a plumber and steam-fit
ter, is a native of this county, having been born
in Middle Hope, September 18, 1871. He conies
of good old Revolutionary stock, and his father,
Leander Clark, Jr., is well and favorably known
throughout the county. For a full history of this
gentleman the reader is referred to his sketch on
another page in this volume.
Our subject acquired a splendid education in
the public schools and academy of Newburgh,
and just one month prior to his graduation, in
1889, apprenticed himself to learn his present bus
iness under A. C. Smith & Co., on Broadway.
After continuing with that gentleman until Janu
ary, 1894, he was qualified to start in business
for himself, and as a practical and expert work
man he never fails to give satisfaction in all or
ders taken. His place of business is located at
No. 77 Second Street, where he has a fine estab
lishment, well stocked with goods usually dis
played in his line. His work-shop is in the rear
of his store, while his storage house is located on
Chambers Street. He does general plumbing
and steam-fitting work , and in both lines is rap
idly building up a large patronage by his excel
lent work. He has been employed on many of
the large business houses in the city, as well as
some of the fine residences of Newburgh.
The marriage of Mr. Clark occurred in this
city, November 2, 1892, when he was united with
Miss Grace D. Theall, a native of Fishkill. She
is the daughter of Gilbert Theall, formerly a
prominent business man of Fishkill, but who is
now engaged in business in this city as a house
and sign painter. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark there
has been born a son, Edson Stanley. The family
occupies a beautiful home at No. 170 Chambers
Street, and moves in the best circle of society in

the city. Socially he is a Knight of Pythias, be
longing to Goodrich Division No. 25, uniformed
rank, and has been a member of the Tenth Sepa
rate Company National Guard of New York since
1894. He is also identified with the Royal Ar
canum, and in one and all of these orders takes
an active interest. Mr. Clark is a member in ex
cellent standing of Trinity Methodist Church,
of which he is a liberal supporter. In politics he
is a Republican of a pronounced type.
Our subject is a pushing, enterprising young
business man, and is deservedly popular with all
with whom he has dealings. His goods are of
the finest quality aud are quoted at the lowest
price. He did the plumbing work on the resi
dence of Charles Curey, of Cornwall, which is
called "Idlewild," and which is acknowledged to
be one of the finest and most expensive produc
tions in the art of plumbing in the county.

¦ ?— i  c}^®®©)®^^*  **-""-

30SIAH MEAD, who resides in Southfield
and is known as one of the most extensive
land-owners in the town of Tuxedo, was
born in Central Valley, June 19, 1823. He was
the elder of two children, and at the age of two
and a-half years he was orphaned by the death of
his parents, Josiah, Sr., and Catherine (Lemer-
eux) Mead, so that he knows comparatively little
concerning his ancestral history, he being the only
representative of the family in this county. His
father, Josiah, Sr., was a son of Joseph Mead,
and was born in Ridgefield, Fairfield County,
Conn., not far from Danbury, where, itis pre
sumed, he was reared. In youth he gained a
thorough knowledge of road-building, becoming
a scientific expert in that line. He came to this
county for the purpose of improving the high
ways here, and, being pleased with the prospects,
settled in Central Valley, married a daughter of
Robert Lemereux, of that village, and continued
to make his home there until his death, in 1825,
at the age of about fifty years.
In the village where he was born the subject of

8go

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

this sketch passed the days of his youth in an un
eventful manner, and in the schools of that place
and Monroe he carried on his studies until he
was about sixteen. He was reared in the home
of his guardian, and prior to obtaining his ma
jority he devoted his attention to farm work, be
ing employed by the day or month in his neigh
borhood. When twenty-one he came into pos
session of the old homestead, which comprises
two hundred and fifty acres of fine land, now
owned by Dr. Elmer. This he cultivated for four
years, then sold the place to Morgan Shuit and
purchased a large tract of land where he now
lives. To this he has added from time to time,
until his landed possessions now aggregate twen
ty-three hundred acres of mountain and farming
lands. During the war, when timber was very
high, he sold large quantities from his land, and
itwas utilized by railroads and in furnaces be
fore coal became the staple fuel.
The lady who in 1864 became the wife of Mr.
Mead bore the maiden name of Lila Ryerson, and
died two years after her marriage. Her only
child is deceased. In politics Mr. Mead is an
old-line Democrat, and his first vote was cast for
James K. Polk. Through victory and defeat he
has continued to support the old party ever since
he became a voter, and expects to give it his al
legiance as long as he lives. He is an energetic,
industrious man, whose upright life has won for
him the confidence of the people who have been
his life-long associates.

Gz

¦£4§r

G~

m&

-d

*YV

Gl LVA VAN ETTEN. There is no class of
LI biographies which is more interesting to read
/ | than that of the industrious and enterpris
ing agriculturist. Prominent among the leading
farmers of the town of Deerpark is the gentleman
whose name heads this sketch. He was born on
the farm where he now resides, April 20, 1858,
and is the second in a family of five children who
are now living, whose parents were Peter Gumaer
and Sarah Ann (Campbell) Van Etten.

The founder of the numerous Van Etten family
in America was Jacob Jansen Van Etten, who
emigrated to this country from Etten, in North
Brabant, Holland. He married Anuatje Adri-
anse, of Amsterdam, on the 28th of December,
1664, at Kingston, N. Y. Their son, Anthony
Van Etten, wedded Hannah Decker, and on the
12th of February, 1758, we have a record of the
baptism of their son Levi. The latter was united
in marriage with Jane (Grannetje) Westbrook.
This worthy couple were the great-grandparents
of our subject.
The father of Alva, Peter Gumaer Van Etten,
was born at Huguenot, July 30, 1824, his birth
occurring on the farm now owned by the widow
of Hon. Charles St. John. His parents were Sol
omon and Jemina (Gumaer) Van Etten, the lat
ter a daughter of Peter Gumaer, who owned the
farm where his grandson, Peter Van Etten, was
born. The first to locate there was Jacob Gumaer,
and it later came into possession of Jacob De Witt
Gumaer, who owned it at the time of the Brant
Raid, when his property was destroyed by fire.
He died at about the age of seventy-eight years,
when his son Peter was only fourteen years old.
The grandfather of our subject, Solomon Van Et
ten, was a son of Levi aud Jane (Westbrook)
Van Etten, and he made his home upon the same
farm from 1806 until his death, which occurred
in 1870, at the age of eighty-eight years. His
wife died at the age of seventy-eight. In their
family were five children: John, who lived at
Cahoonzie, in Deer Park Township, died at the
age of eighty -two years; Jane, the wife of Peter
G. Cuddeback, died at the age of seventy-
four; Sallie, who died at the age of fifty-seven
years, was the wife of Joseph Whitlock; Peter G.
is the father of Alva; and Levi makes his home
in California. On the 10th of November, 1853,
Peter G. Van Etten wedded Sarah Ann Camp
bell, and he still makes his home in Port Jervis,
but she departed this life November 27, 1894, at
the age of sixty-two years.
On the old homestead Alva Van Etten remained
until his marriage with Miss Anna L. Ty meson,
which was celebrated on the 2d of January, 1889!
The lady is a daughter of T. S. and Elsie (Mon-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

roe) Tymeson, of Otisville, N. Y., where her fa
ther is still living. By this union three interest
ing children have been born: Genevieve Elsie,
born January 23, 1890; Leroy Truman, January
28, 1892; and Frank Alva, January 29, 1895.
The parents attend the Reformed Church at Cud-
debackville, and contribute liberally toward the
support of the same.
After his marriage, Mr. Van Etten purchased
a tract of one hundred and sixty-eight acres of
land, which is crossed by the canal as well as by
two railroads, and which constitutes a portion of
the old Solomon Van Etten Farm, now owned by
Mrs. Charles St. John. He makes a specialty of
raising cabbages and potatoes, having about thirty
thousand head of the former per year. He also
deals in milk, his route extending from his home
to the Spring House Hotel, and around the village
of Huguenot, and in most of his undertakings he
has met with a high degree of success. Politi
cally his views are in accordance with the Repub
lican party, which he ever supports by his ballot,
and takes quite an active part in local politics.
He is one of the representative citizens of this
portion ofthe county, and by all who know him
is held in the highest regard.

«I-*H-H*8

(SAMUEL STRATTON WALKER was one
/\ of the most respected and valued employes
\zJ ofthe Erie Railroad, and at the time of his
death was its oldest engineer in years of service.
He handled all kinds of engines in his long ex
perience, from the old-style one of fourteen tons
to one weighing one hundred tons. His death
was iu thorough keeping with his busy and use
ful life, as he died at the post of duty. On a cold
morning in winter (December 31, 1894) he had
gone to his engine in the yards about four o'clock
A. m., and, leaning against the cab, remarked in
a pleasant tone to his fireman, and almost imme
diately expired, apparently without pain.
Mr. Walker was born in Covington, Tioga
County, Pa., September 28, 1822, his parents be
ing Royal and Rachel (Johnson) Walker. The
former was a native of New Hampshire and re

moved to the Keystone State with his father,
Isaac Walker. Our subject remained on the home
farm near Covington until he was twenty years
of age, when he went to Corning, N. Y.
It was in the summer of 1846 that S. S. Walker
became connected with railroad enterprises, being
engaged in track construction. August 19, 1847,
he was made a conductor on the same road, the
Corning & Blossburg, and in September, 1848,
accepted a position as fireman and engineer, run
ning one engine until January 19, 1849. He first
entered the employ of the Erie Railroad in the
shops at Dunkirk, and subsequently took an en
gine on the Western Division, later being trans
ferred to the Canandaigua branch. In January,
1853, he ran in the Delaware Division, and in
March following came to Port Jervis. About
this time he had a wreck on the Neversink Bridge,
the engine running off the track and striking an
abutment. Our subject saved himself by jump
ing, but his brother Henry, who was fireman,
went down with the engine and was killed. The
conductor, Reuben Carr, was also hurt, but re
covered. During the great strike of 1856 Mr. Walker
offered his services to the Harlem Railroad, and
was in their employ until April 15, i860, his run
being between New York and Albany. Wishing
to have a change of work, he then spent the ensu
ing season on a farm adjoining his father's old
homestead, but in September was back in the ac
customed routine From that time until the first
of April he ran as an "extra" on the Erie, at
Middletown, when he was given a "way" train,
which he ran three years and a-half. In Novem
ber, 1864, the distance of the run was extended
to Port Jervis (from New York), and it was
thenceforth known as the Orange County Express.
For the long period of twenty-seven years, or un
til February, 1888, Mr. Walker had charge of
this train, making the trip on alternate days, and
never missed being on hand at the proper time,
and, what is more remarkable, never had an acci
dent. The last six years of his career he operated
the "pusher" engine on the hill twelve miles
east of this city.
In 1 87 1, after the great fire, Mr. Walker was

892

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

engineer of the famous train sent with supplies to
Chicago by the Erie Railroad. He was given a
gold medal, bearing the inscription, "Presented
to Samuel S. Walker, by Col. James Fisk, Jr.,
Vice-President of the Erie Railway Company, for
the skillful judgment displayed by him in running
the Chicago Relief Train from Jersey City to
Port Jervis, October 11, 1871." On the reverse
side appears a beautiful engine, surmounted by
the words, "Chicago Relief Train." This train
made the best record for speed up to that time,
but later Mr. Walker made the trip, a distance of
eighty-eight miles, in two hours and four minutes.
His service in the capacity of engineer covered
forty-five years. The only society to which he
belonged was the Brotherhood of Locomotive En
gineers, he being a charter member of Division
No. 5 \ . Political matters had but little interest
for him, and he voted independently.
May 18, 1862, Mr. Walker and Charlotte A.
Johnson, of Covington, Pa , were united in mar
riage. The latter is still living at her home in
this city with the only daughter, Ida May. Will
iam Henry, the only son, is in the employ ofthe
Ontario & Western Railroad, at the coal-mines
near Peckville, Pa. Mrs. Walker is a member
of the Methodist Church.

-**-

^=€>*<§=F

-5—

30HN R. PATTERSON. One of the most
beautiful homes of Orange County is that
which is owned by Mr. Patterson. It is pic
turesquely situated on the banks of the Delaware
River, and is embellished with all the conveni
ences of modern times. Its varied attractions
have become known outside the limits of the
county, and it has become a popular summer home
for city guests. For several mouths each year it
is filled with boarders, who find here a needed
recreation from business cares, and a delightful
change from the oppressive air of the city. The
farm comprises seventy-five acres, upon which
garden truck and celery are raised, Mr. Patterson
being the most extensive gardener of the town of
Deerpark. In Sparrow Bush, where he now resides, the

subject of this sketch was born March 7, 1836,
being the second of nine children comprising the
family of Samuel and Nancy (Raymond) Patter
son. His father, who was born and reared in the
town of Deerpark, worked at the lumber business
in early life, but later bought and sold ship tim
ber, and also carried on farm work in Sparrow
Bush. During the panic of 1857 he lost almost
all his property, but afterward to some extent re
trieved his losses. He died in 1870, at the age
of sixty-three years. Politically a Democrat, he
took an active interest in party affairs. In relig
ious belief he was a member of the Baptist Cnurch,
and his character was such as to win the confi
dence of a host of acquaintances.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph
Patterson, was born in Paterson, N. J., which
city was named in honor of his family, and was
among the first hunters and trappers along the
Delaware River. Our subject's mother was born
in Connecticut, but was only one and a-half years
of age when her parents came to the town of
Deerpark, and she continued to reside here until
her death in 1872, at the age of sixty-four. John
R. remained with his parents on the home farm
until their death, meantime assisting his father in
the ship-timber business. At the age of twenty-
one he embarked in that occupation for himself,
cutting large quantities of ship timber and lumber
in the woods near the Delaware and shipping
them down the river on his raft. After having
successfully engaged in this enterprise until 1873,
the building of wood vessels was discontinued,
and he therefore turned his attention to another
occupation. He purchased the old homestead at
Sparrow Bush, and here he has since engaged in
gardening. June 30, 1863, he married Miss Mary
Doty, of Sparrow Bush, and they became the
parents of four children, namely: Mary Allie, who
died at the age of twenty-five years; Frank D.,
the present Road Commissioner of Deerpark and
now residing with his father; John R., Jr., who
died at the age of seventeen; and George H., who
is with his parents.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Patterson has
been an active worker in the local ranks of the
Democratic party. For one year he was Tax Col-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

893

lector, and he also served as Census Enumerator.
His most important service, perhaps, was as Road
Commissioner, which position he held for fifteen
years. During his incumbency of the office, the
Hawk's Nest Road was built from Sparrow Bush
to Mongaup Valley, a distance of three and one-
fourth miles, through the Hawk's Nest Mountain.
He had the entire charge of the construction of
this road, which was built in 1875-76, and which
is one of the best roads in the county. The econ
omy noticed by him in its building may be judged
from the fact that the entire cost of construction
was only $4,000. Socially he is associated with
the Improved Order of Red Men and the Ameri
can Legion of Honor.

(J OB VAN INWEGEN is a representative busi-
I ness man of Cuddebackville, a member of the
© well known firm of S. & J. Van Inwegen,
general merchants. His entire life has been spent
in the village which is still his home, his birth
having here occurred September 23, 1836. His
parents were Capt. Moses and Susan (Mapes)
Van Inwegen. His paternal grandfather was
Cornelius Van Inwegen, and in his family were
the following children: Moses; Simeon, deceased;
William; Mary, who became the wife of William
Penny, and after his death married Jacob Case;
Margaret, who became the wife of Daniel Hop-
son, who died at the age of eighty years; and
Sally, who married George Gumaer.
Capt. Moses Van Inwegen died in 1863, at the
age of sixty -seven years. He was a prominent
business man, who carried on farming on the old
homestead now occupied by his sons, and he also
established the general merchandise business at
the time of the building of the canal, in 1826. He
there carried on operations until i860, when he
sold out to the present firm. He was twice mar
ried, and by his first union had the following
children: Harriet, widow of Samuel Gordon, of
Port Jervis; Angeline, widow of H. B. Holmes,
of Wurtsboro; Stoddard, a partner of the firm;
Job; Mary, who died at the age of twenty-two;
Susan, who married Lyman O. Rose; and Ruth,

who was drowned at the age of five. After the
death of his first wife, Captain Van Inwegen wed
ded Eliza Shinier, of Pike County, Pa., who sur
vived him about thirty years, dying in 1893, at
the age of sixty-five. Their children were Moses,
a brakeman, who was killed at the age of thirty;
Clarence, a coal dealer of Chicago, 111.; Welling
ton, who is associated with his brother in busi
ness; George Albert and Elmer, also of Chicago;
and Charles, of California.
Job Van Inwegen was born and reared on the
old family homestead where he still resides, and
the days of his boyhood and youth were quietly
passed, unmarked by many events of special im
portance. He aided his father on the farm and
in the store, and in i860 became one of the pro
prietors of the mercantile establishment, which
has been conducted under the present firm style
for thirty-five years, and which has been in ex
istence for sixty-nine years. The brothers also
own a part of the old home farm, and give some
attention to its cultivation and improvement.
Job Van Inwegen was married, in December,
i860, to Miss Jane Whitlock, daughter of Joseph
and Sally (Van Etten) Whitlock. Their union
was blessed with the following children: Mary,
wife of B. W. Burdick, of Albany, N. Y.; Eliza,
wife of William Jackson, of Deerpark; Joseph,
who died at the age of seventeen; and Ruth, a
music teacher.
Stoddard Van Inwegen was born October 3,
1834, and, like his brother, was reared on the
old home place. He first married Hester Hilfer-
ty, of Carpenter's Point, who died, leaving a
daughter, Laura, now the wife of Archie C. Van
Etten, of Port Jervis. He afterward wedded Je
mima Swartwout, daughter of Peter Swartwout,
and her death occurred about four years later.
On the 26th of October, 1876, was celebrated the
marriage of Stoddard Van Inwegen and Miss
Sarah Alice, daughter of John J. and Mary (Cud
deback) Van Etten. Her father lived at Hugue
not, where he owned a mill and farm. On that
place Mrs. Van Inwegen was born, and in 1870
the family removed to Cuddebackville, where her
father died, August 6, 1872, at the age of fifty-
seven. His wife passed away March 21, 1878, at

894

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the age of fifty-seven. Their children were Mar
garet, who became the wife of Lyman O. Rose,
and died at the age of twenty-one; William, a
miller, who died at the age of twenty-seven; Mrs.
Van Inwegen; Mary Ellen, Edgar L-, Isabel aud
Carrie, all ofwhom died in childhood; Charlotte,
wife of James Prost, of Morristown, N. J.; and
Minerva, who died at the age of fourteen.
Stoddard Van Inwegen is a leading member of
the Reformed Church, in which he is serving as
Elder, and for some years he has been Superin
tendent of the Sunday-school. His wife also be
longs to the same church. In his social relations
he is a Mason, and both brothers are Republicans
in their political views, but take no active part in
politics, preferring to give their time and energies
to their business interests.

-^-^•iw

HENRY S. REEVE, a farmer and proprietor
of a summer resort house at New Vernon,
was born July 24, 1853, on the farm where
he now resides, and is the son of William L- and
Betsey M. (Contort) Reeve. The former isa na
tive of the town of Wawayanda, born November
15, 1810, and the latter a native of the town of
Mamakating, Sullivan County. In 1834 the fa
ther purchased the farm of one hundred and fifty
acres that is now occupied by his son, and here
spent the remainder of his life, engaged in farm
ing and occasionally teaching a term of public
school. For a time he engaged in teaching at
New Vernon, which was then a thriving little
village. Politically he was a stanch Republican
and was always active in local affairs, serving three
terms as Supervisor of the town of Mt. Hope.
Though not a member of any church, he contrib
uted of his means to those in the neighborhood,
and firmly believed in the Golden Rule. He was
a good man and had many friends in the commu
nity where he long resided. His death occurred
May 16, 1892, and his remains lie buried in the
old Baptist Cemetery in the town of Mt. Hope.
The mother, who is also deceased, was a member
ofthe Old-school Baptist Church, and was a gen
uine Christian woman.

The subject of this sketch remained at home
until he attained his majority, with the exception
of the time spent in school in New York City and
at Middletown Academy. He was married, March
29, 1876, to Miss Josie Morris, of Otisville, and
there have been born to them three children:
Harry E. , Mary Irene and Bessie L. , all of whom
are attending school at Middletown.
On the death of his father Mr. Reeve inherited
the home place, on which he has since continued
to reside. The place is a beautiful one, with a
large, roomy house and large barn, outbuildings,
orchards, etc. During the summer months the
house is usually filled with boarders from the
city. Politically he is a Republican.
¦  g>#Gh=:„

HOMAS BURKE, who was for many years
a resident of Otisville, was born February 2,
1815, in County Galway, Ireland, where he
remained until about twenty-three years old,
when he came to America aud located at How
ells Depot, N. Y., where he worked on the rail
road for a time. He then purchased a small farm,
on which he remained until about i860, and then
removed to Otisville. Here he rented for a short
time, then purchased about four acres of land in
the village of Otisville, on which was a dwelling,
and there he remained until his death. He was
a man of good education, having attended college
in his native laud.
Mr. Burke married Fannie Grady, of County
Galway, Ireland, who died in this country in
*"855, leaving five children. Joseph G. is employed
in the oil works in Long Island City; Eleanor H.,
the widow of James Cosgrove, of Long Island
City, is now living in Lasalle, 111.; Annie M.
died at the age of thirty-seven; Thomas M. died
at the age of thirty -nine; Katie V. is now the wife
of Nathaniel Corneilson, who is engaged with
the Chesebrough Manufacturiug Company, of
Brooklyn. In January, 1857, Mr. Burke was again mar
ried, taking as his wife Ann Malone, a native of
County Tyrone, Ireland. She came to this coun
try when about seventeen years old, and lived in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

895

New York City and Howells Depot until her
marriage, when she came to Otisville, which has
since been her home. Two children were born of
this union: Fannie, Mrs. William E. Hynard,
who lives in New York City; and Henry E., en
gaged with the Standard Oil Company of Jersey
City, N. J.
Mr. Burke made his home in Howells Depot
and Otisville for about fifty-three years, and
worked as a mason aud millwright at various
places throughout the county. He was not a
member of any church, but died in the Catholic
faith. His death occurred October 9, 1891, and
his remains were buried in the Catholic Cemetery
at Otisville. In his political views he was a
Democrat. Mrs. Burke is also a Catholic.

gENJAMIN VAN FLEET is carrying on
his chosen occupation of farming in the
town of Deerpark, a half-mile north of Port
Jervis, on the place where he was born, May 21,
1826, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth
(Cuddeback) Van Fleet. In March, 1662, there
came to America in the ship "Faith" from Ut
recht, Holland, Adriaen Gerritsen (the son of
Gerrit), with his wife and five children. He was
an agriculturist. His name next appears as
Ariaen Gerritsen, in 1663, in connection with the
burning of Wiltwyck (now Kingston), at which
time his daughter was made captive by the In
dians. In 1664 his full name, Ariaen Gerretsen
Van Vliet, is given in the history of Ulster Coun
ty, he voting to send two delegates to represent
Wiltwyck in the General Assembly, and in con
nection with his tilling one of Governor Stuyves-
ant's farms at that place. Among his children,
according to the Kingston church records, was
Machtel, who was born in Utrecht, and who first
married Barent Van Borsum, and later, Septem
ber 18, 1684, Jan Jancob Stol, of Kingston. It
is probable she was the one who was taken cap
tive by the Indians when a child, and recaptured
by the soldiers. His second child, Jan, wedded

Judith Hossey; and the third in the family, also
named Jan, by his union with Jesyntje Swart
wout became the father of Jacobus Van Vliet, the
grandfather of our subject.
Thomas Van Fleet, the father of Benjamin,
was born on the old home ' farm where his son
Solomon now resides, his birth occurring on the
19th of October, 1788, and about 1819 he pur
chased the land where our subject lives, a tract of
over one hundred acres, which was a part of the
old Johannes Decker Farm . There he lived until
his death, which occurred September 13, 1847.
His first marriage was with Margaret Cuddeback,
and after her death he wedded Elizabeth Cudde
back, who was born December 29, 1794, and was
a distant relative of his first wife. Her father,
Henry Cuddeback, was born March 23, 1771, and
on the 3d of October, 1794, married Esther Gu
maer, the mother of Mrs. Van Fleet, who died
February 5, 1847, and he passed away October
30, i860. By his first union Mr. Van Fleet had
one son, James, who was united in marriage with
Emeline Ferguson, of Port Jervis, and after her
death married Mrs. Catherine (Fountaine) Scott,
the widowed mother of William E. Scott, Cashier
of the National Bank of Port Jervis. James died
at Jacksonville, Fla. , of yellow fever, November
23, 1857, at the age of forty years, leaving no
children. By his second marriage Thomas Van
Fleet had three children: Margaret, who died in
childhood; Benjamin, of this sketch; and Solo
mon, who was born December 18, 1829. The fa
ther was an intelligent, well read man, politically
was a strong Democrat, and attended the Re
formed Church.
On the ist of December, 1852, Benjamin Van
Fleet was united in marriage with Miss Jane Van
Etten, who was born in Cahoonzie, town of Deer-
park, on the 10th of July, 1829. She is the eldest
of seven children born to John and Margaret
(Carpenter) Van Etten, all ofwhom are living.
Her father was a son of Solomon Van Etten, and
he was born November 20, 1806. The latter was
a son of Levi Van Etten, whose grandson Levi
now lives on the old farm in the Neversink Val
ley. Mrs. Van Fleet's father was an extensive
lumberman, owning a large sawmill at Cahoon-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

zie, where he died April 14, 1889. His wife,
who was born on the 20th of December, 1809, is
a daughter of Benjamin Carpenter, who owned
Carpenter's Point, now known as Tri-States. She
now resides in Sparrow Bush, one ofthe most
active ladies of her age, her mind still clear and
her memory good.
To Mr. and Mrs. Van Fleet have been born six
children: Amanda, at home; Thomas, who mar
ried Eva Tracy and resides in Massena, St. Law
rence County, N. Y.; Margaret, the wife of A. J.
Dennis, of Newark, N. J.; Frank, Clara and Jen
nie, who are still with their parents. Mr. Van
Fleet assisted his father in the management of
the home farm until the latter's death, and since
that time has continued its cultivation and im
provement. He is a prosperous farmer and his
place well indicates the care and enterprise of the
owner, who is numbered among the prominent and
representative citizens of the town of Deerpark.
To the Democratic party he gives his earnest sup
port, never failing to cast his ballot for its men
and measures. Mrs. Van Fleet is a member of
the Reformed Church.

(JOHN L. KETCHAM, a farmer residing in
I the town of Mt. Hope, was born February
(2/ 22, 1820, in the house where he still lives.
He was the next to the youngest of the ten chil
dren of Joseph and Mary L. (Mulock) Ketcham,
and concerning the others we note the following:
Sarah, the eldest, was born February 21, 1803,
became the wife of John W. Martin, and died
May 18, 1865; Arminda, who was born Septem
ber 17, 1804, married Jasper A. Writer, and
passed away April 23, 1893; Lydia was born in
September, 1806, married John K. Davis, and
died November 10, 1876; Mary Ann, whose birth
occurred April 18, 1808, was first married to Coe
Finch, later became the wife of Gilbert Moore,
and died December 15, 1861; Julia Etta, born
April 15, 1810, married Alexander McDowell,
and passed away August 8, 1881; William Jay,
who was bom November 3, 181 2, has for very

many years been a clerk in the Postoffice Depart
ment at Washington; Chauncey L- was born Sep
tember 18, 1814, and died March 18, 1872; Re
becca J. was born June 12, 1818, married Will
iam Y. Wilson, and died April 13, 1886; and
Keren N., the youngest, was born October 23,
1823, was married to Ferdinand Sewalt, and died
March 12, 1872.
The father of this family was born in the town
of Mt. Hope, June 21, 1782, and died here June
4, 1854, having spent his entire life in this place,
where he followed the trade of a mechanic and
the occupation of a farmer. The grandfather,
Joseph, Sr. , was born on Long Island, Septem
ber 23, 1750, of English extraction. Our sub
ject's mother was born June 21, 1783, in Orange
County, and died December 31, i860. She was
the daughter of William and Sarah (McBain)
Mulock, and was a descendant of Scotch ancestry.
In youth our subject worked on the farm, in a
mill and a machine-shop, and at his father's
death he inherited the old homestead, where he
has since resided. November 14, 1844, he mar
ried Miss Harriet Writer, who was born June 1,
1821, and died August 30, 1870, leaving a daugh
ter, Electa J., born on the ist of February, 1855.
Mr. Ketcham was again married, October 17,
1874, his wife being Maria Seybolt, of this comi
ty, who died October 8, 1876.
Politically Mr. Ketcham is a Democrat, and in
former years took an active part in local affairs,
having served several terms as Assessor, and also
filled other positions of trust. The infirmities in
cident to advancing years prevent him from ac
tively superintending his farm, but his daughter,
Mrs. C. B. Penney, wife of an engineer on the
North Hudson County Railroad in New Jersey,
makes her home with him, and looks after the
farm affairs, at the same time ministering to his
comfort and maintaining an affectionate interest
in his welfare. She possesses an unusual degree
of business tact and ability, and under her keen
oversight the place is kept in splendid condition,
the property proving as remunerative as any farm
in the neighborhood. Fraternally Mr. Ketcham
is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 227, of New
York City.

MRS. LUCY H. WASHINGTON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

899

REV. SHADRACH WASHINGTON, pastor
of the Baptist Church of Port Jervis, was
born in Fayette County, Pa., June 28, 1830,
and is a son of John aud Sarah (Reed) Washing
ton. His grandfather, Lund Washington, was a
native of Virginia, and a cousin of Gen. George
Washington, their fathers being brothers. An
uncle of our subject, John Washington, was also
born in Virginia, but removed to Pennsylvania
in an early day, and served in both the Revolu
tion and the War of 18 12, being an officer in the
latter under General Harmer. He died in Fay
ette County, Pa., at the advanced age of ninety
years. In 1845 his father removed to Dayton,
Ohio, where he died at the age of eighty-three.
In a family of nine children, Shadrach was first
born. His father, a devout Christian, of sterling
integrity, was a millwright.
When our subject was a boy, the father went
to his pastor and said: T want to talk with you
about Shadrach. I find he has spent his money
on Latin books, and spends all his spare time
studying them. A knowledge of Latin is not
necessary to run a planing-mill. I am sure I
don't know what the boy will amount to." The
pastor was at once interested, and the result was
the boy was prepared for college. At the age of
nineteen he entered Granville (Ohio) College,
now Denison University. Later he changed to
Rochester University, where he was graduated iu
the Class of '56. In September following he en
tered Rochester Theological Seminary, where the
full course was completed. He was ordained at
Woodstock, 111., in 1859, and soon after became
pastor at Aurora, 111. He has served as pastor
successively in Pittsburg, Pa. ; Jacksonville, 111. ;
Keokuk, Iowa; Paterson, N. J.; Essex, Conn.,
aud is now serving his seventh year in Port
Jervis. After thirty -seven years in the ministry, Mr.
Washington's strength is unabated. He is nat
urally retiring and unostentatious in manner, yet
as an orator, theologian or a pastor he is rare
ly excelled. When he located in Port Jervis, the
church had a fine edifice, with a burdensome
debt upon it, however. The debt was paid, and
the mortgage was burned, but the church burned
40

six months later, September 1, 1893. Upon an
other site a new house of worship has been erect
ed, at a cost of $25,000. It is admired for con
venience of arrangement, and has a seating capac
ity, auditorium and chapel combined, of eight
hundred. On the 14th of July, 1859, Rev. Mr. Washing
ton married Miss Lucy H. Walker, in Rochester,
N. Y. Mrs. Washington is widely known as a
temperance worker and author, and as a helper
in church work is rarely equaled. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Washington do all within their power
for the uplifting of mankind, and their earnest
Christian lives have wou them general love and
esteem.
¦ — -£)#P — ¦ .
V/lRS. LUCY H. WASHINGTON, wife of
Y Rev. Shadrach Washington, was born in
(9 Whiting, Vt. , and is descended from New
England ancestry dating back two hundred and
fifty years. Her paternal lineage is traced to
Deacon Philip Walker, of Rohoboth, Mass., who
was one of the chief actors in the bloody drama
of King Philip's War. On the maternal side her
descent is from Samuel Gile, one of the eleven
first settlers of Haverhill, Mass., in 1640.
From her mother Mrs. Washington inherited
a love for the beautiful in nature, and an ear and
soul attuned to song. Her first printed verses
appeared at the age of fourteen. Her early edu
cation was such as the common and select schools
and academy of her native state afforded. With
active intellect and ambitious characteristics, she
resolved to enter upon a wider course of study,
and became a pupil of Clover Street Seminary,
Rochester, N. Y., where she graduated with the
highest honors other class in 1856. In the sem
inary Miss Walker's talent met cordial recogni
tion, and the aid of her muse was often invoked
for special occasions. She was frequently num
bered (in pleasantry) by her classmates with the
poets of America, or styled "Poet Laureate" of
the. school. From this time her verses and
sketches frequently appeared, until the manifold
duties of an active life left little time for muse or
pen.

900

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mrs. Washington's home has been subject to
the changes incident to a pastor's life. This has
broadened her influence, which has everywhere
inspired to good work. When her husband was
pastor in Jacksonville, 111., she was made a leader
in the ' 'crusade' ' movement of that city, and in
response to the needs of the hour was brought
into public speaking. Her persuasive methods,
Christian spirit and eloquent language made her
at once an effective speaker, acceptable to all
classes. Her first address in temperance work,
outside of her own city, was given in the Hall of
Representatives in Springfield, 111. She says:
"I gathered all my courage to face the audience,
and resolved that it should be my 'last public' ap
pearance." Of this address, the State fournal
said: "Representatives' Hall was crowded last
evening to its utmost capacity with an intelligent
audience. Mrs. Washington, upon invitation,
spoke for nearly an hour, with an eloquence which
not only commanded the rapt attention of her
hearers, but served to inspire a new zeal in the
cause of temperance in this city. It is no dis
paragement to other speakers who have repre
sented their views to large audiences here, to say
that Mrs. Washington's address was the best that
has yet been delivered." Commendatory press
reports brought her to more extended public no
tice, led to repeated and urgent calls, and opened
a door to service which has never been closed.
During the succeeding years Mrs. Washington
has in various official capacities, national, state,
aud local, been connected with Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union work, and has given ad
dresses in twenty-four states, her labors extend
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The three
fold gifts of choice speech, rare pen, and unique
administrative talent are hers, which she has
faithfully devoted to work for "God and home
and native land." She is President of the Or
ange County Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, in which capacity she has served four
years. Mrs. Washington became the mother of six
children, two of whom died in infancy. The
four reaching maturity were all finely educated.
Irving, a graduate of Rochester University, re

sides in Chicago; Martha, who, after a course of
study in South Jersey Institute and Vassar Col
lege, married Rev. Lyman R. Swett, died sud
denly in 1894, in Vineland, N. J.; Lucy May is
the wife of Dr. R. S. I. Mitcheson, of Philadel
phia; and Eleanor, unmarried, is still at home.
As an author, Mrs. Washington has contribu
ted occasional sketches to periodicals and maga
zines since early life, and has published two vol
umes in verse, "Echoes of Song" and "Memory's
Casket." Her themes are marked by wide di
versity, and inspired by, or gathered from, the
ever-changing experiences of an active life.

GlARON W. KORTRIGHT, who for many
U years was a blacksmith in the town of Mt.
/ 1 Hope, was born in the town of Goshen,
March 14, 1816, and remained with his parents
until he was about sixteen years of age. He at
tended the district school as opportunity was af
forded him, and at the age mentioned went to
Ridgebury to learn the blacksmith's trade. In
that place and at two or three other points in
Orange County, he worked for a short time, and
then went to Finchville, in the town of Mt. Hope,
where he rented a shop and continued to ply his
trade for about six years. He later went to
Cherry Ridge, Pa. , where he remained two years,
and then returned to Finchville. Renting a shop,
he remained there two years, at the expiration of
which time he purchased ten acres of land where
his widow and son now live, built a shop, and
worked at his trade until his death, which occur
red July 1 1 , 1894. He added to his farm, until at
his death it comprised thirty acres.
On the 31st of December, 1842, our subject
married Miss Hester Middaugh, a native of Mt.
Hope, born May 1, 1826, and a daughter of
Leonard and Sarah (Walker) Middaugh, the
former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of
Orange County. To this union five children
were born. Sarah A., born January 21, 1845, is
now the wife of William Ketchum, of Nichols,
N. Y.; Anna A., born March 21, 1854, died July
26, 1875; Emma M., born March 16, 1857, is the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

901

wife of James H. Wood, of this town; George D.,
born December 13, 1859, is a noted horseshoer
and carries on his father's old shop; Ella, born
February 3, 1862, died July 23, 1887.
Mr. Kortright was a stanch Democrat in politi
cal views, but would never accept any political
position. He was not a member of any church,
but lived a quiet, moral life, enjoying the respect
of his fellow-citizens. Few men in. his town had
more friends and less enemies.

3UDGE SAMUEL V. JONES. In the occu
pation of an agriculturist, which he has made
his life work, Mr. Jones has been notably
successful, and has gained a place among the
prosperous farmers of the town of Greenville.
His prosperity has been self- attained, for, with
the exception of a small inheritance from his fa
ther, he has worked his way unaided in the
world, gaining by the force of his industry and
tireless perseverance the success he now enjoys.
He is the owner of one hundred and twenty-five
acres, from which he receives a substantial in
come annually, and in the cultivation of which he
has passed the best years of his life.
In the town of Minisink, this county, Mr.
Jones was born June 4, 1834, being fourth among
the five children of Samuel and Susan (Owens)
Jones. His father, also a native of the town of
Minisink, was a farmer by occupation and a
cooper by trade, aud made his home in that town
until his death, at seventy-two years of age.
While he never became wealthy, yet he accumu
lated a large share of this world's goods and was
numbered among the substantial citizens of his
town. Politically he was prominent in the local
ranks of the Democratic party, and held most
of the town offices. His wife, who was born in
Orange County, died here at the age of about
eighty-five years.
Until becoming of age Mr. Jones remained with
his parents, in the mean time attending the com
mon schools ofthe district. Upon gaining his
majority he rented a farm, where he made his
home for a year. He then purchased the farm

where he has since lived. In November, 1855,
he married Mary A. Goldsmith, a native of this
county and a daughter of Charles Goldsmith, an
old resident of this county. Identified closely
with the public affairs of this locality, Mr. Jones
has always espoused the Democratic party,
supporting its candidates and measures with fidel
ity. For about twenty years he has filled the re
sponsible position of Justice of the Peace, has also
served as Commissioner of Highways (in which
position he aided iu opening and improving the
roads of the town) , and as Assessor and Inspector
of Elections, etc. For several years he was a
member of the Democratic County Committee.
He takes an interest in religious and benevolent
enterprises, and may be relied upon to aid every
progressive and beneficial project to the extent of
his ability.

j****

****h

3****^S!p**'fr*P

V/jOSES DEPUY, an extensive dealer in both
Y coal and wood in Port Jervis, is now serv-
V3 ing as the efficient President of the village.
He was born in Fallsburg, Sullivan County, on
the 28th of June, 1840, and is a son of Elias aud
Helen (Broadhead) Depuy. The father was born
in Sullivan County, and the mother in Wawar-
sing, Ulster County. The former was a son of
Major Depuy, an honored and early resident of
Sullivan County. Iu that county Elias Depuy
engaged in farming and the lumber business. He
there owned a mill, attended to cutting the tim
ber, hauling it, and converting it into lumber.
Our subject remained on the farm until reach
ing his majority, helping to cut logs in the win
ter, while during the summer months he was
employed in the mill. At the age of twenty-two
he started out in life for himself, coming to Port
Jervis, where he worked for his brother, Ten
Eyck Depuy. The latter was engaged in the
lumber trade, and our subject remained with him
for some years, when, April 1, 1866, he and
Frank R. Broadhead purchased the business.
His brother now makes his home in Rochester.
The firm was known as Depuy & Broadhead, and
the capital invested was$5,ooo, but they increased

902

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

their stock, carrying on operations for two years,
when Mr. Depuy purchased his partner's interest
and has since conducted the business alone. The
former location was on Pike Street, on the site of
the present postoffice, where he remained until
1 88 1, when he sold his lumber interests and re
moved to his present place of business on Jersey
Avenue. He first leased the land, but has since
purchased the same, erecting his extensive build
ing, where he carries a full stock of coal, and
handles about three thousand tons annually. Mr.
Depuy is also extensively engaged in furnishing
wood to brickyards by contract. He has also
supplied the ties for railroads. He purchases a
piece of land, cuts the wood and hauls it, and in
this way clears large tracts of land and furnishes
the wood for many large brickyards on the Hud
son River. He has a large number of men in his
employ. In political sentiment Mr. Depuy is a Demo
crat, and is now serving his second term as Pres
ident of Port Jervis. He has also been Trustee
of the village, aud is in favor of all improvements
which will benefit the community. For six years
he was a member of the Board of Education,
while for one year he was President of the same,
and during his term of office two new school build
ings were erected. He advocates the use of free
textbooks, and has always been an active work
er in the cause of education. Usually he is a del
egate to his party's conventions. Now he is
serving as President of the Deerpark Democratic
organization, and has served as Collector for the
town of Deerpark.
In 1859 Mr. Depuy wedded Miss Margaret
Westbrook, of Sullivan County, and her death
occurred in 1881. Later he was married to Miss
Mary V. Ketchum, of Oakland, Sullivan County,
and to them have been born two children: Min
nie C, who has now reached the age of fourteen;
and Ketchum M., aged eight years. The family
attends the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Depuy
takes an active interest in civic societies, holding
membership with Ustayantha Lodge No. 143,
-I. O. O. F. , in which he has passed all the
chairs; served as a delegate to the grand lodge;
and is a member of the encampment. He is a

prominent Mason, belonging to Port Jervis Lodge
No. 328, F. & A. M., in which he has filled most
of the chairs; Neversink Chapter No. 186, R. A.
M. ; and Delaware Commandery No. 44, K. T.
He is one ofthe prominent and leading citizens of
Port Jervis, and in public as well as private life
always discharges his duties, his career having
ever been an honorable one.

gEORGE SMITH, a leading merchant of
Otisville, and senior member of the firm of
Reed & Smith, was born in the town of Mt.
Hope, February 8, 1835, being sixth in order of
birth in the parental family. His father was born
in the town of Wallkill, near Middletown, and
came to Mt. Hope with his parents when quite
young. There he spent the remainder of his life,
dying at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife,
who was iu maidenhood Sarah Crawford, was a
native of the town of Crawford, and died at the
advanced age of seventy -nine.
The subject of this sketch remained with his
parents until sixteen years of age, when he com
menced to learn the trade of a carpenter, working
at that occupation for the ensuing three years.
He then came to Otisville and clerked in a gen
eral store about a year and six months, after
which he started in business for himself, opening
a mercantile store in partnership with Mr. Dun
ning. After about one year Mr. Reed bought
Mr. Dunning's interest, and for several years
thereafter the business was carried on under the
firm name of Reed & Smith. Later Mr. Smith
purchased his partner's interest and continued
alone for five years, after which Mr. Reed again
purchased a half-interest, and the partnership has
continued ever since. Their store is the leading
one in Otisville, and the large trade among the
people of the surrounding country speaks well for
the energy and enviable reputation of the pro
prietors. In 1864 Mr. Smith married Miss Cynthia
Green, of Otisville. In his political views he is

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

903

a Democrat and has always been an advocate of
that party. For eight years he has filled the of
fice of Town Clerk, and for seventeen years he
was Supervisor. He has never been defeated for
any office for which he was nominated, and has
always been popular with the people.
(JOHN J. VAN KEUREN, the owner of a
I beautiful farm of one hundred and four acres
(2/ in the town of Montgomery, is a descendant
of TjerckVan Keuren, who was born in Holland,
December 16, 1682, and came thence to America
when the Huguenot exiles were seeking refuge
here. He settled in Ulster County , N. Y., where
he remained until death. The paternal grand
parents of our subject were Benjamin and Mary
(Miller) Van Keuren. The former, a native of
the town of Montgomery, was a merchant, miller
and farmer, and the mill which he owned was the
largest of its kind in this locality. He owned the
first carding-machine in the county. During the
Revolutionary War he was too young to be ac
cepted for service, but rendered valuable aid by
carrying dispatches back and forth for his father,
Capt. Henry Van Keuren.
The father of our subject, Miller Van Keuren,
was born in 1795, in the town of Montgomery,
where he was reared to mature years and spent
his entire life. He served in the War of 18 12,
and was also very prominent in an official capac
ity in his town, holding many positions of trust
and responsibility. For many years he was an
Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and aided in a
material way every good work that was instituted
in his community. As an agriculturist he was
more than ordinarily successful, and during his
later years he enjoyed the comforts which inces
sant toil in early life made possible. His death
occurred June 14, 1883.
Jane Jackson, mother of our subject, was born
in the town of Montgomery May 27, 1795, and
died here July 13, 1883, when eighty- eight years
of age. She was the daughter of James and
Elizabeth (McCobb) Jackson, the former of Scotch
extraction and the latter of Irish birth, but among

the earliest settlers of Orange County. John J. is
the eldest child of his parents, and was born in
the town of Montgomery June 22, 1822. His
sister and brothers were named as follows: Mary,
Mrs. William Wilkins, formerly of Montgomery,
but now deceased; Harvey, a farmer of this town;
and Charles, who is engaged in the coal business
at Newburgh.
August 19, 1853, Miss Elizabeth Jackson be
came the wife of our subject. She was born in
the town of Hamptonburgh, this county, June 18,
1824, and was the daughter of Gabriel and Nancy
(Conklin) Jackson, natives of the above town.
Her father died in Newburgh when sixty-five
years of age. Her grandfather was a native of
Ireland, and gained the title of Captain after com
ing to America, while in service on a Hudson
River steamer. Mr. and Mrs. Van Keuren be
came the parents of three children, of whom
Anna E. died in infancy. Mary E. is with her
parents. Miller, who also resides at the old home
stead, married Nellie Mowbray Crist December
22, 1886, and they have two children, Anna B.
and Eleanor.
Politically Mr. Van Keuren is a Republican,
but is not in any sense of the word a politician,
as he prefers the quiet of country life to the tur
moil of public position. He is a Trustee of the
Presbyterian Church, with which he has been
connected for many years. His farm is devoted
especially to the dairy business, although he does
not neglect the raising of large quantities of
grain.
*G|BRAHAM JACKSON CUDDEBACK was
I I one of the wide-awake and enterprising citi-
/ | zens of Port Jervis, a man of liberal views,
who was in hearty sympathy with every move
ment that would in any way add to the prosperity
of the city. By all he was held in the highest
esteem. His manners were easy, courteous and
affable, and he was a thorough gentleman under
all circumstances.
Mr. Cuddeback, who was born April 4, 1851,
on the old homestead two and a-half miles from
Port Jervis, remained upon the home farm un-

904

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

til after his marriage. His father, Abraham J.
Cuddeback, Sr. , was a son of Jacob Cuddeback,
and to him and his wife, Catherine, were born
nine children, of whom two died in childhood
and only one is now living, Amanda. Of those
who grew to maturity, we make the following
mention: Margaret, who was the wife of William
C. Drake, of Cochecton, N. Y., died at the age
of fifty-six years. Martin, the second of the fam
ily, married and settled in Virginia, and at his
death, which occurred at the age of forty-seven
years, he left two sons: William, aged nineteen
years, who is an operator and now resides with
Mrs. A. J. Cuddeback; and Charles, who still
makes his home in Virginia. Amanda is the
wife of E. P. Mulock, of Denver, Colo. Esther,
who made her home with Mrs. Cuddeback, died
on the 9th of July, 1891, at the age of fifty-five
years. Henry, who died March 31, 1894, at
Pittstou, Pa., at the age of forty-seven years, left
a widow and two sons, who make their home in
that city. Diana died at the age of sixteen years.
Our subject was the youngest ofthe family. The
children were all reared upon the old home place,
where the parents spent their entire lives, the fa
ther dying at the age of seventy -four years, and
the mother at the age of sixty-eight.
Mr. Cuddeback, of this sketch, was united in
marriage, on the 19th of October, 1876, with
Miss Lou B. O'Reilly, and to them were born
two daughters, Lulu O. and Helen McClellan,
the latter named in honor of the General, who
was a great friend of her Grandfather O'Reilly,
as was also General Sheridan. Mr. Cuddeback
was a man of elevated tastes, highly educated,
and at one time began studying for the ministry,
but did not complete his theological course. He
was closely connected with the Presbyterian
Church, in which he was an active worker. His
hand was never withheld from doing good, and
he was a citizen worthy of the high respect and
confidence reposed in him by the community.
He received a stroke of paralysis, from which he
never recovered, and for five years, or until Au
gust 9, 1892, was an invalid.
Mrs. Cuddeback, who still makes her home in
Port Jervis, is a daughter of Phillop and Harriet

(Fentoone) O'Reilly. Her father was born in
Dublin, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage. With
his parents, Martin and Sarah (McCoy) O'Reilly,
he came to the United States, locating in New
York City, where his father lived retired. The
latter, who was a highly educated man, could
trace his ancestry back to the old Irish kings,
and he inherited a large property. His wife, who
was born in the city of Bologne, France, was the
daughter of a high officer in the French service,
who was pure French, as was also his wife. On
coming to America Martin O'Reilly purchased a
tract of land seven miles along the Delaware Val
ley, and extending twenty -one miles back from
the river. It was located in Sullivan County,
N. Y., and in Wayne County, Pa., and besides
this he owned a great amount of property in
the city of New York, where he resided for
some time. Later he located at Cochecton, on
the Erie Railroad, where he built a hotel, which
he conducted for many years. The city was built
on his property, and he employed several men in
clearing up the laud. Much of the original tract
is still in the possession of his descendants, two
of his grandsons of the same name still living at
Cochecton. He died there at the age of eighty-
two years.
Phillop O'Reilly, the father of Mrs. Cudde
back, who was the eldest of two sons, was only
three years of age at the time the family crossed
the Atlantic, and was eleven when they removed
to Cochecton. At Ft. Madison, Iowa, he wedded
Harriet Fentoone, a daughter of Colonel Cass and
Caroline (Montaine) Fentoone. Her father was
a retired French officer, and was a man of con
siderable property, owning plantations and slaves
in Maryland, and after his death his two daugh
ters, Harriet and Catherine (in company with
his brother, George Fentoone, who had made in
vestments for each of them), went to Maryland.
Catherine married a Mr. Adler, and their son,
Frank Adler, is a noted millionaire of Chicago,
111. By the Government Mr. O'Reilly was sent to
Ft. Madison, Iowa, where he built the fort, trad
ing-houses, etc., and from the Sac and Fox In
dians received a grant of fifteen hundred acres of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

9°5

land lying between that fort and Keokuk. He
received a full buckskin suit, hand-embroidered
with beads, made by Nanasaw, Blackhawk's wife,
who presented it to him. This is now in the pos
session of Mrs. Cuddeback. Mr. O'Reilly was
the first actual settler of Lee County, Iowa, and
at Quincy, 111. , built a flatboat, on which he took
a company of soldiers and carpenters to Ft. Mad
ison. The year before General Fremont crossed
the plains to California, he took a company of
twenty-one and they explored the country over
land to that state. He was there during the gold
discovery, and mined the largest nugget ever
picked up on the Mary ville River. Eleven years
were devoted to mining, and he also had a Gov
ernment contract to furnish supplies to the United
States Cavalry. He platted a village, built a saw
mill and laid out a racecourse, the latter of which
Mrs. Cuddeback still owns.
On the return of Mr. O'Reilly to Ft. Madison,
he wedded Harriet Fentoone, who was the widow
of Dr. Nathaniel Knapp, a native of Goshen,
Orange County, who had been a United States
army officer. The lady was educated in a Cath
olic school in New York City, and when quite
young was married at Goshen. With Dr. Knapp
she went to Ft. Madison, where he died, and she
was left a widow at the age of nineteen years,
with one little son, who died about a year ago, iu
the state of Washington. Mrs. Cuddeback was
the only child of the last marriage. Her father
remained at Ft. Madison for several years, where
he had a Government contract to buy horses.
When his daughter was thirteen years of age,
Mr. O'Reilly returned East, locating at Damas
cus, Wayne County, Pa., on a portion of the
property left by his father, after which he still
took contracts for the Government and furnished
tht horses for Ft. Moonlight, on the plains. He
was extensively engaged in lumbering, and in
later life erected a sawmill at Callicoon and
Reillyville, Pa. He continued to make his home
at Damascus, but his death occurred in Port Jer
vis, on the 30th of September, 1883. He had
come here to attend the funeral of Hon. Abraham
J. Cuddeback, the father-in-law of his daughter,
and in crossing the railroad track was killed by

the cars. He had traveled around the globe three
and a-half times with no accidents, but now
within forty miles of his own home was killed.
His wife survived him only about ten months.
During the war much of her Maryland property
was confiscated, but two of her old slaves con
tinued to remain with her until her death. She
never lived on her plantation, on which were
many slaves, it being in the hands of an overseer.
Mr. O'Reilly was a man widely known and
had hosts of friends. His weight was about two
hundred and forty pounds. He was quick in
thought, always having a ready answer, no mat
ter what the subject, was of a joking disposition
and was always pleasant. Among his most loyal
friends were H. H. Farnum and Charles St. John,
of Port Jervis, and on his death the latter asked
that Mrs. Cuddeback' s children call him grand
father. He was kind-hearted and dearly loved
his grandchildren, whom he often took to New
York City on his business trips.

— » — ?>,K®iiiH*<* — **-•"*-'

LIAB HAWKINS, a retired farmer of
*y the town of Mt. Hope, was born March
__ 14, 1803, on the farm where he now resides,
and is seventh in the family of ten children born
to Samuel and Eunice (Osborn) Hawkins.
Moses, the eldest, was born in 1787, and died
January 21, 1849; Jennie, born March 3, 1792,
died at about the age of ninety; Mary, born Jan
uary 8, 1790, died many years ago; Sarah, born
November 18, 1797, aied in old age; Amelia,
born in 1800, died many years ago; Eliab is our
subject; Hannah was born December 7, 1806;
Deborah's birth occurred July 9, 18 10; and two
died in childhood.
Samuel Hawkins, the father of our subject,
was born on Long Island, March 14, 1752, and
died November 25, 1822. He located in Orange
County at a very early day, and purchased a farm
of one hundred and fifty-three acres for one hun
dred and twenty-two pounds, eight shillings.
This land is still in the family. The father was

906

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a successful farmer, but iu early life was a sea-
captain. His father, the grandfather of our sub
ject, also named Samuel, was, in all probability,
a native of England. Eunice Osborn, the mother
of our subject, was born in Salem, Mass., but
was of German extraction. Her death occurred
December 9, 1848.
The subject of this sketch remained with his
parents until their death, when he inherited the
old homestead, which has always been his home.
The opportunities for securing an education were
limited, and he can not boast of great learning
derived from books. His life has always been
one of toil, and as a farmer he was considered
one ofthe best in his town. He was married,
April 10, 1824, to Miss Clarinda Muloch, who
was also a native of Orange County, but who
died December 11, 1880. They had five chil
dren. Almira, born May 27, 1825, married Hiram
Horton, of Howells Depot. Emma, born Decem
ber 4, 1826, is the widow of James H. Corwin,
of Howells Depot. Deborah J. , born January 1 1 ,
1829, married George Elston, a merchant of Port
Jervis, and died May 15, 1850. Ira E., born Au
gust 4, 1837, married Elizabeth Comstock, a na
tive of the town of Greenville. He died May 26,
1875, leaving three children, viz.: Maggie, who
married John Post, of Broome County; Vantyle,
who married Lillie Mace, of Broome County; and
Effie, living with her mother. Joshua C, born
May 26, 1842, married Charlotte Green, Sep
tember 26, 1867. She was a native of this coun
ty, and died March 29, 1875, at the age of thirty-
one years, leaving one son, Irwin E., who is a
progressive farmer in the town of Mt. Hope. Her
husband subsequently married Margaret John
son, of Sullivan County, and to them have been
born three children: James, Coe C. and Eva, all
of whom are at home. Joshua C. is now man
ager of the old homestead, and is also the owner
of one hundred and forty-four acres in the vicin
ity. He has been Supervisor of the town two
terms. Our subject in early life was an old-line Whig,
but on the organization of the Republican party
adopted its principles, and has since been an
earnest advocate of the same. He has never

been a member of any church, but his wife was
for many years a member of the Baptist Church.
He is now in his ninety-third year, and is a re
markably well preserved man for that age, and
his many friends ardently desire that he shall
live to pass the century mark.

(JOHN D. KING. In the twilight of his use-
1 ful life this venerable man is in the enjoy-
G/ ment of all the comforts of existence, and at
the close of an honorable career can review the
events of the past without remorse, and look for
ward to the future without fear. Well preserved
in mind and body, his longevity and good health
may be attributed largely to his excellent habits,
to which, having been trained in youth, he clung
throughout life. While the infirmities of age
prevent him from actively tilling the soil, he is
still active and useful, and may often be seen at
work upon his farm in the town of Mt. Hope.
The birth of our subject occurred in the house
where he' now lives, March 9, 1809. He was the
youngest of the seven children of John and Eliz
abeth (Godfrey) King. His father, who was born
in this county, purchased in early manhood the
farm now occupied by John D., and here he re
mained until about seventy years of age, when he
went to Montgomery and made his home with
a son near that place. There he died at seventy-
two years of age. He was among the earliest
settlers of this part ofthe town, and was probably
of Irish parentage, as it is supposed his father
was born in Ireland. For many years he was
Assessor of this town, and he has also filled other
local offices. His wife, who, like himself, was a
native of this county, died at the age of sixty-
five. Both were consistent members of the Bap
tist Church.
The early life of our subject was spent with his
parents, and after having cultivated the home
farm for a long time, his father gave him a deed
to it. October 27, 1831, he married Miss Char
lotte Wiggins, who was born in this town, July
29, 181 1, and died September 12, 1883. By this
marriage three children were born: William H.,

WILLIAM H. HALLOCK,
Wash inc. ton VTi,r,K.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

909

now living on the farm; Henry L- , who died
in infancy; and Harrison, who operates the old
homestead. Politically Mr. King is a Republi
can, and in an early day served as Superintend
ent ofthe Poor and Commissioner of Schools. He
is a man of devout religious faith and holds mem
bership in the Presbyterian Church. For his
second wife he married Mrs. Catherine (Stone)
Decker, who died June 6, 1892. She also Was
identified with the Presbyterian denomination.
The two surviving sons of our subject, Will
iam H. and Harrison, were born on this farm.
The former has always made it his home, as also
has Harrison, with the exception of five years,
during which time he was engaged in the milk
business in New York City. February 26, 1861,
he married Miss Mary J. Decker, of Port Jervis,
N. Y., and they have three children, namely: J.
Wallace, who is in the milk business at Jersey
City; G. Herbert, a prosperous farmer of this
town, living on a part of the old homestead;
and Lottie, wife of Dr. Ansel T. Eager, of San
Francisco. Like his father, Harrison King is a
stanch advocate of Republican principles, and is
intelligently interested in affairs pertaining to
the welfare of the community. With his family
he holds membership in the Presbyterian Church.

=$<>.{..;.»»*»»¦»•»»* |[**|fr***-fr*******;)<>
(D6JILLIAM H. HALLOCK, who was born
\ A / at Highland Mills, has always made his
YV home in Orange County, and for thirty
years has been a resident of Washingtonville.
He is known as one of the extensive farmers and
cattle dealers of the county, and is a large prop
erty-holder, owning, besides some valuable village
property, the O'Brien Farm of one hundred and
twenty-three acres, a fine one-hundred-acre farm
situated within the limits of the village where he
lives, the Stewart Farm, comprising three hun
dred and fifteen acres, the David Smith Farm of
one hundred and eighty-five acres and the Mc
Dowell Farm of one hundred and fifteen acres.
These farms are not rented, but are cultivated
under his personal supervision, and all have
been greatly improved by him. On the land,

which is used for dairying purposes, he keeps
nearly three hundred cows, as well as a large
number of horses.
The Hallock family is of English extraction,
but has been represented in America for a num
ber of generations. The grandfather of our sub
ject, Martin Hallock, came from Long Island to
Orange County. The parents of our subject,
Thomas B. aud Sarah (Hunter) Hallock, were
farmers at Highland Mills. The latter was a
daughter of James Hunter, of English descent,
and died when about seventy years of age.
Our stiDJect was born February 14, 1842, and
is the second of six children, the others being as
follows: Louisa, who died at the age of twenty-
three; Mary, wife of Israel Owen, a farmer of
Highland Mills; Alanson, a resident of Wash
ingtonville; James M., who is manager of Ar
mour's packing house at Rochester, N. Y.; and
Thomas B., who resides on the old homestead at
Highland Mills. William H. was reared on a
farm, and, being of an observing nature, he early
gained a comprehensive knowledge of farming.
He only received a common-school education, but
through business relations and thoughtful read
ing he has gained a broad knowledge of men and
things, and is well posted concerning current
topics of interest.
Upon attaining his majority Mr. Hallock rent
ed a farm, and being active, energetic and indus
trious, he cleared a handsome profit. The fol
lowing year he rented another farm and there,
too, he met with success. In 1865 he purchased
the McDowell Farm, which he still owns, and up
on which he made his home for a few years,
from time to time purchasing other estates. In
addition to general farming, Mr. Hallock has for
thirty years made a specialty of the stock busi
ness. Being a good judge of horses and cattle,
he met with success from the time he began to
handle stock, becoming in a few years one of the
principal stock-drovers of the county. In [868,
after the death of his wife, he moved to Wash
ingtonville. In 1 870 he formed a partnership with
William Church, handling a larger number of
cattle than any other dealer in the county, and in
1877 Mr. Church retired from the business. The

gio

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

property which our subject owns is valuable and
well improved, and his success is such as to prove
his accurate judgment and untiring persever
ance. The first marriage of Mr. Hallock united him
with Miss Elizabeth Hunter, daughter of David
Hunter, of this county. She died in 1868, leav
ing four children, namely: Annie, at home; Car
rie, Mrs. J. A. D. S. Findlay, who has four chil
dren, Annie, Wilhelmina, Thomas B. and Julia;
Edward N., who is in the stock business in part
nership with his father, and who married Lizzie
Kessel; and Jennie, wife of George E. Howell.
By his second wife, who was Miss Annie E. Ver
non, Mr. Hallock had seven children, six of
whom are living: Charles J., who married Mar
tha Thew, and lives in Washingtonville; Julia;
Willie, who died when about eight years old; and
Georgia, Emma, Kittie and Willie H. , who are
at home. Politically a Republican, Mr. Hallock
is a member of the Board of Village Trustees,
and has served on the School Board for a number
of years. He has been a Director of the Orange
County Agricultural Society since 1878, and has
always taken a great interest in all public im
provements in his town.

-*""• — •3>^®'f|P®H<-j — «—¦

HON. THOMAS VAN ETTEN was for many
years one of the prominent and influential
citizens of Orange County. He was de
scended from Jacob Van Etten, the founder ofthe
family in America, who after his arrival wedded
Antje Westbrook, by whom he had several chil
dren, one ofthe number being Levi, who, on the
27th of November, 1777, married Jane Westbrook.
Both Levi Van Etten and his wife owned slaves,
and they located on their farm in the town of
Deerpark before the Revolution, it being the
farm where their granddaughter, Mrs. Morrison,
now resides. One of the three forts erected in
1777 or the year following stood on this place,
and on the 20th of July, 1779, Brant, with his
following of Indians and Tories, came into the

neighborhood, where they committed all manner
of depredations. In a stone schoolhouse on the
brook that ran near the Van Etten home, the in
famous Brant murdered and beheaded the teacher.
Nearly all of the families of the community lost
heavily, either in stock or goods.
On this farm on the 4th of May, 1795, Hon.
Thomas Van Etten first opened his eyes to the
light of day, aud there his father died October 25,
1843, and his mother December 23, 1837. In the
house which his father erected he spent his entire
life, though he later overhauled and enlarged it.
He extended the boundaries of the place until it
comprised from five to six hundred acres of the
best land in Orange County. Just before his
marriage he took a raft of lumber, during a freshet,
down the Delaware River, and with the money
thus earned he purchased a silver watch, which
he carried up to the time of his death.
On the 5th of August, 1816, was celebrated the
marriage of Thomas Van Etten and Miss Sally
Van Auken, who was born April 11, 1800, and
was a daughter of Evert and Sarah (Westbrook)
Van Auken. Her father departed this life October
19, 1844, and her mother passed away September
6, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Van Etten began house
keeping in the house which stood near the old mill,
which he operated for a time, it being located on
the farm. His wife became a good business woman,
but at the time of her marriage could not even
bake a cake, as she had always depended upon
slaves. By her marriage she became the mother
of nine children. Lydia, who died at the age of
seventy-nine, was the wife of Judge Martin Cole,
of Sussex County, N. J. ; Belinda died unmarried
at the age of fifty-eight years; Isaac is also de
ceased; Sarah resides in Ohio; Ann is now the
widow of John H. Morrison; Mark resides in Sus
sex County, N. J. ; Cornelia is the wife of R. F.
Gardner, of Middletown ; Thomas is a resident of
Sauk Rapids, Minn. ; and Hudson died at the age
of forty-seven years.
In his political views, Hon. Thomas Van Etten
was an uncompromising Democrat, taking a deep
interest in the welfare of his party, and doing all
in his power for its success. In 1836 he was a
member of the State Assembly of New York, in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

911

which he served with distinction. He was a man
of good business talent and was very successful in
his undertakings. His portrait shows him to be
a great man ofthe old style, with strong features,
overhanging eyebrows and a keen eye. He was a
large man physically, broad-shouldered and rather
stern, always carrying out his ideas. He was
strictly temperate, and was a man of great influ
ence iu the community, his advice being often
sought by many of the best citizens of Orange
County. He was called from this life on the 12th
of August, 1861, at the age of sixty-six years,
four months and eight days, and his wife died
December 5, 1871. They were both highly re
spected people and their deaths were sincerely
mourned. .  ^#£P  • ,
(7JAMUEL BROOKS has been a resident of
•\ Highland Falls since 1863, and is well known
\~J to the people of this community. In 1893 he
embarked in the grocery business, which he has
since continued, carrying in his establishment a
large assortment of staple and fancy groceries,
and replenishing his stock from time to time in
order to meet the demands of the trade. His life
has been spent in Rockland and Orange Counties,
and he has a large circle of friends in both.
The father of our subject, Oliver Brooks, was
for many years a prominent farmer of Rockland
County, and in connection with that occupation
also worked at the trade of a blacksmith. His
death occurred when he was seventy-five years
of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Cath
erine Burns, was born and reared in Rockland
County, and became the mother of eight children;
of whom the eldest, Luke, is deceased. The
others are: Eliza, Mary J., Samuel, Warren,
Sarah M., Margaret and Oliver.
The subject of this sketch was born in Rock
land County, January 9, 1834, and there passed
his youthful days. His parents were people of
limited means, aud as he was obliged to com
mence working very early in life, his education
was very meager. When twenty-three years of
age he worked as a blacksmith aud wheelwright
at Ft. Montgomery for four years. He afterward

came to Highland Falls, where he was similarly
occupied, and after accumulating a goodly sum
of money engaged in the grocery business for
himself. He abandoned working at his trade for
the reason that carriage and wagon factories be
came very numerous, and his business was so di
minished that he was dissatisfied and became in
terested in another direction. He is self-made in
the truest sense, and is now regarded as one of
the substantial and solid business men of the
community. He is also a practical farmer.
At Stony Point Mr. Brooks was married, in
1859, to Miss Adelaide Benson, a native of Rock
land County, who departed this life a year and a-
half after her marriage. October 19, 1865, our
subject was married to Miss Maria V. Nelson, who
died about eighteen months later. The lady who
is now his wife was formerly Miss Mary A.
Washburn, a native of Rockland County, and the
daughter of Richard and Mary Washburn.
Although in former years a Democrat, our sub
ject is now an ardent supporter of Prohibition
principles, and by his influence has induced
many to join that party. He is a consistent
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
his upright life and example are well worthy of
emulation.

+=

=+

(JAMES F. SEYBOLT, proprietor of the Hu-
I guenot Mill, and dealer in flour, feed, bran,
Q) etc., is one of the most wide-awake and en
terprising business men of Orange County. In
1884 he came to Huguenot, where he has since
made his home. He is a native of this coun
ty, born in Greenville, March 16, 1850, and is a
son of Isaac M. aud Mary C. (Seybolt) Seybolt.
His father, who still resides upon the farm in
Greenville, is a son of Lewis A. Seybolt, and has
now reached the age of seventy-two years. The
family was founded in this country by John Sey
bolt, who came to the New World from Germany,
where for many generations his ancestors had re
sided.

912

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

After reaching the age of eighteen years, James
F. Seybolt entered Cornell University, taking a
scientific course, and graduated from that institu
tion after four years' attendance, in the Class of
'73, with the degree of B. S. Among his class
mates were Dr. David S. Jordan, President of
Leland Stanford University of California; Hon.
John De Witt Warner, Member of Congress from
New York City; Hon. D. E. Salmon, Chief of
the Bureau of Animal Industry in the Depart
ment of Agriculture; W. H. French, of Chicago;
and Julius Chambers, late editor-in-chief of the
New York World.
After leaving college Mr. Seybolt taught for
one year in Orange County, at the expiration of
which time he took the law course in the uni
versity at Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating in the
Class of ' 76, and was there admitted to the Bar.
He theii returned to Orange County, but at the
end of one year located at Riverton, Neb., where
he practiced his chosen profession for two years,
during which time he was candidate on the Dem
ocratic ticket for County Judge. For the same
length of time he then followed the legal profes
sion in Port Jervis.
Mr. Seybolt was married on the 30th of March,
1882, Miss Carrie E. Fowler becoming his wife.
Her parents, Charles W. and Millie Ann (Lay
man) Fowler, are both now deceased, the former
dying at the age of seventy-eight years, and the
latter at the age of seventy-two, and both passed
away while residing in Huguenot. The father
was a millwright, and for eighteen or twenty years
owned and operated the mill now belonging to
our subject. Mrs. Seybolt is one in a family of
five children, three sons and two daughters, all
ofwhom are living. The others are: Erving G. ,
who is engaged in newspaper work in Port Jer
vis; Joseph W.,a resident of Rockland County;
Charles W., who lives in Topeka, Kan.; and
Mary E. , wife of Charles Clark, of the town of
Wawayanda. Our subject and his wife have an
adopted sou, Floyd E.
In 1884 Mr. Seybolt purchased his present
property, consisting of a mill and farm. The
former, which was built a good many years ago,
he has overhauled, enlarged and changed, and

has practically made a new plant. He manufact
ures chiefly feed, meal and flour, also dealing in
bran, middlings, etc., doing quite an extensive
business in this line. His farm comprises one
hundred acres, and in its cultivation he is meet
ing with a well deserved success. He supports
the principles advocated by the Democracy, and in
the conventions of his party he takes an active
part. As a business man he is shrewd and ener
getic, and his success has come from his own un
aided efforts. Mrs. Seybolt is a member of the
Reformed Church, to which he liberally contrib
utes.

(JOHN S. PALMER, a farmer in the town of
I Mt. Hope, was born May 12, 1818, just
(2/ across the line in Sullivan County. He was
fifth in a family of nine children bom to Stephen
and Esther (Winter) Palmer, both of whom were
natives of Dutchess County. His father removed
from Dutchess to Sullivan County when a young
man, there buying a farm, which he sold after
holding it for several years. In 1820 he pur
chased the farm in the town of Mt. Hope which
our subject now owns, and where the father's
death occurred iu 1825. He was a farmer, but in
early life worked at carpentering.
The subject of this sketch was only about
seven years old when his father died. He re
mained at home with his mother until her death,
when he purchased the interest of the other heirs,
and has made this his home ever since, with the
exception of four years spent in the village of Mt.
Hope, where he worked at the blacksmith's
trade. On the 17th of January, 1850, Mr. Palmer
married Mary E. Book, of Middletown, and to
them have been born three children. Frances
Charlotte is still at home; George M., a prosper
ous farmer in the town of Mt. Hope, married
Elizabeth Evans, a native of this town; and Rob
ert B. resides at home and manages the home
farm. It consists of one hundred and forty acres
of land, and has been in the family for seventy-

HENRY HARDENBERGH, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

9i5

two years. It is under a high state of cultivation,
and is one of the best farms in this section. As
has been intimated, Mr. Palmer learned the trade
of a blacksmith, whicli he has followed at odd
times almost all his life in connection with farming.
Politically he is a Republican, and as a citizen
none stands higher in the estimation of his fel
low-men than the subject of this sketch.

NENRY HARDENBERGH, M. D., one of
the leading practitioners of Port Jervis, was
born in this village on the 23d of April,
1835, and is a son of Charles and Mary E.
(Chandler) Hardenbergh. The following facts
concerning the family have been gleaned from the
Kingston Record: The family is descended from
Gerritt Hardenbergh, who came from Holland
and located at Albany, N. Y., in 1667. The
records show that in 1690 he owned the sloop
"Royal Albany," and that in 1678 he and his
wife, whose maiden name was Jopje Schepmos,
made a joint will. His son Johannes married
Retsen, daughter of one of the wealthy land-own
ers along the Hudson, who lived at Kingston, and
he also became quite wealthy. He was desig
nated as a patroon, and for many years was one of
the merchants of Kingston. He succeeded in
securing large tracts of land in Ulster, Delaware,
Sullivan and Orange Counties, some of which
were purchased from the Indians and the remain
der was a grant. The family became large
land-owners, and were prominent people in civil
and military life. Washington was entertained
at Kingston by one of them, and Rutgers Col
lege, of New Jersey, was founded by one of the
family. Major Hardenbergh, in company with
Moses De Witt, obtained the Government con- ,
tract for surveying all the military land in New
York State. The family has ever been promi
nent, and has produced many lawyers, doctors
and clergymen. Johannes was followed by his
son Abraham, who was baptized January 7,1711,
married Margtjen Roosa, and lived at Kingston,
N. Y. His son John, of New Paltz, Ulster Coun
ty, married Rachel Du Bois, and to them was

born Abraham, who also lived near New Paltz,
and wedded Margaret Du Bois.
Dr. Charles Hardenbergh, the father of our sub
ject, is the next in direct line, and was born in
Guilford, Ulster County, June 7, 1802. In 1823
he graduated from a medical college, and the
following year located in Port Jervis, where he
remained in practice until about ten years before
his death. He first wedded Anna Smith, from
near Pine Bush, who died two or three years
later, leaving a son, Samuel A. J., who became
a merchant of Newburgh, and died at the age of
fifty-nine years. In 1832 the father was united
in marriage with Mary E. Chandler, of Union
ville, Orange County, and to them were born the
following children: Henry, the subject of this
sketch; Dr. Daniel S., of Jersey City; Margaret,
Mrs. Theodore Schoonmaker, who lives in Ohio;
Mary widow, of John Hollingshead, of Jersey
City; Gertrude, deceased; and Charles, who died
in California, at the age of thirty years. After
his marriage the father erected a house near
where the Reformed Church parsonage now
stands, which he made his home for many years,
and for a long time was the only doctor of the
place. At that early day Rev. Mr. Elting of the
Reformed Church was located here, and both
were great men, each in his special line. He
enjoyed a good joke and told a story well. Once
while amputating the leg of an old German, the
man said, "Wait a minute, Doctor, while I take a
pinch of snuff," which he did, and continued to
bear the operation without a groan. The Doc
tor traveled many miles in his practice, especi
ally when the canal was building. His death oc
curred November 11, 1874, at the age of seventy-
two years, five months and four days. He was
widely respected and universally beloved, aud
his memory will long be cherished. Socially he
was an ardent Mason.
We now come to the personal history of Dr.
Henry Hardenbergh, who was educated in the
private schools of Port Jervis, and took a medical
course in the same college which his father had
attended, receiving the degree of M. D. in the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York
City in i860. He had previously read medicine

916

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

with his father, and now began practice with him,
and on the retirement of the latter he succeeded
to the patronage. He belongs to the Orange Coun
ty Medical Association. In both medicine and sur
gery he has ever met with most excellent suc
cess, and is a close student of his profession,
keeping fully abreast with the times. He* is
wholly devoted to his calling and justly deserves
the lucrative practice he now has. He is a Di
rector both in the bridge and water works com
panies of Port Jervis, and has always been ready
to aid proper enterprises for the development of
the village.
The Doctor was married, February 17, 1864, to
Miss Delia Bailey, of Middletown, and to them
was born a son, Daniel Bailey, who is now prac
ticing medicine in Middletown. For many years
the Doctor has belonged to the Reformed Church,
in whose work he takes an active part. He is
one of the leading citizens of Port Jervis, inter
ested in all that will advance the town and com
munity, and aids materially in every good work.
In politics he is a Republican.

(JOHN MATHER DOLPH, the efficient Su-
I perintendent of the schools of Port Jervis, is
Q) one of the leading educators in this part of
the state. He was born at Havana, Schuyler
County, on the 18th of October, 1845, and is a
son of Chester Valentine and Elizabeth Vander-
bilt (Steele) Dolph.
The Dolph family is descended from Balthazar
De Wolf, who came to Connecticut with the New
Haven Colony in 1635. He was followed by Ed
ward, his son, who was born iu 1646, and died in
1712. Then conies Charles, born in 1673, and
who died in 1731. Joseph, son of Charles, who
was born in 17 17, is said to have been killed be
fore Louisburg in 1757, during the French and
Indian War. He was married, on the 8th of
March, 1738, to Tabitha Johnson, and they had
three children: Prudence, born in 1739; Mar
garet, in 1741; and Abda, October 25, 1743.

Abda De Wolf was left an orphan in 1757 and
went to live with his uncle, Henry Johnson. On
the 17th of March, 1766, he wedded Mary Cole
man, daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth Coleman,
and they lived in Fairfield County, Conn. , until
1775, when they removed to Spencertown,
Columbia County, N. Y., where he had two
cousins living, who had taken the name of Dolph.
Up to the time of the French and Indian War
the name had remained De Wolf, but the branch
of the family residing at Glastonbury, Conn. ,
spelled it D'olph, and Abda later changed his
name to Dolph. His two cousins were both in
the Revolution, and he served as scout during
the same struggle. In 1787 he removed to He
bron, Washington County, N. Y., and in 1832
went to live with his son George in Ashtabula
County, Ohio, where he died October 26, 1833,
at the age of ninety years and one day.
Joseph Dolph, the grandfather of John Mather,
was born June 6, 1767, and attended Brown Uni
versity. Soon after the Revolution he went to
Pennsylvania, surveying the land where Scran
ton now stands for Moses Dolph, one of the
cousins of his father. On the, 5 th of October,
1794, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth
Norton, of Martha's Vineyard, who was a de
scendant of Nicholas Norton, one ofthe founders
of Weymouth, Mass. In 1807 Joseph Dolph re
moved to Hector, Schuyler County, N. Y.,
where for twenty years he conducted a private
school. His death occurred there December 21,
1827, at the age of sixty years. In his family
were ten children, Chester V. being the youngest.
Chester V. Dolph, the father of John Mather,
was born February 14, 18 12, and followed farm
ing in both Tompkins and Schuyler Counties.
For several years he also engaged in teaching
.and surveying, and held the office of Justice of
the Peace. He married Elizabeth Vanderbilt
Steele, who was born March 25, 18 13, and who
was a cousin of Cornelius Vanderbilt. She was
a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and
her death occurred January 22, 1884. The fa
ther died near Havana, November 3, 1869, at
the age of fifty -seven years. In the parental
family were five children, four sons and one

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

917

daughter, namely: Hon. Joseph Norton, who for
twelye years was Senator from Oregon; William
Vaughan, who is Justice of Sessions in Schuyler
County, and for six years was Postmaster of
Havana; Cyrus Abda, an attorney of Portland,
Oregon, who is acting in that capacity for the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company and
the Oregon Improvement Company; Rosalie
Gordon, wife of Rev. James H. Ross, a Method
ist minister, located at Van Etten, N. Y. ; and
John Mather, who completes the family.
The boyhood days of John Mather Dolph were
passed near Havana, and during the winter
months he attended school until reaching the
age of eighteen. He then taught for a time in
Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler Counties, N. Y.,
and Jackson County, Mich., after which he at
tended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, where
he prepared for college. In 1867 he was ad
mitted to Genesee College at Lima, N. Y., which
afterwards became part of the Syracuse Uni
versity. He took a complete course, graduating
in the Class of '72 with the degree of B. A. Be
fore leaving college he taught for one year in
Huron County, Ohio, and after graduation he
came to Port Jervis, where for six years he was
an instructor in the high school. In 1878 he be
came Superintendent of the graded schools of
Honesdale, Pa., where he also remained for six
years. In 1884 Professor Dolph was recalled to Port
Jervis, where he succeeded Prof. A. B. Wilbur,
who had charge of the schools for thirteen years.
The school is under a Board of Regents of the
State University and stands high among the
schools iii the county. There is an enrollment
of about two thousand pupils; forty -two teachers
are employed, and there are five good school
buildings, two of which are modern brick struct
ures, having been erected within the last ten
years. The Professor was married, on the 12th of Au
gust, 1874, to Miss Anna E. Van Etten, a daugh
ter of Benjamin and Prudence (De Witt) Van
Etten. Her father was a son of Levi Van Etten,
and a brother of Dr. Solomon Van Etten. He
died during Anna's childhood, but his wife is

still living aud makes her home at Port Jervis.
In various private schools, and also at Mt. Retire
ment, a private school, Mrs. Dolph received her
early education, after which she attended Claver-
ick Collegiate Institute. She also engaged in
teaching in the city schools from 1869 until 1874.
By her marriage she has become the mother of
three children. Benjamin Van Etten, born Octo
ber 18, 1875, graduated from the high school of
Port Jervis in the Class of '93, and is now a med
ical student; Bertha Mae, born July 11, 1878,
also graduated in the Class of '93; and Ada Isa
bel, who was born June 16, 1880, completes the
family .
Politically Professor Dolph affiliates with the
Republican party, and socially is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. With
the Methodist Episcopal Church he holds mem
bership, being active in both church and Sun
day-school work, aud is serving as Treasurer of
the church and as a member of the Official Board.
In 1884 he provided a plant list of northeastern
Pennsylvania for the geological survey of that
state, as the result of part of his work at Honesdale.
He has also been active in geological work, and
discovered a new trilobite in the trilobite ledge of
the Lower Helderberg group, which is described-
in the report of the State Geologist in 1892 as
the Dalmanites Dolphi.

!^+^r#— i

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(JACOB KADEL, a retired business man of
I Port Jervis, was for many years connected
Q) with the commercial interests of this place.
He is a native of the Fatherland, born in Hesse-
Darmstadt, Germany, on the 8th of October,
1836, and is a son of Frederick and Anna Kadel.
At the age of fourteen, in company with his
brother John, he left his native land and sailed
for America, landing in New York City, where
he remained for six years clerking in a clothing
store. About a year later his father and brother
Michael also came to the New World.
At the end of six years our subject came to
Port Jervis, where he was employed by the same
firm, Sampter & Ash, but later returned to New

918

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

York, remaining in their employ twelve years.
On the expiration of that time, in connection
with Mark Samuels, who was also a clerk for the
same firm, he purchased the Port Jervis branch
of the business, and the name was changed to
Samuels & Kadel. For fifteen months they car
ried on business, when Mr. Kadel sold out and
with the capital he had acquired started a new
store, which he conducted with excellent success
from 1866 until 1887, a period of twenty-one
years. His place of business, which he owns,
lies opposite the old Masonic Hall on Pike Street,
at the corner of Ball. He always gave the busi
ness his personal attention, and was one of the
best known merchants in his line in the city.
In 1872, in company with Frank Kunkel and
Jacob Pope, Mr. Kadel erected the Opera House,
a building containing six storerooms; it has a
frontage of one hundred feet on Pike Street
and is seventy feet deep on Hammond. Both
partners are now deceased, and he and the widow
of Mr. Pope own the property. He was ever a
successful business man, honest and upright in all
his dealings, and well deserves the competence
which now enables him to live retired, and rest
in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
On attaining the age of twenty-two Mr. Kadel
was married, in Orange County, the lady of his
choice being Catherine Stoll, who died after
twelve years of happy married life, leaving three
children: John A., a shoe dealer of Port Jervis;
Christian, proprietor of the Park Hotel; and
Jacob, who carries on the Starr Hotel. Mr.
Kadel has materially aided his sons, and they are
all now first-class business men, making a suc
cess of their undertakings. After the death of
his first wife our subject wedded Anna Nie-
meyer, and to them have been born the follow
ing children: Wilhelm, who is with his broth
er in the shoe store; Lizzie, Michael, Henry,
Charles, Lena and Otto, all ofwhom are single.
In political sentiment our subject is a Republi
can, always casting his ballot in support of its
men and measures, and has served his fellow-
citizens as Assessor. He is greatly interested in
civic societies, holding membership with Attilla
Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the

chairs, and the Knights of Honor. He was one
ofthe charter members of the Maennerchor, which
was organized in 1867, and is the only one of the
twenty who still survives. He has taken an act
ive interest in the welfare and prosperity of Port
Jervis and Orange County, and in this volume
his name deserves an honored place.

EHARLES N. SKINNER, M. D. Although
a young man, there is none who stands
higher in the medical profession in Port
Jervis than does the subject of this notice. As a
physician and surgeon it is difficult to win a
name and place of prominence. Many aspire to
it, but few reach it. In commercial life one may
start out on a more advanced plane than others.
He may enter into a business already established
and carry it forward, but in the medical profes
sion one must commence at the beginning and
work his way upward by ability, gaining his
reputation and success by merit. From the ex
cellent beginning Dr. Skinner has made, we
would prophesy that he will reach the goal for
which he is striving, that of success.
The Doctor is a native of Port Jervis, born
March 9, 1866, to John N. and Anna M. (Mal-
ven) Skinner, who are still residents of this
place. He remained upon the home farm until
reaching the age of seventeen years, receiving an
excellent education, and completed his literary
studies in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pa.
At the age of twenty-two he began reading medi
cine iu the office of Dr. W. L- Cuddeback, after
which he took a course of lectures at Bellevue, in
New York City, from which he was graduated in
the Class of '92. He then began the practice of
medicine and surgery in Port Jervis, where he is
meeting with excellent success. He is a member
of the Orange County Medical Society, in which
he takes an active part.
On the 9th of June, 1892, Dr. Skinner was
united in marriage with Miss Mary B. Hiller, of
Tunkhannock, Pa. She is a daughter of Will
iam M. and Oresta L. (Burdick) Hiller, natives
of England and New York, respectively. Her

CHARLES BROX.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

921

father is a Methodist minister. Mr. and Mrs.
Skinner are consistent members of the Reformed
Church of Port Jervis, and in its work take an
active part. In social circles they stand high,
and their friends throughout the community are
many.

C

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EHARLES BROX, one of the proprietors of
the Orange County Flint Glass Works of
Port Jervis, the most important manufactur
ing industry of the city, is also connected with
other leading interests. The glass factory was
established by Mr. Brox in 1873, with a capital
of $25,000, and employment was furnished to
fifty or sixty men, but the business has steadily
increased. After a year's operation, Wade Buck
ley was admitted to partnership, that connection
continuing until 1888, and from that time until
August 1, 1895, our subject was alone. On the
date mentioned Benjamin Ryall became a partner
of the firm. From eighty-five to one hundred
men are employed. The present pay-roll amounts
to about $3,000 per month, the capital invested
is about $60,000, and the annual business runs
from $80,000 to $90,000 per year. Many special
ties of flint glass are manufactured and sold to
other manufacturers, as well as to jobbers. Mr.
Brox believes in patronizing home industries, buy
ing his materials from local merchants whenever
it is possible. He has made a success of life and
is numbered among the well-to-do citizens of Port
Jervis. Mr. Brox is a native of Germany, born in Prus
sia, January 21, 1836, and in his native. land
learned the trade of flint-glass making, serving
an apprenticeship of three years, during which
time he only received half-pay. He was then
employed in Denmark for four years, working in
the city of Hol-me-gord, on the island of Zealand.
In 1857, however, he decided to come to the
United States, and iu Brooklyn, N. Y., worked
for C. Dorflinger for nine years, being a specialist
in the shade work. Iu connection with William
Pountney, in 1866, he started a glass factory in

Port Jervis, but disposed of the same in 1873.
He had invested $8,000, and by persistent effort
and strict attention to business increased his cap
ital, in the latter year establishing his present
factory. He is a Director of the First National
Bank, and President of the Electric-light Com
pany of Port Jervis, which office he has held since
the organization of the company. It was started
with a capital of $30,000, but has since added an
incandescent plant, and the stock has been in
creased to $45,000. He gives his personal atten
tion to this business, and it has become very profit
able. On the 1 6th of March, 1870, Mr. Brox was mar
ried to Miss Minnie Hannah, of Trenton, N. J.
They are active workers in the Methodist Episco
pal Church, and for thirteen years he has served
as Trustee. For three terms he was Trustee of
the village, during which time he always voted
for those measures calculated to upbuild the city,
and was a member of the Board of Education for
two terms, serving on the Building Committee at
the time of the erection of the new academy. His
industry in conducting his business, his spotless
private life, and the character of service which he
has rendered in official capacities, have gained
for him the esteem of the community in which he
lives. In political affiliations he entirely coin
cides with the doctrines and platform of the Re
publican party, and in the exercise of his elective
franchise supports the candidates of that organi
zation. He has been a delegate both to district
and county conventions of his party.

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fflOLOMON VAN FLEET. Among the
?\ substantial and enterprising farmers of the
yjy Neversink Valley whose names are scattered
through the pages of this volume, none is more
worthy of mention than the gentleman whose
name stands at the head of this biographical no
tice. He is now carrying on operations on his
fine farm, located about two miles northeast of
Port Jervis, where, in connection with general
farming, he is also engaged in the dairy business.
The first member of this family to locate in Or-

4i

922

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ange County was John (Jan) Van Fleet, who mar
ried Jane Swartwout, and their son James became
owner of the old homestead. The latter wedded
Margaret Palmatier, by whom he had seven
children: John, who married Catherine Westfall;
Thomas, the father of our subject; Eudicia, who
died October 22, 1832, at the age of sixty-four
years and eight months; Lydia, who passed
away October 23, 1835, at the age of fifty-nine
years, nine mouths and ten days; Solomon, who
died on the 8th of February, 1869, at the age of
seventy-seven years, ten months and one day;
Michael, whose death occurred December 1, 1874,
at the age of ninety-two years, three months and
two days; and Clara, who died May 22, 1882, at
the age of eighty-eight years, two months and ten
days. The father of this family was called to his
final rest December 27, 182 1, at the age of eighty-
three years and five months, his death occurring
on the old homestead, and his wife died March
27, 1841, at the age of ninety-one years, four
months and twenty-six days. The farm later
came into possession of Michael, Solomon and
Clara, and is now owned by our subject.
Solomon Van Fleet, whose name introduces this
review, was born 011 the farm where his brother
Benjamin now resides, December 19, 1829, and
was the youngest child born to Thomas and Eliz
abeth (Cuddeback) Van Fleet. (See sketch of
Benjamin Van Fleet.) He remained with his
father until the latter's death, when he was about
eighteen years of age. In 1869 he became owner
of the farm on which his great-grandfather had
located prior to the Revolution, and his son James
was living on the place at the time of the Indian
raid made by the infamous Brant. During this
raid he was burned out, losing everything he pos
sessed except a few yards of cloth. He afterward
erected a stone house, which stood for many years,
our subject helping to tear it down. His uncle
Michael built the present dwelling, in which he
and his brother and sister, Solomon and Clara,
resided until their deaths. They were all un
married, and the brothers were chiefly engaged
iu farming, though for a time Solomon was in a
store. Both were large, genial men, and gave
their support to the Democratic party. On the

death of Solomon our subject came to live on the
old homestead, and his remaining uncle and aunt
made their home with him.
On the 13th of February, 1878, Mr. Van Fleet,
of this sketch, was married, Miss Phcebe Cole be
coming his wife. Her parents, William and Eliz
abeth (Townsend) Cole, were residents of Sussex
County, N. J., where she was born June 9, 1837.
Besides the cultivation of his farm of one hundred
and thirty acres, Mr. Van Fleet devotes some at
tention to dairying, keeping on hand from twenty
to twenty-five cows. The house is pleasantly lo
cated on a ridge at the foot of Shawangunk Moun
tain, within a few rods of the Erie Railroad, and
the place contains a fine orchard, some of the
trees of which were set out over one hundred
years ago. Politically our subject affiliates with
the Democratic party, but takes very little part
in politics.

EHARLES N. KNAPP, M. D., one of the
leading young physicians and surgeons of
Port Jervis, is building up a fine and lucra
tive practice. He is a native of the Empire State,
bora in Homowack, Ulster County, on the 27th
of March, 1868, and is a son of DeWitt and Susan
(Campbell) Knapp, who were descended from old
families of Orange County. The paternal great
grandfather of our subject was the founder of the
family in this county, and his son, John Nelson
Knapp, became one of the leading business men
of Montgomery, Orange County. DeWitt Knapp
is a well known hotel-keeper of Cochecton, Sulli
van County, where he is extensively interested in
real estate, owning a great deal of farming prop
erty. The Campbells were also Orange County
people. In Cochecton, N. Y., Dr. Knapp was reared,
and at the age of twenty -two began his medical
studies. He attended Claverack College and
the Hudson River Institute, graduating from the
latter in the Class of ' 9 1 . After reading medicine
in the office of Dr. W. W Appley, of Cochecton,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

923

he took a course of lectures at Bellevue, in New
York City, from which he graduated in 1894, and
also had hospital advantages. The Doctor be
gan practice in Cochecton after receiving his de
gree, but in October, 1894, came to Port Jervis,
where he is now engaged in general practice, in
which he is meeting with excellent success. In
the sick-room he wins the utmost confidence, and
is a thorough student of his profession. He holds
membership with the Orange County Medical
Society, and is greatly interested in its work. He
is a supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and
socially is identified with Port Jervis Lodge No.
328, F. & A. M., and also the Legion of Honor.
He is athletic in his tastes, taking quite au inter
est in base ball. Although Port Jervis has been
his home for only a short time, he has won many
friends, and is held in the highest esteem by all
with whom he comes in contact, whether profes
sionally or otherwise.

ii****t;

j****i

EHARLES WESLEY BANKS, M. D. This
prominent young physician of Port Jervis is
a native of Ulster County, having been born
at Eddy ville, near Kingston, January 31, 1867.
His parents were William C. and Elizabeth
(Drake) Banks, also natives of this state. The
father located in Sparrow Bush, this county, in
1869, and during the years in which he was a
resident of that place carried on a thriving trade
as a general merchant. Later he engaged in bus
iness in Germantown, a suburb of this village,
where he is a prominent business man. He has
one of the best stores in that place, and receives
his share of patronage from the best people of the
village and surrounding country.
Charles W. was graduated from the high school
of Port Jervis with the Class of '84, and in the
¦ fall of that year began the study of medicine in
the office of Dr. William L. Cuddeback. After
continuing with him for one year he entered the
Bellevue Hospital College of New York City,
taking a two-years course. He then became a
student in Cornell University, taking up special
work bearing upon his study of medicine, and re

maining there for two years. Later he took an
other course iu Bellevue College, graduating
therefrom with the Class of '90. The following
year he spent as a resident physician at the hos
pital, where he obtained valuable knowledge in
the line of surgery.
In the spring of 1891 Dr. Banks opened an
office in Port Jervis, and is now one of the most
popular practitioners in this village, having an
extensive and lucrative patronage. He has suc
ceeded admirably in surgery, and has performed
many noted and difficult cures in this community.
The Doctor is a member of the Orange County
Medical Association, and also belongs to the
Bellevue Hospital Alumni Association. He is
the proprietor of a fine drug store at the corner of
West Main and Ferry Streets, where his office is
also located, and carries a full line of druggists'
supplies, making a specialty of filling prescrip
tions. Dr. Banks was married, June 25, 1891, to Miss
Lena C. Hammond, a native of Port Jervis, and a
daughter of William Hammond, whose sketch ap
pears in this volume. She was graduated from
the high school of this village, and also from the
Syracuse University, completing the course there
in 1890. She is a member of the Kappa Kappa
Gamma Society of that institution. One child
has been born to our subject and wife, Harold A.,
whose birth occurred May 10,1892. The parents
are both members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which the Doctor is Steward. Socially
he is an Odd Fellow.

s$&b&

(JOHN GREENE MILLS. Among the schol-
I arly and eminent men who at different periods
(2) of the present century have made their home
in Orange County, none attained greater popu
larity or won the esteem of a larger circle of ac
quaintances than did John G. Mills. His life
was a singularly happy aud fortunate one; be
loved by friends, esteemed by all, he lived amid
the luxurious surroundings adapted to his tastes

924

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and secured through his personal efforts. He
possessed intellectual qualities of a high order,
together with the geniality of disposition that in
variably wins friends.
The life which this article sketches began in
Wallkill Town, Orange County, N. Y., August
30, 1844, aud closed in Washington, D. C. , April
14, 1883. His boyhood years were passed in
Mt. Hope, and at the age of fourteen he accom
panied the other members of the family to Al
bany. He was an exceedingly bright boy, and
at the age of fifteen he was able to write the Lord's
prayer in five different languages. It seemed
perfectly natural for him to master any language.
When only eight years old he began the study of
German, of which he soon acquired a thorough
knowledge. He mastered French, German and
Spanish, besides his academic knowledge of Greek,
Latin and Hebrew. In addition to these lan
guages, he learned Italian and Portugese, and
when he died he was pursuing his studies in
Chinese. At the age of nineteen Mr. Mills graduated
from the Albany Law School, and received his
diploma to practice in the Superior Courts, and
was admitted to the Bar in 1865. After a short
time in Goshen, he went to Washington, D. C,
where he was associated with Col. Robert G. In
gersoll. He became attorney for the New York
State Cider and Cider Vinegar Makers' Associa
tion, and pressed their claims with all of his en
ergy and talent upon Congress, winning sym
pathy and support from many members of that
body. Personally Mr. Mills attracted every one who
came in contact with him. With truth it' may be
said of him that he had no enemies. Men loved
him; women and children considered him a friend.
He was a member of the Anthropological Society,
and was identified with other organizations, so
cial and historical. His death was a personal
loss to his many friends. It was a sudden at
tack of pneumonia, resulting fatally. The fun
eral services were held at the residence of Col. N.
W. Fitzgerald, in Washington, and the oration,
in accordance with the request made by Mr. Mills
during his last illness, was pronounced by Colonel

Ingersoll, who spoke with even more than his
usual eloquence and power. The remains were
then conveyed to Port Jervis, N. Y., where they
were laid to rest. Thus early died one who was
numbered among Washington's most honored
and scholarly citizens.

(JOHN N. SKINNER is a representative of
I one of the honored early families of Orange
Q) County, and now makes his home just out
side the corporation limits of Port Jervis. The
Skinner family on this side of the Atlantic was
established by seven brothers, four of whom lo
cated in Canada, and the others in the United
States, two settling in New York and the other
in New Jersey. From the latter branch our sub
ject is descended.
Daniel Skinner was born in New Jersey, but
later became a resident of Orange County, N. Y.,
where he spent his remaining days. Here he
married Mary Smith, of New York. Their son,
Moses, removed to Canada in 1826, though Feb
ruary 17, 1807, he had married Miss Mary
Archer, in this state. She was of Scotch ances
try, and her parents had located at Red Hook, on
the Hudson. To them were born ten children
who grew to maturity, Nathan being among the
number. His birth occurred in Otisville, Orange
County, September 7, 1816, and by occupation
he became a carriage-maker. He removed to
Canada, but later went to Ohio, where he re
mained until 1839, when he returned to Port Jer
vis and attended school for forty days. In 1840
he wedded Asenath Carpenter, daughter of John
D. Carpenter, whose family were early settlers at
Carpenter's Point, aud who were also descended
from Maj. Johannes Decker, who served in the
Indian Wars. To this worthy couple were born
three children: Martha Ellen, who died at the
age of fourteen months; John N.; and Charles N.,
also deceased.
In 1853 Nathan Skinner retired from business
and three years later purchased a farm on the
east bank ofthe Neversink, adjoining the corpor
ation limits of Port Jervis. For fourteen years

yjjr ¦/&&$ **»

<^fff^ZT~Zz^^ t-< £f7c7~~~^Z^7~^*-^>--2^l__

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

927

he worked at the trade of carriage-making, but
later engaged in farming. He was an ardent Re
publican in political sentiment, but desired no
official preferment, and in religious matters was
an earnest supporter of the Reformed Church.
His death occurred March 1, 1891, at the age of
seventy five years, his loss being deeply mourned.
He was a man who stood high in the community
where he resided and had the confidence of his
neighbors and friends.
John N. Skinner, whose name heads this sketch,
was born June 13, 1844, and is the only surviv
ing member of the family. On the 3d of July,
1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Anne
M. Malven, whose birth occurred in Strouds-
burg, Pa. , and who later removed with her par
ents to Iowa. By this union two children were
born: Charles N., a prominent physician of Port
Jervis; and John M., who was born May 18, 1871,
and who died suddenly of heart disease on the
4th of October, 1893. He had married Katie Van
Etten, a daughter of Mark Van Etten, and with
her two children, Mary Asenath and Anna Van
(twins), born January 5, 1892, she now makes
her home with our subject.

OC*******.fr****j>S|*************X>
30HN T. JOHNSON, President of the Ches
ter National Bank of Chester, is at the head
of the largest institution of this kind in the
county, and is recognized as one of the most ef
ficient and successful business men in this portion
of the state. The institution was organized as the
Bank of Chester in 1846, and in 1865 was chartered
as a national bank. Mr. Johnson acted as Cashier
until 188 1, and on the death of James Burt in
that year he was elected President, which posi
tion he now holds. The enviable reputation en
joyed by the officers is due almost entirely to the
skillful management, cautious judgment and in
defatigable perseverance of its President.
The subject of this sketch was born in the
town of Goshen, this county, in the year 1815,
and was the only child born to John and Orpha
(Tuthill) Johnson. The father was a native of
Newark, N. J., and upon attaining manhood

learned the trade of a saddle and harness maker.
His death occurred when his son was six years
old, after which event he went to live with his
grandfather, then a resident of Chemung Coun
ty. Remaining under his care and guidance
until fifteen years of age, he came to Chester, aud
found employment in the mercantile establish
ment of his uncle, Francis Tuthill. Six years
later we find him clerking for the firm of Town-
send & Kinney at Peru, 111. Some two years
after entering their employ the firm met with
financial reverses, and Mr. Johnson was then
engaged as clerk for Hardin Bigelow, who was
railroad contractor for the Illinois Central Road.
As his business took him away from home a great
deal, young Johnson was intrusted with the man
agement of affairs, which he conducted in a most
satisfactory and highly profitable manner. The
contract for the building of this road was given
by the state, which was at that time unable to
pay its obligations. Through an act of the Legis
lature an order was given to sell the iron on hand
(which had been shipped from England) for
scrip, aud in this manner raise the desired amount
of money. They were delayed in so doing, and,
taking advantage of the proviso under which the
iron had been shipped, viz. , that no duty was to be
paid if used in a certain time, the Government
seized it, and the contractor and his men were
not paid their wages. Mr. Johnson was sent to
Chicago to await the result of a revision of the
duty act, but it availed him nothing. He then
returned to Peru, 111., where he was engaged
with Isaac and Nat Abrahams, and made that
place his home for a time.
In the year 1843 Mr. Johnson again came to
Chester, and was at once taken into the employ
of his uncle, then in the mercantile business.
The latter very soon retired from active work,
and placed the business with his three nephews,
onr subject being one of the number. Mr. Tut
hill had been instrumental in the organization of
the Chester Bank, and five years after, in 185 1,
Mr. Johnson was chosen Cashier, and has been
connected with the institution ever since. In 1865
it was re-organized and chartered as a national
bank, our subject being elected its President, and

928

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from that time until the present he has been at
its head. He is a capable, energetic and popu
lar business man, and has gained success by his
unaided energy and business ability.
Mr. Johnson has never joined the army of ben
edicts and still lives in single blessedness. He is
one of the most influential members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, iu which he holds
the office of Trustee. Ever since the Civil War
he has affiliated with the Republican party, be
ing a stanch supporter of its principles and can
didates. In every walk in life he has shown
himself to be thoroughly trustworthy and honor
able, and by the exercise of these qualities has
won a high place in the esteem of a large circle
of friends and acquaintances.

-"""""""]

^^

e_

**=B~

RICHARD HALLOCK. Some one has said,
"It is not difficult to write a biography; the
greater difficulty is to live a life worth writ
ing. ' ' No resident of the town of Greenville is
more worthy of representation in this volume
than the late Richard Hallock, a well known
farmer. His life was spent in usefulness, his la
bors not expended for himself alone, but for the
benefit of those among whom his lot was cast,
and in whose welfare he was deeply interested.
He had one of those noble natures which win re
spect from every acquaintance and retain the deep
esteem of all who come to know the possessor
well. The farm in the town of Greenville where Mr.
Hallock was born May 5, 1805, was also the
scene of his death nearly ninety years later, March
8, 1895. His father, Richard Hallock, Sr. , was
born on Long Island, and toward the close of the
eighteenth century came to Orange County, where
he cleared a farm in the town of Greenville. The
history of the family in this country is traced
back to Peter Hallock, who came from England
and settled on Long Island in 1640.
In early manhood our subject taught a few
terms of school, but with that exception he made
agriculture his life occupation. November 8,
1834, he married Miss Catherine Manning, who

was born August 8, 1806, and died September
30, 1848, leaving four children, namely: Emily
A., wife of A. R. Vail, of Sussex County, N. J.;
Charlotte, Mrs. Asa J. Ogden, who lives on the
old homestead; Hannah, who married A. B.
Moore, and also resides on the home farm; and
Abbie, widow of Andrew Weed, of Paterson
N. J. The second wife of our subject was Sarah
Blizzard, of the town of Greenville, who was born
January 4, 18 16, and died November 1, 1884.
At her death she left three children, namely: John
W. , a farmer of this town; Richard E., who is
also engaged in agricultural pursuits in this coun
ty; and Jane, who is unmarried and resides on
the old homestead.
An active worker in local politics, Mr. Hallock
always favored Republican principles, and upon
that ticket he was elected to a number of town of
fices, including that of Supervisor. He was a
steady, reliable man, one who never betrayed a
trust, and who at all times and on all occasions
was found to be a careful and ready helper by
those needing assistance, and his neighbors who
consulted him in regard to personal matters found
him a safe counselor, as he was discriminating
and just in his judgments. At his death he left
a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, com
prising the homestead that has been in possession
of members of the family for a hundred years.
Here his daughter, Mrs. Charlotte Ogden, now
lives, directing the affairs of the household in a
systematic manner and maintaining the high class
of improvements for which the farm has always
been noted.

0ANIEL MULOCK. When fourteen years
of age, the subject of this sketch was given
by his father a farm in the town of Mt.
Hope, and at once came hither, settling upon the
place where, with the exception of a few years, he
spent the remainder of his busy life. He was a
man of force and decision of purpose, one whose
integrity was unquestioned and his name above
reproach. When he died it was felt that the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

929

town had sustained a loss, for he had ever advo
cated and supported those measures calculated to
further the progress ofthe community.
The birth of Mr. Mulock occurred in the town
of Mt. Hope, February 28, 18 13. His father
owned several farms, and when Daniel was a lad
of fourteen he was left to run one of them. He
immediately commenced the cultivation of the
one hundred and fifty acres comprising the estate,
and for a time "bached," working on the farm in
the summer and attending the district school dur
ing the winter months. In 1845 he bought this
farm from his father, and here his death occurred.
In 1838 he was united in marriage with Miss
Cynthia Mulock, a native of the town of Green
ville, and a lady whose kindness of heart is recog
nized by all her acquaintances.
The entire life of Mr. Mulock was passed on
his farm in this town, with the exception of some
six or seven years, during which time he made
his home in Middletown. He built there a ma
chine-shop and foundry, which, on his return to
the farm, he turned over to his eldest son. In
addition to his other interests he also operated a
distillery and cider-mill near his home for about
forty years. He was a great lover of horses and
always had the best and fastest horses of any in
this vicinity. He imported stock from Canada
and greatly improved the breed throughout Or
ange County. Having considerable natural abil
ity as a machinist, he devoted more or less at
tention to that trade throughout his active life.
His was a useful, happy, honored life, and in
death he was mourned by many. He passed
from earth December 26, 1887, and was buried in
Mt. Hope Cemetery. He was a man of broad
knowledge, well informed concerning public af
fairs, and a supporter ofthe Republican party.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Mulock consisted
of nine children, concerning whom we note the
following: Charles was proprietor of a foundry
at Middletown until his death; Abbie is the wife
of Jacob Gumaer, of Ovid, Mich.; Fannie resides
with her mother on the old homestead; Justus is
deceased; Samuel J., a farmer by occupation, re
sides in California; Mary is the widow of George
A. Wood, of Florence, Colo.; David died, leaving

a son, who at present is residing with his grand
mother; Ada is the wife of W. E. Johnson, Presi
dent of the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad,
in Colorado; and Chauncey, who is the youngest
of the family, married Laura Policy, ofthe town
of Greenville, and they reside on the home farm,
which he rents. He is a young man of more than
ordinary business ability and is meeting with suc
cess in his undertakings.

+=

--*?-

REUBEN G. BIRDSALL, a farmer resid
ing near Highland Mills, was born near that
village, September 29, 1840, and is the sou
of William and Catherine (Gurnee) Birdsall.
They resided for many years on a farm, where
almost their entire family was born. Micajah
Birdsall, the father of William, was the first
owner ofthe land. By profession he was a school
teacher, but usually followed farming for a live
lihood. The subject of this sketch was reared in his
native town and attended the common schools of
Highland Mills until about nineteen years of age.
When twenty-two years old he began in business
for himself as a butcher, at the same time deal
ing in butter, eggs and country produce. After
following the meat business for seven years, he
purchased the old homestead where he was born,
and where he has since continued to reside. On
his farm, which consists of sixty acres of tillable
land, he engages in general farming, giving the
greater share of his attention, however, to raising
fruit and vegetables. He was married, December
14, 1870, at Central Valley, to Miss Christina
Thorn, who was born in that place, and who is a
daughter of Henry and Christina (Campbell)
Thorn, natives of Orange County and Scotland,
respectively. Henry Thorn, who was the son of
David Thorn, became the father of seven chil
dren, of whom five survive: Mary Ellen, now
deceased; David, living on the old homestead;
Christina, the wife of our subject; Henry, de
ceased; Belle, the wife of Samuel Emsley, of

93o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Cornwall; Lizzie, who married Floyd Mailer, of
Cornwall; and Emma, the wife of Reuben Lanard,
of Central Valley.
Reuben G. and Christina Birdsall became the
parents of three children: George R., now resid
ing in Cornwall; Christina, who died in infancy;
and Isabel T. Both Mr. and Mrs. Birdsall are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of
Central Valley, of which he is Trustee. In pol
itics he is a Republican. He is a man highly
respected in the commuity where he has so long
resided, aud has served his fellow-citizens in the
capacity of Town Collector.

30HN L. McKINNEY. The business inter
ests of Pine Bush have a successful repre
sentative in the subject of this sketch, a mem
ber of the firm of Armstrong & McKinney, who
conduct a large and profitable trade here as deal
ers in general merchandise, ready-made clothing,
and drugs. Mr. McKinney began business with
very limited capital, but by resolution and an in
domitable will, combined with unvarying indus
try and judicious management, he has won his
way to a position of assured success, and enjoys
the confidence of the people, among whom he has
transacted business in a thoroughly honorable
manner for a number of years.
The history of the McKinney family dates back
to about 1740, when Arthur McKinney emigrated
from Scotland and settled near Walden, in Orange
County, where he established his permanent
home. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary
War aud a successful business man, but little else
is known concerning his history. The homestead,
which is now owned by a brother of our subject,
has been the birthplace of five generations of that
name, and is one of the oldest farms in the county.
Our subject's grandfather, who was born on
this farm, served in the War of 1812, and died at
the age of seventy-three. The father, Luthei
McKinney, was also born on the home farm in
the town of Crawford, the date of his birth being

June 25, 1816. There he spent the greater part
of his life, and there, at the age of threescore years
and ten, his eyes were closed upon the scenes of
earth. He was a man of quiet but genial dispo
sition, earnest in his support of the right, and
popular among his circle of acquaintances.
Maria Morrison, as the mother of our subject
was known in maidenhood, was born in the town
of New Windsor, December 5, 181 1, and is still
living, her home being in Pine Bush. Notwith
standing her advanced age (eighty-four), she is
vigorous and well preserved, and retains the full
possession of her mental faculties. Her parents
were born in this county, and her father partici
pated in the War of 18 12. By her marriage she
became the mother of five children besides the
subject of this sketch, who was the youngest of
the family. The eldest child, Mary A. , became the
wife of Jonathan Falconer, a farmer of the town
of Crawford; William S. died when twenty-six
years old; George A. is engaged in business in New
York City; Anna K. is a resident of Orange
County; and Henry J., a retired farmer living in
Pine Bush, is the owner of the old homestead in
the town of Crawford that has been in the posses
sion of some member of the family for five gener
ations. Born March 6, 1856, our subject was reared on
the home farm, where he remained until twenty -
seven years of age. His education was com
menced in the common schools and completed in
Prof. S. H. Banks' private school in Newburgh.
At the time of his marriage he rented a farm in
the town of Crawford, where he engaged as a
tiller of the soil for about a year. Later he clerked
in a grocery store in New York for two years and
then came to Pine Bush, where he has since re
sided. For five years he carried on a profitable
milling business, and in 1891 he formed a part
nership with Mr. Armstrong in a general mer
cantile business, which he has since conducted.
The first marriage of Mr. KcKinney was in
October, 1882, when Miss Minnie Rhinehart, of
Burlingham, N. Y. , became his wife. This lady
died in February, 1884, leaving a son, J. Morri
son, who was born January 12, 1884. The pres
ent wife of Mr. McKinney, with whom he was

CLARENCE ORMSBEE, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

933

united in September, 1887, was Miss Mariana
Decker, of Bruynswick, Ulster County, N. Y.
Their union has been blessed by the birth of a son,
Howard D. , and a daughter, Marion. In polit
ical views Mr. McKinney is a firm advocate of
Republican principles. Identified with the United
Presbyterian Church, he has served as au Elder
for ten years, and his father held the same posi
tion for a period of forty years.

¦MV^Ppfc^^^^^^B

f I ' I ' -*—«¦« <¦

ELARENCE ORMSBEE, M. D., is the only
physician of the town of Newburgh, where
he has made his home since 1866. At pres
ent he is one of the examining surgeons on the
Pension Board of the counties of Orange and
Rockland, having been appointed by the Commis
sioner on Pensions of the United States. He has
been very successful iu his chosen field of labor
and is favorably known throughout the surround
ing country.
Nathaniel Ormsbee, the Doctor's father, was
born in Ashland, Greene County, N. Y., being
a son of Solomon Ormsbee, who was of English
descent, and who was born in the Green Mountain
State. Nathaniel Ormsbee chose as his partner
in life Miss Lucinda Buel, by whom he had a fam
ily of ten children, as follows: Albert, who is an
Episcopal minister at Monroe; Clarence; Frank
lin, an attorney-at-law in Madalin, Dutchess
County: Daniel, engaged in a real-estate and con
tracting business at Matteawan; Nathaniel, de
ceased, and twin brother of Daniel; Addison, who
is engaged in merchandising in Matteawan; Lucy,
who died in infancy; Laban A., Cashier of the
Savings Bank of Matteawan; Howard, who is
proprietor of a grocery at Matteawan; and Su-
sette. The father was Sheriff of Greene County
for one term and held many other public positions.
He was born March 10, 181 1, and died in 1880,
his wife surviving him about six years.
Dr. Clarence Ormsbee was born in Ashland,
Greene County, August 25, 1839, and in his boy
hood divided his time between work on the farm
aud play. He obtained a public-school educa
tion, and was about eighteen years of age when he

entered the academy at Ashland. After two
terms spent in that institution he taught school
for three terms. Then, being desirous of learn
ing the medical profession, he went to Burlington,
Vt. , and took one course of lectures in the medi
cal college there. The following winter he be
came a student in the office of Dr. Strong, at Sar
atoga, and continued with him about a year. In
1865 he was graduated from the medical depart
ment of the New York University and located at
Dwaar Kill, Ulster County, N. Y., where he
conducted a family practice for a year. Then for
a few months he was located in the village of
Pine Bush, this county, and in 1866 removed to
his present home.
In 1867 Dr. Ormsbee married Elizabeth Craw
ford, by whom he has had two children, a son
and daughter. Addison C, an attorney-at-law,
is a young man of promise, and is now numbered
among the rising members of the legal profession
in Newburgh. Lucy, the daughter, is still living
at home with her parents. The Doctor is a mem
ber of the Orange County Medical Society, and
in political matters deposits his ballot in favor of
the principles and candidates of the Democratic
party. Mrs. Ormsbee is a member of one of the oldest
and most prominent families of Orange County.
Her father, John Addison Crawford, was a well
known citizen and very successful business man
of this county, the town of Crawford being named
in honor of the family.

¦m*

^JEORGE W. CAMPBELL, of Highland
_ Mills, was born February 22, 1849, about
J one mile west of this village, and as the date
of his birth was the anniversary of the birth of
George Washington, he was named in honor of
that famous General and President. He is a son
of Archibald and Mary (Weygant) Campbell,
concerning whom mention is made in the sketch
of James W. Campbell, on another page of this
volume. His brother, William H., enlisted in
the Union army under Col. Charles Weygant,

934

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and served as a member of the illustrious One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, usually
known as the "Orange Blossoms."
When our subject was a lad of twelve years
his father moved from the farm where he had
spent a quarter of a century and settled in High
land Mills, purchasing a residence near the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Prior to that time
George W. had been a student in the Bakertowii
schools, and afterward he attended those of High-
laud Mills, devoting the winter seasons to study
until he was twenty-five. In 1874 he went to
Kansas and took up a claim on the old Govern
ment trail, between Lamed and Hays City, and
there he remained one year, meantime traveling
over the western portion of the state, and locating
claims as claim agent.
On his return to New York, Mr. Campbell
began teaching school, and this profession he
followed for fifteen years, after which he married
and commenced the supervision of his wife's
farm of thirty acres. He makes a specialty of
the dairy and poultry business, in which lines he
has met with success. Politically he is a Repub
lican, and served as Collector for the town of
Monroe before its division. In his fraternal
connections he is a member of Central Valley
Lodge No. 502, I. O. O. F. With his wife he
holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Highland Mills, in which he is serving
as Steward.
In his present residence, October 16, 1890, Mr.
Campbell was united in marriage with Miss
Phcebe Earl, who was born on the old Earl
homestead, March 11, 1863. She is one of three
sisters, the others being America B., wife of
C. E. Merritt; and Georgia J., Mrs. George W.
Brooks. Her paternal grandparents were Elam
and Eunice (Clark) Earl, concerning whom men
tion is made in the sketch of Moses Clark, else
where presented. Her father, Peter Earl, was
born May 19, 1830, and died October 18, 1881.
He made agriculture his life work, and owned a
large part of the Schunnemuuk Mountain, known
as the Benton Brooks tract, upon which he spent
many a day iu hunting the game that abounded
there. His marriage united him with Hannah

Conklin, who was born October 10, 1834, being
a daughter of John and Susan (Bennett) Conklin.
She survived him some ten years, and passed
from earth April 22, 1891, when fifty-six years
of age.

30HN B. SLAWSON. There are few farms
in the town of Wallkill that are more finely
improved than the one owned and occupied
by the subject of this notice. It consists of one
hundred and eleven acres, divided by neat fences
into fields and pastures of convenient size, and
embellished with substantial and modern build
ings, including a cosey residence of modern design
of architecture. While Mr. Slawson has given
a large portion of his time to the supervision of
this estate, he has also had other interests. For
the past twenty-seven years he has been engaged
in the milk business in New York City, supply
ing his customers there with milk purchased in
Orange County.
The parents of our subject, Joseph and Rosetta
(Sayer) Slawson, were natives of this county,
with the agricultural interests of which the fa
ther was identified for many years. A man of
quiet, unpretentious disposition, he never mingled
actively in public affairs, giving his time to the
development of his private interests. He died in
1864, and his wife, who survived him for a num
ber of years, passed away in 1887. Our subject
was born in this county, December 3, 1836, and
in boyhood attended the district schools and Den
ton Academy, gaining the foundation of the
knowledge which he afterwards acquired through
self-culture. When fifteen years of age our subject went to
New Orleans, and there made his home with his
uncle, John B. Slawson, for whom he had been
named, and with whom he continued to reside
until 1867. His uncle was largely interested in
street-railway work, and in the winter of 1860-
61 built thirty-two miles of line in New Orleans.
Subsequently he became interested iu New York

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

street railways, and built several of the principal
lines in that city. His death occurred in Feb
ruary, 1886.
Iu 1880 our subject married Miss Anna, daugh
ter of John and Hannah (Bailey) Ryerson, old
and respected citizens of this county. Two chil
dren bless their union, John R. and Alice May,
both now attending the district school. Mr. and
Mrs. Slawson are popular in social circles, and
are attendants at the Presbyterian Church of
Goshen. While he has never aspired to official
distinction, he has firm convictions on political
questions, and advocates the measures of the
Democratic party, supporting its candidates in
local and general elections.

JAMES HAZEL JOHNSTON. A position
of influence among the residents of Orange
County is held by this gentleman, who is
classed among the successful farmers of the town
of Crawford. He is a native of this locality, hav
ing been born in Pine Bush, January 7, 1820.
His parents, Michael and Mary (Van Keuren)
Johnston, had a family of eleven children, of
whom he was the ninth. Of this large household
all are deceased with the exception of James H.
and his two sisters: Keziah, now the widow of
William Van Keuren, of Jersey City, N. J.; and
Christina, the widow of Jasper Van Keuren, who
resides in Walden, this county.
The father of the above family was born in Ire
land, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and
where he continued to make his home until he
reached young manhood, when he came to Amer
ica. About 1823, when in middle life, he passed
away. In New York he married Miss Van Keu
ren, who was bom in Ulster County, and who
died about 1870, when in her eighty-fourth year.
Her parents were natives of Germany, and after
coming to the United States, during the Revolu
tionary War, Mr. Van Keuren was made mail-
carrier. The subject of this sketch remained at home
until about eleven years of age, when he was
obliged to look out for himself. At that early age

935

he found work on a neighboring farm, and for
five years worked for his board and clothing. At
the end of that time he was considered a "full
hand," and obtained employment by the month
during the summer season. The winters he spent
at home and attended school until twenty-six
years of age. Mr. Johnston was then married,
and until 1872 operated rented property with suc
cess. That year he was enabled to purchase laud,
becoming the possessor of the estate which he
still occupies.
February 26, 1846, Mr. Johnston aud Miss
Catherine McGroty were united in marriage.
The lady was also a native of Ireland, and by her
union with our subject has become the mother of
three children, namely: William H., a resident
of Kalamazoo, Mich.; Mary Jane, the wife of
William N. Van Keuren; a farmer of Ulster Coun
ty; and Michael, who is at home, and who aids
in the management of the farm. The place, which
lies one mile from Pine Bush, contains one hun
dred and twenty-four acres, and stands as a mon
ument to his industry and good judgment. Mr.
Johnston has never desired office, but has been
content to use his influence in a quiet way by
voting with the Democratic party. He is a mem
ber of the Dutch Reformed Church, and tries to
carry out the teachings of the Divine Master in
his daily life, making all who know him respect
him for the faith which he so earnestly upholds.

-4— »  •>HK®(®)®>«<«  *-"*"-

'HOMAS and JOHN MARSH, prosperous
millers of Phillipsburg, of the town of Wall-
kill, were born in England, the former No
vember 6, 1837, the latter May 8, 1840, being
the sons of Thomas and Susanna (Martin) Marsh.
Their father, who was a man of energy, integrity
and perseverance, was engaged as a miller in
England, and followed that occupation through
out the entire period of his residence in his native
land. Believing, however, that America offered
greater opportunities for him and his children, he
resolved to come hither, and in 1854, accompanied

936

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

by his family, he crossed the ocean and settled at
Yonkers, N. Y. , where for two years he was en
gaged in the milling business.
In 1856 the senior Mr. Marsh brought his fam
ily to Orange County and settled on the Wallkill
River, where he took charge of a mill known as
the Dr. Phillip's Mill. He remained there, suc
cessfully engaged in conducting the mill, until his
death, which occurred August 6, 1886. His wife
had died some years before, her death having oc
curred in 1870. At the time of the death of the
father, our subjects, who for several years pre
vious had superintended the mill, continued its
management until 1892, when they dissolved
partnership, Thomas acquiring the property,
which he now rents. They and their only sister,
Emily, live together, none of them having ever
taken a helpmate. They are earnest members of
the Episcopal Church, and are highly respected
by all who know them. Politically the brothers
have never been active, preferring to give their
attention to personal matters, but they are loyal
citizens of our Government, and interested in
everything pertaining to the welfare of the peo
ple. Thomas Marsh is the owner of a park adjoin
ing Midway Park, a popular resort between Go
shen and Middletown. This park is on the line
of the trolley and is equipped in modern style.
It contains over seven acres and is shaded by a
beautiful growth of native trees, making it one of
the prettiest spots for miles around. It is becom
ing known for its many attractions, and will un
doubtedly soon be one of the attractions of this
locality.

^C^

WILLIAM J. VAN WORMER, who holds
the position of General Yardmaster of the
Erie Road at Port Jervis, occupies a beau
tiful residence in this village, located at No. 37
Hudson Street. He is a native of this state, hav
ing been born at Binghamton, April 9, 1842, and
his parents were James and Maria (Youngs)
Van Wormer, the former of whom was born in
Holland. He came to America when a young
man, settling at first in Albany County, N. Y.

In his native land he had learned the trade of a
blacksmith, and for some years after coming
hither followed it with success. Later, how
ever, he abandoned it in order to engage in farm
ing, owning a good estate within eight miles of
Binghamton. On this he passed the remainder
of his life, dying when past eighty-two years.
His wife died two years previously, when in her
eightieth year.
To James and Maria Van Wormer there were
born nine children, five of whom came to Port
Jervis, and at one time were in the employ ofthe
Erie Railroad Company. They were Youngs,
Aaron C. , Azariah R., George and Addison, the
latter ofwhom is deceased. The first-named was
a conductor on the Delaware Division for many
years, his run being from New York to Elmira,
and his service with the Erie Road extended over
a period of thirty years, his headquarters being
at Port Jervis. About 1877, however, he became
proprietor of the Delaware House, iu connection
with our subject, and this they conducted for
about twelve months, when Youngs removed to
Binghamton, where his death occurred several
years later, when sixty-two years of age. Aaron
C. was engaged as engineer on the Delaware
Division until 1880, being an employe of this'
company for a period of twenty years. He after
wards went to Scranton as engineer on the Erie
& Wyoming Road, and there died in 1891, aged
sixty-one years. Azariah R. at present holds the
position of engineer on the Erie Road, with which
he has been connected more or less since 1854,
with the exception of ten years, when in the em
ploy of the Williamsport & Elmira Railroad Com
pany. He, too, makes his home in Port Jervis.
George became a conductor for the Erie Road in
1863, and after four or five years was made Gen
eral Yardmaster of the road at Susquehanna,
holding this position for fourteen years. On the
completion of the West Shore Road to Albany,
he was made conductor, and he and his brother
were among the first employed after the road was
opened. After holding this position for eight
successive years, George resigned and retired to a
farm which he owned in Broome County, N. Y.,
where he is still living.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

937

The boyhood days of our subject were passed
at Binghamton, and upon attaining his majority
he left home and became brakeman on the Dela
ware Division of the Erie Road, coming to Port
Jervis January 12, 1862. After working nine
months in this capacity, he was promoted to be
extra conductor, and a year later was given a
regular run on a stock train. This he continued
to run for about four or five years, when he be
came passenger conductor on the day express,
running from Port Jervis to Owego. June 4,
1884, however, he went to Albany, and took the
first train over the West Shore Road, which left
Newburgh at 7:25 A. M., June 4, and ran into
the Pennsylvania depot at New York City.
Our subject ran the train which carried Presi
dent Cleveland from Albany to New York City
in March, 1888. They pulled out of the depot at
Albany in the night time in order to keep the
knowledge of Mr. Cleveland's departure a secret.
General Superintendent Bradley, of the West
Shore Road, was on the train and ordered Mr.
Van Wormer not to stop at Kingston. They
were obliged, however, to slow up, and the crowd
that had gathered there cheered them as they
passed. Our subject remained with the West
Shore Road for five years, and he looks back with
pleasure to that time as being one of the pleas-
antest experiences of his life. He was conductor
of the finest train on the road, the "Saratoga,"
and was always designated to run the specials
for Vanderbilt, who bought the road while he
was in its employ.
October 18, 1887, our subject accepted the pos
ition of General Yardmaster of the Erie Road at
Port Jervis, which he has filled ever since. He
has under his charge one hundred and twenty-
three men, and by his long experience as a rail
road man he is thoroughly qualified to hold this
responsible position, to which he gives his entire
time and attention. During the thirty years in
which he has been on the road, he has never lost
more than thirty days, a record which very few
men make. He never had any serious accident
happen to his train while on the road, nor was
there ever a passenger killed or seriously injured.
Hugh Riddle, late President of the Chicago,

Rock Island & Pacific Road, was Superintend
ent when Mr Van Wormer began his career as a
railroad man.
The subject of this sketch was married, De
cember 27, 1867, to Miss Ophelia, daughter of
Benjamin and Caroline (McNish) Quick. Her
father was conductor on the Erie Road for about
twenty years, and died while in the service of the
company at Port Jervis. To Mr. and Mrs. Van
Wormer there have been born two daughters:
Caroline, at home; and Jessie, now Mrs. Adel
Moore, of Scranton, Pa. Mrs. Van Wormer is a
member of the Presbyterian Church. Socially he
is a charter member of Lodge No. 102, American
Legion of Honor, and in politics is a stanch sup
porter of Republican principles. He always takes
a prominent part in local affairs, for a number of
years has rendered efficient service as a member
of the Board of Health, and is now serving as
Alderman.

NARLAN P. HALL, a farmer ofthe town of
Wawayanda, was born here April 19, 1842,
and is a son of Richard and Eliza (Schultz)
Hall, who were the parents of two children. After
the death of the mother, the father married Sarah
Courtwright, and by that union were born five
children. Our subject was born and reared on a
farm, and received such advantages as are usual
to the average country boy. He began life for
himself when thirteen years old, working on
neighboring farms by the month.
During the second year of the war Mr. Hall en
listed as a private in Company D, One Hundred
and Fifth Ohio Volunteers, the date of his enlist
ment being August 8, 1862. He was mustered
into the service at Cleveland, Ohio, though his
first engagement was at Richmond, Ky., and he
was subsequently in the siege of Louisville and
the battle of Perryville. The regiment was on
guard duty the greater part of the time in Ken
tucky and the Carolinas. He was mustered out
of the service at the close of the war, and then
returned to New York State. In connection with

938

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Dr. Webb, he was in the mercantile trade at Ridge
bury for about six years, and then engaged in
farming. In 1878 he removed to his present place
of residence, where he devotes much of his atten
tion to fruit culture, though he also engages in
general farming. Besides his other interests he
has a saw and grist mill, which he actively oper
ates. September 29, 1868, Mr. Hall was united in
marriage with Sarah S. Crane, a daughter of
Horace and Maria (Lusk) Crane, natives of Or
ange County, but who at the time of the mar
riage of their daughter were living in Ridgebury.
Both are now deceased, the mother dying in 1876,
and the father in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Hall be
came the parents of four children: Jessie Stewart,
who died at the age of eight months; and Horace
Crane, Jessie Louise and Margaret Coleman, at
home with their parents. Politically Mr. Hall is
a Republican, and is also an active member of the
Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Masonic
order. Religiously he is identified by member
ship with the Presbyterian Church.
2  .  y-S^L.**^********'--.  a
•pGJlLLlAM A. McINNES, a general farmer
\ A / of the town of Wallkill, was born here
YV April 20, 1848, his parents being Daniel
and Myra (Jackson) Mclnnes, also natives of this
county. His father, who was an industrious
farmer, remained upon his homestead until his
death in 1889, at the age of eighty-eight years;
the wife and mother had died many years prior
to his demise. William A. received a practical
common-school education at Mechanicstown and
Phillipsburg, and remained with his parents on
the home farm until twenty years of age, after
which he began an apprenticeship to the painter's
trade. Eleven years were spent at this calling,
and he then engaged in farming for one year.
Later he went to Middletown, where for eighteen
years he carried on a large trade as a butcher.
On retiring from that business, Mr. Mcliines
in 1893 purchased and settled upon the well im
proved and valuable farm formerly owned by
William C. Doyle. Here he has one hundred

and seven acres of land, divided into fields and
pastures of convenient size, and containing all
the buildings necessary for the proper manage
ment of the place. In all his labors he has the
co-operation of his excellent wife, with whom he
was united in marriage in 1867. She was Miss
Sarah Brundge, and was born in this county,
where her father, William Brundge, was a farm
er. There are two sons in the family, the elder
ofwhom, Harry, is at home, and the younger,
Edward E., is engaged in railroading.
Fraternally Mr. Mclnnes is a member of the
Order of Knights of Pythias, and is also identi
fied with the Royal Templars of Temperance.
He and his wife are adherents of the Methodist
Church. In politics he is independent, and casts
his ballot for the candidate whom he considers
most worthy, deeming character a more vital
requisite than the advocacy of certain political
tenets.

Gz

4sM

(5=

A^m

-o

mn

=e)

VVlARTlN D. GRAHAM, one of the wide-
Y awake and enterprising citizens of Port
(^ Jervis, is a native of the Keystone State,
born at Painter's Brook, near the village of Sho-
hola, Pike County, on the 19th of October, 1822,
and is a son of John L- and Maria (Dietrich)
Graham. His father was a native of Marietta,
Ohio, and a son of John Graham, who came to
this country from Scotland and settled in Ohio at
an early date. The Dietrich family was origin
ally from Holland, and was founded in this coun
try by the grandfather of Mrs. Graham, who lo
cated in Pennsylvania.
Martin D. Graham remained upon the home
farm until he had reached the age of twenty years,
when he started a grocery store on the Delaware
& Hudson Canal, about sixteen miles from the
old homestead. This he conducted for nineteen
years, or until 1861, when he came to Port Jer
vis and built the Graham House on Front Street,
which he carried on for six years, but which is
now known as the Commercial House. In 1866
he sold out and opened a store on Pike Street,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

939

opposite the Opera House, where Anderson's
drug store now stands. There he erected a block
three stories in height, with a fifty-one- foot
frontage on Pike Street, and with a depth of
seventy feet. There he conducted a general store
for four years, though he still owns the building.
Mr. Graham has extensive real-estate interests
in this city, owning on Hammond Street, back of
the Opera House, a block one hundred feet front,
which is divided into five dwellings, and also a
double house on Sussex Street. In 1890 he also
erected a block on Jersey Avenue, sixty-six feet
front, two stories in height, arranged for four
stores below and dwellings above. On West Main
Street he has a six-apartment building near the
canal, and also a two-story block on Ball Street,
opposite the First National Bank. The latter,
which he erected himself, has fifty-eight feet
front, being divided into three storerooms. On
the same street he has a tenement-house two
stories in height, containing four apartments. He
also deals extensively in vacant property in Port
Jervis, and has two fine valley farms in Sussex
County, N. J., about a mile from the village, one
comprising two hundred and twenty acres, and
the other fifty-four acres. These he rents. In
Pennsylvania property he has also dealt to some
extent, and is interested in the Port Jeivis &
Monticello Railroad.
On the 3d of January, 1844, Mr. Graham was
united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane Ridge-
way, who was born in Milford, Pike County, Pa.,
February 25, 1823, and is a daughter of Charles
B. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Ridgeway. Her fa
ther was Justice of the Peace for many years
in Pennsylvania. Her maternal grandfather,
Thomas J. Barnes, was the founder of the family
in the United States, and was an Englishman by
birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham have been
born five daughters. Mary Ellen is Mrs. Howard
Marvin, of Port Jervis. Florence, now Mrs. Peter
Witshchief, lives with her parents and has two
children: Graham Witshchief, who graduated from
the high schools of Port Jervis and the Albany
Law School, and is a student in Judge Howell's
law office; and Sarah Gertrude Witshchief, who
graduated from Vassar College in the Class of

'95- Blanche is the wife of John Lester, of Ham
ilton, Canada. Grace, who is the wife of Irving
Ellston, makes her home in Port Jervis. Anna,
who completes the family, married William H.
Dafoe, an expert accountant, and they now make
their home in Chicago, 111.
Mr. Graham affiliates with the Democracy, but
takes no active part in politics. He is not con
nected with any religious organization, but his
wife holds membership with the Presbyterian
Church. They now reside at their beautiful and
commodious home at No. 72 East Main Street,
where they entertain their many friends, and are
surrounded with all the comforts and many ofthe
luxuries of life. Mr. Graham is a man of large
physique, in manner courteous and gentlemanly,
and is held in the highest respect throughout the
community.

-&.

EHARLES W. HOYT was born in 1856 upon
the farm in the town of Wallkill which he
still owns. Since attaining manhood he has
been engaged in business for himself as a general
farmer, and his landed possessions now include
some one hundred and fifty acres of highly im
proved land. In the management of his interests
he has displayed excellent judgment and good
business talent, and has placed his farm in the
best possible shape, its substantial buildings and
other valuable improvements showing his thrift
and industry. Especially noticeable is his barn,
a model structure of its kind, 36x120 feet in di
mensions, with basement; it has commodious
quarters for the storage of grain, and also has a
capacity for thirty-six head of cattle.
The parents of our subject, Samuel D. and
Ruth (Reeves) Hoyt, were born in this county,
where the father spent his time principally in ag
ricultural pursuits, although for four years he
conducted a hotel at Fair Oaks, also one at How
ells. He died April 22, 1895, having for thirty
years survived his wife, who died in 1865, at the
time her son, Charles W. , was only nine years of
age. Our subject gained the rudiments of his
education in the public school, after which he at-

940

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tended a private school at Middletown. Reared
upon a farm, agriculture has been his main occu
pation in life, and of this calling he has made a
success. When ready to establish a home of his own,
Charles W. Hoyt was united in marriage, in 1881,
with Miss Sarah F. Carpenter, daughter of Joel
and Arminda (Godfrey) Carpenter, the former a
native of Orange, the latter of Sullivan County,
this state. Two children bless this union, named,
respectively, Lillie M. and Harold W. In his
fraternal relations Mr. Hoyt is actively identified
with Lancelot Lodge No. 169, K. of P. He pos
sesses sound common -sense, a marked faculty for
practical work, and these attributes, together with
his financial sagacity, have enabled him to lay
the foundation of solid and substantial prosperity.
His reputation for honesty and general integrity
is good, and he stands well with his neighbors.
In politics he has allied himself with the Demo
cratic party.

¦ f-SM|fc

("VjAMUEL J. MASTERSON, the well known
?\ merchant of Howells, was born in Mt. Sa-
\~) lem, Sussex County, N. J., July 27, 1843,
being a son of Zelotes G. and Jane (Hoyt) Mas
terson. His father, who spent his entire life in
New Jersey, was engaged in general farming,
and took an active interest in religious and
benevolent enterprises. He died in that state in
1847, when our subject was only four years of
age. The wife and mother, who was born in the
town of Wallkill, died February 12, i860. Both
the Masterson and the Hoyt families originally
came from Holland, but have been represented
in this country for several generations. The
paternal grandparents of our subject were Sam
uel and Sarah Masterson, natives of New Jersey.
On account of his father's death our subject
was obliged, at an early age, to assume the man
agement of the home farm for his mother, and in
that way there were developed in his character
traits of self-reliance and independent thought.
In 1855 he accompanied an uncle to Illinois,
where he remained until 1859, and then returned

to his native home. When a young man he
learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he fol
lowed to some extent. In 1865 he opened a mer
cantile store at Howells, and since then has en
gaged in merchandising most of the time. He
has also had a large trade in the buggy and
wagon manufacturing business, which he still
follows. March 23, 187 1, Mr. Masterson married Miss
Julia A., daughter of Charles and Julia A. Gil
lett, of this county. Four children comprised
their family, but Janie May and Homer are the
only survivors. Wilbur J., the eldest son and a
young man of business ability, was engaged in
merchandising in this county until his death, Oc
tober 15, 1894. George E. is also deceased. Mr.
Masterson is a member of Middletown Lodge
No. 112, I. O. O. F., and politically affiliates
with the Democratic party.

RMfilLLIAM H. HOLDEN is the proprietor of
\ A / the glove and mitten factory at Mechanics-
V V town, which by his enterprise and system
atic management has become one of the import
ant industries of the county. He was born in
Montgomery County, this state, in 1859, and isa
son of Henry and Maria M. (Plank) Holden,
both natives of this state, and at present residents
of Gloversville, Fulton County. The father is
still actively engaged in business, and holds the
position of finisher of glove-leather, having al
ways devoted especial attention to that industry.
The common schools of Mechanicstown afford
ed our subject his primary educational advantages,
and afterward he received instruction from a pri
vate tutor at this place. Early becoming familiar
with the process of glove-making, he has made
this his life occupation, and in it he has gained
success. In 1890 he established his present bus
iness, and the industry is a valuable one in the
county and to the citizens. His institution fur
nishes employment for some twenty-five men and
women, and the plant has an average capacity of

SAMUEL ROBERSON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

943

thirty-five dozen pairs of gloves per day. All
the products of the factory are marketed in New
York City.
The lady who became the wife of Mr. Holden
in 1 88 1 was Miss Cora E., daughter of Theodore
and Mary C. (St. John) Bradner, all natives of
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Holden are the par
ents of two sons, Arthur B. and Henry T., who
are intelligent and promising lads. The family
attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which
both Mr. Holden and his wife belong. Socially
he is actively connected with the American Le
gion of Honor at Middletown. While he lias
never taken an active part iu politics, his busi
ness matters consuming his entire time, he is
nevertheless well informed on public questions,
and is a stanch adherent of Democratic principles.
He has his factory fitted up with all needed ap
pliances, and conducts his business after the most
approved methods, as a result of which he has
met with success, and his factory has steadily
grown to its present importance.
-*— ^€3*-^ -«»=**=- ?•
(SAMUEL ROBERSON, Sr., one ofthe wor-
/\ thy citizens of Bullville, in years past took an
Qj active part in many of the leading indus
tries and enterprises of the place. For many
years he conducted the Bullville Hotel, and also
owned a distillery, whicli he ran with much suc
cess for nearly twenty years. As a merchant of
good standing in Searsville, he carried on a splen
did business for a number of years; was also the
owner of considerable farming laud in the town of
Crawford, aud was engaged in the sawmill busi
ness for some time.
Our subject was born April 6, 1815, in West
chester County, N. Y., and was the eldest but
one in a family of nine children born to Dele-
van and Abigail (Ferguson) Roberson. Reu
ben, the eldest, died aged threescore years and
ten; William is a resident of New York City; Al
bert died when seventy years old; John was
wounded during his service in the late war, and
was au inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Bath,
N. Y., where he died; Isaac died at the age of

sixty -six years; Alouzo makes his home in Bing
hamton, this state; Jane is the wife of Philip
Deyo, who also makes his home in the last-named
place; and Lodima lives in Brooklyn.
The father of our subject was also born in
Westchester County, whence he removed after
attaining mature years to Ulster County, aud
there lived until his death, which occurred when
he was seventy years old. His parents in turn
were born in New York, and as far back as our
subject has any record his ancestors were natives
of this state. Mrs. Abigail Roberson was also
born in Westchester County, and was seventy -six
years old at the time of her decease, in 1871.
When a lad of seven years our subject left
home and went to live with a neighboring farmer,
it having been arranged that he was to work for
his board and clothes. After remaining with him
for four years he left and went to Norwalk, Conn. ,
where he obtained employment in a hat factory.
He continued in that city for a number of years,
and afterward followed this business in other
places until 1840, the year in which he went to
Searsville. He at once engaged in the mercantile
business, running a good store for a time, or un
til he gave his undivided attention to conducting
a hotel. In 1857 he came to Bullville, and, pur
chasing a hotel, was its proprietor until retiring
from active life. At the same time he became
the proprietor of forty acres of excellently culti
vated land, which he operated in connection with
his other enterprise. He still owns this land, al
though he does not operate it.
In 1837 Mr. Roberson and Miss Margaret
Martin were united in marriage. The lady was
also a native of this state, and became the mother
of seven sons and daughters, viz.: Theodore;
Samuel D., whose sketch the reader will find
elsewhere in this volume; William James; Mar
garet Ann; Mary Jane, who died in 1859; and
two who died in infancy.
In his younger days our subject took an active
part in politics, and was influential in the ranks
of the Democratic party in this vicinity. He
served as Clerk and Auditor for a number of
years, but did not seek office, as he preferred to
give his attention to his private interests. He is

42

944

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

not a member of any religious denomination, but
contributes liberally to the support ofthe churches
in his community. Among other contributions
he gave the land on which was erected the fine
brick Methodist Church building near his home
in Bullville. He isa remarkably well preserved
old gentleman, being now in his eighty-first year.
His life throughout has been most active and
successful, his good wife aiding and assisting in
all his enterprises for over fifty-eight years. They
are now retired and living in the enjoyment of rest
and health in a nice residence in the village of
Bullville.

•##>

-ir-i- ti z^\

(JAMES H. SMITH, who for many years was
I a resident of the town of Wawayanda, was
(2/ born in Sussex County, N. J., October 15,
18 18, and was the son of William and Lucy
Smith, who were the parents of three children.
Our subject was reared on a farm until eighteen
years of age, receiving such education as was af
forded by the common schools, and assisting in
the farm work. When eighteen he began to
work at the carpenter's trade, following that oc
cupation until 1843. That year occurred his
marriage with Miss Sarah Van Tassel, of the
town of Wawayanda. They became the parents
of three children, Virgil V., William and Ga-
briella, but all are now deceased. Mrs. Sarah
Smith died in 1846, and January 16, 1852, Mr.
Smith was united with Miss Harriet Doty. She
was born November 27, 1824, in the town of
Wawayanda, and is the daughter of John and
Dolly (Hemingway) Doty, who were the parents
of nine children, four sons and five daughters-.
By his second marriage Mr. Smith had seven
children: John, now residing in Warwick; Eliza
beth, wife of John Young; James H., of Middle-
town; Jennie, deceased; George W., Herbert,
and Charles, at home.
After their marriage, the young couple moved
to a farm in the town of Wawayanda, where they
lived until 1866, when they came to the farm
where the family now resides. The farm con
sists of one hundred and seven acres, and here

Mr. Smith lived and carried on farming until his
death, which occurred March 6, 1886. He was a
member of the Methodist Church, to which de
nomination his wife also belongs. Politically he
was a Democrat. His death was mourned by a
large circle of friends, and his remains are inter
red in the Ridgeburg Cemetery. Commencing
life a poor boy, he continued to work until he
succeeded in accumulating enough of this world's
goods to place himself and family in comfortable
circumstances.

Gz

O1

=c)

gLARKSON BIRD, whose farm is one of the
most beautiful in the town of Wallkill, was
born in Sussex County, N. J., July 6, 1852.
His parents, Clarkson and Mary E. (Bond) Bird,
were natives of Hunterdon County, N. J., but
spent their lives principally in Sussex County, .
where the father followed the occupation of a
farmer, also for some time engaged in mining,
and for twenty years successfully conducted a
creamery. By his upright life he commended
himself to the confidence of the people, and his
death, in July, 1883, was mourned by all who
knew him. His estimable wife passed away in
1889. In the district schools of Sussex County , which
were inferior to those of the present day, "Clark"
Bird received his education. Early in life he
gained a thorough knowledge of the occupation
of a farmer, and this he has followed, more or less,
since starting out for himself. For fifteen years
he was engaged in the creamery business, in
which he built up a large trade and was very suc
cessful. In the spring of 1895 he located upon
the beautiful farm where he now resides. This
comprises one hundred and eight acres of highly
cultivated land, improved with buildings suited
to their varied purposes and a residence of modern
design aud architecture. Here he carries on ag
ricultural operations, making a specialty of the
milk business, in which he has so long and suc
cessfully engaged.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

945

December 28, 1875, Mr. Bird was united in
marriage with Miss Fannie, daughter of Legrand
and Emeline (Longcor) Pellet, natives of New
Jersey. Mrs. Bird was born in Sussex County,
that state. Her children, four iu number, are:
Lulu, Emma, Edith and Lizzie. One son, Fred
die, is deceased. While Mr. and Mrs. Bird are
not identified with any denomination, they attend
services at the Presbyterian Church and are in
terested in its welfare. In politics he favors Re
publican principles, and is well informed concern
ing the great questions of the age.
¦  ^*^P  ;

HILAND H. HUNT. At the time Mr Hunt
came to Middletown, in 1852, it had a popu
lation of only eighteen hundred, and pre
sented few indications of its present prosperity.
He was one ofthe first manufacturers to establish
himself in business here from abroad, but his
coming induced another firm to establish a factory
on what is now Railroad Avenue, and after a
time others followed. In this way he assisted in
laying the foundation of the present prosperity of
the place and its importance as a manufacturing
center. In 1839 he began to manufacture carpet
bags in Windham, Greene County, and in 1852
he and his partner, J. M. Matthews, removed
their plant to Middletown, where they purchased
buildings on North Street. Here from the first
they met with success. For many years while
Mr. Hunt was at the head ofthe concern, steady
employment was furnished to from one hundred
to one hundred and fifty hands, and the industry
was one of the most important in the city.
Near Hudson, Columbia County, N. Y., Mr.
Hunt was born April 28, 18 18, being a son of
Daniel and Mary (Rowley) Hunt. His grand
father, Joseph Hunt, was born in Columbia Coun
ty, thence removed to Greene, and later to Albany
County, where he died. He was a cooper by
trade, and during the Revolution took part in the
defense of the colonies. His ancestors were of
Scotch birth. Daniel Hunt, who was born in
Columbia County, was a soldier in the War of
18 1 2. He was proprietor of a store and also op

erated a mill at Windham, Greene County, where
he died at the age of forty-eight. His wife, who
was born in Columbia County, was a daughter of
Nathan Rowley, a farmer there; she died at six
ty-five years of age.
The nine children comprising the parental fam
ily attained years of maturity, but only four are
now living. Hiland H., who was the eldest
child and is the only surviving son, was reared
in Greene County, where, before he was fifteen,
he began to clerk in his father's store. In
1839, when he was twenty-one, he formed a part
nership with Jonathan M. Matthews, and the
firm of Matthews & Hunt carried on a general
store, also engaged in manufacturing carpet-bags,
etc. In 1845 they established a store in New
York City, which still exists, being a° wholesale
carpet-bag manufactory. After coming to Mid
dletown, J. F. Matthews was taken into the firm,
and the name was changed to Matthews, Hunt
& Co. As such it remained until 1869, when
Mr. Hunt sold out and retired.
During his residence in Middletown Mr. Hunt
has dealt extensively in real estate, and he now
owns a number of houses in different parts of the
city, also the Exchange Building on North Street.
In 1852 he purchased his present homestead, and
five years later he erected on this site a residence
that was then the finest in the place, and is still a
substantial and handsome dwelling. Realizing
that railroads would increase the commercial ac
tivities ofthe city, he was an active factor in the
building ofthe Middletown, Unionville & Water
Gap Railroad, now the New York, Susquehanna
& Western, of which he was Managing Director
and one of the first stockholders.
October 14, 1845, at Windham, N. Y., Mr.
Hunt and Miss Mary Blanchard were united in
marriage, and fifty years later, at their home in
Middletown, they were the recipients of congrat
ulations from hosts of friends on the occasion of
their golden- wedding day. Mrs. Hunt was born
in Durham, where her father,- Joseph Blanchard,
was a practicing physician. Though childless,
Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have seldom been without
children in their home, and several are indebted
to them for care in childhood. They adopted a

946

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughter, Louise, who is a graduate of Wallkill
Academy and wife of W. F. O'Neil, an attorney
of this place. Formerly our subject was connect
ed with the Masons and the orderof Odd Fellows.
A Democrat in politics, he was at one time promi
nent in local affairs, and served as Trustee of the
village of Middletown for five years during the
early period of his residence here.

V /I ORRIS ROBINSON. At various times
IT representatives of other .nationalities have
(3 sought a home in Orange County, and
among this class of foreign- born citizens few have
met with greater success in agricultural operations
than has rewarded the efforts of Mr. Robinson, of
the town of Wallkill. He is a native of Poland,
and was born in 1854, being the son of Udel and
Fannie Faulkoff, who spent their entire lives in
that country. At the age of twenty he came to
America to seek his fortune in the New World,
bringing with him no capital, but plenty of perse
verance, energy and determination to succeed.
His education, which had been received in his
native land, was fair and practical, and it was not
long before he had a thorough knowledge of the
language and customs of the people of the United
States. After coming to America Mr. Robinson engaged
in a mercantile business in different places, and
in 1880 he settled iu the city of New York, where
he has since been identified with important inter
ests. In May, 1895, he purchased the beautiful
place known as the "Hollyrood Stock Farm,"
which consists of three hundred and fifty acres of
well improved and valuable land, making an ideal
home. The residence is a substantial structure,
containing every modern convenience and fur
nished in a manner indicating the refined tastes of
the family. The environments are also all that
could be desired, the grounds attractive, and every
improvement made that will add to the beauty of
the place. The barns and outbuildings are
adapted to their varied uses and are very large,

covering several acres of ground. AH in aH> tne
home is one ofthe most inviting and beautiful in
the county.
In 1865 Mr. Robinson was united in marriage
with Miss Fannie Smith, also a native of Poland.
They are connected in religious belief with the
Jewish Church, in which faith they have reared
their children, Samuel A., Betsy, Benjamin and
Rachel. One of their children is deceased, and
the four who are living are still with their par
ents. Socially Mr. Robinson is a member of the
Masonic order, and politically he is independent,
casting his ballot for the candidate whom he con
siders best fitted for the office.

<X**************5Jg***********'*iO*>
P GJlLLIAM S. SAYER, one of the successful
\ A / business men of Middletown and proprietor
V V of a livery and sales stable, was born in
the town of Wallkill, two and a-half miles west
of Middletown, in 1854. His father, Luther
Sayer, is an extensive farmer in the town of
Wallkill, Our subject, who was the second of
three children, was reared on a farm and received
his primary education in the public schools, later
taking a course at Wallkill Academy. On leav
ing school he located on the farm one and a-half
miles from Middletown, on the Dalsantown Road.
There he engaged in farming, but gave the greater
part of his attention to the dairy business and to
the breeding of racehorses. Among some of the
fine horses that he raised may be mentioned
"Eldorado," of Knickerbocker stock, which he
sold when four years old for $1,000. "Jim Fisk"
was another horse which he raised aud trained,
selling the same for $400. He also sold the
sweepstake mare "Bessie," besides others. He
owns "Willie Brook," who has made a mile in
2:26)^, and has a brown horse by "Sweepstake"
which is one of the finest horses in the city.
lu 1886 Mr. Sayer located in Middletown
and started a livery stable. In this business he
has beeu very successful and has built up a very
large trade. His stable is supplied with about
thirty head of horses, together with carriages and

COL. CHARLES J. WRIGHT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

949

vehicles of every description. He makes a spe
cialty of supplying vehicles for wedding parties
and funerals.
In 1880 Mr. Sayer was united in marriage with
Miss Mary J. Wood, daughter of John E. Wood,
who was for many years proprietor of the Knick
erbocker Stock Farm. They have two children,
Lena and Emmett. Politically Mr. Sayer is a
true-blue Republican and a firm believer in the
principles upheld by that party. As a citizen,
he is at all times willing to do his part in the up
building of his adopted city.

~oZ

?5-

EOL. CHARLES J. WRIGHT. Beautifully
located at Cornwall on the Hudson, is the
New York Military Academy, of which Mr.
Wright 'was the founder and of which well known
institution he is President. From the start it has
been very successful, and the present attendance
of cadets is larger than the enrolled number in
any ofthe state military academies of the North.
Colonel Wright, who has been for a great many
years thoroughly in sympathy with educational
progress, is recognized as an able and scholarly
¦man, and this institution will prove a fitting mon
ument to his foresight and executive ability.
The Colonel's father, Capt. L- M. Wright, is
still living and is practicing his profession as a
civil engineer at Troy, N. Y. Though now
eighty-three years of age, he enjoys good health
and might pass for a man twenty years his junior.
His grandfather, Benjamin Wright, was a soldier
in the Revolutionary War, shouldering his mus
ket at the time of the battle of Lexington, and
continuing with the army under Washington at
Boston. He was in the front line in the battle of
Bunker Hill, and the comrade who marched be
side him in the retreat across Charlestown Neck
was killed by a shot from the British war vessel.
The grandfather remained in the service until the
end of the war, and during the last years of his
life received a pension from the Government.
The birth of Col. C. J. Wright occurred at St.
Johnsbury, Vt., October 21, 1839, and his early
education was received in Oliver Grammar School

of Lawrence, Mass. , his instructor there being
George A. Walton. Later he attended Dwight's
School, of Boston, aud the high school of Niagara
Falls, N. Y., his father at that time being engi
neer of the ship canal at that place. He graduated
from Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., in the Class
of '62, and shortly afterward volunteered as a pri
vate in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Regiment.
While encamped at the battery in New York City
he was promoted to be Fifth Sergeant of Company
G. With the others of the regiment he was sent
on transports in the expedition against New Or
leans, where he was promoted to the rank of Ser-
geant-Major. Later his regiment went on a cam
paign to Baton Rouge, and subsequently on that
of the Red River. It was during this expedition
that a portion of the regiment captured a confed
erate fort at Bute-a-la-Rose, La. This was done
chiefly through the instrumentality of the gun
boats, and after the fleet of small war vessels and
transports had passed up the Red River the fort
was destroyed and abandoned, the troops going
aboard the gunboats to act as sharpshooters and
guards against the Confederate bushwhackers,
who frequently fired upon them from the dense
jungle which bordered the narrow bayou. Vol
unteers were called for to take dispatches to Gen
eral Banks, who had reached Port Hudson, and
Sergeant Wright was selected. He was taken on
board the "Hartford," which then lay in the Mis
sissippi above Port Hudson, and from Commodore
Farragut himself received the dispatches and in
structions. It was necessary that the gallant
young officer should make his way about twelve
miles through a region occupied by the Confed
erate army. A little before midnight, with one
companion and two good horses, he started on his
perilous ride. As he approached the hamlet of
St. Francisville, which was about one-half of the
journey, a large body of troops was seen to be
encamped about the place, their sentries pacing
to aud fro. Before Sergeant Wright had decided
whether it would be best to turn back or to go
forward, the question was settled by the approach
ofa large body of Confederate cavalry. Drawing
to one side of the road and saluting the officers in
command, the dispatch-bearers passed in the

95°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

darkness without challenge. The important mes
sages were duly delivered to General Banks before
daylight, and shortly afterward our subject was
commissioned Lieutenant of Company K.
On the 19th of April, 1864, the young Lieu
tenant was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Thirty-ninth Regiment, U. S. C. T., and was
ordered to Annapolis to drill and instruct the
regiment. This he did successfully, and at the
opening of the Wilderness campaign he was
ordered to take command of the Twenty -seventh
Regiment, U. S. C. T. He was very active
throughout the campaign, taking part in all its
battles and marches, and later, at Petersburg
and in front of Richmond, did most excellent serv
ice. The losses were very heavy and Colonel
Wright was himself wounded at Petersburg,
though remaining in command of the regiment
until the end of the fight. At Ft. Fisher he was
again injured, this time very severely, as a bullet
passed through his left shoulder, becoming im
bedded in the scapula, and in later years he was
granted a pension for this wound. Though still
suffering very much, he returned to duty in time
to be present at the surrender of Johnston's army
at Raleigh, N. C. March 13, 1865, he was
commissioned by the President "Brevet-Colonel
United States Volunteers, for gallant and merito
rious service during the war. ' ' He continued in
the Government employ, being engaged in the
work of reconstruction, until December 4, 1865,
when he was honorably discharged.
When only fifteen years of age Colonel Wright
had been appointed teacher of the district school
on Grand Island, in the Niagara River, and dis
tinguished himself, winning the approval of the
Trustees, parents and pupils. It was at this time
that he felt the need of a college education,
which he determined to secure, and after two
years of pedagogic work prepared himself in the
higher branches and earned the necessary money
for expenses. On the termination of his army
service he returned to his chosen field of labor,
and in one month from the time he had sheathed
his sword was again in the schoolroom. For
three years he was Principal of the Milton Class
ical Institute, for five years was Vice-Principal of

the Yonkers High School, and for fourteen years
was Principal of Peekskill Academy. That in
stitution owes much to his management, for
when he took hold of it there were but nineteen
students in attendance, and when he resigned the
priucipalship there were about one hundred and
fifty cadets enrolled. He introduced new sys
tems of discipline and study, and made several
important additions to the original edifice. Since
1888 he has been President of the New York
Military Academy. The school is chartered by
the state of New York, and its military work is
under the supervision of the war department, and
a United States officer is detailed as Professor of
Military Science, and is also Commandant.
The marriage of Colonel Wright and Margaret
Worrall Bard was celebrated in 1868. Mrs.
Wright is a daughter of James M. Bard, formerly
Registrar of Westchester County, N. Y. She has
always been deeply interested in educational work
and has been of great assistance to her husband,
who frankly attributes much of his success to her
sympathy and clear ideas. At present she has
charge of the preparatory department for the Mil
itary Academy, known as Bard Hall. Colonel
Wright is very popular with his pupils and is a
genial and pleasant instructor. Fraternally he
belongs to the military order ofthe Loyal Legion,
the Sons ofthe Revolution, and the Grand Army
of the Republic. He takes great pleasure in
travel, and is a man who has seen much of the
world. It was his privilege in 1 878 to visit Europe,
making extensive trips in England, Scotland,
France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium
and Holland. In politics he is a stanch Repub
lican. -  Q#P  > .
'HEODORE COMFORT. As one of the
capable, efficient farmers of the town of
Wallkill, Mr. Comfort is well and favorably
known throughout this locality. With the ex
ception of six months spent in New York City,
he has constantly engaged in agricultural pur
suits, and his success in this occupation is such
as to substantiate the belief that he made 110 mis
take in selecting his vocation. He makes his

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

95i

home upon a finely improved farm of one hundred
acres, upon which are good buildings and imple
ments bearing the latest improvements.
In this county the birth of Theodore Comfort
occurred June 26, 1849, his parents being Theo
dore S. and Jane (McWilliams) Comfort, also
natives of this county. His father learned the
trade of a blacksmith when he was a young man,
and followed that occupation for many years, but
for some time he has devoted his attention especi
ally to farm work. Notwithstanding the fact that
he is now eighty-six years of age, he enjoys ex
cellent health and the possession of his mental
faculties unimpaired. His estimable wife, who
for many years was his wise helpmate, passed
from earth in 1879.
Attending the district schools in boyhood, our
subject gained a practical education that fitted
him for active life. He was reared upon a farm,
and upon arriving at man's estate selected agri
culture for his vocation. This he has since fol
lowed, making a specialty of the dairy business,
which he conducts on an extensive scale. His
farm buildings are modern, each adapted to its
special purpose. There is not the minutest ap
pearance of neglect on the place, but everything
indicates the careful attention of the thrifty
owner. April 12, 1887, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Comfort and Miss K. Anna Sloat, daughter of
A. C. and Matilda (Farnham) Sloat, of this
county. Mrs. Comfort graduated from the Al
bany State Normal, and for several years prior to
her marriage taught school. Two children bless
their union, Charles A. and Newman. Mr. and
Mrs. Comfort are earnest and devoted members
of the Presbyterian Church, and in this connec
tion, as in all the relations of life, they are active
in forwarding the interests of those about them.
He is an Elder in the congregation, also a teach
er in the Sunday-school, and has officiated as
President of the Christian Endeavor Society, and
as Superintendent of the Sunday-school for a
number of years. In politics he is a stalwart Re
publican, always voting his party ticket, but
never aspiring to public positions for himself, pre
ferring to give his attention to his private affairs.

His life in this community has been one which
not only redounds to his credit, but also to the
good of his neighbors. He has ever identified
himself with the best interests of the town, and
is known as a valued citizen, whose life entitles
him to the regard and esteem of all.

(JOHN W. ELLIS. With the exception of
I two years spent at sea, Mr. Ellis has been
(2/ engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout
his entire active life, and he has met with com
mendable success in his chosen occupation. In
the town of Wallkill he owns and operates a val
uable estate of sixty-four acres, upon 'which he
has made substantial improvements, and which,
as a result of his efforts, has been placed under a
high state of cultivation.
Born in this county January 13, 1822, the sub
ject of our sketch is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth
(Lamb) Ellis. His father, who was a native of
Dutchess County, came to Orange County in
early manhood, and spent the remainder of his life
here. His chosen occupation was that of a coop
er, which trade he followed in connection with
farming pursuits. Though he never became well-
to-do, he was prospered in his undertakings, and
in his last days was surrounded by the comforts
of life, secured through the judicious manage
ment of his affairs in former years. His good
wife passed away some years after his decease.
No event of an unusual nature marked the
youth of John W Ellis, which was quietly passed
in the routine of farm work and attendance at
school. At the age of twenty-four, in 1846, he
was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe R.,
daughter of Ananias McCarter, of this county.
Seven children were born of the union, of whom
four are now living, as follows: Ann Elizabeth,
who is with her parents; Albert Eugene; Isaac
B.; and Alice L., wife of Peter B. 'Harford, of
Middletown. In religious belief Mrs. Ellis is
connected with the Old-school Baptist Church.
Interested in educational affairs, our subject has

952

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

served as a school officer, and has been of aid in
promoting the welfare of the schools of his dis
trict. He is a firm Democrat politically, and is
opposed to all monopolies, believing that they de
grade labor and depreciate its value, while plac
ing the wealth of the country in the hands of a
few. I" RANKLIN GOULD, the owner of a vain
ly able farm in the town of Wallkill, was born
| in New Hampshire in 1826, and is the son
of Jarel and Miriam (Worthly) Gould, who
spent their entire lives in New Hampshire, their
native state. The father, who was a farmer by
occupation, was a quiet, unassuming man, a
good citizen and kind neighbor, and his death, in
1865, was mourned by all who knew him. The
mother preceded him to the better land, dying in
1852. In boyhood Franklin Gould had only such ad
vantages as the common schools afforded. He
remained under the parental roof until he was
twenty-one years of age, when he embarked in
the railroad business, becoming'an engineer. For
a period of almost thirty years he was employed
in that capacity, being mainly in the service of
the Erie Road, and had the honor of running the
first narrow-gauge engine ever run on that rail
road. For eighteen months he had charge of
sixty engines and more than two hundred men
on a Missouri road. After severing his connec
tion with the railway company, he came to Or
ange County and purchased the fine farm upon
which he still lives. The place consists of one
hundred and forty acres, upon which there are
substantial and well equipped buildings, adapted
to their varied uses. While he is not actively
engaged in tilling the soil, he maintains a general
oversight of the land, and its fine improvements
are due largely to his enterprise.
In 1861 Mr. Gould married Miss Sarah, daugh
ter of Jonathan B. Dunning, a well known citi
zen of this county. They became the parents of
five children, but met with a he_avy loss in the
death of four of the number. The only surviv
ing child is a son, Harry Dunning, a promising

young man who resides with his parents. Mrs.
Gould is a lady of sincere Christian character,
and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church
of Middletown. Her mother was Hannah, daugh
ter of Samuel Vail, formerly one of the farmers
of the town of Goshen. Mr. Gould has a sister
yet living, Mrs. Emily Osborne, who is in good
health at the advanced age of fourscore years.
While Mr. Gould has never taken an active
part in politics, his convictions on questions re
lating to the welfare of the Government are very
strong. He is a Republican, with an abiding
faith in the purity and logic of that party's teach
ings. Preferring to devote his attention to his
private affairs, he has never sought official posi
tions nor cared to occupy public places. He is
unquestionably a good citizen, interested in all
enterprises affecting the progress of the town, and
devoted to the welfare of the people.
r  j****i

- -i«2**«$»*^

3 AMES M. BROWN is a retired farmer liv
ing in the town of Wallkill, where he was
born in 1831. He is a son of John Brown,
Jr., and Rachel (Coleman) Brown, both ofwhom
were natives of the same town, and who here
spent their entire lives. The father was quite
prominent in his day, ranking among the best
farmers of his town, and served his fellow-citi
zens as Supervisor for a number of years. He
died many years ago, loved and respected by all.
His good wife preceded him to the better world
several years.
The subject of this sketch attended the district
schools as opportunity was afforded him in early
life, and was reared on the farm, spending many
years of his life in agricultural pursuits. For
about twenty-five years, however, he was en
gaged as a drover, in which he was fairly suc
cessful. In January, 1895, he retired from act
ive business, and is now spending his days quiet
ly upon his beautiful farm, which consists of
fifty acres of finely improved land, on which are
model, substantial farm buildings. While carry
ing on farming to a limited extent, his attention
has been principally given to the milk business

HON. MORGAN SHUIT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

955

In 1872 Mr. Brown was united in marriage
with Miss Mary J. Mackison, a native of Orange
County, and a daughter of William and Margaret
(Wilson) Mackison, who were likewise natives
of Orange County. Mrs. Brown is a member of
the Presbyterian Church at Scotchtown, and
takes great interest in all religious and charitable
work. In politics Mr. Brown is a stalwart Re
publican, with which party he has been con
nected since its organization, but has never had
any desire for official position. His business in
terests have been such in the past that he has had
little time to devote to anything else. However,
he tries to keep posted on current events, especi
ally in the political history of his state and nation.

-±z

=+

HON. MORGAN SHUIT, who died July 29,
1884, was born in Ridgefield, Conn., Jan
uary 21, 1812, spent his childhood in Ridge
field and Danbury, that state, but when twelve
years of age he walked across the country and
came to Orange County, and stopped with his
uncle, Josiah Mueller. Some years afterward, in
connection with his brother James, he began the
manufacture of fancy combs at Highland Mills,
at which he was quite successful for a time, but
fashions changed and the business was disposed
of, there remaining not more than $1 between
them. His brother afterward embarked in the
mercantile business,, which he continued until
his death, in 1844, when our subject took charge
ofthe business and continued it until 1864, when
he disposed of it to his nephew.
Retiring from the mercantile business, Mr.
Shuit engaged in farming and continued in that
vocation until his death. He seemed to have a
mania for buying land, and before his marriage he
owned three farms, besides large tracts of wood
land, and for many years furnished wood to the
Erie Railroad.
Mr. Shuit was twice married. By his union
with Mary Ann Titus, which took place Decem
ber 3, 1846, there were born seven children:

Hannah M., now Mrs. Milton Barnes; Mary
Anna, who married Peter Turner, and resides
near Monroe; William Welling, living on Long
Island; Sarah M., who married Dr. E. E. Elmer,
of Central Valley; Harriet T., who died in girl
hood; Elizabeth T., who married Henry Strouth-
ers, of New York; and Philadelphia M., who
married James H. Sharpe, of Moorehead, Minn.
Mrs. Mary A. Shuit died, and he was married in
1870 to her sister, Phcebe B. Titus, who was born
in Canterbury, and who was a daughter of Isaac
B. and Elizabeth (Cocks) Titus. The former, it
is thought, was a native of Westbury, L. I., and
the latter of Lower Clove Valley, on Woodbury
Creek, Orange County. Isaac B. Titus was a
son of Isaac and Mary (Betts) Titus, both na
tives of Long Island. Soon after the Revolution
ary War, the great-grandfather, Nicholas Town-
send, and a great uncle, Jacob Cocks, bought the
whole valley from what is now Mountainville to
the mineral stream that flows into Woodbury
Creek, to Woodbury Falls, and to the mountain
crest on each side. Isaac Titus was a son of
Thomas Titus, of Westbury, L- I., who in his
old age sold his farm on Long Island and spent
his declining days near Canterbury. His wife
was a Miss Mary Powell. The mother of Isaac
B. Titus, Mary Betts, who was from Newtown,
L- L, was a daughter of Capt. Samuel and
Mary Betts, the former of whom served in the
Revolutionary army. During that struggle their
house was destroyed, and they remarked that if
they had the rebel captain they would hang him
to an apple tree then growing in the yard. This
tree, a seedling, was the tree from which New
town pippins originated.
Elizabeth Cocks was a daughter of Jacob and
Hannah (Townsend) Cocks, the latter of whom
was born on Long Island, and was a daughter of
Nicholas and Philadelphia (Robbins) Townsend,
both ofwhom were natives of Long Island. Jacob
Cocks, a son of Henry Cocks, was also a native
of Long Island. To the parents of Mrs. Shuit,
Isaac B. and Elizabeth Titus, were born seven
daughters. Sallie D., now deceased, was twice
married, first to Alexander McElroy, and then to
Noah Brooks; Mary Ann was the first wife of

956

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Morgan Shuit; Hannah C, deceased, married
Robert L- Gough, of Westport, N. Y. ; Martha
died young; Susan C. is also deceased; Phcebe B.
married Morgan Shuit after the death of her sis
ter; and Elizabeth is also deceased.
Morgan Shuit was a leader in local politics, and
was originally an old-line Whig, but later became
a Republican. For thirty-one years he was Su
pervisor of the town, serving longer in that office
than any man in the state, and was also Justice
of the Peace for thirty-three years. Though a
man of few words, and having a countenance that
to strangers was hard to judge, his neighbors
knew him to be a man of sound judgment, and
he was therefore trusted by all. He was chosen
executor for many estates because he could be
trusted. From 1879-80 and from 1880-81 he
served as a member ofthe Assembly. The Betts
family were Episcopalians, and the Cocks and
Townsend families were Quakers.
Philadelphia Robbins was a granddaughter of
Philadelphia Masters, the first female child born
in Philadelphia. She was named for the city,
aud secured from the municipality handsome
presents. A pap-spoon and napkin given her are
now in possession of Philadelphia Sharpe, ot
Moorehead, Minn. The baby-basket and other
presents are scattered among the family.

GlUSTlNE. LUDINGTON, general yardmas-
LA ter of the New York, Ontario & Western
/ 1 Railroad, was born in Fulton, N. Y., Sep
tember 12, 1847. The Ludingtons were of Scotch
descent, four brothers of that name coming from
Scotland to this country at a very early date.
The grandfather of our subject, Nathaniel Lud-
ington, who was born in Herkimer County, N.
Y., was by occupation a farmer, and was a com
missioned officer in the Revolutionary War, faith
fully serving his country. Moses E. Ludington,
the father, was also a native of Herkimer Coun
ty, born in 1800. He was a general contractor,
both in railroad and canal work, and was Super
intendent of Construction on the Oswego, the
Erie, and the Cayuga & Seneca Canals. He did

some railroad contracting for the New York Cen
tral Railroad between Oswego and Syracuse, and
afterward established a line of transportation boats
on the Erie Canal. Finally, however, he sold
out and retired from the business.
In 1849, 011 the discovery of gold in California,
the father started to that El Dorado, via Cape
Horn, and was six months in making the voy -
age to San Francisco. From the latter place he
traveled on horseback to the mining regions, and
there remained about three years, when he re
turned home, via Panama, and resumed contract
ing. In politics he was originally a Whig, and
later became a Democrat. In religious belief he
was a Universalist, and fraternally was a Mason.
He married Elvira Ring, a native of Northamp
ton, Mass., and a daughter of Jonathan Ring,
who was also a native of that state. By occupa
tion he was a farmer, and his death occurred in
Massachusetts many years ago. Of their family
of twelve children, nine grew to maturity, and
six are living.
The subject of this sketch, who was the young
est in the family, was reared in Fulton, and was
educated in the Valley Seminary of that place.
He attended school until sixteen years of age,
when he took a position as brakeman on the Os
wego & Syracuse Railroad, but was soon after
ward made baggageman, and before the expira
tion of one year was made conductor. With that
road he continued until January, 1864, when he
enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fourth New
York Cavalry, and was mustered into the service
at Auburn as a private, for "three years, or dur
ing the war. ' ' He saw service in the Wilderness,
Spottsylvania and Petersburg, and was mustered
out and honorably discharged at Washington, in
June, 1865.
On receiving his discharge, Mr. Ludington at
once went to the oil country, locating at Pit Hole,
and there engaged in prospecting and specula
ting. He was unsuccessful at first, but with two
Syracuse men formed a company, which later be
came the Empire Company. For about eighteen
months he continued in the oil region, and then
sold out and returned to New York, beginning
work on the construction of the Pennsylvania

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

957

Petroleum Railroad as a walking boss. Later
he was foreman of construction on the Buffalo &
Washington Railroad, running between Buffalo
and Emporium, Pa. He was next on the Buffalo
Division of the Erie Railroad, as conductor be
tween Buffalo aud Hornellsville, then with the
Rochester & State Line (now the Buffalo, Roch
ester & Pittsburg Railroad), being in charge of
the track-laying. Later he was with the Standard
Oil Company, having in charge the construction
of their pipe line from Bradford, Pa. , to Tide Wa
ter. He then went to Arizona, and built a water
line from the Wahtoka Mountains to Tombstone,
Ariz., a distance of twenty -five miles. Return
ing East, he accepted a position on the Terre
Haute & Evansville Railroad at Evansville, as
conductor between the two points, and was then
on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad,
running from Toledo to Cincinnati as conductor.
From that road he returned to the Buffalo, Roch
ester & Pittsburg, and after remaining a short
time in their employ as conductor went to Sioux
City, Iowa, in charge of the construction of the
Sioux City & Northern Railroad from Sioux City
to Garretson, a distance of one hundred miles.
He was then in charge of the construction of the
Pacific Short Line, from Sioux City to O'Neill, a
distance of one hundred and thirty miles. In
September, 1890, he accepted a position with the
New York, Ontario & Western at Hancock, as
yardmaster, and was there until March, 1891,
when he became general yardmaster at Middle-
town, a position which he yet fills. He has
charge of all the yards of the road at this point,
Mr. Ludington was married, in Buchanan,
Mich. , to Miss Alzadie McCoy, who was born in
that city, and who is a daughter of Russell Mc
Coy, of Virginia, but of Scotch descent. The
latter was engaged in lumbering and milling in
Michigan. Besides his pleasant home at No. 123
Wickham Avenue, Mr. Ludington also owns the
building at No. 47 Broad Street. In politics he
is a Democrat, and is Chairman ofthe First Ward
Committee. In 1893 he was elected a member
ofthe Council from the First Ward on the Demo
cratic ticket, and was made Chairman of the Rail
road, Public Buildings and Grounds and the Au

diting Committees. Besides he was on several
other important committees, including those of
Streets and Lighting. Fraternally he is a mem
ber of Warsaw Lodge No. 549, F. &. A. M.;
Wyoming Chapter No. 181, R. A. M.; Monroe
Commandery No. 12; Rochester Consistory; and
Damascus Temple, N. M. S. He is a member
of the Order of Railway Conductors; and is Chief
Conductor of Millard Division No. 104, at Mid
dletown, and is Chairman of the Committee of
Arrangements for its annual clam bake. He is
also President of Ontario Hose Company No. 5,
of which he became a member in 1893, and of
Capt. W. A. Jackson Post, G. A. R.
From the record here given it will be seen that
the life of Mr. Ludington has been a very busy
one. In his work he has been permitted to visit
the greater number of the states in the North and
West. In railroad business he is thoroughly
posted, and as a citizen he is esteemed by all who
know him.

-J--H  »>nK®(®)®i*<»  *"—*-

(JOHN T. BULL, Postmaster at Circleville,
I and the leading merchant of that place, was
(2) born in 1848, near the village where he now
resides. His parents, William H. and Caroline
(Weller) Bull, were natives of this county, and
here spent their entire lives, the mother passing
away on the home farm in 1894. The. father,
who is still living, has made of agriculture his
life occupation, and makes his home upon his fine
farm near Circleville. He is one of the substan
tial and enterprising citizens of the county, and is
deserving ofthe high esteem in which he is held.
Reared to manhood on the old homestead, the
subject of this sketch received a practical educa
tion in the district schools, which he attended
during the winter months. Meantime the sum
mer seasons were spent in the ordinary routine of
farm work. He followed the occupation of an
agriculturist until he reached the age of twenty-
three, after which, for some years, he was en
gaged in the cattle and stock business. In 1874

958

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he purchased his uncle's interest in the mercantile
business at Circleville, and here he has since re
mained, gaining the confidence of the people of
the town by his upright dealings and sound judg
ment. His store is now one of the leading gen
eral mercantile establishments in this section. He
carries a full stock of goods and is prepared to
supply the wants of his customers.
In January, 1885, Mr. Bull married Miss Mar
tha, daughter of Samuel D. and- Susan C. (Budd)
Shorter, natives of Orange County. One son
blesses this union, William S. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Bull are sincere Christians, his membership
being in the Presbyterian Church, while she be
longs to the Methodist Church. Socially he is
identified with Middletown Lodge No. 112, I. O.
O. F. In politics he is a firm believer in the
policy adopted by the Republican party. In 1889
he was appointed Postmaster at Circleville, and
although the politics of the administration have
rotated to the opposite party, he continues to fill
the office and is discharging its duties to the sat
isfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Bull has quite a reputation as a hunter,
and has three very finely mounted deer heads, he
having killed the animals himself. He also has
a hawk and owl mounted. In Orange and Sulli
van Counties he is known as the ' ' Hunter and
Fisher." R*)EWTON HIGBY, one ofthe influential citi-
| / zens of Pine Bush, was elected to the hon-
| is orable and responsible position of Justice of
the Peace several years ago, aud is still the in
cumbent of the office. He was born February
26, 1855, on the old homestead in the town of
Crawford, and was the eldest but one in the fam
ily of four children born to Samuel C. and Helen
M. (Knapp) Higby. James, the eldest, is a resi
dent of Denver, Colo. ; Lora is living in Wayne
County, Pa.; and Samuel Ellsworth died when
seven years of age.
Samuel C. Higby was born on the same farm
on which our subject was bom, and lived there
until 1859, the year in which he came to Pine
Bush. He made that place his home until 1870,

when he was accidentally killed by a tree falling
on him. At that time he was about forty-three
years of age. The paternal grandparents of our
subject were born on Long Island, and came to
this section about 181 2. The first of the name to
settle in America came hither many years ago
from Wales.
The mother of our subject was born in the
town of Montgomery in 1829, and now, at the
age of sixty-six years, makes her home in Penn
sylvania with her daughter. Her father was pre
vented from participating in the War of 18 12 on
account of lameness, but two of his brothers,
Elijah and Alexander, fought in that conflict.
Her great uncle, Uzeal Knapp, whose grave is
marked by a monument at Washington's Head
quarters in Newburgh, was the last to survive
of Washington's bodyguards.
Our subject remained on the home farm and at
tended the common schools until attaining his
majority, when he purchased property near his
old home, and engaged in furnishing ship-timber
to the trade. This he has found to be very profit
able and has followed it more or less ever since.
He erected a hotel in Pine Bush, with a livery
stable adjoining, and conducted the same for a
period of three years. After disposing of this
enterprise he invested his money in a meat-
market, carrying on a thriving business for three
years, when he began contracting for dock piles
aud timbers, for which there is a great demand in
this locality. He also built two good residences
in the village, but disposed of them later.
In the spring of 1895 Mr. Higby purchased a
half-interest in the meat-market at Pine Bush,
and his affairs are so arranged that he devotes
more attention to this branch of business than he
does to farm pursuits. The date of our subject's
marriage with Miss Alice M. Brink was Decem
ber 18, 1877. She was born in Ulster County,
this state, and has become the mother of four
children, viz.: Irene, an accomplished young
lady, who is still with her parents; Roscoe,
Everette aud Ellsworth. In politics Mr. Higby
is a stanch Democrat and takes quite an active
part in local affairs. Four years ago he was
elected Justice of the Peace, and so well and ef-

SAMUEL B. FARNUM.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

961

ficiently did he discharge the duties of the same,
that he was re-elected by an almost unanimous
vote, and is now filling his second term. He is
also serving as Assessor, to which office he was
elected a second time. Always actively interested
in school work, for two years he has been a mem
ber of the Village Board, and it was owing to his
push and energy that the addition was made to
the school building here. He is a member of
Hiawatha Lodge No. 252, K. of P., of this place,
and was its representative to the Grand Lodge at
Watertown, N. Y., in 1894. He is regarded as
an able financier, and his success is well merited.
Among the best residents of the county he has
many friends, and by all who meet him he is held
in the highest esteem.

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jAMUEL BERNARD FARNUM, who died
January 11,1892, was one of the most eminent
and honored citizens of Port Jervis. He was a
pioneer in various public enterprises, was Presi
dent of the Board of Education here for two years,
and also served much longer as a member of that-
body. He had hosts of friends, to whom he was
always true, but it was particularly in his domestic
relations that his amiable and happy qualities were
noticeable. He possessed a rare charity and a
disposition to overlook the faults of others.
The birth of S. B. Farnum occurred June 22,
18 10, in Litchfield, Conn., he being the young
est son in a large family. With his parents, Peter
and Chloe (Steel) Farnum, he removed to Otse
go County, when he was but five years of age,
and there passed his youth. In his nineteenth
year he came to Port Jervis, and thenceforward
for nearly half a century was connected with the
Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. His broth
er, H. H. Farnum, well known in these parts,
had been with the concern for about two years
prior to that time. When but twenty-one years
of age, our subject was advanced to the position
of Superintendent of that section of the canal ex
tending from Fish Cabin to the Neversink Locks.

He retained this office for nearly forty years, and
was one of the most reliable and fathful employes
of the company. During this time the canal was
enlarged from a mere ditch to its present capaci
ty, and although he had never received an engi
neer's training, his years of experience had qual
ified him well for the great work of construction
along the section under his charge. He built the
miles of solid masonry above the Delaware River
upon which the canal rests, and this now stands,
after the lapse of four decades, a monument to
his ability. Iu later years he became interested
in real estate, and bought and platted several
tracts of land, also erecting a number of tene
ment houses, still in possession of his heirs. More
over, he became interested in timber-land near
Port Jervis and Bolton Basin, besides dealing
in land at various points.
A man of strong religious tendencies, Mr. Far
num was probably more active than any other
one person in the erection of the Presbyterian
Church of Port Jervis in 1851. He contributed
freely of his own means to this end, and was
Chairman of the Finance Committee. Again in
1889 he served on the Building Committee hav
ing in charge the erection of the handsome brick
chapel, and for twenty-five years was Treasurer
of the Church Board. At the time of his death
he was one of the Ruling Elders, and was the
last survivor of the original Board of Trustees.
January 12, 1837, Mr. Farnum married Asen
ath, daughter of Benjamin Cuddeback. They
became the parents of six children, of whom five
survive: Mary, Mrs. R. F. Lord, of New York
City; Benjamin C; Henry H., civil engineer on
the public works at Harlem; Lizzie, wife of Al
bert Stoll, a merchant; and Kittie. Mrs. Far
num, who was born May 12, 1814, is a lady re
markably preserved, both mentally and physi
cally .
Never an aspirant for public office, Mr. Far
num was nevertheless devoted to the interests of
the Republican party. He was strictly temperate
in all his habits, in personal appearance was an
imposing figure, and in stature was tall and slen
der. During his later years his abundant hair
and full beard were snow-white. His eye was

962

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

keen and eagle-like, readily piercing to the depths
of duplicity and beaming in kindliness on every
one whom he esteemed worthy. Hewas devoted
to his family, who in turn nearly worshiped him,
and to all his children he gave superior educa
tional advantages. He was well posted in the
leading events of the day, and was a great read
er, giving much time to the study of history and
national affairs.

"T DWARD McCONVILLE, who was an agri-
'3 culturist of prominence, notwithstanding the
_ reverses which almost invariably attend the
career of bread-winners throughout the world,
came boldly to the front, and with his character
istic push and energy surmounted all difficult
ies. The estate which he formerly occupied com
prises a quarter-section of excellent land, located
in the town of Crawford.
Our subject was a native of Ireland, and was
bora in County Armagh in September, 1831. His
parents were James and Mary (Sherdon) McCon
ville, the former of whom died when our subject
was only two years of age. He was an extensive
farmer, and to some extent he also worked at the
cooper' s trade. Edward was reared by his moth
er, acquiring a splendid education in the pub
lic schools, and in April, 1852, when twenty-one
years of age, he embarked on a vessel bound for
American shores. On arriving at New York he
made his way to this county and rented a farm in
the town of Montgomery. This he operated suc
cessfully for the following eight years, and in
1864 purchased the estate in the town of Craw
ford on which he resided until his decease, July
23, 1890.
The subject of this sketch was married, in Au
gust, 1858, to Miss Ellen Campbell, who was
born in County Down, Ireland, in December,
1826. She was there reared, and when twenty-
three years of age, in November, 1849, came to
the United States with her mother. They, too, lo
cated ill the town of Montgomery, where she met

and married our subject. There were two daugh
ters born to them, Mary Helen and Catherine
Ann, both of whom are still living on the old
homestead. The wife and mother survived her
husband until 1893, and in October of that year
passed away, when sixty-seven years of age.
They were both members of the Roman Catholic
Church, and were buried side by side in St.
Mary's Cemetery in Montgomery.
Edward McConville was at all times and under
all circumstances a decided Democrat and took a
great interest in the success of his party. He was
very active in local affairs, and for over twenty
years was Overseer of the Poor. By all he was
regarded as a representative farmer, and by his
good management, enterprise and perseverance
he accumulated a valuable property, leaving his
daughters well provided for. They give their
personal attention to the management of the farm
and have been remarkably successful in garnering
in each year abundant harvests. Mr. McConville
was very popular in his community aud left many
sincere friends.

~^4\

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(3TEPHEN A. SMITH, a prominent farmer
7\ of the town of Wallkill, was born in the town
\£j of Goshen, April 16, 1855, being a son of
Stephen and Emily (Randolph) Smith, both na
tives of Orange County. Stephen Smith was well
known in his day, and during his entire life was
an agriculturist. In church affairs he took an
especial interest, and was ever active in his Mas
ter's work. He died in 1886, respected by all
who knew him. His estimable wife is yet living,
enjoying good health.
Stephen A. Smith received his early education
in the schools of Goshen, and for two years he
attended school at Chester. He was reared on
the home farm, and remained under the parental
roof until the age of twenty-four, assisting his fa
ther iu the cultivation of the farm. He then came
to his present farm, which comprises one hundred
and fifteen acres of finely improved land, aud
which has upon it all the outbuildings necessary
to make of it a model farm. His home is one of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the most inviting in the county. In addition to
farming, for the past four years he has been en
gaged in the manufacture of brick, many thou
sands of which are turned out annually, and he
has furnished the material for many of the finest
brick buildings in the thriving city of Middle-
town. Mr. Smith was married, in 1879, to Alice El
mira Robertson, a native of this county, and
daughter of George W. and Elsie (Stanton) Rob
ertson, who were also natives and respected citi
zens of Orange County, although the family is of
Scotch extraction. This union was blessed by
the birth of two children, one of whom, Grade
A. , closed her eyes in death at the age of two
years. Stanley Robertson is yet living and re
mains at home with his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Sec
ond Presbyterian Church at Middletown, in
which body he holds the position of Trustee. In
politics he is a Democrat, and is a firm believer
in the principles of that party. He cares nothing
for official position, preferring to give his atten
tion to private affairs.

963

-&.-

^j^^SiS.'^l-I^'Sip.^^j^:

ix> •

V^RS. S. MARETTA THRALL is well
Jr known to every citizen of Middletown and
(9 Orange County. She was born at Pratts-
ville, Greene County, and is a daughter of Al
bert E. Babcock, who was born in Ashland, that
county. Her grandfather, Levi Babcock, was a
native of Connecticut, and at an early day lo
cated in Greene County, where he engaged in
farming until his death. There also her father
was reared, and for some years was engaged in
merchandising at Prattsville. Later he removed
to Beaver Kill, Sullivan County, where he pur
chased a tannery, but after operating the same a
few years sold out to his brother, Linus Babcock.
He then located at Callicoon, in the same county,
where he again engaged in the tanning business,
also carrying on the lumber trade. During this
time he ran a sawmill, and was engaged in mer
chandising. From the fatter place he removed
to Middletown, and later purchased a tannery at

Lake Como, Wayne County, Pa., where he con
tinued business until his death. He died, how
ever, in Middletown, at the age of about seventy
years. He was a successful business man, and
his political affiliations were with the Republican
party. He married Margaret Laraway, who was
born in Prattsville (formerly known as LeRoy),
and who was a daughter of Martineau Laraway,
of Greene County. On her father's side she was
of French descent, and on the mother's Holland-
Dutch. Her death occurred in Middletown,
when she was seventy years old. She was reared
in and for many years was a member of the
Dutch Reformed Church, but while in Middle-
town attended the First Presbyterian Church. In
the parental family were two children: S. Maret-
ta, our subject, and A. Le Roy, who died at the
age of about twenty-one years.
The subject of this sketch was educated in
Liberty Academy, and in Delaware Literary In
stitute, at Franklin, Delaware County. At Cal
licoon, Sullivan County, she married John W.
Thrall, who was born at Milford, Pike County,
Pa., and who was a son of S. S. Thrall,
a farmer of that county. When sixteen years
of age her husband went to New York City
and began clerking in a wholesale house,
gradually working his way up until he became a
partner in the firm of Herring & Co. ; afterwards
he was a member of the firm of Thrall & Thom
son, of that city. Iu 1865 he removed to Middle-
town, and here continued the wholesale grocery
business, and also engaged with his father-in-
law, Mr. Babcock, in the tannery business. Fra
ternally he was a Mason. In the business affairs
of life he was very active, and was very popular
with all who knew him. His death occurred
here some years ago.
From her father Mrs. Thrall inherited consider
able property in Middletown, running through
from College Street to Wickham Avenue, and
nearly to North Street. That she is not a selfish
woman is attested by her gifts to her adopted city.
Thrall Park, which is nicely laid out and adorned
with trees and shrubbery, was one of her gifts to
Middletown. Iu 1892 she gave the site of Thrall
Hospital and erected a building, a large and

964

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

handsome edifice, at a cost of $13,000. There
are twenty ward beds and six private rooms in
the hospital, which was first incorporated as the
Middletown Hospital Association, but was later
changed to Thrall Hospital, in honor of Mrs.
Thrall. The business is conducted by a board
of lady managers, consisting of nine ladies, resi
dents of the city, and nine city physicians com
prise the hospital staff. The hospital is an elegant
one, and is well furnished throughout. In the
rotunda of the building has been placed a fine
bronze tablet, manufactured and engraved by
Tiffany of New York, with the following inscrip
tion: "This Hospital was erected and presented to
the city of Middletown, A. D. 1891, by Mrs. S.
Maretta Thrall, as a memorial to her parents,
Albert Evander Babcock and Margaret Laraway
Babcock."

CVSAAC H. LIVINGSTON, of the town of
j Wallkill, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1828,
X being the son of Hon. Aaron and Nancy
(Hollenbeck) Livingston, natives of this state, as
were also their respective parents. The father, a
man of superior intelligence and excellent judg
ment, was for many years successfully engaged
in the mercantile business in Albany, and also
carried on agricultural pursuits for a long time.
He represented his district in the General Assem
bly, where his ability and acumen made him the
peer of any of the members. In addition to this
position of honor, he was also the incumbent at
different times of various minor offices, and as a
public official, no less than in his personal affairs,
he was known for his unflinching integrity and
shrewd discernment. He attained to an advanced
age, and passed from earth in 1877. His good
wife, who also lived to be more than fourscore
years of age, followed him in death three years
after his demise.
At the age of eighteen the subject of this sketch
entered a flour and grain store in Albany as clerk,
and for ten years he remained with the firm.

They were engaged very extensively in the buy
ing and selling of grain, and Mr. Livingston re
calls the fact that on many days they handled as
much as thirty thousand bushels of barley. In
1865 he came to the valuable farm upon which
he still lives. This place consists of one hundred
and seventy acres of finely improved land, upon
which have been erected buildings of modern de
sign and substantial character. Though engaged
in general farming, his principal industry is the
dairy business, and in it he has met with success.
In 1855 Mr. Livingston married Miss Mary T.,
daughter of Isaiah and Temperance (Reeve)
Hulse, natives of this county, where Mrs. Living
ston was born. The maternal grandfather of Mrs.
Livingston, Elisha Reeve, was a Sergeant in the
Revolutionary War and died in 1837, at tQe ad
vanced age of eighty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs.
Livingston are the parents of four children, as
follows: Franklin, whose home is in Chemung,
N. Y.; Smith H. and Annie, who are with their
parents; and Jennie, wife of Josiah Cox, of Mid
dletown. In religious belief Mr. Livingston is a
member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mid
dletown, to which his wife and children belong.
Politically he advocates Republican principles in
general elections, but is inclined to be conserva
tive in local matters.

<3| LEXANDER C. SLOAT, who has spent his
LI entire life in this county, and for many years
/ I has been a resident of the town of Wallkill,
was born in October, 1822, in the town of Craw
ford. His parents, Cornelius and Charity (Cum
mins) Sloat, were also natives of this county,
and his father for many years satisfactorily and
efficiently filled the position of Postmaster of
Pine Bush; also at different times served iu other
responsible positions,- the duties of which he al
ways discharged in an able and energetic man
ner. His death occurred iu 1850, and -his good
wife followed him in death some years later.
During his boyhood years Alexander C. Sloat

JOSEPH EMMET MOORE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

967

had such educational advantages as the district
schools of his neighborhood afforded, but the
broad information he now possesses has been
gained rather by self-culture than by training in
schools. His life has been an uneventful one,
unmarked by thrilling events, but he has pursued
the even tenor of his way peacefully and busily,
making friends with all whom business or social
relations brought him into contact. In youth he
learned the trade of a wagon-maker, and this oc
cupation he has followed almost continuously
since, and although now in the twilight of life
he still does considerable work at his trade.
In 1850 Mr. Sloat took unto himself a help
mate, Miss Matilda Farnham becoming his wife.
This excellent lady is a daughter of Stephen
Farnham, who was born in this county and spent
his entire life here. The union of Mr. and Mrs.
Sloat was blessed by the birth of six children,
two of whom are deceased. Those who survive
are Annie, wife of Theodore Comfort, of this coun
ty; Stephen, who resides in Middletown; Em
mett, who is studying for the ministry, and is
now at home; and Mary, who is a successful
teacher in the schools of Bloomfield, N.J. In
their religious connections Mr. and Mrs. Sloat
are members of the Presbyterian Church. Dur
ing his younger years he was a Democrat in
politics, but for the past few years he has cast
his ballot with the Republicans. He is a man of
noble character and has a host of friends in the
town. (S-  ,.. *=***l<- ¦*, > •*****?-«>  ¦— '•-
(JOSEPH EMMET MOORE. Among the
I farmers and stock-raisers who have been
(2) prominent in securing the high standing of
this county as a great agricultural center, no
name is more worthy of mention than that of Mr.
Moore. For many years he has been a resident
of the town of Greenville, and here he has de
veloped a farm that is first-class in all its appoint
ments, and is conceded to be one of the best
regulated estates of the locality. The place con
sists of ninety-nine acres, supplied with a fine
set of conveniently arranged buildings, and its

broad and well tilled fields yield large harvests
and a good annual income. In addition to gen
eral farming, he is extensively engaged in buy
ing and selling hides, and also carries on a large
trade as a wholesale butcher.
In the town of Wallkill Mr. Moore was born
May 7, 1839, being the only child of Jacob and
Eunice (Parsons) Moore. His father, who was
a native of Wallkill, died when only twenty-seven
years of age, and afterwards his mother married
M. L. McGill, of the same town. She was born
in Wallkill, and died there August 12, 1863, hav
ing had by her second marriage the following
children: Eugenia, nowthe wife of J. W Racket,
of the town of Greenville; Josephine, Mrs. John
Clark, of Ellenville, N: Y.; Morgan L., who de
parted this life July 19, 1891; Chauncey, a resi
dent of Hudson County, N. Y. ; and Charles E.,
whose death occurred at the age of twenty-one,
April 17, 1876.
When too young to realize his loss, our subject
was orphaned by his father's death, after which
he made his home with his grandfather and an
uncle. At the age of seventeen he began for
himself, securing a position on a farm, and being
thus occupied for three years in the town of
Wallkill. Later he was employed in a butcher-
shop in Newburgh for a year, after which he
came to the town of Greenville and made his
home on a farm with his stepfather, being en
gaged mainly in buying and selling stock. Aft
er his marriage December 26, 1863, to Miss Sarah
Jane, daughter of Isaac and Harriet Jane (Schultz)
Van Ness, he settled upon a rented farm in the
town of Minisink, where he remained for one
year, engaged in farming and butchering, and
carrying on a wholesale meat trade in Port Jervis.
On coming to the town of Greenville, Mr.
Moore purchased a farm, where he remained two
years, then spent three years on another farm in
this town, and afterward, in 1870, he bought the
farm that he still owns. At the time of pur
chase it had a tannery upon it, and this he ran
for two years. He and his wife are the parents
of seven children. Lewis Edgar, who is collector
and solicitor for the East River Gas Company in
New York City, married Emily Seigel; Lulu

43

968

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Eugenia is the wife of William H. Hunt, who is
engaged in the milk business in New York City;
James M , a merchant of Greenville, married
Minnie J. Hallock; Hattie Idella married John
G. Seely, a wholesale and retail milk dealer of
New York City ; Perry Van Ness, who cultivates
the home farm and is a great help to his father
in the work, married Florence Annie Carpen
ter; Cleta, May and Flora Alda are with their
parents. As a farmer and stock-raiser M»r. Moore has
shown himself to be practical, skillful and pro
gressive, and through his unaided exertions he
has risen from poverty to a position among the
substantial men of the town. He is a man of
good habits, his honesty, integrity and stability
of character are well known, and his credit is
good in financial circles. In politics, as in other
matters, "he has decided opinions, and gives his
vote and influence to the Republican party. So
cially he belongs to Neversink Lodge No. 358,
I. O. O. F. For thirty-five years he has been a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which church his wife is also a member, and has
always been one of its most generous contrib
utors, having given one-third of the amount
necessary for the erection of the church at Green
ville, and in other ways assisted in its progress.

HENRY G. CUDDEBACK, who is prominent
among the farming interests of the town of
Deerpark, is located on a tract of three
hundred acres. He was born on his present farm
on the 17th of October, 1849, and is a son of
George and Margaret (Carpenter) Cuddeback.
His grandfather, Henry Cuddeback, married
Esther Gumaer, a sister of Peter Gumaer, and to
them were born seven children: Jacob, who died
near Milford, Pa.; Simeon, who also passed away
near the same place; George, the father of our
subject; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Van Fleet;
Syntche, wife of David Swartwout; Catherine,
wife of Abraham J. Cuddeback; and Huldah,
wife of David Westfall.
The third son of this family, George Cudde

back, was born in Huguenot, Orange County,
August 10, 1815, and when eighteen years of
age removed with his father to the present home
of our subject. It was Maj. John Decker who
purchased it from the Indians in 1732, giving as
compensation various cooking utensils, powder,
lead, etc., and the original survey was made by
Peter E. Gumaer, December 6, 1799. On the
2 ist of December, 1848, George Cuddeback mar
ried Miss Margaret Carpenter, who was born
March 24, 1824, and was a daughter of John D.
and Catherine (Westfall) Carpenter. Her father
was a son of Benjamin and Margaret (Decker)
Carpenter, the latter a daughter of Major Decker.
Mr. and Mrs. Cuddeback became the parents of
seven children: Henry G., of this sketch; John
D., who died September 14, 1871, at the age of
twenty-one years; Mary Ellen, Esther and Mar
garet Alice, who died in. childhood within a few
days of one another; Martha, the wife of Reuben
P. Bell; and George, at home. In 1883 the father
purchased a farm adjoining that of our subject,
where he made his home until his death, which
occurred on the 18th of January, 1889.
Henry G. Cuddeback has been twice married.
In 1878 he wedded Miss Libbie A. O'Reilly, a
daughter of Thomas O'Reilly, of Cochecton,
N. Y., but after one year of married life she
died, on the 29th of November, 1879. His sec
ond union, which was celebrated February 28,
1883, was with Miss Sarah Whitlock, a daugh
ter of Benjamin and Jane (Swartwout) Whitlock,
of Lyons, N. Y. , and her birth occurred in that
city, May 29, 1848. Her father was also born in
Lyons, but while young spent three years in
Orange County. Her mother was a daughter of
Philip and Esther (Westbrook) Swartwout, but
the latter before marrying Mr. Swartwout was
the widow of a Mr. Westfall.
After attaining his majority Mr. Cuddeback
spent two years in teaching in Iowa, but later re
turned to the farm, where he remained for the
same length of time, after which he became pay
master for Ross & Sanford, builders of docks
and bridges of Jersey City, N. J., being stationed
both in Newburgh, N. Y., and in Virginia. On
leaving that firm he again made another trip

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

969

West, and for- two years he also carried on the
grocery business in Port Jervis. He is now em
ployed in the cultivation and improvement of his
home farm of one hundred and eighty acres, and
also a tract of one hundred and ten acres, the
latter the old A. J. Cuddeback homestead. In
connection with general farming he is also en
gaged to some extent in stock-raising and the
dairy business. He is an industrious, hard-work
ing man, and his place indicates the thrift and
enterprise of the owner. His estimable wife
holds membership with the Reformed Church.

->-»  •••;>K®8^®H<j*- — ¦*--*-

KOBERT W. SHAW. Upon one of the finest
farms of the town of Wallkill we find the
home of Mr. Shaw, a native-born son of
Orange County and prominent and well known
as a member of its farming community. Through
his activity in developing the agricultural re
sources of his town, he has materially promoted
its rise and progress. For almost a quarter of a
century he has owned and occupied his present
farm, which consists of one hundred and forty
acres of land, amply provided with buildings of a
neat and substantial class, and all the modern ap
pliances for carrying on agriculture to the best
advantage. In the county where he has since resided Mr.
Shaw was born August 30, 1832, being a son of
Alexander W. and Adeline (Welch) Shaw, na
tives of this county, who passed their entire lives
within its limits. His father learned the tanner's
trade in his youthful years, and this he followed
for a time, though his latter years were main
ly devoted to the occupation of an agricultur
ist. He was a man who had the esteem of all
who knew him. The interests of the community
he made his, and as a true citizen he aided in
many ways its development and progress. He
died in 1852, when Robert W. was twenty years
old, and his wife passed away some six years
later. The education of our subject was gained prin

cipally in the Wallkill Academy at Middletown.
He was reared on a farm and has made agricult
ure his life work. In 1872 he came to the fine
farm upon which he still lives, devoting his at
tention largely to the dairy business. In 1857 he
married Miss Mary E., daughter of Abraham
Brink, a resident of the town of Wallkill. Their
union was blessed by the birth of seven children,
ofwhom one daughter, Elizabeth S., was taken
hence by death at the age of thirteen years.
Those who are living are as follows: Addie;
DimickB.; Alexander H., of this county; Abra
ham B., a jeweler in New Rochelle, N. Y.; Hat-
tie N. ; and Minnie W., the wife of George B.
Harris, of Orange County .
In his political views Mr. Shaw is conservative
and votes for the man whom he deems best quali
fied for office, no matter what his political affilia
tions may be. He and his wife are members of
the Presbyterian Church, and find in its fellowship
and activities an abundant field for their religious
efforts. His life work, farming, he has followed
with good success. He has a pleasant home,
good barn, improved machinery and the other con
veniences of a first-class farm, and the finely im
proved acres give evidence of the care and super
vision of a thrifty and industrious owner.

HARRY VAN DEWATER. This gentleman
occupies a prominent place among the most
sagacious farmers of the town of Wallkill.
While using his influence to advance the devel
opment and financial standing of his community,
he has secured a good living and is classed among
the well-to-do men of his town. The farm which
he owns and where he makes his home consists of
one hundred and fifty acres of arable land, upon
which have been placed good improvements, in
cluding a neat residence. Though not neglecting
the raising of grain, he has made the milk indus
try his specialty, and keeps at present some forty
cows. In the town of Montgomery, this county, Mr.
Van Dewater was born November 11, 1864, his
parents being John and Sarah E. (Bookstaver)

970

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Van Dewater, natives of this county. His father,
who has spent his life in agricultural pursuits, re
tired from active business cares in 1893, and
since that time he and his estimable wife have
been living quietly in their rural home, sur
rounded by every comfort which their tastes ren
der necessary. Our subject received his primary
education in the district schools, but subsequently
entered the Montgomery school, which he at
tended for a brief period. He was reared on a
farm, and has spent much of his life in this occu
pation, though for a time he was an attendant in
the State Asylum at Middletown.
The marriage of Harry Van Dewater took
place April 10, 1890, at which time Miss Agnes
Wilbur became his wife. Mrs. Van Dewater is a
daughter of James and Margaret (Mclntyre)
Wilbur, the former a native of New York and the
latter of Massachusetts. Mrs. Wilbur is still liv
ing, making her home with her daughter at Pine
Bush. Two children bless the union of Mr. and
Mrs. Van Dewater, interesting daughters, named
respectively Jennie Klein and Helen Louise. In
their religious connections Mr. and Mrs. Van De-
water are identified with the Dutch Reformed
Church. Politically he is an ally of the Demo
cratic party, in which he is quite active, though
not an office-seeker.

C^-

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=0

V A ATTHIAS R. HARDEN. This progress-
Jr ive and well-to-do agriculturist of Orange
(9 County has made his home in the town of
Wawayanda since 1855. He finds both pleasure
and profit in cultivating the soil, and tends to
raise the standard of his chosen occupation by
means of dignity and ability. His fine estate,
including ninety-eight acres, is pleasantly lo
cated, and is embellished with large and commo
dious barns, and a substantial brick residence,
which was erected in 1870.
Mr. Harden was born in Sussex County, N. J.,
May 13, 1825, and is the son of Joshua, and
grandson of Thomas, Harden. Our subject's

mother, formerly Hannah Rogers, had nine chil
dren, of whom three died unnamed. Hosea is
deceased; Miles is a farmer of Sussex County,
N. J.; Mary, who is deceased, became the wife
of James Dennis; Tharp is a resident of Sussex
County, N. J.; our subject was the next-born.
The father of this family passed his entire life
in his native county, engaged in farm pursuits.
He was fairly well-to-do in this world's goods,
and at the time of his decease, in 1844, when in
his sixty-second year, left his family comfortably
provided for. His wife survived him thirteen
years, passing away in 1857, at the home of her
son Matthias R.
Our subject has followed farming more or less
ever since old enough to be of assistance to his
father, and it was very natural that when em
barking in life for himself he should choose this
vocation. However, for a number of years be
fore his marriage he worked at the carpenter's
trade. He was married, January 6, 1853, to Miss
Martha Havens, a native of Luzerne County,
Pa. She was the daughter of Zephaniah and
Elizabeth (Moore) Havens, old settlers of Sus
sex County, N. J. For a number of years they
lived near Abingdon, Luzerne County, Pa., and
it was there that Mrs. Harden was born, July 14,
1829. In 1835 they returned to Sussex County,
N. J., to the old homestead where the father
was born, and both continued to live there until
their deaths. He passed away when in his eighty-
fifth year, and his wife when much younger, her
death occurring in 1845. Four cliildren were
born to our subject and wife: Adley, at home;
Ora, agent for the New York, Susquehanna &
Western Railroad, making his home in Decker-
town, N. J.; Ida, who is the wife of James H.
Smith, of Middletown; and Reeve, living at Ham
burg, N. J., where he is General Agent for the
New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad
Company. Mrs. Harden is a member of the
Methodist Church.
When eighteen years of age young Harden ap
prenticed himself to learn the trade of a carpen
ter, and after mastering the business followed it
for nine years. In 1855, however, he came to
Orange County, purchasing the property which

JOHN WHITLOCK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

973

he now owns, and upon which he has resided
ever since. His knowledge of carpentering proved
very valuable to him during the erection of his
residence, which is built of brick and is finished
in a substantial and pleasing manner. He did the
planning, besides the greater part of the work of
the buildings on the homestead. Mr. Harden
makes use of every acre of his land, and as a reli
able and steady-going citizen has met with success.
In politics he is a supporter of Republican prin
ciples. Interested in all worthy matters that af
fect the welfare of his community, he is always a
willing contributor to public causes. He has
many friends and leads a happy life, surrounded
by a loving family and all the comforts which a
good income can secure.

K

(JOHN WHITLOCK, a farmer of the town of
I Mt. Hope, was born November 12, 1820, in
Q) the town of Deerpark, and is a son of Joel
and Elizabeth (Huff) Whitlock, the former a
native of Connecticut, and the latter of New Jer
sey. Joel Whitlock came to Orange County
when a boy, and during his entire life was en
gaged in farming. He served as a soldier in the
War of 181 2. In politics he was a Republican,
and religiously he was a member of the Reformed
Church, in which body he held the office of
Deacon, and was known far and wide as "Deacon
Whitlock." He died at the age of seventy -one
years, and the mother died suddenly, when sixty-
five years of age.
The subject of this sketch remained at home
with his parents until twenty-two years of age,
and later went to Cayuga County, N. Y., and
worked on a farm with his brother one year. Re
turning to the old homestead, he remained about
five years, and was then married. Coming to the
town of Mt. Hope, he bought the farm on which
he now resides, and which has ever since been
his home. April 6, 1848, hewas married to Miss
Jane Swartout, of the town of Deerpark, who
died, leaving four children, two of whom died

when quite young. Of these children, David
died in early manhood, and Joel is now a resi
dent of Michigan. Mr. Whitlock subsequently
married Miss Mary Tuthill, of the town of Mt.
Hope, and by this union there were born five
children: George, who died in infancy; Emmett,
still at home; Jennie, who married Charles M.
Harding, but is now deceased; Eliza, who is still
at home; and Mary Addie, now the wife of J. C.
Gowdey, of Bloomingburg.
Mr. Whitlock is now the owner of one hundred
and forty-one acres of land, which is under a high
state of cultivation. He combines the dairy bus
iness with general farming, having a nice herd of
graded cattle. The milk he ships to New York
City. His residence is a pleasant one, command
ing a splendid view of the Shawangunk Moun
tains and surrounding valley, and the barn and
other outbuildings are roomy, and are substan
tially built. Taking everything together, his
home is one of the pleasantest in the town.
Although seventy-five years old, he is still able
to work in the field, and is a well preserved man.
Politically he is a Republican, but would never
accept a position of any kind.

HJ. SHELLEY, M. D., of Ridgebury, in the
town of Wawayanda, is a native of Water-
ford, Conn., born March 26, 1863, and is
the son of L- O. and Sarah A. (Daniels) Shelley.
His early life was spent on the home farm, and
his primary education was received in the public
schools. He graduated from the High School of
New London, and later, when fourteen years of
age, commenced the study of medicine, having
natural inclinations in that direction. In 1886
he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cin
cinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1889,
also taking a special course on the eye and ear in
Pulte Homeopathic College.
Soon after his graduation, or April 23, 1889,
Dr. Shelley was united in marriage with Miss
Georgia Harmon, a daughter of Col. Joseph Har
mon, who was killed during the late war. They
have two children, Beatrice H. and Leander.

974

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Dr. Shelley commenced the practice of medi
cine at New London, Conn., and there remained
until June, 1894, when he came to Ridgebury.
While in New London he was City Physician
three years and a member of the Board of Health
several years. He was also Medical Examiner
for the Knights and Ladies of Columbus, United
Order of the Golden Cross, of Endowment Rank,
K. of P. , and of the Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company. In 1892 he was Surgeon-General on
the staff of General Fox, of the Loyal Legion.
Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pyth
ias and the Independent Order of Red Men, and
in political matters he is a Republican, being a
member of the Republican County Central Com
mittee. In August, 1895, he was elected School
Trustee. Mrs. Shelley is a member of the Pres
byterian Church.
Since coming to Ridgebury Dr. Shelley has
built up quite an extensive practice, and is recog
nized as a physician of more than ordinary abil
ity, keeping well posted on all matters pertaining
to his profession.

$m

Wj B. AUSTIN, a native ofthe town of
lr Wawayanda, was born September 11, 1848,
(3 and is the son of James C. and Elizabeth
(Courtwright) Austin, who were the parents of
ten children, six sons and four daughters. His
paternal grandfather was Abraham Austin. Our
subject was reared on a farm, receiving his educa
tion in the district school, and on reaching the
age of seventeeu years he began working in a
creamery, continuing there until 1871, a period
of six years. He then determined to learn the
carpenter's trade, and for the succeeding three
years served as an apprentice. At the close of his
apprenticeship he was made foreman of a gang of
men, whom he continued to manage until 1880,
when he turned his attention to manufacturing.
After six years he returned to his trade, at which
he is still engaged.
On the 17th of November, 1870, Mr. Austin

married Miss Malinda Wickham, and two children
were born to them: Harry O., who died at the
age of eight years; and Edna L. Their home
stead consists of ten acres, and they have a neat,
comfortable house, which during the summer
months is usually occupied with boarders. In
1 88 1 Mr. Austin was first elected Town Clerk,
and later was re-elected, serving six years. Aft
er an intermission of four years he was again
elected to the office, and has now served altogether
a period of eleven years. He is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically is a
Democrat. Every enterprise calculated to up
build his native place receives from him a cor
dial support.

_*****•"

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~T MMETT E. WOOD. The firm of Wood &
*3 Baldwin, of Middletown, embarked in the
_ _ livery business on James Street in 1891, and
has since carried on a large trade in their line. In
addition to this concern, they are proprietors ofa
sandbank of limitless capacity, which they have
successfully operated, securing from it every va
riety of sand. As business men they are keen,
shrewd and far-seeing, and the success with which
they have met is the reward of their industrious
efforts. The senior member of the firm, who forms the
subject of this article, was born at Key Port,
Monmouth County, N. J., in 1855. He is a son
of John E. W0°d, a native of Little Britain,
Orange County, where his father, Isaac, was born,
reared and engaged in farm pursuits. The fam
ily are heirs of the Tonley estate in England, and
the first of the name to settle in this country ac
companied the Puritans hither in the historic
"Mayflower." John E. Wood removed from
this county to Key Port, on Raritan Bay, where
he was extensively aud successfully engaged in
the manufacture of brick. For a short time prior
to settling there he was engaged in the ice busi
ness at Rockland Lake, and assisted in the organ
ization of the now well known Knickerbocker
Ice Company; also carried on a retail ice business
in New York City. From Monmouth County he

COL. CHARLES H. SHEPARD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

975

returned to Orange County and purchased a farm
in the town of Wawayanda, two miles south of
Middletown, and containing one hundred and
twenty-eight acres.
On that place, which was known as the Knick
erbocker Stock Farm, John E. Wood engaged iu
raising horses until his death, which occurred in
1889, at the age of sixty-three. From youthful
years he showed a decided fondness for a fine ani
mal, and while in New Jersey he owned the fast
est road team in Monmouth County. While
there he also bought the mare "Lady Patchen,"
by "George M. Patchen." She was the dam of
"Knickerbocker," by "Old Hambletonian," the
name being given the colt after the Knickerr
bocker Ice Company. In December, 1866, on
removing from the town of Wawayanda, "Knick
erbocker" was shipped here, and from him were
raised colts that were sold throughout the entire
country, including "Onward," "Stephen G."
"Grace" and "Pedro." After the death of Mr.
Wood, our subject sold "Knickerbocker" to
William Morrow, of Nashville, and he died there
in the spring of 1895. He received the first pre
mium wherever exhibited. So wide was his rep
utation that repeatedly large offers of money were
made for him, and as much as $15,500 was re
fused for him by his owner.
Politically John E. Wood was a strong Repub
lican, and in his social connections he was a Ma
son, also a life member of the New York State
Agricultural Society. His wife, who is at pres
ent a resident of Middletown, bore the maiden
name of Amanda Cook, and was born near Pine
Island, or Liberty Corners. Her father, Isaac,
was a descendant of Captain Cook, the great ex
plorer, and for three years was on a whaler; he
was also a schoolteacher and merchant at Liberty
Corners, and for years served as Supervisor, rep
resenting his town on the County Board.
The subject of this sketch is the second of three
children, his sisters being Mary J., wife of Will
iam Sayer, of Middletown; aud Lena, who mar
ried John Ryerson, and lives in the town of Wa
wayanda. Our subject was reared in Key Port
until eleven years of age, when he accompanied
the family to Wawayanda. His education, com

menced iu the public schools, was completed in
Dr. Warren's private school. He remained with
his father, engaged principally in training horses
on the old track, until 1887, when he began in the
livery business on East Main Street. Two years
later he sold out and embarked in the sand busi
ness, forming a partnership with C. G. Baldwin,
with whom he also carries on the livery and sales
stables. His attention is devoted principally to
training horses for speed, and he owned and de
veloped "Bessie," who had a record of 2:17)^,
and was the fastest horse in this locality. The
training stables are situated at the Campbell track,
and close attention is paid to this branch of the
business. In New Hampton, this county, Mr. Wood mar
ried Miss Ida Puff, a native of that place, and
daughter of Fowler Puff, who was agent for the
Erie Railroad at that place for a number of years.
Mr., and Mrs. Wood attend the Congregational
Church, and politically he votes the Republican
ticket. He was one of the originators of the Mid
dletown Driving Park Association, in which he is
now a stockholder and Director. He is especially
fond of fine horses, and 110 one is a better judge
of the animal than is he.

7JOL. CHARLES H. SHEPARD was for-
C merly an officer of the regular army, having
^J served in the volunteer service during the
Civil War, and also in the regular service after
the close ofthe war. He is a typical New York
er, and is a native of New York City, the son of
Thomas S. and Elizabeth (Garrison) Shepard.
His grandfather, Jesse Shepard, was a practicing
physician, who at an early day removed from
Connecticut to Schoharie County, N. Y. , where
Thomas S., the father of our subject, was born.
In early life the latter began merchandising, in
which business he continued until late in life,
when he removed to Flushing, L. I., where his
death occurred. The maternal grandfather of
our subject, Hosea Hamilton, was a personal
friend of General Washington, serving as physi
cian on his staff during the Revolutionary War.

976

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Later he was an extensive farmer near Albany,
N. Y. Elizabeth ( Garrison) Shepard, the moth
er of our subject, was a daughter of Judge Harry
Garrison, who was born on Staten Island, and
who was one of the sugar-house prisoners in New
York City. He also served in the Revolutionary
War, later was a farmer, and for some years was
County Judge. Garrison on the Hudson, oppo
site West Point, was named in his honor.
The subject of this sketch was third iu a fam
ily of six children, three ofwhom are living, but
the Colonel was the only sou. He grew to man
hood in New York City, where he attended high
school and in his young manhood entered into
business life for five years, or until the breaking
out of the war, serving as clerk in a mercantile
establishment. In August, 1862, he enlisted in
the New York Mounted Rifles, and was mustered
into the service as a private. Soon afterwards,
however, he received a commission, and was first
on detached service in the Adjutant-General's
Department at Washington, and later on the
staff of Generals Weitzel, Wister and Butler, serv
ing until the close of the war. His last service
in the war was having in charge a large com
missary depot on the Appomattox River, which
was a branch of General Grant's headquarters.
He was mustered out of the volunteer service in
November, 1865, and in February, 1866, was
commissioned to the regular United States service,
as Second Lieutenant of the Ninth United States
Infantry. The appointment and commission came
to him unasked. He was first stationed iu New
York Harbor, after which he was sent to Arizo
na, Colorado, Wyoming, San Francisco and other
places in the West, doing duty principally as
Quartermaster. Later he was promoted to be
First Lieutenant serving as such until 1871,
when he resigned and retired to private life.
After his resignation, Colonel Shepard located
at Flushing, L- I., wherte he remained until 1878,
and then removed to Orange County, and in 1880
located in Middletown, where he purchased his
present fine residence property on Highland
Avenue. This is one of its finest places in the
city, being on one of the highest elevations, and
the lawn in front of the house comprises three

acres of land. On coming to this city he accept
ed a position with the First National Bank as a
clerk, but could not stand the confinement, aud
therefore resigned after a few years.
Colonel Shepard was married, at Flushing,
L- I-, to Miss Emily Lawrence, who was born
there aud who was a daughter of Hon. John W.
Lawrence, for many years President of the Sev
enth Ward Bank of New York City, now the
Seventh National Bank. They have one child,
Robert Lawrence. In politics Colonel Shepard
is a stanch Republican, and in religious belief is
a Presbyterian. He is a member of the Loyal
Legion in Philadelphia, and was one of its char
ter members.

•?>>«-§**(f||)®H<»-

3OSEPH E. LITTLE was born June 10,
1 83 1, upon the farm in the town of Wallkill
where he has since made his home. He is
in order of birth the fifth among the children of
Joseph and Hannah (Harlow) Little, natives of
Orange County, both of whom spent their entire
lives here. His father, when a young man,
learned the trade of a wagon-maker, which he
followed exclusively for a number of years. Later
he embarked in general farming, aud carried on
the two occupations for some time, after which
he concentrated his entire attention upon agri
culture. At the age of seventy he retired from
active business cares and from that time until his
death, in January, 1874, he passed his days in the
enjoyment of the comforts which his judicious la
bors had accumulated. His wife passed away-
several years after his demise.
When a boy the subject of this sketch was a
pupil iu the district schools, laying there the
foundation of the extensive information he has
since acquired through self-culture. With the
exception of two years spent in the West, he has
known no other home than the place where he
was born. This farm consists of one hundred
aud twenty acres of improved laud, upon which
stand a neat residence and model outbuildings.

CHARLES G. MYGATT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

979

While he gives some attention to general farm
ing, his principal industry is the milk business.
The marriage of Mr. Little in November, 1862,
united him with Miss Augusta, daughter of Ga
briel and Sarah A. (McWilliams) Myers, all na
tives of this county. Mrs. Little departed this
life iii 1876, and two years later our subject was
united in marriage with Miss Susan M., daugh
ter of Warren and Lucinda (Roe) Woodruff, of
Orange County. One daughter blesses this union,
H. Belle, who is now a student in the Middletown
Academy. In religious connections Mr. Little
and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian
Church, in which he is serving as an Elder and
Trustee. He is a Republican politically, and on
that ticket has been chosen to serve in a number
of local offices, the duties of which he has dis
charged with efficiency.

<C*************^************!X>
EHARLES G. MYGATT, whose home is in
Port Jervis, is an engineer on the Delaware
Division of the Erie Railroad, and comes
from a family many members of which have been
identified with railroading in one way or another.
He is one of the best known engineers on the
road and has been a faithful and trusted employe.
It has been said of him that ' 'he is a walking New
York Tribune in two editions' ' as regards infor
mation on all matters relating to the history of
the Erie Railroad and those connected with it for
thirty years past.
In tracing the ancestry of our subject, we find
that one Joseph Mygatt was born in England in
1596, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and,
with his wife, Ann, crossed the Atlantic in 1632,
in the good ship "Griffin," having as fellow-
passengers Revs. Thomas Hooker, John Cotton
and William Stone. They arrived at Boston Sep
tember 4, and soon took up their abode at Newton,
one of the outlying villages. This was the eighth
society founded in the Massachusetts Colony, and
Rev. Mr. Hooker became pastor of the Newton
church. Joseph Mygatt received "four acres by
the Pine Swamp, ' ' but within a few years the lit
tle colony, desiring larger quarters, started for

Connecticut, and settled in the vicinity of Hart
ford. They named their new location in honor
of the old Newton Colony whence they came, but
in February, 1637, the name was changed to
Hartford, in honor of the English birthplace of
Rev. Mr, Stone. They obtained the title to their
land from the Indians, and Joseph Mygatt was
granted thirty -five acres, besides a homestead of
six acres, on the west bank of the Connecticut
River. In 1640 he was made one of twelve com
missioners for the division ofthe land on the east
side of the river. He was honored with many
local positions, and for twelve sessions represented
Hartford in the General Court. The years of his
active public life were between 1640 and 1669.
His last will is dated November 27, 1676, and
four years later' he was called to his final rest, De
cember 7, 1680. His wife, Ann, whom he had
married in England, died in 1686. Their only
son was Jacob, who was born about 1633, while
a daughter, Mary, was born in 1637. The An
cient Burying -ground Association of Hartford
erected a monument to Joseph Mygatt and wife.
The son Jacob, just mentioned, married Sarah
Whiting, the marriage settlement being dated
November 27, 1654. Their son Joseph married
Sarah Webster, November 15, 1677, an(l died in
March, 1688, leaving nine children. Joseph, the
next in line of descent, married Elizabeth Ste
phens, and died December 27, 1724, in Hartford.
His four children were Jacob, Joseph, Sarah and
Mary. Joseph married Elizabeth Starr, by whom
he had eight children, and his death occurred in
Danbury, Conn., in 1749. His sou Thomas,
born in 1735, moved to Dutchess County, N. Y.,
where he died in October, 1799. His wife, who
was previously Christiana Fairfield, died in April,
1800, leaving four children, German, Horace,.
Milton and Nelson. Joseph, of the seventh gen
eration, born July 5, 1771, married Sarah Ger
man, and died in Cornish, Chenango County,
N. Y., in 1828. His son Horace married Harriet
Crandall, of Deposit, N. Y., June 16, 1834, and
died there September 13, 1852, at the age of fifty-
one. His wife departed this life on her birthday,
August 19, 1894, aged eighty-eight years.
C. G. Mygatt was born November 2, 1838, in

980

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Deposit, N. Y., and was only fourteen years of
age when he commenced to work on railroad con
struction, distributing spikes aud assisting in lay
ing tracks. In 1853 he was made fireman on the
Delaware Division of the Erie Railroad, between
Port Jervis and Susquehanna. October 13, 1856,
he was given an engine, remaining in charge of
the same until 1859, when he commenced run
ning over the entire division. Up to 1862 hewas
in the freight transportation department, but for
the past thirty-two years has been an engineer on
passenger trains. For two years he has been in
charge of the milk train, a day run. In his long
service he has met with few accidents, but in
1862 his engine struck a caboose and capsized,
falling into the river. Again, in 1870, when
running at full speed, a flange on the wheel broke
and the engine turned completely over. The
fireman jumped off, was run over and killed, but
our subject, who stuck to his engine, was not
seriously injured. In 1861, during a collision,
he jumped from the engine, and thus escaped in
jury. He may well be proud ofthe fact that in
these long years not a single passenger has ever
been killed on his train. For twelve years he was
in charge of Engine No. 33, which was an old
favorite. January 15, 1873, C. G. Mygatt was married,
in Warren, Ohio, to Catherine Shoenberger, of
that city. Their only child, Louis, born Febru
ary 21, 188 1, died on the 8th of October, 1888.
Mrs. Mygatt's sister Olive is the wife of A. T.
Palmer, Superintendent of the Union Pacific
Railroad at Kansas City, Mo. Mrs. Mygatt, who
is a lady of fine education and intellectual attain
ments, was one of the belles of her day in War
ren. Our subject's father, Horace Mygatt, was pres
ent at the time the first shovelful of dirt was dug
when the Erie Railroad was commenced at De
posit. Hewas a contractor on that line, and had
also built a portion of the Erie Canal. His son
Henry P. runs an engine on the Summit grade
of the Erie Railroad, and his engine, which
weighs one hundred and five tons, is one of the
largest in the world. A sister of our subject's
mother married Alexander Main, First Auditor

of the Erie Railroad; another sister became the
wife of John B. Girard, an old conductor, and
formerly agent of the Erie Railroad; another
married N. A. Guerney, late Chief Civil Engineer
of the Erie lines and a resident of New York; and
a fourth sister's husband was Solomon Jones,
who for years was a train dispatcher on the El
mira & Northern Central Railroad. In his po
litical faith Mr. Mygatt has long been identified
with the Republican party.

•£5 ABRIEL H. LEE, of the town of Wallkill,
— is a native of this county, and was born in
J the town of Greenville, in 1836. His par
ents, Jeptha B. and Catherine (Courtright) Lee,
were also natives of this county, where they spent
their entire lives, the former dying at the vener
able age of eighty-seven, and the latter attaining
the advanced age of eighty-eight. A life-long
agriculturist, the father was a quiet, industrious
and honorable man, and held the regard of his
fellow-citizens, by whom he was elected to a num
ber of local offices of trust . During the War of 1 8 1 2
he enlisted in the service of our country, and re
mained in the army until the close ofthe conflict.
In partial compensation for his services, he was
given a land warrant by the Government, and
was also in receipt of a pension until the time of
his death.
The parental family consisted of eight children,
five ofwhom are living, namely: Gabriel H.;
John P., who resides with a sister in Matamoras,
Pa.; Mrs. Hannah E. McConnell, whose home
is in Wisconsin; Miss Jennie, of Port Jervis, N. Y. ;
and Mrs. Catherine Quick, of Matamoras, Pa.
In boyhood our subject had only such advantages
as the common schools afforded. He was reared
upon a farm, and has spent his entire life in the
occupation of an agriculturist, being now the
owner of a well improved farm of forty acres in
the town of Wallkill, where he makes his home.
In 1858 he married Miss Eleanor Crummel,
whose parents resided in Pennsylvania. She

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

981

died in 1866, leaving two children, namely: Will
iam, who resides- in Wisconsin; and Fred, of
Washington, D. C. The present wife of Mr.
Lee bore the maiden name of Clara Parsons, and
was a daughter of Gilbert L. Parsons, a resident
of the town of Wallkill. Two sons bless this
union, Gilbert B. and Winfield, the former a clerk
in Middletown, and the latter at home.
As his father served valiantly in the War of
18 1 2, so fifty years afterward our subject dis
played his patriotic spirit by enlisting in the Un
ion army. He served creditably in a Wisconsin
regiment until he was disabled and consequently
discharged. In politics he is a pronounced Re
publican, and upon the ticket of his party he
was elected Overseer of the Poor, receiving a
majority of one hundred and seventy-four votes.
He filled that position creditably, as indeed he
has done in all local offices to which he has been
elected. gENJAMIN CUDDEBACK, a prosperous
farmer located at Cuddebackville, was born
May 23, 1840, on the place where he now
lives, the old house having stood on the very
same site of his present home. His parents were
James and Catherine (Cuddeback) Cuddeback, the
former a son of William A. and Charlotte (Van
Inwegen) Cuddeback, and the latter a daughter
of Benjamin and Blandina (Van Etten) Cudde
back. The name was formerly spelled Caudebec, and
the founder ofthe family iu this country was Jacob
Caudebec, who wedded Margaret Provost, and
to them were born the following children, who
took the name of Codebec: Benjamin, William,
James, Abraham, Jacob, Elsie, Morice, Dinah,
Eleanor and Naomi. William Codebec wedded
Jemima Elting, and they became the parents of
five children, who assumed the present form of
spelling the name. They were James, Capt.
Abraham, Benjamin, Roulif and Sarah. Capt.
Abraham was united in marriage with Esther
Gumaer, and they had six children: Col. Will
iam A., Peter G., Jacob, Cornelius, Esther and
Jemima. Col. William A. Cuddeback, the grand

father of our subject, married Charlotte Van In
wegen, and they became the parents of nine chil
dren: Samuel, Abraham, Margaret, Ezekiel, Har-
manus, William, Col. Peter, James and Lewis.
James Cuddeback, the father of Benjamin, was
twice married, his first wife being Jemima Cud
deback, a daughter of Cornelius Cuddeback, who
was a son of Capt. Abraham Cuddeback, and a
cousin of himself. They had one son, Cornelius,
who is residing in the town of Deer Park, near
Otisville. The father's birth occurred March 18,
1799, and on the ist of August, 1829, he mar
ried Catherine Cuddeback, who was born June
6, 1809. By this union five children were born,
three sons and two daughters: Lewis, Benjamin,
Levi, Caroline and Jane. The father died Octo-
tober 12, 1883, and the mother, who survived
him about four years, passed away October 3,
1887. The former was a farmer by occupation,
and owned the land now comprised in the farms
belonging to his two sons, Benjamin and Lewis.
This property was purchased by the grandfather,
who lived to an advanced age, and whom our
subject slightly remembers. The father erected
the present home of Benjamin in 1848, with
whom both he and his wife resided until their
deaths. She was a member of the Reformed
Church, and in politics he affiliated with the
Democracy. The father was nearly six feet tall,
a hard-working man, and attended strictly to
his business interests.
The boyhood days of Benjamin Cuddeback were
passed in the usual manner of farmer lads, assist
ing in the labors of the fields, and in attend
ance at the district schools. On the 2d of Decem
ber, 1863, Miss Eliza Whitlock became his wife.
She was born February 27, 1841, and is a niece
of Aaron, and a daughter of Joseph and Sally
(Van Etten) Whitlock, who had two other daugh
ters: Jane, the wife of Job Van Inwegen; and
Jemima, wife of William Norris, of Port Clinton,
N. Y. Her father, who was born December 13,
1808, died March 3, 1848, at the age of forty
years. On the 17th of November, 1836, he had
married Sally Van Etten, who was born July 22,
1813, and her death occurred January 11, 1873.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cuddeback were born four

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

children. Joseph died in infancy; Elting, born
March 29, 1867, is an attendant at the State
Hospital in Middletown, N. Y.; Myron Whit
lock, boru December 28, 1868, is at home; and
Sarah Catherine, born June 14, 187 1, is with her
parents. The mother and her children are mem
bers of the Reformed Church. In his political
views Mr. Cuddeback is a stalwart Democrat,
which party always receives his support, and by
his fellow-citizens he was elected to the office of
Road Commissioner, which position he has now
filled for sixteen years to the satisfaction of all
concerned. He is a man of sound judgment and
one whose opinions are held in general respect.

+z

rnjK

HEODORE M. ROBERSON. Orange
County is justly proud of her native-born
citizens, who are honorably bearing their
share in sustaining her interests and extending
her wealth. Among these is the subject of this
brief biographical review, who is one ofthe most
progressive and prominent farmers of the town of
Crawford. Within its confines he owns an estate
of two hundred and forty acres, which was one of
the first cleared in this section many years ago.
Mr. Roberson was born in the town of New
Windsor, August 6, 1839, and was the son of
Samuel and Margaret (Martin) Roberson. The
father is now living iu Bullville, this state, in
which locality he is well known and highly re
garded. He was formerly engaged in the hotel
business, also carried on a thriving business as
general merchant at Searsville, and was engaged
in other enterprises in the town of Crawford. At
present he is retired from business of any kind,
and is taking life easy. For a full history of this
gentleman the reader is referred to his sketch
elsewhere in this volume.
Our subject remained at home until attaining
mature years, in the mean time receiving a good
education in the public schools. August 19, 1862,
he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and
Twenty-fourth New York Infantry, one of the

noted regiments of the army. He received the ap
pointment of First Sergeant, and as such partici
pated in many noted battles. May 3, 1863, he
fought in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he
was wounded in the right knee. He was taken
to the hospital at Philadelphia, where he was con
fined until September, when he returned to his
regiment and was mustered in as Second Lieuten
ant. In the spring of 1864 he was promoted to
be First Lieutenant, and in January, 1865, was
commissioned Captain, the duties of which office
he discharged until the close of the war. On be
ing mustered out, in June, 1865, Captain Rober
son returned to this county and engaged in farm
ing on his father's estate. He was also made
agent for the Middletown & Crawford Railroad, a
branch of the Erie Road at Bullville, where his
parents were then living.
November 27, 1867, occurred the marriage of
our subject with Miss Josephine Bull. To them
have been born four children, namely: Louis,
still at home; Margaret, the wife of Elmer E.
Rosencrans, of Walden, N. Y.; Clarence D. and
Amy, still under the parental roof. The land
which they reside upon was first cleared and oc
cupied by Daniel Bull, formerly one ofthe oldest
residents of the county.
Mr. Roberson is thoroughly acquainted with
the business in which he is engaged, and is mak
ing a decided success of cultivating the soil. He
is well liked in his community, and is justly re
garded as one of its most substantial residents. In
politics he is a stalwart Democrat, and socially is
a member of Capt. William Jackson Post No.
301, G. A. R., of Middletown.

****,<_«„****^r|

qOHN E. LEEMON, M. D., was born No-
I vember 27, 1871, in Middletown, which has
(2) been the only home he has ever had. His
preliminary education was obtained in the public
schools of this place, and he received the best of
training from his estimable parents, J. B. and
Jane (Frame) Leemon, ofwhom extended men
tion is made elsewhere in this volume. For some
time he was a student in Wallkill Academy, but

JOSEPH P. VAN NESS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

985

left at the close of the junior year. He then en
tered the Cook Academy at Havana, this state,
and remained there until his graduation, in 1891.
Having by a thorough course in literature and
the sciences laid the foundation for future more
extended study, our subject entered the medical
department of the University of New York a few
months after his graduation from the academy.
For three years he carried on his studies, acquir
ing a broad knowledge of the profession, and
graduating from the university May 2, 1894, with
the degree of M. D. At once upon the conclu
sion of his course of study, he returned to Middle-
town and opened an office in this city, where he
has since engaged in the general practice of medi
cine and surgery.
In his social relations he is identified with the
Knights of Pythias, and in politics is a Democrat.

JOSEPH P. VAN NESS. It. is always
pleasant to record the success attending the
efforts of an intelligent and enterprising man.
One of the successful farmers of the town of
Greenville is Mr. Van Ness, who in his agricult
ural affairs has displayed those traits of persever
ance, foresight and tact that are necessary to the
successful prosecution of any occupation. Hon
esty and fairness have characterized all his deal
ings, and his public and private life are alike
above reproach.
In the town of Minisink, this county, near the
village of Westtown, Joseph P, Van Ness was
born February 16, 1840, being the fourth among
the nine children of Isaac M. and Harriet J.
(Schultz) Van Ness. Of this family two died in
infancy, and concerning the others we note the
following: John, the eldest, died when about
twenty-seven years old; Mary E. is the wife of
John Hadden, of Middletown; Deborah married
William S. Labarr, of Sullivan County; Sarah J.
is the wife of J. Emmet Moore, whose biograph
ical sketch will be found on another page of this
volume; Frances E. is the wife of James Mnlford,
of this town; and Alice married Albert Cox, of
Middletown.

Our subject's father, who was the son of Gar
rett Van Ness, a native of Holland, was born in
Pompton Plains, N. J., and accompanied his par
ents to Orange County at an early age. Besides
the occupation of a farmer, he engaged to some
extent in work as a tanner, and made his home
in the town of Minisink until he died, at fifty-one
years of age. His wife, a native of the town of
Wallkill, was a daughter of James and Deborah
(Reeves) Schultz, who were of German extrac
tion. Her death occurred at the age of about
seventy -seven.
In the district schools and Westtown Academy
our subject obtained so good an education, that
when only fourteen years of age he began to teach
school, his first term being taught near Warwick,
this county. Returning from there to his home,
he soon afterward went to New York City, where
he clerked in a restaurant for four months. From
New York City he went to Chemung County
and took a school, but on account of his father's
death he discontinued teaching and returned
home, taking charge of the place until the settle
ment of the estate. Later he went to Sullivan
County and taught school there during the win
ters, while in the summer he engaged in farming
and butchering, also in buying and selling cattle.
Four years were spent in that county, and upon
his return to the town of Greenville he taught
here one winter, then became manager of the
creamery built here by his uncle, William Seeley.
His next venture was the purchase of the farm he
now owns, comprising eighty-seven acres, and
here he has resided since 1862, meantime dealing
in stock and selling meat both to the wholesale
and retail trade. During 1863 and 1864 he was
a partner of his uncle in the creamery business,
which proved a profitable venture.
The marriage of Mr. Van Ness to Miss Martha
Mulford, of this county, was solemnized October
11, 1864, and was one of mutual happiness and
helpfulness until the death of his wife, November
9, 1 89 1. The two children born of the union,
Myrtie A. and Frank H., are also deceased, the
former dying when twenty-three, and the latter
when eight, years old. Politically Mr. Van Ness
is inclined to be very liberal and independent,

986

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

binding himself to nonparty or platform. For fif
teen years he has been Assessor of the town. His
actions in life have been directed by energy, per
severance and sagacity of judgment, combined
with honorable and conscientious dealings, that
have raised him to a high place in the estimation
of his fellow -citizens. His farm is in a productive
condition, which speaks well for the ability of
the man who has cultivated it for years.

"HEODORE C. WILKIN. Known as an
energetic and efficient farmer, Mr. Wilkin
has through unremitting exertions become
the owner of a valuable farm comprising one hun
dred and fifty-seven acres, all under a good state
of cultivation, and divided into fields of conven
ient size for the pasturage of stock or raising of
cereals. He has embellished his estate with sub
stantial farm buildings and a commodious resi
dence, and is carrying on the work of general
farming systematically and with pleasing success.
In view ofthe fact that he was born May 3,
i860, and is therefore only thirty-five years of
age at present, Mr. Wilkin's success is note
worthy. He is a native of this county, as are
also his parents, Stephen D. and Susan M. (Com
fort) Wilkin. His father, when a young man,
learned the tinner's trade, which he started to
follow and which it was his intention to make his
life work, but the accidental drowning of three
brothers changed his plans and caused him to re
turn home. He took up the farmer's occupation,
which he still follows at the old homestead in the
town of Hamptonburgh. He and his excellent
wife are in the enjoyment of good health and the
regard of their neighbors. Financially they are
well-to-do, and socially they are welcome guests
in the best homes of their town.
The youthful years of our subject were passed
in much the same manner as those of other farmer
boys, alternating attendance at school with labor
at home. He early gained a practical knowledge
of agriculture, and when prepared to start out iu

life for himself naturally chose farming as his vo
cation. For this he was well equipped both by
training aud by his personal inclination. His ed
ucation, which had been conducted in the public
schools and in the Montgomery Academy, also
fitted him for active and practical business af
fairs. As above stated, he now owns one hun
dred and fifty-seven acres of fine land, and here
he resides, making the dairy business his prin
cipal industry.
In 1882 Mr. Wilkin married Miss Agnes E.
Mowbray, daughter of Ralph and Sarah (Smiley)
Mowbray, natives of this county. They have
had six children, but one of their daughters,
Edith, has been taken from home by death. The
others are Irene, Erskine, Charles M., Alma and
Harold, bright and interesting children, in whose
training the parents take the greatest care and in
terest. Politically Mr. Wilkin advocates Demo
cratic theories, always voting the party ticket.
His wife is connected with the Dutch Reformed
Church, but he has not identified himself with any
denomination, though a supporter ofthe church.
He displays a keen appreciation of the best
methods of farming, and has so profited by obser
vation and experience that he is now one of the
most prosperous farmers in his locality.

(JOSEPH D. STAGE, deceased, formerly a
I farmer of the town of Wallkill, was born in
Q) Westtown, this county, March 18, 1828, be
ing a son of Samuel G. and Luzetta Stage, also
of this county. In the schools of the neighbor
hood he gained a fair education, though he was
not able to attend school regularly, being obliged
to assist in the home work. Upon selecting an
occupation he chose that with which he was most
familiar and became a farmer, entering industri
ously upon that work and engaging in it con
stantly until his death, in 1878. Meantime he
also took an active part in public affairs and
served as Assessor of the town, also in a number
of other local offices of trust, including that of
Census Enumerator.
June 21, 1854, Mr. Stage was united in mar-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

987

riage with Miss Mary J. Gregory, who was born
in this county, as were also her parents, Noah
and Sallie M. (Smith) Gregory. In girlhood her
educational advantages were limited to a brief at
tendance at the country schools, but possessing a
large fund of native common-sense, she has pre
sided economically and hospitably over her home
and has reared her children to occupy positions
of usefulness in the world. Her eldest son, Bart-
lett, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; S. Gregory super
intends the home farm; Sarah Luzetta is the wife
of Martin Gregory and lives in this county; Mary
E. is married to Frank Livingston, of Chemung
County, N. Y.; and Noah, the youngest, makes
his home in Sullivan County, this state. Greg
ory, who unfortunately is crippled as a result of
hip trouble, is a young man of intelligence and
excellent judgment, and manages the farm in
such a way as to secure the best results therefrom.
He married Jessie Stage, and they are the par
ents of a daughter, Ethel.
The old homestead consists of three hundred
and fourteen acres and is devoted principally
to the dairy business, an industry from which
good returns are secured. Mrs. Stage is a lady
of stability and firmness of character, and her life
has been one of earnest effort on behalf of her
family. She isa devoted Christian, and with her
children holds membership in the Presbyteriaii
Church at Scotchtown.

"HEODORE WRITER, M. D., a physician
of Otisville, was born July 17, 1837, one
mile south of the village, and he was the
eldest in a family of five children born to Aaron
K. and Abigail" (Penny) Writer. Ofthe other
children we note the following: Daniel D., a tel
egraph operator, who was born February 5, 1839,
died in 1869. Sarah E., born in the town of Mt.
Hope, married Timothy A. Wood, in 1866, and
died in 1885, leaving a son and daughter, Frank
and Abbie. Josephine, also born in this town,
married Robert Penny, of Otisville, and now re
sides in Goshen; they have one son, Daniel. Lou
ise A. now makes her home with our subject.

The founder of this branch of the family in
America was Jasper Writer, who came from Ger
many prior to the Revolutionary War, and land
ed in Philadelphia when a lad, orphaned by the
death of his father, which occurred while cross
ing the Atlantic. He went to live with a fam
ily by the name of Depue, near Lancaster, Pa. ,
and there remained until reaching his majority.
He then went to Phillipsburg, Orange County,
and here, September 8, 1772, he married Eve
Kortright. In 1784 he settled near Otisville, on
the farm now owned and occupied by his great-
grandson, S. R. Writer, and there his death oc
curred November 15, 1842. His wife had passed
away December 21, 1830. Eight children were
born of their union, of whom Aaron was the sec
ond, the date of his birth being April 25, 1776.
He married Elizabeth McKeeby, and they were
the parents of fourteen children, the tenth of the
family being Aaron K. , our subject's father. It
is a noteworthy fact that all of the fourteen chil
dren married and reared families.
In the house where our subject was born, his
father first opened his eyes to the light in 1 8 1 1 .
He was reared on a farm and remained there un
til 1864, when he sold out and removed to the
town of Greenville. His death occurred there in
1871, when about sixty years old. For ten years
prior to his decease he was an invalid, suffering
from a cancer that caused his death. He was a
member of the Presbyterian Church, a good citi
zen and had many friends. His wife was a daugh
ter of Daniel D. and Lucy (Ketcham) Penny, the
latter a native of this town. The former came on
horseback from Long Island to Orange County
when nine years old and settled in Mt. Hope,
where he remained until his death.
The subject of this sketch remained at home,
assisting his father in farm work, until becoming
of age. His primary education was obtained in
the common schools, and his literary education
was finished in the Seward Institute at Florida,
this county, which he attended from 1858 until
1861. He then entered Bellevue Hospital Med
ical College, from which he graduated in March,
1866. For one year after his graduation he re
mained in New York in the practice of his pro-

988

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

fession, when he came to Otisville and formed a
partnership with his preceptor, Dr. A. Cook,
which terminated at the close of two years. Since
that time he has continued alone and has built
up a good practice.
On the 3d of November, 1869, Dr. Writer mar
ried Miss Helen A. Green, a native of the town
of Mt. Hope, and a daughter of Osmer B. Green.
To them has been born one son, Daniel D., who
still remains at home. In politics Dr. Writer is
a Republican, and is active in the counsels of his
party. He takes a deep interest iu everything
pertaining to the welfare of his county and state,
but his professional duties are such that he can
give but little time to outside matters, though he
has served as Supervisor of the town. Socially
he is a member of Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F.
& A. M., of Middletown. For thirty years he
has been in continuous practice, and is regarded
as a reliable physician and a whole-souled citizen.

j| EVI VAN ETTEN, who is residing in the
IC town of Deerpark, is one ofthe leading fami
ly ers and highly respected citizens of Orange
County. The first ofthe family to locate in this
town was Anthony Van Etten, a son of Jacob and
Antje (Westbrook) Van Etten, who were mar
ried in Kingston, Ulster County, N. Y., April
22, 1719. They came to the Delaware Valley
about 1730, settling at Normanock, on the Jersey
side of the river, opposite the island of the same
name. Anthony was born in Napanoch, Ulster
County, N. Y., aud was baptized in the Dutch
Reformed Church at Kingston, June 12, 1726.
On the 3d of August, 1750, his marriage was cel
ebrated with Hannah Decker, daughter of Thom
as and sister of Major Decker. For a time they
resided at Normanock, N. J., but soon after came
to Deerpark, having received a piece of land from
Mrs. Van Etten 's father. Here Anthony built a
stone house, which was later occupied by his son,
Capt. Henry Van Etten , and also erected a black
smith shop, in which he did a thriving business.

He became owner of one of the finest farms in the
town of Deerpark. He was about five feet ten
inches in height and weighed one hundred and
sixty pounds. For many years he served as Jus
tice of the Peace, holding the office up to the time
of his death, which occurred in .1778. His wife
survived him many years. They were the par
ents of the following children: Thomas, Antje,
Janneke, Margarieta, Levi, Alida, Hendricus,
Blandina, Maria, Thomas, Jacob and Anthony.
Of this family, Levi Van Etten was the grand
father of our subject, and his farm included that
owned by the latter, though his home was just
north of his grandson's residence. His entire
life was passed in agricultural pursuits, but dur
ing his last years he was blind. He and his wife
reached advanced ages, his death occurring Oc
tober 25, 1843, and hers December 23, 1837. In
their family were five children: Jacob, who mar
ried Charity Gumaer, October 27, 1799; Solomon,
who wedded Jemima Gumaer, September 18,
1806; Levi, the father of our subject; Thomas,
who married Sally Van Auken, August 5, 18 16;
and Blandina, who on the 26th of December,
1805, became the wife of Benjamin Cuddeback.
The father of our subject, who was born Au
gust 13, 1790, was united in marriage, December
12, 181 1, with Eleanor Carpenter, whose birth
occurred on the 16th of November, 1793, and
they became the parents of ten children. Margar
et, born March 11, 18 13, married Simon West-
fall, and died at about the age of seventy-four
years; John, born February 4, 1815, died Au
gust 7, 1872, at the age of fifty -seven years, six
months and three days; Jacob, born March 10,
1817, died at the age of twenty-six years; Benja
min, born June 16, 1819, died at the age of thir
ty-two years; Levi, born April- 12, 1822, is the
subject of this record; Ann Eliza, born Decem
ber 18, 1827, is the widow of Archibald Camp
bell, of Port Jervis; Solomon, born July 30, 1829,
died in 1894, at the age of sixty-five years; Alva,
born February 6, 1833, died April 10, 1854, at
the age of twenty-one; Jane, bom April 28, 1835,
died in childhood; and Ellen, born December 27,
1836, is the widow of Charles R. Bodle, of Port
Jervis. After his marriage the father began his

HON. FRANCIS MARVIN.

MRS. AMELIA ST. JOHN MARVIN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

993

domestic life in a stone house on the farm where
his son Levi now makes his home, and there he
erected the present dwelling on the same founda
tion of the old stone house. Here he passed the
remainder of his life in the cultivation of his
farm of two hundred and twenty -five acres, which
comprises one of the best farms in the neighbor
hood. In his political views he was a stalwart
Democrat, and held several local offices, includ
ing those of Justice of the Peace and Super
visor. He was a supporter of the Reformed
Church, to which his wife belonged. His death
occurred June 7, 1865, at the age of seventy-four
years, nine months and twenty-four days, and
his wife passed away on the 3d of July, 1872, at
the age of seventy-eight years, seven months and
seventeen days. They were laid to rest in Lau
rel Grove Cemetery.
On the 26th of December, 1876, Levi Van Et
ten, of this sketch, was united in marriage with
Mrs. Mary (Chapman) Green, a daughter of Si
las and Keturah (Taylor) Chapman, of Cudde
backville. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman had formerly
been residents of Otisville, town of Mt. Hope,
where Mrs. Van Etten was born. Mr. Van Et
ten is now engaged in the operation of his fine
farm, in which he is meeting with excellent suc
cess. His business dealings are characterized
by fairness and strict honesty, and he and his
amiable wife have won for themselves an enviable
place in the regard of others in the community.

HON. FRANCIS MARVIN, one of the most
prominent men of Orange County, repre
sented his district in the Fifty-third Con
gress, and is one of the leading business men of
Port Jervis, being President of the National
Bank. In the city of New York he was born on
the 8th of March, 1828, to Francis I. and Mary
(Hill) Marvin. The father was a native of Con
necticut, and the family can be traced back to the
first member who left England for the United
States. In 1634 or 1635 Reinold Marvin came from
Leicestershire, England, to Boston, but soon aft

er located at Hartford, Conn., where his name
appears as a member of the first church, before
1639. He afterward became one of the proprie
tors of Farmington, and acquired land in Say-
brook, on both sides of the Connecticut River.
He probably resided in the latter place, and built
his house in that part of the town which later
became Lyme, there dying in 1662. His home
stead is still standing, and has always remained
in the possession of his descendants. He had two
children, Reiuold and Mary. He was made a
Freeman of Lyme on the 20th of May, 1653, at
the General Court of Election.
Reinold Marvin, son of the former, born in
1634, was known on the town records as Lieuten
ant, and in 1665 was one of the committee ap
pointed to divide the town of Saybrook. He rep
resented Lyme in the General Court in 1670 and
from 1672 to 1676. He had three sons: John,
born in 1664; Reinold, the third, in 1669; and
Samuel, in 1671. He was appointed Sergeant of
the band at Saybrook by a general court in ses
sion at Hartford, October 3, 1661, and was pro
moted to be Lieutenant, by which he was distin
guished from his father, who bore the title of
Captain. The next in direct line is John Marvin,
who died December 11, 1711, aud he is followed
by his sixth child, Benjamin, who was born in
1705, and died January 21, 1775; while the next
is his son Benjamin, who was born November 7,
1743, and died June 14, 1823. The latter's sec
ond son, Uriah, who was born August 8, 1770,
married Olive Ingraham, January 19, 1794, and
with four brothers settled in Albany, N. Y. , in
the early part of the present century. He was
formerly a sea-captain, but afterward became a
successful business man of that city. The family
had several representatives in both the French
and Indian War and the Revolution.
Francis Ingraham Marvin, the father of our
subject, was born October 11, 1795, and was one
ofthe eleven children of Uriah Marvin. He be
gan business in Albany, but later became a gen
eral merchant of New York City, where he after
ward carried on a wholesale grocery. On the 4th
of August, 1823, he wedded Mary Hill, of Cats-
kill, N. Y., who was of English descent, belong-

44

994

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing to one ofthe early families of Guilford, Conn.
John Hill came from Northumberland, England,
in 1654, and settled at Guilford, where his death
occurred in 1689. Mary Hill belonged to the
seventh generation in direct line from that gen
tleman. Her father, Capt. Highland Hill, was a
ship-builder, and was employed in the large yards
at Catskill. He was born in 1759, and his death
occurred in 1845. To Francis I. Marvin and his
wife were born seven children, of whom our sub
ject is the eldest, and the four daughters died in
infancy. Howard is a resident of Port Jervis; and
Charles lives in Pike County, Pa. The father,
wishing to retire from business, removed to Port
Jervis in 1846, where his death occurred at the
age of sixty-four years. He was never very act
ive in public affairs, but by all who knew him was
held in the highest respect.
Francis Marvin, whose name introduces this
review, spent his early life in New York City,
but in 1846 arrived in Orange County, and for a
few years successfully conducted a general store
at Port Jervis, which had been started by his fa
ther. In 1847 he was a surveyor on the survey
ing corps of the Erie Railroad, and later was
made station agent at Callicoon. For one year
he was disbursing agent for Gen. D. C. McCal-
lum, Master of Bridges, but after three years he
returned to Port Jervis, and in connection with
his brothers carried on the store there until 1856,
when he became bookkeeper for the Bank of Port
Jervis, now the National Bank. He was first
bookkeeper and assistant cashier, while Henry H.
Farnum was President, and Augustus P. Thomp
son Cashier. He was one of the original stock
holders before becoming bookkeeper, and his
connection with the bank has continued for thirty-
nine years. He is now serving as President of
the same, succeeding Charles St. John, whose
death occurred in July, 1891, at which time our
subject was elected to that office. Mr. St. John
had succeeded H H. Farnum, the first President
of the bank. Mr. Marvin comes from a family
of bankers, and prior to 1891 he had served as
Vice-President and Director.
In 1861, with others, our subject assisted in
the organization of the Port Jervis Gas-light

Company, and managed the business from that
time until 1894, serving as President from 1879,
on the death of H. H. Farnum. He had per
sonal management of its finances, and it became
one of the most successful enterprises of the city.
In 1869, in connection with Messrs. St. John,
Farnum and others, he was one ofthe incorpora
tors of the Port Jervis Water- works Company, of
which he was made Treasurer and Director, and
is now serving as Vice-President. In 1869 was
also organized the Barrett Bridge Company, of
which he was made Secretary and Treasurer, and
he had personal supervision of the wire bridge
constructed across the Delaware. He has ever
been actively interested in the growth and wel
fare of Port Jervis, and aids materially in all her
worthy public enterprises. Iu 1870 he was one
of the incorporators of the Port Jervis & Monti
cello Railroad, a line of twenty-two miles, and
was made Treasurer and Director, but as this was
not a paying investment, he later withdrew.
On the iothof June, 1850, Mr. Marvin married
Miss Amelia, youngest daughter of Stephen St.
John. She was called to her final rest March 7,
1894, dying in Washington, D. C, where they
were then staying. She was very domestic in
her tastes, and was an active church worker.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Marvin held membership with
the Reformed Dutch Church of Port Jervis, attend
ing the old Mahackemech Church. For forty years
she had hardly ever missed a church service, and
was a consistent Christian woman.
In 1865 Mr. Marvin was elected President of
the village, and served for several years as a
member of the School Board. He was Supervisor
of Deerpark in 1889-90. In 1864 he ran for the
office of Assemblyman on the Republican ticket
with Lincoln, but as the district was strongly
Democratic, he was defeated. He was candidate
for State Senator in 1881, the candidate of the
opposite party being James Mackin, of New
burgh. He is a stanch supporter of the Repub
lican party, and has served as delegate to both
State and Senatorial Conventions. In 1892 he
was elected to the Fifty-third Congress, while the
Democratic candidate was Hon. Henry Bacon
who had for two terms represented the district,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

995

being elected in 1886 and 1890, while he was de
feated in 1888. Mr. Marvin received a majority
of one hundred and fifty, and represented the
Seventeenth Congressional District, which in
cludes Rockland, Orange and Sullivan Counties.
He served on many important committees, includ
ing the one on Accounts, and also the one on
Private Land Claims. In 1894 ne declined a re-
nomination, preferring to live a retired life at
Port Jervis, surrounded by his many friends, who
hold him in the highest respect.

VyiRS. AMELIA ST. JOHN MARVIN, the
Y late wife of the Hon. Francis Marvin, died
(9 at Hotel Hamilton, in Washington, D. C,
on the 7th of March, 1894. The funeral services
were performed at the hotel by Rev. Dr. George
P. Van Wyck, who had united her in marriage
forty -four years before, and by whom she was re
ceived into the church fifty-three years previous.
She was the daughter of Stephen and Abigail
(Horton) St. John, and was born on the 18th of
March, 1829, in the old stone house in German-
town owned by her father, which is still stand
ing. She received an excellent education in the
schools of Port Jervis.
During her married life Mrs. Marvin dispensed
a refined and generous hospitality, and her death
came as a personal loss to hundreds in Port Jer
vis. Her life was one of continual beneficence,
and she was always ministering to the wants of
those less fortunate in riches than she. Inherit
ing a fortune from her father, she had ample
means to gratify the noble dictates of her kind
and sympathetic heart. Her charities were con
stant and unceasing, her purse ever open to assist
the needy, and she aided in every good work.
She was mistress of a hospitable home, and is
deeply missed from society and church. She
stood at the head of every benevolent effort. Her
memory is enshrined in affectionate remembrance
of friends and relatives, and she will continue to
live in the hearts of those whose troubles were
lightened and sorrows eased by her kindly visita

tions. She died full of hope iu the blessed here
after, and no woman whose death has occurred in
Port Jervis in the last decade or two has been so
widely mourned.

Gz

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(J AMES WARD, a farmer and dairyman of the
I town of Crawford, was born December 9,
Q) 1834, on the farm where he now resides, and
was the youngest of five children born to James
and Jane (Decker) Ward. The other children
were: Eve, who was born in Ulster County, and
who married John Bowles, of Brooklyn, Pa.;
Elizabeth, also born in Ulster County, but now
deceased; William S., who was born in the town
of Crawford, and died in May, 1895, having been
a resident ofthe town during his entire life; and
Mahitable Jane, the wife of James Wallace, now
deceased. James Ward, Sr., the father of our subject,
was born in February, 1797, in the town of New
burgh, where he grew to manhood. His parents
died when he was about ten years old, at which
time he was bound out to an uncle and learned
the tanner's trade. When he attained his major
ity, he came to the town of Crawford and rented
a small tannery, which he conducted a short time
and then moved to Ulster County. There he
purchased a farm, on which he remained until
1826, when he returned to Orange County and
purchased the farm in the town of Crawford now
in the possession of our subject. He was quite
successful in life, as he commenced his career
without capital, and at his death left two good
farms, which were well improved in every re
spect. The family were early residents of Or
ange County. Jane (Decker) Ward, our sub
ject's mother, was born in the town of Montgom
ery, and was a daughter of Philip Decker. She
was a. devout member of the United Presbyterian
Church until her death.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
his native county and received such education as
the common schools afforded. On the 21st of

996

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

January, 1863, he married Miss Elizabeth Mc-
Burney Crans, who was likewise a native of this
town. To them were born three children: John
E., now a merchant at Thompson Ridge; Cris-
siej. , who died young; and George N., a dentist
in Walden. The father of Mrs. Ward was born
in the town of Montgomery, but his parents were
natives of Germany.
On the death of his parents, our subject in
herited the home farm, which comprises one hun
dred and ten acres of well tilled land, on which
he keeps a fine herd of graded cattle. He is a
member of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, of
which body his wife is also a member, and in his
political views is a Democrat, but is quite liberal.
He is a man well posted in general affairs, and
enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know
him. EOL- PETER P. SWARTWOUT was for
many years one of the leading agriculturists
of the town of Deerpark, and was a mem
ber of an old and honored family of the Empire
State. Hewas born in Sussex County, N. J.,
May 25, 18 17, where his mother was residing
temporarily, eight miles below Carpenter's Point.
He was a son of Philip and Esther (Westbrook)
Swartwout, the latter being formerly the widow
of a Mr. Westfall.
The founder of the family in Orange County
was Anthony Swartwout, who located here in
1690. He had two sons and one daughter.
Samuel, who wedded Esther Gumaer, had one
daughter, Elizabeth, who became the wife of
Benjamin Dupuy. Maj. James Jacobus Swart
wout married Anna Gumaer; and Jane became
the wife of John (Jan) Van Fleet. (See the sketch
of Benjamin Van Fleet.) Maj. James Swart
wout had five children, one of whom, Gerardus,
was killed in the French aud Indian War. Philip,
who inherited his father's estate, married Antje
Wynkoop, by whom he had four sons, Gerardus,
Philip, James and Cornelius; and by his second
marriage, with Deborah Schoonover, had a son
Peter. The father of this family was a Justice
of the Peace before and during the Revolutionary

War, and served on the Committee of Safety.
Himself and two sons were killed by the Indians.
The next in direct line is Peter Swartwout, who
was born June 11, 1766, and married Jane West-
fall, whose birth occurred October 20, 1770. (See
sketch of Peter D. Swartwout.) Their second
son was Philip, whose birth occurred on the 1 2th
of October, 1790, and he was united in marriage
with Esther Westfall, nee Westbrook, and to them
were born six children, of whom our subject is
the eldest. His only brother, Henry B., died
October 27, 1850, leaving three children: George
Henry, a resident ofthe town of Deerpark; Mrs.
Hattie Dunham; and Belle, wife of Emery Judd.
His sisters are Jane, widow of Benjamin Whit
lock, of Lyons, N. Y.; Catherine, deceased, the
wife of George Robertson; Elizabeth, now Mrs.
Peter G. Van Inwegen, of Middletown; and
Sarah, Mrs. Coe Robertson, of Kansas City, Mo.
The father of this family died on the 3d of June,
1862. The boyhood of Peter P. Swartwout was passed
at Huguenot, Orange County, and on the 10th of
November, 1842, he was married, by Rev. C. C.
Elting, to Miss Hannah Cuddeback, daughter of
Benjamin and Blandina (Van Etten) Cuddeback.
(See sketch of Elting Cuddeback.) They im
mediately located on the farm where his widow
now resides, which has always belonged to the
Swartwout family, they buying it from the In
dians. Later it was purchased by the father of
our subject, and came into possession of the lat
ter in 1846. He there carried on agricultural
pursuits until his death, which occurred October
27, 1885. In his younger days he had also done
some lumbering in connection with his father on
Ten Mile River, and engaged in rafting logs.
He had a good farm of eighty-five acres, and was
an energetic, industrious man. He attended the
Reformed Church, and politically affiliated with
the Democracy, and was elected by that party to
the office of Town Supervisor, in which he served
for two terms. On family and Valley history he
was one of the best posted men in this portion of
the state. He took great pride in training an old
militia company, of which he was Captain, hence
his title.

1^

HENRY F. WEST.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

999

In the family of our subject were eight chil
dren. Catherine, widow of Daniel DeWitt, now
makes her home in New York; Jemima, who died
September 10, 1874, at the age of twenty-nine
years, was the wife of Stoddard Van Inwegen;
Jane is the wife of Hector J. Bidwell, of Port
Jervis; Philip died at the age of twenty-one
years; Esther, who was the wife of Henry Her
bert, passed away in 1892; Ellen is now Mrs.
CharacJ. Van Inwegen, of Huguenot; Benjamin
is the next in the family; and Henry B. isa phys
ician of Port Jervis.
Benjamin C. Swartwout now has charge of the
home farm, which he has operated since the death
of his father. He was born on the 2d of Septem
ber, 1858, and on the 8th of October, 1884, he
married Miss Blanche Cuddeback, a daughter of
Solomon and Ellen (Van Etten) Cuddeback, the
former dying when she was yet an infant. Her
mother is now the widow of Charles Bodle, of
Port Jervis. Mrs. Swartwout' s birth occurred
on the nth of September, i860, and by her mar
riage she has become the mother of five interest
ing children: Willard Henry, Nina Blanche,
Harry Coleman, Van Etten and Frank Benjamin.
The family is one of prominence in the town of
Deerpark, and in social circles ranks high.

**5**£t=

HENRY F. WEST, a retired merchant resid
ing in Sparrow Bush, town of Deerpark,
was born September 18, 1830, at the mouth
ofthe Mongaup River, in Sullivan County, about
three miles from Sparrow Bush. He was the
fourth among eight children comprising the fam
ily of Jonathan and Sarah (Lawrence) West, na
tives respectively of Maine and Philadelphia. His
father, who was reared on a farm, came to Sulli
van County, N. Y., in 1816, and engaged in the
lumber business, also built dams for sawmills. In
1826 he removed to Sparrow Bush, where he em
barked in the mercantile business, but after a
short time there he sold out and purchased a
stock of goods at Mongaup, remaining in that
place for eight years.
On his return to Sparrow Bush, Jonathan

West purchased the farm that Henry F. now
owns, and here he continued to reside until his
death, which occurred at eighty years of age.
He was a man whose success was attributable
solely to his unaided exertions. Starting in life
without an)- means, he built up a good trade and
a reputation as a reliable merchant. His success
was more than ordinary, and his last years were
passed in comfort, retired from business cares.
Politically he was a Republican, but did not take
an active part in public affairs. His wife died at
the age of seventy-two, and their bodies were
buried side by side in the Pine Hill Cemetery, on
the West farm.
During the years of his youth our subject at
tended school in winter and boated on the Dela
ware & Hudson Canal during the summer months
for five years. On reaching his majority he went
to Brooklyn and drove a baker's wagon for a
short time there, after which hewas employed on
a railroad bridge at Elmira. Then going west
to St. Louis, Mo., he engaged in railroading for
six months, but did not care to establish his per
manent home there, so returned to New York,
where he secured a position as foreman on the
Delaware & Hudson Canal. For three years he
filled that place, having charge of the repairing
of the canal. For eight years following he car
ried on a general mercantile business at Mon
gaup, then sold out and built a store at Sparrow
Bush, where he carried on business for two years.
His next enterprise was the purchase of twen
ty-eight hundred acres of timber-land in Delaware
County, N. Y., which large tract enabled him to
carry on a very extensive lumber business, and
he was successful during the five years he was en
gaged in this occupation. At the expiration of
that time he sold out his lumber interests and
once more engaged in the mercantile business at
Sparrow Bush, purchasing the old homestead
here. In 1893 he retired from active business
cares, and since then has devoted his attention to
superintending the management of his farm.
In 1873 Mr. West married Miss Mary Stanton,
of Forestburg, Sullivan County, daughter of Ben
jamin and Sarah (Carr) Stanton, natives of Orange
County. Mr. Stanton is deceased, but his wife is

1000

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

living at Forestburg, at the age of eighty-four.
Four children were born unto our subject and his
wife. Lillian A., the eldest, is the wife of L. A.
Johnson, who succeeded Mr. West in the mercan
tile business at Sparrow Bush. They have one
son, Harold West. The family met with a
deep bereavement in the loss of the three sons,
all of whom died young. The political views
of our subject bring him into active co-op
eration with the Republican party, and he is one
of the sturdy defenders of that faith in the town
of Deerpark. The farm which he owns consists
of one hundred and seventy-five acres, containing
all the equipments of a model estate, including a
neat residence and substantial outbuildings for
the storage of grain and the shelter of stock.

_•""=]

^R^

r=_

HARVEY ROE was born in the town of Wall-
kill October 9, 1814. He has spent his en
tire life in this town, with the interests of
which he has been identified for many years as one
of its most practical and successful farmers, and in
one of its pleasantest homes he is passing the last
years of along and useful life in retirement. Dur
ing his long residence here his course in business
has been such as to win him universal respect,
and he is liked by all who have come under the
genial influence of his manly character, his help
ful ways and his unswerving allegiance to the
right. The parents of our subject were Samuel and
Mary (Tiers) Roe, who were born in this town
and spent their entire lives here. The father,
who was a farmer by occupation, died in 1848,
and was survived by his wife for twenty years,
her death occurring in 1868. Harvey Roe did
not in youth have the advantages which fall to
the lot ofthe boys of the present generation, but
he was able to attend a few terms at the district
schools, and having given some time to self-cult
ure since attaining manhood' he has become a
well informed man. With the exception of two
years, during which time he was engaged in bus
iness at Scotchtown, this county, he has devoted
his attention throughout his active career to the

occupation of a farmer. He is now the owner of
two hundred and fourteen acres of productive
land, upon which substantial buildings have been
erected. In 1838 Mr. Roe married Miss Hannah Maria
Puff, who died in 1852. Two years later he was
again married, his wife being Melissa Winfield,
who died sixteen years later. His present wife,
with whom he was united in 1876, bore the
maiden name of Jane Brooks and is a lady of es
timable character. No children survive of these
unions. Mr. and Mrs. Roe are members of the
Presbyterian Church at Scotchtown and are reg
ular contributors to religious and benevolent en
terprises. Politically he casts his vote and exerts
his influence in behalf of the Democratic party,
and upon that ticket he has been chosen to serve
in a number of town offices. He has efficiently
served his fellow-citizens in the capacity of Poor
Master and Assessor, as well as in a number
of minor positions. Though incapacitated for
active manual labor through the infirmities of
age, he is still quite rugged for one of his years
and retains to a large degree the possession of his
physical faculties. That he may live for years
yet to come, in the enjoyment of mens sana in
corpore sano, is the wish of his many friends.

(JOHN R. MANNING was born in the town
I of Wawayanda, and has spent his entire life
(2) within its limits. Since the age of fifteen he
has had charge of grain, saw and cider mills, be
sides which he has done considerable bridge and
highway work. At the age of fifty -five, however,
he turned his attention to farming, and has since
followed that occupation. His educational advant
ages were limited to attendance at the district
schools of the neighborhood.
The Manning family originated in Ireland, but
has long been represented in Orange County.
Our subject's father, Hiram, was a son of Wal
ter, and was born in the town of Greenville. He
married Catherine Rascine, who was of French

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

iooi

descent, and they became the parents of nine
children, as follows: John R. , who was born
August 15,1837; Fannie A., whose home is in
Washington; Walter, a resident of the town of
Minisink; Coe F., who died in i860, aged about
fifteen years; Benjamin, now living in Washing
ton; Josephine, residing in Michigan; Hiram C,
a resident of Washington; Seymour, also living
in Washington; and Harding, who resided in
Michigan until his death in 1890, at the age of
twenty-six years.
In 1862 our subject married Esther J., daugh
ter of Daniel T. Durland. She was reared in the
family of Lawrence Forgerson, and was called by
their name until her marriage. She died in 187 1,
leaving two sons, namely: Coe F., born July 5,
1864, and now living in Washington; and Hiram,
born February 14, 1868, who now owns the
homestead, and has charge ofthe mills. In 1873
Mr. Manning married Sarah E., daughter of
Stewart T. Durland, and they have one daugh
ter, Jennie D., born March 3, 1879.
The maternal grandparents of our subject were
John and Anna (Coleman) Rascine, the former
being a son of Charles and Esther (Schuyler)
Rascine. In 1785 Charles Rascine left the house,
without hat or shoes, to drive his cattle from his
grain field, but he was never afterward heard of.
It is supposed that the Indians killed him. The
parents of Anna Coleman were Gideon and Cath
arine (Bull) Coleman. Our subject's mother,
Catharine, had an only sister, who married
Stephen Harding. The father of our subject
died in 1866, aged fifty years, and the mother in
1875, at the age of fifty -five.

QC*************f2*f************2<>
(JOSEPH H. CLARK, a farmer of the town
I of Crawford, was born in New York City,
(2/ November 19, 1831, and was third in a fam
ily of five children born to Ira and Eliza (Bark-
ley) Clark. All the children are deceased with
the exception of our subject.
Ira Clark was born December 26, 1797, in
Westchester County, N. Y., and there remained

until about twenty years of age, when he came to
this town, teaching school in Searsville for a time.
He then purchased the farm on which our sub
ject now resides, and where he spent the remain
der of his life. He was one of the first officers on
the organization of the town. For thirteen years
he was Superintendent of Schools, and was Town
Clerk a great many years. For some years he
also served as Justice of the Peace. Religiously
he was a member of the Presbyterian Church and
for years was a Trustee of the same. Politically
he was a Democrat, and was an active worker in
local affairs. His death occurred on the old
homestead, September 8, 1883, and his remains
were interred iu the Hopewell Burying-ground.
A strictly honest man, in whatever he under
took he was successful, and he had many friends.
Eliza Clark, the mother of our subject, was
born March 26, 1795, and was the -daughter of
Joseph Barkley, who was also a native of this
town, but of Scotch descent, his father emigrat
ing to this country from Scotland. Mrs. Clark
died February 22, 1863, and her remains were
buried in Hopewell Cemetery. An earnest Chris
tian woman and a member of the Presbyterian
Church, she was greatly missed in her com
munity. On the ist of March, 1865, Joseph H. Clark
and Mary Hunter were united in marriage. She
died leaving four children: Anna L., now the
wife of Jacob Rump, a farmer of the town of
Crawford; Theodore G., also a prosperous farmer
here; Jane S., who resides with her brother; and
George H., still at home. November 1, 1876,
our subject was again married, taking as his wife
Mary C. Booksteader, and by this union there
were born three children: Francis E., Edward R.
and Sarah N. The second-named died when five
years of age.
Politically Mr. Clark is a Democrat, and has
taken an active part in local affairs, having held
the office of Town Clerk for seven years, and is
now serving his third term as Justice ofthe Peace.
He and all his family are members of the Presby
terian Church, of which he has served as Trustee
for fifteen years, and he is also an active worker
in the temperance cause. His landed possessions

1002

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

comprise one hundred acres, fifty of which he in
herited from his father. The farm is in a good
state of cultivation, and his home is a pleasant
and happy one.

0AVID P. AYRES. There are many fine
farms in the town of Wallkill, and it is safe
to say that the one owned by Mr. Ayres is
the peer of any other. It consists of one hundred
and twenty-three acres of well improved land,
bearing substantial and valuable improvements.
He makes a specialty of the dairy business, hav
ing a herd of graded Holsteins, and also engages
successfully in raising small fruits. He carries
on truck gardening to some extent, and in his
general farming he pays considerable attention to
the raising of corn, which he finds very remu
nerative. In the raising of poultry he has also
met with success, and has a fine collection of Leg
horns, as well as other choice breeds. His farm
buildings are modern and conveniently arranged,
and his home inviting and attractive.
In this county, of which he has been a continu
ous resident for ten years, Mr. Ayres was born
October 21, 1839, being a son of David C. and
Margaret M. (Palmer) Ayres. His father, also
a native of this county, spent his earlier years
here, but about 1844 he removed to Sullivan
County, N. Y., with his family, where he en
gaged in the lumber business for a number of
years. Interested in matters of general import
ance and questions affecting the national welfare,
he was intelligently posted upon topics of the
times, and was highly regarded as a public-spirited
citizen. At various times he was elected to posi
tions of trust, all of whicli he filled satisfactorily
to the people and with credit to himself. His
death occurred in 1884, at the age of seventy-five,
in the town of Highland, Sullivan County. His
wife had died some time previous to his demise.
No event of unusual interest marked the boy
hood years of our subject. Alternating attendance
at school with work on the farm, he grew to a

rugged, vigorous manhood. In youth he learned
the blacksmith's trade, which he followed several
years in connection with farming. In 1892 he
came to the valuable farm which he has since
owned and operated. In his enterprises he has
had the assistance of his wife, a lady dowered with
good judgment and amiable disposition. She
bore the maiden name of Rebecca A. Drake, and
was born in Sullivan County, as were also her
parents, Ira R. and Julia A. Drake. The union
of Mr. and Mrs. Ayres, which was solemnized in
1865, resulted in the birth of four children, one
of whom has died. Those living are Jennie F. ,
wife of George Rugger, of Matamoras, Pa. , and
George and M. Lillian, who are attending the
academy at Middletown.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Ayres has a firm
faith in the wisdom and soundness of the teach
ings of that party. He has served his fellow-cit
izens efficiently in the capacity of Excise Com
missioner, and has held other local offices of trust.
In the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he
and his wife are active members, he is serving as
Steward. A public -spirited, generous man, his
influence in the community is great, and his po
sition among the leading citizens of the town has
been gained through patient efforts in the inter
est of the great commonwealth to which he gives
his allegiance.

^— >»>» > 1 1 1

(JESSE BULL, a prominent farmer and citizen
I of the town of Wallkill, is a native of Orange
G/ County, born in 1857, ana Is a son °f Oscar
and May (Drake) Bull, both of whom were also
natives of this county. In early life Oscar Bull
learned the mason's trade, at which he was en
gaged for many years. He subsequently engaged
in farming, but a few years prior to his death,
which occurred in 1880, he moved to Circleville.
His wife, the mother of our subject, is yet living,
and although nearly fourscore years of age enjoys
good health.
Jesse Bull was reared on the farm, growing to
manhood under the parental roof, and received his
education in the district schools of the county.

SAMUEL D. ROBERSON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1005

He was married, in 1881, to Miss Sarah Connor,
a daughter of Charles B. and Emma (Bull) Con
nor, who were also natives and respected citizens
of Orange County. One child, Alice, now de
ceased, was born of this union.
Mr. and Mrs. Bull are members of the Presby
terian Church of Scotchtown, and take an active
interest in the work of the same. In politics he
is a Republican, and has an abiding faith in the
principles and purity of that party. He has never
desired or accepted official position, preferring to
give his undivided attention to his farm work.
More than one hundred acres of finely improved
land are included in his farm, on which he carries
on general farming, but gives especial attention
to the dairy business. By his upright dealings
and sterling qualities he has won the respect and
esteem of all who know him.
.  C)#p  .

jAMUEL D. ROBERSON. Prominent among
the business men and worthy citizens of
Bullville stands Samuel D. Roberson, who
is a general merchant of the place. His reputa
tion as a business man is well established, and
the confidence of his associates and the esteem in
which he is held are well deserved.
Mr. Roberson was born February 12, 1849, in
the town of Crawford, and was fourth in order of
birth in the family of Samuel and Margaret (Mar
tin) Roberson. His father was born in Westches
ter County, April 6, 1815, and is now living
retired in Bullville, where for many years he was
proprietor of the Bullville Hotel. For a full his
tory of this gentleman we refer the reader to his
biography, which appears on another page in this
volume. Our subject spent his boyhood days on the
home farm, and after securing a good education
spent much time in thejiotel in Bullville, assist
ing his father. Soon after attaining his majority
he was married, and for three years managed the
hotel. At the expiration of that time he built a
creamery, and so well was he patronized by the
farmers of the surrounding country that he soon
built up an extensive trade, and has continued in

this enterprise ever since. In 1892, however, he
built his present fine store, and stocked it with a
line of all those commodities necessary to the
community in which he lives and to the farmers
in the surrounding country. In addition to the
business already mentioned, Mr. Roberson is en
gaged as a coal merchant, supplying the people
of Bullville with this commodity at popular
prices. March 29, 1870, Mr. Roberson and Miss Han
nah Powles, of Newburgh, were united in mar
riage. To them seven children were born, of
whom four sons and one daughter are now living.
Theodore, the eldest, is engaged in the creamery
enterprise with his father; Mary O., Bertie, Sam
uel M. and Robert F are all at home.
Our subject is a prominent politician and one
of the leaders ofthe Democratic party in his town.
Under Cleveland's first administration he was ap
pointed Postmaster, has also been Supervisor for
a period of seven years, and is at present Chair
man of the Democratic County Committee. He
is very conscientious in all that he does, and never
fails to give satisfaction in every position he occu
pies. Having started from home empty-handed
to make his own way in the world, he has reached
his present standing unaided, and owes it to his
own industrious and enterprising characteristics
that he is now one of the influential and prosper
ous men of this section.

-fr

=+

EHARLES W. LOOMIS, who owns the
Waceda celery fields in the village of Otis- '
ville, town of Mt. Hope, was born April 4,
1849, on tne farm that he now owns and occupies.
He was the youngest of three sons comprising the
family of Ephraim S. and Frances E. (Roe)
Loomis, his brothers being Silas, who is engaged
in the milk business in Jersey City, N. J.; and
Louis L-, who died at the age of twenty-six.
Ephraim S. Loomis was born in the town of
Mt. Hope, and spent his entire life engaged in
farming pursuits there, dying February 28, 1869,

ioo6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

at the age of sixty-eight years. His body lies in
the Loomis family cemetery. Politically he was
a Republican and always took an active interest
in public affairs, but would not accept official po
sition. For many years he was identified with
the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an
active worker. His father, Dr. Silas Loomis, was
a noted physician at Otisville many years ago,
and had a large practice, extending for miles
around. For a long time he lived at the Plains,
near Otisville, but later purchased a farm from
Eli Roberts, in what is now the village of Otis
ville, with the homestead near the Presbyteriau
Church. Here the Doctor spent his last days.
He was a member of the Orange County Med
ical Society, and became quite prominent in
the medical fraternity. To the poor he was a
self-sacrificing friend, and many of them he vis
ited in illness without expectation of remunera
tion. The history of the family in America dates
back to a very early day in the settlement of this
country, the first representative here being Joseph
Loomis. Frances E. , our subject's mother, was born in
the town of Goshen and was a granddaughter of
Benjamin Vail, who was killed in the battle of
Minisink. She was an earnest Christian woman,
and about the oldest member of the Presbyterian
Church at Otisville. Her death occurred in the
town of Mt. Hope, November 19, 1891, at the age
of seventy-seven. The subject of this sketch re
mained with his parents until their death, when
he inherited a part of the old homestead and sub
sequently purchased his brothers' interests. His
education was limited to the common schools,
and he has always been engaged in farm work.
In November, 1887, he married Phoebe Dunlap,
of Cuddebackville, and to them were bom four
children, all at home, namely: Iva Parmelia,
Antoinette Eveline, Ephraim Smith and Frank
Kaufmann. Politically Mr. Loomis is an active Republican,
and is now serving his third term as Supervisor
of the town. For eight years he served as Justice
ofthe Peace, after which he resigned. He and his
family are members of the Presbyterian Church,
and are actively interested in the welfare of the

congregation at Otisville. He owns thirty-six
acres adjoining the village and devotes his en
tire time to gardening, his principal product be
ing celery, for which the land is especially adapt
ed. Personally he has a host of friends, and is
esteemed for his good qualities of head and heart.

-3+***i^j"35i"i&****r- -i****^^****'

V /J OSES B. McMONAGLE. Upon the farm
Y in the town of Wallkill where he still makes
(**J his home, the subject of this sketch was
born December 3, 1847. He is a son of Moses
and Mehitable (Bull) McMonagle, who were born,
reared and married in this county, and here con
tinued to reside until their deaths. The father,
who was a man of irreproachable integrity and
great perseverance, followed agriculture for his
life work, and while he never amassed wealth, he
became the owner of a well improved farm and
was prospered in his undertakings. His death
occurred in 1894, when advanced in years, His
wife died in 1883, eleven years prior to his de
mise. As soou as old enough the subject of this sketch
entered the district schools of the home neighbor
hood, and there he gained the rudiments of his
education. Subsequently for three years he was
a student in the academy at Montgomery, an old
institution that has sent forth many of the best
men of our county. Upon choosing an occupa
tion, he selected that of general farming, which
he has since followed, making a specialty of the
dairy business. He established domestic ties in
1873, at which time he was united in marriage
with Miss Mary D. Newkirk, who was born in
this county, and is a daughter of Matthew and
Catherine Maria (Bodine) Newkirk, members of
old families of the Hudson Valley. Of this union
five daughters survive, all of whom are at home
and are being trained unrter the wise guidance of
their parents for positions of honor in the world.
They are named as follows: Hettie B., Ellen R.,
Katie M., Mollie G. and Reba H.
Interested in public affairs, Mr. McMonagle
has served creditably to himself and satisfactorily
to others in the capacity of Justice of the Peace.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1007

He is well informed in politics and is a loyal
Democrat, always supporting the principles for
which his party stands. He is an active promo
ter of every movement which in his judgment is
calculated to promote the social and industrial in
terests of the community, and may be relied upon
to assist, by his contributions and influence, pub
lic-spirited enterprises.
(JAMES BIGLER, who for many years has
I been extensively connected with the lumber
(2/ interests of Newburgh, was born near Bing
hamton, Broome County, on the 6th of Feb
ruary, 1 818. The ancestors of our subject came
to this country from Germany, first locating in
Pennsylvania, and to this family Governor Big-
ler of Pennsylvania and Governor Bigler of Cal-
fornia also belong. The grandfather of our sub
ject, who was born in the Keystone State, became
a farmer of Warren County, N. J., in which state
his son Philip was born in 1783. The latter,
who was the father of James, served as a Captain
during the War of 18 12. He removed to Broome
County about 1800, and later engaged in the
manufacture of boots and shoes in Binghamton,
but at the time of the building of the Erie Canal
he was residing at Utica, where, iu 1822, he en
gaged in the grocery and provision business.
Ten years later, however, he returned to Bing
hamton, where he continued iu the same line of
trade, and there his death occurred in 1876. He
had formerly been a Whig, but later gave his
support to the Republican party. His wife, who
bore the maiden name of Nancy Cartwright, was
born in Broome County, and was a daughter of
John and Mary (Brink) Cartwright, both natives
of Pennsylvania, and of Holland-Dutch descent.
Mrs. Bigler, who died at the age of eighty-six
years, was a consistent member of the Presby
terian Church, ' as was also her husband. In
their family were three sons and one daughter,
but all have passed away with the exception of
our subject, who was the youngest.
During his boyhood and youth, James Bigler

remained with his parents, and on leaving school
he entered into partnership with his father in the
grocery, provision and lumber business. He re
mained in Binghamton until September, 1842,
when he located in Newburgh. The previous
spring he had started John W Wells in business
here, and now he joined him in the lumber trade.
Two years later, when the Newburgh Steam-mills
were building, Mr. Bigler contracted to furnish ¦
all the lumber and timber needed in their con
struction, and afterward went into business on a
large scale, having both a wholesale and retail
trade, and doing the largest business of the kind
in the state. In 1844 he commenced the erection
of a sawmill at Norris' Dock, which he at first
leased, but afterward purchased, and the business
increased until it amounted to over $1,000,000
annually. The timber arrived in rafts from the
West, and after being sawed was loaded on ves
sels and sent everywhere. He had one hundred
and fifty men engaged in cutting live-oak to be
shipped to the various navy-yards in the United
States, and for this purpose thousands of acres
were cleared. During the war he manufactured
hundreds of gun-carriages for the Government,
besides supplying the lumber and timber for naval
construction. His works ran night and day.
While in business he owned three ships, one
barque and a number of schooners, barges and
steamboats. The West Shore Railroad Company
bought out the site of his sawmill and the ship
yards. In 1885 Mr. Bigler purchased the ship-build-
iug works of Ward, Stanton & Co., after that
firm failed, and for some time continued the bus
iness. Later he sold the plant to the Chesapeake
Dry Dock and Construction Company, of New
port News, and for a short period he was super
intendent of that company. He also engaged in
building floating gates or caissons for various
United States docks, supplying those at Ports
mouth in Virginia, and at New York, Philadel
phia, Port Royal in South Carolina, Newport
News, and Puget Sound, Wash. Besides his
other enterprises he built many boats, including
the "Muscanettecon," "South Brooklyn," "West
Brooklyn "and "Hopatcon, ' ' and some fine yachts.

ioo8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He was the originator and sole owner of the
Courtney Whistling Buoy, considered of the ut
most importance in navigation, and now used by
the United States Government and in all parts of
the world.
In 1879 Mr. Bigler organized the Newburgh
Telephone Company, now the Hudson River
Telephone Company, of which he was the first
President, and is still a Director. He laid the
first telephone cable across the Hudson. In every
enterprise for the good of the city he has taken
an active part, aiding materially in promoting the
welfare of the people. He was a liberal sub
scriber toward the purchase of the Home for the
Friendless, and actually purchased the property
himself and deeded it to the society. In 1864-he
assisted in the incorporation of The First National
Bank of Newburgh, of which he was a Director for
fourteen years, and one of the largest stockholders
for many years. For thirty years he has been a
Trustee of the Newburgh Savings Bank, and at
one time he was a stockholder in the Highland
National Bank. In 1865 he erected the large
business block at the corner of Smith and Third
Streets, known as the Bigler Building, which has
been occupied by the postoffice ever since, with
the exception of a couple of years during Cleve
land' s administration.
On the ist of December, 1840, Mr. Bigler was
united in marriage with Miss Harriet Smith, a
daughter of Joseph Smith, a farmer by occupa
tion. The ceremony was performed in Bingham
ton. She was called to her final rest in 1866,
leaving three daughters, who grew to maturity:
Mrs. Emma Brown, who died in Buffalo, in 1887;
Mary A., also a resident of the same place; and
Harriet V., who attended Wheaton Seminary, of
Norton, Mass., and now assists her father as
bookkeeper. At Elizabeth, N. J., in 1867, Mr.
Bigler was again married, this union being with
Miss Mary W. Magie, and to them were born five
children, four sons and a daughter, but one son
is now deceased. Those living are: James M.,
who is at Seattle, Wash., in charge ofthe build
ing and erection of the caisson gates; Eugene W. ,
manager of the Newburgh branch of the Hudson
River Telephone Company; Robert N., who is

assisting his brother in Seattle; and Anna, at
home. During the war Mr. Bigler served as a member
of the Board of Village Trustees, and after the in
corporation of the city of Newburgh, in 1865, be
came a member of its first Board. For many
years he held membership with the Reformed
Church, but in 1884 united with the Presbyterian
Church of Newburgh. He was formerly a Whig,
casting his first vote for William Henry Harrison
in 1840, but on the organization of the Republi
can party he joined its ranks, in 1856, and has
since fought under its banner.

fi> GJlLLIAM H. WOOD, now engaged in farm-
\ A / ing in the town of Wawayanda, was born
VV here July 6, 1822, and is a son of Clark
Wood, a native of Orange County. The grand
father, Richard Wood, was also born in this coun
ty, but the great-grandfather, Richard Wood,
came from Long Island. Clark Wood married
Sarah Durland, and to them were born seven chil
dren, as follows: William H., the subject of this
sketch; Martha, Samuel J., John D. (deceased),
Aaron C. , Mary J. and Sarah E.
The early life of our subject was spent in New
burgh, and he received his education in the com
mon schools of that place. In his youth he was
apprenticed to a firm engaged in the manufacture
of sash, doors and blinds. The first year he re
ceived $15, for the second $20, and for the third
year $25. After completing his apprenticeship,
he continued to work at his trade in Newburgh
until 1843, when he moved to Middletown, and
there started the first sash, door and blind factory
in the place. After continuing there for three
years, he sold out and went to New York City,
where he worked as a journeyman until 1854.
From there he removed to Slate Hill, where he
worked at his trade, and for a time was also en
gaged in a butcher-shop. From the latter place
he went to Port Jervis and started a sash, door
and blind factory, but after operating the same a

ALEXANDER LEE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ion

few years he returned to Middletown. He only
remained there one year, however, when he went
to Newburgh, where he also engaged in the man
ufacture of sash, doors and blinds, being at the
same time interested in a hardware store. He
continued in these lines until 1868, when he re
moved to his present farm, which was originally
the old homestead of his paternal grandfather.
The farm comprises one hundred and ten acres,
and is in a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Wood was married, December 20, 1847, to
Miss Sarah J. Wood, daughter of Harry and
Cynthia Wood. Six children were born of this
union: Amanda J., Fannie, Marietta, Willie,
Richard and Minnie. The first four are deceased.
Richard is now living in Goshen, engaged in the
grocery trade; and Minnie, the wife of Henry C.
Horton, resides in Goshen.
In 1878 Mr. Wood was elected Supervisor of
the town of Wawayanda, and served for fourteen
successive years. He began life as a poor boy,
without capital save willing hands, an honest
heart and a determination to succeed. Success in
a measure has crowned his efforts, and none
stands higher in the estimation of the people with
whom he lives.

6| LEXANDER LEE. The good influence of
LA any family in a community is greatly in-
| I creased by its prolonged residence therein.
Generation after generation of honorable lives
and noble examples bring a cumulative force to
bear which emphasizes every good point in the
character and work of a family. New York, hav
ing a history that extends back so many years,
naturally has much of this wealth of influence,
and in Orange County we often find a homestead
which has been occupied by several generations,
and there we see the beneficial effects of such oc
cupancy. This is the case at the Lee homestead,
now owned and occupied by the gentleman above
named. On the farm where he now resides, Mr. Lee
was born April 19, 1834, being the sixth among
nine children comprising the family of Charles

Smith and Millicent (Horton) Lee. His father,
who was born 011 this farm, spent his entire life
here, with the exception of about twelve years in
Ridgebury, this county. His death occurred at
the age of eighty-two. In his political views he
was a Republican, and religiously he was identi
fied with the Presbyterian Church, in which he
held office and aided largely in its work. His fa
ther, who was a native of Westchester County,
came here some time during the eighteenth cen
tury, and purchased a large tract of land, one
hundred and sixty acres of which are embodied in
the present homestead. Our subject's mother,
who was a native of this county, died at the age
of seventy-nine, and was buried in the Union
Cemetery by the side of her husband. She was
a devoted Christian and a member of the Presby
terian Church,
When our subject was a child of two years, his
parents removed to Westtown, this county, and
there he remained until sixteen, meantime at
tending the common schools. He then returned
with his parents to the old homestead and worked
for his father until his marriage, at the age of
twenty-seven, when he rented the old farm. - A
few years afterward he purchased the place, and
here he has since resided. In religious belief he
is a Presbyterian. He is liberal in his political
views, though in national affairs he adheres to
the policy of the Republican party. A number
of years ago he was candidate for Supervisor of
the town of Greenville, but as this is a strongly
Democratic district, he suffered defeat with the
remainder of the party ticket.
The married life of Mr. Lee began November
12, 1862, when he was united with Mary E. Lee,
daughter of Isaac aud Margaret (Smith) Lee, old
residents of Orange County, their ancestors hav
ing come to New York prior to the Revolution
ary War. Mrs. Lee's maternal grandfather was
born in Poughkeepsie. Three children were born
to our subject and wife, namely: Ida K. , wife of
John Edward Smith, a grocer of Middletown;
Chauncey, who died at the age of two years; and
Charles H., a railroad agent stationed at Town-
ers, N. Y. The latter was married to Ella M.
McClurg, and they have one child, Mary E.

IOI2

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The independent judgment and sagacity that
Mr. Lee possesses enable him to conduct his bus
iness affairs to the best advantage, and have also
made him an important factor in promoting the
agricultural interests of the county. He is con
ceded to be one of the most progressive farmers of
the town of Greenville, and is a valued citizen of
the county which has been his life-long home.

(JOHN E. ADAMS, a merchant tailor and
I dealer in clothing and men's furnishing
(2/ goods at Middletown, is one of the enter
prising and public-spirited men of the place.
He traces his ancestry back to 1296, to Lord John
Ap Adams, who was of Welsh origin. Ap Adams
means ' 'son of Adam. ' ' The first of the family to
settle in America was Edward Adams, who
located at New Haven, Conn., in 1640, and there
remained six years, at the end of which time he
moved to Mulford. In 1650 he moved to Fair
field, in the same state, and there subsequently
died, leaving a large estate. His son Nathan had
a son also called Nathan, who was the great-
great-grandfather of our subject. He married
Mary Burr, by whom he had a large family.
Nathan Adams, Jr., had a son Aaron, the great
grandfather of our subject, who was born in
Fairfield, now part of Westport, Conn. His
son Isaac, the grandfather of our subject, married
Sallie Nash, by whom he had six sons and one
daughter. One of the latter's sons, Charles Ad
ams, became the father of our subject. Presidents
John Adams and John Quincy Adams sprang
from the same family as did our subject.
Charles Adams, the father of our subject,
learned the shoemaker's trade, and later removed
to Chicago, becoming one of the first settlers of
that place. His name was the first one on the
Calumet Club list of Chicago, and at each annual
meeting of the club he received an invitation to
attend. He remained iu Chicago a few years,
engaged in the shoe business, but on account of
failing health went to Norwalk, Conn. For some
years he had very poor health, but on his recov
ery purchased a farm, 011 which he resided for a

time. Later he was engaged in the real-estate
and collection business, and was Deputy- Sheriff
of this county. He was a member of the Episco
pal Church, and while residing in Chicago sang
in a church choir, he being a fine singer. During
his residence there he was also a member of the
first fire company organized in the place, and for
some years was a member of the Odd Fellows.
His marriage with Sarah Camp, a daughter of
Lemuel and Polly (Nash) Camp, occurred in
Norwalk, of which place she was a native. Her
great-great-great-grandfather was the first white
male child born in Norwalk. Both of her grand
fathers were in the Revolutionary War as officers,
and Lemuel Camp, her father, served in the War
of 18 1 2. He was a farmer in Connecticut, and
our subject owns his old homestead, a fine place
adjoining the city of Norwalk. Mrs. Sarah
Adams died in 1888, at the age of about sixty-
eight years, leaving five children: Mary S., now
the wife of Hon. Levi Warren, a prominent at
torney and ex-Member of Congress, who resides
in Norwalk; Sarah E., also residing in Norwalk;
Lemuel C, who was engaged with an extensive
spice merchant, and now resides in San Fran
cisco; Charles F., a jeweler in Greenwich, Conn. ;
and John E. , our subject. The father died in
1 89 1, at the age of seventy- five years.
John E. Adams was born in Norwalk, Conn.,
October 2, 1850, and was there reared and edu
cated in the public and high schools. When
fifteen years old he was employed as clerk in a
merchant-tailoring establishment and hat store
at Norwalk, where he made himself generally
useful for two years. He then clerked in a hat
store for seven years, and in 1875 came to Mid
dletown, entering the employ of the late R. L-
Teton as clerk in his clothing store. After re
maining in the latter's employ eighteen months,
he worked for Oscar Winter, a clothing merchant.
In 1883 he started in business for himself, in
partnership with the late Charles S. Woodward,
under the firm name of Adams and Woodward,
and purchased the stock of James Williams &
Son at No. 41 North Street. This partnership
continued until 1889, when Mr. Adams bought
the interest of his partner, and has since contin-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1013

ued alone. His main storeroom is* 18x100 feet,
with basement room of the same size for trunks
and valises. He also occupies the third floor for
a storeroom, while his workshop is in an adjoin
ing building. This is the most complete estab
lishment of its kind in the city, and here may be
found clothing, hats, caps, men's furnishing
goods, trunks and valises. Connected with it is
a merchant-tailoring department, which is in
charge of the best cutter in the city.
Mr. Adams was married, in Stamford, Conn.,
to Miss Jane C. T. Keeler, who is a native of that
place, and a daughter of Walter Keeler, who was
for many years a business man of that city . Two
children have been born unto them, John Edson,
Jr., and Elizabeth H. Fraternally Mr. Adams
is a member of Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. &
A. M., of which he is Past Worshipful Master;
Midland Chapter, R. A. M., of which he is Past
Priest; the Royal Arcanum, of which he is a
charter member; and is an honorary member of
Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 , of
which he was foreman at one time. Socially he
is a member of Middletown Club, is a charter
member of the Board of Trade, and a stockholder
in the Casino Theatre. In politics he is a Re
publican, while religiously he is a member of
Grace Episcopal Church, of which he is Vestry-

pQlLBUR HILL, of Middletown, is a con-
1 A / tractor and builder, and is also engaged in
V V the real-estate business, having developed
Grand View Avenue, and later laid out the Wil
bur Avenue Addition to the city. This consists
of nine lots, the principal one, Wilbur, having
been named in his honor. On both avenues he
has built a number of residences, some for himself
and others on contract, and besides these he has
erected three houses on Richmond Place, one on
Conkling Avenue, and several on other streets.
During the present season (1895), he had the
contract for seven residences.
At Long Pond, in Orange, and adjoining the

Rockland County line, the subject of this notice
was born May 24, 1857. His father, Rensselaer,
was born near the village of Turner, the site of
which was at one time owned by grandfather
John Hill, who was a cooper by trade, and died
in early manhood. The father, who was also a
cooper, followed that occupation for many years,
and made his home on a farm at Long Pond.
Late in life he removed to Port Jervis, where he
died at the age of sixty-seven years. He was
quite handy with tools, and possessed consider
able inventive genius.
The first marriage of Rensselaer Hill united
him with Charlotte Conkling, a native of Orange
County, and a daughter of Jacob M. Conkling, a
spoon manufacturer and worker in wood. Mrs.
Charlotte Hill died in 1865, when her son, our
subject, was a lad of eight years. He was the
fifth among nine children, of whom eight are liv
ing, scattered through various localities. His
youthful years were spent on the home farm, and
as he was very deft with tools, he early turned his
attention to the trade of a carpenter and cabinet
maker. At the age of eighteen, he worked for
Peter P. Parrott as a chore-boy for one year, the
following year was overseer of the yard, and the
next year was employed in the Pine Swamp Mine.
Later he went to Buffalo and engaged in farming
for a year, and then secured work on a Hudson
River steamer running between Haverstraw and
Bridgeport, Conn. After being employed in that
capacity for one season, he was promoted to be
second mate.
On his return to Orange County, Mr. Hill built
a house for himself, and then worked at the car
penter's trade from that time until 1883, the date
of his removal to Middletown. Here he entered
the rolling-mill of Wheeler, Madden & Clemson,
beginning in an humble position, and working his
way up until he was placed in charge of the south
end ofthe mill. After some time in that capac
ity, he turned his attention to roll-turning, of
which he made a success. In 189 1 he abandoned
that occupation to begin work as a contractor and
builder, in which business he has since engaged.
After coming to this city, Mr. Hill was united
in marriage with Miss Alice M. Torey, who was

1014

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born here, and their home is brightened by the
presence of two children, Albert Russell and
Gladys. While Mr. Hill has never taken an act
ive part in politics, he has firm convictions on the
subject, and believes in the wisdom of Republican
principles. In religious connections he belongs
to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

—5-

=*^3*-3fc-<*P^=-*

EHARAC J. VAN INWEGEN, a general
merchant and farmer of Huguenot, who was
born April 14, 1851, in the town of Deerpark,
comes of a family that was early founded in Amer
ica, and the name was originally spelled Ninwe-
gen. Harmanus Van Inwegen was from Holland,
and married a sister of the Swartwout brothers,
she probably being a granddaughter of Roeloff
Swartwout, who came to this country about 1643.
Their son Gerardus was married to Jane, daugh
ter of Jacob DeWitt, of Rochester, Ulster County,
N. Y. He was born in the town of Deerpark
about 1700, and the church records give an ac
count of his marriage. His death occurred at the
age of ninety. His son Harmanus, born in 1734,
died at the age of eighty. The marriage record
of the Reformed Dutch Church at Deerpark says:
"August 17, 1759, Harmanus Van Inwegen
married Marrigrita Kool, a daughter of David
Kool." The next in line of descent, Benjamin
Van Inwegen, was born in Deerpark, September
26, 1787, was married, October 1, 1810, to Char
ity Cole, and died in his native town, April 18,
1854. Their son, Eli Van Inwegen, was born
April 23, 1816, in Deerpark, was married, Decem
ber 30, 1831, to Elizabeth M. Bull, and resides
in Port Jervis. Charles F. Van Inwegen, born
September 13, 1849, was married, June 6, 1876, to
Miss Emma L-, daughter of Amos and Lydia C.
(Throll) Van Etten. They have three children:
Anna, Cornelius and Willard Bull. Charles F.
Van Inwegen is the efficient Cashier of the First
National Bank of Port Jervis.
The father of our subject, Charac A. Van In
wegen, was born January 25, 1808, and died De
cember 2, 1890. He wedded Mary Case, who
was born November 12, 18 14, and died January

11, 1895. Her parents were Henry and Cather
ine (Nearpass) Case, the former born July 28,
1783, the latter September 20, 1785. Their chil
dren were: William N., who was born April 14,
1804, and is now living in Oakland, N. Y. , at the
age of ninety-one; George; Jacob, of Oakland;
Ann; Elizabeth; Mary; John, of Matamoras, Pa.;
Henry, ofthe town of Deerpark; and Catherine.
Charac A. Van Inwegen established a store in
Godfrey, N. Y., and also one in Huguenot. He
carried on merchandising during the greater part
of his life, but at length retired and removed to
Port Jervis, where he and his wife spent their last
days. In the family were nine children, three of
whom are living.
The gentleman whose name heads this record
has also followed merchandising throughout his
life, succeeding to the business which his father
established in Huguenot, and which he still car
ries on. Iu 1880 he also opened a store in Port
Jervis, in connection with his brother John C,
who has charge of the latter establishment, which
is stocked with a good line of groceries and pro
visions. Other business interests also engross the
attention of our subject. He takes contracts for
bridge-building and stone culverts, and has built
a number of bridge abutments and culverts, con
structing one of the latter for the Port Jervis wa
ter works. Mr. Van Inwegen deals extensively
in wood, and each season ships from one thousand
to three thousand cords by canal to Kingston and
then down the Hudson to New York City. He
has also sold considerable quantities to the Gov
ernment, and gives employment to from fifteen to
twenty men, who are engaged in getting out the
wood. For some years he ran a sawmill, manu
facturing pine lumber to the extent of two hun
dred thousand feet per annum.
Mr. Van Inwegen is the owner of a forty-acre
farm aud another cultivated tract of sixty acres,
together with one thousand acres of timber-land.
To a considerable extent he has speculated in
real estate, and he sold the Martin Farm, which
was laid off into a village, two miles north of Port
Jervis. For a time he owned the Huguenot
Springs Hotel, and he owns two store buildings in
Port Jervis. There are few industries or activi-

JAMES V. CLARK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1017

ties that have been established in this locality
with which Mr. Van Inwegen has not been con
nected, and as he always carries forward to suc
cessful completion whatever he undertakes, it is to
the advantage of any enterprise to have him inter
ested in the same.
Mr. Van Inwegen has been twice married. He
first wedded Catherine, daughter of Isaac and
Catherine (Rose) Cuddeback, and after her
death he married Ellen S., daughter of Peter P.
Swartwout. By the first union one son was born,
Willard, aged twenty -two, who is in his father's
store. The children of the second marriage are
Lyman Charac and Harold Benjamin, aged, re
spectively, four and one and a-half years. Mrs.
Van Inwegen is a member of the Reformed
Church, and our subject contributes to its sup
port. Socially he is a member of the Masonic lodge
of Port Jervis. In politics he is a Democrat, and
for seven years has served as Postmaster of Hu
guenot. He is one of the most prominent and
influential citizens of this locality, an important
factor in its upbuilding, and all who know him es
teem him highly.

(JAMES VAN FLEET CLARK, deceased,
I came with his father to the town of Waway-
(2) anda in 1850, and continued to reside here
until his death. He was born in the town of
Minisink, May 10, 1817, and was therefore in his
seventy-ninth year at the time of his death, which
occurred July 14, 1895. The first of the family
to locate in this section was his grandfather,
James, who was born near New York City. Our
subject's father, Abraham Clark, was a native of
the town of Minisink, and by his marriage to
Catherine Robinson became the father of nine
children. Of these, Jane, Clarissa, William, Rob
inson, Sarah, James Van Fleet and two other
members ofthe family are deceased, David R. be
ing the only survivor.
Throughout his entire life Abraharh Clark was
a farmer, and was successful in cultivating the
soil. In 1850 he moved to the town of Waway
anda and became the proprietor of the tract later

owned by our subject. It is one hundred and
ninety-nine acres in extent, and in point of im
provement is one of the best in the town. Here
he made his home for eleven years, until his death,
in 186 1. He was a consistent member of the
Presbyterian Church, with which his wife was
also connected. She departed this life in 1858.
James Van Fleet spent his entire life within the
boundaries of his native county, where he had
many warm friends. He attended school in the
district near his home until he was fifteen years
old, when he assumed the responsibility of carry
ing on the farm work. He raised grain in large
quantities, but, like most of the farmers of this
section, made a specialty of dairying, receiving
from the creameries a good price for his product.
From early manhood until his death he was con
nected with the Presbyterian Church. His first
vote was cast for William Henry Harrison, and
after the organization of the Republican party he
cast his ballot for its candidates. He never mar
ried. His death occurred at his home, and his
remains were laid to rest in the family burial-
ground on a beautiful hill at the old homestead.
Since the death of our subject his nephew,
William J. Clark, has resided on the estate. He,
like his uncle, is a Republican in political views.
He was united in marriage, February 20, 1895,
with Miss Anna G. Kewley, of White Lake, Sul
livan County.

Gb

v.77

zB

=0

fi>GjlLLIAM R. ULRICH, a citizen of Middle-
\ A / town, was born in the state of Louisiana
VV in **859, and is ason of Dr. William B. and
Eliza L- (Miller) Ulrich, natives, respectively, of
Chester, Pa. , and Louisiana. His father, who is
a talented physician, has been engaged in the
practice of his profession for many years at his
native place, where he is well and favorably
known as a practitioner. He and his wife, though
advanced in years, are yet in the enjoyment of
excellent health, and are passing their declining
days amid all the comforts of life.

45

ioi8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The groundwork of his education was obtained
by our subject in the common schools, aud subse
quently he was a student in the Pennsylvania
Military Academy at Chester. At the age of
nineteen he began life for himself, and since that
time he has been self-supporting. He took up
the study of civil engineering, and when he be
came proficient in that science he engaged at it
in the employ of others, being occupied in that
way for a number of years. In 1880 he estab
lished domestic ties, being united in marriage,
during that year, with Miss Maud Monroe, of
Chester, Pa. They have a pleasant home in this
city, and three children complete their family cir
cle, Julia M., William B. and David M., to whom
the best advantages will be given by their par
ents. Politically Mr. Ulrich is an advocate of
Democratic principles, and casts his ballot for the
candidates of that party.

"SD

^H^

.*"*"*"*""-

EHARLES TURNER, who is one of the best
known residents of Orange County , has been
engaged in milling in the town of Monroe
since the year 1835, ancl during that time has
identified himself prominently with the progress
of this section . Before entering upon the history
of our subject, we deem it proper to speak first of
his ancestors. Grandfather Gilbert Turner was
born in Putnam County, N. Y., near Peekskill,
about the year 1772. Of the three sons born to
his parents, two were drowned at Spuyten Duy-
vil, while crossing with garden produce. The
grandfather married Miss Hannah Brewster, who
was also born in Putnam County, and who be
came the mother of two sous and three daughters:
Peter, the father of our subject; Elizabeth, Mrs.
Ashel Smith; Jane, Mrs. William Alger; John;
and Phebe, Mrs. John Goff. Gilbert Turner de
parted this life in September, 1724.
Peter Turner was born in Putnam County,
March 14, 1794, and was therefore fourteen years
of age when his parents came to Orange County,
in the spring of 1808. They at once located on a
farm at the foot of East Mountain, and as soon as

old enough he engaged in farming, following this
occupation until 1824, on a portion of the old
homestead. At the same time he kept the toll-
gate on the old New York and Albany post road.
In 1824 the father of our subject moved to
where Central Valley now stands, and for the fol
lowing year kept a tavern. The next six months
he lived in a tenement house, and then returned
to the home place, to find that his father had re
cently died. Soon thereafter he moved to Ft.
Montgomery, and for five years was the proprie
tor of a general merchandise store. At the end
of that time he sold his store and again took up
his abode on his farm, it being his intention to
live quietly the rest of his life. After one year
had passed by, however, he was compelled to re
turn to Montgomery and take charge of the es
tablishment, as the man to whom he had sold it
failed in making his payments. He continued in
the mercantile business at Ft. Montgomery for
three years longer, carrying on in connection with
this business a thriving trade in lumber, wood
and staves.
In the fall of 1834 the father of our subject came
to Turner and purchased a saw and gristmill,
which had been built in 1825 by one Weyant
Mapes. This he conducted for many years, but
during the latter part of his life rented it to oth
ers. He also opened a hotel at this place, which
he carried on successfully foi some time. When
the Erie Railroad was built through the place he
opened a restaurant near the depot, which was a
very popular place for parties traveling on that
branch ofthe road, and it was no unusual thing for
him to furnish food to from twelve to fifteen hun
dred people per day. He was a remarkably enter
prising and progressive citizen, possessing fine
business ability. He was a good manager, and
as a result was very successful in life, accumu
lating a goodly portion of this world's goods.
Peter Turner was united with Miss Mary Ann
Galloway, who was the daughter of James and
Marian (Archer) Galloway, both natives of Or
ange County. The parents of our subject had
born to them a family of five children, ofwhom a
daughter died in infancy. The others were
Charles, of this sketch; Theron S. and James G.,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1019

deceased; and Gilbert. The husband and father
died October 16, 1875, greatly mourned by all
who knew him.
The subject of this sketch was born January
24, 1817, in the old Gibbs' House, near Central
Valley, at which place he attended school for a
time, and was also a student in the schools of Ft.
Montgomery. Having completed his education
the year before attaining his majority, he contin
ued to reside with his parents, being in partner
ship with his father in his various enterprises
until 1850, when he came to the town of Monroe
and took charge of the mill within two miles of
the head of Round Pond. Here he has been en
gaged in milling ever since. He was married,
September 23, 1845, in New York City, to Miss
Eliza A. Van Orden, who was born and educated
in that city, and who was the daughter of John,
Jr., and Sarah (Van Vailer) Van Orden, also na
tives of the metropolis. She was the elder of
their two children, her brother bearing the name
of John.
The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Turner
are: Henry V. , living in Central Valley; Georgia,
who makes her home with her father; and Peter
and Mary, both of whom are deceased. The wife
and mother was a devoted member of the Univer-
salist Church, in the faith of which she departed
this life February 1 8 , 1895. In politics Mr. Turn
er is a Democrat, and on that ticket has been
elected Town Clerk, and also served as Postmas
ter at Turner for seventeen years. Our subject
has in his possession a chair which once belonged
to his grandmother, and which is now over two
hundred aud fifty years old. He also has a clock
one hundred years old, and an old-fashioned side
board, also a century old.

"HOMAS LITTLETON, formerly one of
the Almshouse Commissioners, owns a good
business location at No. 274 Washington
Street, Newburgh, and enjoys a large retail trade
in staple and fancy groceries and liquors. He has
taken a very active part in Democratic cam
paigns, and for twenty years represented the

First Ward as County Commissioner. In 1883
he was elected Almshouse Commissioner from the
same ward, and upon the expiration of his term,
in 1886, was re-elected. During the six years of
his office he was Chairman of the Supply and
Auditing Committees, and in the mean time the
northern wing of the almshouse was erected.
Mr. Littleton was bora in Manchester, Eng
land, March 26, 1839, but nis father, George,
was a native of Ireland. The family, however,
originated in England, and George Littleton be
came a resident of Manchester in order to pursue
10 better advantage his trade as a contractor and
builder. His wife, Bridget, was a daughter of
Patrick Whalen, a farmer. She was born in
Kings County, Ireland, and passed her last days
in Newburgh, dying at the age of sixty-three
years. Of her two sons and three daughters
who survive, Thomas Littleton is the eldest. He
was reared in Kings County, Ireland, and was
deprived of his father's care and protection when
he was but twelve years of age. In order to as
sist his mother, he clerked in a store, and in 1857,
when eighteen years of age, emigrated with the
family from Liverpool to New York City, the
three-weeks voyage being made in the sailing-
vessel "Advance." Entering the family of Mrs.
(Colonel) Ellison, young Littleton was employed
as a coachman for three years, and afterward was
with Major Morton. In 1862 he went to New
York and served as coachman for Mrs. Lawrence
on Fifth Avenue, remaining there for two years,
after which he ran as conductor on the old horse-
car line for some three years. Returning to New
burgh, he started in business for himself and con
ducted a store in New Windsor for two years.
In 1870 he opened an establishment in the build
ing which he owns at the corner of Mill and
Washington Streets.
In New York City, in 1863, Mr. Littleton was
married to Margaret T. Smith, who was born in
the Emerald Isle, aud who departed this life in
October, 1894, leaving seven children. They are
as follows: Henry C, who is the owner of a gen
tleman's furnishing- goods store on Broadway,
Newburgh; Mary ; George A. , who is agent for the
Anchor Brewing Company ; Christopher, who is

1020

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

in business with his father; Frank, now clerking
for his elder brother George; and Maggie and
Thomas, Jr., who are at home. The family are
members of St. Patrick's Church.

EHARLES CLIFFORD VAIL KETCHAM,
whose death occurred July 22, 1892, was
born in the town of Mt. Hope, May 18,
1 841, on the old Ketcham homestead. His
grandfather was among the first to settle in that
vicinity, and his father, the late Amos Ketcham,
carried on a milling business for a number of
years. Until 1870 our subject remained at home,
and for some years had charge of a gristmill for
his father. In April of that year he removed to
Meadville, Pa., where he ran a soda-water and
birch-beer manufactory, and while there, in Au
gust, 1870, joined Meadville City Lodge No.
256, K. of P. Not liking his business, he sold
out, and iu December of that year removed to
Salisbury Mills, Orange County, again embark
ing in the milling business. This he continued
until 1875, when he sold out and moved to Mid
dletown, taking up the wholesale grain and com
mission business, in which he was engaged at the
time of his death.
After leaving Meadville Mr. Ketcham did not
have an opportunity to visit the Knights of Pyth
ias Lodge until the institution of Lancelot Lodge
No. 169 at Middletown, January 29, 1881, when
he joined by card, and was elected Master of Fi
nance for the first term. At the next election he
declined office. The Chancellor Commander-elect
subsequently vacated his office by leaving the
county, and after repeated requests Mr. Ketcham
was elected to fill the vacancy. The lodge at this
time was nearly stranded, but it immediately be
gan to grow under his faithful administration.
He entered the Grand Lodge of the order at the
session in New York City in 1883, as alternate
representative, and in 1884, l88.5 and 1886 was a
regular representative. He was D. D. G. C. un
der Grand Chancellor Baker for the Sixteenth

District, and was appointed Grand Inside Guard
by Grand Counsellor Isham at the session held at
Rochester. Mr. Ketcham was also a member of
Paughcaughmaughsinque Tribe, I. O. R. M., and
was Past Sachem, attending the grand council of
the state at Rochester in 1886 for the first time.
He was Chairman of the Committee ofthe Whole,
which had charge of the revision of the constitu
tion and by-laws.
November 12, 1863, Mr. Ketcham married
Susan Elizabeth Mapes, at what was then known
as Mapes Village, by Rev. George Means, of
Howells Depot. She was born in the town of
Mt. Hope, and is a daughter of Benjamin Mapes,
and a granddaughter of Erastus Mapes, both of
whom were born in the same town. Her father
was by occupation a farmer, and now, at the age of
sixty-eight years, resides in his native town. Her
mother, Sarah Stone, was born in the town of
Deerpark and was a daughter of William Stone,
an extensive lumberman on the Delaware. Her
mother died at the old home at the age of sixty-
six years. Mr. and Mrs. Mapes became the par
ents of eight children: W. Henry, who was a
private in the late war and who died shortly after
his term of service expired; James E., a carpenter
and architect in Middletown ; Isaac T. , a farmer
on the old homestead; Susan E., Mrs. Ketcham;
Rachael A., Mrs. B. F. Davis, of New York City;
Sarah E., who married Sidney Howell, and died
at Howells Depot; Catherine A., Mrs. Hector
Tuthill, of Howells Depot; and Benjamin E., now
deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Ketcham were born four
children, the eldest of whom, Clifford, died in
1866. Those living are: Sarah, the wife of
Harry Tuthill, the Erie operator at Middletown;
William Beattie, an employe of the Middletown
Argus; and Charles Amos, a clerk in the public
library at Middletown.
Mr. Ketcham was an attendant at the First
Congregational Church, and up to a short time
before his death was a . member of the Board of
Trustees. He was always an ardent Republican,
and for many years was Inspector of Elections.
At the time of his death he was one of the Asses
sors ofthe city. For two years prior to his de-

WILLIAM MURRAY SAYER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1023

mise he had been ill, but he kept up most wonder
fully. Only the week before he died he was up
when others would have been in bed. Even after
confined to the house he attended to his duties as
Assessor, in company with his associates, who at
his request would come to his home and counsel
with him. He was always very active in public
enterprises, and was a citizen well liked by all.
A host of friends, not only in this city but through
out the state, mourned his loss. He was a mem
ber of Middletown Club, holding the office of
Vice-President. Up to within a few hours of his
death, he wrote a message to his family, in which
he assured them that the severe darting pains
that had been shooting through his system had
all left him, and that he felt much easier. He
was fully conscious until the last, and passed away
without a struggle. Mrs. Ketcham is a member
of the Congregational Church, an active worker
in the Ladies' Aid Society of that body, and uni
versally esteemed for her good word and works.

->~-» — ?3>K®^p®<+<» — *-

p QlLLIAM MURRAY SAYER, the leading
I A / lumt>erman °f Goshen, bears the reputation
V V of being the oldest business man in the
place, or even in Orange County. He was born
in the town of Minisink, March 14, 1820, and is
theson of William A. Sayer, also a native of this
county, his birth occurring in the town of Wall-
kill. Grandfather Stephen Sayer was a farmer in
the above town, passing his entire life within its
bounds. The father of our subject, who served
on Staten Island in the War of 18 12, lived to the
advanced age of eighty-seven years, and died on
his farm in the town of Minisink. The maiden
name of Mrs. Sayer was Sally Murray. She, too,
was a native of Orange County, and was the
daughter of William Murray, a farmer of the
town of Wallkill, who lived to be eighty years of
age. They were of Scotch-Irish descent, while
on his father's side our subject is of English ex
traction. Mrs. Sayer was a member of the old-

school Baptist Church, with which denomination
her husband was also connected. She died when
in her eighty-sixth year.
The parental family included eight children,
all of whom grew to mature years, and seven are
now living. William M., who was the eldest but
one, was reared on his father's farm in the town of
Minisink, and procured his education in the dis
trict schools of that day. When seventeen years
of age, or in the spring of 1837, he came to Go
shen, which was then a very small place, and be
gan as clerk in a general store. He continued
thus for three years, when he was taken into the
firm as a partner of his employer, the style being
Reeve & Sayer. In 1841 the Erie Railroad was
completed, and after the depot was located the
town grew very rapidly near it. Two years later
our subject and his partner moved their stock of
goods to what was called the new portion of the
town, and in 1846 the former purchased the in
terest of Thomas T. Reeve in the business, the
latter of whom had been appointed Cashier of the
Orange County Bank.
Our subject continued as sole proprietor of the
business until 1854, when he sold out and turned
his attention to the lumber trade. Four years
previous to this time he had established a busi
ness in this line in the lower end of the village,
and in 1858 he located where the yard now
stands. He occupies a square block, and owns
besides this valuable property adjoining, which
affords room for piling the lumber. In addition
to dealing in this commodity, Mr. Sayer carries
a large stock of coal and is one of the largest mer
chants in this line in the city.
In 1853 our subject, together with his brother
Stephen, became largely interested in the lumber
business in Michigan, their yards being supplied
with lumber from their extensive pine lands in
various counties in that state. At Zilwaukee,
between East Saginaw and Bay City, on the Sag
inaw River, they leased mills for the manufacture
of lumber, which they shipped to Albany, N. Y.,
and Chicago, 111. In 1855 his brother was taken
ill and died, and as Mr. Sayer could not well
leave his large business in the East, he sold the
mills the following year.

1024

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1847 Mr. Sayer made an addition to the vil
lage, on which he erected many residences and
several business houses. Sayer Street iu this
addition now bears his name. He is a Director
in the Electric-light Company and was also one
of the promoters of the Pine Island Railroad, of
which he was Director and Treasurer during its
construction and for several years thereafter. It
is nine miles in length, running from Goshen to
Pine Island. He took the contract for and built
the reservoir for the Goshen Water Works,
both the reservoir and buildings covering twenty-
acres of land. He was one of the originators of
the first fire company in Goshen, of which he was
appointed Treasurer at the time of its organiza
tion, in 1842, and was likewise actively interested
in the organization of the Orange County Agri
cultural Society, of which he was made Treas
urer. Mr. Sayer is President of the Rider Engine
Company of Walden, which was organized by
Goshenites and was incorporated in 1879, with
Mr. Sayer as President, which position he has
since held. The old Rider, Wooster & Co. plant
at Walden, with which Mr. Sayer was connected,
was bought, and was rebuilt and enlarged for the
manufacture of engines. They build the Rider
& Ericsson hot-air engine, turning out three or
four a day, and give employment to about one
hundred men. The capital stock ofthe company
is $90,000. William Murray Sayer is President;
William Murray Sayer, Jr., Vice-President; Rich
ard S. Sayer, Treasurer; H. Siusabaugh, Secre
tary; and F. A. Merriam, Western Manager.
They have a store and office at No. 37 Dey
Street, New York, and No. 86 Lake Street, Chi
cago. Mr. Sayer was married in Goshen, February 6,
1844, to Miss Jane Sears, a native of New York
City, and the daughter of Capt. Richard Sears,
for many years a sea-captain. He later retired
from that life, however, and engaged in farming
in Orange County. To Mr. and Mrs. Sayer
eight children have been born. Edmund is en
gaged in the lumber and coal business at Walden ;
Ruth, the wife of Frank A. Merriam, Western
Manager for the Rider Engine Company, is locat

ed at Chicago; Richard S., Treasurer of the above
company, makes his home in Englewood, N. J.;
William Murray, Jr., lives in Brooklyn, N. Y.;
Alice is at home; Jane married J. W. Gott, an at
torney of Goshen; and Antoinette and Sally are
at home.
For many years Mr. Sayer was Trustee of the
village. He is a straight out-and-out Republican
and during his younger years took an active in
terest in politics. In February, 1894, he cele
brated the fiftieth anniversary of his marriage
with Miss Sears, on which occasion all their chil
dren and grandchildren were present. Mrs. Say
er is a devoted member of the Episcopal Church.

Q ENJAMIN F. VAN FLEET, a prominent
IC\ citizen of the town of Wallkill, was born
L_/ here February 1 1 , 1840, being a son of James
S. and Mary (Fredenberg) Van Fleet, natives, re
spectively, of Orange County and New Jersey.
His father, whose life occupation was that of an
agriculturist, was an industrious, persevering
mau, and his death in 1887 was regarded as a
public loss. His wife also passed from earth in
1887. Benjamin F. received his elementary edu
cation in the common schools, and the knowledge
there acquired was afterward supplemented by
thoughtful reading and observation.
For some years after commencing in business
for himself, Mr. Van Fleet followed the occupa
tion of a general farmer, raising the various cer
eals to which the soil was adapted. Later, how
ever, he turned his attention to the raising of
small fruits and vegetables, aud now has more
than eighty acres devoted to this branch of agri
culture. His home farm consists of thirteen acres,
upon which he has modern and substantial build
ings. In truck gardening he has been, very suc
cessful, and few men are better informed in this
line of work than is he.
In all his enterprises Mr. Van Fleet has had
the efficient co-operation of his wife, with whom
he was united January 29, 1862, and who, prior
to that time, bore the name of Virginia Linder-
man. She is the daughter of the late Henry S.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1025

Linderman, formerly one ofthe well known citi
zens of this connty, and who at different times
held offices of trust and responsibility. The only
son of Mr. and Mrs. Van Fleet is Harry L-,
general manager of agencies for the Preston Fer
tilizer Company; and their only daughter is Mary
L. , wife . of William Cox, who is a merchant of
Circleville. Mr. Van Fleet and his wife are iden
tified with the Reformed Church at Blooming
burg, to the maintenance of which they contrib
ute liberally. Since attaining his majority, he
has given his allegiance to the Republican party,
the principles of which he upholds with fidelity.
He has served efficiently in the responsible posi
tion of Overseer of the Poor, and at present is
filling the position of Assessor of the town.

EHARLES" WOLFF, of Middletown, located
here in May, 1867, and for a time followed
merchant tailoring exclusively. Afterward
he added to it the clothing business, continuing the
same until 1883, when he removed to his present
location and abandoned work at that trade, owing
to ill-health. He occupied two floors, 22x68 feet
in dimension, upon the first of which he has a
full line of men's furnishing goods and clothing,
while on the second is the boys' and children's
department. In 1885 he took into partnership
his son, Charles, Jr., and in 1887 his son Louis
was admitted, and the firm has since done busi
ness under the title of Charles Wolff & Sous.
In Posen, Germany, where his parents, Cas
per and Lydia (Sharp) Wolff, were born, and
where the former engaged in merchandising, the
subject of this sketch was born November 9,
1837, being one of five children who attained
years of maturity. Three sons came to America,
one of whom engaged in manufacturing in New
York City until his death. Jacob was a merchant
at Rockford, lib, until his death, so that our sub
ject is the sole representative of the family in this
country, and with one exception he is the only
survivor of the five children. He was reared iu

Posen, and at the age of thirteen apprenticed him
self to the tailor's trade in his native village, In-
evralstaf. Until twenty years of age he followed
his trade in that place.
Taking passage, in 1857, on the sailing-vessel
"Rhine" at Hamburgh, Mr. Wolff crossed the
Atlantic, and after seven weeks landed in New
York City, where he commenced work at his
trade. Soon afterward he learned cutting, which
he combined with his trade, being employed for
five years in that capacity in New York City. In
May, 1867, he came to Middletown, where he
was engaged in merchant tailoring exclusively
for five years, occupying a place adjoining his
present establishment on James Street. For six
teen years afterward he carried on the clothing
and merchant-tailoring business, and since 1883
he has devoted his attention to the former occu
pation. While in New York City Mr. Wolff married
Miss Matilda Baum, a native of Germany. They
are the parents of five children. Mrs. Sarah
Samuels lives in Port Jervis. Charles, Jr., one of
his father's partners, is a member of Hoffman
Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Excelsior Hose Com
pany No. 1, and is also interested in the Home
stead Building and Loan Association. Louis is
also a member of the firm, and a member of the
Monhagen Hose Company. Bertha and Hattie
are with their parents.
Mr. Wolff is the owner of a brick building at
No. 42 North Street, which is three stories high,
has a frontage of twenty-four feet, and is eighty-
five feet deep. He also owns his residence at
No. 52 East Avenue. In 1885 he went to Eu
rope and took the baths at Carlsbad, where he
spent three months, the treatment resulting in the
entire restoration of his health. In 1888, upon
the Republican ticket, he was elected to represent
the Fourth Ward as a member of the first Board
of City Council of Middletown, and served in that
position for two years. During the first year he
was Chairman of the Police, Sewer and Street
Construction Committees, and in the second year
was a member of the Committee on Streets aud
Bridges. He is connected with the Board of Trade
and with other public enterprises. At one time he

1026

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was identified with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and is now an active member of Hoffman
Lodge No. 412, F & A. M., and Midland Chap
ter, R. A. M.

EHARLES JONES, who owns and oper
ates a farm situated near Highland Mills, in
the town of Woodbury, was born in Green
wood Lake, N. J., March 29, 1846. At the age
of one year he was brought by his parents to the
village of Monroe, and two years later was taken
by them to Highland Mills. Under the judicious
training of his father, a successful school teacher,
he was given excellent educational advantages
and prepared for an honorable position in the
business world. Between the ages of six and fif
teen he attended school, after which he worked
on his father's farm until he attained his majority.
Later he remained with him for a time, receiving
wages in compensation for his labors.
The first purchase of land made by Mr. Jones
consisted of seven acres, and the year after his
marriage he bought the old homestead of twenty-
seven acres, which he cultivated during the sum
mer months, during the winter seasons working
for J. T. Cromwell. After the failure of that
gentleman, he devoted his attention almost en
tirely to farm work. In 1886 he purchased one
hundred and twenty-five acres, the cultivation of
which, together with his other property, requires
his entire attention. He is interested in public
affairs, and politically is a Republican, with Pro
hibition tendencies.
The Jones family is of Welsh descent. Our
subject's grandfather, Charles Jones, was a mem
ber of a worthy Quaker family of New Jersey,
and was himself a successful school teacher in the
southern part of that state. His sons were of a
roving disposition and some of his descendants
now live on the Pacific Coast. Our subject's fa
ther, Henry, was born September 20, 1805, and
combined the occupations of a school teacher aud
farmer, being quite successful in both. January
28, 1830, he married Mary Merriam, whose birth
occurred January 17, 1808, and who died at the

home of our subject, December 20, 1892. For
thirty years he followed the occupation ofa teach
er. He was educated by an aunt, Mrs. Chap
man, who gave him such advantages as her
means permitted, and being a thoughtful reader
and possessing superior mental ability, he gained
a broad fund of information. His youthful years
were spent in southern New Jersey, where he
was born, and after coming to New York he
taught at Bakertown and Highland Mills for
many years, being at the latter place during the
war. His death occurred in July, 1889, at White
City, Kan., where he was making his home with
two of his sons. He and his wife were the par
ents of eight children, namely: Theodore, Henry
M., Mary, Eliza, Edward A., William, Emily
L- and Charles.
The first marriage of our subject was solem
nized in the village of Monroe, March 27, 1873,
his wife being Augusta, daughter of Josiah Webb.
This lady died in July, 1884, after having become
the mother of three daughters, Carrie Augusta,
Mary Lizzie and Harriet. At Highland Mills,
October 21, 1888, Mr. Jones married Mrs. Cor
nelia I. Thompson, who was born near Rye Hill,
in the town of Monroe, being a daughter of Joseph
Sears and Caroline B. (Earl) Earl. She was
first married, March 15, 1883, to Charles H.
Thompson, who died July 24, 1884. By her mar
riage with our subject she has three children,
namely: Theodore Merriam and Charles Henry
(twins), and Sarah Edith. Mrs. Jones is a lady
of generous and amiable disposition, and is a
faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Highland Mills.

QETER D. SWARTWOUT is a gentleman
yr whose name is inseparably connected with
1$ the history of Orange County, and comes of a
family that has long been prominent in this local
ity. His honored grandfather, Peter Swartwout.
was born June 1 1 , 1766, aud, having arrived at
years of maturity, married Jane Westfall, who was

FARM RESIDENCE OF CHARLES JONES,
One and Onf,-Hai,f Mii.es Northwest of Highland Mius, Orange County, N. Y.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1029

born October 20, 1770, and who was almost nine
ty years of age at the time of her death. He also
lived to an advanced age, and their home was the
same that is now occupied by the subject of this
review. Their children were as follows: Simeon
born December 14, 1788; Philip, bora Octobei
12, 1790; James D., born October 1, 1792; Sam
uel, born November 4, 1794; David, born July
28, 1800; and Deborah, born March 25, 1808.
David Swartwout, father of our subject, was
reared on the old home place and married Syntche
Cuddeback, daughter of Henry and Esther (Gum
aer) Cuddeback, who was born April 9, 1801.
They began their domestic life on the old home
place, and died on that farm, which had always
been their place of residence, the father's death
occurring October 18, 1874, the mother's Febru
ary 26, 1845. Brief record of their family we
here give. Henry, the eldest, born November
30, 1821, resides near Carbondale, Pa. ; Jane, born
December 30, 1823, married John Whitlock, and
died June 27, 1853; Hester, born December 17,
1825, died December 30, 1841; Philip J., born
April 12, 1828, died February 18, 1844; Peter
D., our subject, was born April 27, 1830; and
Margaret, born August 22, 1834, is the wife of Ed
win White, of Carbondale, Pa.
Upon the old home farm Mr. Swartwout of this
record has always lived. It is dear to him as the
ancestral home and the home of his boyhood,
and it will probably be his residence throughout
his remaining days. It comprises two hundred
acres of land, well located, and in addition to its
cultivation Mr. Swartwout in early life followed
the lumber business at Hagen Pond, about five
miles from the Delaware River, shipping the lum
ber by raft to Philadelphia. He carried on this
business for several years and then gave the right
of way to the railroad, afterward resuming farm
ing. Mr. Swartwout was married iu Lyons, N. Y.,
November 10, 1853, to Amanda Westfall, daugh
ter of Jacob Westfall, who formerly lived in Penn
sylvania, and removed thence to the Empire
State. Mrs. Swartwout was born September 19,
1830, and died on the 4th of October, 1885. In
the family were six children. Mary, born Au

gust 26, 1854, is the widow of Alfred Norris,
and resides with her father; David, born June
3, 1856, is on the old home place; Helen, born
January 3, 1858, died March 9, 1865; Albert, born
October 22, 1864, married Alice Heindel, of
Springfield, Ohio; Carrie, bora May 29, 1868,
and Samuel De Witt, born December 19, 1870,
are both at home.
In his political views Mr. Swartwout is a Re
publican and a stanch supporter of the party
principles. He successfully carries on agricult
ural pursuits, devoting the greater part of his
time and attention to his farm work. As a citi
zen he is public-spirited and progressive and is a
worthy representative of an honored family.

(JOHN B. LEEMON. In September, 1862,
J Mr. Leemon volunteered as a private, was
(2/ mustered in at Newburgh, and assisted in
raising Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-
eighth New York Infantry, of which he became
a member. Among the first battles which he
took part in were the memorable engagements at
Williamsburg, Gettysburg, Punktown and Antie
tam, and afterward he was in camp at Yorktown
for four months.
At Richmond, while Mr. Leemon took part in
a battle there, a ball grazed his scalp. The South
ern forces being too strong for the Federal troops,
the latter fell back and escaped capture by board
ing the gunboats. Soon after reaching Chatta
nooga he was taken sick, and for some time was
confined in a hospital. Even after recovering
sufficiently to go home he was obliged to use
crutches, so great had been his sufferings with
rheumatism. Iu October, 1864, on the expira
tion of his term of service, he was mustered out
at Newburgh. While in the army he was pro
moted to be Orderly-Sergeant, and during his
sickness iu the hospital received the commission
of Second Lieutenant.
The Leemon family has been characterized by
longevity and by its connection with military
service. The great-grandfather of our subject

1030

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was in the English army, and died at the age of
one hundred and fifteen. Grandfather Leemon,
who was an officer in the British army, was wound
ed in the service; he died at eighty-eight years.
The father, William, who was born in County
Armagh, Ireland, died at the age of ninety-nine
years, eleven mouths and seventeen days. When
about thirty-four he came to America, accom
panied by his wife, and settled in Paterson, N. J.,
where he followed the trade of a fancy weaver.
From there he went to Circleville, Orange Coun
ty, where he engaged in farm pursuits. Selling
out, he removed to New York City, but six
months later returned and bought the Denmau
Farm, upon which he remained until his death.
His wife, Jane Moore, was born in Ireland and
died at the age of sixty-six.
Of the thirteen children comprising the par
ental family, all but two attained years of matur
ity and eleven are now living. Three sons, be
sides our subject, served in the Union army,
William and George being members of the One
Hundred and Sixty-eighth, and James N. belong
ing to the Fifty-sixth, New York Infantry. All
served through the entire period of the conflict,
and George was promoted to the rank of Cor
poral. Our subject was born in Circleville, this
county, October 19, 1831, and was reared in that
place, gaining a fair education in the neighbor
ing schools. At the age of twenty he was ap
prenticed to the carpenter's trade under his
brother Robert, aud continued at that occupation
until his enlistment in the army. For two years
after returning' home" from the war he was un
able to engage in manual labor, owing to ill-
health, but as soon as he had recovered he re
sumed work as a carpenter, and also engaged in
contracting and building. Later he did consid
erable business in the way of moving buildings.
Iu 1876 Mr. Leemon opened a grocery store in
Middletown, starting in business in a part of the
city where at that time there were no stores
whatever. He has a well equipped establish
ment at No. 146 North Street, where he carries
a full line of general groceries, including vege
tables and fruits in their season. In 1888 his
son, Robert J., was admitted into partnership,

and the firm has since done business under the
title of J. B. Leemon & Son.
The marriage of Mr. Leemon in Montgomery,
in 1865, united him with Miss Jane A. Frame,
who was born in Ireland, and when four years of
age was brought to America by her parents, set
tling in Newburgh, but afterward removing to
Montgomery. Five children were born to them,
of whom two are living. Robert J., a graduate
of the Ohio University at Ada, Ohio, in the nor
mal and commercial courses, is in business with
his father, and is one of the popular young men
of Middletown, being connected fraternally with
Huffman Lodge, F. & A. M., the Knights of
Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men.
John E., M. D., is represented elsewhere in this
volume. Politically Mr. Leemon is a Democrat. He
was formerly identified with the Ninety-first Na
tional Guard of New York, of which organiza
tion he was Second Lieutenant for a number of
years. Interested in Grand Army affairs, he is a
charter member of General Lyon Post No. 266,
in which he takes a warm interest. He belongs
to Phoenix Hose Company No. 4, and has helped
to bring the fireman's department to its present
high standing of merit and efficiency.

+=

=+

. ROSS ELLIOTT, M. D., of Montgomery,
*y was born in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Coun-
__ ty, N. Y., October 31, 1854, aud is of Irish
descent. His father, Rev. Joseph Elliott, who
for many years was an honored minister in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, was a native ofthe
city of Armagh, Ireland, where the first fourteen
years of his life were passed. Frpm there he
came to the United States and settled in Orange
County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, re
ceiving his education in Montgomery and Char-
lotteville. His entire life was devoted to minis
terial work, and he was well beloved among the
people whom he served. He was licensed to the
ministry while in Montgomery, and held pastor-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1031

ates in this city, Highland Falls, Newburgh,
Warwick and other places in the same locality.
The first and last years of his ministry were both
passed in Orange County, and he died at Middle-
town when fifty-seven years old.
The marriage of Rev. Joseph Elliott united
him with Miss Harriet M. Andrews, of Delaware
County, N. Y., the wedding being solemnized at
Delhi, this state. Mrs. Elliott is still living, and
makes her home in Middletown. There were
five children in the family, of whom E. Ross is
the eldest. The family being obliged to move
frequently, owing to the limit of pastorate in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, it was deemed best
that he should be sent to the home of an uncle in
Brooklyn, in order that he might have the ad
vantage of the excellent educational opportuni
ties the schools of that city afforded. He spent
thirteen years with his uncle, and meantime at
tended Claverack Academy in Columbia Coun
ty and Stamford Seminary in Delaware County,
N. Y.
On completing his literary studies, our subject
began to read medicine under the preceptorship
of Dr. Chase, of Brooklyn, with whom he re
mained for one year. Later he entered the med
ical, department of the New York University,
from which institution he was graduated iu 1874,
before he was twenty -one years old. In 1876 he
opened an office for practice in Dutchess County,
but spent only one year there, coining thence to
Montgomery January 1, 1878. In the years that
have passed, he has had charge of an increasing
practice, and has gained the confidence of the
people, who have the highest opinion of his skill
and ability. While he has had a general prac
tice, his unusual success in the treatment of
diseases of women aud children has brought him
a great many of such cases, of which he is making
a specialty. Interested in everything that tends
to promote the profession and advance its useful
ness, he holds membership in the Orange Coun
ty Medical Association, and is actively connected
with its work.
The marriage of Dr. Elliott occurred January
28, 1876, his wife being Miss Lina Wright, of
Dutchess County, N. Y. They are the parents

of one child, a son named Clyde W. In religious
belief they are identified with the Reformed
Church, but attend services at the Presbyterian
Church, to which they are liberal contributors.
The Doctor was made a Mason in Waldo Lodge,
F. & A. M., and has passed all the chairs in
Freeman Lodge No. 170. Politically he is a
stanch Republican, and is a frequent attendant at
the conventions of his party, the success of whicli
he assists in every way possible. Many of his
leisure hours are spent on his wheel, and during
his vacations in the summer he usually makes a
bicycle tour, in company with a congenial party
of friends, thus gaining needed recreation after
the close confinement incident to professional
duties.

(JAMES URAL, a business man of Middle-
I town, was born iu Hackensack, N. J., March
Q) 7, 1850, and is a sou of Michael and Mary
(Gleason) Ural, natives, respectively, of Ireland
and New Jersey. The father, who came to the
United States in early manhood, married in New
Jersey and then settled upon a farm, devoting the
rest of his life to agriculture. He and his wife
are both deceased. Their family consisted of two
sons and one daughter, James being the eldest of
the three. He was reared on a farm in Hacken
sack and received common-school advantages.
Beginning the world for himself in 1866, Mr.
Ural went to Pompton, N. J., where he served a
three-years apprenticeship to the trade of a file-
maker. He then went to Williamsburg, near
Brooklyn, N. Y., where he was employed in
the file works for a period of three and one-half
years. In November, 1872, he came to Mid
dletown and here for twenty years he was file-
maker in the Eagle File Works, after whicli he
resigned to engage in business for himself. Pur
chasing a small outfit, he started in the coal-oil
and gasoline business, which he has since con
ducted on an increasing scale. He has a team
and wagon and delivers his products in five and
ten gallon lots. For the convenience of his cus-

1032

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tomers he has established a system of ordering by
means of postal cards containing a printed form
and furnished by him. His entire attention is
devoted to his business, and every precaution is
taken to secure satisfactory service.
In Biooklyn Mr. Ural married Miss Catherine
McCabe, who was born at Port Richmond, Staten
Island, and they became the parents of four chil
dren, namely: Edward J., who is a carriage
painter by trade; Nellie, who died at sixteen
years of age; Isabella and William, who are at
home. Mr. Ural belongs to the order of United
Friends, and is actively connected with the Cath
olic Church. Through his instrumentality, in
1872, the Monhagen Saw and Eagle File Works
Benefit Association was founded and he was ap
pointed its Secretary, which position he held for
twenty-one .years. It had been his intention and
wish to retire sooner from the office, but members
of the society induced him to continue. He is still
identified with the association, which has proved
a most helpful organization. From the organiza
tion of the Homestead Building and Loan Asso
ciation he has been identified with it as a Director,
and has aided in its growth, until it is now one of
the most successful institutions of the kind in the
state of New York. A member of St. Joseph's
Catholic Benevolent Society, he was President for
a time and held other offices of importance until
1894, when he resigned. At present he is a stock
holder in the Middletown Co-operative Company,
of which he was one of the organizers.
While the demands of his business have been
such as to preclude active participation in politics,
Mr. Ural is nevertheless well informed regarding
public matters, and may always be depended upon
to give his allegiance to the Republican party.
It was in May, 1892, that he embarked in the oil
business, and since that time he has built up a
large trade.

 j»»4-*/gpa%1****|-

'IMOTHY J. COHALAN, one of the oldest
railroad men of the county, and at present a
resident of Middletown, was born in Goshen,
in 1844, being the son of John and Maria (Wha-

len) Cohalan, natives, respectively, of the counties
of Cork and Kings, Ireland. His paternal grand
father, Timothy Cohalan, a farmer of the Emer
ald Isle, brought his family to British America,
but after a few years there came to New York
and settled in Orange County. Here he remained
until his death, which occurred in Middletown.
In early boyhood John Cohalan exhibited a de
cided preference for the carpenter's trade, which
he followed in New York and later in South
Carolina, being employed in the construction of
a railroad. On his return to Orange County he
helped to lay the first rod on the Erie Railroad
at Piermont, and continued as foreman until the
road was finished through to Port Jervis. He
then settled in that place, where he remained un
til his retirement from the railroad business in
1863, and then he purchased a large farm in the
town of Goshen, adjoining the city of that name.
There he remained until his death, which oc
curred when he was fifty years of age. The old
homestead is still in the possession of the family.
His wife, who died at the age of sixty-three, has
spent almost her entire life in this county, having
been brought hither by her father, who was em
ployed in the powder-mills at Newburgh, and was
blown up in an explosion there.
The subject of this sketch is the eldest of ten
children, all ofwhom attained mature years and
all but one are still living. He was reared in
Port Jervis and Middletown, attending the public
schools of both places. At the age of thirteen,
in 1857, he began railroading with the Erie near
Port Jervis, being under his father until 1863.
He then spent two years assisting in the cultiva
tion of the farm, after which he was employed on
the construction of the horse-car tracks at Brook
lyn. Returning to Port Jervis, he was foreman
in the building of the Monticello & Port Jervis
Road, and later held a similar position in the
laying of the switches of the Ontario & Western
at Middletown. At Belleville, N. J. , he was fore
man on the Erie for eight years.
Again coming back to Orange County, Mr.
Cohalan settled in the town of New Windsor,
where he engaged in the general mercantile bus
iness at Rock Tavern. In October, 1888, he

CAPT. ROBERT B. HOCK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

!Q35

came to Middletown, and accepted the position of
milk brakeman, which he held for two years.
He was then placed in charge of a car of milk
from Middletown to Weehawken, N. J., and at
present is milk brakeman. In 1887 he bought
the lot at No. 255 North Street, where he built a
residence and store, put in a stock of goods and
engaged in a general mercantile business.
In Middletown Mr. Cohalan married Miss
Mary Collins, a native of Ireland. They are the
parents of four children, the eldest ofwhom, John
F. , is fireman on the Ontario & Western. The
others, Mamie, Nellie and Annie, are at home.
The family are connected with St. Joseph's Catho
lic Church and regular attendants at the services
of that congregation. Mr. Cohalan is a member
ofthe Prudential Insurance Company of Newark,
aud socially is identified with the Ontario Hose
Company No. 5, of which he is Treasurer. In
politics he is a sturdy Democrat and gives his
party generous support.

-3 — 1  ?>S*i®^Bl®H<!«  * — *"-

EAPT. ROBERT B. HOCK has been Presi
dent of the village of Goshen for the past six
years, and is one of her most influential citi
zens. He is Chief of the Police and Fire Depart
ments, is President of the Board of Assessors and
Water Commissioners, and in short is at the head
of nearly every local enterprise. A Republican of
the most enthusiastic stamp, he has acted on various
committees, and for eighteen years has been serv
ing in public office, a portion of the time as As
sessor, Collector or Supervisor. In 1881 he was
appointed County Clerk by the Governor, and at
the end of a year was nominated and regularly
elected to the same position, receiving a majority
of twenty-three hundred votes. In 1885 he was
re-elected, and thus altogether he held the office
for seven years, making a fine record for himself
and constituents. He is recognized as one of the
leaders in the local campaigns of his party.
Our subject was born near Frankfort-on-the-
Main, in Bavaria, June-6, 1838. His father, Con

rad Hock, was a native ofthe same locality, and
operated a stone-quarry, being an expert stone
cutter. His death occurred in 1841, and in about
six years his wife's demise occurred. She was
formerly a Miss Catherine Weitzer, likewise a na
tive of Bavaria. Their three children were: Rob
ert B. ; Eva, wife of Peter Hoffman, of New York
City; and Johanna, deceased, formerly the wife of
Charles Gantz. Until ten years of age R. B.
Hock resided in his native city and then decided
to seek his fortune in America. By the death
of his parents he had been left an orphan at this
tender age, and, acting on his mother's advice,
he joined his uncle, her brother, who was living
in New York City. The lad left Rotterdam in
the spring of 1848, going to Havre, and at the
end of a forty- days voyage on the Atlantic in the
sailing-vessel "John Charles" reached New York
City. He attended the English schools until fif
teen years of age and then became an employe of
a Mr. Kent, a manufacturer and dealer in gold-
leaf. Being possessed of an adventurous spirit, when
seventeen years of age our subject answered an
advertisement for boys with a knowledge of mu
sic, the applicants to apply at a stated point on
Governor's Island. He found that it meant reg
ular service as a member of the band in the United
States army, and, being willing to learn, he be
came master of the bugle calls at the end of four
months. After passing the examinations he was
placed in the Tenth United States Infantry as a
bugler. He was sent to Ft. Snelling, Minn., and
took part in many expeditions against the Indians
in the West. In 1857 he went on the campaign
against the Mormons under Gen. Albert Sidney
Johnston (afterward the Confederate General who
lost his life at the battle of Shiloh) . Our subject
was sent to the scene of the Mountain Meadow
Massacre after that dreadful event, and took part
in the battle of Ash Hollow with General Hardy.
In i860, after his time of service had expired, he
went to Ft. Bridger, and the next summer he
became an employe on the famous Pony Express.
He rode from Ft. Bridger to Big Muddy, a distance
of twenty miles, but on account of the great dan
gers encompassing him turned eastward, going

1036

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Pike's Peak, Colo., the city of Denver at that
time being only a tented village. He arrived in
New York City in the fall of i860. The next
spring after Ft. Sumter was fired upon, General
Tracy of his old regiment, the Tenth United States
Infantry, requested him to drill recruits at Staten
Island. He complied and afterward drilled troops
in the city of Washington.
In the fall of 1 861 Mr. Hock was commissioned
Lieutenant of Company E, Twelfth New York
Cavalry, but was still engaged in recruiting and
drilling men. In 1862 he was promoted to be
First Lieutenant of the same company, and the
following year was made Captain of Company F,
Twelfth New York Cavalry. He went on Burn-
side's expedition, participating in the battle of
Ball's Bluff and the second engagement at Bull
Run. April 17, 1864, he was taken prisoner by
the rebels at Plymouth, N. C. , and for three
weeks was confined iu Andersonville. Then, as
he was an officer, he was sent with thirteen hun
dred other officers to the prison at Macon, Ga.
Four months were passed there, after which he
was for a month in the Savannah prison, and
later in the one at Charleston. Then with six of
his brother officers he managed to escape from
the prison at Columbia, S. C, by an arrangement
with two ofthe Confederate guards. The blood
hounds were set on their track, and in their des
perate flight they separated; two of his comrades
were overtaken by the hounds, and at length one
other, on account of sickness and fatigue, was
obliged to give himself up. Three of the num
ber got on track of each other again, and they all
traveled in company for twenty-one days. At
last but two were left, and these traveled by night,
lying in the woods during the daytime, and eat
ing nothing but corn for thirty-one days. They
believed they had gone beyond the southern lines
and ventured forth on the main road, when a
rebel cavalry company came along. Mr. Hock's
friend was captured, but he escaped, and traveled
onward alone for five days more. His sufferings
were intense, but he persevered, and at last was
rewarded by reaching the Union lines. He found
that the company was the Third Tennessee, who
received him with a fitting welcome, and took

care of him until he was able to report to General
Dix in New York. He was soon sent to his old
regiment, then in Newbern, N. C. His own com
pany had been captured, and only twelve of the
number ever returned. He was placed in a new
company and was drill master of the same for
three months.
In 1865 Captain Hock, with his forces, was or
dered to move to the vicinity of Wilmington, and
there encountered General Bragg. The gallant
Captain's horse was shot under him, and thirty-
two men from the two companies were killed.
He was captured by Bragg' s army and sent to
Danville, Va. , arriving there just before Wilson's
cavalry had torn up the railroad. The journey
was made on foot and Captain Hock determined
to escape if possible. While crossing a culvert
he made a desperate run for liberty, and in the
brushwood and low undergrowth concealed him
self until his captors had given up the search.
Accidentally he found himself on the line of an
underground railway, and iu two weeks entered
the Union lines, joining his regiment just before
Lee's surrender. He was in the fight at Benton-
ville, and in a cavalry charge his horse was killed
and in falling threw him into the midst of the
rebel infantry. A third time he found himself in
captivity, but that night managed to effect his
escape. He concealed himself under a thick cov
ering of dead leaves aud the next morning, after
the rebels had left, presented himself at his com
pany's headquarters with his usual dignity of
manner. In August, 1865, he resigned his po
sition and returned to New York City. His com
rade in rebel prisons, Lieut. A. Cooper, of the
same regiment, dedicated a book to Captain Hock
on their prison life and escape.
Until the spring of 1867 Captain Hock was pro
prietor of a bakery in New York, and then, com
ing to Goshen, bought out the proprietor of a
meat-market. This he successfully carried on
for sixteen years. In 1886 he built the St. Elmo
Hotel and business block, and has run the hotel
ever since. It is the finest in the town, and, like
everything else which the Captain has turned his
attention to, is a complete success. The old driv
ing-park was in a run-down condition when he

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1037

took hold of it, and in 1890 he reorganized it into
a stock company, of which he has since been
President. The park and tracks now have more
than a local reputation, and each year may be
witnessed here fine races, many celebrated horses
being entered for the championship. Captain
Hock is a stockholder in the Merchants' and
Manufacturers' Bank in Middletown, in the Go
shen Electric-light Company, and in many local
industries. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic
order, the Loyal Legion, and is a member of
Cummings Post, G. A. R., of Goshen.
In 1 86 1, in New York City, was celebrated the
marriage of the Captain and Miss Caroline C.
Yoerg, a native of the metropolis, and a daugh
ter of Frederick J. and Catharine (Treyens)
Yoerg, both natives of Germany. To our sub
ject and wife six children were born, two of whom
died in infancy. Robert is manager of the St.
Elmo Hotel, and Postmaster at Goshen; Fred as
sists his brother in the hotel; Frank, who married
Edith L., daughter of Gabriel Tuthill, of Middle-
town, is in the steam-fitting and plumbing busi
ness; and Hettie is the wife of Clarence M. Vail,
of New York City. Mrs. Hock is a demoted mem
ber of the Episcopal Church. In politics the
Captain is a stalwart Republican.

<K!*******^,****'^***'?,********^0"HOMAS T. DURLAND, of the town of
Wawayanda, was born November 28, 1821,
and is a son of Charles and Lydia (Terry)
Durland. His father was born in Chester, Orange
County, and was a son of Charles Durland, a
native of Scotland, who emigrated to this country
prior to the Revolutionary War. Charles and
Lydia Durland were the parents of the following
children: Thomas T., who died at the age of
twelve years; John and Joseph, also deceased;
Charles A., Esther J., Stewart T., Ezra T., Sa
rah, and Thomas T. , our subject. The father
was a mason by trade, and lived at Chester until
1808 or 1809, when he removed to this town,
where he died in 1851. The mother died in 1866.
Their remains lie buried in Westtown Cemetery.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in

his native county, and March 14, 1855, married
Miss Sarah E. Jackson, born August 14, 1830.
She is a daughter of George and Millicent (Fer
guson) Jackson, the former of whom was a farmer
of Wawayanda during his entire life. Mrs. Dur-
land's great-great-grandfather, Richard Gardiner,
came to America in the "Mayflower," and set
tled in Orange County prior to the Revolution
ary War. He was sent to America by the British
Government as a surveyor and conveyor of crown
lands. He had one daughter, who married Rich
ard Ferguson.
To our subject and his wife were born eight
children: Charles J., who married Eveline Clark
and is now residing iu Jersey City; John B., de
ceased; Alice; Henrietta; George J.; Julia A.,
wife of Benjamin Horton; Elizabeth, wife of
Lewis Van Orden; and Jennie, who died in in
fancy. When fourteen years of age our subject
took charge of the old homestead, where he lived
until 1863, when he removed to the homestead
of his wife's father, remaining there but a short
time, however. Returning to the old homestead,
he made it his home until 1868, when he pur
chased the one hundred and ninety-six acres, on
which he has ever since resided. He now owns
altogether three hundred and seventy acres of
land, which includes his father's old homestead.
He is a public-spirited and enterprising man, and
politically is a Democrat. The family are all
members ofthe Presbyterian Church.

¦g^ELSON WELLS WOOD. On an elevation
j / overlooking the city of Middletown and com-
| is manding a splendid view of the surrounding
country, stands City View Place, the home of
Mr. Wood. The neat and tastefully furnished
residence is surrounded by a well improved farm
of sixty acres, upon which are kept a small dairy
of Jersey milch cows and a number of standard-
bred horses.
The Wood family was numbered among the
early residents of Orange County. The great-

io38

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

grandfather of our subject, Vincent Wood, was
born in the town of Chester, and there died in
1 83 1. He was a successful school-teacher and was
widely known on account of the excellence of his
penmanship. The grandfather, George W., was
born in the town of Chester in 1799, and died in
January, 1872, having for many years engaged
in farming one mile from Sugar Loaf. His wife,
Polly, was born in the Sugar Loaf Valley in 1800,
and died at the old homestead in 1885. She was
a daughter of Joseph Cooper, who came to Orange
County from Morristown, N. J., and died here at
eighty-four years of age.
The nine children of George W. and Polly
Wood all attained years of maturity, and six are
now living. William, who was a member of an
Iowa regiment during the Civil War, died after
the close of the conflict; Edward, who served in
the Seventy-second New York Infantry and parti
cipated in the battle of Bull Run, died some years
after the close of the Rebellion. Samuel H., the
next to the eldest ofthe family, and our subject's
father, was born in Sugar Loaf, March 25, 1827.
At the age of twenty years, in 1847, he went to
New York City, reaching that place with but $7
in his possession, and there he secured a position
as clerk in a butter store, near Washington Mar
ket. In 1853 he resigned from that place and
became connected with the firm of Nelson, Wells
& Co., proprietors of a wholesale fish store at
No. 81 Dey Street, which was said to be the
largest market of its kind on the west side of the
city. After some years with that firm, he entered
the wholesale produce and commission business,
and was thus engaged until 1882, when he retired
from active labors. He made his home in Jersey
City until December, 1893, when he came to
Middletown, and now resides at the Madison
House. The mother of our subject, Eliza A., was born
iu Mystic, Conn., became the wife of Samuel H.
Wood in 1852 in New York City, where she died
in 1881. Her father, Capt. Thomas Wells, for
many years a resident of Mystic, Conn. , followed
the occupation of a whaler for a time, but later
embarked iu the wholesale fish business at Wash
ington Market, New York City, where he had

three large stores. His son John had a retail
stand in Washington Market. The first repre
sentatives of the Wells family in America were
two brothers, one of whom settled in Pennsyl
vania, and the other, Thomas, went to Connecti
cut. From the latter this branch of the family
sprung. The subject of this notice is one of two children,
his sister being Carrie, Mrs. B. F. Heard, who
died in Jersey City. Nelson W. was born in New
York City, on the 15th of September, 1854, and
was graduated from the high school there, later
attending the military academy at Norwalk, Conn.
O11 completing his studies, he became clerk in the
wholesale butter store of W. I. & C. M. Young,
of New York, with whom he remained about
eight years. Then, in partnership with his father,
under the firm name of S. H. Wood & Son, he
started in the wholesale butter and produce busi
ness at No. 8 1 Dey Street, where he remained from
1878 until 1889. In 1885 his father sold out his
interest in the business, leaving him sole proprie
tor. Mr. Wood still owns the building, but has
leased it to other parties. In 1889 he" left New
York City and came to Middletown; subsequently
he became a member of the firm of Smith &
Wood, and engaged in the brick business on
Wickham Avenue for three years. At the expi
ration of that period he disposed of* his interest in
the concern and retired from business. While in
New York he was an active member of the Mer
cantile Exchange of that city. In Middletown
he married Miss F. Armantha Robertson, who
was born in South Centreville, and received an
excellent education in this city, where her father,
George W. Robertson, engaged in the manufact
ure of brick. They are the parents of two sons,
Nelson Wells, Jr., and Robertson Garfield.
In politics a Republican, Mr. Wood was elected
upon his party ticket, in the spring of 1894, to
represent the Fourth Ward as a member of the
Board of Supervisors. He is still serving in that
capacity, iu which he has been an active factor in
promoting the interests of the place. His wife is
a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, to
which he is a liberal contributor. He is connected
with the Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company,

T. D. TUTHILL.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1041

and is a member of the Middletown Club. While
in Jersey City he united with Hudson Lodge,
K. of P., and now holds membership in Lancelot
Lodge in Middletown. In Jersey City he also
united with the Royal Arcanum, to which he still
belongs. He has been unusually successful in
his ventures, and is now in independent circum
stances. As a citizen, both in an official capacity
and in private affairs, it has ever been his aim to
promote the welfare of Middletown, and this city
owes not a little to his sagacity and energy.

:£*G

•*A_

"OWNSEND D. TUTHILL is one of the
oldest business men of Goshen, in point of
years in which he has carried on commercial
pursuits here. For fifteen years he was" superin
tendent of the gas works, continuing in that ca
pacity until July, 1894, when the plant was sold.
He is a practical plumber, gas and steam fitter,
and for several decades has had nearly all of the
work in that line here. For fifteen years he was
superintendent of the water works and also served
as Treasurer ofthe Board.
Our subject represents the eighth generation
of the Tuthill family in America. He traces his
ancestry to Henry Tuthill, who was born in Eng
land about 1600. John, a son of Henry, was
born in England July 16, 1635, and married De
liverance King February 16, 1657, settling at
Southold, L. I. His four sons were John, Henry,
Daniel and Nathaniel, and he also had five
daughters. His death occurred when he was iu
his eighty-third year.
The next in line of descent was John, Jr., born
February 14, 1658. He was married to Mehitable
Wells, by whom he had five sons and two daugh
ters, namely: John, Elizabeth, James, Joshua,
Abigail, Daniel and Freegift. He died Novem
ber 26, 1754, aged ninety-six years, nine months
and twelve days. Freegift, his son, was born
August 8, 1698, and married Abigail Goldsmith
in June, 1727, their union resulting in the birth
of four children, namely: Abigail, who was born
on Long Island; Nathaniel, born January 17,
1730; Joshua, October 25, 1732; and Freegift,
46

born in Orange County in June, 1734. Nathaniel
married Margaret Herod, who was born on Long
Island August 8, 1739, and they had three chil
dren, Benjamin, Mary and Nathaniel. Joshua,
the third child of Freegift and Abigail Tuthill,
was born October 25, 1732, at Brook Haven,
L- L, where his father bought a place in 1722,
and four months prior to his birth his father re
ceived a deed for a tract of land he had bought
two years before iu Orange County. A portion
of this property is now occupied by his grandson,
Horace Tuthill.
Upon this tract, which comprised four hundred
acres, Freegift Tuthill in 1732 built a log house,
in which he lived until 1744. He then built a
stone house, which in 1814 was taken down and
replaced by the present residence. Joshua mar
ried Mary Conklin, who was born September 15,
1733, and they reared four daughters and two
sons, namely. Mehitable, born August 1, 1759;
Mary, October 29, 1760; Abigail, December 4,
1762; Rebecca, July 29, 1767; Joshua, November
2, 1771; and Freegift, April 29, 1776. Mehitable
married Samuel Boyd, and had seven children:
Joshua, Mehitable, John, Mary, Keturah, Mar
garet and Freegift. Mary died in early woman
hood. Abigail married James Horton and they
had four children: Abigail, Rebecca, Susan and
James. Abigail married Stephen St. John.
Joshua, son of Joshua and Mary Tuthill, mar
ried Catharine Smith, who was born December
15, 1774, aud they had five children, as follows:
Freegift, who was born June 17, 1798; Mary,
November 1, 1799; Adaline, December 20, 1801;
Horace, January 26, 1804; and James S., August
27, 1815. Freegift married Martha, daughter of
Tabitha Smith, who was the youngest daughter
of Solomon Tuthill, grandfather of the Tuthills
of Oxford. Freegift and Martha had six chil
dren: Emily, Joshua, Charles, Theodore, James
and Martha. Mary married William Jackson,
and had one son, Thomas B. Jackson. Adaline
became the wife of Robert Case, and they had
three children: John, William and Catharine.
Horace married Martha Maria Dusenberry, Octo
ber 8, 1829, and they had six children: Town-
send D. , William H. , George, James E. , Horace S.

1042

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Thomas J. James S. married Harriet Smith,
and they had four children: Henry, Elizabeth,
Egbert J. and Mary J. Freegift, son of Joshua
and Mary Tuthill, married Elizabeth Swezy, by
whom he had five children: John, Frances,
Charles, George and James.
Horace, father of our subject, engaged in op-
perating the old Tuthill homestead in Hampton
burgh until he retired. He is now in his ninety-
second year and is one of the oldest surviving
citizens ofthe county. His grandfather, Joshua,
and two great-uncles, Nathaniel and Freegift,
served in the Revolutionary War, and the last-
named died while in the service.
. Of the six sons of Horace Tuthill we note the
following: Townsend D., the eldest, is the sub
ject of this sketch. Henry, who was born No
vember 3, 1833, married Eliza jCornwell, who
was born October 12, 1835, and they had one
child, Mazie L. George, whose birth occurred
August 22, 1836, was married, October 16, 1861,
to Julia Blair, who was born iu January, 1843,
and they had one child, Lizzie M. James E.,
who was born November 26, 1842, has never
been married. Horace S., born December 31,
1844, was united in marriage, April 6, 1869, with
Sadie E. Weeks, who was born July 25, 1850,
and they had four children: Horace S., Thomas
W., Edwin R. and Edna May. Thomas J. was
born February 7, 1848, and died unmarried Oc
tober 18, 1890.
The subject of this sketch was born on the old
home farm in Hamptonburgh, November 21,
1830, aud is the eldest in his father's family. He
obtained a common-school education, and when
he was in his sixteenth year began serving an
apprenticeship to the tinsmith's trade in Chester.
At the end ofa year and a-half he went to Mid
dletown and completed his knowledge ofthe busi
ness, remaining there until 1851. At that time
he located in Goshen and embarked in business
for himself as a tinsmith, on the corner of Main
and Church Streets. Two years later he erected
a building and. put in a full line of hardware,
stoves and tinware. For three years the business
was conducted under the firm name of Tuthill &
Chevee, after which our subject was alone until

1859. He then sold out and removed to his pres
ent location, turning his attention more particu
larly to plumbing and steam-fitting. He em
ploys six or more men to carry out his contracts,
and has a centrally located shop at No. 71 West
Main Street. He was the originator of the idea
of heating houses on the one-pipe system for
steam, instead of using two pipes as formerly, and
has made many other practical inventions. He
is Treasurer of the Excise Board, on which he has
served as a member at various times. A stanch
Democrat, he has often been sent as a delegate
to county conventions and has served on the
county committees. Besides those mentioned he
has held the office of Village Collector for several
terms and was a member of the fire department
of Goshen.
Mr. Tuthill has a pleasant home on West
Street, presided over by the lady whom he married
in Middletown November 29, 1853. Hermaiden
name was Mary S. Bodine, and she was born in
Pine Bush, thiscounty, February 22, 1834. They
have four children: Louisa C, Charles W., Anna
B. and Mary A., all of whom are at home.
Charles, who is a practical business man, is now
with his father. He was born June 2, 1858, and
was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Avery,
whose birth occurred August 17, 1864. They
have one child, a son, Harry F,

HZAL T. HAYES has been a resident of Mid
dletown for twenty-nine years. He is Treas
urer and General Manager of the tannery-
owned by the Howell-Hinchman Company, the
other officers being H. C. Howell, President, and
T. E. Ha^es, Secretary. The tannery, which oc
cupies two blocks, is located on Fulton Street, ex
tending from Wawayanda to Mulberry Street.
The main building is three stories in height
and 82x288 feet in dimensions, while the office
andwareroom, also three stories high, is 100x40
feet in dimensions. A small lake near the tan
nery furnishes an abundance of water supply

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAl'HICAL RECORD.

1043

for power. There are two engines, one of one
hundred aud the other of forty horsepower, and
boilers with a capacity of two hundred and thirty-
five horsepower. From ten to twelve tons of
bark, both oak and hemlock, are used daily, be
ing brought here from Sullivan County. The
hides are secured principally in this state, the
works having a capacity of one hundred and fifty
a day. The business is a flourishing one and the
plant is never shut down, but furnishes steady
employment for one hundred and twenty -five
hands. In addition to the office in Middletown,
the company has an office in Newark, N. J..
The Hayes family is of Scotch descent, and
Thomas Hayes, grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, took part in the early wars of our coun
try. The father aud mother, S. R. and Lydia
(King) Hayes, were born in Bloomfield, Essex
County, N. J., where the former was a manufact
urer for many years, his death occurring there
when he was eighty-five. The mother, who died
at the age of seventy-six, was a daughter of John
I. King, an architect aud builder of Bloomfield.
The family was directly descended from Rufus
King, one ofthe signers of the Declaration of In
dependence. The three children born to the union of S. R.
and Lydia Hayes are as follows: Thomas, who
resides in Bloomfield, and is engaged in business
at Newark, N. J.; Uzal T.; and Mrs. Sarah
Johnson, of Bloomfield. The second of these
was born in Bloomfield, February 5, 1834, and
was there reared to manhood, completing the
course of study in Seymour's Institute. ' Bloom
field had the first free school in New Jersey, and
in it our subject was a student for one quarter.
In 1856 he embarked in the leather business in
Newark, being first a salesman for T. P. Howell
& Co. In December, 1865, he became a partner
in the same firm, which took the name of Howell,
Hinchman & Co., buying out Moore's Tannery
in Middletown and considerably enlarging the
plant. In 1889 the business was incorporated with
H. C. Howell President, T. E. Hayes Secre
tary, and our subject Treasurer and General
Manager. His second son, H. M., is also a

stockholder and actively connected with the en
terprise. There is a capital stock of $100,000,
and the business is in a most flourishing condi
tion. In addition to this enterprise, Mr. Hayes
isa Director in the Savings Bank, .of which he
was one ofthe organizers in 1869.
The marriage of Mr. Hayes took place in
Bloomfield, N. J., in i860, his wife being Miss
Caroline A. Morris, a native of that place, where
her father, James Morris, was engaged in farming
and the milling business. She died July 3, 1888,
leaving four children: Harry M., a graduate of
the academy and a stockholder and superintend
ent ofthe tannery; Thomas E., a graduate of Mt.
Pleasant Academy and now Secretary of the firm;
Caroline, Mrs. McBrair, of Middletown; and
Mabel, an accomplished young lady, who is with
her father.
For many years Mr. Hayes was a member of
the Board of Education. He has also been a
Water Commissioner for a long time, and for
four years served as President of the board. So
cially he is a Royal Arch Mason, and a demitted
member ofthe Odd Fellows' lodge at Newark,
N. J. Besides his residence at No. 52 South
Street he owns other property in this city. In
politics he advocates Republican principles. In
1875 he was appointed Trustee of the Middle-
town State Homeopathic Asylum, and soon after
his appointment he became Treasurer of the
board, which office he held until March, 1894.
During his incumbency of the position most of the
present buildings were erected. Since retiring
from that office he has served as Trustee.

0AVID R. CLARK. Among the well known
agriculturists of the town of Wawayanda,
who, through indefatigable energy and in
domitable perseverance, have achieved consider
able success, we mention the name of Mr. Clark.
He was born in the town of Minisink, September
4, 1827, and having spent most of his life in the

io44

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

immediate locality of his birth, he is well known
among his fellow-citizens, and his course in life
has been such as to commend him to their es
teem and confidence.
Our subject grew to manhood aud was educated
in the town of his birth and was the son of Abra
ham and Catherine (Robinson) Clark, natives of
Orange County. The ancestors of Mrs. Clark
were Scotch, while the Clarks were Holland-
Dutch. The parents reared a family of nine chil
dren, of whom our subject is the only survivor.
His brother James V., a prominent farmer of this
section, died July 14, 1895. The other members
were Jane, Clarissa, William, Robinson, Sarah
and two who died in infancy . The grandfather
of our subject, who bore the name of James, was
born near New York City, and was the first of
the family to locate in this section. His sou Ab
raham was a farmer all his life, and in 1850 lo
cated upon the farm where our subject's brother
James V. lived until his death. When ready to
begin in life for himself, David R. was married,
June 24, 1857, to Miss Julia T. Little, daughter
of Youngs Little, and to them were born three
children. George W. is now deceased, as is also
Martha J., whose birth occurred August 6, i860.
David Robinson was born August 16, 1862,
When twenty-four years of age, Mr. Clark
went to New York City and engaged in the milk
business, having a route in that city and in
Brooklyn. He followed this for a time, but the
venture not proving as successful as he wished,
he abandoned it and began teaming, living in the
metropolis from 1852 to 1869. In the latter year
he returned to Orange County and for one year
rented land in the town of Wawayanda. In the
spring of 1870 he bought the farm whereon he
now makes his home, which is one hundred and
eighty-six and one-half acres in extent, and on
it he carries 011 general farming and dairying.
In early life Mr Clark was a Whig, but since
the organization of the Republican party has used
his influence in favor of its candidates. He has
never aspired to official distinction, finding his
time fully occupied in attending to his private
duties. He is a member of the Presbyterian
Church and in the congregation which he attends

has held the office of Trustee for some years. Mr.
Clark is an upright, honorable citizen, a kind
husband, indulgent father, and withal is a first-
class man.

~ G. WILLIAM MUSBACH, proprietor of
't) the Musbach Hotel at Middletown, was
_ born in Langensalza, Saxony, Germany,
June 22, 1868. His father, Christian Musbach,
also a native of that country, served in the German
army for several years. He learned his trade of
slate roofing in Germany, and when he came to
America, in June, 1883, continued to follow his
trade for a time, but is now living a retired life
in Middletown. The mother, formerly Clara
Peterselie, was also a native of Germany, and
died in her native land many years ago, firm in
the faith of the Lutheran Church. To Christian
and Clara Musbach were born three children, two
of whom came to America.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his
native land, and attended the public school until
fourteen years of age, when he commenced the
study of law in his native place, under a lawyer,
remaining in his office until 1883, when he came
to America. He left Bremen for New York City,
coming direct to Middletown, and at once com
menced learning the tailor's trade under Christian
Klohs. After remaining with him three years,
he worked at his trade in Paterson, N. J., and in
New York City for two years. Returning to
Middletown, he worked at his trade until 1888,
and then engaged as clerk and bar-tender at
Wengenroth's Restaurant in Goshen, and later at
the St. Elmo. In 1890 he rented the building
where he is now located, on the corner of Beattie
and Railroad Avenue, and iu September of that
year opened a bar. In January, 1893, ne pur
chased the building and remodeled it into a hotel,
which he opened under the name of the Musbach
House the same spring. It is a comfortable, well
furnished house, and the rate is $1 per day. The
house has large cold-storage capacity.
Mr. Musbach was married in Middletown to
Miss Lily A. Behme, a native of this city, and

W. H. WOODRUFF, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1047

they have two children, Lily C. and William
H. Mr. Musbach is a member of the Inde
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having first
ioined Orange Lodge No. 506, at Goshen, but
he is now a member of Luther Lodge No. 380.
He was reared a Lutheran, and still retains his
belief in the teachings of that church, but there
being no organization of that body in Middle-
town, he has never united with any other relig
ious body. Politically he is a Democrat, aud
has served his party as a delegate to the conven
tions in both county and senatorial districts. He
has been a member of the City Central Commit
tee, and has taken an active part in political
affairs.
WILLIAM HENRY WOODRUFF, M. D.
The history of the Woodruff family in
America dates back to the year 1670, when
John Woodruff came to this country from Eng
land and settled in Hartford, Conn., removing,
however, soon afterwards to Bridgehampton,
L. I. It had its representatives in the War of
the Revolution, and its members have been noted
for patriotic devotion to their country. The pa
ternal grandparents of Dr. William H. Woodruff
were born in Bridgehampton, and came to Orange
County about 1790, a few years after the close of
the Revolution.
Richard Woodruff, our subject's father, was
born in the town of Montgomery, Orange Coun
ty, and spent his entire life upon a farm, being a
thorough and successful agriculturist, though
when yet at home and unmarried he was urged
by his father to enter upon a medical education.
He was connected with the history of the village
of Walden from a very early period, and was one
of its most sterling, reputable citizens. On the
division of the old Whig party he became a Dem
ocrat, sustaining the party's principles as long as
he lived. He was dignified and courteous, pos
sessed a powerful physique, genial manners and
a companionable disposition. In all local social
aud moral undertakings he took a deep interest,
and to them he gave willing aid. Though of a
sensitive nature and quick to resent an injury, he

was equally quick in appreciating a favor or
an expression of kindness. His death occurred
at Walden when he was in his seventy-ninth
year. The mother of the Doctor bore the maiden
name of Charlotte Jessup. She was born in the
town of Montgomery, on the old Jessup home
stead, which joined the Woodruff farm aud was
situated on the present site of East Walden. She
was a most exemplary Christian woman, and
died at the Walden home at the age of about
seventy-eight. The Jessup family is of English
extraction and was first represented in this coun
try in 1637, its members taking a prominent
part in the Colonial wars. Her parents were
born in the town of Southampton, Suffolk Coun
ty, L. L, and came to Orange County iu 1790,
at the same time the Woodruffs settled here.
In the family of Richard Woodruff there were
three sons and one daughter, William Henry be
ing the youngest of the number. His two
brothers, as also his two paternal uncles, dying
childless, he and his two sons are the only living
lineal male representatives to-day of the ancestral
name. He was born in Walden, N. Y., May 28,
1 83 1, and spent his early years upon his father's
farm. His educational advantages were excep
tionally good. After leaving the district school,
he had a preparatory collegiate course at Walden,
a number of terms in the Montgomery Academy,
and was graduated from Union College (now
Union University) at Schenectady, N. Y., in the
Class of '51, having entered in an advanced or
junior class in 1849. He was honored with a
commencement oration and an election to the
Phi Beta Kappa Society when he took his A. B.
degree. On completing his literary course at Union, at
the age of twenty-one, he passed one winter as
clerk in the office of Hon. William C. Hasbrouck
in the city of Newburgh. He then began study
ing medicine with Dr. A. H. Thompson, of Wal
den, and in 1852 took a primary course of lect
ures at Castleton, Vt. In 1853-54 he attended
the Albany Medical College, receiving his degree
of M. D. in 1854. In October, soon after his
graduation, at the request of Dr. Charles Win-

(048

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

field, who himself just then required surgical at
tendance, he came to Pine Bush, Orange County,
to remain, supposably, but for a time.
Becoming interested and occupied busily,
though other more promising aud less laborious
places for the practice of his art offered, Dr.
Woodruff is still, after au uninterrupted period of
forty years, among the people of these pleasant
valleys and hills, active and energetic in his
chosen work. A close student of nature, human
and morbid, with a keen, cultivated discernment,
his judgment in the sick room, as well as in mat
ters of the outer world, is able and reliable.
Assiduous and untiring, he acquired an extensive
business, never refusing or neglecting the needs
of the poorest or farthest family. He encourages
and liberally aids all movements of progressive
reform, public improvements and elevating char
itable objects. He has also interested himself in
the purchase and improvement of real estate,
and the erection of several new buildings, thus
being really and largely identified with the growth
and prosperity of this enterprising village.
April 5, i860, Dr. Woodruff married Miss An
toinette Allen, she having completed her educa
tional course at the Packer Institute, Brooklyn.
Her paternal antecedents were of the early Scotch
settlers of Orange County, and her mother's of
the English Hartshorne family, who came to
Rhode Island. They have four children living.
Elizabeth Otis, the eldest, is the wife of Edward
Carroll, Jr., of New York City. Richard Allen,
a graduate of both Bellevue and Albany Medical
Colleges, is a successful physician at Philmont,
Columbia County, N. Y. Mary Hartshorne is
the younger daughter. William Jessup, the
younger son, attended both Bellevue and Al
bany Medical Colleges, graduating therein April,
1894. He is house surgeon in the Albany City
Hospital, and is a young man of recognized abili
ty and promise.
In his cultivation of general literature, for
which he has never lost his fondness, as a writer
and speaker Dr. W. H. Woodruff has great apt
ness and facility, and on many occasions has
presented papers, or upon invitation addressed
various associations and public audiences with

much acceptance and credit. With inherited
acute perceptions, sympathies and sensitiveness,
his convictions and will force are of the strongest
type. He is a thorough believer in the righteous
ness of right, and unflinchingly firm in the main
tenance of his opinions and principles. He is an
active member of the Orange County Medical
Society, Health Physician of his town, and for a
number of years served as United States Exam
ining Surgeon in the Pension Board of his Con
gressional District. He was elected President of
the Alumni Associations of Albany Medical Col
lege and Union University, and attends their an
nual commencements and reunions. In politics he
is an earnest, unswerving Democrat, well grounded
in the faith and need of a government by and for
the people, which guarantees the greatest good
to the greatest number. Iu the Reformed Church,
of which he is a member, he has long held an
honored place and has given liberally of his
means to promote the cause of Christianity. In
his character and conduct he combines those
qualities of mind and heart that render him de
servedly popular and secure to him the warm
friendship of all who know him.

•gEORGE B. ALEXANDER. This well
— known citizen of Newburgh, who is now
J serving in the capacity of Under-Sheriff of
Orange County, was born in the village of Corn
wall November 5, 1843. Concerning his father,
Harvey, and the family history, mention is made
in the biographical sketch of J. K. Alexander,
Sheriff of Orange County, which appears on
another page of this volume.
From the age of three years Mr. Alexander
was reared in the village of Little Britain, in the
town of New Windsor, and in the district schools
of the home locality he laid the foundation of the
broad fund of information, general and local, he
now possesses. At the age of fourteen he was
apprenticed, under his father, to learn the trade
of a carpenter, which he followed principally in
Orange County, though also for a time as foreman
in Ulster County.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1049

During the year 1886 Mr. Alexander went to
California, via Chicago and Kansas City, and
spent the winter months working at his trade in
Los Angeles and other cities of the state. While
there he assisted in the erection" of the Raymond
Hotel at Pasadena, one of the finest buildings of
the kind ever erected in this country. In April,
1887, he returned to New York, and has since
made his home in Newburgh, though frequently
absent from this city, traveling through the states.
In 1 89 1 he again visited California, going via
New Orleans and the Southern Pacific, and re
turning, three months later, by way of the city
of Portland, Oregon, and the Northern Pacific.
April 26, 1893, Mr. Alexander was appointed
Under-Sheriff, having charge of Newburgh Jail
and making his headquarters at the office here.
The duties of his responsible position he has dis
charged with the greatest- efficiency, and has
proved himself a friend of justice, law and order.
He has served as Inspector of Elections, and was
at one time a member of the Grand Jury. Soci
ally he affiliates with the Hudson River Lodge,
F. & A. M., at Newburgh. In political affairs
he always takes a deep and intelligent interest,
and has contributed largely to the success of the
Republican party iu this locality. For several
years he has been a member of the County Cen
tral Committee from New Windsor, and still
serves in that capacity. At different times he has
been selected to represent his party in its county
and assembly conventions, and was also delegate
to the State Convention at Saratoga.

*#>

(John a. Crawford, who passed away
I November 14, 1893, was one of the most
\Z) prominent agriculturists of the town of Craw
ford. He was descended from one of the old
and illustrious families of New York, one which
was closely identified with the early history ofthe
state, aud in whose honor this town was named.
His birth occurred here June 23, 1812, and at the
time of his decease he was in his eighty-first year.
His parents, Robert I. and Deborah (Dickerson)
Crawford, had a large family of eleven children.

Of these, Emeline died unmarried, at the age of
eighty years; Leander was seventy-three at the
time of his decease; Millicent also passed to the
land beyond; Albert was about fifty years old when
he died; George A. is living retired from business
at Middletown; Sarah E. and Esther are also de
ceased; Robert is a well to-do farmer of this town;
Angeline makes her home in this locality; and
Theron is a progressive and influential agricult
urist, who also resides in tlje town of Crawford.
For a full history of the parents, we refer the
reader to the sketch of Theron Crawford, which
appears elsewhere in this volume.
The subject of this sketch was well educated,
and remained at home until his marriage, when
he purchased and moved upon the farm which
his son Addison now occupies. There he re
mained until his decease, which occurred Novem
ber 14, 1893. January 1, 1840, occurred his mar
riage with Miss Runna Decker, who was born in
this town November 11, 1821, and was the daugh
ter of Joseph and Anna (Mould) Decker, also of
this locality. She was a devoted member of
Hopewell Presbyterian Church, and passed away
August 27, 1890. Her marriage with our sub
ject resulted in the birth of four children, of
whom the eldest, Elizabeth, is the wife of Clar
ence Ormsbee, a physician of Coldenham, this
county; John died when sixteen years of age;
Addison was born August 6, 1858, and on the
death of his father assumed the management of
the home farm, which he now owns. He is well
educated, and is a graduate of the Montgomery
Academy. January 25, 1892, he married Miss
Josephine Hartford, of this town, a daughter of
John Hartford. Of their marriage three children
have been born, viz.: Ruanua, Rutherford and
Ethel May.
Our subject was a self-made man in the truest
sense of the term, for he began life a poor boy,
and at the time of his decease left four large farms,
besides valuable real estate in Walden and Mont
gomery. He also owned a mill at Birmingham,
and extensive farming lands in Sullivan County.
He was a Director and heavy stockholder in the
Walden National Bank, and one of the most in
fluential and best known men in this portion of

1050

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the state. Success attended all his efforts, aud
he lived to a good old age, enjoying to the fullest
extent the result of his early years of privation
and toil. His death was a severe blow to the
community, and although he was well advanced
in years, he was greatly missed. He was a stanch
Republican in politics, and a devoted member of
Hopewell Presbyterian Church, in the work of
which he was actively interested. Mr. Crawford
never aspired to official honors, although he was
frequently urged by his friends to accept positions
of honor and trust.

^gg-p®- ^<s "^to^ -~

P GJlLLIAM H. WOOD, Poor Master at Mid-
\A# d^own, was born in the town of Wallkill,
V V March 20, 1841, and is a member of an
old Eastern family. His father, Jarvis, was a son
of Peter Wood, and was born in Dutchess Coun
ty, this state, near the city of Matteawan. On
coming to Orange County he settled at Walden,
but afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits in
the town of Wallkill, where he died in 1894,
aged eighty-five. Politically he was a Repub
lican. His wife, who bore the maiden name of
Sarah Downing, was born in Dutchess County,
and died in the town of Wallkill in 1874. Her
father, Benjamin Downing, a native of Dutchess
County, was a farmer there until the outbreak of
the Rebellion, when he enlisted with the boys in
blue. He went South, but was taken sick and
died there.
The parental family consisted of nine children,
ofwhom seven attained years of maturity and are
now living. Jarvis was a soldier in the Fifteenth
New York Cavalry from 1864 until the close of
the Rebellion, and is at present a resident of New
burgh. William H, who was the third in order
of birth, passed his childhood years on the home
farm in Wallkill. He had just reached manhood
when the Civil War broke out, and at once enlist
ed for service in the Union army. On the 6th of
August, 1862, his name was enrolled as a mem
ber of Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-
fourth New York Infantry. He was mustered
into the service at Goshen, proceeded South, and

soon afterward took part in the battle of Freder
icksburg. At Chancellorsville, May 3, he was
wounded in the right knee by a miuie-ball, and
was assisted from the battle-ground to the field
hospital, but the wound was not dressed until
May 8, five days after he had been shot. The in
jury proved so severe as to incapacitate him for
further labor, and after spending some time in
various hospitals, hewas honorably discharged, iu
April, 1864.
After returning home Mr. Wood was unable to
work for some time, but as soon as he regained
his strength he entered the employ of Wheeler,
Madden & Clemson, now the National Saw
Works. He was first employed in the handle
department in Middletown, and he then spent five
months at their works at Fallsburg, Sullivan
County, where he had charge ofthe manufacture
of handles. On his return he began to work in
the packing-room, where he was employed for
fourteen years. In 1882 he became interested in
the restaurant business, and for ten years carried
on business on James Street, but sold out in the
spring of 1892. In 1891 he was appointed Poor
Master of Middletown by the Supervisors of the
city, and he has been re-appointed each succeeding
year. During the last three years he has given
his entire attention to the duties of this position.
In all his enterprises Mr. Wood has had the
efficient help and counsel of his wife. In Mid
dletown, October 6, 1875, he married Mrs. Jos
ephine (Van Schake) Chamberlain, who was
born in Ulster County, being a daughter of
George Van Schake and the widow of au old sol
dier. In everything pertaining to the Grand
Army she is deeply interested. She was the in
stigator of De Witt Camp, Sous of Veterans, at
Middletown and an active factor in the organiza
tion of William A. Jackson Post, W. R. C, of
which she was the first Vice-President. To her
instrumentality was due the organization of the
Ladies' Aid Auxiliary to the Sons of Veterans,
of which she was the first President. In 1894
she was an aide on the national staff of Ladies'
Aid, under the National President, Miss Bella
Gray. The following year she was representa
tive to the divisional convention at Syracuse, and

JAMES WISNER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

io53

was elected Mustering and Installing Officer for
the state of New York. She is proud of the fact
that her father and two of her brothers, as well as
her husband, were brave soldiers in the Union
Army. Besides her other positions she is Vice-
Templar of Excelsior Lodge, I. O. G. T. Her
only daughter, Grace, is a member of the Class
of '96, Wallkill Academy.
Socially Mr. Wood is a member of Middletown
Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F., of the American
Legion of Honor, and he is also a charter member
of General Lyon Post No. 266, G. A. R. He
aud his wife belong to the Baptist Church. Pol
itically he is a Republican. For four years he
was a member ofthe old Excelsior Company, of
which he was assistant foreman for one year, and
has also been identified with the Monhagen Hose
Company, serving as its assistant foreman for one
year.

(JAMES WISNER, who is numbered among
I the old and highly respected citizens of Or-
(2/ ange County, was born on a farm adjacent to
the one on which he resides in 1822, and is a son
of Jeffrey A. and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Wis
ner. The father was quite prominent in his day,
and for a number of years served as Justice of
the Peace and also as Supervisor of his town.
By occupation he was a farmer, following that
calling his entire life. He was born in this coun
ty and here spent his entire life, respected by all
who knew him. He died in 1850, at the age of
eighty-six years. His wife died at the age of
seventy -six.
Growing to manhood in his native county and
spending his childhood and youth under the pa
rental roof, it may well be understood that our
subject innerited the conservative views of the
pioneer settlers. His primary education was re
ceived in a district- school, this being supplement
ed by an attendance for a short time at a select
school in Warwick. He remained at home until
his marriage in 1845 with Miss Hannah D. Well
ing, a daughter of Thomas and Annie (Coleman)
Welling, who were also numbered among the pi
oneers of Orange County. Their union was

blessed by the birth of three daughters. The
eldest, Alice, is now the wife of H. B. Berry,
who is engaged in business in New York City,
but makes his home in Warwick. Harriet E. is
deceased; and Antoinette is the wife of Charles
T. Rushmore, who is interested in the firm of
Cluett, Coon & Co., of New York City, but
makes his home in Brooklyn. Mrs. Wisner
passed to her eternal home in 1889. She was a
member of the Reformed Church, ati earnest
Christian woman, and a kind, loving wife and
mother. Since the death of his wife, Mr. Wis
ner has made his home with his eldest daughter,
who resides on the old homestead, recently pur
chased by his son-in-law. The farm had been in
Mr. Wisner' s possession for forty-eight years.
Few men in Orange County are better known
and none more highly esteemed than James Wis
ner. He has been an Elder iu the Reformed
Church for many years and his life attests the
truth of Christianity. In politics he is a Re
publican, and has been connected with that party
since its organization.

— fc^Mfl,

R

EV. O. P. CRANDALL, of the town of
Wawayanda, is a minister of the Methodist
Church. Hewas born in the town of Mil-
ford, Otsego County, N. Y., October 20, 1816,
and is a son of Rev. Elias and Betsy (Peckham)
Crandall. Until about thirteen years of age he
remained at home, and then for four years worked
a farm by the month. He then entered a store as
a clerk, where he also remained some four years,
when he went to New York City and commenced
to learn the trade of a ship carpenter, at which
trade he continued about six years. The suc
ceeding seven years he spent in a store in that
city, and then for three years studied medicine at
Geneva Medical College.
Feeling an intense desire for the salvation of
souls, Mr. Crandall determined to enter the min
istry, and that he might prepare himself for that
work he attended a theological seminary for three
years. His first ministerial work was as a local
preacher at Newburgh, in 1851. In 1856 he

1054

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

joined the conference and was sent to Hancock,
Delaware County, where he remained two years.
From Hancock he was sent to Cannonsville, in
the same county, and was there two years. The
following year he was stationed at Grahamsville,
from which place he went to High Falls, Ulster
County, where he remained two years, and was
then stationed at Kerhonkson for three years.
From that place he was sent to West Hurley, re
maining two years, and thence went to Olive
City, where he spent three years. From the lat
ter place he was sent to Bridgeville, remaining
three years, and was next assigned to a charge in
Tyringham, Mass., where he remained three
years, going thence to North Hinsdale, where he
also remained three years, and then to Rockland,
serving a short period. From Rockland he went
to Ridgebury, where he was stationed three
years, and thence came to his present place of res
idence, where, after serving three years, he was
placed upon the retired list.
December 30, 1833, our subject was united iii
marriage with Miss Roxanna Keeler, of Ridge
bury, Conn., and her death occurred in 1890. In
December, 1892, he married the widow of Steph
en Hasbruk, a native of Sullivan County. She
is a daughter of Samuel and Mary Williams.
Mr. Crandall has been a minister for a period of
fifty years, almost his entire life having been
spent at that calling. The good that he has done
and the many souls saved will only be known in
the last day.

^+^#-

NENRY JANSEN HAIGHT. Among the
most beautiful homes of Goshen are the resi
dence and property of our subject, who is
one of the wealthy, well known and influential
men of this village and surrounding country. He
and his family spend their winters in their beau
tiful home in New York City, but in the spring
return to their home in this place.
The father of Henry J. was David Henry, a
merchant of New York City. He was a native
of that city, his birth occurring February 13,
1805, and was the son of David L. Haight, also

a merchant of that city. Grandfather Haight
started out in life without means or influence,
but by perseverance and shrewdness he gained
the success for which he so faithfully strove. His
first important business venture was wholesale
dealing in hatters' and furriers' supplies in his
native city. In this line he was very successful,
and built up a large and lucrative trade. The
firm at first consisted of Mr. Haight and his
brother, but afterward Mr. Halsey and Mr. An
thony were taken into the firm, they doing
business under the name of Haight, Halsey &
Anthony. Their principal establishment was in
New York City, but they had branch houses in.
other countries also. They were very successful,
and the senior partner invested in real estate in
the heart of New York City, which subsequently
made of him a millionaire. Besides he owned the
Franklin House aud built the St. Nicholas Hotel.
Grandfather Haight's descendants still own the
old St. Nicholas property, but the old buildings
have been torn down, and in their place stands a
substantial business block. He was the organizer,
principal stockholder and a Director in the St.
Nicholas Bank, and was a Director in the Man
hattan Life Insurance Company. Hewas united
in marriage with Miss Mary Ellen Jansen, who
was a descendant of one of the oldest families of
Goshen. Her father, Dr. Jansen, was a promi
nent physician in early days, and located in Old
Goshen when that place was a mere hamlet.
Mrs. Haight inherited the old homestead, which
she named Napknoll, and Mr. Haight set about
improving it, making of it a summer home. He
laid out a park, with lovely drives and walks,
¦constructed an artificial lake, and made of it the
most beautiful place in the vicinity.
By adding Napknoll to his own estate, Mr.
Haight had a tract of about four hundred and
fifty acres, which he continued to improve, and
iu 1872 erected a costly mausoleum for the fam
ily. This magnificent structure is built of gran
ite, has marble floors, and cost the owner $75,
000. Mr. Haight was descended from French-
Huguenots, and was an Episcopalian in religious
belief. In political faith he was a Republican,
and was au influential member of that party up

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1055

to the time of his death, which occurred April
29, 1876. His wife died January 17, 1895, when
about seventy-nine years of age. They were the
parents of five children : Henry J.; Fannie, who
died at the age of two years; Edward C, a resi
dent of New York City; Charles, who died on
the island of Cuba, of that dread disease, yellow-
fever, at the age of twenty-eight years; and Eg
bert, who died when nineteen years of age.
Henry J. Haight was born in Paris, France,
while his parents were on a tour through Europe.
Having ample means, he secured a thorough
education, and is a graduate ofthe Institution for
the Deaf in Harlem, New York City. Having a
special interest in science, he devoted his time to
the study of electricity- aud electrical appliances,
and is a genius along these lines. He has made
many useful inventions, among which may be
mentioned the electroterscope, an apparatus for
the transmission of temperature, by which one is
able to tell the temperature of a place at a dis
tance. He has secured a number of patents,
which may be seen at his laboratory in New
York City.
The maiden name of our subject's wife was
Mary Lucy Church. She was a native of Ohio,
and was the daughter of Captain Church, a well
known steamboat captain. The latter made his
home in Memphis, and owned a line of steamers
plying the waters ofthe Mississippi. Mrs. Haight
is the mother of three children, as follows: David
H, Mary Jansen and Elinor Church, all of whom
reside at home.
David H. Haight spent the years of his boy
hood and youth in New York City and iu Go
shen. He has a finished education, having grad
uated at St. Paul's College, at Concord, complet
ing the course there in the year 1892. Imme
diately after his graduation he entered the green
house business, building new buildings and oth
erwise improving the property. His eight large
greenhouses occupy several acres of ground, and
here he makes a specialty of propagating roses,
palms and violets. His manager is John Logan,
and to his sagacity is partly due the popularity of
his products. Besides his extensive nursery in
terests, he has charge of the Napknoll Farm, on

which he raises Dutch cattle, first imported by
his grandfather. He has a large dairy and does
a profitable business along that line. Religiously
the family is identified with the Episcopal Church.
In politics both father and son are Republicans,
and are stanch defenders of the principles espoused
by that organization.

EEORGE T. OGDEN, an extensive dairy-
farmer of the town of Wallkill, was born
March 29, 1841, upon the farm where he
still makes his home. His father, Daniel, also a
native of the same county, learned the cooper's
trade in early manhood, aud successfully followed
that occupation for many years. Late in life he
turned his attention to agriculture, and was thus
engaged until his death, in 1880. His wife, who
bore the maiden name of Arminda Tryon, was
born in this county, and died here three months
prior to his decease.
In the district schools and in Wallkill Academy
our subject gained an excellent education. Dur
ing vacations he worked upon the farm, and
upon completing his studies turned his attention
wholly to farm work. He is the owner of one
hundred and ten acres, upon which are notice
able a neat residence and modern farm buildings.
Few homes in the county are more inviting than
his. He is extensively engaged in the dairy busi
ness, and has on his place forty-five or fifty cows.
For about twenty years he has marketed the
milk in Middletown, where he has a large num-
¦ ber of permanent customers.
September 9, 1863, Mr. Ogden married Eme
line, daughter of Chauncey and Emeline (Slaw
son) Clark, of New Jersey. Mrs. Ogden was
born in the state of New York, and by her mar
riage has become the mother of five children,
namely: Albert C, a successful dairyman of this
county; Fred D.; Lotta M., wife of Charles A.
Whitney, of Middletown; Genevieve B.; and
Frank T., a druggist. Mr. Ogden is a Deacon
in the Congregational Church, to which his wife

1056

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

aud children also belong. Politically the Repub
lican party has his stanch allegiance. Interested
in educational matters, he has served as School
Trustee for twelve years, and has been instru
mental in promoting the interests of the schools
of this district.

©GjlLLIAM H. PUFF. Any one who visits
\ A / the town of Wallkill is impressed with the
V V beautiful condition of the finely improved
farms that are to be found there. Among the
farmers of this town probably 110 one is more
prosperous or more worthy ot consideration than
the gentleman whose name stands at the head of
this brief life review. Both in his life and in his
external surroundings he is worthy of the atten
tion of the biographer. He is a man of sturdy
principle, who would stand by what he believes to
be right without fear or favor.
A native of the town where he now resides, our
subject was born September 29, 1846, to the union
of Henry and Mary E. (Owen) Puff, both of
whom were born in this county, and spent their
entire lives here. The father learned the black
smith's trade when a young man, and this occu
pation he followed for a half-century, meantime
also carrying on agricultural pursuits. He was a
man of sterling character, a true and loyal friend,
and an accommodating neighbor. Possessing
strong convictions of right and wrong, he was
strictly honest in all his transactions, and was re
garded as a man of irreproachable life. He
passed away in 1888, advanced in years. His
wife survived him four years, her death occurring
suddenly iu 1892.
Laying the foundation of his education in the
common schools, our subject afterward carried
on his studies in Wallkill Academy at Middle-
town. Reared upon a farm, he early gained a
complete knowledge of that occupation, and upon
selecting a life calling chose that with which he
was most familiar, and toward which his tastes
inclined him. He is now the owner of one hun
dred and thirty acres of nicely improved land,
which give evidence of his care and management.

His principal industry is the dairy business, for
which he has every convenience. The neat ap
pearance of his place indicates his thrift and en
terprise, and proves him to be a progressive man,
fully abreast with the times.
In 1875 Mr. Puff was united in marriage with
Miss Helen, daughter of Lanson and Mary E.
(Barcley) Bookstaver, natives of this county, of
which the Bookstavers were among the earliest
and most prominent pioneers. Three children
blessed this union, one ofwhom died iu infancy.
Those living are Jessie and Henry A., both at
home with their parents. In religious belief Mr.
and Mrs. Puff advocate the doctrines of the Pres
byterian Church, and are active members of that
denomination. In the congregation Mr. Puff
holds the positions of Treasurer, Elder, Trustee
and organist, and his incumbency of these sev
eral offices proves that he is earnest and active in
the promotion of religious work. In politics he
is a Democrat, and is well informed concerning
the political issues of the day. He has served
his fellow-citizens in the capacity of Inspector of
Elections and also as Collector of the town. He
and his family have a comfortable home, well sup
plied with many of the luxuries of life, which
have been acquired through his industry, perse
verance and enterprise.

4-z

=+

ILAS H. DICKINSON, the popular and
agreeable proprietor of the Bullville Hotel
at Bullville, has conducted the same since
1875, and is therefore well known to the numer
ous commercial men who visit the place. He is
a native of Orange County, having been born
December 9, 1828, in the town of Crawford, about
two miles from Bullville. He was the eldest in
a family of six children composing the family of
Albert and Eliza (Weller) Dickinson.
The father of our subject was born on Long
Island, and came to this county when a young
man, locating on a good farm in the town of
Crawford. He was successful in its cultivation,

REV. MICHAEL SALLEY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1059

and died at the early age of thirty-two years.
His good wife survived him many years, being
past eighty years old at the time of her death.
She was born in this town, and was one of the
most respected residents ofthe community.
Our subject remained at home until a young
man of twenty-eight years, when he went to
Dutchess County, where he rented a tract of land,
engaging in its cultivation until 1875. That year
he came to Bullville, and purchased the hotel
which he has operated ever since. He has been
successful in this enterprise, and is now classed
among the well-to-do citizens of this place.
The lady to whom Silas H. Dickinson was
married, November 3, 1852, was Miss Julia Arm
strong, who was born in this county in 1827. To
them have been born three children, of whom
Mary E., the eldest, married Charles H. Tuthill,
a farmer, who lives on Long Island; Alice and
Katie L- are still at home. Mr. Dickinson is a
Democrat in politics, and on this ticket served as
Collector for a term of three years. He has
judiciously invested his surplus capital in real
estate, and is now the owner of valuable land in
Middletown, besides his place in Bullville.

*MI

\m

m

REV MICHAEL SALLEY, rector of the
Church of the Immaculate Conception at
Port Jervis, was born in this village on the
23d of September, 1852, and is a son of Patrick
and Bridget Salley. His father was a native of
Ireland, and on his arrival in America, in 1848,
he came direct to Port Jervis, where he was em
ployed in the railroad shops. He is still living,
but his wife passed away November 21, 1893. In
their family were the following children: Michael,
of this sketch; James, Peter and Edward, all of
whom are engineers on the Erie Railroad, and
make their home in Port Jervis; Patrick F., a
police officer ofthe same city; and Mary, who is
unmarried. Rev. Michael Salley received excellent school
privileges, attending the parochial schools until
he had reached the age of sixteen, then for two
years was in the public schools, and later secured

an academic course. For one year he attended
St. Francis Xavier, on West Sixteenth Street,
New York, and in 1869 entered the classical de
partment of the Seminary of Our Lad)' of An
gels at Niagara Falls, graduating in June, 1873,
with the degree of A. B. Iu September of that
year he entered the theological department of the
same institution, and on the completion of his
theological studies, June 10, 1876, was ordained
by Bishop Ryan, of Buffalo, N. Y.
Father Salley entered the work of the ministry
in July, 1876, becoming assistant at St. Joseph's
Church in Kingston, where he remained for a
year and a-half, or until January, 1878. He then
became assistant to Rev. Father E. J. Flynn, who
had charge of Father Salley 's present church,
and entered upon his duties January 5, 1878. On
the 9th of June, 1883, he was transferred to the
Church of the Nativity, on Second Avenue and
Second Street, New York City, where he assisted
Rev. William Everett. He remained there until
May 1, 1885, when he was appointed to succeed
Father Flynn, at Port Jervis, where he has since
had charge, and where he has been very success
ful in his labors. The congregation now num
bers about five hundred families, or over two
thousand souls. On his arrival here the church
was in debt $36,000, but he has reduced the same
at the rate of $2,000 per year, the indebtedness
now amounting to only $14,000. St. Mary's Or
phanage, adjoining the church, has also been en
larged, this work being done iu 1891, at a cost of
$7,000. There is no parochial school in connec
tion with the church, but Father Salley works in
harmony with the public schools, finding no fault
with their system.
The church was organized in November, 1852,
before which time it had been a small mission be
longing to the church at Goshen. The first resi
dent pastor was Rev. Father Briody, who arrived
herein May, 1853. The following year he built a
brick church on the site of the present edifice,
which was burned in 1868. The present church
was erected in 1870, being completed in July of
that year by Rev. Father Nilan, now of Pough
keepsie, N. Y. Father Briody remained in charge
until December, 1862, when he was succeeded by

io6o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Rev. Richard Brennan, and in August, 1868,
Rev. Father Nilan took charge. In 1877 Father
E. J. Flynn became rector, and here remained
until May 1, 1885. All were transferred, and of
these Father Briody died in 1885, and Father
Brennan passed away in New York in December,
1893- Father Salley devotes his entire time to church
work, and has three missions in connection with
the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Port
Jervis, which are located at Sparrow Bush, Pond
Eddy and Rose Point. Both mentally and phy
sically he is a large man. His genial, kindly na
ture has won him many friends, and he is re
spected by all who know him, whether members
of his congregation or not.

Gz

(^

&s^

-^

-c>

GILBERT MILLS was bora in the town of
LI Wallkill, June 15, 1825, and spent his em
/ I tire life upon a farm there, devoting his at
tention to agricultural pursuits. He was a man
of unpretentious, unassuming character, indus
trious, energetic and persevering, one whose aim
and ambition were to live an upright life and to
leave the world better for his having lived in it
So successful was he in his business transactions
that, at his demise, his family were left in com
fortable circumstances, and they still continue to
reside upon the farm which was his birthplace.
The parents of our subject, Samuel and Esther
(Stitt) Mills, were natives of Orange County,
and the former was born upon the old Mills
homestead, which was also the birthplace of Al
bert. The family residence was erected in 1791,
and is therefore one of the oldest houses in the
county. A frame addition was built later, aud
our subject's father assisted in its construction.
His life occupation was that of a farmer, but he
was also engaged very extensively in tanning.
He died November 13, i860, at the venerable
age of eighty-four. His wife closed her eyes in
death two years after his decease.
In the district schools our subject received a

practical education that fitted him for the stern
realities of life. Agriculture was his chosen call
ing, and of it he made a success. He was hon
ored by all who knew him, and his death, July
25, 1890, was mourned by all who knew him.
He was married, October 13, 1858, to Miss Louisa,
daughter of Absalom and Sarah (McLaughlin)
Linderman, natives of Orange County. Rev. S.
W. Mills, of Port Jervis, performed the mar
riage ceremony. The McLaughlin family is of
Scotch extraction, and the Lindermans trace their
lineage to the mother of Martin Luther. The
union of Mr. and Mrs. Mills was blessed by the
birth of six children, of whom Sarah Esther is
deceased. Samuel is at home; Charles Albert is
engaged in business in New York; William
Wickham is a medical student; Herbert is at
home with his mother; and Ina Louisa recently-
completed the course at Wallkill Academy, Mid
dletown. Mrs. Mills is a lady whose accomplishments
and education fit her to adorn the best circles of
society. She is a graduate of the Albany Nor
mal College, and for some years prior to her mar
riage was engaged in teaching, a profession in
which she met with success. In religious belief
she is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as
was also her husband, and her children have
been reared in that faith. %****r-

?****"
ROBERT N. BOAK, proprietor of High
View Addition to Middletown, and senior
member of the firm of Boak & Tiedemann,
was born near Circleville, in the town of Wall-
kill, April 11, 1848. He is a descendant of
Scotch-Irish ancestors, the first of whom to come
to America was his grandfather, James Boak, a
native of the North of Ireland, and a pioneer of
the town of Wallkill. Upon coming hither he
settled near Franklin Square, but later removed
to the vicinity of Circleville, and in old age re
tired and made his home in Scotchtown, where
he died at the age of eighty-one. In religious
belief he was a Presbyterian. After coming to

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1061

the United States he married a Miss Faulkener,
who was a descendant of French lineage.
The father of our subject, Robert Boak, was
born near Circleville, and passed his entire life
upon his farm there, dying at that place when
seventy-four years old. Successful in his under
takings, he became the owner of two farms, and
was one of the most prosperous agriculturists of
his town. In the Presbyterian Church he offici
ated as Deacon. At the organization of the Re
publican party he identified himself with it and
remained loyal to its principles as long as he
lived. His father was a cousin of James Bu
chanan's father, and they came to this country to
gether. Mary C, our subject's mother, was born at
Franklin Square, and died in the town of Wall-
kill, at the age of seventy-two. Her father, Jacob
Youngblood, was born in this county, of Holland-
Dutch ancestry, and was a farmer of Wallkill.
Three children comprised the parental family, of
whom Jacob died at thirty-three years. John J.
B., who was a member of Company H, Tenth
Legion, served with the Fifty- sixth New York
State Militia until his death in the Hilton Head
Hospital, during the war. Our subject, who 'is
the only survivor of the family, attended the
public schools, also a private school at Circleville.
He took charge of the home farm for his parents
until their death, when it became his. It con
sisted of one hundred and forty acres near Circle
ville, upon which he engaged in general farming
and the dairy business.
After his father's death Mr. Boak bought a
forty-acre tract on Monhagen Avenue, Middle-
town, which he improved and upon which he
erected a number of buildings, including a store
and the wagon-shops now occupied by Terwilli
ger. He recently platted High View Addition to
Middletown, which extends from California to
Mountain Avenue, and from West Main to the
Hillside Cemetery. His residence stands on
California Avenue, which he named. The prin
cipal feature of High View Place is the excellent
view which may be had from every residence.
From 1883 until 1888 Mr. Boak engaged in
the cattle business in this city, but in the latter

year he began a real-estate business, which he
has since carried on. In 1892 he built the ice
house on Philip Street, and put up three large
icehouses, one brick and the others frame, at
Crystal Springs Lake, which is five acres in ex
tent, with a capacity of three thousand tons.
The property includes eight and one-half acres,
and the Crystal Springs Ice Company has the
largest business of the kind in the city, keeping
two wagons in constant use.
In Middletown Mr. Boak married, March 12,
1895, Miss Zella Hay den, who was born in Iron
County, Mo., and is a graduate of Park College.
Prior to her marriage she engaged in teaching in
Missouri and California. Mr. Boak is a member
of the Board of Trade, and in political matters
affiliates with the Republican party. He is
identified with the First Presbyterian Church,
and is a liberal contributor to its various charities.

->- 1 — (^®i|§§i®£K<« — « — *-

(Joseph k. Alexander, sheriff of Or-
^ I ange County, and the late Supervisor of the
Q) town of New Windsor, was born in the latter
place, August 25, 1849. His father was Harvey-
Alexander, a native of the same town, while his
grandfather, James Alexander, was born in Coun
ty Antrim, Ireland, in November, 1770. He em
igrated to the New World about 1800, locating
near Little Britain, in the town of New Windsor,
where he was engaged in farming and gardening,
and also followed his trade, that of a weaver of
fancy linens. He served as a soldier in the War
of 18 1 2, being First Sergeant of the Republican
Blues. September 18, 1870, he departed this life
at the remarkable age of ninety-nine years, ten
months and six days, and his remains lie buried
in St. George's Cemetery at Newburgh. In re
ligious matters he was a Presbyterian. As far
back as the family have any record, his ancestors
were Scotch.
In Little Britain Grandfather Alexander mar
ried Catherine, the daughter of Nathan Bullard,
of Scotch-Irish descent, who served as a soldier in

1062

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the Revolutionary War. She lived to be eighty-
five years, ten months and twenty-two days old.
Their family consisted of thirteen children, of
whom ten are now living, namely: Thomas, born
June 10, 1802; Joseph, January 10, 1804; Frank
lin, March 9, 1806; Eliza, in 1810; Jane, Febru
ary 14, 1812; Catherine, December 27, 1813;
Harvey, February 15, 18 16; Mary, January 17,
1821; Daniel, January 7, 1824; and Rhoda, Oc
tober 18, 1827. Those deceased are John, James
and Rebecca. It is a most remarkable fact that
the ages of the sons aud daughters living average
over eighty years.
The father of our subject learned the carpen
ter's trade, after which he engaged in contracting
and building, and now resides at Little Britain.
He has been a most active man and is now hale
and hearty, although in his seventy-ninth year.
His marriage united him with Amanda Kernag-
han, who Was born in New Windsor, and who
was the daughter of William Kernaghan, also a
native of that section and a farmer of good stand
ing in the community. Her great-grandfather,
Alexander Kernaghan, was a Revolutionary sol
dier, as were also several of his sons. He was
born in Orange County, of Scotch-Presbyterian
stock, and his forefathers were with the Clintons
in the early settlement of Little Britain.
Mrs. Amanda Alexander died in March, 1884,
after having become the mother of three children,
of whom Sophia is still with her father on the
home farm. George, who is Under-SlTeriff, re
sides in Newburgh; his sketch appears elsewhere
in this book. Joseph K., of this sketch, was
reared in Little Britain and there attended the
public schools. He began working at the car
penter's trade when quite young, serving an ap
prenticeship under his father. For some time he
and his brother George aided their father in con
tracting and building, and became thoroughly ac
quainted with all branches of the business.
In the fall of 1891 Mr. Alexander was elected
Sheriff on the Republican ticket, taking the oath
of office January 1 of the following year, and
discharged the duties thereof until 1895. There
are two jails in the county; one located in Goshen
and the other at Newburgh, of both of which Mr.

Alexander has charge. He was married in 1886,
in New Windsor, to Miss Clara, daughter of
William Toleman, a farmer near that place. In
partnership with his brother, George B., Mr.
Alexander has a general store at Campbell Hall,
which was recently purchased from William H.
Webb, the present Postmaster. They carry a
full line of general merchandise, also feed, coal,
lumber, etc., aud are doing a thriving business.
Both are young, pushing and energetic men, aud
their success in the commercial world is assured.
Our subject was elected Justice of the Peace,
and prior to the expiration of his term was elected
Supervisor of his town, being re-elected the fol
lowing year. However, he was obliged to resign
this position in order to take upon himself the re
sponsible duties of Sheriff. Socially he is a Ma
son of high standing, and is greatly interested in
the work of that order. He is a true-blue Re
publican in politics, and is prominent in the coun
cils of his party, which he has represented in both
county and state conventions.

<*<*************!**'*'*¦**** *********x>
(J OHN DOLAN is remembered by the residents
I of the town of Wallkill as a man of the high-
(2/ est integrity of character and greatest en
ergy and amiability of disposition. For many
years prior to his death he cultivated the soil of
one of the most valuable estates in his locality,
the improvements upon which were largely the
result of his exertions and judicious supervision.
Though not a native of this country, he was a
loyal citizen of the Government and always main
tained a deep interest in the progress of his com
munity. Mr. Dolan was born in Dublin, Ireland, in
1828, and his parents, Thomas and Mary Dolan,
were also natives of the Emerald Isle, where they
remained until their death. His education was
received in Ireland, where he spent the years of
youth. At the age of twenty he came to the
United States, believing that there was a better
chance to acquire a competency here than at the
old home. Settling at once in Orange County,
he worked by the month for farmers for several

ADAM W. BEAKES.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1065

years. In 1866 he purchased the place in the
town of Wallkill, and here he was residing at the
time of his death, which occurred in 1888.
When about twenty- five years of age, in 1853,
Mr. Dolan was united in marriage with Miss
Sarah, daughter of David and Sarah (Wright)
Crawford, all natives of Ireland. Her parents
spent their lives in their native land, but she emi
grated to this country in 1849, and has since
made her home in Orange County. Three sons
and three daughters were born to the union of
Mr. aud Mrs. Dolan, of whom all are living but
Mary. The survivors are John, who lives in
New Jersey; Thomas, in California; David, who
is at home with his mother; Sarah, wife of Well
ington Conner, a prominent farmer of this coun
ty; and Julia, who is with her mother. The fam
ily are highly esteemed and enjoy the good- will
of their neighbors.

•"3J DAM WILKIN BEAKES. At the out.
LA break ofthe Rebellion, when an appeal was
/ | made for volunteers to protect the Old Flag,
no state responded more promptly than New
York, and of all the regiments this common
wealth sent to the front, none was braver than
the One Hundred and Twenty -fourth. Its mem
bers, almost without exception, were made of
heroic mould, ready to give their life's blood, if
need be, iu the defense of the Union. Some of
the members were old, others were in the prime
of manhood, and a few in the dawn of youth,
and among the latter was the subject of this
sketch, then a young man of eighteen years.
The record of Mr. Beakes as a soldier is one of
which he may be justly proud, and to it his pos
terity may point with pride. Though so young,
he had in his vocabulary no such word as "fear,"
and his enthusiasm in the cause was not weakened
by the hardships of camp life, the tedium of long
marches, or the perils of conflict with the enemy .
He served gallantly until he was shot and severe1
ly injured while facing and in the act of aiming

at the foe, after which he was confined to the
hospital for several months, and was then honor
ably discharged from the service.
A native of this county, Mr. Beakes was born
in the town of Wallkill, March 4, 1844, being the
son of Alanson W and Susan M. (Wilkin)
Beakes, who were also bora in that town. The
father, soon after his marriage, purchased and
settled upon a farm adjoining the old Beakes
homestead, about one mile from Middletown, and
there he was engaged in the dairy business and
general farming until his death, in 1856, at the
age of forty -two. In religious views hewas con
nected with the old-school Baptist Church. His
wife was a daughter of Adam Wilkin, a native
of the town of Montgomery, and for many years
a farmer ofthe town of Wallkill. After her hus
band's death she came to Middletown and pur
chased a residence on East Main Street, where
she reared her children and spent the remainder
of her life. She was born in 1819, and died in
1892. The family of A. W. and Susan M. Beakes
consisted of five children, three of whom attained
years of maturity, and two are now living, name
ly: William H, a resident of New Hampton,
this county; and Adam W., of this sketch. The
last-named was reared on the home farm until
the death of his father, after which, at the age of
thirteen, he accompanied his mother to Middle-
town. For some years afterward he spent the
winter months in study at Wallkill Academy, and
the summer seasons in farm work.
The outbreak of the Civil War fired the patri
otic spirit of Mr. Beakes, and he determined to en
list in the army. Accordingly, on the 9th of
August, 1862, his name was enrolled with Com
pany E, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New
York Infantry, which was mustered into service
at Goshen, and thence ordered South. He had
the distinction of being the youngest member of
his company. After the battle of Fredericksburg,
his regiment marched to Chancellorsville, and in
the battle there, May 3, 1863, he was severely
wounded. It was Sunday, soon after seven
o'clock, when, just as he was taking aim, and
before he could pull the trigger, he was shot

47

io66

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

through the left arm, above the elbow. He fell
senseless, and was picked up by two comrades,
who carried him to the rear, but they were or
dered to the front again.
After lying on the ground for some time, Mr.
Beakes recovered sufficiently to be able to make
his way to a shed not far distant, being assisted
by a comrade who had been only slightly wound
ed. He remained in the shed until the shot came
through, when he walked back to the woods, and
there he lay until Tuesday, without water or
food. On that day he was found by J. A. Beakes,
who secured assistance and had him carried on a
stretcher to the temporary hospital. The same
afternoon his arm was amputated by Dr. J. H.
Thompson. When the troops fell back, he was
carried across the Rappahannock on a stretcher,
by his comrades, and taken to the Potomac Creek
Hospital. Eventually he was conveyed to Phil
adelphia, and remained in the hospital there un
til October 12, 1863, when he was honorably dis
charged by reason ofthe gunshot wound.
On his return to Middletown, Mr. Beakes en
tered the academy, where he carried on his stud
ies for some time. Later he engaged in the liv
ery business on James Street for two years, and
in 1868-69 served as Collector for the town of
Wallkill, including Middletown. He was then
appointed mail collector in the New York Post-
office, and in that capacity, also as letter-carrier
at Station C, he was employed for ten years and
one month. He was first appointed under P. H.
Jones, Postmaster, and later under Postmaster
James, who afterward became Postmaster-Gen
eral. On resigning, he located on his father-in-
law's farm iu Wallkill, five miles northwest of
Middletown, where he engaged in dairying and
general farming on the tract of eighty-six acres.
For one term of three years he served as one of
the Assessors of Wallkill, and afterward was elect
ed to represent the town on the Board of Super
visors, serving three terms in the latter capacity,
1890-91-92, and taking an active part in all the
proceedings ofthe board. In the fall of 1894 he
was nominated on the Republican ticket for the
office of Sheriff, and was elected by a splendid
majority. January 1, 1895, he took the oath of

office for three years. He is considered one of the
most capable and successful Sheriffs the county
has ever had, and his administration of affairs
has been satisfactory to the general public.
In Middletown Mr. Beakes and Miss Kate A.
Carpenter were united in marriage. Mrs. Beakes
was born in the town of Wallkill, where her fa
ther, the late William H. Carpenter, was a farm
er. Her grandfather, Squire William Carpenter,
was also a farmer and Justice of the Peace. Her
mother bore the maiden name of Mary A. God
frey. In girlhood Mrs. Beakes attended the
Wallkill Academy, where she gained a good
education. The family consists of six children,
namely: Joseph Wilkin, who was educated at
Wallkill Academy, and since attaining his ma
jority has been acting as Deputy-Sheriff under
his father; Mary Carpenter, Kate Lizzie, Frank
Horton, Howard Stanley and Olive Irene. While
in New York, Mr. Beakes was identified with
Sumner Post, G. A. R., and now holds member
ship in Capt. William A. Jackson Post, G. A. R.,
at Middletown. .  ga&p  .

NOIK D. CAMPBELL. Near the city of
Middletown, in the town of Wallkill, lies
the estate known as the Campbell Stock
Farm. Stock-raising is the principa"Lindustry,
and the farm is stocked with the finest breeds of
trotting-horses. On his farm Mr. Campbell has
built a half-mile course, where every spring and
fall popular races are held.
Born in Coxsackie, Greene County, N. Y. , in
1850, the subject of this notice is a son of John,
Jr., and Frances (Turner) Campbell, natives of
Greene County, this state. His father, who was
a man of unusual force of character, identified
himself with the farming interests of his commu
nity, and in addition to agriculture also engaged
to some extent in speculation. He passed from
earth in 1873, and his wife died some years later.
Hoik D. received the rudiments of his education
in the Coxsackie schools, and subsequently at
tended Eastman's Business College, at Pough
keepsie, N. Y. At the age of sixteen he secured

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1067

a position as clerk for a dry-goods firm, with
whom he remained one year. He then started
out on the road as a salesman, and has been en
gaged in that capacity more or less ever since.
Since about 1880 he has made a specialty of the
sale of cloaks, and has also dealt in real estate.
He has consummated the sale of more than twen
ty-five hundred lots in the suburbs of Brooklyn,
N. Y., in the space of two years, having sold
more real estate than any other man on Long Isl
and during the time. In 1891 he settled upon
the farm where he now resides.
In 1 88 1 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage
with Miss Eliza B., daughter of Capt. Edgar and
Caroline H. (Treadway) Brodhead, well known
citizens of Port Jervis. One child, Hoik B.,
blesses their union. Mrs. Campbell is a member
ofthe Episcopal Church, to which our subject is
a liberal contributor, though not a member of the
organization. Politically he has never chosen to
ally himself with any particular party.

gEORGE W. BEAKES, a representative of
one of the honored pioneer families of Or
ange County, is a highly respected citizen
of Middletown, where he is now living retired
from active business cares, having accumulated,
during his experience iii farming, a goodly
amount of property, from which he receives an
ample income. During his life-long residence in
this state he has gained a large acquaintance,
among whom he has many warm friends, at
tracted to him by his genial disposition and his
generous aud kindly nature. As a business man
he had the tact, enterprise and ability necessary
for the accumulation of wealth, and he possesses
ample means, which he knows how to enjoy,
having a thorough appreciation of the good things
of life.
The Beakes family is of Quaker ancestry. Our
subject's father, William O., was born on the old
homestead near Middletown, February 18, 1808,
and was a son of Joseph Beakes, for whose his

tory the reader is referred to sketch of Henry L.
Beakes, on another page. William O. was reared
in this county, and after his marriage settled
three miles north of Bloomingburg, in the town
of Mamakating, Sullivan County, where he en
gaged in farming one hundred and thirty acres.
After spending fifteen years there, he sold the
place, in 1849, and bought two hundred and
twenty-two acres near Howells Depot, this coun
ty, where he remained until his death, December
8, 1893. He was a man of earnest character, and
held membership in the old-school Baptist Church.
The mother of our subject, Abigail, was born
near Van-Burenville, being a daughter of Will
iam Howell, a farmer, who came to Howells
Depot from Long Island. She died in 1890, when
more than eighty-two years old. Of her six
children, all but one attained years of maturity.
They were as follows: Mary E., who lives at the
old home in Howells Depot; George W.; Will
iam H., who died near the family homestead;
Lucinda, Mrs. Moses Jordan, who lives near
Middletown; Mrs. Elmira Collard, also living
near this city; and Horace, who is at the old
home. During the residence of his parents near Bloom
ingburg, Sullivan County, the subject of this
sketch was born, February 26, 1840. He accom
panied his parents to the farm near Howells, aud
remained there until twenty-nine years old, when
he bought the place in Sullivan County where he
was born. It consists of one hundred and thirty-
acres, to the cultivation of which he gave his at
tention for three years. Iu 1872 he moved to New
York City, where with his brother, W. H., un
der the firm name of Beakes Brothers, he com
menced a retail milk business. After the death
of his brother, in 1882, he continued the business
alone until 1888, when he sold out and returned
to Bloomingburg. In 1892 he came to Middle-
town and erected his elegant residence at No. 95
Highland Avenue, where he now makes his
home. He still owns the dairy farm in Sullivan
County, which, however, he rents.
Near Unionville, this county, Mr. Beakes mar
ried Miss Augusta Vail, daughter of Horace G.
Vail, a farmer of this county. She was born here,

io68

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and died in New York City, leaving two children.
Lewis died two weeks after the death of his moth
er. The surviving daughter is Alberta, wife of
Dr. George R. Bull, of Bloomingburg. The
second marriage of Mr. Beakes took place in
Bloomingburg, and united him with Alida,
daughter of Gilleon D. Godfrey, a farmer of Sul
livan County. Politically Mr. Beakes in early
life, after giving due thought to the political situ
ation, decided in favor of the Republican party,
and he has since seen no reason to abandon its
principles.

|~}ETER E. FARNUM. Among the leading
yr business men of Port Jervis none has done
l~) more for the upbuilding and advancement of
the city than the gentleman whose name intro
duces this review. For years the name of Far
num has been connected with the principal busi
ness interests of this place, and our subject is a
worthy representative ofthe family.
On the ioth of May, 1839, Peter E. Farnum
was born in Gilbertsville, Otsego County, N. Y.,
being the second in a family of six children born
to George W. and Diana (Zearboss) Farnum.
His father was an older brother of H. H. Far
num, who for many years was one of the most
prominent citizens of Port Jervis. George W.
Farnum was a public contractor, which business
he followed for twenty-five years, and his last
work was on the Delaware Division of the Penn
sylvania Canal, after which he retired, going to
his farm in Otsego County, near Gilbertsville,
where his death occurred at the age of fifty-six
years. For many years he was a partner of
George Law, the famous contractor ofthe Croton
Aqueduct of New York City. His being con
nected with the Delaware & Hudson Canal re
sulted in H. H. Farnum locating in Port Jervis.
He himself never resided here, but his widow
later made her home at this place, becoming the
wife of H. H. Farnum, and his two sons, Peter
E. and Eli P., are numbered among its most in
fluential citizens.

Our subject remained at home until thirteen
years of age, when he came to Port Jervis, mak
ing his home with his uncle, and attended school .
Later he entered Professor Stoddard's Academy
at Bethany, Pa , that gentleman being the fa
mous author of Stoddard's Arithmetic. Mr. Far
num could have received a collegiate education,
but at the age of eighteen he decided to enter his
uncle's mercantile establishment. For two years
he remained as clerk, and was then given a third-
interest in the company. It was a general store,
with a stock valued at $25,000. The company
also engaged in the freight business, acting as
agents for the canal company. The firm was
known as H. H. Farnum & Peck, but after two
years A. H. Peck withdrew, and it became Far
num, Van Inwegen & Co., which it remained
for three years. It was then changed to P. E.
& E. P. Farnum, which it remained for thirty
years, or until 1893, when our subject retired,
but his brother still owns an interest in the com
pany, which is now under the name of Farnum
& Cole.
Iu 1872 the Deerpark Ice Company was organ-
ganized by P. E. Farnum and his brother. The
company does an extensive business, putting up
an immense amount of ice annually. In 1879,
on the death of his uncle, H. H. Farnum, who
was President, our subject became a Director in
the National Bank of Port Jervis, remaining as
such until 1893. At the same time he was made
a Director of the Port Jervis Gas-light Company,
of which his uncle had also been President. Later
he was elected Vice-President, and filled that po
sition until the plant was sold, about a year ago.
He also succeeded his uncle as Director in the
Water- works Company, of which from 1882 un
til 1894 he was President, and in April, 1895,
was re-elected to the office. During his incum
bency the storage supply of the reservoir was
trebled, the entire water mains were enlarged,
and about nine miles of pipe were laid. The
capital stock was increased from $45,000 to $100,-
000, which was invested in the plant.
As a partner of O. P. Howell, an attorney of
Port Jervis, our subject erected the Farnum
Block in 1883, at a cost of $60,000. It is now

PETER E. FARNUM.

DR. JOHN CONKLING.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

107 1

occupied by the postoffice, the National Bank and
Tri-State Printing Company, besides the offices
above, and since the ist of December, 1894, he
has been sole owner. It was designed and con
structed by Isaac Perry, the present Capitol Com
missioner of Albany, and is the best block ofthe
city, being a handsome brick structure. It has
a frontage on Pike Street of one hundred and
seventeen feet, and is eighty feet deep, the third
floor being used by the Masonic order, where
they have excellent lodge rooms. Mr. Farnum
owns considerable business property in this city,
and in 1886 became interested in real estate in
Duluth, Minn., still owning some realty there,
which he believes will greatly increase in value.
In 1886, in connection with Judges O. P.
Howell and H. R. Lowe, Mr. Farnum purchased
the Port Jervis & Monticello Railroad, and in
1888-89 constructed a branch of seventeen miles
from Huguenot Junction to Summitville, and con
necting with the New York, Ontario & Western
Railroad, thus giving a trunk line to Port Jervis.
Two of those interested in the enterprise, Judge
Lowe and Charles St. John (the latter a late
Member of Congress) died, and it then saw hard
times, but in 1893 it was purchased by a new
syndicate of wealthy men, who carried out the
plans to build it to Kingston. It is now a val
uable property.
Mr. Farnum was married, on the 27th of Octo
ber, 1864, to Miss Mary R. Conkling, a daugh
ter of Dr. John Conkling, late of Port Jervis. To
them the following children have been born: Jo
sephine, who was educated in La Salle Semi
nary at Auburndale, Mass., a suburb of Boston;
Nellie, Mary L-, John C, Henry H. and Peter
E. , Jr. at home. They now make their home at
their handsome residence on Pike Street, where
their well known hospitality is liberally dispensed.
In politics he is a stanch Republican. In social
circles the family rank high, and are numbered
among the prominent residents of the city. Mr.
Farnum is a well read, cultured gentleman, who
has traveled extensively and is an entertaining-
conversationalist. He makes many friends, and
receives the respect and confidence of all who
know him.

0R. JOHN CONKLING, who for many years
was one of the prominent citizens of Port
Jervis, passed away on the 29th of Febru
ary, 1892, his death being deeply mourned by a
large circle of friends and acquaintances. He
was one of the pioneers of this village, and his
birth occurred in the town of Wallkill, September
12, 1806. His father, Samuel Conkling, was born
June 15, 1764, and was a son of Nathaniel Conk
ling, who died December 6, 1815, at the age of
seventy-six years. Samuel Conkling wedded
Martha Jackson, who was born May 8, 1768, and
who was a descendant of Anneke Jans, who was
famous in early Colonial history and a relative of
the Prince of Orange. Her parents were Alex
ander and Martha Jackson, the former of whom
died March 14, 1818, at the age of ninety years,
and the latter August 10, 18 19, at the age of
eighty-seven years. The paternal grandmother
of our subject, Martha Conkling, died July 23,
1 81 8. His father came from Long Island to
Orange County at an early day, locating at Mid
dletown, where two sisters of our subject resided
for many years. Julia, wife of Col. Morgan L-
Sproat, still makes her home there, at the age of
ninety-four; and Martha passed away in that
city on the 14th of January, 1895, at the age of
eighty-five years.
The Doctor was the seventh iu a family of
eight children, and was educated at Farmers' Hall
Academy, in Goshen, one of the best schools of
the county, after which he began reading medi
cine with Dr. Benjamin Newkirk, of Mt. Hope,
and later became one of the leading physicians
of Port Jervis. He was subsequently graduated
from the medical college at Fairfield, Herkimer
County, N. Y.
On the 30th of October, 1828, Dr. Conkling
was united in marriage with Eleanor J. Dodge,
who was born December 19, 1808, and was a
daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Wood
ward) Dodge, of Mt. Hope. Her death occurred
November 19, 1870, at the age of sixty-two years.
The Doctor had located at Milford, Pike County,
Pa., in 1827, but his father-in-law persuaded him
to come to Port Jervis, where he and the late
Stephen St. John were conducting a store. Con-

1072

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sequently, in April, 1830, Dr. Conkling located
in this village, becoming a member of the firm of
St. John & Dodge on condition that they would
sell no liquor. He had become much attached to
his profession and it was quite a trial to him to
give it up, but he felt it was his duty to become
a business man. In 1853 Mr. Dodge withdrew
and the firm became St. John & Conkling. Later
Mr. St. John transferred his interest to his son
Charles, and this connection continued for two
years, when Mr. Conkling began the coal and
lumber business, being located on the canal, op
posite Penny's Hotel. This he conducted alone
until i860, when his son S. A. J. and Peter A.
Mulhern were admitted to partnership, and the
firm became Conkling, Mulhern & Co., after'
which, in a measure, he retired from active bus
iness. Becoming interested in the West, the Doctor
at one time contemplated locating in St. Paul,
Minn., and several times made trips through that
section ofthe country. In public matters he took
an active part, doing all in his power to aid in
the advancement and welfare of his town and
county. In politics he was first a Whig and later
became an ardent Republican, attending many of
the conventions of his party, and aided in the
nomination of Fremont in 1856. He took an act
ive part in raising troops for the Civil War, be
ing President ofthe first public meeting held, and
headed the subscription list to raise funds for re
cruiting the troops. He was also President of
the relief committee to care for the widows and
orphans of soldiers. In the cause of temperance
he was au untiring worker and did everything in
his power for the advancement of temperance sen
timent. In 1852, through his influence, the so
ciety of the Sons of Temperance was started at
Port Jervis. Two years later the Sentinel, a
temperance paper, was started, and this was
largely assisted by his contributions.
Ou the 17th of November, 1853, the National
Bank of Port Jervis was organized, of which he
became a Director, and was the last of the orig
inal board to survive. It consisted of Thomas
King, Stephen St. John, Gilbert F. Monden,
Gardner Ferguson, Henry H. Farnum, John

Conkling, Charles St. John, Jacob Hornbeck , Jr. ,
Robert T. Woodward, William M. Graham and
Lewis Cuddeback. In 1853 ne secured a tract of
thirty-three acres of land, twenty-four of which
are now in the Laurel Grove Cemetery, and in
1854, on the death of his son, he had him interred
there. He gave the name to the cemetery and on
its dedication, in May, 1856, became its first Pres
ident, which position he filled until his death.
He was an active member of the Minisink Valley
Historical Society. Though not a member, he
attended the Reformed Church and donated the
land and a handsome subscription toward the
erection of the chapel at the entrance of Laurel
Grove Cemetery at Carpenter's Point. He was a
strict observer of the Sabbath, and a straightfor
ward, reliable citizen. He died at the age of
eighty-five years, five months and seventeen days,
after a month's illness with la grippe.
¦ — £%#

EOGGSWELL K. GORDON, who is now
living a retired life in Middletown, was born
near Monticello, Sullivan County, N. Y.,
September 17, 1819, and is a son of Elias and
Sallie (Kinne) Gordon, the former a native of
Monmouth County, N. J., but of Scotch descent,
and the latter of Connecticut. The father served
as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was num
bered among the earliest settlers of Monticello.
He was a carpenter and builder by trade, and
followed that occupation all his life. Politically
he was first a Whig, and later a Republican. He
died at Narrowsburg, N. Y., at the age of seven
ty-eight years.
Our subject's mother, Sallie Kinne, was a
daughter of Coggswell Kinne, who was born near
Plainfield, Conn., and who was au early settler
of Wurtsboro, Sullivan County, N. Y., where
for many years he was engaged in teaching, ahd
where he died at the age of eighty years. The
paternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Gordon was
born in Salem, Mass., and in 1771 settled in
Plainfield, Conn., on the Quinebaug River. In
the War for Independence, which shortly followed
his settlement there, he served with honor and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1073

fidelity. Mrs. Sallie Gordon died at the age of
seventy -six. She had long been a member of the
Presbyterian Church and served her Master faith
fully. Of the five children born to Elias and Sal
lie Gordon, four are yet living. Laura, who
married Daniel Bedford, died in Sullivan County;
Elizabeth G., now Mrs. Harry Moot, resides in
Liberty; Coggswell K. is our subject; Jerusha is
Mrs. Chancy Wfteeler, of Youngsville, Sullivan
County; and Sophia is Mrs. Luther Smith, of
Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Sulli
van County, and was educated in its public
schools. From a boy he was very handy with
tools, and learned the carpenter's trade with his
father, continuing with him from the time he
was fifteen until twenty-one years of age.
He then located in the Strong Settlement,
where he engaged in contracting and building.
In 1847, when the Erie Railroad was being con
structed, he entered the employ of the company
as master carpenter on the Delaware Division, hav
ing in charge the carpenters engaged in build
ing bridges and trestles between Port Jervis and
Susquehanna, Pa. He was also foreman in the
shops where the bridges were constructed at
Owego, and had charge ofthe bridges placed on the
road from Corning to Jersey City, together with
those on some other branches of the road. He
was with the Erie Railroad from 1847 to 1874, a
period of twenty-seven years, for ten years of
that time being roadmaster on the Delaware Di
vision, including the Carbondale Branch. In
1874 he resigned his position with the Erie Road
and located in Middletown, where he engaged
in the lumber and coal business on Henry Street,
buying out the yard of William G. Stanton. In
this business he continued until 1889, when he
sold out, and has since been living a retired life.
He owns a beautiful residence at No. 28 High
land Avenue, and is there living in the enjoyment
of a life well spent.
Mr. Gordon was married in the town of
Thompson, Sullivan County, in January, 1843,
to Phcebe Monroe, who was born in the town of
Crawford, Orange County. They became the
parents of four children: Albert, engaged in car

pentering in Middletown; Alice, who married Lew
is Stanton, and died at Fishkill, N. Y. ; Adel
ia, Mrs. C. W. Martin, of Middletown; and Car
rie, who married Rev. George W. Downs, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and resides in Mid
dletown. In politics Mr. Gordon is a stanch Republican,
and while a resident of Narrowsburg, Sullivan
County, he was a Trustee of schools. In 1889 he
was elected Assessor of Middletown, aud by re
election served six years. Religiously he is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which he is Treasurer and Trustee, and has served
as Steward. Before the organization of the Re
publican party he was a Whig, and voted for Will
iam Henry Harrison in 1840.

 >¦ >» > 1 1 » 1 1 1

SHARLES C. FULLERTON, of the town of
Wawayanda, was born here in 1847. His
early life was spent on the farm, and his
education was received in the common schools.
When ten years of age he left home and began
working on the farm by the month, continuing in
that occupation until 1864, when he enlisted in
the Seventh New York Independent Battery, be
ing mustered into the service at Goshen. From
that place he was sent to New York City, and
thence to Virginia, his first engagement being at
Dutch Gap Canal, where he received a flesh
wound. The battery saw considerable service
during the remainder of the war, and was in the
engagements at Ft. Darling, Drury's Bluff aud
Manchester, besides many skirmishes. Just be
fore the final surrender of Lee, the soldiers were
reduced to two hardtacks and a limited supply
of coffee per day. Mr. Fullerton was in front of
Manchester, on the James River, at the time of
the surrender, and he received his discharge at
Albany, August 22, 1865. He then went to Ul
ster County, where he remained until 1876, when
he removed to his present place of residence.
On the 21st of December, 1869, he was united
in marriage with Eliza C. Conklin, and by their
union seven children were born: Augusta L-,

1074

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

now the wife of George D. Booth; Ellen J., Sarah
J., Elsie D., Annie B., Etta D. and Edna.
Politically Mr. Fullerton is a Democrat. In
1880 he was elected Justice ofthe Peace, and has
since held the office, with the exception of the
year 1893. He has been a member of the Board
of Health since 1881. Socially he is a member
of the Grand Army of the Republic. As a citi
zen he stands high in the estimation of his fellow-
citizens, as is attested by his repeated election to
local office.

B£+»

jILUAM F. WHEELER. Five genera
tions of the Wheeler family have resided
on the farm where the subject of this no
tice makes his home. The property is situated
in the town of Warwick, and comprises two hun
dred and eighty acres, upon which first-class im
provements have been made. While some at
tention is given to the raising of cereals, the
principal industry is the dairy business, which is
one of the most profitable industries in the coun
ty. Upon the place will be seen all the buildings
necessary for the proper management of the farm,
including substantial barns and a neat residence.
The founder of the family in this section of the
country was Joel Wheeler, who settled here in
1800. His son, Col. William F., the grandfather
of our subject, was a native of Orange County,
and was born in a little hamlet, formerly called
Wheelerville. His father bought the Wheeler
homestead, which has been in the family for
ninety-five years. The old house and barn are
still standing, the former being occupied by ten
ants. The present family residence was erected
in 1850, and is commodious and substantial, as
are also the barns. Some years after the erection
of the house, it gained the first prize as the best
model farm house in the county.
The parents of our subject, Isaac V. and Phcebe
(Bull) Wheeler, were born in this county, and
the father followed agricultural pursuits through
out his entire life. He died in 1876, and was fol
lowed to the grave by hundreds of friends and
relatives, who held him in the highest esteem.

Preferring to attend to his private affairs rather
than mingle with politicians or become promi
nent in public life, he never sought office. His
wife, who is now sixty-five years old, still enjoys
good health.
On the farm where he now resides, William F.
Wheeler was born May 22, 1859. He attended
the district school, and for a number of years was
a student in the Warwick Institute. When he
was sixteen years of age, his father died, and he
was compelled to leave school and take charge of
the farm. From that time until the present, he
has labored early and late, and is to-day the pos
sessor of a valuable farm, the high standard of
which he maintains. He takes a special interest
in dairy matters, and is serving as Secretary of
the Warwick Valley Milk Association, of which
he is also a Trustee.
In May, 1882, Mr. Wheeler married Miss Til-
lie, daughter of William P. and Mary R. (Roe)
Wisner, natives of this county. Five children
came to bless their home: William F., Jr. , Charles
V., Jesse I., Mary A. and Roe, all ofwhom are
with their parents. Mrs. Wheeler is a member
ofthe Reformed Church. In politics our subject
is a Republican, and believes firmly in the prin
ciples of that party, but cares nothing for official
positions. He is a highly respected citizen , and
enjoys the confidence of friends and neighbors.

Gz

JsM

(F

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E@fcA

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S&n • — -c)

(3 AMUEL A. CONFORT, a well known busi-
2\ ness man of Searsville, established himself
VS/ in the confidence and good-will of this local
ity years ago by his uniformly fair and upright
dealings. He was born in this county November
26, 1828, and since that time has been closely
identified with its prosperity, taking an active
interest in whatever affects its welfare.
Our subject was sixth in order of birth of the
children born to Samuel and Fannie (Low) Con-
fort. Of these, Mary Jane, the eldest, died when
sixty-five years old; Eve Ami was seventy years
old at the time of her decease; Lawrence L., who

FARM RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM F. WHEELER,
Two Miles East of Warwick, Orange County. N. Y.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1077

was for many years a minister of the Dutch Re
formed Church in this and Ulster Counties, died
at the age of sixty-five years; Emily is now liv
ing in Michigan; Elizabeth makes her home in
this county; Samuel A. was the next-born; Julia
died after attaining her thirtieth year; Jacob T.
was accidentally killed when forty years of age;
James died in his fifty-eighth year; and Alonzo
is farming on the old home place in this town.
Samuel Confort, Sr. , was also born in Orange
County, and passed the greater part of his life in
farming in the town of Crawford. He was well-
to-do in this world's goods, and died when in his
fifty-ninth year. In his political views he was
an adherent of Democratic principles, and in the
Reformed Church, of which he was a member,
held the office of Elder. During the War of
1812 he won distinction as a soldier. Many gen
erations back his parents came of good old Ger
man stock. The mother of our subject was also
a native of the town of Crawford, and survived
her husband many years, dying when seventy-
five years of age.
The subject of this sketch remained at home
until about thirty years of age, when he was
married, and purchased a tract of land, on which
he located. After operating this for five years he
sold out and came to Searsville, where for the
past thirty years he has conducted a general
store. He is therefore well known, and his up
right manner of dealing has secured for him the
good-will and patronage of the people for miles
around. November 1, i860, Mr. Confort and Miss Sarah
Ellen Youngblood were united in marriage. The
lady was born in this town, and has become the
mother of two children: Fannie Jane, who mar
ried R. C. Gillespie, of this town; and Julia
Ellen, at home with her parents. Mr. Confort
has always taken a very active part in local pol
itics, and never fails to vote for Democratic can
didates. He has been Clerk of the town for
several years and has occupied the position of
Postmaster of Searsville for a quarter of a cen
tury. Our subject and his family are members
ofthe Reformed Church, in which he has been
Deacon and Elder. He is very active in church

work, and gives liberally of his means toward
extending tbe good cause throughout the county.
Mr. Confort is just and considerate of the rights
of all with whom he is brought in contact, and
conscientious in the observance of all the pro
prieties of life. Thus he has made many friend
ships, which grow stronger with more intimate
acquaintance.

(c)AMUEL GLASSON, D. V. S., of Middle-
/\ town, has his office and veterinary hospital
\Z/ at No. 7 Roberts Street, and also an office
in Wilkinson's livery stable. In February, 1895,
he was called as expert witness in the Long and
McKenzie case, and also filled a similar function
in a law trial, both cases being decided in accord
ance with his testimony.
The Glasson family is of Scotch and French
descent. Our subject's grandfather, James Glas
son, was extensively engaged in buying and sell
ing horses, having an office on Cliff Street, New
York. The father of our subject, Samuel, was
born in New York City, where he was employed
as mechanic, electrician and inventor, having de
signed and patented a number of useful articles.
Socially he was a Knight- Templar Mason. Dur
ing the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the
Eighth Connecticut Infantry, and later was pro
moted to the rank of Captain of Company C of
that regiment, serving in that capacity until he
was obliged to resign on account of rheumatism.
The mother of our subject, Emeline B., was
born in Massachusetts, and was a daughter of
Benjamin Loomis, at one time Postmaster of Pine
Meadow, Conn., and a participant in the Civil
War. He served first as Drum Major of the
Thirteenth Connecticut Infantry, and later was
similarly engaged with the Second Louisiana In
fantry. His death occurred in Connecticut. Of
the family of three children who attained years of
maturity, our subject is the youngest ehild and
only son. In New York City, where he was born,
his education was obtained in the public schools
and in the College of the City of New York. Four
years were spent in that institution, but he left

1078

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

just at the commencement ofthe junior year, and
entered the American Veterinary College, where
he remained until his graduation in 1S93, with
the degree of D. V. S.
For six months after graduating Dr. Glasson
practiced his profession in Peekskill. In Janu
ary, 1894, he was appointed veterinary surgeon
of a detachment of cavalry at West Point, and
held the same position for the whole reservation,
meantime continuing his practice at Peekskill.
He became known in other places, and was' fre
quently called to Highland Falls and Newburgh.
In August, 1894, through the assistance of the
Adjutant-General at Washington, he received an
honorable discharge and retired from the army,
after which he spent a few months in New York
City. In March, 1895, he located in Middle-
town, where he has become well and favorably
known for the thoroughness of his work.
The marriage of Dr. Glasson, which took place
in New York City, united him with Miss Harriet
Gray, and they are the parents ofa son, Harold
L. Socially Dr. Glasson is connected with the
Phi Gamma Delta Society in the College of the
City of New York, and he is also identified with
the United States Veterinary Association, and is
a fellow iu the Medical Association of the Amer
ican Veterinary College.
EB. WILKES, of the firm of C. B. Wilkes &
Bros., dealers in coal and wood, was born at
Seven Springs Mountain House, in the town
of Monroe, September 16, 1858, and is a son of
George F. and Hilenda (Maroney) Wilkes, the
former a native of the town of Monroe, and the
latter of the town of Goshen. His grandfather,
Jonathan Wilkes, was also a native of Orange
County, and his great-grandfather came from
England. The father was a second cousin of
George Wilkes, editor of the New York Sporting
Times, and the breeder of the original Wilkes
horses. George F. Wilkes was a large farmer in
the town of Monroe, and continued farming until
his retirement in 1887, when he removed to Mid

dletown, and here died at the age of seventy-three
years. From the organization of the Republican
party he was a strong advocate of its principles.
In religion he was a devout member of the Meth
odist Church, of which body his wife is also a
member. She is yet living and resides in Mid
dletown. Of their eight children, seven are yet
living. C. B. Wilkes, our subject, was reared on his
father's farm, and had only the advantages of a
common-school education. He remained at home
until 1887, and then had charge of the farm and
dairy business until 1890. At that time he lo
cated in Middletown, and started in the wood and
coal business on Railroad Avenue, near North
Street, in company with his brother, George M.
There they remained until removing to their pres
ent location, on the corner of Beattie and Rail
road Avenue. Here they have a factory and ten
ement house of two flats, and here also they man
ufacture kindling-wood, having a wood-splitting
machine run by steam, eighteen horsepower, with
a capacity of one hundred barrels an hour. The
coal-yard and office are also located at this point.
Two teams are constantly engaged, and the firm
does a large wholesale as well as retail business.
They are popular men, and enjoy the confidence
ofthe entire community.
Mr. Wilkes was married in Circleville to Miss
Mamie Gibbs, who was there born, and they have
one child, Hilda S. In politics Mr. Wilkes is a
Republican, and in his religious belief is a Con-
gregationalist. He is a member of and Deacon
in the North Street Congregational Church, and
has been very active in building up the society.
He was a member ofthe Ontario Hose Company,
and was President of the same for one year.

•HURKE PILLSBURY, M. D. During the
YS period of nearly twenty-five years in which
LJ he has engaged in the practice of medicine,
Dr. Pillsbury has gained a broad experience,
which, ripened by careful study, enables him to

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1079

make a successful diagnosis of the most intricate
and complicated diseases, and to apply the reme
dial agencies calculated to bring the speediest relief
to the patient. He has his office in Middletown,
where he has charge of an extensive and remun
erative practice, covering a large portion of the
surrounding country.
It being generally believed that heredity and
environment have much to do with forming the
character, and that our lives are stimulated by the
immediate or indirect influence of our ancestors,
a short resume of the ancestral history of Mr.
Pillsbury may serve as an index to the liberal
impulses that mark his daily life. Through his
maternal ancestors he traces his lineage to John
Alden and Priscilla Molines, of Puritan fame.
His paternal ancestors were equally prominent
and honorable, the family being of the oldest Col
onial stock.
His great-grandfather, Joshua, as shown by
the Revolutionary rolls in the Massachusetts
capitol, was one of the minutemen who re
sponded to the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775.
His great- uncle, Samuel, was of the boat's crew
that rowed Benedict Arnold to the British ship
"Vulture," at the time of his escape, and was
captured by the British and carried to New York.
Another ancestor, Elijah Pillsbury, fought with
General Wolfe on the Heights of Abraham, and
still another went with the expedition to Louis-
burg. The progenitor of the family iu America
came to this country in the "Mayflower," upon
the second trip of that historic ship, in 1641.
The name of Pillsbury is derived from ' 'peel, ' '
meaning a tower, and "bury," a hill or mound.
The name has been identified with the history of
the ancient parish of Leek, in Staffordshire, Eng
land, ever since King Edward IV. commanded, in
1333, that each individual should "take upon
himself a separate surname, either of his trade or
faculty, or from some quality of his body or mind,
or the place where he dwelt, so that everyone
might be distinguished from the other. ' ' Pills
bury Grange is a quaint and ancient place, twelve
miles across the moorland in the parish of Hart-
ington, belonging to the rich Cistercian Abbey of
Dieulacres. Leek was in the earldom of Algar,

son of Godiva, and was the last place in England
to yield to the encroachments of William the
Conqueror.

*

*

*

The above is an engraving of the ancient arms
of the family, of which the following description
is given: "Arms: Arg. on a chev. inter three cross
es crosslet fitchee, sa, five ermine spots or. Crest:
On a torque, arg. and sa, a felon's head couped
ppr. with rope around the neck and cross on
breast. Motto: Mors janua vita.
The subject of this sketch was born in Boston,
Mass. In youth his educational advantages were
exceptionally good, and upon completing his lit
erary education he turned his attention to the
medical profession. This science he commenced to
study in 1868 and four years later he was graduat
ed from the Harvard Medical School. To his the
oretical knowledge he added practical experience
gained by a year's hospital course in the Massa
chusetts General Hospital and. at St. Mary's in
Rochester. Since beginning in active practice
it has always been his ambition to keep abreast
with the latest discoveries in the science, and he
has remained a close, thoughtful student of the
profession. For thirteen years the Doctor has been a mem
ber of the United States Pension Board, and he
is also examiner for numerous insurance com
panies. In professional circles, both in this coun-

io8o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

try and abroad, he is well known, being a mem
ber of the State Medical Society, the New York
Academy of Medicine and the Tuberculosis Con
gress of Paris. He has met with signal success in
the treatment of consumption, in which he has
taken a deep -interest. In addition to this he is
also an expert microscopist and pathologist, hold
ing himself in readiness to make any examina
tion called for. There are few of the major opera
tions in surgery that he has not performed with
success. Among the physicians of this locality
he ranks high, and has served with efficiency as
President ofthe Orange County Medical Society.
He has secured a substantial recognition of the
genuineness of his merits in his professional cap
acity, and by his conscientious discharge of duty,
his ability and skill, and his character as a gen
tleman of culture, he has won the confidence
which is the crown of his manhood. While his
attention has been given principally to matters
connected with his profession, he is also interest
ed in other organizations and matters of public
interest, and is an active member of the New
York Society, Sons ofthe Revolution.
REV JAMES C. FORSYTHE, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, was
born in Allegheny County, Pa., June 24,
1826, and is the son of George and Margaret
(Henry) Forsythe. The family is of Scotch-Irish
descent. James C. Forsythe, the great-grandfa
ther, emigrated from the North of Ireland to
Chester, Pa., in 1730. Accompanied by his son
James, he settled in Mifflin, Pa., eight miles
from Pittsburg when on the site of the latter city
were no buildings save the remains of old Ft.
Pitt, this being during the period between the
French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars.
The next in line of direct descent was also James
Forsythe, aud three generations of the family
were buried side by side in Mifflin, Pa.
George Forsythe inherited a part of the old
homestead which belonged to his grandfather.
With his family he removed to Washington Coun
ty, Pa., and there our subject grew to maturity

aud acquired his education in Washington Col
lege, from which he was graduated in 1848. This
was the year after James G. Blaine graduated
from that school , and the young men were com
panions in college together for two years. Mr.
Forsythe later entered the Associate Reformed
Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa. , aud was
graduated therefrom in 1852. The previous year,
however, he was licensed to preach, and his first
pastorate was at Cadiz, the county seat of Harri
son County, Ohio, where John C. Brigham was one
of his parishioners. There he was ordained in
November, 1852, by the Associate Reformed Pres
bytery of Steubenville, Ohio. He remained at
Cadiz for five years, and did a good work. Dur
ing his stay there the Associate Reformed Church
and the Associate Presbyterian Church were
united, under the name of the United Presbyte
rian Church, into a strong organization.
Mr. Forsythe's next pastorate was at Salem,
Washington County, N. Y., where he continued
for twelve years. The church was in a disor
ganized condition when he took charge and re
quired delicate management. It had been es
tablished by a band of members who emigrated
together from Ireland one hundred and thirty
years before, and the church celebrated the one
hundredth anniversary of this emigration during
the pastorate of Mr. Forsythe. His labors there
were very successful. They built up a strong
congregation, and in 1870 he left the church in a
flourishing condition. He then accepted a call
from the Reformed Church of Farmer Village,
of Seneca County, where he remained for five
years, when, on the ist of July, 1875, he was es
tablished as the pastor ofthe Presbyterian Church
of Montgomery, of which he has now had charge
for twenty years. It had been formed about
sixty years previous, but was then in a broken-
down condition. Rev. Mr. Forsythe's work here,
as in other places, soon proved beneficial; large
numbers have been added to the church, socie
ties have been organized that are now in good
working order, and the whole church is flourish
ing. On the 10th of November, 1857, in Braintree,
Mass., Rev. Mr. Forsythe married Miss Persis

COURTLAND S. HULSE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1083

Maria Thayer, of that place. They had three
children, but all have been called to the home be
yond. Elizabeth Thayer died iu infancy, Harriet
Thayer at the age of two and a-half years, and
James Storrs in his thirteenth year. Mrs. For
sythe is a most estimable lady, an efficient helper
to her husband, extending her sympathy to the
suffering, and lending a helping hand to the poor
and needy.
Rev. Mr. Forsythe is a Republican, but takes
no active part in politics. He is the only surviv
ing charter member of the Phi Gamma Delta So
ciety, the mother of all the Delta societies in the
United States, and his connection with it began
in the days when it was bitterly opposed by col
lege officials; but in the years that have passed it
has become very popular, and is now strongly
encouraged by college professors. Rev. Mr. For
sythe is a man of large body and mind, powerful
physically as well as mentally. He is possessed
of clear, keen perception, is quick of comprehen
sion, and soon notes and masters the strong
points of any subject. He is a logical reasoner,
a fluent and forcible speaker, and his earnest and
effective words in the pulpit have been produc
tive of a good that cannot be estimated on this
side of the grave. He is pleasant and warm
hearted, possessing a kindly and charitable dis
position, and all recognize in him a friend on
whom they may depend iu the hour of need. He
is loved by his own people and those of other de
nominations, and throughout the community no
one is more highly respected than the pastor of
the Presbyterian Church of Montgomery.

§$&&WM&%5t-

EOURTLAND S. HULSE, who is num
bered among the oldest citizens of Middle-
town, was born in the town of Mt. Hope,
this county, April 14, 18 18. He is the son of
Anselm H. Hulse, a native of this county and a
member of the family that came here from Long
Island. His grandfather and the grandfather of
G. O. Hulse were own brothers. Settling upon a
tract of unimproved land, Anselm H. Hulse suc
ceeded in redeeming it from the wilderness and

converted it into a productive farm, one ofthe best
in Mt. Hope. From there he moved to the town of
Crawford, where he died at the age of more than
seventy years. His wife, Catherine, was born
in New Jersey, to which state her father, Thomas
Cahill, had come from Ireland.
In the family of Anselm H. Hulse there were
six sons and six daughters, but Courtland S. and
Mrs. Ellen Jane Tice, of Cass County, Mich.,
are the only survivors. The former was reared
in the towns of Wallkill and Crawford, and at
tended school at Campbell Hall. At the age of
sixteen he was apprenticed to the painter's trade
at Montgomery, where he remained for three
years, and then came to Middletown. In 1838
he finished the trade under George S. Corwin,
and soon afterward started for himself, following
his chosen occupation here until 1851. He then
went to Morristown, N. J., where he was em
ployed as a contract painter for eleven years,
coming back to Middletown in 1862. He pur
chased ten acres on what is now Cottage Street,
and in 1876 built a residence at No. 47 East
Main Street, where he has since made his home.
At Middletown, February 27, 1840, Mr. Hulse
married Miss Susan Wood, who was born in
Goshen, being a daughter of Benjamin Wood,
proprietor of a tannery at Dolsontown. Mrs.
Susan Hulse died at their home in Middletown
March 22, 1891, aged seventy-four years. Of
her four children, the only survivors are Martha
and Antoinette, both at home. The latter is the
wife of George Hommel, who was born in Wur
temberg, Germany, came to New York City in
1872, and to Middletown in 1887, since which time
he has carried on a bakery business. He and
his wife are the parents of a son, Roger Court-
land. In former years Mr. Hulse was connected with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belong
ing to the lodge at Middletown. He was a mem
ber of the pioneer fire company of this city. Po
litically he is a Democrat, and in his younger
years took an active part in public affairs. While
in New Jersey he was in partnership with his
brother-in-law, George S. Corwin, the firm title
being Corwin & Hulse, but Mr. Corwin died while

1084

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

there, aud Mr. Hulse soon returned to Middle-
town. He has been identified with the growth of
this city and a promoter of its public enterprises.
He laid out Courtland Street, which was named
in his honor, and erected the first house on that
street, a structure that still stands. For a time
he was engaged in the restaurant business on
North Street, where he built a store. No man
has taken a greater interest than he iu the up
building of this place, and its prosperity is due to
the efforts of such men as he. In politics he is
independent.

-+¦— » — »^>H®i^p®f*<^« — <*-

6APT. LEWIS S. WISNER is one of the
oldest residents of Middletown, and traces
his ancestry back for several generations.
He was born in Middletown, August n, 1841,
aud his father, Daniel Carpenter Wisner, was
also born here, in 1807, his death occurring in
1 87 1. His grandfather, Henry Barnet Wisner,
was born in Orange County in 1772, and died in
1846. For many years he was a Justice of the
Peace, and started the first store in Middletown,
on Main Street, being a partner of Stacy Beakes.
He owned the land which was later purchased by
the father of our subject, and which is now part
of our subject's estate. Maj. Henry Wisner, the
great-grandfather of our subject, was born in
Orange County, in 1740, and died April 11,
1800. He served as Captain in the Revolution
ary War, and later was commissioned Major of
Colonel Hathorn's Warwick and Florida Regi
ment. He lived on the Wallkill, on the present site
of Barr's Hotel at Phillipsburg, his farm ad
joining the Midway Park. In addition to farm
ing he operated a gristmill on the place. During
the Revolutionary War he was engaged in the
manufacture of powder, a business started by his
father at Phillipsburg. He married Sarah Bar-
net, who was born in. 1742, and who died in
1790. The great-great-grandfather of our subject was
Hon. Henry Wisner, born in the town of Goshen

in 1720. He was a delegate to the First, Second
and Third Continental Congresses, and voted
for the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776,
but did not wait to sign the document, for the
reason that he was sent home to manufacture
powder, which was needed to enforce that
measure. He was one of the four commissioners
who laid out West Point, and also assisted in the
selection of the site of Ft. Putnam. From 1770
to 1782 he was in the State Legislature, and was
very prominent in business transactions. He
died in 1790, and his remains are interred in
Hopper Hill Cemetery. Over the grave, on the
red sandstone slab, is recorded the following:
' 'Sacred to the memory of Henry Wisner, who
departed this life March 4, 1790, a devoted friend
to the liberties of his country. ' ' On account of
the extensive aid furnished his country he died
in poverty. His wife was Sarah Norton, who
came from the eastern end of Long Island.
The great-great-great-grandfather of our sub
ject, Hendrick Wisner, was born in 1698, and
died in 1767. He came with his father from
Switzerland, and in 17 19 married Mary Shaw, a
native of New England. He became very wealthy,
and was an extensive land-owner. His father,
Johannis Wisner, the great-great- great-great
grandfather of our subject, also came from Swit
zerland. He was a Lieutenant in the Swiss Con
tingent of Queen Anne's army, and is said to have
been the first settler in Orange County on the
Wawayanda Patent. Our subject has deeds of
every one of his ancestors, except Johannis, as
far back as 1703, and signed by Queen Anne.
Daniel C. Wisner, the father of our subject,
was by ocupation a farmer, aud followed that
vocation all his life. He was an Elder in the
Second Presbyterian Church of Middletown, and
was one of its charter members. In politics he
was originally a Whig and afterwards a Repub
lican. He married Sarah M. Weed, who was
born in 18 13, at Stamford, Conn., and who was
a daughter of Smith Weed. The latter was a
cooper by trade, and died in Connecticut. Mrs.
Wisner, who died in 1885, was a relative of Uzual
Knapp, one of Washington's bodyguards. The
marriage of Mr. aud Mrs. Wisner occurred in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1085

1833, an(l ^y their union four children were born:
Sarah M., who died in infancy; Julia Ann, who
died at twenty years of age; Henry B., who re
sides in Berea, Ohio; and Capt. Lewis Smith, the
subject of this sketch.
Capt. Lewis S. Wisner was the youngest of
the family, and grew to manhood in his native
town, which has always been his home. He was
educated in the public schools, and finished his
course in Wallkill Academy. Until August 6,
1862, he remained at home, engaged in farming
with his father, but at that time enlisted in Com
pany K, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New
York Volunteer Infantry, as a private. Soon
after he was promoted to be Second Sergeant, then
First Sergeant, and in May, 1863, was commis
sioned Second Lieutenant. February 23, 1864,
hewas promoted to be First Lieutenant, and July
14, 1864, was commissioned Captain of his com
pany. No man in the regiment received more
promotions. He was in all the general engage
ments until his discharge, and was slightly
wounded at Chancellorsville. On account of
severe hernia he resigned, August 2, 1864, and
returned home.
On recovering his health, Captain Wisner went
to Titusville, Pa., where he purchased real es
tate, and for a time was engaged in speculation.
Returning home, he purchased the old home
stead, on which he now resides, and which con
sists of fifty acres. It has a beautiful location on
Wisner Avenue, which was laid out and im
proved at his expense. He has constructed an
artificial lake on the place, and has it stocked
with black bass. His fine residence is provided
with a porch around the entire house. Captain
Wisner is an admirer of Jersey cattle, in which he
has been quite an extensive dealer, and at present
has a number of fine animals. On his place are
fine beds of sand of the very best quality for
building purposes.
June 21, 1865, Mr. Wisner was married, in
Middletown, to Miss Adelaide Robertson, who
was born in Centreville, and who is a daughter
of George E. Robertson, a retired farmer of Mid
dletown. The latter was born at South Centre
ville, while his father, David Robertson, was born

in Scotland, and settled at Centreville at an early
day. His wife was Catherine Swartwout, of
French-Huguenot descent. Of this union were
born three children, two of whom are living, Mrs.
Wisner being the second-born. She was reared
in Middletown, and was educated in a private
seminary. To Captain and Mrs. Wisner were
born four children: Mary R., a graduate of Wall-
kill Academy; George R., who is now in Colo-
ado, an engineer on the Santa Fe Railway;
Henry Barnet, a clerk in the Merchants' and
Mechanics' Bank ; and Theresa Weed, a student
in Wallkill Academy.
Captain Wisner is a charter member of Capt.
William A. Jackson Post No. 301, G. A. R., and
he is also a member of the New York Sons of the
Revolution. In politics he is a true-blue Repub
lican, and religiously is a member of the Method
ist Episcopal Church. During the past year he
received a medal of honor tendered him by the
United States Congress for gallantry at Spott-
sylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. This was given in
response to a petition signed by every surviving
officer of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth
Regiment. afe*®?^^*^-— -

~o£

5o~

HOMAS L. GILLSON, M. D., is a success
ful practicing physician of Middletown. He
was born at Budd's Lake, N. J., December
31, 1862, and is a son of Hugh B. and Mary
(Donohue) Gillson, both ofwhom are natives of
Ireland. The grandfather, Hugh Gillson, was
also a native of Ireland, where for many years
he was Superintendent of Schools and where he
died. The father was reared in his native coun
try, and when eighteen years of age came to
America, and located in Morris County, N. J.,
and later in Sussex County, that state. There
he was engaged as a mining contractor until he
removed to a farm known as the old Gillson Farm,
one-half mile from Franklin Furnace, N. J.,
where he yet lives at the age of sixty-eight years.
In politics he has always been a Democrat, and is
a prominent town official. His wife, the mother
of our subject, is a daughter of Michael Dono-

io86

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hue, who was a farmer by occupation, but who is
now deceased. Hugh B. and Mary Gillson are
the parents of nine children: M. W., a practicing
physician of Paterson, N. J.; James R., a tea
merchant of Troy, N. Y.; John T., a physician
at Paterson, N. J.; Thomas L., our subject;
Hugh B., Jr., a merchant at Albany, N.Y.; Mary
E., a teacher in Sussex County, N. J.; Theresa,
a trained nurse at home; and Sarah and Anna, at
home. In his youth our subject attended Baxter's
School at Franklin Furnace, N. J., and in 1881
commenced teaching school at McAfee and Stock
holm, N. J. The remarkable aptitude and native
energy of the young teacher led to his being ap
pointed Principal of the well known Blooming-
dale Academy, at Passaic, N. J. During the lat
ter years of his teaching at this academy, he had
a strong inclination towards medicine, and with
his brother, Dr. M. W. Gillson, a prominent
physician of Paterson, N. J., he commenced its
study. After leaving his brother, he went to
Bellevue Medical College, New York, in 1888,
taking two complete courses of study, and spend
ing much time in the use of the scalpel, under the
direction of master surgeons there. In 1891 he
graduated from the Long Island College and Hos
pital. For some time previously he had studied
under the famous Dr. Skene, of Brooklyn, and
therefore had received a thorough intellectual
and medical training.
In 1 891 Dr. Gillson located at Middletown,
where he has built up a large and well paying
practice. For two years he was Health Officer of
Middletown, and is at present examiner for sever
al insurance companies. He is an honorary mem
ber of McQuaid Engine and Fire Company, and
of the Orange County Medical Society. In re
ligion he is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic
Church, and is examining physician of the Catho
lic Benevolent Legion.
Dr. Gillson was married at Bloomingdale, Pas
saic County, N. J., in 1889, to Miss Elizabeth
Heffernan, a native of that place, and daughter
of Thomas and Margaret Heffernan, the former
of whom was for years manager of the Booneton
Iron Works. Mrs. Gillson was educated in

Bloomingdale and at Paterson, and was leader in
St. Anthony's Church Choir at the former place.
Three children have been born unto our subject
and wife: Marguerite Theresa, Mary Elizabeth,
and Thomas L- , Jr.
Besides being a well trained student and physi
cian, Dr. Gillson has talent as a speaker. During
the Cleveland campaign of 1884 he was a mem
ber of the New Jersey State Democratic Commit
tee, and was the youngest stump speaker in that
state. He canvassed the state in company with
the late ex-Gov. Leon Abbett, and Hon. Thomas
Noonan, of Jersey City. In his profession, Dr.
Gillson is highly esteemed by the practitioners
of every school of medicine.

+=

HORATIO NELSON CASE, one the best
known citizens of the town of Wawayanda,
has made his home on his present farm
since he was five years of age. He is a man of
unostentatious and quiet life, and has made it
his main business to attend to the wants of his
family and to the proper management of his
farm. Our subject was born in the village of Mon
roe, May 31, 1824, aud was the son of Gideon
and Hannah (Terry) Case, the former a native of
the town of Goshen, this county. The grandfa
ther, who bore the name of Zaccheus Case, was
born on Long Island. He departed this life
January 9, 1822, aged eighty-one years, and
was buried in the town of Goshen. He married
Hannah Salmon, who died September 12, 1823,
aged seventy -seven years. Gideon Case fought
as a soldier in the War of 1812 one year, bear
ing himself honorably aud bravely- in that con
flict. He died November 4, 1867, at the age of
eighty -two years, ten months and four days. Our
subject has but one sister, Hannah J., who is liv
ing in Newburgh and is the wife of William
Chambers, Another sister, Jane, died in the town
of Monroe when two years and a-half old.
The father of our subject, who was a farmer

REV. JOSEPH RECHTSTEINER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1089

through life, moved from the town of Goshen to
this section about 1829, and here lived until his
decease, which occurred November 4, 1867, his
remains being interred iu Ridgebury Cemetery.
As stated above, Horatio Nelson was in his fifth
year at the time the family came hither, and is
therefore one of its oldest residents. Being the
only son ofthe household, he took charge of the
farm on the demise of his father, and has contin
ued to manage it ever since. It is thirty-four
acres in extent, and although not as large as
many in the town, is cultivated in such a manner
as to bring forth good results. Mr. Case thor
oughly understands his business, and as he enjoys
it is satisfied to spend the remainder of his life
amidst rural scenes. He has never been active
in political matters, but is always anxious during
elections of every nature to vote for Democratic
candidates.

<QC************jp******** *****><>
REV. JOSEPH RECHTSTEINER, pastor of
St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Port Jervis, received a call from
his present congregation in March, 1888, where
he located and has ever since made his home. He
is a native of Germany, born in Granheim, Wur
temberg, on the 9th of February, 1853, and was
educated in the gymnasium at Ehingen, where
he took a complete course of ten years, after
which he took the theological course iu the Tu
bingen University, and also studied Greek, French
and Hebrew in a gymnasium. On account of
the demands ofthe Government for military serv
ice, and not wishing to become a soldier, he left
college at the age of twenty-one years, before
completing the course, and started for the United
States. Taking passage on a steamer at Liver
pool, England, he landed in New York on the
27th of October, 1874, a stranger in a strange
land, and unable to speak our language.
Mr. Rechtsteiuer immediately proceeded to New
Hampshire, where he went to work with a shovel,
and for one month was thus employed; but not
being able to collect his wages, he returned to
New York City, using some money that he had
48

brought with him. For eleven months he was
then engaged with an American family as a farm
hand in Rockland County, and there picked up
the language. At this place he received $6 per
month and his board, but later began working
for a German farmer. While thus employed, he
met a German Presbyterian minister, Rev. Henry
Lock, who took an interest in him and persuaded
him to attend the prayer-meetings. This gentle
man later sent him to the Presbyterian Theologi
cal Seminary at Bloomfield, N. J., wh'^re he re
mained for one year. He then entered the Luth
eran Theological Seminary at Mt. Ayr, Philadel
phia, where he pursued his studies for a year. He
had paid his own tuition thus far, but as his
money now gave out, he applied for a position as
teacher. At a college in Nyack, N. Y., he taught
Greek, French and Spanish for about six months.
On the expiration of that time, Mr. Rechtsteiu
er received a call from a congregation in Alle
gheny County, Pa., and in March, 1878, there
preached his first sermon. The following August
he was ordained before the Pittsburg Synod, at
Greenville, Pa., and remained with his first
charge for four years, leaving the church in au
excellent condition. He then went to Mahanoy
City, Schuylkill County, Pa., where he preached
for two years, when he was called to Rochester,
N. Y., where he had charge ofa large congrega
tion for three years. There he repaired the house
of worship, and paid off a large part of the church
debt. Hs was then called to the directorship of
Wagner- College, a church school, which had
been in existence about seven years, ¦ and em
ployed five assistant teachers. Here he taught
the higher classes, but at the end of one year he
resigned. Mr. Rechtsteiuer had previously preached in
Port Jervis on different occasions, and in March,
1888, permanently located here. On his arrival
the church was divided, and affairs were not in a
very prosperous condition, but he has labored
untiringly for its welfare. The present house
of worship, which was formerly the Episcopal
Church, is situated on the corner of Sussex and
Hammond Streets, and the congregation now
numbers about one hundred and twenty families.

1090

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Since his pastorate here he has not only gained
the love and confidence of the members of his
church, but by all is held in the highest respect.
He devotes his entire time to the needs of the
church, and as he is a great scholar, his sermons
are logical and convincing. In politics he is a
Republican .
In Bloomfield, N. J., on the 26th of December,
1878, Rev. Mr. Rechtsteiner was united in mar
riage with Paulina Rail, of that place, and to them
were born three children, but Emma died at the
age of two years. Those still living are Her
mann and Josephine. The family holds an hon
ored place in this community, where they are
widely and favorably known.

30NATHAN FALCONER. Prominent
among the capable and efficient agricultur
ists of Orange County stands Mr. Falconer,
who fallows farming and dairying in the town of
Crawford. Here he is the proprietor of one hun
dred and seventy acres of excellent land, which
he cultivates in a most intelligent and highly
profitable manner.
Our subject was born March 17, 1827, and
was the eldest in a family of eight children born
to John and Christina J. (Jansen) Falconer.
The former was born iu Westchester County,
N. Y., where he spent the first sixteen years of
his life, when he came to Orange County, re
maining for a short time in the town of New
burgh. He next returned to his native county,
and in company with his father engaged in the
tanning business. After continuing in this line
for a few years he was married, and then re
moved to Herkimer County, this state, where he
farmed until about the year 1829, when he went
to Ulster County , at this time he purchased prop
erty of his own and lived there until his decease,
which occurred in his sixty-fourth year. His fa
ther bore the name of Jonathan Falconer, and
during the War of 18 12 served as a soldier, being
employed in the secret service of the Govern

ment. He was born in this state, while his par
ents were natives of France. His father was like
wise a soldier in the Revolution, as were also his
brothers, one of whom, John, was an aide-de-camp
to General Washington.
The mother of our subject was a native of
Ulster County, where her death occurred when
sixty-nine years of age. Her parents were na
tives of Holland, and on coming to the United
States her father became a Colonel in the War of
18 12, acquitting himself honorably and bravely
in thos: trying times.
The subject of this sketch remained on the
home farm with his parents until their death,
when he purchased the interest of the other heirs
in the property and made it his home until the
year 1887. That year he disposed of the estate,
and with the proceeds purchased the farm on
which he now resides. This he devotes to gen
eral agriculture, although he makes a specialty
of dairy farming. From the first he has been
successful, and he is regarded as one of the sub
stantial residents ofthe town.
October 25, 1871, Mr. Falconer was married to
Miss Mary A. M. McKinney, daughter of Luther
McKinney, and to them have been born three
children, namely: John L., at home; William B.,
engaged in teaching school in this town; and
Maria C, also with her parents. Our subject is
a Republican in his political views and takes an
active interest in the success of his party. With
his wife and family he is a devoted member ot
the United Presbyterian Church. They give
liberally to the support of the same and are al
ways ready to lend a helping hand to the needy.
WILLIAM HAMMOND, who resides at No.
73 Ball Street, Port Jervis, was born at
Franklin Furnace, Sussex County, N. J.,
October 3, 1833, and is the son of Hosea and
Huldah (Truex) Hammond, also natives of that
state. The great-grandfather, Noah Hammond,
is supposed to have been born in England. His
son Elisha located at Franklin Furnace, where
he reared a family, and died when seventy-five

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1091

years old. He was born February 6, 1769, and
his wife, who .bore the maiden name of Phebe
Wallen, was born May 30, 1775, and died in
1843. Hosea Hammond, the father of our subject,
was born January 7, 1798, and departed this life
January 29, 1875. He was a drum-major in the
state militia during -the War of 1812. In 1848 he
came to Port Jervis, where he followed the car
penter's trade until his demise. His wife was
born February 12, 1798, and lived until Septem
ber 19, 1881.
Our subject was a lad of fifteen years at the
time the family came to this place, and after se
curing a good common-school education he
learned the carpenter's trade under his father.
Good workmen were in demand after the build
ing of the Erie Railroad through this place, as
the town grew rapidly, aud our subject followed
this trade for five years, when he abandoned it to
become a fireman on the Erie Railroad. After
four years he was made brakeman, and was later
given the position of engineer with the Eastern
Division, remaining in that capacity for eleven
years. During that period he only met with
one accident, when he ran into a washout. Al
though the tender and tiain were thrown into a
ditch, the engine remained on the track.
After this experience our subject, in company
with his brother Horace, rented an old planing-
mill which stood on Pike Street, and was occu
pied in running this from 1866 to 1871. That
year William again became an engineer, but only
remained on the road for a short time, when he
again began operating the mill, the partnership
existing with his brother until April 2, 1894,
when the mill was destroyed by fire. Since that
time he has followed his trade, and is regarded as
one of the most efficient carpenters and machinists
in the city.
Prior to attaining his majority, Mr. Hammond
was married, December 29, 1852, to Mary E.
Smith. She died October 29, 1856, aged twenty-
two years, leaving a daughter, Ella J. M., who
was about two years old at the time of her de
cease. Our subject chose for his second compan
ion a sister of his former wife, Miss Sarah J.

Smith, a daughter of Jacob and Jane (Dougherty)
Smith, who was born in Morris County, N. J.,
July 2, 1837, an(l was married October 11, 1857.
To them were granted five children, two of whom
are living. George A., a dentist, is engaged in
practice in Brenham, Tex. He was graduated
from the New York College of Dentistry, after
which he married Miss Elsie E., daughter of
Charles I. Peck, of Port Jervis. Lena C. Ham
mond is now the wife of Dr. C. W. Banks, of this
city. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has
held the official position of Trustee.

—;=3$E=;»~

NELSON KNAPP is a native of Middle-
town, born on the 21st of May, 1863, aud
is a son of Walter H. and Martha J. (Dick
son) Knapp, whose sketch appears on another
page of this work. He grew to manhood in his
native city , aud received an academical education
in Wallkill Academy. When seventeen years of
age, he went into the store with his father, and
there continued three years. At the age of twen
ty, he went to New York City, and attended the
Sullivan School of Embalming, from which he
graduated, being the first to graduate from Or
ange County. Returning home, he was made a
partner with his father, and the business contin
ued under the name of W. H. Knapp & Son.
This partnership continued until March, 1891,
when the father retired from the business, and
our subject formed a partnership with his broth
er-in-law, under the firm name of Knapp & Mer
ritt. They are now located on the corner of James
and West Main Street, which has been the loca
tion of the house for more than twenty years.
In October, 1883, Mr. Knapp was united in
marriage with Miss Julia A. Crist, a native of
Middletown, and a daughter of Lawrence J.
Crist, who was a carriage manufacturer on East
Main Street and East Avenue. His establish
ment was one of the oldest in the city, Mr. Crist
being the first to engage in carriage manufactur-

1092

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing in this place. He died in 1886. His wife,
formerly Mary Ludlom, was also a native of Mid
dletown, and died here in June, 1893. The
grandfather, John T. Ludlom, who died here at
the age of ninety-two years, was one of the first
settlers here, and at one time owned all the
ground on which the business part of the city is
now located. For years he conducted a general
store here, and was also engaged in the burning
of lime. To Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have been
born four children: Lawrence Crist, Walter H.,
Harold DeWitt and John Gordon.
Fraternally Mr. Knapp is a member of the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of
Pythias, and the Legion of Honor. He is a
member ofthe Twenty- fourth Separate Company,
having been connected with it since its organiza
tion, and now holds the rank of Sergeant. With
every other business man, he is interested in the
fire department, and is a member of Excelsior
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. He is a
member of Grace Episcopal Church, and has
been Vestryman of that body. Politically he is a
stanch Republican.

30HN WOOD, a contractor and builder re
siding at No. 4 Montgomery Street, Middle-
town, was born in Haverstraw, N. Y., in
1831, and is the eldest of the twelve children of
Jacob Wood, ofwhom mention is made elsewhere
in this volume. He was reared on a farm near
Haverstraw, and in boyhood attended the neigh
boring schools. At the age of sixteen he com
menced to work out on a farm and continued as a
farm laborer for four years. When twenty he
turned his attention to the carpenter's trade,
which he learned in Haverstraw, and followed
later in Blauvelt, Rockland Count)-, being en
gaged there as contractor and builder.
Entering the employ ofthe Erie Railway Com
pany, Mr. Wood became assistant foreman in
their shops at Piermont, where he remained a
short time. For four years afterward he was fore
man of the Ramapo shops of the Atlantic & Great
Western, but when the shops were removed to

Franklin, Pa., he resigned his position, not car
ing to goto that place. In 1865 he came to Mid
dletown, where, after working at his trade for a
year, he started independently as a contractor and
builder. In 1872 he took charge of the machin
ery in Draper's hat works on Railroad Avenue,
and remained in that position until 1885, when
Mr. Draper retired from the business.
For two years afterward Mr. Wood, under
W M. Mitchell, erected the machinery shafts in
the Ontario & Western shops in Middletown and
at New Durham, N. J., and since resigning from
that position he has given his attention tmdi-
videdly to his work as contractor and builder. A
number of substantial buildings of the city have
beeu erected under his supervision, and he super
intended the erection of the steeple of St. Joseph's
Catholic Church, which is one hundred and eighty
feet high.
The first wife of Mr. Wood was Jane D. Clark,
who was born and married in Nanuet, N. Y. ,
and there died, leaving two children: Edgar, who
is a locomotive engineer on the Housatouic Rail
road; and Mrs. Anna Grier, of Middletown. In
Great Barrington, Mass., Mr. Wood married his
second wife, who was Miss Sarah Kilmer, a na
tive of that place. Five children blessed their
union, namely: Stella, wife of W D. Harding,
an electrician of New York; Charles, who is in
business with his father; John, who died at the
age of fifteen months; Flora and Myrtle. Mrs.
Wood is connected with the Methodist Episcopal
Church and interested in its good works. Socially
Mr. Wood is a demitted Mason, having been con
nected with Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M.
In politics he supports Republican principles.

 j»»-fr*/gBiyiSg>****r
— ^****'^1^*****P

30SEPH HAINEN, Master Mechanic on the
Delaware Division of the Erie Railroad,
makes his home in Port Jervis. He has had
eighteen years' experience in railroading, for he
began when he was a mere lad, and has thor
oughly acquainted himself with every detail of
the work. Our subject was born in Sandusky,
Ohio, February 24, 1863, and is a son of Samuel

CHARLES T. FORD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1095

and Frances (Higgius) Hainen, the former a
native of Belfast, Ireland, and the latter of Can
ada. For twenty-seven years the father was a
machinist and foreman, being a resident of Mead
ville, Pa. In the latter place in 1877 young
Hainen commenced serving an apprenticeship iu
the shops of the New York, Pennsylvania &
Ohio Railroad, then called the Atlantic & Great
Western. He finished his trade on reaching his
majority, and then worked as a journeyman in
thesame shops until April 1, 1889. At that time
he was made foreman of a gang of men who were
engaged in erecting and repairing locomotives for
the Meadville Works. From that time until
1892 he superintended some twenty hands, and
was then offered a position as General Foreman
of the Erie Railroad Shops at Salamanca, where
he had over one hundred and twenty-five em
ployes under him.
One year later Mr. Hainen was made Master
Mechanic of the Delaware Division, coming to
Port Jervis in March, 1893, and now he has
about three hundred and forty men in the shops
under his supervision. The repair department is
utilized for both cars and engines, and the round
house has stalls for thirty-seven engines. Alto
gether there are seventy-eight engines in his
division, which are manned by one hundred aud
one engineers and one hundred and twenty-six
firemen. These, added to his other hands, make
a total of five hundred and sixty-seven men un
der his direct management. He is a member of
the American Association of Railway Master
Mechanics, and belongs to the New York Rail
road Club.
EHARLES T. FORD, a railroad contractor,
residing at Central Valley, was born Octo
ber 7, 1844, in Southfield, where he resided
until ten years of age, when the family removed
to Sterling. He attended the district school un
til twelve years of age, and subsequently went to
Farmers' Hall Academy at Goshen for two years.
He next attended the private school of William
N. Reid, at Newburgh, for two years; then went
to Claverack Institute for two years. After tak

ing a one-year course iu the Poughkeepsie Bus
iness College, he went to New York City and was
employed in the wholesale and retail grocery of
William S. Corwin & Co. for one year. While
residing in that city the great Draft Riot, of
which he has a ver)- vivid remembrance, occurred.
Tiring of city life, he went to Sterling, where he
had charge of the iron works store for four
years. In the spring of 1867 he went to South-
field as manager of the iron works at that place,
remaining three years. In 1870, being worn
out by close attention to business, he bought a
farm in the town of Woodbury, where he resided
one year, at the end of which time, his health be
ing restored, he went to Bangor, Mich., built a
charcoal furnace, aud put it in operation.
From Bangor Mr. Ford went to Holland, that
state, where he organized a furnace company,
but the panic of 1873 occurring at that time, all
new furnace enterprises were stopped. He lost
heavily by the panic, and was appointed station
agent at Turner, N. Y. , to which place he had re
moved. He also operated a quarry at Central
Valley, and leased the Lary Turner property in
the village of Turner until 1880. Resigning the
agency at Turner, he removed to Central Valley,
where he resided for one year, and then began
contracting for the West Shore Railroad, excavat
ing along the line between South and North
Streets, Newburgh, and built laige walls, putting
in thirteen thousand yards of masonry. From
Newburgh he went to Albany, and thence to
Rochester, building five miles of road. After the
failure of the construction company, he connected
the Genesee Valley with the West Shore Rail
road, giving the latter entrance into Rochester.
He next worked on the Olmstead Parallel at
Stamford, Conn.; thence went to New York,
where for five years he contracted for city work.
He next took a contract for grading on the Port
Jervis Railroad from Rhodesdale to Huguenot,
and also laid the track and ballasted the entire
line. His next work was building the north dam
of Tuxedo Park, after which he graded eleven
miles of the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Rail
road. On the completion of this contract he
graded ten miles of the Pittsburg, Akron &

1096

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Western Railroad, between Sterling and Clinton,
Ohio, connecting with the Baltimore & Ohio at
the Chicago junction. He then graded two miles
ofthe Potomac Valley Railroad, connecting the
Western Maryland with the Baltimore & Ohio at
Cherry Run, and later went to Spring Brook,
Lackawanna County, Pa., and graded five miles
of the Wilkesbarre & Eastern Railroad; subse
quently he finished twenty-one miles on the same
road. Mr. Ford is a son of Charles T. and Martha
(Weyant) Ford, the former born at Woodbury
Falls, and the latter near Central Valley. The
father was born March 14, 1815, and was reared
on the farm. In 1838 hewas superintendent of
the furnace of Governor Kimball at Woodbury,
and in 1840 he went to Southfield as manager of
a furnace for Peter and Isaac Townsend, remain
ing with the firm until the spring of 1870, when
he retired to his farm near Woodbury. In 1861,
after he had been in their employ as manager for
twenty-one years, he received a fine silver service.
He died August 12, 1887. His wife was born
September 12, 1817, and died September 15,
1890. They were married April 13, 1840, and
to them were born five children: Mary, who died
in infancy; Charles T., the subject of this sketch;
Edward, who died in the spring of 1867, at the
age of twenty-one years; Elizabeth, now the wife
of James Seaman, of Woodbury; and John, who
resided between Woodbury and Highland Mills.
Charles T. Ford and Miss Josephine McKelvey
were united in marriage March 26, 1868. She
was born at Greenwood, now Arden, N. Y., and
is a daughter of Rensselaer and Rachael (Wey
ant) McKelvey, both of whom were natives of
Orange County, the latter's birth occurring iu
Central Valley. Rensselaer McKelvey was the
son of John McKelvey, who at one time owned
a square mile of land where the village of Turner
now stands. Rachael Weyant was the daughter of
John aud Man- (Hazzard) Weyant, natives of
Lower Cove Valley.
To our subject and wife have been born three
children: J. Barlow, who married Miss Bessie
Howeth, of Vienna, Md., aud who is in business
with his father; Bertha; and Harriet Louise. Mr.

and Mrs. Ford are both members of the Method
ist Episcopal Church. He is a member of Stand
ard Lodge No. 711, F. & A. M., at Monroe;
of Schuunemunk Lodge No. 276, K. of P., of
Highland Mills; and of Central Valley Lodge No.
502, I. O. O. F. He is an active Republican in
politics, and served as Justice of the Peace four
years and as Town Clerk two or three terms.

(pQlLLIAM SHANNON, Superintendent of
\ A / the Eagle File Works, at Middletown, is
V V one of her representative American citi
zens of Irish birth. He is a good-hearted, gen
erous man, and is well liked by those in his em
ploy. He was born in 1849, in County Antrim,
about thirteen miles from Belfast, and within a
short distance of the Giant's Causeway. His
parents, James and Sarah (Coats) Shannon, were
also natives of that country. The mother died
there in 1858, while the father still lives in his
native country, at a ripe old age. He is a mem
ber of the Episcopal Church, of which body his
wife was also a member. They were the par
ents of nine children, eight of whom grew to ma
turity, and two sons and three daughters are yet
living. Only the two sons, however, reside in
America. One son, Joseph, served two years in
the Seventeenth New York Infantry, and was
wounded at Antietam. He now resides in Mid
dletown, and is in the employ of the Ontario &
Western Railroad.
Our subject remained under the parental roof
until ^ seventeen years of age, and received but a
limited education in the public schools of his
native country. In 1866 he crossed the Atlantic,
boarding the "Royal Standard" at Liverpool,
and after a voyage of fourteen days landed in
New York, from which place he came directly to
Middletown. Within two weeks he secured em
ployment with the Eagle File Works, apprentic
ing himself to learn the trade of file-maker under
J. T. Cockayne, with whom he remained four
years. He continued to work at his trade as a

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1097

journeyman here until he became foreman. In
February, 1889, he was made Superintendent of
the works, which position he has held ever since.
He has charge of the manufacturing department,
and has under him from sixty to eighty men.
The works have a capacity of from two hundred
and fifty to three hundred and fifty dozen files a
day. At Middletown Mr. Shannon was united in
marriage with Miss Maggie Miller, a native of El
mira, N. Y. Her father lost his life while in the
service of his country during the late war. Four
children have been born to our subject and his
wife: James F., William H., Herbert H. and
Harvey. The first two are at present in the acad
emy, and the third in the high school. Frater
nally Mr. Shannon is a member of the Knights
of Pythias, and religiously is a member of Grace
Episcopal Church. In politics he is a stanch
Republican, and has voted with that party since
becoming a naturalized citizen. He is a stock
holder in the Co-operative Store at Middletown.
The family resides in a neat residence at No. 37
Grand Avenue. Iu the life of Mr. Shannon is
an example of what may be done by anyone who
has within him a desire to better himself in life.
Coming to this country a poor boy and without
influence, he has worked his way up to an envi
able position, and is honored and respected by all
who know him.

JOSHUA HIRST, Alderman of the Third
Ward, Middletown, was born iu Meltham,
Yorkshire, England, May 14, 1843, and is a
son of James and Sarah Hirst, both of whom
were natives of that country. James Hirst was
a carder by trade, and in 1847 came to America
and located at Glenham, N. Y. In 1848 the
family, consisting of wife and three children,
joined him. He was employed at his trade at
Glenham, and later moved to Newark, N. J.,
where both he and his wife died. Of their seven
children, four are now living. One son, John,
was in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-
fourth New York Volunteer. Infantry. He enlisted

in 1862, serving until the close of the war, and
now resides in Louisville, Ky.
At the time of the removal of the family to
America, the subject of this sketch was but five
years of age. They came over on the sailing-
vessel "Queen of the West," and were twenty-
nine days on the trip from Liverpool to New York.
Our subject remained at Glenham until sixteen
years of age, mean time attending the common
schools, and then went to Matteawan and com
menced work in a hat factory. When eighteen
he went to Brooklyn, and was employed as an
apprentice in the hat factory of Ames & Moore
to learn the trade of hat-finisher, remaining there
until 1861. April 22, 1861, he enlisted in Com
pany B, Thirteenth New York State Militia, and
served in Maryland three months, being mustered
out and honorably discharged in Brooklyn. In
May, 1862, he re-enlisted in Company A for
another three months, and after serving until the
expiration of his term, was again honorably dis
charged at Brooklyn. He then resumed his trade
in that city, where he remained until 1864, and
then moved to-Newark, N. J. In 1870 he came
to Middletown and wasemployediu the hat works
of Fuller & Babcock. He commenced with this
firm shortly after they started in business, and
remained with them until they closed out, when
he was employed by Fuller & Bros, in the Wall-
kill Hat Works. After continuing with them as
hat-finisher until 1891, he resigned his position
on account of ill-health, and was appointed guard
at the State Prison at Sing Sing, where he re
mained two years.
Mr. Hirst was married, July 22, 1867, near
Suffolk, Va., to Miss Ella Newman, a native of
Norfolk, Va., and daughter of John B. Newman,
a merchant at Portsmouth, in the same state.
They have one child, Marian Civilla.
In 1887 Mr. Hirst was elected Alderman of the
Third Ward on the Democratic ticket. During
this term he was Chairman of the Building Com
mittee and a member of the Fire Committee. In
1895 he was again elected to the office on the
same ticket, receiving a majority of twenty-nine
votes. He is on the Committees of Ways and
Means, Finance, Railroads, Lights, Lamps and

I09S

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Lamp Posts, and Law, and is Chairman of the
Committee on Rules and Order. In 1883 he was
elected City Collector, serving one year. He be
longs to Middletown Lodge No. 112, I. O.O. F. ,
of which he is Past Vice-Grand, and is a member
of the Knights of Honor, being a charter member
of the lodge at this place; he is also a member
of General Lyon Post, G. A. R., of which he is
Past Senior Vice- Commander, aud is an active
member of Wallkill Engine Company No. 6.

I>-^-<!^

(JACOB M. JOHNSON The Grand View
I Farm, well known as the home of Mr. John
es son, is situated iu the suburbs of Middle-
town, a portion within, the remainder adjoining,
the city limits. Upon it are two houses, the
family residence being heated by steam and fur
nished with every modern convenience. There
are also two large barns, an icehouse, workshop,
wagon house and other outbuildings. The well
is said to be the best in the county and the water
is unexcelled. One of the most prominent feat
ures of the place is the garden, which is upon an
incline, sloping gradually to the south. The farm
consists of one hundred and twenty acres, and is
utilized mostly for the stock business, cattle be
ing brought here from the West, and afterward
sold. Of the entire tract of one hundred aud
twenty acres, all but forty acres are within the
corporate limits of the city.
In the town of Minisink, Mr. Johnson was
born August 9, 1846. The family of which he
is a member is of Scotch-Irish descent. His
paternal grandfather, Capt. William Johnson, was
born in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster Coun
ty, whence he removed to the town of Minisink
and started a blacksmith- shop at Smith's Village,
then a large and prosperous place. His death
occurred there when he was about eighty years of
age. Through his service as Captain of the
militia, he received the title by which he was
familiarly known. His wife was a Miss Mills
paugh, member of one of the pioneer Dutch fam
ilies of Ulster County.
The father of our subject, Capt. William C.

Johnson, was born in the town of Minisink, in
1802, and there died in 1876, aged seventy-four.
He was a personal friend of Dr. Cash, and for
some time a neighbor of that illustrious gentle
man. As a farmer he was successful, being
owner of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres,
forty-two acres of which belonged to the old
Stewart homestead. When the Middletown, Un
ionville & Water Gap Railroad, now known as
the New York, Susquehanna & Western, was
built, the company located a station on his farm,
calling the place Johnson. He married Miss
Sarah Durland, who was born on the Durland
homestead near Ridgebury, town of Wawayanda,
and died in September, 1891, aged seventy-two.
She was a daughter of Charles and Lydia (Ter
ry) Durland, natives of Long Island, and the
former a farmer by occupation .
The subject of this sketch is the survivor of
two brothers. The other, Charles D., formerly
a farmer near Smith's Village, went to New York
City in 1887 on business, but was never heard of
again. Our subject was reared on the home farm
and received a common-school education. At the
age of sixteen he secured a position as brakeman
on the Erie Road, between Corning and Buffalo,
beginning at a salary of ninety cents per day,
and receiving a gradual increase in wages. He
was promoted to be baggage master, then became
conductor between Corning and Rochester; later
his run was between Elmira and Buffalo, and in
1868 he was transferred to the Eastern Division,
as conductor between Port Jervis and Jersey City.
When the New York, Oswego & Midland opened
in 1872, he took a position with the company as
conductor on a milk and mail train, and ran the
first freight train ever run on the road, now
known as the New York, Susquehanna & West
ern. Upon his election to the position of Sheriff,
Mr. Johnson resigned from the railroad service.
In 1888 he was elected to that office on the Re
publican ticket, and assumed the duties of the
position the first of the following year, serving
in that capacity until January, 1892. While em
ployed as conductor he had resided on forty-two
acres, a portion of theold homestead at Johnson,

0^ *.»!

JOHN H. THOMPSON, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but later he sold it, and in 1891 purchased his
present property, upon which he settled the en
suing year. Politically he is a Republican, and
has been prominent in local conventions aud
county affairs. He is a member of the Order of
Railway Conductors, iu which he is still inter
ested, though no longer iu the service. In New
burgh he married Miss Clara A. Van Evera, a
native of Vernon, N. J. They have three chil
dren, Nellie G., Clara A. and Jacob M., Jr.

(John Hudson Thompson, m. d., one
I ofthe prominent practitioners of Goshen, is
(2/ a representative of one of the long estab
lished families of Orange County, some six gen
erations having resided at the old homestead in
this town. He is one ofthe very oldest members
of the Orange County Medical Society, and has
been President, and is now Treasurer, ofthe same.
He has frequently contributed papers of great
value and research to representative medical jour
nals on various subjects. In other departments
of scientific work he is well versed, having prose
cuted studies along these lines with great dili
gence aud success, and is a felicitous writer and
a liberal contributor to literature. He is a mem
ber of the Goshen Scientific Association, and has
been very active in promoting general educational
measures, such as furthering the grading, raising
the standard of the schools, etc. He was Town
Inspector of Schools until the office was abolished.
William Thompson aud wife, whose maiden
name was Ann Jenkins, came to this section from
Edgeworth, County Longford, Province of Lein-
ster, Ireland. They were wealthy and highly
respected, and among their fellow-passengers on
the vessel which bore them to their future home
was the father of Gens. George and James Clin
ton, cousins of William Thompson. The first
American ancestor of our subject was George
Thompson, who was an industrious farmer ofthe
town of Goshen. His wife was a Miss Elizabeth
Wells, and their son William (grandfather of
our subject) was born July 29, 1756. He mar
ried Submit Hudson, daughter of John aud Han

nah (Coleman) Hudson, of Blooming Grove.
John Hudson- was a nephew ofthe celebrated dis
coverer and navigator, Henry Hudson. William
Thompson served in the War of the Revolution,
and took part in the defense of West Point. His
sou Benjamin, the Doctor's father, was no less
patriotic, and enlisted in the War of 181 2, being
attached to one ofthe bands, for he was a musi
cian of exceptional ability. By occupation he
was a farmer, like his ancestors, and owned land
near Circleville, iu this county. For many years
he was Commissioner of Highways, Justice ofthe
Peace, and was one of the most honored and up
right citizens of the vicinity. For a great num
ber of years he was an Elder in the Presbyterian
Church, and lived to reach nearly fourscore years.
His wife, whose maiden name was Maria Antoin
ette Owen, was born in Blooming Grove, and her
parents were Capt. Jonathan and Martha (Racket)
Owen. Mrs. Thompson died when in her eighty-
third year, leaving five children to mourn her
loss, namely: J. H.; Albert G., a farmer living at
Sunny Dale, in the town of Wallkill; Harrison,
also a farmer, who is residing near Middletown; B.
Frank, now operating the old parental farm; and
Samuel R., recently deceased. William Harri
son died at the age of eight years; Owen died at
the age of eleven years; and Martha at the age of
twenty-six years.
Dr. J. H. Thompson was born near Circleville,
this county, March 8, 1827, and received a pub
lic-school education. Later he entered the Sulli
van County Academy, and during 1847-48 at
tended the State Normal School at Albany, grad
uating therefrom iu the spring of the latter year.
After devoting himself to teaching for a time, he
came to Goshen, having been offered a position
in Farmers' Hall Academy. In 1849 ne com
menced the study of medicine, and graduated
from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of
New York in 1852. Among his preceptors was
Dr. W. B. Thompson, with whom he entered
into partnership for a year, and ultimately suc
ceeded him in his practice here. In New York
City he was a student under the distinguished
Professor Lewis A. Sayre, the great American
surgeon .

I 102

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Immediately after graduation, Dr. Thompson
was appointed as a physician in the. Seaman's
Retreat Hospital on Staten Island for one year.
In the spring of 1853 he returned to Goshen,
where he has since remained. For six or seven
years he was physician of the Orange County
Poorhouse, which position aided him greatly at
the outset of his professional career. When the
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment of
New York Volunteers was organized at his home
in 1862, he was commissioned Surgeon by Gov
ernor Morgan, and accompanied the regiment to
the field. Later he served as Surgeon-in- Chief
ofthe brigade and division, with the rank of Ma
jor, and did most effective service in caring for
the sick and wounded. He was present at the
battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Bev
erly's Ford, Gettysburg, Kelly's Ford, Locust
Grove, the Wilderness, and in fact was in all the
engagements in which the Army of the Potomac
took part from August, 1862, until late in No
vember, 1864. He then resumed his private
practice at home with increased experience and
a most excellent reputation as a practitioner of
medicine and surgery. At length he-was obliged
to retire on account of necrosis ofthe left arm, it
becoming necessary to operate upon it in order to
effect a cure. This misfortune was the result of
an accident in a surgical operation, which result
ed in blood poisoning, aud finally in the more
serious trouble mentioned. The Doctor was at
one time Official Surgeon for the Erie Railroad
Company. He is enthusiastic in his profession,
and is faithful in his attendance at meetings of
the County Society, and Tri-States Medical As
sociation. He was sent as a delegate from the
latter to the American Medical Association, which
assembled in Philadelphia in 1876. The Doctor
belongs to the Society of the Veterans of the
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, and
helped to organize Cummings Post No. 176, G.
A. R., of which he has been Surgeon. Politi
cally he is a Democrat, and has been very active
in campaign work. Religiously he is a Presby
terian, and a member of that church in Goshen.
March 15, 1853, Dr. Thompson married Emily,
daughter of Enoch J. and Caroline (Aspell) Pop-

pino. She died in May, 1854, leaving one son,
Wihnot P., who is one of the most extensive
wholesale grain and feed merchants in the vicin
ity. He is eligible on all sides of his kindred to
membership in the Sons of the Revolution. Oc
tober 6, 1858, Dr. Thompson married Adaline L.
Post, by whom he had one child, Martin Post;
he was born June 15, i860, but died on the 13th
of the following September. Mrs. Thompson is
an only daughter, and received a fine education,
having pursued her studies in Farmers' Hall
Academy and in Goshen Institute. She has
marked executive ability; is a leader in the best
society of the place, and displays great energy in
religious and benevolent enterprises. Her father,
Ellis A. Post, who .died December 28, 1882,
built the beautiful residence on the corner of
Church and East Main Streets, which is now oc
cupied by the Doctor and his wife. Mr. Post
was in the commission and produce business, and
also had extensive real-estate investments. He
was born in Sussex County, N. J., in 18 10, and
about 1843 moved to New Hampton, this county,
later coming to Goshen, where he was successful
ly engaged in business until his death. He or
ganized the savings bank of this place, of which
he was thenceforward President, and held a like
positioninthe Orange County Agricultural Society
for several years. He was public -spirited, and
in many ways advanced the prosperity of Goshen.
For years, while living in New Jersey, he held
county offices, among others being that of Justice
of the Peace. His wife, Prudence, was a daugh
ter of Deacon Humphrey Martin, and was born
in Deckertown, N J.; she was a woman of rare
gentleness and amiability of character, and her
death occurred at the age of seventy-one years.
Her husband, who was known as Captain Post,
was an active promoter of the interests of the
Presbyterian Church, and served on the Building
Committee in charge of the erection of the pres
ent imposing edifice, assisting materially by time
aud money in the construction of the same. Mrs.
Thompson's grandfather, Gabriel Post, was born
at Postville, now Edenville, this county, April 9,
1765, and resided there until his death, which oc
curred April 9, 1820. His wife, a native of Go-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 103

shen, born November 14, 1769, was Anna, daugh
ter of Capt. John Wisner, of Revolutionary fame.
For further particulars ofthe Wisner family, see
their sketch elsewhere in the work. The parents
of Gabriel Post were James aud Martha (Garri
son) Post.

Hugh Mcdonald struble, m. d.
The practical knowledge of medicine which,
through assiduous study, Dr. Struble has
gained, supplemented by years of experience in
the profession, has enabled him, though still a
comparatively young man, to gain a commenda
ble position in the medical fraternity and in the
confidence of the people. His elegant and com
modious residence and office at No. 8 William
Street, Middletown, are fitted up in the most
modern style, the latter being especially adapted
to his professional work.
The Struble family is of German descent, and
the ancestors in the Fatherland were among those
who adopted the Protestant faith during the days
of its infancy. On crossing the Atlantic the
first of the name in America made settlement
in New Jersey, and there our subject's grandfa
ther, Anthony Struble, gained wealth and prom
inence, becoming known as a successful business
man and farmer of Sussex County. At one time
he owned over one thousand acres of land, and
his real-estate speculations proved very profitable.
During the War of 18 12 he rendered loyal service
in the American army. He died suddenly of
heart disease, at the age of sixty-two.
In Sussex County, N. J., Leonard Struble, our
subject's father, was born and reared, and there
he has made his life-long home. His occcupatiou
has been that of farming, and he resides on the
old homestead, where he is surrounded by every
comfort. Though eighty-three years of age, he
is robust and enjoys excellent health, having a
physique and mental powers equal to those of
most men of fifty or sixty. His political prefer
ences are with the Democratic party. His wife,
who is now seventy-two years of age, was in
maidenhood Jane McDonald and was born in Sus

sex County, her father being a merchant in La-
Fayette until his death, at the age of forty years.
The McDonald family is of Scotch-Irish origin.
The eight children bora to the union of Leon
ard and Jane Struble are all living, aud of these
the Doctor is fourth in order of birth. He was
born in Newton, Sussex County, N. J., May 9,
1852, and grew to manhood on his father's farm,
receiving the rudiments of his education in the
public schools. Later he attended a private sem
inary at Swartswood, N. J., and on completing his
studies he engaged in teaching in Sussex County.
Two years were devoted to that profession, after
which he began the study of medicine under Dr.
James Hedges, of Branchville, N. J., continuing
it under Dr. James F. McCloughan, of Swarts
wood, N. J. His private study covered a period
of two years, and then, in order to perfect himself
in his theoretical knowledge of the science, he en
tered the University of Pennsylvania and took a
thorough course of lectures in the medical depart
ment, from which he was graduated in 1875 with
the degree of M. D. In 1885 he took a post-grad
uate course in gynecology in New York City.
Immediately after his graduation in 1875, the
Doctor opened an office at Andover, within a mile
of his boyhood home. After practicing there for
five and one-half years he removed to Unionville,
Orange County, where the six ensuing years
were spent. Feeling, however, that a large city-
offered greater opportunities and advantages, he
came to Middletown in March, 1887, and opened
an office on King Street, where he remained for
four years. He then purchased property and
built his present residence aud office on William
Street. At Andover, N. J., Dr. Struble married Miss
Mary E. McConnell, a native of Sussex County,
and they are the parents of one child, a daughter,
Olive B. For two years the Doctor was City
Physician and Health Officer of Middletown. He
is a member of the Alumni Association of the
University of Pennsylvania, and is connected
with the Masonic order, belonging to Huffman
Lodge. Interested in matters pertaining to the
profession, he is identified with the Orange
County and Tri-States -Medical Societies, and

no4

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

during his residence in New Jersey belonged to
the Sussex County Medical Society, of which he
was Secretary for one year. In politics he sup
ports Democratic principles.

3 AMES H. GLASIER, Chief Dispatcher of the
Delaware Division of the Erie Railroad, re
sides at No. 10 Catherine Street, Port Jervis.
He was born in Oriskany Falls, Oneida County,
this state, July 25, 1836, and is a son of Ezekiel
and Mary (Willard) Glasier.
Our subject remained at home until sixteen
years of age, when he entered an office at Oris
kany Falls, where he learned the art of telegraphy.
For three years he operated a private line from
that place to Utica, and then was transferred to
Salina, a suburb of Syracuse, where he remained
as operator until the completion of the Erie Road
at Dunkirk, in 1856. At Cochecton, then a small
station on the line, he was first given a position
as operator, and afterward he went to Susque
hanna, where he was residing at the outbreak of
the late war.
Mr. Glasier entered the service in February,
1862, in the military telegraph department. He
was first stationed in Washington City, at the
north end of Long Bridge, but when MacClellan
was sent to the Peninsula he was ordered to go
with him, and was given a line at Savage Station,
ten miles in advance of the forces. There he re
mained until transferred to Harrison Landing,
but was soon laid off for three months on account
of sickness. When able to resume his duties he
was sent to Union Mill, the extreme front of the
Union lines, on Bull Run Creek and the Orange
& Alexandria Railroad. He was with the army
all the time, operating on this line of road at
Manassas, Bristow, Warrington Junction and
Rappahannock. When General Grant assumed
command of the forces, Mr. Glasier was sent up
the James River to Jamestown Island with Gen
eral Butler, for whom he operated. When wires
were placed in City Point, he remained there two
months longer, and was then sent to the front
with Generals Burnside and Parke, of the Ninth

Army Corps. He was with the Army of the
Potomac until the surrender of Lee, at which
time he was with the fifth corps of Grant's main
army, and had served in all a period of three
years. On the close ofthe war our subject was given
a position on the commercial line of the United
States Telegraph Company at Utica, N. Y. , and
later operated with the Western Union in Pithole,
Pa. Sometime thereafter he was transferred to
Binghamton, N. Y., in the employ of the same
company, and in 1872 came to Port Jervis as dis
patch operator. Two years later he was made
dispatcher for the Delaware Division, which posi
tion he has since held. He has in the office three
assistant dispatchers, besides seven operators. In
all there are about seventy-six operators and
agents along the division under his supervision.
Mr. Glasier was married, May 12, 1 861, to Miss
Mary White, of Binghamton. They have no
children of their own, but have an adopted daugh
ter, Bessie L-, who is now twenty-one years of
age, and who has been a member of their house
hold since she was five years of age. Socially
Mr. Glasier is a member of the Knights of Honor.

Gz

z£)

=£>

WILLIAM VOGEL, of Middletown, proprie
tor of The Standard, and agent of the Bever-
wick Brewing Company, of Albany, N. Y.,
is a native of Germany, born at Neifra, Prussia,
in 1869. His father, Fridolin Vogel, is also a
native of that place, where he yet resides, and
where he is engaged in farming. He married
Annie Reiser, who is also a native of that coun
try, and they became the parents of six children,
two sous and four daughters, all of whom are
living, and three of whom reside in America.
The family are all members of the Catholic
Church. William Vogel passed his early life in his na
tive country and attended the parochial schools
until fourteen years of age, when he was em
ployed on the farm, where he remained until he

JOSEPH B. HULETT, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 107

was seventeen years old. In 1886 he bade fare
well to parents and friends and sailed for New
York, wbere in due time he landed. From there
he came to Middletown, and secured employment
on a farm near Otisville, in the town of Mt. Hope,
where he remained two years. He then came to
Middletown and entered the employ of the Na
tional Saw Works, where he remained three
months, and was then for five years and two
months clerk in Bastian's Hotel.
On the ist of April, 1894, Mr. Vogel was ap
pointed agent by the Beverwick Brewing Com
pany. On the 7th of July, 1894, he became pro
prietor of The Standard, located on Wickham
Avenue, near the New York, Ontario & West
ern Depot. In the same month he also started
the bottling business, bottling only the Bever
wick Lager. He employs one truck to deliver his
goods, and, with his brother James as assistant,
he has built up a large and lucrative trade.
Mr. Vogel was married, in Paterson, N. J., to
Miss Annie Widner, who is a native of Switzer
land. They have one child, Annie. Mr. Vogel
is a member of the German Maennerchor, of
which he was Treasurer one year. He is also
an active member of Eagle Hose Company No. 2.

""""""""¦"j

f$+^

*"""=""*

30SEPH B. HULETT, M. D. The reputa
tion enjoyed by Dr. Hulett as a physician,
and his character as a man, are of the high
est order, and the professional success with which
he has met indicates that he possesses large ability
and keen intuitive powers. After having by care
ful study gained a thorough theoretical knowl
edge of medicine, he acquired valuable expe
rience through his work as house surgeon and
physician of Manhattan Hospital. Upon retir
ing from that position, he came to Middletown, in
1888, and here he has since engaged in practice,
having his office at No. 20 Orchard Street.
The Hulett family originated in England, and
was founded in America by one of the Pilgrim
Fathers. For some generations identified with
the history of Connecticut, the Doctor's great
grandfather removed from there to Athens, Pa. ,

and thence Grandfather Hulett came to New
York, where Cyrus, our subject's father, was
born. His maternal grandfather Quick was a
Revolutionary soldier, and his uncle, Thomas
Quick, was the noted Indian slayer of Port Jer
vis. Cyrus Hulett followed farming for some
years, but afterward carried on business in New
York City. Late in life he went back to Tioga
County and settled in Waverly, where he con
tinued to make his home until his death, in 1877.
The mother of our subject, Ruth Emily, was
born in Orange County, and was a daughter of
Lockwood Slawson, who engaged in farm work
in the town of Wallkill, and also carried on the
mercantile business at New Hampton. The fam
ily is an old established one in Orange County,
and the great-grandfather Slawson lies buried in
the Pine Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Ruth E. Hulett
died in Middletown, in 1889, at the age of sixty-
five. In religious belief she was identified with
the Presbyterian Church. Her two children were
Joseph B. and Cora M., the latter being the wife
of Daniel B. Ryerson, of Goshen.
The subject of this sketch was born in the
town of Barton, Tioga County, N. Y. His boy
hood years were largely passed in Jersey City,
and he was educated in the Middletown Academy.
After completing his studies, "he engaged in
teaching school in the town of Hamptonburgh,
and also in Wallkill Academy. As soon as possi
ble, however, he turned his attention to the study
of medicine, which he prosecuted under the pre-
ceptorship of Dr. Everett, and later of Dr. Mills.
Turning his attention to business, he became
manager ofthe Phillipsburg Creamery, which he
ran for three years. He then went to New York
City, and studied medicine under Dr. Charles H.
Wilkin until 1883, when he entered the medical
department of Columbia College, and after four
years' study was graduated, in 1887, with the de
gree of M. D. While in New York City he was
with his great-uncle, J. B. Slawson, well known as
the inventor of the street-car-fare box, with whom
he remained until his death. During this time
he took special courses in histology, pathology,
chemical analysis and surgery, and iu 1886 he
was assistant in the out surgery department of

no8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the New York Hospital. He passed a competi
tive examination for house surgeon and physician
of Manhattan Hospital, and received both ap
pointments, which he held for one year.
In 1888 the Doctor came to Middletown, where
he has since conducted a profitable general prac
tice. He gives especial attention to surgery, and
has performed a number of difficult operations
very successfully. In addition to his general
practice, he is examining surgeon for the New
York, Ontario & Western Railroad, and attend
ing surgeon for Thrall Hospital. For five years
he was examining surgeon for the Twenty -fourth
Separate Company, and by Governor Hill was
commissioned First Lieutenant. He is a stock
holder in the Casino Theatre, and is interested in
numerous local enterprises.
Iu Middletown Dr. Hulett married Miss Lottie
B. Hulse, daughter of Hudson E. Hulse, a farm
er of the town of Wawayanda. They are the
parents of one child, a son, Leslie B. Socially
Dr. Hulett is identified with the Knights of Pyth
ias, and is an honorary member of the Excelsior
Fire Company. In Masonic circles he is con
nected with Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M.;
Midland Chapter No. 240, R. A. M., at Middle-
town; Delaware Commandery No. 44, K. T., at
Port Jervis; and Mecca Temple, New York City,
having attained the thirty-second degree in Ma
sonry. He is examining physician for the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, and for va
rious insurance companies. In the Orange Coun
ty Medical Society he is officiating as Vice-Presi
dent, aud he is connected with the State Medical
Association. Every year for the past five years
he has attended the conventions of the National
Association of Railway Surgeons, of which he is
a member. In the New York State Association
of Railway Surgeons he served as Secretary for
some time. He is an honorary member of the
Association of Medical Officers of the National
Guard and Naval Militia of the state of New
York. From this brief review of the life of Dr. Hu
lett, it will be seen that he has gained unusual
prominence in his profession. He is connected
with many organizations devoted to the science,

and by his personal labors has advanced the pro
fession to which he has devoted his life. Skilled
in the diagnosis of diseases, and successful in
their treatment, he stands in the front ranks of
the medical fraternity, not only of Middletown,
but also of this part of the state.

••>^®tl|®J*<)  •--*-

VAN T. REISLER, Roadmaster of the
^3 Delaware Division of the Erie Railroad at
__ Port Jervis, is a native of Maryland, and
was born in Calvert, Cecil County, March 14,
1864. His parents were Evan and Susanna
(Steele) Reisler, also natives of that state, where
they were well-to-do farmers.
Our subject passed his boyhood days on his
father's estate, and in 1884 entered the Lehigh
University at South Bethlehem, Pa. From that
institution he was graduated with the Class of
'87, having taken a four-years course in three
years, and received the degree of civil engineer.
One year prior to entering this college he took
a preparatory course in the West Chester State
Normal School of Pennsylvania.
The father died when our subject was very
young, but the mother continued to reside upon
the old homestead until her children were reared.
Mr. Reisler' s first work as a civil engineer was on
the Delaware Division ofthe Erie Railroad, after
which he came to Port Jervis as transit-man, un
der the assistant engineer, F. W. Dalrymple.
In February, 1888, that gentleman was promoted,
and our subject succeeded him as assistant engi
neer. In September, 1890, however, he was
made Roadmaster, under W. H. Starr, Superin
tendent, and now has about two hundred and fif
ty men under his superintendence. He has
charge of all the railroad property, with the ex
ception of the rolling stock and shops. He
performs work on twenty-six different sections,
and with J. R. Davis as assistant engineer has
built several of the largest bridges on the road,
among them being the one spanning the Lacka-
waxen River and the Callicoon Creek.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 109

Mr. Reisler was married, February 18, 1890,
to Miss Anna Paul, of Philadelphia. She was
born in Cecil County, Md., and is finely educated,
having attended a private school at Oxford, Pa.
She is the mother of two sons, Evan Holmes and
Paul Roebling. Our subject has a very pleasant
home and a valuable library, filled with standard
literary and scientific books. Politically he is a
Republican.

~3c

Mm&&*m

3ACOB WOOD, a contractor and builder re
siding in Middletown, is a native of Haver
straw, N. Y., born September 21, 1850. His
father, Jacob, also a native of Rockland County,
was a son of Joseph Wood, a farmer of Orange
County, and a soldier iu the War of 1812. After
reaching manhood he removed from Orange to
Rockland County, and settled in Haverstraw,
where he died at the age of about eighty-nine
years. The family is of English origin.
Upon a farm near Haverstraw the father of
our subject engaged in agricultural pursuits until
1880, when he came to Middletown and retired
from active labor. He died in this city at the age
of eighty-five years. During the existence of the
Whig party he advocated its doctrines, and after
its disintegration he affiliated with the Republi
cans. Religiously he was connected with the
Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, Nancy,
was born in this county, and died in Middletown
when seventy-eight years of age. Her father,
John Hill, was born in Orange County, and was a
cooper by trade.
The parental family consisted of twelve chil
dren, all ofwhom attained mature years and were
married, and eleven are still living. Jacob, who
is next to the youngest, was reared near Haver
straw until nineteen years of age, meantime at
tending the common schools. In the fall of 1870
he came to Middletown and served a three-years
apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, under his
brother, John Wood, in this city. He then spent
two years in Haverstraw, working at his trade.
On coming back to Middletown he worked as a
journeyman until 1893, when he began contract

ing for himself, and has since carried on the busi
ness with flattering success. He has erected
many of the most elegant residences ofthe city,
among them being those of T. W Davy, R. N.
Boak, Charles H. Smith, Jesse Bakewell and
L. J. Beers. He also built his family residence
at No. 5. Chestnut Street.
At Haverstraw, N. Y., occurred the marriage
of Mr. Wood and Miss Mary Babcock, a native
of that city. They are the parents of four chil
dren: George S., Emmett C, Irving and Cecil.
Politically Mr. Wood is a Republican and relig
iously he is connected with the Methodist Epis
copal Church.

+=

=+

GH LFRED H. REED, a veteran of the Civil
LA War and Superintendent of Streets in Mid-
/ I dletown, was born in New York City May
1, 1840. His father, Alfred, and grandfather,
Rev. Thomas Reed, were born in England,
where the latter was a clergyman in the Presby
terian Church. For a short time he made his
home in New York City, but returned from there
to England and died iu his native land.
The father of our subject, a farmer by occupa
tion, moved from New York City to Ulster County,
where he still lives on a farm, being now seventy-
six years of age. He is identified with the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. Politically he adheres
to the principles of the Republican party. In
1862 he volunteered in the Union service, becom
ing a member of the Twenty-fifth New York
Cavalry, iu which he served until physical disa
bility, resulting from sunstroke, caused his hon
orable discharge. He is an active Grand Army
man and takes considerable interest in the work
ings of the order. His wife, who bore the maiden
name of Elizabeth White, was born in England,
and died in Ulster County in 1888.
There were two sons in the parental family, of
whom the younger, Edward W., served as Cor
poral in the Twenty-fifth New York Cavalry

IIIO

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from 1862 until the close of the war. He is now
a farmer in Kidderville, Hodgeman County, Kan.
The elder of the sons, our subject, was reared in
New York City until seventeen years of age, at
tending the grammar and high schools there. In
1857 he came to Middletown and secured a posi
tion as foreman in the brickyards of Wallace &
Wood. In 1863 he enlisted in the Seventh New
York Heavy Artillery, Battery D, and was mus
tered in at Albany. From there he was sent to
join the Army of the Potomac, with which he
took part in the defence of Petersburg. He was
- in garrison at Baltimore, Md., for some time, aud
at the close of the war he was mustered out, in
June, 1865, being honorably discharged at Al
bany. On returuing to Middletown Mr. Reed resumed
work as foreman in the brickyards, and after a
time began to manufacture brick by contract.
Failing health, however, obliged him to retire
from the business, and afterward he traveled in
this state as an insurance agent. He was also
the representative of the Prudential Company in
Orange County. In 1886 he was appointed Su
perintendent of the Streets by the Board of Trus
tees, under President Bailey, and served for four
consecutive years. Under the Democratic coun
cil he retired, and for two years was engaged in
the insurance business, but in 1892 he was again
appointed Superintendent of Streets, and has
been re-appointed each succeeding year. He has
had entire charge of the streets, aud their excel
lent condition is due to his watchful oversight.
At times he has from forty to sixty men in his
employ and superintends their work in repairing
and laying sidewalks, as well as in sewer-building.
In Bloomingburg Mr. Reed married Miss Sa
rah McKenuy, who was bora in Ulster County
and who is the daughter of Evenson McKenny, a
farmer of Walker Valley. They are the parents
of seven children, namely: Alfred E. , an insur
ance agent with the Metropolitan Company ; Dan
iel M., who is with the Prudential Insurance
Company; James H, a grocer and dealer in fruits
at New Hamburg, Dutchess County; George W.,
who is with the Middletown & Goshen Traction
Company of Middletown; Frank; Carrie, Mrs.

Thomas E. Coyne, of this city; and Cora, who is
with her parents. The family occupy a pleasant
residence at No. 152 Academy Avenue.
Socially Mr. Reed is connected with Lancelot
Lodge, K. of P., of which he is Financial Secre
tary, and with the Royal Templars of Temper
ance. He is a charter member of W. A. Jackson
Post, G. A. R., and is serving as its Quarter
master-Sergeant. With his family he attends the
Methodist Episcopal Church aud contributes to
the support of that organization. In politics he
always gives the Republican party the support of
his ballot and influence.

PC*******1*!' ?**? js*^**** ???•§• *****X>
PQlLLIAM SEEHOLZER is proprietor of
I A / the New York, Ontario & Western Res-
V V taurant, at the railroad depot at Middle-
town. He was born in Poughkeepsie, in 1862.
His father, Berthold Seeholzer, is a native of
Germany, and came to this country when a young
man, locating in Poughkeepsie. By trade he is
a merchant tailor. In the latter place he was
married, and both he and his wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their
eight children, all are yet living, our subject be
ing third in order of birth. The family yet re
side in Poughkeepsie with the exception of two
children. William Seeholzer remained with his parents
in his birthplace, and attended the public school
until thirteen years of age, when he entered the
employ of Johnson Brothers, with whom he re
mained about four years. In 1883 he was made
assistant manager of the railroad restaurant at
Kingston, remaining one year, and for a short
time was assistant at Syracuse. Subsequently he
returned to Kingston, aud later went to Weehawk
en. In 1886 he came to Middletown as manager for
W. II. Sumner, to open the New York, Ontario
& Western Restaurant, which was then located in
the old depot, and in 1887 he became proprietor.
The dining-room is 87x32 feet, and in conducting
the restaurant fourteen employes are required.
Mr. Seeholzer was married, at Poughkeepsie,
to Miss Minnie Conklin, a native of that city^

• r$k£

DAVID L. ACKERMAN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

iii-

and a daughter of George Conklin, a ship-build
er by trade. They have one child, Helen. Mr.
and Mrs. Seeholzer reside in a pleasant residence
at No. 4 Albert Street. In politics he is a Re
publican, firmly believing in the principles of that
party, and is an active member of Excelsior Hook
and Ladder Company No. i.

eAVID L. ACKERMAN, contractor and
builder of Central Valley, is a son of David
and Elizabeth (Hemma) Ackerman. He
was born February i, 1836, in New York City,
where he grew to manhood, attending the public
schools until seventeen year's of age, when he was
apprenticed to Henry Christie, a large builder
and contractor. He served four years, learning
the carpenter's trade in all its branches, and after
finishing his apprenticeship worked at his trade
as journeyman in New York City for four years
and then removed to Paterson, N. J., where he
learned drafting under John P. Post. He subse
quently took charge of the latter's business, and
also that of Van Houten Bros. , the largest build
ers in Paterson. Later he was employed in the
pattern-making department of the Cook Locomo
tive Works at that place, remaining some four
years. During that time he made all the patterns
for the Passaic Rolling-mills, which he started
in operation.
Desiring to learn car-building, in i860 Mr.
Ackerman went to the Atlantic & Great West
ern Car Shops at Ramapo, Rockland County,
where he remained three years, or until the fail
ure of the company. In these shops he had en
tire charge of the interior construction of all the
fine passenger and sleeping cars, including the
fine wood-work, furnishings and upholstering.
In 1863 he returned to the locomotive works at
Paterson, where he remained two years. At this
time his brother-in-law, Alfred Cooper, desired
him to come to Central Valley and enter upon a
mercantile life. After ten years the partnership
was dissolved and Mr. Ackerman again returned

to Paterson and took charge of the works of Van
Houten Bros., but after remaining with them
five years he was earnestly solicited to return to
Central Valley, as there was a large, number of
fine residences to be built. Since his return, Mr.
Ackerman has been quite active and has been in
strumental in improving the architecture of this
pretty village. Nearly all the fine ornamental
residences of Central Valley and Highland Mills
have been planned and constructed by him.
Mr. Ackerman was united in marriage, Janu
ary 30, i860, to Miss Susan Cooper, a daughter
of Peter and Mary Cooper. Seven children have
blessed their union: Carrie, a teacher at Estrada
Institute: Edmond Cooper, with the Union Trans
fer and Storage Company of Detroit, Mich. ;
Mary Augusta, wife of E. B. Anderson, of Cen
tral Valley; Lewis David, with the Tuxedo Stove
Company at Tuxedo Park; Fred, who works for
his father, having charge of a corps of painters;
and Gertrude and Irene, at home.
In politics Mr. Ackerman is a Republican, and
is a Trustee of the Union Free School. He was
one of the founders of the building and loan as
sociation of Central Valley. Socially he isa mem
ber of Standard Lodge No. 711, F. & A. M.. at
Monroe, and is Past Prophet of Wawa Lodge No.
235, I. O. R. M., at Central Valley. Mrs. Ack
erman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and quite active in all religious and be
nevolent work.

*N#^

HENRY FUNNELL, Alderman from the
First Ward, and foreman of the blacksmith
department of the New York, Ontario &
Western Railroad, is a native of Thetford, Eng
land, born February 16, 1843. His father, Will
iam Russell Funnell, was also born in England,
and was a blacksmith in the employ of the South
eastern Railroad at Ashford, Kent County. About
1874 he came to America, and, going direct to
Syracuse, N. Y., was employed by the Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Railroad until he retired

49

1 114

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from business on account of age. He is now
about seventy-four years old. Religiously he is
a member of the Episcopal Church. He married
Maria Mason, who was born in Ipswich, England,
and who died in Syracuse in May, 1892. They
had the following children: Henry, the subject of
this sketch; Thomas, a coach-builder in London,
England; Walter, a blacksmith in Syracuse; Al
fred, foreman in the blacksmith department of
the New York, Ontario & Western Railroad at
Norwich, Chenango County, N. Y. ; and Mar
garet, who also resides at that place.
The childhood days of our subject were spent
in Kent County, and his education was received
in the public schools of Ashford. When thirteen
years of age he was apprenticed as blacksmith
and boiler-maker in the Southeastern Railroad
shops, where he served seveu years. At the ex
piration of his term of apprenticeship, he worked
for the company as a journeyman until 1872,
when he came to America with his wife and two
children. He sailed from Liverpool on the old
"City of Paris, " for New York City, from which
place he went to Syracuse, and was employed as
blacksmith for the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western Railroad for about eighteen months.
In the fall of 1873 he went to Oswego, and there
worked as a blacksmith until 1875, and July 3
of that year came to Middletown, in the employ
of the New York, Ontario & Western Railroad.
He was the only blacksmith in the company's
employ at the place for some time, and iu 1880,
when the shops were erected, he was made fore
man, which position he has since held. In 1887
the present shops were built, and he has entire
supervision. There are fifteen fires in the shops,
and two men are employed for each fire.
Mr. Funnell was married in Kent County,
England, to Miss Harriet Hayward, a native of
that country, and daughter of William Hayward,
who was by occupation a farmer. Of their five
children, two were born in England, and three in
this country. They are as follows: William, a
practical machinist, and foreman of the New
York, Ontario & Western roundhouse at Middle-
town; Laura, Mrs. Fryover, of Norwich; Walter,
a machinist in the shops with his brother; Alfred,

with the Middletown & Goshen Traction Com
pany; and Lillie, at home.
Mr. Funnell is a member of the Knights of
Honor and of Ontario Hose Company No. 5, of
which he is Vice-President. In politics he is a
stanch Republican, and at present is a member of
the City Republican Central Committee. In the
spring of 1894 he was nominated on the Repub
lican ticket as Alderman from the First Ward,
to which position he was elected. He is Chairman
of the Lighting Committee, and the Committee
on Rules, and a member of the Street, Fire and
Auditing Committees. Religiously he is identi
fied with Grace Episcopal Church.

±mGz

V A AJ. CHARLES B. WOOD was born in the
V village of Warwick, September 3, 1839,
(j$ and is a son of Jeremiah and Frances (Pat-
ton) Wood, the former a native of Long Island,
and the latter of Orange County. Solomon
Wood, the grandfather of our subject, was in the
War of 18 12, and at Perth Amboy was killed by
the British in a naval attack which occurred at
night. He had three sons in the same war.
Dudley and Pierson were powder-boys on one of
Captain Lawrence's ships, and the eldest son,
Solomon, was also killed in a night naval at
tack by the British off Brooklyn. The great
grandfather of our subject came from England,
and was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British serv
ice, stationed at Nova Scotia. He espoused the
American cause during the Revolution, and, join
ing the Continental army in Connecticut, attained
the rank of General. He lived in Connecticut
after the close ofthe war, and there died. Cap
tain Lawrence was an uncle of Major Wood, hav
ing married the eldest sister of his father, Jere
miah Wood. The three uncles of Major Wood
did not receive their share of the prize-money re
sulting from the capture of vessels in the War of
18 1 2 until about 1864, which shows rather tardy
justice on the part of the Government.
Jeremiah Wood, the father of our subject, grew
to manhood on Long Island, and after coming to
Orange County was married in the town of New

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ii 15

Windsor. After his marriage he settled in New
York City, where he remained for a time, and
then returned to Orange County, locating in
Warwick. He was a carpenter and builder by
trade, which he followed in Warwick, and after
ward in Chester, to which place he removed with
his family. He died in the latter place at the
age of ninety years. For some years he was Cap
tain of the Orange County Militia. In his re
ligious views he was a Methodist, and was very
active in church work. Politically he was an
old-line Whig, then a Democrat until the break
ing out ofthe war, when he became a Republican.
His two brothers, Pierson and Dudley, of whom
mention has been made, each died at the age of
ninety-three years. His wife, the mother of our
subject, was of Scotch and French descent, her
grandfather Patton coming from Edinburgh,
Scotland, and locating in the town of New Wind
sor. The grandmother was bora in France.
Mrs. Wood died at the age of seventy-seven
years. In the parental family were ten children,
five sons and five daughters. Four of the sons
served in the war for the Union. John F. was a
member ofthe Fifty-sixth New York Infantry,
and now resides on Myrtle Avenue, Middletown.
William B. was bugler in the company of which
our subject was a member, but was transferred to
the signal corps, where he served to the close of
the war; he now resides iu Jersey City. Peter L.
enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twen
ty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, in 1862,
and died in service in front of Fredericksburg.
The subject of this sketch was next oldest of
the four sons living at the time of the war. He
grew to manhood in Chester, and received his
education in the public schools and at Chester
Academy. Under his father he learned the car
penter's trade, and while yet a boy began study
ing law with Charles W'infield, of Chester. He
was subsequently coaxed to accept a position on
the Erie Railroad as flagman, and then as tele
graph operator. On the 19th of April, 1861, he
enlisted in Company I, Seventy -first New York
State Militia, as a private, for a period of three
months. His regiment was first sent to Annapo
lis, then to Washington, and was engaged in

the first battle of Bull Run. After being honor
ably discharged at New York, July 30, he returned
home and recruited part of Company A, One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Volun
teer Infantry, under the command of Col. Charles
H. Weygant, and was mustered into service as
First Lieutenant. After the battle of Gettysburg
he was promoted and commissioned Captain, his
commission dating from July 2, 1863. At the
close of the war he was breveted Major for gal
lant and meritorious conduct.
The military life of Major Wood was an active
one, and he took part iu many engagements, and
had many narrow escapes. As stated, his first
engagement was in the first battle of Bull Run.
He was afterwards at Wapping Heights, Freder
icksburg, Chancellorsville, Beverly Ford, Gettys
burg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, besides many
minor engagements. At Gettysburg he received
a slight wound iu the knee, and at Spottsylvania,
May 12, 1864 he was wounded while leading his
men. He reached the top of the rebel works,
when he was shot through the right elbow, and
fell into the trenches. After the battle he was
taken to the hospital, and subsequently he re
turned home on a furlough. At the expiration
of forty days he had recovered sufficiently to re
turn to the service, and rejoined his regiment in
October, 1864, in front of Petersburg. He par
ticipated in the siege of that city, but was honor
ably discharged in October, 1864, on account of
wounds received in action.
Major Wood after his discharge returned to
Chester, but soon afterward went to St. Louis,
Mo., and joined the United States Telegraph
Corps, where he remained until mustered out at
the close of the war. He again returned home
and took his place 011 the Erie Railroad as con
ductor between Port Jervis and Jersey City, and
for nineteen and a-half years ran a milk train be
tween these points. In 1892 he retired from rail
road life, and is now living retired. Since 1870
he has made his home in Middletown, 011 Lake
Avenue, the place comprising sixteen acres inside
the city limits.
In 1 87 1 Major Wood was united in marriage
in Port Jervis with Miss Gussie Jones, who was

1 1 16

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bora in Bridgeville, Sullivan County, N. Y. One
child was born of this union, George B., now in
the railroad business on the New York & New
England Railroad, with headquarters at East
Hartford. In political and civil affairs Major
Wood takes an active interest. He has served
his adopted city as Alderman from the Second
Ward, and in 1873 was nominated and elected on
the Democratic ticket as a Member of the Gen
eral Assembly from the Second District of Orange
County. While in the Assembly, he served on
several important committees, and aided in secur
ing appropriations for the asylum at Middletown.
In 1888 he recruited the Twenty -fourth Separate
Company, New York State Militia, being its Cap
tain for three years. He is a member of Hoffman
Lodge, F. & A. M., at Middletown; Neversink
Chapter at Port Jervis, and also ofthe Comman
dery at Port Jervis, of which he has been Captain-
General. He is Past Commander of Capt. Will
iam A. Jackson Post No. 301, G. A. R., and has
served as Aide on the Department Commander's
staff.
^j=£)#P — ¦ ,
QAMUEL H. WILCOX, architect, and for-
•\ merly engaged in contracting and building,
\~J has planned and erected some of the finest
buildings in Middletown. He was born in the
town of LeRoy, Bradford County, Pa., June 14,
1828. His father, Samuel Wilcox, was born in
the town of Minisink, as was in all probability
his grandfather, Nathan Wilcox, who was en
gaged in farming in that town. Samuel Wilcox,
the father, was a sawyer, and in early life located
in Bradford County, Pa., where he died in the
prime of life. He married Mary Moore, who
was born near Goshen, and was a daughter of
James Moore, who was also born at that place.
She died in Pennsylvania, at the age of fifty
years. Of their family of four boys and two
girls, only three are now living. After the death
of Samuel Wilcox, the mother married again,
and by her second marriage had two sons.
Samuel H. Wilcox, our subject, grew to man
hood in his native state, and received his educa
tion in the public schools. When fourteen years

of age, he was apprenticed for a period of four
years to learn the carpenter's trade. On com
pleting his term of service, he worked as a jour
neyman in various points in Pennsylvania until
1849, when he removed to Tioga County, N. Y.,
and two years later to Millport, Chemung Coun
ty. September 2, 1851, he came to Middletown
and worked for Richard Van Horn until 1853,
when he commenced contracting for himself, con
tinuing in this, in connection with building, until
1885, since which time he has given his attention
exclusively to architecture. Among the build
ings which he has either planned or erected may
be mentioned the Methodist Episcopal Church,
Moffett House, Bull's Opera House, Baptist
Church, Eagle Company's Hose House, William
Burke's building, and many of the finest resi
dences in the city.
Mr. Wilcox was married, in Middletown, to
Miss Catherine Overton, who was born near this
city. She died in 1886, leaving five children:
John O., of Newark, N. J., employed as a night
watchman in a jewelry factory; J. B., a telegraph
operator in Minneapolis, Minn. ; Florence, who
married Frank Cock, a telegraph operator at
Passaic, N. J.; Frank, employed in a paper-box
factory at Newark, N. J.; and Kate M., who
married John I. Sliter, of Middletown, where he
is engaged in the stone business.
In politics Mr. Wilcox is a stanch Republican,
of which party he has been a member since its
organization. In religious belief he is a Baptist,
and takes an active interest in the work of the
church. At the present writing, in the summer"
of 1895, he is visiting his sister at Saguache,
Colo.

QETER F. MILLER. Since 1855 this gen-
LS tlemau has been a1 resident of Middletown,
t$ where, as contractor and builder, he is well
known. Under his supervision have been erected
some of the substantial business blocks and resi
dences of the city, among which may be named
the First National Bank Building, the Masonic

WILLIAM SEELY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

it 19

Block (in which is thepostofficej, the Lipfieldand
George B. Adams Blocks, Clemson Brothers'
works, the Thrall Hospital, the Robert Houston,
Wilcox and Madden residences, and many other
structures. At different times he has built for
himself eight residences here, aud he still owns
four of these, making his home at No. 40 Hous
ton Street, where he has a planing-mill in the
rear. Born in Wurtsboro, Sullivan County, N. Y.,
September 15, 1835, the subject of this notice is
a son of Isaac B. Miller, a native of New Jersey.
and a carpenter and builder by trade. Grandfa
ther Peter Miller, who was a soldier in the War
of 18 12, became one of the early settlers of Sul
livan County, and there died. The mother of
our subject, Eliza, was born in Dutchess County,
N. Y., and died in Sullivan County in 1885. Her
father, Joseph Field, was a member of a promi
nent Eastern family and was distantly related to
Cyrus W. Field.
There were six children in the parental family,
of whom Peter F. was next to the youngest, and
of that number three are now living. Our sub
ject was very young when his father died, and
he was therefore obliged at an early age to be
come dependent upon his own exertions for a
livelihood. He remained in Wurtsboro until six
teen years old, being a clerk there for two years,
and later an apprentice to the carpenter's trade
under his brother Ambrose, now of Barryville,
N. Y., with whom he remained two years. In
1855 he came to Middletown to finish his trade
under Richard Van Horn, and with him he con
tinued for twelve years, since which time he has
been in business for himself. During busy seasons
he gives employment to twenty-five men in the
various departments of his works. Doors and
sashes are planed in his mill, which is adjacent
to his residence. It is a building 40x60 feet,
with two wings, each 20x60, power being fur
nished by a steam engine of thirty horse-power.
The first marriage of Mr. Miller took place in
Middletown, and united him with Miss Nancy
Tice, who was born near Newburgh. Two chil
dren were born of the union: Irene, who is at
home; and Mrs. Minnie Biggen, of Middletown.

After the death of his first wife, Mr. Miller was
united with Miss Mary E. Van Sciver, a native
of this city, and daughter of Robert Van Sciver.
Socially Mr. Miller is connected with Huffman
Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M. ; Midland Chapter
No. 240, R. A. M. ; and is a demitted member of
the Knights-Templar fraternity. During the war
he was a member of the Union League, and his
views, politically, have always been in sympathy
with the principles of the Republican party, of
which he is an old and faithful member. His
wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and with him shares in the esteem and
friendship of many acquaintances.

|D GjlLLIAM SEELY. The success which has
\ A / rewarded the exertions of Mr. Seely repre-
Y V sents much hard work on his part. From
early boyhood he was self-supporting, for his par
ents were poor and unable to assist him in getting
a start for himself. Working out on farms by the
day or month, he gained habits of perseverance
and industry, and saving his earnings he finally
accumulated a sufficient amount to purchase a
home of his own. The farm of which he is the
owner and occupant comprises two hundred aud
ten acres of land, and is situated in the town of
Greenville. The son of Ira and Rachel (Courtright) Seely,
our subject was born in Sussex County, N. J.,
April 25, 1819. At the age of thirteen, having
previously attended the district schools for a short
time, he began to work in the employ of neigh
boring farmers, and continued thus engaged for
thirteen years. When twenty -six he rented a
farm in this town , and here he made his home for
five years, at the expiration of which time he pur
chased his present place. In general farming and
the dairy business he has been quite successful,
and is numbered among the efficient agriculturists
of the county. On his farm he built a creamery,
one of the first in the county, and this he oper
ated for several years, the investment proving a
profitable one.
September 27, 1844, occurred the marriage of

II20

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

William Seely and Julia Schultz, daughter of
James K. and Deborah (Reeves) Schultz, old aud
highly respected residents of this comity, their
home being situated near Middletown. Five chil
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Seely, one of
whom died in infancy. Emily married Louis
Remey, of Port Jervis, and they have seven chil
dren; Lizzie, who died at the age of forty years,
was the wife of Merritt C. Manning, of New York
City, and at her death left five daughters; Jessie
is the widow of John Slawson; John M., who
married Mary Smith and has five children, assists
in the management of the home farm, and has a
milk route in Port Jervis.
In his political views Mr. Seely is an old Jack-
sonian Democrat, but has never cared to occupy
public positions, aud has invariably declined nom
ination for office. Though not identified with
any denomination, he assists in the maintenance
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his
wife belongs. He is a man of genial personality
and warm-hearted disposition, a kind and indul
gent father, and one greatly loved by his family
and respected by his friends. The family of
which he is a member is noted for longevity.
His grandmother lived to be over one hundred
years old, and his parents both lived to be over
fourscore and four years. His life has been a
busy one, and he deserves the prosperity and com
fort which he enjoys in his declining years.

P—

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-<U

0EWITT G. LIPPINCOTT, M. D., a promi
nent citizen of Campbell Hall, has since
1883 been one of its most skillful physi
cians, his marked success in the treatment of dis
ease in its various forms placing him at the
head of his profession in Orange County.
Dr. Lippincott was born April 15, 1861, in Ul
ster County, and was the son of Rev. Benjamin
C. and Mary C. (Parker) Lippincott, the former
of whom was born in New York City. Iu 1847
he took up his abode in Ulster County, and made
that section his home for many years. The par

ental family included four children, of whom De-
Witt G. was the youngest. His two brothers
and sister were: Leonard K., a farmer of Wall-
kill, Ulster County; Catherine P., who is living
at home with her father, at Port Ewen, Ulster
County; and Harry, now in New York City.
When our subject was a lad of five years his
parents removed to Rockland County, and six
years later to Wallkill. From there they went
to Bucks County, and after some time spent there
took up their abode in Port Ewen. DeWitt G.
first attended Wallkill Valley Institute, after
which he spent two years in the grammar school
connected with New Brunswick College, from
which institution he was graduated with the
Class of '79. Having decided at this time to fol
low a professional life, for which he was especially
adapted, he began his medical studies iu the Jef
ferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa. , re
ceiving his diploma therefrom in 1882, but con
tinued for a year in the hospital of that institu
tion. In the spring of that year he came to
Campbell Hall, and has since that time given his
undivided attention to the practice of his profes
sion. He is a man of high personal standing,
being well known and honored throughout this
and other counties. In politics he is a Republi
can, but has never allowed the use of his name
for office.
Dr. Lippincott and Miss Susie Ryerson were
united in marriage September 23, 1885. To them
were born two children, the elder of whom died
in infancy. Roy is a charming lad at home. In
religious matters the Doctor attends the Presby
terian Church at Campell Hall, of which church
his wife is a member.

d****« ****^

****!—

>9****F

WlRS. ELIZABETH FIRNHABER, propri-
Y etor of Fimhaber's Greenhouses, was born
(9 at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in Germany, and
came to this country in 1867, landing in New
York City. There she soon afterwards married
Herman Firnhaber, who was born near Leipsic,
Prussia, in 1843, and was reared on the farm, re
ceiving a common-school education. In his

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

I 121

native land he learned gardening, and for a time
worked in that country as a journeyman, coming
to the United States in 1867. Soon after his
marriage, Mr. Firnhaber located iu Middletown,
where, for twenty years, he was employed in the.
file department of the saw factory of Wheeler,
Madden & Clemson. After leaving that firm, he
turned his attention to his old trade of gardening,
and, having purchased the place now owned by
his widow, carried it on until his death, June 9,
1895. He was a highly respected man, of irre
proachable character, and one who enjoyed the
respect and confidence of the entire community
in which he lived. As a gardener he had few
superiors, as he thoroughly understood the busi
ness. At his death he was a member of the
Knights of Honor, and had formerly been con
nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
being one of the charter members of the lodge at
Middletown. He was a devoted member of Grace
Episcopal Church, and his political affiliations
were with the Republican party.
Mrs. Elizabeth Firnhaber is a daughter of
Heinrich Miller, a native of Germany, born near
Frankfort-on-the-Main. By vocation he was a
book-binder and fancy designer in wood- work let
tering. He died near Frankfort, when about fifty-
six years old. Mrs. Marie (Limpert) Miller, the
mother of our subject, was born in Hesse-Darm
stadt, and died in Frankfort. Eight of their ten
children grew to maturity, two ofwhom came to
this country, our subject and a sister, Mrs. Bettie
Baker, who died in Middletown in 1886. Our sub
ject's grandfather, Baldazer Miller, was born in
Stuttgart, and moved to the vicinity of Frankfort
in his early- manhood. By trade he was a baker,
but for some years ran a large laundry iu Frank
fort. During the war with Napoleon he served
his country as a soldier. In religious belief he
was a Catholic, but he married a Lutheran, and
the family was reared in the latter faith.
Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Firnhaber
has continued the business, and has already shown
that she possesses the ability to make of it a suc
cess. The grounds on which the greenhouses are
located have a frontage of one hundred and four
teen feet on Grand Avenue, and a depth of three

hundred and sixty-four feet. She has six green
houses, each 17x70 feet, with sufficient room for
garden and hotbeds, and cultivates all kinds of
flowers, making a specialty of roses, carnations,
violets and chrysanthemums. She makes regular
shipments to New York City, and expects in the
future to conduct a wholesale as well as a retail
trade. The business is under the management of
M. Bartholomew, an experienced florist. Table
and other decorations are provided on short
notice. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Firn
haber, two of whom are yet living: Emil, a
machinist with the New York, Ontario & West
ern Railroad shops; and William, a carpenter in
New York City. Mrs. Firnhaber is an active
member of Grace Episcopal Church. For some
years she was also a member of the Rebecca De
gree of Odd Fellows. In manner she is very
pleasing, and has a host of friends in and around
Middletown.

-*-— t- — ?}>^®(f§|)®£+C-i  * — *-

j UTHER BARBER, contractor and builder
IC at Middletown, is a native of England, born
|_J in Hailsham, Sussex County, in 1845, and
is a son of John and Hannah(Frost) Barber, both
of whom were natives of England, where they
lived and died. They had eleven children, who
grew to maturity, seven ofwhom are now living,
our subject being the only one now in America.
One brother, Herbert, came to this country and
located in Middletown, where he was a success
ful contractor in partnership with Richard Miller,
under the firm name of Barber & Miller. He
died here in 1878. By occupation John Barber
was a farmer.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his
native county, and at the age of seven years be
gan to help make a living for the family. He
first worked at the carpenter's trade, and at the
age of seventeen was apprenticed to learn the
trade of a brickmason, at which he served seven
years. His educational advantages were very

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

limited, and all his schooling was received in
evening schools. In 187 1 he came to America,
via Liverpool to New York, thence to Middle-
town, where he remained one year engaged at
his trade. Later he removed to Franklin Fur
nace, Sussex County, N. J., where he worked as
a journeyman two years, and then engaged in
contracting and building for himself. In 1878,
Herbert Barber having died, Mr. Miller went to
Franklin Furnace to persuade our subject to re
turn with him to Middletown and take the place
of his brother. This he did, and business was con
ducted under the firm name of Miller & Barber
until about 1887, when Mr. Miller died, since
which time Mr. Barber has continued the busi
ness alone. Among the buildings he has erected
in Middletown are the Swalm Block, Charles
Dill's block, and the family residences of Wig
gins, Rogers, Vail, Jones, Daugherty and George
Swalm .
Mr. Barber was married, in England, to Miss
Jane Longhurst, who was also a native of Sus
sex County. Nine children were born to them,
five of whom are deceased, and those living are:
William Luther, a telegraph operator; and Edith
M., Bertha E. and Jennie I. The family resides
at No. 67 Prospect Street. Mr. Barber is a mem
ber ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes
an active interest in all religious and benevolent
work. In politics he is a Republican, and while
taking an active interest in political affairs has
never aspired to official position.

61 R. SARGEANT, ofthe town of Wawayanda,
LA was born in the town of Monroe, September
/ I 2, 1822, and is the son of Abel and Sarah
(Pilgrim) Sargeant, who were the parents of four
children, three sons and one daughter, namely:
James P., Abel R., Harriet and Mary A. The
first and last are now deceased.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the
farm, and there remained until sixteen years of
age, attending the common schools in the winter
months and assisting in farm work during the
summer. When sixteen years of age he began

working in the mill, serving a five-years appren
ticeship, at the expiration of which time he con
tinued to work at the trade for three years. He
then began working at cabinet-making, but con
tinued in that avocation but a short time. Buying
fifty-four acres of land in the town of Wawayanda,
he removed to the place and there resided until
1863, when he removed to Slate Hill, where he
now lives. In 1891 he opened a mercantile bus
iness in the same place, but only continued it
about two years.
On the 22d of January, 1845, Mr. Sargeant was
united in marriage with Mary A. Taylor, born in
the town of Wallkill, and a daughter of Abraham
and Mary (Newkirk) Taylor, the parents of two
children, David and Mary A. To our subject
and wife were born four children. David married
Phcebe Mills, and resides at Woodbury Falls;
Augustus married Armenia Morse, and resides in
the town of Wawayanda; Mary is now the wife
of K. Skinner, and resides in Slate Hill; Alonzo
died in 1893.
Although Mr. Sargeant commenced life with
but little means, he is now the possessor of three
hundred acres of land, all in one body, his prin
cipal occupation being dairy farming. Politically
he is a Democrat, and religiously he and his wife
are members ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church.
-, --"==;*3^*^+*^-s=:s^==:=^
(2JEORGE HENRY HADDEN has been a
I— resident of Middletown since 1876, and as a
\Ji contractor and builder has been successful,
the list of the public and private structures he
has erected including some of the finest build
ings in the city. Among these may be mentioned
the Everett, Iseman and Trust Company's build
ings, the chapel connected with the State Asylum,
Clemson Brothers' sawshops, the schoolhouse in
February, 1881, and the Eagle Hose Company,
Law, Central and Stern's buildings.
Born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1856,
the subject of this sketch is a son of John and
Maggie (Duncan) Hadden, natives, respectively,
of Ireland and Glasgow, Scotland. His father,
who was a mason by trade, died in his native

ROSWELL C. COLEMAN.

MRS. ROSWELL C. COLEMAN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1125

land, and there the mother still continues to re
side. The family consists of ten sons and one
daughter, all of whom are living. George H.,
who attended school in County Armagh in early
boyhood, began to learn the bricklayer's trade at
the age of thirteen, and this occupation he fol
lowed as long as he remained on the Emerald
Isle. At the age of sixteen, in 1872, he came to
America, via Liverpool to New York City, aud,
going up to Wappinger's Falls, Dutchess County,
he began to work at his trade. For four or five
years he was in the employ of the Dutchess
Print Works, erecting stonework.
In 1888 Mr. Hadden formed a partnership
with R. A. Malone, which was dissolved about
four years later, and since that time he has
worked alone. While in Wappinger's Falls, he
married Miss Effie J. Patterson, who was born in
Ft. Dodge, Iowa, where her father, David Pat
terson, was a large contractor. Four children
complete the family circle, Lizzie, Nellie, George
and Frank. The family attend the Second Pres
byterian Church, to which Mr. Hadden is a gen
erous contributor. He is a member of Hoffman
Lodge, F. & A. M.; Middletown Lodge No. 112,
I. 0> O. F.; and Eagle Plose Company No. 2.
Favoring the protection of home industries, he
naturally gives his allegiance to the Republican
party, and in that organization he is prominent,
having frequently represented it as delegate to
county and congressional conventions.

ROSWELL CARPENTER COLEMAN has
held the important judicial position of Sur
rogate of Orange County since 1883. He
has in a large measure succeeded in his endeav
ors to elevate the office to what it should be
by enforcing proper rules, and by careful decis
ions in cases coming before him. He is a man of
recognized ability, wide information, both on
matters pertaining to his profession and to the
sciences and public questions of the day as well.
For some years he was Trustee of the village of
Goshen, aud has been engaged in practice here
for about thirty years. In early life he was a Jus

tice of the Peace for eight years, and after being
nominated aud elected to his present responsible
place on the Democratic ticket, assumed, the duties
ofthe office in January, 1884. That his services
were appreciated, was shown when he was re
elected in 1889, being the only one of his politi
cal faith so honored, and receiving a majority of
about one thousand votes. His term runs until
1896. The Colemans are of English descent, and
after coming to America are supposed to have
located first about New Haven, thence going to
Southold, L. I. Our subject's great-grandfather,
Benjamin, was born April 16, 1755, in Orange
County, and died August 5, 1832. He married
Hannah (Carpenter) Finch, who was born No
vember 15, 1 76 1, and who died April 8, 1846.
She and her father's family were refugees from
the Wyoming Massacre. Our subject's grand
father, Benjamin Carpenter Coleman, was born
in this county, August 2, 1791, and was accident
ally killed August 16, 1845. He was a soldier
of the War of 181 2. His wife, Eleanor, was a
daughter of Gen. Abram Vail, who was a Mem
ber of the State Assembly and a resident of the
town of Goshen. His parents, John and Mary
(Alsop) Vail, lived and died in Goshen. The
former was born September 22, 1744, and died
February 2, 18 15; and the latter was born March
21, 1742, and died May 31, 1811. Benjamin,
the father pf John Vail, served in the French
and Indian War. Abram Vail was born Novem
ber 3, 1771, and died October 4, 1851. He mar
ried Esther Rockwell, who was born March 19,
1768, and died October 21, 181 1. Their daugh
ter Eleanor, whose birth occurred August 9,
1793, died October 9, 1853.
Our subject's father, James Carpenter Cole
man, was born in Orange County, March 28,
1820, and died February 1, 1882. For many
years he was engaged in merchandising in New
York City, but in i860 removed to the vicinity
of Goshen. His wife, Phoebe A., was born iu
Warwick, this county, January 15, 182 1, being
a daughter of Hon. Roswell Mead, who was born
in Wilton, Fairfield County, Conn., July 15,
1784. His father, Col. Matthew Mead, was a

1126

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

native of England, his birth occurring August
20, 1736, and his death February 26, 1816. He
won his title in the War of the Revolution, in
which his son Thaddeus also served as powder-
boy. His wife, who was a Miss Phcebe Whelp-
ley, was born July 1, 1740, and died August 1,
181 1. Hon. Roswell Mead came to this county
as a school teacher, later engaged in mercantile
pursuits in Newburgh, Warwick and in Smith
Village, and died at Slate Hill, June 6, 1850.
His wife was Hannah, daughter of Reuben Cash,
a farmer of this county, and a descendant of Dan
iel Cash, who came from Connecticut and set
tled in the Wyoming Valley with a large family
of children. He married Mary Tracy, a daugh
ter of Isaac Tracy, of that place. She managed
to escape the notable massacre, and, joining her
husband at Rutger's Kill, in Orange County,
settled there. Hannah Mead was born Novem
ber 4, 1796, and died April 15, 1868. Her mother,
a Miss Millicent Howell, was a daughter of John
Howell, a pioneer of Neversink, who was born iu
1745, and whose death occurred on Christmas
Day, 1790. He married Sarah Dougherty, who
was born in 1752, and died June 24, 1834.
Our subject is one of five sons. His eldest
brother, Dr. James C. , was a surgeon during the
war, and for fifteen years served on the Board of
Medical Examiners; he is now a resident of this
locality. The next younger brothers, John M.
and Charles W., live in Goshen, the latter being
an attorney-at-law. Thaddeus V. is a clerk in
the National Bank of Commerce of New York.
Our subject was born in the town of Goshen,
December 3, 1840, and received his primary edu
cation in the Thirteenth Street Ward School, No.
35, of New York City, after which he attended
the Free Academy for a year, completing his
classical course in the private school of David
M. Towle, of this place. Afterward he took up
the study of law in the office of Sharp & Win
field, well known attorneys of Goshen. In 1863
he graduated from the law school at Albany with
the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was ad
mitted to the New York Bar. Later he opened
an office for practice in Goshen, and here he has
since been located.

In 1865 Mr. Coleman married Sara W. Wil
kin, who was born in the city of New York, and
who is the daughter of Samuel J. Wilkin, an at
torney , who has served as a Member of the State
Assembly. He has been a Member of Congress,
and many years ago his name was placed on the
ticket for the Lieutenant-Governorship with Mil
lard Fillmore. He was a son of James W Wilkin,
who had held all of those positions before him,
and was also a leading lawyer. The pleasant
home of our subject and family is situated in a
beautiful thirty-acre tract within the village limits.
His wife was educated here and in Miss Green's
school in New York City. She became the
mother often children, all but two of whom are
living. Catherine D., a graduate of Mt. Holyoke
Seminary, is the wife of Harry E. Colwell, of
New Rochelle, N. Y. Annie M. is a graduate of
the Sharity Hospital, where she took a course of
training as a nurse, and is now located in New
York. Sarah W., who attended Mt. Holyoke
Seminary, afterward took up stenography and
typewriting, and is at present in Goshen. Wilkin
attended the Albany Law School, later was ad
mitted to the Bar in Kansas, and is now practic
ing in Goshen. Mary E. attended the North
eastern Conservatory of Music of Boston for a
year and was a fine violinist, but she was claimed
by death when only eighteen years of age. El
eanor C, who graduated from Miss Graham's
school in New York City, is at home. Henrietta
is a student in Wheaton Seminary in Massachu
setts. Roswell C. , Jr. , was educated in Worces
ter, Mass., and is now clerking in a store in
Goshen. Alexander W. is attending the local
schools; and Charles C. died at the age of seven
years. Mr. Coleman has for many years been
recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the
county, aud is more especially noted as an au
thority concerning the law and practice in Surro
gate courts, and the law in relation to real estate.
He has occupied judicial positions for about twen
ty years, but has always continued to practice
his profession even while holding office.
With his family Mr. Coleman attends the Pres
byterian Church, and for several years was a
Trustee ofthe same. In 1875 he went with the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1127

first American rifle team on a visit to Ireland
under Captain Gildersleeve, and was gone for
three months. He has always been interested in
athletic sports, and has usually belonged to some
amateur baseball club. He owns a permanent
camp at Indian Lake, in the Adirondacks, where
he and his children go from time to time in order
to seek recreation and rest.

KEELSON HILL, who recently came to Mid-
\ I dletown aud erected a residence on Rich-
| is mond Hill, is a carpenter by trade, and fol
lows that occupation successfully in this city and
vicinity. His home was formerly in the town of
Tuxedo, where he still owns a fine fruit farm of
thirty acres, with large numbers of apple, pear
and peach trees in bearing condition.
In the, town of Tuxedo, near the Rockland
County line, Nelson Hill was born in 1848, being
a son of Rensselaer and Charlotte (Conkling)
Hill, both natives of this county. His paternal
grandfather, John Hill, was a cooper by trade,
while his maternal grandfather, Jacob M. Conk
ling, was engaged in the manufacture of spoons,
and as a worker in wood. The parents were mar
ried in this county, and for many years after their
union they made their home at Long Pond, in
the town of Tuxedo, where the father, though
giving his attention to a small extent to agricult
ural pursuits, was principally engaged at the
cooper's trade. After the death of our subject's
mother, in 1865, the father married again. His
closing years were spent in Port Jervis, where he
died at the age of sixty-seven.
On the home farm in the town of Tuxedo, our
subject passed the days of his youth, unmarked
by any noteworthy event. His education was
gained in the common schools and was practical,
fitting him for an active business life. Having a
liking for the carpenter's trade, he became famil
iar with it during leisure hours in youth, and he
also learned the business of manufacturing wood
en-ware. On starting out for himself, however,

he turned his attention to the fruit business. Pur
chasing thirty acres of his father's farm in Tux
edo, adjoining Long Lake, he set out a peach
orchard, aud later planted apple and pear trees.
The fruit is sold to the home market, and the
business has proved remunerative.
In the summer of 1895 Mr. Hill came to Mid
dletown and erected a residence on Conkling
Avenue, Richmond Hill Addition to the city,
where he has since made his home. While in
the town of Tuxedo, he married Sarah A. Hall,
a native of that town, and they are the parents
of eight children, all at home, namely: Viola,
Calvin, Lizzie, Hattie, Israel, Rensselaer, Edith
and Elmer. Mr. Hill is intelligently informed
regarding matters of current interest, and is a
stanch adherent of Republican principles, sup
porting the candidates of that party with his vote
and influence.

(JOSEPH SNIFFIN, of Middletown, was born
I at Thunder Hill, Ulster County, N. Y., in
(2/ 1857, being the youngest child of John and
Hannah (Coon) Sniffin, natives, respectively, of
Sandsburg, Sullivan County, and Ellenville, Ul
ster County. His father, who was a soldier in
the Union army during the Civil War, followed
the shoemaker's trade throughout almost his en
tire active life, but when advanced in years he
retired from that occupation and went to the Black
Hills. There he engaged in mining until he was
killed by the Indians, at the age of sixty-five, his
death occurring about the same time as that of
General Custer. The paternal grandfather, Jo
seph Sniffin, was a descendant of English ances
tors, and was a shoemaker by trade. The ma
ternal grandfather, Abraham Coon, was bora in
Dutchess County, whence he removed to Ellen
ville, and engaged in farming there until his death,
at the age of one hundred and one years. He
was a soldier in the War of 18 12.
The family of John Sniffin consisted of three

I I2t

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughters and two sons, of whom two daughters
are deceased. Joseph, the youngest ofthe num
ber, was reared in Ellenville, Ulster County,
where he attended the public school. At the age
of sixteen years he began an apprenticeship to
the trades of mason, bricklayer and plasterer, all
of which he learned during his three years' serv
ice. Later he engaged in journeyman work for
eleven years, after which, in 1889, he came to
Middletown and formed a partnership with Nich
olas Coleman, remaining with him for three years.
Since dissolving that partnership he has been
alone. During the busy season Mr. Sniffin employs
from six to fifteen men. He has had the con
tracts for many of the best residences in the city,
including the homes of Messrs. Van Keuren,
Wells, George A. Green, John W Slawson and
scores of others. His residence at No. 19 Knox
Avenue was built by himself, and he has had the
contract for fourteen houses situated on Knox
Avenue, California Avenue, West Main Street
and Monhagen Avenue.
The marriage of Mr. Sniffin took place in Ellen
ville, N. Y., his wife being Miss Mary Edwards,
a native of Putnam County, Pa. Four children
comprise their family circle, Bertha, Guy, Eva
and Earl. Mr. Sniffin affiliates with the Knights
of Labor, and politically is a loyal adherent of
Democratic principles. He is identified with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and may always be
found abetting any useful scheme that will en
hance the material, social or religious progress of
his community.

Gz

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(JOSEPH NELSON TURNER, a worthy rep-
I resen tative of the boys in blue in the late
Q) Civil War, was born in Fishkill Landing,
Dutchess County, N. Y., May 8, 1847. His fa
ther, Stephen Nelson Turner, died when he was
a very small child. His mother married again
and located in Salisbury, Orange County, from
which place she removed to Washingtonville.

Our subject was there educated in the public
schools, and in 1861, although but fourteen years
of age, ran away from home and enlisted in the
Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, being the third
person to enter his name as a soldier in that reg
iment. On account of his youth, his mother se
cured his release and took him home. In the
following fall he ran away again, and was mus
tered into the service at Newburgh, as a member
of Company C, Fifty-sixth New York Infastry,
or the Tenth Legion. His regiment was ordered
ou board a boat in New York Harbor, for the
purpose of going South , and while on the voyage
a riot occurred on board the boat, and an attempt
was made to set fire to it. In endeavoring to save
himself and the vessel he was kicked in the mouth
and stomach, and an attempt was made to throw
him overboard. The riot was finally subdued,
and our subject was taken to the hospital at Beau
fort Island, where he remained some months, in
the mean time having typhoid and brain fever.
When the Fifty-sixth veteranized he enlisted
again, and was mustered in at Albany, joining
his regiment at South Carolina. While on John's
Island he received a sunstroke, and was sent from
there to Beaufort and later to Hilton Head, where
for a time he was very ill. When he recovered
he joined his regiment at Beaufort, and was in
the Harney Hill fight. The regiment was then
sent to Charleston, thence to Mt. Pleasant, then
up the South Santee River to Secessionville, back
to Charleston, Ridgeville, Summerville and fi
nally to Greenville, from which place it was or
dered home. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Turner was
mustered out, and honorably discharged at Al
bany, N.. Y.
After his discharge Mr. Turner came to Mid
dletown, where he has since resided. For four
years after his return he could not engage in any
employment. He first tried engineering, but had
to give it up. He has been twice married, first
to Miss Olivia Lubert, a native of Charleston,
S. C. His marriage with this lady was brought
about in quite a romantic way. While in Cnarles-
tou he was set upon by fifteen armed rebels, and to
escape he jumped over a high board fence and
sprang into a cistern, where he was up to his arm-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1131

pits in water. Miss Lubert began pumping the
water from the cistern, and persuaded the rebels
that he was not there. In the mean time her
brothers returned home, and with a rope drew
him out of the water. No sooner was he on the
street than he was again attacked, but this time
was saved by Union soldiers. At the close of the
war he returned to South Carolina, where he was
married. His wife died in Middletown, leaving
two children: Ida, wife of William Stratton, of
Matteawan, N. Y. ; and Eugene, also of that place.
Mr. Turner subsequently married Miss Helen
Platts, and by this union has one child, Ruby, at
home. Mrs. Helen Turner is a daughter of John
D. Platts, a native of New Hampshire, who was
left an orphan when seven years old, and after
ward came to New York State. On the breaking
out of the Civil War he enlisted in a New York
regiment and served through the entire conflict.
He then went West, and after remaining in Iowa
for a time again returned to New York, locating
in Sullivan County. He married Sarah Barber,
a native of Delaware County, and a daughter of
Eli Barber. Mrs. Turner is the second of their
three children, and was reared and educated at
Rockland. In politics Mr. Turner is a Republi
can. As a matter of course he takes great inter
est in the past, and can never forget the adven
ture which came so near costing him his life.

"HOMAS P. PITTS. In this volume, while
the reader's thoughts are directed principal
ly to the deeds of men now living, consid
erable attention is also given to the life records
of our honored dead, those who once shared our
joys and sorrows, and who labored to promote the
welfare of the community, but who are now gone
from among us. This tribute to the memory of
Thomas P. Pitts, given by her who was his de
voted wife and efficient helpmate, will be perused
with interest by those who were associated with
him in former years.
A son of George Pitts, the subject of this no
tice was born in Warwick, and spent his boyhood
years upon his father's farm. Arriving at man's

estate, he selected for his occupation that to which
he had been reared, and for some years he carried
on a farm in the town of Wallkill. Later, how
ever, he abandoned agricultural pursuits and be
came interested in the shoe business, being pro
prietor of a store in Warwick until his demise.
He was energetic, judicious in his investments,
and accumulated a competency. He died in Sep
tember, 1890, aged seventy-six, and was buried
in the cemetery at Middletown. In religious be
lief he was identified with the Methodist Episco
pal Church, and his deep religious faith upheld
him in his last hours. Politically he was a Dem
ocrat. The first wife of Mr. Pitts was Emily J. Gard
ner, of Florida, this county, and they became the
parents of four children, three of whom are liv
ing. His son, Dr. John W. Pitts, a young man
of great ability, was graduated from the College
of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City,
and practiced his profession in that city. On the
opening ofthe Civil War, he enlisted in Company
E, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York
Infantry, and though but nineteen years of age
at the time, was as brave and valiant as men
twice his age. At the close of the war he return
ed home, and studied medicine, as above stated.
During his service in the army he contracted a
cold that undermined his constitution, and from
its effects he died at Warwick, aged thirty-five.
May 13, 1869, Miss Mariam Beakes, daugh
ter of Joseph Beakes, and a member of one ofthe
most prominent families of this county, became
the wife of our subject. She was born on the
old Beakes homestead adjoining Middletown, and
now owned by her brother, Henry L. Beakes, of
whom mention is made upon another page. The
family of which she is a member has an honor
able record, and its history, traced back through
successive generations, is one of which every de
scendant may well be proud. Upon the death of
her husband, she sold out the business in War
wick and came to Middletown, where she has
since resided. Beloved by all who know her, she
is "Aunt Mariam" to her hosts of friends. Her
religious connections are with the Methodist Epis
copal Church of this city. She is a lady of un-

1132

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

usual ability and intelligence, maintaining herself
in every position in which she may be placed
with dignity, and in her social -relations her ge
nial, gentle and amiable temperament commends
her most affectionately to all who are thrown in
her daily pathway.

=»+£#=—

6 

Q ENJAMIN HAFNER, depot master of the
rT\ Erie Railroad at Port Jervis, has been an
LJ engineer for fifty- one years and six months.
He has had many interesting experiences, has
had many narrow escapes, and has operated all
kinds of engines, from the "Grasshopper," ofthe
old Baltimore & Ohio, to the modern one-hun
dred-ton "Mogul," which is used for hauling
heavy freights up the mountains, or the lightning
express making its seventy miles per hour. Be
sides having made many fast runs for the rail
road officials, he eclipsed the record by covering
the eighty-eight miles between this point and
Jersey City, on Express No. 8, iu two hours ex
actly, besides stopping at Turner, for dinner. He
owns three good residences in this city.
Mr. Hafner was born March 24, 1821, in Ba
den, Germany, and came to the United States in
1832, landing at Baltimore, September 18. His
father, Valentine Hafner, was one of Napoleon's
soldiers, serving as First Lieutenant, and went
on the march to Moscow. He died in 1862,
at his home in Baltimore, when seventy-seven
years old. His wife, whose maiden name was
Mary Ann Murrout, departed this life in 1861.
Their family numbered eight children.
Our subject worked as a broom-maker for four
years, and then clerked in a store in Baltimore.
For three years he served an apprenticeship to
the blacksmith's trade, and in 1839 entered the
railroad shops. He was soon placed on an old-
style engine as fireman, and his peculiar locomo
tive, which had no cab, was exhibited at the
World's Fair iu Chicago. A year later young
Hafner was placed in charge of an extra engine,
aud in 1840 commenced running on regular trips
between Baltimore and Cumberland, Md. This
road was constructed with the old slab rails, and

one night Mr. Hafner's engine and train were
precipitated into the Patapsco River, below Elli-
cott's Mills. He and his fireman were immersed
in the river, but managed to escape and no one
else was injured. At another time during a
heavy rain in the mountains, the tracks were
washed away and the train ran into the Potomac
River, but no one was hurt.
In 1845 Mr. Hafner was in charge ofthe train
that carried Polk's message from the Reeley
House to Harper's Ferry. The first telegraph
was laid the same year, being placed in a trough
beside the track, but later was placed on poles.
M. Hafner was acquainted with many ofthe pub
lic men of that period, among whom were An
drew Jackson, J. C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster,
Henry Clay and Thomas H. Benton. He car
ried all of these men as passengers, when he was
fireman on the Washington road. In 1848 our
subject went to Piermont and was soon given an
engine running between that point and Port Jer
vis. Piermont was then the eastern end of the
road, and from there to New York City freight
had to be shipped by boat. In May, 1854, Mr.
Hafner resigned and went to Yellow Springs,
Ohio, to visit a brother whom he had not seen
for nineteen years. In 1839 Mr. Hafner entered
the Baltimore & Ohio service, running a distance
of one hundred and seventy-nine miles between
Baltimore and Cumberland. After a time he
began working for the Illinois Central Railroad,
running to East Dubuque from Amboy, and in
1855 liad charge ofthe night express. The win
ter of 1854 was a very severe one and for three
days Mr. Hafner and his train were stuck in the
snow, before being extricated.
In 1855 our subject went to Europe, looking up
business matters in his native city, and also made
a trip to France. He returned in 1857, and the
following year took up his permanent residence
in Port Jervis. Until April, 1 859, he ran a freight
train from here to Piermont, after which he was
given an express passenger train between Port
Jervis and Jersey City, running the same for
twenty-nine successive years. In March, 1892,
his service as au engineer closed, and since that
time he has been depot master. In 1849 Mr.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

11 3,3

Hafner was on an engine drawing a gravel train,
and when coming down hill it collided with a
freight whose engineer had disregarded his flag
of warning. In 1852 his engine was capsized at
Paterson on account of a misplaced switch, and
ten years later he was buried under his engine,
but was not seriously injured. For a great many
years he has been a member of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers.
February 14, 1858, Mr. Hafner married Mary
Catherine Goetz, of Baltimore and a native of
Bavaria. They have had eleven children, of
whom but five are living, namely: Mary, Anna
(Mrs. Henry H. Monton, of Flushing, L- I.)
Wilhelmina, Rose and Alice. The parents are
members of the Catholic Church of Port Jervis.
Mr. Hafner has always been a Democrat since
the days of Jackson, and cast his first vote for
James K. Polk.

=+

NENRY CLINTON CUNNINGHAM is one
of the oldest merchants, not only of Port
Jervis, but of this portion of New York State.
His business career covers some forty-eight years,
and for seventeen years of this period he has
managed a store at his present location, having
constructed the building in 1878. He is a man
of practical and methodical ways, and has been
prospered in his various undertakings. Born
October 30, 1828, at Butternut, Otsego County,
N. Y., he is a son of John and Louisa (Farnum)
Cunningham, the former a farmer by occupation.
Our subject was the eldest child and was named
in honor of his uncle, Henry H. Farnum, and
DeWitt Clinton. He received his early educa
tion in a log schoolhouse, and one of his comrades
was Martin Van Buren, a relative ofthe ex -Pres
ident of that name.
H. C. Cunningham came to Port Jervis in
April, 1847, and served a clerkship with his
uncle, H. H. Farnum, who had engaged in bus-'
iness here in 1843. Four months later he re
turned on a visit to his mother, who was very ill,

and went by stage from Port Jervis to Oneonta,
the trip taking two days and two nights. During
the seven years in which he worked for his uncle
he held various positions, being gradually pro
moted. They did a large business with the rail
road and canal, furnishing them with supplies,
and the old store, which was built of foot-boards
laid flatways, is still standing on the bank of the
canal, and there the collector's office is located.
In 1854 our subject took a one-third interest, with
Farnum & Peck as partners, the company then
being styled H. H. Farnum & Co. Thus the
business was carried on for five years, when, April
1, 1859, Mr. Cunningham retired.
May 1, 1859, our subject opened a store for
himself in Lockwood's Building on Pike Street,
which he rented for nearly nineteen years, carry
ing a full line of dry goods, notions, groceries,
etc. In 1864 he purchased the property at the
corner of Orange Square and Pike Streets, on
which he erected the building he now occupies.
He has advertised extensively, and has neglected
no well approved and legitimate manner of in
creasing his business.
March 4, 1861, Mr. Cunningham and Stephen
St. John, Sr., were the only citizens of Port Jervis
who attended the inauguration of Lincoln. Since
1856 he has been a Republican, and at one time
attended a torch- light procession to Milford, Pa.,
it being the first Republican campaign in 1856,
for Fremont. He has served in local offices and
has always taken a great interest in party matters.
Acceding to the request of Rev. Dr. Samuel W.
Mills, Corresponding Secretary of the Orange
County Bible Society, Mr. Cunningham became
agent for the society and started a repository about
1863,. He has since been the representative for
the town of Deerpark, and has done much to
further the interests ofthe organization.
March 6, 1855, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Cunningham and Catherine, daughter of Mark
Decker, the latter of whom died in 1894, aged
about eighty-four years. Henrietta C, the only
daughter of our subject, was born in 1873. She
possesses great talent as a musician, having re
ceived superior advantages, and is especially ac
complished as a pianiste. She has appeared be-

"34

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

fore the public in concerts a great many times,
and is the author of a popular composition for the
piano, "Cheerfulness" (dedicated to her mother),
which has been highly spoken of by talented mu
sicians. Both parents and daughter are members
ofthe First Presbyterian Church. Since the new
edifice was constructed our subject has served as
a Trustee, as a Ruling Elder, or in one or another
official capacity, and in various offices has been
identified with the Sabbath-school for a good
many years. H******^
(J AMES E. BR AZEE. Not only as one of the
I oldest employes of the New York, Ontario &
*2) Western Railway Company, in point of years
of service, but also as an honorable and genial
gentleman, Mr. Brazee is well known to the citi
zens of Middletown, which city has been his
headquarters since 1873. He entered the employ
of the company when the road was building, and,
receiving promotions at various times, now occu
pies the position of conductor. During the win
ter season he has charge ofthe milk train, while
in summer he is conductor on the mountain ex
press. It is worthy of note, as an unusual oc
currence, that for the past fourteen years he has
had the same run.
The Brazee family is of honorable descent, be
ing of the old Puritan stock. The first of the
name to settle in New York was the great-grand
father of our subject, a soldier of the Revolution
ary War, who came hither from Massachusetts.
Grandfather Teunis Brazee was born in Delaware
County, was a farmer by occupation, and during
the War of 1812 rendered valiant service. Next
inline of descent was George, our subject's fa
ther, who was born in Delaware County, and in
addition to farm work also engaged in the lumber
business there. In 1862 he enlisted in the One
Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Infantry,
but afterward was transferred to the First New
York Engineer Corps, and served as an officer of
his company. He remained in the army until
the close of the Rebellion. He now makes his
home in Walton, Delaware County, and since

1873 has led a retired life. Politically he is a
Republican. In the Methodist Episcopal Church
he is an active and successful worker, and has
officiated as one of its local ministers.
Margaret, our subject's mother, was born in
Haneock, Delaware County, to which place her
father, Daniel I. Weeks, had removed from Con
necticut. Being one of the pioneers of that local
ity, he endured many hardships, and took an act
ive part in the wars with the Indians. Our sub
ject, who was the only child of his parents, was
born in Colchester, Delaware County, September
17, 1855. After receiving the rudiments of his
education in the public schools of his native town,
he attended the Rochester University for a time,
then taught school in this county, being engaged
in that profession for three terms. In i87i,when
a mere boy, he entered the employ of the New
York, Ontario & Western Railway Company, when
the road was building in Delaware and Sullivan
Counties. His first position was on the engineer
corps, and in 1873 he became a brakeman on the
Northern Division ofthe road, his run being on
a construction train. August 18 of that year he
was made brakeman on the through freight train
between Norwich and Middletown, with his head
quarters in the latter city. In 1875 he became
conductor, and in that capacity ran special trains
on every branch ofthe road. The following year
he began running the local freight between Mid
dletown and Walton, and in 1878 he was made
passenger conductor, which position he has since
held. He has been very fortunate in his railroad
experience, never having had any accidents on
his runs.
At No. 36 Broad Street, Middletown, stands
the home of Mr. Brazee, the residence being a
neat structure erected by himself. He married,
in this city in 1891, Miss Jennie Quinn, who was
born here. By their union one child has been
born, a daughter, Edna B. While on one of his
runs, in 1894, Mr. Brazee was elected Supervisor
of the First Ward on the Republican ticket,
and his election attested his popularity, as the
Ward was strongly Democratic. His many friends,
however, irrespective of politics, were glad to vote
for a man whom they deemed so well qualified for

DAVID McCAMLY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H37

the place, so he overcame the usual Democratic ma
jority of two hundred, having instead a Republican
majority of sixty-six. During his service in this
office he has served on several committees, and
was also on the special committee for re-district
ing the Second Senatorial District ofthe county.
Socially he is connected with Walton Lodge No.
559, F. & A. M. In the local lodge ofthe Order
of Railway Conductors he was the first Chief,
which position he held for many years. He was
also Representative to the Grand Division, and
attended the conventions at Boston, Louisville,
New Orleans, Denver, Toronto, Rochester, To
ledo, Atlanta and St. Louis, having, in fact, failed
to attend but three of the conventions of recent
years.

0AVID McCAMLY. One of the early set
tlers of the town of Warwick was David
McCamly, who was born in the North of
Ireland, in 1704, and by his marriage to Jane
Ellison, December 30, 1726, was connected with
the well known Ellison family of New Windsor.
He came to America with the Clinton colony,
landing October 1, 1729. The following year he
settled on a tract of twenty-five hundred acres,
extending from near Warwick into Sussex Coun
ty, N. J. On the farm, which now forms a part
ofthe estate of W. M. Sanford, he built a dam
and established a flourmill. He died December
15, 1785, and his wife passed away February 27,
1786. They and several of their descendants are
buried in a secluded spot near the banks of the
Wawayanda Creek, where their graves may still
be distinguished.
The children of David and Jane (Ellison) Mc
Camly were as follows: John, who was born in
Ireland, October 9, 1727; William, who was born
August 28, 1730, and died August 28, 1758;
Mary, born July 15, 1732; Sarah, August 30,
1734; Elizabeth, Mrs. Owens, who was born Sep
tember 27, 1736, and died April 17, 1801; Jane,
born May 17, 1740; and David, September 9,
1743. The last-named, whose official service in

the Revolution won him the title of Colonel, was
united in marriage, May 10, 1774, with Phcebe
Sands, who was born September 11, 1759, and
was a daughter of Capt. Samuel and Lavinia
Sands, of Newburgh, N. Y.
Colonel McCamly settled on a tract of fifteen
hundred acres at New Milford, N. Y., given him
by his father, and there he built a spacious stone
dwelling-house, which he occupied until his death.
He also established the family cemetery, in which
he and three generations of his descendants are
buried. During the Revolutionary War he served
first as Captain of a company belonging to Colo
nel Hathorn's Florida and Warwick regiment.
In recognition of his courage and loyalty, he was
later commissioned Colonel. In his household,
as on the field, he maintained habits of military
discipline and exacted unquestioning obedience
from his children and his large retinue of slaves.
To each of his daughters he gave a slave as a
personal attendant; these slaves accompanied
them to their husbands' homes aud remained
with them until their death. It is a noteworthy
historical fact that at the home of Colonel Mc
Camly in New Milford, iu 1786, was the first ap
pointment for religious services by a Methodist
minister in Orange County. His death occurred
January 16, 1817, and his wife died June 10,
1822. He was a remarkably handsome man,
of dignified manners, and was noted for his horse
manship. Of the children of Col. David and Phcebe
(Sands) McCamly, we note the following: Sam
uel, who was born July 27, 1775, married Eliza
beth Wheeler, and died May 22, 1814. Lavinia,
born November 2, 1777, died January 30, 1779.
Mary, Mrs. Nathaniel Blaine, born February 26,
1780, died October 26, 1836. John, born Decem
ber 24, 1782, married Sarah Wheeler, and died at
Battle Creek, Mich., in 1858; one of his sons,
John Wheeler, settled at Matagorda, Tex., and
there many of his descendants still reside. El
eazer Gedney, born February 12, 1785, married
Ruth Wheeler, and died in Michigan. Jane, Mrs.
Francis Price, who was born April 12, 1787,
died of cholera in New York City, April 12,
1833, leaving among her children a son, Rod-

50

n38

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

man McCamly Price, who became Governor of
New Jersey. Mercy was born April 27, 1789, and
died September 16, 1793. David was born June
14, 1791, and died July 19, 1849. Sands, born
August 16, 1793, married Eliza Coleman, and
became the founder and one. of the most influen
tial citizens of Battle Creek, Mich., represent
ing his district iu Congress, and being an inti
mate personal friend of Gen. Lewis Cass. Rod
man, born March 15, 1797, first married Nancy
Wheeler, and after her death was united with
Catherine DeKay McCamly, and his death oc
curred at Vernon, N. J., December 3, 1870. The
youngest son of Rodman McCamly was the late
Maj. James Monroe McCamly. He was twice
wounded in the War of the 'Rebellion, and died of
yellow fever at New Orleans. R. McCamly's
only surviving child is Sarah Catherine, wife of
Rev. Lewis R. Dunn, of East Orange, N. J.
Elizabeth Ann, the youngest of the family, was
born August 21, 1802, became the wife of Will
iam Dolson, and died August 28, 1823.
David McCamly, whose portrait accompanies
this sketch, was the eighth child of Col. David
McCamly, and was born at the homestead at New
Milford, where he resided on a tract of two hun
dred acres, inherited from his father, until his
death in 1849. Although not a member of any
denomination, yet he was deeply interested in the
growth of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
gave the land on which the edifice at New Milford
was built; also contributed liberally to the support
ofthe church. On the 2d of January, 1812, he
was united in marriage with Sarah Davis, daugh
ter of Samuel and Ruth (Rumsey) Davis, of Sug
ar Loaf Valley, this county. This lady was born
December 10, 1792, and died September 4, 1832,
after having become the mother of ten children.
The second union of David McCamly took place
June 24, 1835, and united him with Mrs Eleanor
Higgins, widow of John Higgins, of New York,
and daughter of Francis and Catherine (Hep
burn) Geraghty, of Warwick. Mrs Eleanor Mc
Camly was born in New York City, July 28,
1810, and died December 3, 1888, having become
the mother of six children by her second mar
riage.

The eldest child of David McCamly was Ed
mund, who was born October 22, 1812, and died
April 5, 1842. Sands, the second son, was born
July 11, 181 4, and died at Newburgh, April 10,
1848. He married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of
David Crawford, of Newburgh, and their only
child is Mary E. C, wife of Charles F. Allen, of
Newburgh. Jane Davis, the eldest daughter,
was born June 24, 1816, became the wife of Col.
Anthony Parcell Kerr, January 1, 1840, and
died at Mt. Eve, August 26, 1880. Francis
Price, the fourth child, was born May 5, 18 18,
and married Anna Augusta Turner, of New York
City, May 14, 1840; after her death he was unit
ed with Mary Greene, of Illinois, aud now resides .
with his sons and grandsons at McCamly, Sully
County, S. Dak. Susan, whose birth occurred
June 28, 1820, married Rev. John Goodsell
Smith, of New York, November 29, 1842, and re
sides in Newburgh. Abigail, born April 16,
1822, was married to John Edsall McCain, Janu
ary 8, 1843, and died at Goshen February 5,
1895. Harrison, who was born March 7, 1824,
resides at Carson City, Nev. Caroline Adelia
was born December 31, 1826, and died January 1,
1850. William Henry, who was ninth in order
of birth, was born August 5, 1829, and died at
Shingle Springs, Eldorado County, Cal., Febru
ary 27, 1867. Frederick Louis Vulte, the
youngest child of the family, was born July 14,
1832, and died October 12 ofthe same year.
Of the second marriage of David McCamly the
following children were born: Sarah Catherine,
who was born March 27, 1836, and died Febru
ary 10, 1 841; Marietta, who was born January
29, 1839, married M. C. Belknap, of Newburgh,
May 13, 1862, and died November 27, 1873; Vic
toria, who was born May 2, 1841, and died Janu
ary 30, 1842; Josephine, born May 2, 1841 (twin
of Victoria), married John N. Crane, Februarys,
1861, aud died at Newburgh, April 2, 1886; Eu
genia, who was born April 1, 1844, became the
wife of John S. Walker, of New York, December
24, 1863, and now resides in Newburgh; and
David, who was born October 29, 1848, married
Anna Mary Preston, of Battle Creek, Mich., June
30, 1885, and is a resident of that city.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"39

EOL. ANTHONY PARCELL KERR was at
one time intimately associated with the his
tory of Orange County, where his life began
March 6, 1809, and closed July 18, 188 1. The
house in which he was born, and which is now
the home of his daughter, was built in 1804 and
is still in a good state of preservation . The nails
and shingles used in its construction were manu
factured by hand; the sidings were of red cedar,
and the floors and doors of hardwood. In the
kitchen still hang the old crane pothooks used in
the early days, and the fireplace was so large that
a horse was trained to draw in the back logs.
The old homestead, which is known as Mt.
• Eve, takes its name from the adjoining peak,
which, with a neighboring peak, Mt. Adam, rises
from the edge of the drowned lands, and has been
a well known landmark for two hundred years or
more. Both peaks are of a peculiar formation,
Mt. Eve being the higher and longer, and on it
several granite quarries have been opened, from
which stone is quarried similar to the celebrated
Quincy granite. This property has been in the
possession of the Kerr family for four generations,
and in early days was frequently visited by the
Indians, with whom the white settlers were on
the most friendly terms.
The founder of the Kerr family in America
was Walter Kerr, a native of Lanarkshire, Scot-
laud, born in 1653, and who died June 10, 1748.
He was a strict Presbyterian and was arrested as
a Non-Conformist, his property seized, and him
self sentenced to perpetual banishment. For this
reason he sought, in 1685, a home in the New
World. Settling at Freehold, N. J., he became
one of the founders and ruling Elders of -the
famous Tennent Church, of which the brothers,
Gilbert and William Tennent, were pastors for
many years. He was one of the most prominent
men and largest land-owners of his section, and
became the progenitor of a large family, his de
scendants now numbering fifteen hundred. He
and his wife, Annie, reared several sons and
daughters, and they are buried in the old church
yard at Freehold, as are many of their descend
ants. One ofthe grandsons of Walter Kerr was Rev.

Nathan Kerr, D. D., who was for thirty-eight
years pastor ofthe Presbyterian Church of Goshen.
Another grandson was the ancestor of the New
burgh branch ofthe family. Another grandson,
David Kerr, was the grandfather of Col. Anthony
P. Kerr, and was born in Monmouth County,
N. J., where he received his education. After
his marriage he settled at Ramapo, then in
Orange, but now in Rockland, County, making
his home on a tract of land there, where were
born his six sons and one daughter, viz. : Mark,
George, Anthony, Richard, James, Robert and
Esther. The six sons were men of splendid physique,
being over six feet in height, and they were sol
diers in the Revolution, attaining distinction
through their valor in that memorable contest.
Mark was a non-commissioned officer, being a
member of the lifeguard, and during the War of
18 1 2 he was Captain of a company of artillery.
After the war was ended he settled in Louisiana,
whither he had gone on a trading expedition.
Four sons died either during or shortly after the
Revolution from wounds received, or as a result
of exposure while in the service. They left no
children. Esther married, and died in New York
City, her union having been childless.
For many years David Kerr lived at Ramapo,
arid there his children were born. Several years
before the breaking out of the Revolution he re
moved with his family to Mt. Eve, and from that
homestead his sous marched forth to the war.
He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian
Church at Amity, and is buried in that church
yard. His son Robert, our subject's father, was
bora at Ramapo, January 19, 1756, and acompan-
ied the other members of the family to Mt. Eve.
Enlisting in the Colonial army, he joined the
troops in New Jersey, and with General Wash
ington crossed the Delaware on that memorable
Christmas Eve and participated in the battle at
Trenton, and that of Princeton, which followed.
He continued with the army, and was at Morris
town and Valley Forge, and during the winter
previous to the discharge of the troops he was
stationed at New Windsor. The camp was broken
up in October, 1783, and in November following

1 140

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he witnessed the evacuation and departure of the
British soldiers from New York City.
The first wife of Robert Kerr was Mary Benja
min, of Amity, by whom he had four children,
namely: Samuel Benjamin, David, George and
Sarah. In November, 1802, he married Mary
Christina (Pitts) Parcell, widow of Anthony Par-
cell, a non-commissioned officer of the Revolu
tion, who died in 1796, from the effects of ex
posure while in the army. Two children were
born of that union, our subject and Phcebe Maria.
The latter, who was born November 27, 1806,
became the wife of Alvah Foster in 1822, and died
in New York City in September, 1872. Our sub
ject's mother was born at Snufftown, N. J., Au
gust 24, 1765, and died at the homestead at Mt.
Eve, January 31, 1831. She was the daughter of
John and Mary Magdalene Pitts, French-Hugue
nots, whose parents had settled in Holland after
the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and after
their marriage, in 1760, they came to America,
establishing their home in New Jersey, where
they reared a large family. Robert Kerr died
November 28, 1846. He was a stanch Jackson-
ian Democrat, and his granddaughter Harriet
has the old cane that was sent to him by General
Jackson in recognition of his fealty to the Gen
eral's cause. She also has a musket, bayonet and
powder-horn carried by him during the Revolu
tionary War, and a sword taken by him from a
British officer, whom he captured and disarmed.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the
schools of Amity and Edenville, and followed the
occupation of a farmer throughout all his life.
January 1, 1840, he married Jane Davis McCamly,
the third child of David and Sarah (Davis) Mc
Camly, of New Milford, N. Y. She was born
June 24, 1816, and died August 26, 1880, having
by her union with Colonel Kerr become the
mother of three children. Of these, Sarah Ellen
died in girlhood; Jeanie Dale married Benjamin
P. DeGroot, of New York City, and died January
5, 1874, leaving no children; and Harriet, who is
the only survivor, occupies the old homestead.
Colonel Kerr was greatly interested in military
matters and was Colonel Commandant of the
Nineteenth Regiment New York State Militia

for several years, or until its disbandment. In
politics he was a Democrat, and his first vote was
cast for General Jackson. A man of great gen
erosity, with a companionable disposition and up
right character, he won the regard of his asso
ciates, to whom his manly qualities endeared him.
For many years he and his wife were identified
with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Eden
ville. He died July 18, 1881, and is buried in
the family graveyard at Mt. Eve, where also lie
the bodies of his parents, his wife and his chil
dren.

^JEORGE BERGEN This prominent resi-
I— dent of the town of Montgomery is indus-
\j( triously pursuing his chosen occupation, that
of a farmer, on the old homestead which was left
him by his honored father. He is one of the
most valued citizens of the community, and the
property of which he is the owner is one of the
best in the town in point of improvement.
Our subject was born August 15, 1836, in
Queens County, L. I., and was the son of Henry
and Cornelia (Bourum) Bergen. The father,
who was also born on the same farm as his son,
came with his family to Orange County in the
year 1856. He was well-to-do in this world's
goods, and purchased the estate in the town of
Montgomery on which his son, our subject, now
resides. Here he lived, taking an active inter
est iu all enterprises in the community, and here
also his death occurred when he was in his
seventy-ninth year. His wife, whose birth also
occurred on Long Island, lived to be eighty-two
years of age. She was of Holland extraction,
and her people were very much respected wher
ever their lot was cast. Both parents of our
subject were members in excellent standing of
the Reformed Church, and were active in all
good works in their locality.
The subject of this sketch made his home with
his parents until their decease, when he inherited
the home farm on which he has since resided.
This property comprises one hundred and fifty

FARM RESIDENCE OF GEORGE BERGEN,
One Mii,e East of Montgomery, Town of Montgomery, Orange County, N. Y.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"43

acres, which Mr. Bergen cultivates in a most
profitable manner. He has attained a high rank
among the prosperous farmers of the town, and
is highly regarded in the community where he
has passed so many years of his life. Iu politics
he is a stanch Republican and never lets an op
portunity pass when he can use his influence for
the good of his party.

r~RANK W. DENNIS, M. D., of Unionville,
Yy was born in Sussex County, N. J., July 30,
I 1857. The family of which he is a member
is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was represented
in America at an early period in the settlement
of this country. His parents, David Wilson aud
Sarah (Read) Dennis, were natives of Sussex
County, and unto them were born eight children:
David R. , who was drowned while on a fishing
trip; Frank W., of this sketch; Annie M., wife of
Marshall Cook; John, who was drowned at the
age of two years; William E., a druggist at Far
Rockaway and a graduate of the College of Phar
macy, New York City; Violetta; Flora L-, a pro
fessional nurse in Stillwater, N. J., and New
York; and Martin R., who died iu infancy.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood
near Stillwater, N. J., and received his primary
education in the public schools. When fifteen
years of age he entered a store at Middleville as a
clerk. The next year he accepted a more re
munerative position in Phillipsburg, N. J. His
leisure evening hours were devoted to study in
the night schools, and for one year he attended a
business college at Easton, Pa. He then began
teaching school in Sussex County, continuing
in that profession for four years and meeting with
success in it. In 1879, having resolved to enter
the medical profession, he became a student in
the medical department of the State University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which institution
he was graduated in 1881.
Opening an office in Gilead, Ind., the young
Doctor began the practice of his profession, con
tinuing in that place until 1884, when he went to
New York City and took a post-graduate course j

in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. On
leaving there, he engaged with Dr. Berlin at
Chapman's Quarries, Pa., where he remained
nine months, coming from there to Unionville,
in the town of Minisink, He is regarded as a
skilled, capable physician, one fully informed re
garding the profession and successful in practice.
June 23, 1887, Dr. Dennis was united in mar
riage with Miss Mary Wisner, and they have one
child, Edna E., who was born May 6, 1892.
Since locating in Unionville, Dr. Dennis has
built up a good practice, which is being continu
ally extended. He is a great reader and keeps
abreast of the times. In the winters of 1892-93
he attended the Vanderbilt clinics in New York.
In 1892 he was elected Trustee of Unionville for
two years, and in 1894 was chosen President of
the Village Board, to which responsible position
he was re-elected the following year. In politics
he is a Republican. His election to various lo
cal offices attests his popularity as a man.

k****c ********

EHRISTIAN S. HULSHIZER, who is bet
ter known as "Charlie" in railroad circles, is
one of the old and reliable employes of the
Erie Railroad, his headquarters being at Port Jer
vis, Orange County. For the past twenty-seven
years he has made his home here, and during
this time has been in the Delaware Division. He
now runs the Mountain Express, a local passen
ger train from this point to Susquehanna. For
eight years he has had charge of passenger trains,
and has never had a serious accident. From
1875 to 1882 he was interested iu the livery busi
ness in this city, which enterprise did not inter
fere in the least with his regular employment.
Since 1868 he has been au active member of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and is
very popular among the employes as well as the
officials of the railroad.
September 9, 1842, occurred the birth of our
subject in Stewartsville, Warren County, N. J.,
his parents being Andrew and Halana (Sharps)
Hulshizer. Our subject's great-grandfather,
Martin, with his three brothers, emigrated from

"44

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Germany, settling in Warren aud Hunterdon
Counties, N. J., prior to the Revolutionary War.
This Martin Hulshizer had a son named in his
honor, and who was nine years old at the time of
the emigration. The parents of our subject were
natives of Warren County, N. J., where many
families of the name and distant relatives are still
living. C. S. Hulshizer continued to dwell with his
parents until twenty years of age, receiving a
good education. He then took up railroading as
a brakeman and baggageman on the Lehigh Val
ley Railroad, and for a short time was employed
by the Ohio & Mississippi Road, running to St.
Louis. In the spring of 1863 he enlisted in
Company C, Thirty-first New Jersey Infantry,
and was assigned to the First Brigade, First
Division of the First Army Corp, under Maj.-
Gen. J._ G. Reynolds and General Wadsworth,
Division Commanders, the latter of whom was
killed at Spottsylvania. Mr. Hulshizer served
in the Army of the Potomac until June, 1864,
when he was honorably discharged, after hav
ing participated in the battles of Fredericks
burg and Chancellorsville. In the last-named
engagement his regiment was held in reserve
during the heaviest fighting, but was under con
stant fire for two days preceding. Our subject
remained with his regiment all of the time, with
the exception of a few weeks when he was on
special duty.
Returning to the regular routine of life, Mr.
Hulshizer obtained a position on the Orange &
Alexandria Railway, and later ran on the Har
per's Ferry & Winchester Railroad, being in the
Government employ for two years. When the
Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad was com
pleted he ran for eight months between Wilkes
Barre and White Haven, and then, until July 1,
1856, he was an employe of the Delaware, Lack
awanna & Western Railway. For the next two
years he operated an engine on the same railroad,
but since October, 1868, has been in the Dela
ware Division of the Erie Railroad.
In 1880 Mr. Hulshizer erected a handsome and
comfortable residence on one of the leading streets
of this city, and has surrounded himself with

many of the luxuries of life. He was married,
October 27, 1880, to Mary Ettie Moses, of Port
Jervis, and daughter of Burton and Martha
Moses, well known citizens of this place. Our
subject and wife have hosts of sincere friends in
this community, and take great pleasure in en
tertaining them.

^€^S1l*^,"I*^'5!6M-^%'^""

~O0'

I OUIS V BAUER, proprietor of the Wall-
I C kill River Park House, was born in Saxony ,
\~) Germany, December 10, 1846. He is the
son of Charles Louis and Fredericka (Jager)
Bauer, natives of Germany, where they spent
their entire lives, the father being engaged in the
postoffice department of that country for many
years. He passed away in 1861, and is survived
by his wife, who continues to live in Saxony.
In the public schools of Germany the subject
of this notice gained a practical education, aud
at the age of fourteen began a three-years ap
prenticeship to the machinist's trade. He served
until the close of his time, and followed the trade
in Germany until twenty-one years of age, when
he crossed the ocean and established his perma
nent home in America. Going to Newark, N. J.,
he took charge of the machinery in the morocco
factory of C. Nugent & Co., where he remained
for two years. Later he embarked in business
for himself. He was the first to manufacture
genuine Russiau leather in the United States, the
secret of which he learned in Europe, and this
statement is a matter of history. For a time he
was in the employ of Howell, Hinchmaii & Co.,
at Middletown, and during his connection with
that firm he made a trip to Europe for them in
the interests of his discovery. It was through
his instrumentality that the great reduction in the
price of Russian leather was secured in this
. country. It was in 1889 that Mr. Bauer took charge of
the resort he has since successfully conducted.
Bauer's Park, which adjoins Midway Park,
and which contains ten acres, is situated between
Goshen and Middletown, and bids fair to become
one of the leading resorts iu the county.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"45

February 15, 1870, Mr. Bauer married Miss
Sarah, daughter of Dr. Lambrecht, of Elizabeth
Ford, N. J. Of this union two children survive,
Herman and Annie, who ate with their parents.
When the body of General Grant lay in state in
New York City, although there were more thau
one hundred thousand people waiting' outside for
the purpose of viewing the body, Mr. Bauer was
the first to gain entrance. Socially he is identi
fied with the Masonic fraternity and the Inde
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is
a Republican, but is bitterly opposed to sumptu
ary laws. He has served two terms as Excise
Commissioner of Middletown, and was the first
President of the Board of Excise under the new
city charter. His majority at both elections was
overwhelming, and his service in that capacity
was most satisfactory to the people and creditable
to himself.

^r^

•"¦""""T

0 1 L B E R T GOODGION, a contractor and
l_ builder at Middletown, was born in the
[^Ji village of Montgomery in 1854, and is of
English descent. Two brothers of that name
came to this country at a very early day, one of
whom located in Orange County, and the other
in the- South. William Goodgion, who was a
farmer by occupation, was born in Ulster County.
His son, Jacob Goodgion, the father of our sub
ject, was also born in. Ulster County, near Rut-
sonville. The father learned the carpenter's trade
in his youth, and for a short time followed it in
Montgomery, and then returned to the old home
farm in. Ulster County. There he followed farm
ing until his death, at the age of sixty-six years.
Politically he was a Democrat. He married
Susan Moore, a native of Montgomery and a
daughter of Joel Moore, who was of Scotch de
scent and who was a farmer residing near that
village. Mrs. Goodgion was a devout member
of the Reformed Church, and died at the age of
seventy-two years. Other eight children, seven
grew to maturity, and five are yet living.
Gilbert Goodgion was fifth in the parental
family. Soon after his birth his parents removed

to Rutsonville, and on the old farm of his father
and grandfather he grew to manhood. He was
educated in the public schools, and in 1871 came
to Middletown. Under Seth Wright he was ap
prenticed to learn the trade of mason and brick
layer, and after remaining with him two years
returned to his old home, where for one year he
was clerk in a general store. He then went to
Woodbourne, Sullivan County, where he re
mained two years as clerk in a general store, and
again came to Middletown and engaged at his
trade. After working for different parties until
1882, he began contracting and building in part
nership with Mr. Springstead, under the firm
name of Goodgion & Springstead. This partner
ship was continued until 1894, when it was dis
solved, since which time our subject has been in
business alone. In rustic mason work he is
quite experienced, and in almost every part of
Middletown may be found specimens of his work.
Mr. Goodgion was married in Ellenville to
Miss Serepta Edwards, a native of Woodbourne.
She died December 27, 1894, leaving five chil
dren: Frank, Fred, Charles, Clarence and Jennie.
In politics Mr. Goodgion is a Democrat, and has
served as Committeeman from his ward. Fra
ternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias,
and for some years he was a member of Eagle
Hose Company No. 2.

¦'¦>li> > -V;

H^(<«n«i.

EHARLES DAVIS, of Port Jervis, is fore
man of the engine-house and repair depart
ment in the Erie Railroad shops. He is a
native of Bath, Somersetshire, England, but has
resided in the United States for the past thirty-
years. A son of Joseph and Sarah (Branch)
Davis, he was born March 15, 1845, and in his
birthplace spent his boyhood. He received com
mon-school advantages, and wheii he was fifteen
years of age commenced learning the millwright's
trade. Five years later he set sail for America,
coming at once to Port Jervis, where he obtained
a position in the shops and completed his trade.
Until 1870 he was an employe in the roundhouse,
and that year he went to New Orleans, La., re-

1 146

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

maining in that city and in western Mississippi
for two years and eight months. In November,
1872, he returned to this city, having been offered
a position as a machinist in the roundhouse.
Later he was promoted to be foreman, succeeding
P. J. Smith, deceased, and in his department he
has some twenty men.
January 30, 1869, the marriage of Charles
Davis and Sarah Whitehead was celebrated in
Port Jervis. Mrs. Davis was born in Oldham,
England, and had crossed the Atlantic to the
United States less than a year prior to her mar
riage. She was called to the home beyond June
18, 1891, having been an invalid for three or four
years. She was the mother of three sons and
three daughters, two of whom, Mabel and Vic
toria, died in infancy. Florence C. is a successful
school teacher; Alfred is a clerk in the car shops;
Arthur J. occupies a position in a drug store; and
Stanley, the youngest son, is still in school. The
children are all members of the Episcopal Church
and have received good home training. Mr.
Davis is a member of Port Jervis Lodge No. 328,
F. & A. M.; Neversink Chapter No. 186, R. A.
M.; Delaware Commandery No. 44, K. T. ; and
Mecca Temple of the Mystic Shrine of New York
City. Politically he is a Democrat. For thirteen
years he has been a leader of the Erie Cornet
Band of Port Jervis, which he helped to organize
in 1867. Ever since boyhood he has displayed
ability as a musician, and in former years was
quite a vocalist. The instrument which he now
plays in the band is a B flat cornet.

-H  »>3HK®(@)®i+S<«  « — "-

WILLIAM CONN is engine dispatcher for
the Erie Railroad at Port Jervis, and has
filled this position uninterruptedly and
faithfully since 1869. His duties require his con
stant presence and supervision of engines, which
must leave this point in good order, and he also
looks after all repair work in the engine-house.
There are about forty men who take orders direct
from him, and altogether, counting those who are

on the road, he superintends some three hundred
and fifty hands. For twenty-six years he has
been a member of Division No. 54, Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers.
A native of New Jersey, Mr. Conn was born
in the city of Newark, August 11, 1838, and
passed the'first eleven years of his life in that lo
cality. He then removed to Piermont, N. Y.,
which was then the termination of the Erie Rail
road, and there he attended the common schools.
His parents were William and Mary (Campbell)
Conn, natives of Scotland. When he was seven
teen years of age, young Conn ran away from
home, and going to New Bedford, Conn., shipped
on a whaling-vessel, the "Analda," commanded
by Capt. Smith Sarvent. The trip which ensued
consumed three and a-half years, during which
time the vessel touched at the Sandwich Islands
and other points in the Pacific, and proceeded
to the Arctic Ocean, passing the coast of Cali
fornia and penetrating the Arctic Ocean. The
result of the voyage was three thousand barrels
of oil, and was therefore considered very success
ful. Mr. Conn received as his payment one bar
rel for every two hundred barrels of oil procured,
and as it was then worth about $45 a barrel, his
share was $675, besides a percentage of the
whalebone taken.
In 1858 our subject, having returned home,
started in his railroad career on the Erie Road at
Piermont, in the humble capacity of oilman, his
duties being to oil the cars at points of friction.
In i860 he was made fireman on the Eastern
Division, and acted as such for two years. In
August, 1862, he enlisted in the United States
navy as a fireman, and was assigned to the gun
boat "Norwich," under Capt. James Duncan, be
ing attached to the North Atlantic Squadron.
The vessel assisted in blockading the city of
Charleston and other points, helped to take St.
John, Fla., and guarded Yellow Bluff. Mr. Conn
was one of nine firemen on the " Norwich," and
served altogether fifteen months. On his return
to the ordinary pursuits of life, he was re-em
ployed by the Erie Road, and became hostler at
Port Jervis, February 22, 1864. Soon afterwards
he was given the place of assistant engineer, his

WILLIAM L. CUDDEBACK, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"49

duties being to take engines to and from the
yards. Then he was made assistant engine dis
patcher under W. Kimball, and was promoted to
his present place in 1869.
February 10, 1864, Mr. Conn married Mary E.
Travis, of this city. They have but one child,
Nathaniel, who is a clerk in the road department
of the railroad service. Mrs. Conn is a lady of
good education, and is a faithful member of the
Baptist Church. Fraternally our subject is ident
ified with the Masonic order, belonging to Port
Jervis Lodge No. 328, F. & A. M.; Neversink
Chapter No. 186, R. A. M. ; Delaware Command
ery No. 44, K. T. ; also Mecca Temple of the
Mystic Shrine of New York City. In these or
ders he has held a number of offices, and stands
high in the estimation of the brotherhood. His
right of franchise is used in favor of the Repub
lican party.

<QQfr.fr.fr* ».fr.fr.fr.fr».M-j'*g***'i-**********X>
WILLIAM L- CUDDEBACK, M. D. This
well known physician of Port Jervis is de
scended from the French-Huguenots, be
longing to one of the oldest families in the United
States, who arrived iu Deerpark, Orange County,
in 1690. In that year five men, Jacob Cudde
back, Thomas, Anthony and Bernardus Swart
wout and Peter Gumaer, with their families,
• formed a settlement called Peenpack on the Never
sink River, some six miles northeast of the pres
ent site of Port Jervis, which, with the exception
of one small place, was the earliest settlement made
in what is .now Orange County. Amicable ar
rangements were made with the Indians, and
deeds to their land obtained, as it is known they
lived in peace until the French and Indian War,
a period of more than sixty years.
Two of the settlers, Mr. Cuddeback and Mr.
Gumaer, were from France. In 1685 the King
of France, Louis XIV. , revoked the Edict of Nan
tes, leaving the Huguenots without protection
from the intolerance of the Catholics, who so op
pressed them as to cause a great exodus of such
families as could manage to leave the country.
Caudebec was formerly the capital of Caux, situ

ated on the Seine, in that part of France ancient
ly called Normandy. It was a flourishing city
before the revocation of that edict, but was almost
ruined as a result of that measure. It would seem
that the family of Cuddeback, or Caudebec, was
an influential one, and when flight was decided
upon it was done hastily; but circumstances indi
cate that Jacob, in company with Mr. Gumaer,
remained for a time either in England or Holland,
expecting to be joined by his sisters, who were
to bring sufficient funds to enable them to become
established in life elsewhere; but after weary wait
ing they decided to seek their fortunes as best
they might, the whole world, except their own
native land, being open to them. So they sailed
for America, the refuge of thousands of others of
the same faith. On landing in Maryland, their
means were exhausted, but they soon after came
to New York, where they were married, Jacob
espousing Margaret, a daughter of Benjamin Pre-
vost, a trader of Kingston on the Hudson. Their
marriage occurred October 21, 1695. At the lat
ter place they- met the Swartwout families and de
cided to go to the wilderness for a home. Mr.
Cuddeback later went to the Governor of New-
York to secure a patent to the land, which com
prised twelve hundred acres, and was granted the
same October 14, 1697. The original settlers
were soon joined by John Tyse and David Jami
son, but they were not left long in undisputed
possession of their land, as parties from New Jer
sey laid claim to this valuable tract. Needing
additional strength to repress the invaders, we
find that Harmonas Van Inwegen, who had mar
ried a sister of the Swartwouts, and who was a
bold, hardy, fearless, resolute man, and had
traveled all over the world as a sailor, received
part of the laud and added his ability to retain
the homes and property from the Jersey men.
Jacob Cuddeback said that he had been de
prived of many enjoyments in having to leave
France, but he had the satisfaction of leaving his
posterity in a country where good land was easily
acquired. Being reproached by one of his sons
for not having laid claim to a large tract, he re
torted, "You have the same chance as I had to
provide for your family, see if you will do better. ' '

"50

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He lived to be nearly one hundred years of age,
and of his family we make the following mention:
Benjamin, unmarried, died at the age of eighty
years; William, who married Jemima Elting, died
at the age of seventy-four; James, who married
Neltje Decker, a daughter of Christopher Decker,
had three sons, John, James aud Richard, who
removed to Niagara County, N. Y., and he died
at the age of thirty years; Abraham, who wedded
Esther Swartwout, a daughter of Maj. James
Swartwout and Annie Gumaer, of Peenpack, re
moved late in life to Skaneateles, N. Y., where
he died at the age of eighty-eight; Jacob married
Jeannette Westbrook; Elsie became the wife of
Harmonas Van Gordon, of Ulster County, N. Y.,
June n, 1727, and died at the age of eighty years;
Morice first wedded George Westfall, August 20,
17 16, aud later a Mr. Cole, and she lived to be
nearly one hundred; Dinah became the wife of
Abraham Lovis (now called Low) May 31, 1738;
Eleanor married Evert Hoornbeek, and died at
the aget of seventy years; and Naomi was the wife
of Lodiwyke Hoornbeek.
William spelled the name Caudebec, but the
children changed it to Codebec. He wedded Jem
ima Elting on the 8th of April, 1732, and be
came the owner of the old homestead, where he
died at the age of seventy-four years, he having
been born in June, 1704. He was tall of stature,
being over six feet, large-boned, muscular and
lean, and was very strong in his youth. He was
talkative and witty, probably the quickest at
repartee of any in the neighborhood. Argument
was his hobby, and he liked nothing better than
to discuss the Scriptures, being familiar with all
of them. He made much sport of witchcraft, in
which so many believed in those days, and told
many amusing stories concerning it. As a busi
ness man he was slack, but was widely beloved
and respected. He had five children. James, who
became deranged, died at the age of eighty years;
Capt. Abraham, who married Esther Gumaer,
daughter of Peter Gumaer, died at the age of
eighty-two. His son Benjamin wedded Catherine
Van Fleet, and died at the age of forty -five years.
Roulif, who never married, died at the age of
fifty years. He is spoken of in the Eagers' His

tory as having had a hand-to-hand encounter with
an Indian warrior. Both were strong, stalwart
men, and unarmed, but as neither could get the
advantage of the other they parted friends. Sarah
was the wife of Daniel Van Fleet.
The second son of this family, Abraham, re
mained upon the old homestead, of which he
ownad half. He became Captain of a company
of militia during the Revolution, and filled an im
portant place during that exciting time. Six feet
in height, he weighed over two hundred pounds,
and was a strong, handsome athlete. He learned
almost intuitively to do all kinds of complicated
mechanical work; could weave cloth and make it
into clothing; could tan skins, from which he
would manufacture leather clothing or shoes;
made a fanning-mill after having seen one while
on a visit to Old Paltz; made wagons and other
farming implements; and had the ability to use
his naturally bright mind and dexterous hands
for the comfort and pleasure of himself, family
and friends. He was a brave soldier, always
alert, and with an eye single to the safety of those
in his charge. His soldiers were his old neigh
bors, and each thought he knew about as much as
the Captain, but by using tact and patience he
brought them into a fair state of military subor
dination. His first service was at Ft. Montgom
ery, and he was there with his company the day
the fort was captured, after which he went home.
He did good service in keeping in touch with the
village settlements, especially Cohocton, forty
miles distant. In 1778, when the enemy invaded
the neighborhood, he commanded the men sta
tioned at Gumaer Fort, and largely -through his
personal bravery and encouragement to the men
aud women inside the fort, the enemy were re
pulsed and the fort retained. His service con
tinued until the declaration of peace, and the in
dependence of the Colonies was recognized.
Benjamin Cuddeback, the third son of William
Codebec, and the next in direct line to our sub
ject, wedded Catherine Van Fleet, and they had
six children. Benjamin died at the age of ninety-
one years; Levi died of colic when a young man;
Jemima became the wife of Anthony Van Etten;
Henry married Esther Gumaer; Syncthe was the

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"5i

wife of Simon Westfall; and William, who mar
ried Annetje Van Inwegen, died at the age of
ninety years. The eldest son, Benjamin, married
Blandina Van Etten, a daughter of Levi and Jane
(Westbrook) Van Etten, and of their children we
make the following mention: Levi died when
young; Catherine, the wife of James Cuddeback,
died at the age of seventy-eight years; Jane, who
became the wife of Alex S. Johnson, lives in Port
Jervis; Asenath married S. B. Farnum, of whom
see sketch elsewhere in this volume; Elting first
wedded Ann Bevier Elting, and after her death
Margaret Cuddeback; Hannah became the wife
of Col. Peter P. Swartwout; Thomas, a doctor,
married Elizabeth Thompson; Jemima married
L. S. Chapin; and Lydia became the wife of W.
W. Titsworth. (For further information regard
ing Benjamin Cuddeback see biography of Elting
Cuddeback. )
The Doctor, whose name heads this sketch,
was born in the town of Deerpark, on the 26th of
April, 1854, and is the* son of Elting and Ann
Bevier (Elting) Cuddeback, who were the par
ents of six children. Cornelius, ah attorney, mar
ried Esther Mills (see sketch elsewhere in this
volume); Benjamin E., who remained upon the
home farm with his father, wedded Clara Conk
ling, and died in 1893, at the age of forty-two
years; our subject is next in order of birth; Blan
dina is the wife of Rev. J. L. Stilwell, pastor of
the Reformed Church at Bloomingburg, N. Y.;
and two children, who both bore the name of
Philip, died in infancy.
The father has made agriculture his chief occu
pation through life, and is still living on his farm,
at the age of seventy-eight years. He was mar
ried in Deerpark, his wife being a daughter of
Rev. C. C. Elting, ofthe Reformed Church, who
was stationed at Port Jervis, and there he died at
the age of fifty-one years. Mrs. Cuddeback was
called to her final rest in 1861. The father never
cared for political preferment, though he held
several minor offices, but desired to give his time
and attention to his business interests.
The primary education of Dr. Cuddeback was
received in the home schools, after which he took
a special course of two years in Cornell University.

He then began reading medicine with Dr. Solo
mon Van Etten, of Port Jervis, after which he at
tended Bellevue College in New York City, tak
ing the regular course, and was graduated in the
Class of '76. He then became an interne in the
Bellevue Hospital, and after his graduation, in
1878, began practice in Port Jervis, where he has
remained ever since. In company with Dr. H. B.
Swartwout he purchased the hospital herein 1892,
which had been started three years previously.
It is a general hospital, with a capacity of twenty-
four beds, to which the railroad patients for
about one hundred and fifty miles are brought.
The Doctor is also engaged in general practice
and surgery, and has ever met with excellent
success. On the 16th of October, 1880, Dr. Cuddeback
was united in marriage with Miss Alice D. Mal
ven, a daughter of George and Philenda (St.
John) Malven. Her father, who was a hardware
merchant, departed this life in 1894. To our
subject and wife have been born five children:
Frank, Edgar G., Lizzie M., Alice and Philenda.
Religiously the Doctor and his wife hold mem
bership with the Reformed Church. He is a mem
ber ofthe Orange County, New York State and
National Associations of Railroad Surgeons, the
New York State Medical Society, and is now serv
ing as Pension Examiner. For five years, from
1887 until 1892, hewas President ofthe Board of
Education, during which time the Main Street
Schoolhouse was erected. Since the establish
ment of the Free Library he has been President
of the board. Politically his support is given to
the Democratic party.

EW. MARTIN, wholesale and retail dealer
in blue and flag stone, on the corner of North
Street and the Erie Railroad, Middletown,
is one ofthe enterprising men of the city. He
was born in the town of Liberty, Sullivan County,
January 17, 1849, and is a son of Daniel T. and
Lydia (Shaw) Martin, both of whom were natives

"52

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the same town. The first of the name came
from England in the "Mayflower," first locating
near Bedford, Mass., from which place they scat
tered to various parts of the country, one of the
number settling in Connecticut. At a very
early day, Lemuel Martin, the grandfather,
removed from Connecticut, his native state, to
Sullivan County, N. Y., in company with a.Mr.
Hall, and after building a log house returned to
Connecticut. The next season he, his wife and
a Miss Trowbridge and others went by team to
Liberty and were among the first settlers in that
town. The grandfather there engaged in the
lumber business and in wood-turning, and also
built and operated a saw and grist mill on the
Beaver Kill. For some years he was a Justice of
the Peace in that town. Hisson, Daniel T., the
father of our subject, was there born and has
followed the occupation of a farmer during his en
tire life. He resides in the old place and is about
eighty years of age. In politics he is a Republi
can. His wife, the mother of our subject, died
at the age of sixty years. The family consisted of
two sons and three daughters, all of whom grew
to maturity and are yet living.
The subject of this sketch was the eldest in the
parental family, and remained upon the home
farm until after he was eighteen years of age.
He received" his primary education in the public
schools of his native town, and finished his
course at the Normal Institute. When eighteen
years of age he engaged as a clerk in a general
store in Wayne County, Pa., opposite Narrows-
burg, Sullivan County, where he continued four
and a-half years. He then formed a partnership
with a Mr. Decker and started a general mer
chandise store at Narrowsburg, under the firm
name of Decker & Martin, which business was
continued for four years. He then sold out to
his partner, and bought out Stanton & Green,
general merchants of Narrowsburg, and continu
ed in business alone until 1885, when he disposed
of the store, and engaged in his present business,
quarrying and selling blue and flag stone. In
1888 he located in Middletown, carrying on the
wholesale trade, and in 1893 he opened a retail
business, and now has an extensive trade in both.

In the past ten years he has operated many
quarries, and now has four that are yielding good
returns. Mr. Martin was married in Narrowsburg,
September 17, 1873, to Miss Adelia Gordon,
daughter of C. K. Gordon, whose sketch appears
on another page of this work. Three children
have been born unto them: Mabel, Bernice and
May. In politics Mr. Martin is a Republican,
and while residing in the town of Tusten, Sulli
van County, was Supervisor for two terms and
School Trustee two years. He is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he holds
the office of Trustee.

3 AMES C. RIDER, proprietor ofthe cream
ery at Central Valley, was born in the town
of Cornwall, March 3, 1859, being a son of
Charles C. and Mary A. (Cornell) Rider. At
the age of seven years he accompanied his parents
to Middletown, where, five years later, he began to
work in a hat factory, and from that time he was
practically self-supporting. June 7, 1876, he re
moved with other members of the family from
Middletown to Brooklyn, where he and his broth
ers were engaged in the milk business, under the
firm name of Rider Bros.
After carrying on business for some years at
Brooklyn, our subject in 1884 became interested
in the creamery at Turner. Two years later he
came to Central Valley, where he opened a cream
ery, but was unfortunate in losing all by fire.
Undismayed, however, by this disaster, he re
built the plant and is now carrying on a large and
profitable business. In addition to this, he has
also erected creameries at Youngs and Sidney, on
the Ontario & Western, and at Bridgewater on
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. The
output has increased to such au extent that he
now handles about four thousand gallons per
day. The marriage of Mr. Rider was solemnized in
Brooklyn, March 16, 1881, at which time Miss
Lucy A. Smith became his wife. Mrs. Rider
was born in Brooklyn, being the daughter of

CAPT. CHARLES R. FULLER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"55

David and Lucy E. (Cross) Smith, and she made
her home in the city of her birth until the time of
her marriage. She is an estimable, well inform
ed lady, and a sincere member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Two children complete the
family circle, a son, Howard E., and a daughter,
Florence E.
In his political sentiments Mr. Rider is a Pro
hibitionist, believing that the liquor traffic is the
greatest evil ofthe present age and that its over
throw will conduce more to the prosperity of the
nation than any other issue of the day. In his
religious belief he was reared in the faith of the
Hicksite Friends, to which doctrine he still ad
heres.

EAPT. CHARLES R. FULLER, of Middle-
town, is one ofthe best posted men in the
lumber trade in the entire country. He was
born in Broome County, N. Y., in 1834, and is
the son of John W. and Uraina C. (Russell)
Fuller, both of whom were natives of Connecti
cut. The father located in Broome County in
an early day and purchased a farm at Whitney's
Point, where he engaged in farming and also in
the manufacture of hard and soft wood lumber.
He continued in these occupations until his death,
at the age of sixty-three years. His wife sur
vived him many years, dying in 1893, at the age
of eighty-four years. They were both members
of the Baptist Church. Of their family of two
sons and six daughters, three of the latter are de
ceased. One son, Francis Fuller, was a member
ofthe Eighty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry,
enlisting in 1862 and serving until the close of the
war. Subsequently he went West. John W. , Jr. ,
now resides in Corning, N. Y.; Sophronia is the
wife of Joseph H. Conkling, of Coldwater, Mich.;
Alma is the widow of S. S. Mott, of Auburn,
N. Y.; Lemira L- is the widow of James Wessels,
of Middletown.
The subject of this sketch remained upon the
home farm until ten years of age, when his par
ents removed to Union, N. Y., locating on a farm
near that village. Here he remained until nine

teen years of age, assisting his father in the saw
mill and attending the district school as opportu
nity was afforded him. At that age he went to
Corning, N. Y. , where he was engaged as inspect
or of lumber for two years, and then started a
commission-yard in that city; His shipments
were made principally by the Erie Canal, and he
continued in business there until 1862. In that
year he raised a company in Corning, which be
came Company D, One Hundred and Forty- first
New York Volunteer Infantry. He was com
missioned and mustered iu as Captain at Elmira,
N. Y. His regiment was assigned to the Army
of the Potomac and took part in the battle of
Antietam, its next principal engagement being at
Gettysburg. Shortly afterward it was ordered
west, joining Sherman's army in front of At
lanta and assisting in the capture of that city.
From Atlanta it was with Sherman in his celebrat
ed march to the sea, and continued in that com
mand until the close ofthe war. In July, 1865,
Captain Fuller was mustered out and honorably
discharged at Elmira. During his service he re
fused promotion, because of a desire to remain
with his company,
On receiving his discharge, the Captain return
ed to Corning, but only remained there a short
time, going thence to Oil City, Pa. , where he
became a member ofthe firm of Fox, Fuller &
Co., wholesale and retail dealers in lumber. At
this time Oil City was enjoying a boom, occasion
ed by the discovery of oil. He remained as man
ager ofthe firm's business for about two years,
and then sold out, and located in Wilkes Barre,
Pa. In three months he had a large yard start
ed, and there ran a successful business for seven
years. On account of ill-health Captain Fuller was
compelled to sell out his business in the latter
place, and for the two succeeding years was en
gaged in traveling through the West and South.
For his wife he married Mrs. Ella Beecher, of
Middletown, the daughter of J. H. Weed, from
Raysville, Pa. Four children were born unto
them, three of whom, Blanche, Grace and Claire,
died of diphtheria within two weeks. The sur
viving child is Helene.

"56

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In the fall of 1876 Captain Fuller located in
Middletown, and in May, 1877, bought the lum
ber-yard of S. S. Conkling, which he yet con
ducts. It is situated on the corner of Depot and
Foundry Streets, and is well supplied with sheds
and buildings for sash, doors and blinds, and also
for the storage of lumber and coal, both of which
he sells at wholesale and retail. His business has
assumed large proportions, and he sells carload
lots to other dealers in lumber on the line of the
Erie and other railroads centering in Middletown.
He buys his lumber direct from manufacturers.
At one time he was largely interested in
timber-land in Michigan. He was one of the
original stockholders and is a Director and a mem
ber of the executive committee of the glass com
pany, and since its organization has been a
member and Director of the Board of Trade. In
Corning he was connected with the Alliance
Hook and Ladder Company for ten years, now
being an honorary member, and is a member of
General Lyon Post, G. A. R. In politics he is a
Republican. His wife is a member of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church.
Captain Fuller and wife spent considerable
time at the World's Fair at Chicago. He is
regarded as one of the most enterprising men
in Middletown, and to every enterprise calculated
to advance its interest he is ever ready to lend a
helping hand. In his own private business he
shows energy and zeal, and is accommodating to
all his friends and customers.

^m

»-5N^

EEORGE E. BEAKES is a successful busi
ness man in Middletown, and is the proprie
tor of three creameries. He was born in
the town of Wallkill, two aud a-half miles from
Middletown, December 1, 1842, and is a son of
Mahlon Stacey and Emeline (Carpenter) Beakes,
the former born near Middletown, on the old
Beakes homestead, and the latter about four miles
from this city. His grandfather, Joseph Beakes,
was also a native of Orange County. (For the
ancestry ofthe Beakes family, see sketch of Henry
L. Beakes.) The father of our subject was a

farmer, and owned and operated a farm of one
hundred acres near Middletown. He was an
active member of the old-school Baptist Church,
and in politics was a Republican. His death oc
curred in 1891. Our subject's maternal grand
father, William Carpenter, who was of Scotch-
Irish ancestry, was a well-to-do farmer of Or
ange County. Mrs. Beakes died in 1870. Ofthe
eleven children in the parental family, ten are yet
living: James A., who was a member of Company
E, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York
Volunteer Infantry, aud who is now a farmer
residing in Middletown; George E., our subject;
C. H. C, at Orr's Mills; Fanny, of Cornwall;
William B., now engaged in the milk business at
Newburgh; J. E., Abbie J. and Albert S., of New
York City; Annie M. and Emma, at home in
Cornwall. The subject of this sketch was reared on the
home farm, commenced his education in the pub
lic schools, and completed the course at Wallkill
Academy. In October, 1861, he enlisted in the
Fifty-sixth New York Infantry. At Washington
he was transferred to the First New York Mounted
Rifles, Troop C, and was stationed at Fortress
Monroe, becoming a part of General Wool's body
guard, while he was in command, and afterward
that of Benjamin F. Butler. After MacClellan's
advance he went into more active service, and
as orderly conveyed dispatches from one post of
the army to another. Near the close of his three-
years term of service with the rank of Sergeant,
he was detailed to the Adjutant- General's head
quarters in charge ofthe orderlies.
In October, 1864, Mr. Beakes was mustered out
and honorably discharged at Point of Rocks, Va. ,
immediately returning home, where he secured
employment in the Rockville Creamery. The
second year he took charge of the Circleville
Creamery, which he operated one year, and then
again had charge of the Rockville Creamery for
the same length of time. In Wallkill, in 1867,
he married Miss Hannah Jordan, a native of that
town, and daughter of I. C. and a sister of J. V.
Jordan, of Newburgh. Mr. Beakes purchased
the old Horton homestead, consisting of one hun
dred and twenty acres, and located three miles

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"57

from Middletown, and there engaged in farming
for six years. Renting the farm, he accepted a
position with Brown & Bailey, as manager ofthe
Glenwood Creamery, where he remained three
years. In company with his brother-in-law, J.
V Jordan, he then purchased the Pleasant Valley
Creamery, and business was conducted under the
firm name of Beakes & Jordan. For one year
they engaged in the manufacture of butter and
cheese, and also in the shipment of cream and
milk. The Shawangunk Creamery was then
purchased of Jeff Post, and in partnership with
his brother, Mr. Beakes conducted business under
the name of C. H. C. Beakes & Co. Later they
purchased the Montgomery Creamery, and the
following year built the Coldenham Creamery,
near Orange Lake. The firm now had three
creameries, but the next year they sold the
Shawangunk Creamery and continued the other
two. On account of ill-health, however, Mr.
Beakes was compelled to abandon the creamery
business and retire to his farm, where he remained
two years. He then went to Sidney Centre,
Delaware County, where he built a large cream
ery, and the second year sold the others to J. V.
Jordan. He then bought the Merrickville Cream
ery and took his brother,' C. H. C. Beakes, into
partnership. After operating the two creameries
for eight years the firm was dissolved, and our
subject continued the Sidney Centre Creamery.
At this time he purchased a milk business in New
York City, which he placed in charge of his son,
Charles H. Beakes, the milk being supplied from
the Glen Farm daily, and from Sidney Centre.
In 1893 he purchased a half-interest in the East
Masonville Creamery, which was run under the
name of Beakes & Gifford. The firm owned the
property and manufactured the cream for farmers.
In 1894 Beakes & Gifford purchased the Tacoma
Creamery, in Delaware County, which they ran
on the same plan. The Sidney Centre Creamery
is the largest one with which Mr. Beakes has
been connected, and he operates that alone, as
well as the New York City milk business, located
at No. 210 East Fifty-first Street. The East
Masonville Creamery has a capacity of eleven
thousand pounds a day, while the capacity of the

Tacoma Creamery is nearly as large. Mr.
Beakes gives his personal attention to the dis
posal of the products.
In addition to the property already mentioned,
Mr. Beakes owns a farm of two hundred and
forty-two acres near Sidney Centre, which he
operates himself, and on which he keeps about
fifty head of cows. He also owns his old home
of one hundred and twenty acres and runs it as a
dairy farm, keeping thirty head of cows. From
1883 to 1893 he resided with his family at Sidney
Centre, but is now located at No. 16 Highland
Avenue, Middletown, where he has a very com
fortable residence. His family consists of his wife
and three children: Charles H, a graduate of
Eastman's Business College, and now in charge
of the New York business; Crosby J., a student
in Hamilton College, of the Class of '97; and
Edna. In army matters Mr. Beakes retains a
deep interest, and is a member of Capt. William
A. Jackson Post No. 301, G. A. R., at Middle-
town. He is a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian
Church at Middletown, and in politics is a stanch
Republican, taking an active interest in local
politics. He is a stockholder in the New York
Consolidated Milk Exchange.

SCOTT COOK has been interested in rail
roading since 1862, and has been a conduc
tor since 1864. He was born in Otisville,
October 24, 1841, and is a son of Dr. Avery and
Pamela (Loomis) Cook, the former a native of
Beechertown, Mass., and the latter of Otisville,
N. Y. Dr. Avery Cook conies of an old Congre
gational family, who long resided in his native
state. In 1827 he came to Orange County, where
he taught school for a time, and while so engaged
studied medicine. He then entered Fairfield
Seminary, in Otsego County, N. Y., and in 1834
graduated with the degree of M. D.
The Doctor then located at Otisville, where he
practiced with his father-in-law, Dr. Loomis, who
was an old physician at that point. After the
death of Dr. Loomis, he had charge of his entire
practice, and it is estimated that he rode seventy-

"58

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

five thousand miles on horseback in the practice
of his profession. He had patients for many miles
around, and the old saddlebags which he carried
are now in the possession of our subject. For
many years the Doctor was proprietor of a drug
store at Otisville, which he continued until his
death, March 30, 1891, at the age of eighty-three
years and eleven months. In early life he was a
Whig, but in later years a Republican. His wife,
Pamela Loomis, died in 1889, at the age of sev
enty-nine years. She was a member of the Pres
byterian Church, and took an active interest in
all matters of a religious and benevolent nature.
To Dr. Avery and Pamela Cook were born sev
en sons and one daughter, our subject being the
only one now living. One son, Virgil C, was in
an Illinois regiment during the late war, aud died
in Chicago in 1864.
W. Scott Cook was reared in his native village,
where he received his literary education; his bus
iness education was obtained in Eastman's Busi
ness College at Poughkeepsie, from which he
graduated when nineteen years of age. In 1862
he entered the employ of the Erie Railroad as
brakeman between Port Jervis and Jersey City.
Eighteen months later he was made conductor on
a freight train, where he remained for two years,
and was then in charge of a passenger train until
1873. In that year he left the service of the Erie
Railroad, and came to the Oswego & Midland
Railroad, now the Ontario & Western, as con
ductor between Bloomingburg and Jersey City.
In 1883, the road having been completed from
Middletown to Weehawken, he was transferred
to that line, and has now charge ofa milk train.
In 1894 he built his present residence at No. 9
Albert Street. For some years he resided at Otis
ville, but on the death of his father sold out and
removed with his family to this city.
At Port Jervis Mr. Cook was married to Miss
Catherine J. Wood, who was born in Mongaup
Valley, Sullivan County, and they have one child,
Lelah M., who is at home. Socially Mr. Cook
is a member of Port Jervis Lodge, F. & A. M., and
isa demitted member of Neversink Chapter No.
186, R. A. M., and of Delaware Commandery,
K. T., both of Port Jervis. He is also a member

of Orange Railroad Conductors' Association, Di
vision No. 104, ofthe Legion of Honor, and is a
stockholder in the Co-operative Store. In poli
tics he is a stanch Republican.

Gi

.&m\®&

£)

=0

HOMAS H. DESMOND, superintendent
of the rolling-mill of the National Saw
Works at Middletown, was born December
6, 1855, in Coatesville, Chester County, Pa.,
and is the son of John and Catherine (David)
Desmond, the former born near Philadelphia,
and the latter in London, England. She died in
Coatesville, some years ago, leaving three chil
dren, of whom our subject is the only one living.
The name Desmond is of Norman origin. John
Desmond, the father, has always been connected
with the rolling-mills, and has been boss roller
and foreman of the rolling-mill at Coatesville
since 1850. However, he is now living a retired
life. Thomas H. Desmond was reared iu his native
town, and was educated in the high schools of
that place. From early boyhood he has worked
at the iron and steel business, which he learned
under the instruction of his father, in the works
at Coatesville. From that place he went to Ches
ter, Pa., with John Roach, the great ship-builder,
and for seven years was foreman in his establish
ment. He then went to Philadelphia, and enter
ed the employ of S. Robbins & Sons, of the Phil
adelphia Rolling-mill, as superintendent for two
years, when, in 1883, he accepted his present po
sition as superintendent of the rolling-mill of the
National Saw Works. They manufacture sheet
steel for saws only, and for their own use exclu
sively. They also manufacture the best grade
of crucible steel, and give employment to seventy-
five men.
Mr. Desmond was married in Philadelphia, Pa.,
to Miss Kate Safried, a native of that city. Five
children were born unto them, four ofwhom are
living, viz.: Ella, Charles, Catherine and Ken
neth. Josephine died at the age of six and one-

JAMES PORRITT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 161

half years. Fraternally Mr. Desmond is a mem
ber of Hoffman Lodge, F. & A. M.; Midland
Chapter, R. A. M.; the Consistory of Middletown;
and Lancelot Lodge, K. of P. In politics he is a
Republican and a strong advocate of the princi
ples of that party. ¦  ^§*§P  :

3 AMES PORRITT, of Port Jervis, is fore
man of the machine-shops of the Erie Rail
road. He is an efficient manager and enjoys
the high regard of his superiors, at the same time
being in pleasant relations with the men under
his supervision. He superintends every detail of
the work done in the shops, and is a practical
mechanic of long experience.
Our subject's father, George Porritt, was a
machinist and was an engineer on the Paterson
Railway prior to 1842, later having charge ofthe
Swinburne locomotive works south of Paterson.
At another time he had charge of the machine-
shops of the Rogers works, and subsequently was
with the Beckwith Rolling-mills at Paterson.
He married Miss Betsey Nichols, by whom he
had four children, as follows: our subject; Nancy,
deceased; Sarah Ann, wife of J. D. Campbell,
Master Mechanic of the Buffalo & Susquehanna
Railroad; and an infant.
James Porritt was born in Paterson, N. J., Sep
tember 22, 1832, and when he was fourteen years
of age entered the Swinburne & Smith shops to
learn the machinist's trade. His father was then
engaged in the construction of cotton-mills for the
Mexican trade. The boy served for seven years,
receiving fifty cents per day, and became profi
cient in all lines of mechanical work, giving par
ticular attention to overhauling engines and mak
ing repairs on the same. After completing the
business he entered the employ of the Erie Rail
road at Susquehanna in 1853, and from that time
until the present he has remained with this cor
poration, with the exception of the time from
1855 to 1857, when he worked in the Lake Shore
shops at Cleveland, Ohio. For two years he was
employed in the Susquehanna Railway shops,
becoming accustomed to the finest kind of loco

motive repairs. When in Cleveland he over
hauled the first engine relegated to the shops of
the then new Lake Shore Road.
August 5, 1857, Mr. Porritt came to this city,
entering the old Erie shops, which were burned
in October, 1862. The present shops were opened
for business February 1, 1863, since which time
our subject has filled his present position. He
usually has in his department thirty men, though
at times he has upwards of eighty men under his
orders. For the past thirty-one years he has been
identified with the Masonic order, and is also a
member of the Legion of Honor. At Presidential
elections he deposits his ballot in favor of the
principles advocated by the Republican party.
October 18, 1859, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Porritt and Bessie Richardson. They have be
come the parents of a son and two daughters,
namely : George, a locomotive engineer and ma
chinist, who is now in California; Aletta, the wife
of A. Parsons, of New York City; and Hattie, au
accomplished young lady in her teens.

j****i

-* .J..5..5..3. ^52

^****l 

EHARLES C. LUTES, agent for the Wells,
Fargo & Co. Express, and former agent for
the New York & Lake Erie Railroad, came
to Middletown in 1869 with the Erie Company,
and about 1886 became their ticket agent at this
place. He was also agent of the Erie Express
until it was sold to Wells, Fargo & Co. In 1893
he resigned his position as agent for the Erie, and
now devotes all of his time to his duties as agent
for the former company. He was born in Sussex
County, N. J., one mile from Unionville, N. Y.,
February 14, 1841, while his father, Samuel Lutes,
was born in the town of Minisink, Orange Coun
ty, as was his grandfather, Levi, and his great
grandfather, Godfrey. The latter, who at one
time was the largest tax-payer in the town, was
of German descent, and was a soldier in the Rev
olutionary War. Samuel Lutes was a farmer in
Sussex County, N. J., and later removed to the
town of Minisink, Orange County, where he fol
lowed the same occupation, and where he died in
1857. His wife, Lucinda Parker, was a daugh-

51

Il62

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ter of Phineas Parker, who was born ou Long Isl
and, and settled in the town of Minisink at a very
early day. Mrs. Lucinda Lutes died in 1882, at
the age of seventy-two years, leaving three sons:
Charles C, our subject; Phineas, in the employ
of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway,
and now residing in Middletown; and Levi, also
residing in Middletown, and in the employ ofthe
Erie Railroad.
Charles C. Lutes was reared on the farm in
Minisink, and received his primary education in
the public schools of that town, graduating at
Unionville Academy at the age of seventeen. He
then taught school in the vicinity of his home un
til the spring of 1862, when he went to Newburgh
as a clerk. In the fall of that year he enlisted in
Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth
New York Volunteer Infantry, from the town of
Newburgh. During his three years of service he
was in many important engagements, including
Fredericksburg and Gettysburg; he was in the
Wilderness campaign, and also stood on the hills
of Appomattox and witnessed Lee's surrender to
General Grant. At the close of the war he took
part in the Grand Review at Washington, and
was mustered out and honorably discharged at
Newburgh in June, 1865.
On receiving his discharge Mr. Lutes went to
Vermont, and for three years was telegraph oper
ator for the Central Vermont Railway Company.
In the spring of 1869 he returned to Orange
County, and entered the employ ofthe Erie Rail
road at Middletown, with which company he was
engaged until 1893, when he resigned to devote
his entire attention to his duties as agent for the
Wells, Fargo & Co. Express. The office at Mid
dletown is considered one of the best on the road.
In the fall of 1893 ne purchased Mr. Boyd's in
terest in the Boyd & Combs Real-estate and In
surance Agency, and continued as a partner of
Mr. Combs, under the firm name of Combs &
Lutes, until December, 1894, when he sold out
to A. B. Wilbur. He is still a property-holder in
Middletown, however.
In 1871, at Middletown, Mr. Lutes was mar
ried to Miss Alida Harding, who was born near
Otisville. They have one son, Wilbur E., ticket

agent for the Erie Railroad on Main Street, Mid
dletown. Fraternally Mr. Lutes is a member of
General Lyon Post, G. A. R. ; of Hoffman Lodge,
F. & A. M.; Midland Chapter, R. A. M.; of the
Knights of Pythias; of Middletown Lodge, I. O.
O. F. ; and Ivanhoe Lodge No. 2103, K. of H.
He is also a member of Excelsior Hook and Lad
der Company, of which he has been a member for
sixteen years, and is now the Vice-President. Iu
politics he is a Republican, and has served his
party as a member of the City Central Committee.
Before the incorporation of the city he served one
term as a member of the Board of Village Trus
tees, being elected on the Republican ticket.

(JOHN W. GARDNER, proprietor of Oakland
I Place, Middletown, was born in 1866. His
Q) father, John W. Gardner, was born in the
town of Warwick, while his grandfather, John
Gardner, was born near Scranton, Pa., from
which place he came to Warwick, where he died
at the age of eighty-six years. His great-grand
father moved from Long Island to Pennsylvania,
where his demise occurred. The Gardners trace
their ancestry back to England, and some mem
bers of the family served in the Revolutionary
War. John W. Gardner, the father of our subject, was
reared upon a farm until he was twenty-four years
of age, when he went West, by way of Buffalo, to
Chicago, and afterwards to Indiana, Iowa, Illi
nois and Wisconsin. He remained in the West
ten years, the greater part of the time carrying
on a successful grain business. Returning East,
he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty
acres adjoining Middletown, which he improved
and operated until his death, April 20, 1894, in
his sixty-eighth year. In politics he was a Re
publican, and socially was a Master Mason. He
was also an active member of the Presbyterian
Church. His marriage with Anna E. Horton
occurred in Middletown, of which place she is a
native. She is a daughter of Parmenas H. Hor-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"63

ton, who was born near Otisville, and who was
descended from an old Orange County family.
He was a farmer on the place which he sold to
our subject's father. To John W. and Anna E.
H. Gardner were born two children: Charles H.,
a commercial traveler, now residing in Chicago;
and the subject of our sketch. The mother now
makes her home with our subject.
John W. Gardner grew to manhood on his
father's farm, and received his education in Wall-
kill Academy, and at Freehold Institute, the lat
ter a military school in Freehold, N. J., where
he spent two years. On leaving school, he re
turned to the home farm, but subsequently trav
eled extensively through the West, visiting nearly
every state and territory, and also spent a short
time in Canada. After having satisfied his appe
tite for travel, he returned to develop his present
place, which he named Oakland Place, in honor
of Oakland, Cal. He purchased the place in
1894, and had it surveyed and planted by C. J.
Everson, C. E. The addition, which comprises
ninety acres, was placed on the market in April,
1895, and many lots have already been sold.
Nearly all his property lies within the city limits
of Middletown, and the trolley cars pass through
on East Main Street. He also has lots on the
latter street, and on Horton, Gardner and Wood
lawn Avenues.

<*K************|*g**************>C>
(JOHN H. LITTLE. Although at the time of
I the breaking out of the Rebellion Mr. Little
(2/ had reached an age when he was exempt
from military duty, yet his patriotic impulses
were aroused and his anger excited by the indig
nities heaped upon the Old Flag. Accordingly he
enlisted as a member of the illustrious One Hun
dred and Twenty-fourth Regiment that won dis
tinction on many a bloody battlefield. His serv
ice was of such a nature as to reflect credit upon
his valor and add glory to the regiment. All the
hardships incident to war he endured — the long
and forced marches, the tedium of camp life, and
the peril of an open conflict with the enemy.
When he enlisted his hair was raven black, but

it was gray at the time he returned home. His
eyesight, too, that had been unusually good prior
to that, almost failed him. His patriotic spirit,
however, knew no diminution, and he served loy
ally and well till the close ofthe war.
In the town of Wallkill, near Middletown,
where he now resides, Mr. Little was born on the
ist of March, 1816. His father, Isaac, a native of
this county, engaged in the carpenter's trade in
early life, but later settled upon a farm in the
town of Wallkill, where he remained until his
death. Grandfather Eli Little was a farmer at
Scotchtown, and was a descendant of Scotch-Irish
ancestors. The mother of our subject, Abigail,
was born on Long Island, aud was a daughter of
Eli Corwin, formerly a farmer at Scotchtown.
There were four daughters and six sons in the
family of Isaac Little, but John H., and James, a
retired citizen living on Mulberry Street, are the
only survivors. John H. was reared on the home
farm in Wallkill, and at the age of sixteen be
came au apprentice under Stephen Preston in
Montgomery, where he remained nearly five
years. About 1837 he began as a cabinet-maker
on Main Street, Middletown, and for some years
had the only furniture manufacturing and under
taking establishment in the city. Selling out
after some years, he settled on a farm on the
Bloomingburg Road, near Fair Oaks, but after a
number of years on that place he came back to
Middletown, where he fitted up the Congrega
tional Church and superintended tile building of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He then gave
his whole attention to carpenter work, which he
carried on until about 1893, when he retired.
While at times he took contracts, he was some
times employed as foreman on jobs.
In August, 1862, Mr. Little laid down his
tools and entered the service of the Union, be
coming a member of Company E, One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry, and was
mustered in at Goshen. Before leaving that city
he was made Corporal. Accompanying his regi
ment South, he was with it at Fredericksburg
and Chancellorsville, and at the latter place was
obliged to remain in the hospital for a time, ow
ing to sickness resulting from sunstroke. At

1 1 64

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Gettysburg he was severely injured by the burst
ing of a shell near him, which threw him off
his feet and rendered him insensible for a time.
A few weeks were spent in the hospital, and on
recovering he was placed in the invalid corps as
Corporal, doing duty principally in Washington.
He was there and helped guard the city at the
time of Lincoln's assassination. At the close of
the war he was mustered out of service and hon
orably discharged.
The home of Mr. Little is situated at No. 24
Grant Street, and is presided over by his wife,
who was formerly Miss Josephine Jenkins and
was born in this state. Prior to his marriage to
her, Mr. Little had been married, in Scotchtown,
to Miss Mary A. Young, who died in Middle-
town, leaving two children: Albert, who is en
gaged in the undertaking business in this city;
and Frank Elizabeth, widow of Charles S. Burr,
and at present residing with her father. Socially
Mr. Little is connected with the Order of Royal
Templars of Temperance and the Temple of
Honor. He also belongs to General Lyon Post,
G. A. R. In early days he was a Whig, and
since the organization of the Republican party he
has advocated its policy. For two years hewas
Overseer of the Poor of Middletown, and for one
year he held the office of Collector of the town of
Wallkill, including Middletown. As one of the
oldest residents of this city, he takes a deep in
terest in its progress, and has been an eye-witness
of much of its growth. His record is that of a
brave, conscientious and honorable man, ready
to do his duty in times of peace and war.
as *s,_si ^' T^^i^r" ;s "©
(lOHN DONOVAN, an undertaker and livery -
I man at Nos. 122 and 124 North Street, Mid-
(2/ dletown, was born in Bullville, town of Craw
ford, in May, 1855. His father, James Dono
van, who was born in County Kerry, Ireland,
was a carpenter, and followed that occupation
while in his native land. He there married
Mary Dee, who was also born in County Kerry,
and shortly after the birth of their first child the
father came to America, reaching New York in

December, 1848. Not finding anything to do
there, he walked with a comrade to Newburgh
and thence to the town of Crawford, looking for
work. They were offered work by a farmer,
who would give them nothing but their board.
His comrade accepted the offer, but Mr. Dono
van found work on a farm elsewhere, receiving
$4 per month during the winter. In the spring
his wages were advanced, and after working two
years he sent for his wife and child. As soon as
possible he rented a farm iu the town of Craw
ford, where he lived the remainder of his life,
with the exception of two years spent in Bloom
ingburg. Later he bought a farm near Bullville,
which he improved, and added to it until it com
prised one hundred and seventy acres.
The father of our subject was one of the first
three of the Irish race to settle in the town of
Crawford, and was the first of them to locate per
manently. During his life he was never sued,
nor did he ever sue anyone. He was one of the
founders of St. Paul's Catholic Church at Bull
ville in 1870, and one of its pillars until his death.
Before this church was built he frequently walked
to Goshen or Wurtsboro to attend church. He
died April 7, 1892, and his remains were buried
in St. Joseph's Cemetery at Middletown. He
came of a long-lived race, his father, Timothy
Donovan, who was a butcher by trade, dying in
Ireland when over one hundred and eight, and
his grandfather at the age of one hundred and
twelve. James and Mary Donovan were the parents of
six children who grew to maturity. Michael re
sides in Middletown ; John is the subject of this
sketch; James, manufacturer and patentee of close-
hitching road and speed carts, and also a carriage
manufacturer and undertaker, resides at Goshen;
Anna is Mrs. James Fitzgerald, of Goshen; Mary
resides in Middletown; and Thomas is a success
ful coal merchant on Railroad Avenue, Middle-
town. The mother of these children resides with
her sou Thomas.
The childhood days of our subject were spent
on the /arm, and his education was received in
the public schools. He remained at home, en
gaged in farm work, until 1880, when he located

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 167

at Circleville, and there engaged in farming for
three years. He next moved to a farm near
Bloomingburg, in the town of Wallkill, and there
engaged in farming and in the livery business,
and also operated a creamery for three years.
In April, 1889, he located in Middletown, and
engaged in the livery and undertaking business.
He bought his present place, built a barn and
driveway from North Street, and now has stable
room for seventeen horses. Mr. Donovan is a
graduate of Sullivan's School Of Embalming of
New York City, and thoroughly understands his
business in every particular.
In Pittsfield, Mass., Mr. Donovan was united
iu marriage with Miss Annie Conway, born near
New Lebanon, and a daughter of Patrick Con
way. They have five children: James, Anna,
Agnes, John and George. Our subject is a mem
ber of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Middle-
town, and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
He is a member of the Middletown Liverymen
and Undertakers' Association, and is an honorary
member of McQuaid Engine Company. In pol
itics he is a Democrat.

(lOHN A. CROSS. Biographies of successful,
I upright men are great incentives, teaching
\ZJ noble thinking and energetic action. He
who gives others an example of industry, sobriety
and honesty of purpose in life has a present as
well as a future influence upon the well-being of
his community, for his life arid character affect,
unconsciously though it may be, the lives and
characters of others, and thus the influence is
unending. The subject of this biographical review is one
of the prominent residents of Orange County,
and is the proprietor of the place known as Ma
ple Lawn, in the town of Goshen. He was born
February 9, 1830, iu Brooklyn, N. Y., and was
the eldest but one in the family of John A., Sr. ,
and Isabella (Bates) Cross, also natives of this
state, wherein they passed their entire lives. The
father of our subject was a distiller during his
lifetime, operating on au extensive scale. He was

prominent in local affairs in the city of Brook
lyn, and for many years served as a member of
the Board of Aldermen. From 1848 to 1850 he
represented his district in the General Assem
bly, and for the next two years was State Sena
tor. He was First Vice-President and Chairman
of the convention held in Utica, N. Y., which
nominated William Henry Harrison for Presi
dent in August, 1840. For over thirty years he
was an influential politician of Brooklyn, and be
came one of the organizers of the Republican
party. His death occurred in the latter city No
vember 21, 1867.
When ten years of age our subject went to sea,
spending about nine months on board ship, and
some three years later he again "shipped," work
ing his way up until he became master. For
seven years he was commander on a packet line
between New York and Liverpool, being in the
merchant service, and was on the water in all
about thirty years. He is a finely educated gen
tleman, supplementing the knowledge gained in
the public schools by a course in Delhi Institute,
where he studied civil engineering. Later he
entered Rensselaer College at Troy, graduating
from the scientific course in 1847.
When the tocsin of war resounded over the
land, Mr. Cross enlisted in the Thirteenth Regi
ment New York National Guard, serving for
five months. He then entered the navy, and
rendered efficient service as a member of the
water forces until peace was established. Al
though escaping capture or bodily injuries, he
contracted rheumatism as the result of exposures,
and up to the present time has been a great suf
ferer from this disease.
In 1889 Mr. Cross retired, locating upon the
beautiful place where he is now living, and which
is known throughout this locality as Maple Lawn.
It is a most beautiful and attractive place, and
derives its name from the number of lovely ma
ple trees which surround it. The marriage of
our subject with Miss Elizabeth Howard, who
was born in New York City, occurred in 1852,
and to them was born a son, John Howard. Our
subject's first wife departed this life in 1856, and
his second marriage united him with Elizabeth

n68

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Joost, of Brooklyn. They had one daughter,
Isabel, wife of Albert G. McDonald, present Cor
poration Counsel of the city of Brooklyn. In
1883 our subject chose for his third companion
Jennie Guest. They had two children, James
T. and John G., but both are deceased.
Mr. Cross is a devoted member of the Episco
pal Church, while his wife belongs to the Baptist
congregation. In social affairs he is a Mason of
high standing, having attained to the Thirty-
third degree, which is the highest degree known
to Masonry. He is also a member ofthe Grand
Army of the Republic. Of Republican candi
dates and measures he is an influential sup
porter, and never lets an opportunity pass by
when he can be of use to his party.

-3 — »  (,^>K®^P)®<,|^»  * — * —

EHARLES E. MANCE, Alderman from the
Second Ward, Middletown, was born near
Ellenville, Ulster County, November 28,
1852. At a very early day the Mances came from
Holland and settled in the Shawangunk Moun
tains, the settlement long being known as the
Mance Settlement. The great-grandfather of our
subject, John Mance, was a prominent and active
follower of Shank's Band. Shank was a half-
breed Indian, who had formerly been friendly to
the whites, but after he turned traitor John Mance
took up arms against him and his band, and
hunted them to the last, finally exterminating
the entire band. After this he settled down to
farm life at the settlement, where he died. Rhoades
Mance, the grandfather of our subject, and John
S. Mance, the father, were both born at the Mance
Settlement near Ellenville. Some years after his
marriage the father located in Orange County, in
the town of Wallkill, where he learned the trade
of a mason, which he continued until the war.
He then bought a sawmill on the Little Paugh-
caughnaughsinque, near Bullville, and ran a saw
mill during the war, getting out ship-timber.
Shortly after the close of the conflict he located in
Middletown, where he engaged in contracting and

building until his death, in 1877, at the age of
fifty-six years. He was a prominent and active
worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His
wife, Margaret M. Wilkinson, was born in the
town of Wallkill, and was a daughter of Jonathan
Wilkinson, also a native of that town, and of
Scotch descent. She died in September, 1893, in
her sixty -ninth year. They were the parents of
the following children: Agnes, Mrs. Osborn, of
Middletown; Alice, deceased; Charles E., our
subject; Allie, who died at the age of twenty-nine;
Jennie, deceased; and Lizzie, now Mrs. Millard,
of Poughkeepsie.
The subject of this sketch was educated in a
common school, and at the old Orchard Street
School. In 1867 he went to Warwick and
entered the employ of W. J. & J. J. Knapp,
house and sign painters, with whom he remained
two years as an apprentice, and then came to Mid
dletown. After completing his trade with Col. M.
I. McCornell, he formed a partnership with H.J.
Randall, under the firm name of Randall & Mance,
this connection continuing until March, 1878, at
which time he entered the painting department
of the New York, Ontario & Western Railroad.
After continuing with the railroad company for
three years he went to Bradford, Pa., and worked
at his trade for a short time. Returning to this
county, he located at Middletown, and again be
came identified with the New York, Ontario &
Western. In 1883 he was appointed master
painter byE. Minshull, and has since had charge
of a painting department of the railroad shops,
having about forty men under his supervision.
Mr. Mance was married, May 28, 1874, to Miss
Augusta Taylor, born in Ulster County, and a
daughter of Angus Taylor, a farmer iu that coun
ty, who died in early manhood. Her grandfather,
Daniel A. Taylor, was a farmer in Orange Coun
ty, and died here many years ago. Her mother,
Maria Bennett, who was born in Ulster County,
after the death of her husband removed to Mid
dletown, where she reared, the family. She died
here at the residence of our subject, October 19,
1894, at the age of sixty-six years, leaving four
children: Louisa, Mrs. Timbrell, of Middletown;
Cornelia, Mrs. A. D. Seamen, of this city; Mrs.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1169

Mance, the wife of our subject; and Daniel, of
Middletown. Mrs. Mance was reared and edu
cated in this city, and here married our subject.
They have two children: Frank A., attending
Middletown Academy, a member of the Class of
'96; and Mabel E.
In politics Mr. Mance is a Republican, and was
elected on that ticket in 1892, as Alderman from
the Second Ward. He was re-elected in 1894,
and is Chairman ofthe Street and Railroad Com
mittees, and is a member ofthe Lighting, Police,
Auditing and Rules Committees. He is a mem
ber of Middletown Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F.,
and of Lancelot Lodge, K. of P., and at present
is an honorary member of Eagle Hose Company
No. 2, of which he was foreman for four years.
For two years he was first assistant chief of the
Middletown Fire Department under F. M. Pronk.
He belongs to the Master Car and Locomotive
Painters of the United States and Canada, and
for the past eight years has served on various
committees in that organization. For many years
he has been connected with the various band or
ganizations of this city, and at present is a mem
ber ofthe Twenty-fourth Separate Company Mil
itary Band.

¦5§Sr

"HE MIDDLETOWN STRAW WORKS is
one of the principal industries in Middle-
town, aud, under the able superintendency
of H. C. Benson, has attained success equal to
that of any other like institution in the country.
The works were erected in 1885 by an incorporated
company, known as the Middletown Straw Hat
Works, for the manufacture of straw hats of every
description. It then had a capacity of sixty dozen
per day. Soon after the works were started, Ed
win and H. C. Benson became stockholders of
it, and in 1887 they leased it from the Middletown
Straw Hat Works, remodeled it, put in new ma
chinery, and engaged in the manufacture of men's
hats exclusively. They have enlarged it so that
it now has a capacity of two hundred and fifty
dozen per day of ten hours.
The straw works are located on North Street

and Low Avenue. The building is in the form
of an "L," the main part being 45x235 feet, and
the "L" 45x116. Itis a solid brick structure,
three stories in height. The first floor of the
building is used for offices, packing, sizing,
whittling-room, bandboxes and cases, bleaching,
shipping and engine and boiler room. The en
gine is of thirty-five horse-power, and the boiler
of sixty horse-power. The second floor is used
for blocking, pressing and trimming. The third
is used as a stockroom, sewing-room, machine
and repairing room. The freight elevator con
nects the various stories.
Many ofthe machines used in the manufacture
are the inventions of Mr. Benson, and improve
ments on others made by them. A few of them
they have patented. They get the stock from
which they manufacture from China, Japan, Eng
land, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy. It comes
already plaited, or in the piece. The manufact
ured product is of men's straw hats of every de
scription, shape and size. In 1894 they made
three thousand different sample hats for their
commission house alone. In the season of [894-95
they manufactured over fifty thousand dozen hats.
They originate their own styles and designs, and
right here the work of H. C. Benson comes in
play, for he is the principal designer, and all
made by others have to be approved by him. The
entire manufacture of the works is shipped to
New York City, where all are sold through one
commission house, that of Thom &Bayley, Nos.
14 and 16 Washington Place, New York, corner
of Green Street, where the senior member ofthe
firm, Edwin Benson, has his office.
The works give employment to from one hun
dred and fifty to one hundred and seventy-five
hands. The season opens in September, and ends
about the middle of July, making in all about ten
and a-half months for the year. For bleaching
they have an artesian well one hundred and
thirty feet deep, which gives a sufficient sup
ply of water for all purposes. They have two
large pumps, with a capacity of seventy -five gal
lons per minute. The building is heated by
steam, and in manufacturing they require a tem
perature of from eighty degrees to one hundred

1 170

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and twenty degrees in some ofthe rooms, while in
the drying-room the temperature is still higher.
Edwin Benson, the senior member ofthe firm,
is one of the veterans in the straw-hat manufact
ure in the United States. He has been in the
business since about 1850, and is a practical man,
both in the manufacture and in the business man
agement of the business. H. C. Benson, the
junior member, is a popular citizen of Middletown,
and is a successful superintendent and manager
of the works.

=+

+=

(TAMES P. MULFORD is a very successful
I carriage manufacturer in Middletown. He
Q) was born in Hamptonburgh, December 25,
1845. His father, William B. Mulford, was born
iu the old town of Minisink, now Wawayanda.
His grandfather, William Mulford, was born on
Long Island, and located in the town of Mini-
sink at an early day, where he improved a farm,
and engaged in farming during the remainder of
his life. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary
War, and died at Minisink, and was buried in the
old family cemetery at South Centreville. William
B. Mulford, the father, was also a farmer, but later
was interested in the running of canal-boats on
the Delaware & Hudson Canal. He married
Priscilla Van Auken, who was born in the town of
Minisink, and who was of Holland-Dutch descent,
being the only representative ofthe family then liv
ing. Her father was James Van Auken. In 1850
the family located in Middletown, where the father
died one year later. The mother survived him
many years, and died in 1892, when about sixty-
five years of age. She was a devout member of
the Presbyterian Church. Three children were
born unto them, two of whom are yet living:
Cornelia, now Mrs. Piatt, of Middletown; and our
subject. It may here be mentioned that on the
father's side, as well as the mother's, the family
was of Holland-Dutch descent.
James P. Mulford, our subject, came to Middle-
town with his parents when but six years of age.

He was here reared, and educated in the Orchard
Street public school, and finished his course in
the academy. When fifteen years of age, he was
apprenticed to learn the trade of carriage-making,
and served three years at Middletown. He then
went to Paterson, N. J., and was employed in
Monroe & Van Idestine's Carriage Factory at No.
44 Broadway, the largest manufacturers in that
city; from there he went to Bridgeport, Conn., in
the employ of Hall Bros. Manufacturing Company,
of which the great showman, P. T. Barnum, was
the head, and where all the vehicles used in the
great show were built. He was here foreman in
the blacksmith department for two years. He
then went to Tarrytown, in the employ of Daniel
Shanahan, a carriage manufacturer, and had
charge of his business twenty-one years. After
having been away for twenty-five years, he re
turned to Middletown, and started in carriage
manufacturing on the corner of North Street and
Low Avenue. He continued there until the
spring of 1894, when he removed to his present
location, No. 243 North Street, a two-story build
ing, 40x73 feet. In addition to manufacturing, he
has a carriage repository, and carries in stock
harness, blankets and horse supplies of all kinds.
The second floor of his building is used for paint
ing and storage. He does all kinds of job work,
and sells wholesale and retail, having the largest
business of the kind in the city.
While residing in Tarrytown, Mr. Mulford was
united in marriage, June 5, 1871, to Mary Zell, a
native of Philadelphia. Three children have beeu
born unto them: Nettie, now Mrs. Piatt, of Mid
dletown; Freddie and Alice. In politics Mr.
Mulford is a stanch and straight Republican,
aud is a member of the First Presbyterian Church
of Middletown, of which body his wife is also a
member. Before leaving Middletown, Mr. Mul
ford was a member of Excelsior Hook and Ladder
Company No. 1, and was .assistant foreman
at the time of his removal to Paterson. Since
his return he has again become au active member
of the company. While in Tarrytown, he was a
member for fifteen years of Hope Hose Company
No. 1, and was its foreman. He is at present a
member of the Exempt Firemen's Association at

JAMES HALSEY HUNT, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"73

Tarrytown. He attends its meetings, and is act
ive iu each year's tournament. In the twenty-five
years in which he was absent from the city, many
changes occurred, but on his return he has
adapted himself to the new situation, and is now
numbered among the leading and progressive
business men of the city.

(Tames halsey hunt, m. d., one of
I the most widely known surgeons in the
Q) southern part of New York State, was born
in Sandyston, Sussex County, N. J., August '9,
1849. He was the son of Dr. Isaac S. aud Sarah
A. (Fleming) Hunt. His early education was
obtained in the Travis Institute, at Newton,
N. J. He began the study of medicine at Belle
vue Medical College of New York City in 1869.
Having mastered the prescribed course of study
and graduated with honor at the above institute,
he took a position on the staff of Bellevue Hospi
tal, passing through the various grades of junior,
senior and house surgeon, and acquiring much
valuable information, especially in surgery, which
proved of inestimable advantage to him when, in
1874, he located at Port Jervis in the practice of
his profession. He was aided at the outset by
his connection with his father, a physician of
considerable repute.
The Doctor had a natural talent for surgery,
and in this branch of the profession he had few
superiors outside of the large cities. Possessed
of an iron nerve, and with confidence in his own
skill and judgment, gained by close study and
experience, he did not hesitate to perform the
most dangerous and difficult operations. That
he was successful, was evidenced by his services
being in demand for miles in every direction. In
1878 he purchased the old Savings Bank Build
ing on the corner of Ball and Sussex Streets, and
here established his offices. In 1888 he received
the appointment of Surgeon for the Erie Railway
Company at Port Jervis.

Recognizing the need of a hospital, Dr. Hunt
was the first and only physician willing to risk
his reputation on it proving a success. At his
personal expense he enlarged and converted the
building into a thoroughly equipped hospital, and
in memory of his father, whom he greatly re
vered, he named the institution the "Hunt Me
morial Hospital. ' ' He spared neither care nor ex
pense to make it a model of its kind, and its
marked success has been proven by the scores of
Erie Railroad men who are living to bless the
day when it was erected.
While pre-eminently a surgeon, Dr. Hunt yet
felt a deep interest in the prosperity of his adopt
ed village. He was a Director in the First Na
tional Bank, and one of the founders and a Di
rector of the Deerpark Electric-light Company.
One of his maxims was, "As a heath measure it
is desirable, indeed almost essential, that those
who are actively engaged in business should set
aside a portion of each year for rest and recupera
tion." Reducing this theory to practice, he
twice crossed the Atlantic and made several trips
to the wilds of the Adirondacks and Canada.
One of the last acts of his life was the publication
of a souvenir volume entitled, ' 'Three Runs in
the Adirondacks."
In March, 1892, Dr. Hunt disposed of his hos
pital aud extensive practice in the hope of re
storing his health, which had become shattered
by seventeen years of the most arduous and ex
acting labor. He planned an extensive trip
through the Pacific Slope, Alaska, Southern Cal
ifornia and New Mexico, returning by way of the
Southern States. His hopes were never realized,
for upon reaching Salt Lake City he was stricken
with acute Bright's Disease, which resulted in his
death, December 20, 1892.
Dr. Hunt's natural kindness and generosity of
heart were demonstrated in his treatment of his
poor patients. He never distressed one of them
by enforcing the payment of a bill by legal process.
In his practice he was governed and controlled
by the spirit ofthe old Hippocratean oath, which
required one receiving a license to practice medi
cine to pledge himself never to refuse profession
al aid and succor to the poor, to those who could

"74

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

not pay. His practice in this regard was true to
the highest and noblest tradition of his profes
sion. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of
his fellow -citizens as a man, and dying at the
comparatively early age of forty-three, he left be
hind him an example of success which most men
would consider a rich reward for a lifetime of
strenuous endeavor.

0R. ISAAC SHAFER HUNT, deceased, was
one of the prominent and leading physicians
of Port Jervis. He was born in Stillwater,
N. J., November i, 1819, and was a son of
Thomas aud Rebecca (Turner) Hunt. He was
literally a self-made man, and whatever promi
nence he acquired in the profession to which he
was so ardently devoted may be attributed mainly
to his studious course in early life. In 1847 he
was graduated from the medical department of
Yale College, and was on his way to the Delaware
Water Gap, where he intended to locate, when,
passing through Sandyston, Sussex County, he
found the "Finch" fever raging disastrously in
that section. Immediately setting to work, he
was eminently successful in the treatment of that
dread disease, and was eventually taken down
with the fever, barely recovering from the scourge.
Locating permanently at Sandyston, Dr. Hunt
married Sarah A. Fleming, a well known lady of
that place. He was the father of two sons and
three daughters, namely: James Halsey, whose
sketch precedes this; L- Victor, a resident of Port
Jervis; Ella, widow of Walter L- Gallup, of
Evanston, 111. ; Stella, wife of Herbert A. Shat-
tuck, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Rebekah, wife of
Charles E. Holmes, of Port Jervis. In 1865 the
Doctor came to Port Jervis, where he gained the
confidence and esteem of the people, as was shown
by the extensive practice that he acquired. He
was a member of the Masonic order, having taken
the degree of Knight Templar. In politics he
was a stanch Republican. He was a popular

man, and took an interest and active part in every
thing that would benefit the community. His
death occurred November 26, 1875, when he was
fifty-six years of age.
_*==0#<^=:-.

EHARLES B. BUCKHOUT, of Middletown,
was born in Highland, Ulster County, N. Y.,
March 28, 1867. The family of which he
is a member traces its lineage to England. His
father, J. W. Buckhout, was the son ofa cooper
living at Highland and was born in that village,
where the early years of his life were passed.
For some time he engaged in the milling business
there and later was similarly employed at Matte
awan, where he built a mill and remained a num
ber of years. From that place he accompanied
O. D. Wickham to Middletown, "where he has
since resided.
The marriage of J. W. Buckhout united him
with Lottie Weed, a native of Highland, and at
present living in Middletown. She is the mother
of two children, Charles B. and Nellie, of New
York City. Her father, Barton Weed, was born
in Highland, and there engaged in milling for
some years. His invention for sharpening sickles
brought him into prominence throughout this
part of the country, and he manufactured large
quantities of his patents, which he sold at retail
in his own aud other counties. His death oc
curred in Highland.
Gaining a good education in the public schools
of his native village, Charles B. Buckhout was
fitted for the successful prosecution of business
affairs. Starting out for himself, he worked as
bookkeeper in his father's employ until 1888,
when he came to Middletown in the employ of
O. D. Wickham, the lumber dealer and miller,
with whom he remained as bookkeeper until
1892. He then accepted a position as traveling
salesman in the employ of Stanton Brewster, a
lumber merchant of Painted Post, Steuben Coun
ty, N. Y., his territory lying between New York
City and Albany. He was remarkably successful
in his work, and in fact the trade assumed such
proportions that it became advisable to establish

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"75

a lumber yard in Middletown, which he did in
1895. The yards are situated between Waway
anda and Benjamin Streets, near Fulton, and the
sales, which are made principally direct to con
tractors, are very large.
In New York City Mr. Buckhout married Miss
Phcebe Edwards, who was born in Sullivan
County, N. Y., her father, Nathaniel Edwards,
having been a farmer there. Our subject takes
an intelligent interest in the questions of the age,
and in both local and general elections gives his
support to Republican candidates. He is a mem
ber of the First Presbyterian Church and a con
tributor to its good works.

[™~ RANK ORCE, who is engineer on the Erie
r3 Railroad, with his headquarters at Port
| Jervis, resides on the bank of the Delaware
River, just across the state line in the village of
Matamoras, Pa. He was born in Borgo Taro,
Italy, June 24, 1832, and in 1848 came to the
United States in company with an uncle. The
latter opened a boarding-house iu New York
City, and later conducted, one in Philadelphia.
For some time the lad was an errand boy and
purchased supplies for his uncle. They did not
get along well together, however, and one night
when the boy was sent to Jersey City on an er
rand he decided to go forth and seek his own
fortune. Without a cent in the world, he tramped
onward hoping to find work, but was disappointed.
The people to whom he applied when he was
hungry gave him something to eat, and huckle
berries were plentiful at that season. After
sixteen days he arrived, footsore and weary, at
Hancock, a station 011 the Erie Railroad in New
York. During this time he had slept each night
in haystacks and barns, and had traveled one
hundred and sixty-four miles. At the station
just mentioned three or four men were standing
by the side of a boarding-house. One spoke to
him in German, asking him where he was going.
He could not speak a word of English, but under
stood the German. He answered in his. native
tongue, and was surprised when one of the men

repeated the question in Italian aud told him that
it was thirteen miles to the nearest house in the
direction he was going. This man, who proved
to be very kind in his way, asked the boy to stay
over night, which he did, and the next morning
he was given work on the railroad, at eighty
cents a day, though he had to board himself.
His hands were soft, and at the end of a week he
was discharged, as they were so swollen he could
not handle the shovel. His employer did not
pay him, but told him he could collect the money
at Port Jervis, and so he tramped along for seven
ty-six miles iu order to reach this city. He ob
tained the $2.40 which was due him, and this was
his initial capital in business. He obtained board
with a Mr. Warner, who also was proprietor of
the boarding-house referred to at Hancock. The
second day after Mr. Orce's arrival he assisted in
raising the seminary, and though he worked for
two days received nothing for his labor. For
about a year he received seventy-five cents a day,
but for four months, while working for the Dela
ware & Hudson Canal Company, he was paid
but sixty cents a day. Returning to the Erie
construction, he received eighty cents a day, and
remained there until October, 1850.
After serving on a freight train with John
Andrews, formerly conductor of the gravel train
where he had previously worked, he was given
a freight train in the Delaware Division, with
headquarters at Port Jervis, his wages being $1
a day. He remained in the capacity of brake-
man until 1857, a part of which time he obtained
$1.25 per day. In November, 1857, ne was
made fireman on au engine, and September 10,
1861, became division engineer. For several
years he ran a freight train, but gave up the
place in 1874 in order to take charge of a freight
train on the Honesdale Branch. This was his
run for the next fourteen years, when, October 5,
1887, he was injured in a head and head collision
at East Millville. The disaster occurred on a
curve where the other train had no right to the
track. Mr. Orce was buried beneath the wreck
age, and was there probably forty minutes before
he gained consciousness. When he was extricated
it was found that his left arm was badly crushed,

1 1 76

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

two ribs were broken, and severe scalds were
about his head. His arm was useless for nine
months. His hearing was permanently injured,
and it was nine months before he could resume
work. About 1870 he was in another collision
near Rock Run. He obeyed his orders to enter a
switch, and had left his engine when he had carried
out the command; another freight train started off
the main track, running into his own engine, with
disastrous consequences. At another time a col
lision occurred one-half mile west of Baket
Switch, in Delaware County, owing to conflicting
orders. Both engines were totally demolished,
cars were telescoped, and everything got on fire,
but the company was saved thousands of dollars
owing to the promptness with which the people
of the vicinity turned out and with buckets of
water assisted to put out the flames. Among his
many other exciting experiences in railroading
was when hewas in charge of a passenger train.
It was heavily loaded, and therefore he had two
engines attached. The forward one broke down
just as the train reached the three-span bridge
across the Delaware at Deposit. The train was
going at good speed and the momentum carried
it across, the ties and tracks being broken away
by the disabled engines. Thus the train went
quite a distance on the stringers of the bridge,
but no one was injured.
In May, 1852, Mr. Orce married Mary Kelley,
of Port Jervis, who died in the spring of 1865.
April 19, 1867, Mr. Orce wedded Catherine
Madden, of New York City, but who was reared
in Hancock, N. Y. By the first marriage there
were born three sons now living, namely: Frank,
a conductor on the Delaware Division; Stephen,
a locomotive engineer; and Henry, who has charge
of a stationary engine. By his second union
Mr. Orce has one daughter, Mabel, who is a
graduate of the academy and is a young lady of
exceptional ability. A niece of our subject is also
a member of the household. Mr. Orce has
grown gray in the service of the Erie Railroad,
and enjoys the good-will and friendship of every
employe of the same. He is thoroughly acquaint
ed with every curve of the one hundred and
four miles of this division. Altogether he has

been for forty-six years in the railroad employ,
and for thirty-four years has been an engineer, all
of this work being on the Delaware Division. For
over thirty years he did not speak to one of his
own countrymen, but about 1874 his brother
Louis, now of New York City, came to America,
and after making inquiries succeeded in finding
our subject and came to visit him.
(JOHN P. SAYER, a musician in Middletown,
I and proprietor of a livery stable, was born in
Qj the town of Warwick, December 25, 1867.
His father, Andrew Sayer, was also a native of
that town, as was also his father, the grandfather
of our subject, Decatur Sayer, who was a farmer.
Andrew Sayer was engaged in farming in the
town of Warwick for some years, and subsequent
ly removed to Middletown and here engaged in
the trucking business, which occupation he fol
lowed until his death. He married Sarah Corter,
who was born in the town of Deerpark, and who
now lives in Middletown. Of their nine children
seven are yet living.
When the subject of this sketch was seven
years old the family came to Middletown, where
he grew to manhood and received his education
in the academy. When but ten years of age, he
began the study of music, taking lessons on the
piano and cornet. At first he studied under Pro
fessor Doxey, later under Professor Stewart, and
subsequently studied violin music under Professor
Rosher. He became an expert musician on every
instrument undertaken, and since 1886 has been
a member of either Rosher's or Berg's Orchestra.
In 1883 he began traveling for Wood & Ogden,
selling pianos and other musical instruments, his
territory lying in Orange, Sullivan and Delaware
Counties. After continuing with that firm until
its dissolution, he was employed by their success
ors, Morgan & Wilber, until 1893.
In January, 1894, Mr. Sayer purchased the
livery business of L. B.. Scott, which was the old
est and largest in Middletown. The building,
which is two stories in height, and has a frontage
of one hundred feet, extends back two hundred

HULET D. CLARK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"79

feet, and has thirty stalls. It accommodates a
large number of carriages and buggies, and the
stable is well equipped for supplying weddings
and funerals.
In 1893 Mr. Sayer assisted in organizing the
Twenty-fourth Separate Company Band, in which
he plays solo alto. He is a member of the Bap
tist Church, and in politics is a Republican.

-**=).

-*"¦*""•]

$+$

"""=_

NULET D. CLARK. In the town of Mini-
sink, where he has resided for many years,
Mr. Clark is well known as a successful
farmer and progressive business man. Since com
ing here he has been identified with the best in
terests of this locality, and has aided in all plans
for the material advancement of the town. His
has been a busy life, and as a result of his un
wearied labors he has accumulated a competency,
which will enable him, when he so desires, to re
tire from active business affairs and enjoy in his
declining days the fruits of a life well spent.
Referring to the parental history of Mr. Clark,
we find that his father, Benjamin G. , was born in
Connecticut, but in early manhood settled in New
Jersey, and there married, his wife, Angeline
Springsted, being a native of that state. Hulet
D. was born in Sussex County, February 15,
1835, and was reared upon the home farm, gain
ing early in life a practical knowledge of agri
culture, and receiving a fair education in the
neighboring schools. He established domestic
ties December 29, 1857, at which time he was
united in marriage with Miss Margaret Swart
wout, a daughter of James D. Swartwout, of
Port Jervis, and a direct descendant in the sev
enth generation of Roeloff Swartwout, one of the
pioneers of this country, who came from Holland
in 1655, locating at Kingston, N. Y. They be
came the parents of five children, as follows:
Deborah, who is the wife of Samuel Hornbeck;
Naomi, who married John G. Beakes; Clarence
G., who married Mary Horton; and Carrie M.
and Niven H., who are still with their parents.
After his marriage Mr. Clark purchased a farm
in the town of Mt. Hope, upon which he made

his home for six years, engaged in the cultivation
of the place. In 1867 he bought one hundred
and fifteen acres, comprising his present place,
and here he has since resided, meantime bringing
his place under a high state of cultivation. He
followed general farming until 1884. Some two
years later he started the flour and feed store in
the village of Johnson, a station on the Susque
hanna & Western Railroad, aud he has since been
connected with the firm of C. G. Clark & Co. , of
which his son, Clarence G., is the senior member.
In politics Mr. Clark is a Democrat, but is not
radical in his political views, being willing that
others should have the same independence that he
asks for himself in voting for men and measures.
He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church at
Westtown, and takes an active interest in all
things that tend to the advancement of the Mas
ter's cause. He has been quite successful in the
accumulation of this world's goods, which fact is
largely due to his untiring industry and persever
ance. All the improvements on his farm are the
work of his hands and brains. As a citizen he is
highly esteemed by all who know him, and is
worthy of the regard in which he is held.

.BEN D. DEWITT, junior member ofthe firm
^ of Sliter & Dewitt, of Middletown, was born
_ in Liberty, Sullivan County, N. Y., Septem
ber 22, 1856. He traces his ancestry to the old
Holland-Dutch family from which DeWitt Clinton
was descended, and his forefathers were identi
fied with the early history of this state, his grand
father serving in the War of 18 12, and his great
grandfather taking part in the Revolution.
Elias Dewitt, father of our subject, was born
in Orange County, and for many years gave his
attention to general farming, but at present his
home is used principally for the accommodation
of summer boarders. In religious belief he is
connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He is still hale and hearty, in spite of his sev
enty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden

n8o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

name of Susan Tidd, was born in Downsville,
Delaware County, N. Y., where her father, Elisha
Tidd, was engaged in farming and the lumber
business. The parental family consisted of three daugh
ters and five sons, of whom all the sons and one
of the daughters survive. Of the brothers, two
reside in Sullivan and three in Orange County.
Eben, who was fifth in order of birth, was reared
on the home farm, and attended the common
schools and Jeffersonville Academy. For one year
he was employed at the carpenter's trade in
Laporte, Sullivan County, Pa., after which he
worked near Hancock, Delaware County, N. Y.,
for two years. While there he was one of the
first to open the blue-stone quarry at Hancock,
which produced three-quarters of a million feet
of stone. After closing that quarry he spent one
year with the Inderlid Chemical and Stone Com
pany at Rock Riff, being tneir salesman aiid gen
eral manager.
In 1892 Mr. Dewitt came to Middletown,
where, in partnership with R. G. Sliter, he en
gaged in the blue-stone business at No. 5 Foun
dry Street, and they have since carried on a large
wholesale and retail business. He has also a
stone dock on the Ontario & Western at Mont
gomery Street. He has had important contracts
for blue-stone sidewalks, curbings and trimmings
for buildings, and furnishes any kind of stone
wanted, his specialties being the Ohio sandstone,
Warsaw blue stone and Connecticut brown stone.
In addition to the sales made in this locality,
shipments of stone are made to New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. In Delaware County, N. Y., Mr. Dewitt mar
ried Miss Leonora Porter, daughter of Levi Por
ter. Her father, who was a native of Oswego,
N. Y., first followed his trade of a sawyer, later
became a lumberman and jobber, and is now liv
ing retired from active labor at Hancock, Dela
ware County. Her mother, Mary J., was born
in Oswego, where the maternal grandfather,
Isaac Kipp, was a farmer and distiller. Her pa
ternal grandfather, Selim Porter, was born in
Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and engaged in farm
ing and lumbering near Owego. Mrs. Dewitt

was the youngest of four children, all but one of
whom are living, one of her sisters being a resi
dent of Middletown. By her marriage she has
had two children, viz. : Lottie, who is at home;
and Fay, who died at the age of seven years.
Politically Mr. Dewitt is a Republican, and is
well informed regarding the questions of the age.

Gl NDREW BROWN, a dealer in meats and
LA vegetables in Middletown, was born at Sus-
/ I pension Bridge, N. Y., and is a son of John
W. and Margaret Brown, who were natives ot
Germany. His father was a stone mason by
trade, which he learned in his native country.
Shortly after his marriage he emigrated to the
United States and located at Suspension Bridge,
where he remained until 1865, when he came to
Middletown, and has continued to work here at
his trade ever since. While verging on old age,
he is yet hale and hearty, aud can do as much
work as any man in the trade. During the war
he was drafted, and responded to the call, but
was rejected by the examining physician. His
wife died at Suspension Bridge when our subject
was a mere lad. They were the parents of two
children, one of whom has passed to the better
world. Andrew Brown was bora November 14, 1856,
and remained with his father at Suspension Bridge
until he was nearly nine years old, when they
came to Middletown. While iu Suspension Bridge
he attended the public schools, and also those at
Middletown for a short time. When but ten years
of age he began in the meat-market of Louis
Kammera, on East Main Street, with whom he
learned the trade of a butcher. In 1872 he went
to New York City with that gentleman, who had
started in business in that city, and worked iu his
meat-market on Eighth Avenue for six months.
As he did not like the business there, he returned
to Middletown, and for three years was employed
on the farm of George Wickham. On leaving
the farm he commenced in business for himself,
and November 14, 1876, started his present mar
ket at No. 82 North Street, where he occupies

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1181

two floors. Here he has ample room for his
stock of meat and vegetables, together with fish,
oysters and clams in season. He has one refrig
erator for fish and two for meat, and two delivery
wagons are required in the delivery of goods.
During the winter season he packs pork for sum
mer use. In the manufacture of sausage he uses
a three horse-power water motor.
Mr. Brown was married in Guilford, Chenango
County, to Miss Cora E. Whiting, who was a
native of that place, and daughter of E. M. Whit
ing. The latter was quite a politician, and for
years was employed in the railway mail service.
He died in 1890. One child was born to our
subject and wife, Lena, who died at the age of
eight years.
Mr. Brown is a member of the Legion of Honor,
the Knights of Labor and the Eagle Hose Com
pany. Of the latter organization he has been a
member for thirteen years, being assistant fore
man for one year and Treasurer three years. He
is an attendant ofthe Congregational Church, and
politically is a Republican. The family resides at
No. 46 Wickham Avenue, in a neat and comfort
able residence, which was built a few years ago.

rs_

i^H^i

["REDERICK W. LOWE. The business of
Yy which Mr. Lowe is the head was established
I by himself and sons in 1883, when he built
a shop in Middletown, put in machinery at a cost
of $2,700, and began in the manufacture of files
and rasps. The plant is operated by an engine
of fifteen horse-power, with a boiler of twenty
horse-power, and there are two cutting-machines,
together with a trip-hammer capable of making
four hundred and fifty-four blows in a minute.
The rasps are punched by hand, while the files
are finished by machine work. Since 1890 he
and his son Charles J. have been partners, under
the firm name of F. W. Lowe & Son.
Mr. Lowe was born in Prussia, German)-, June
5, 1828, being a son of Henry and Dorothea
(Sthan) Lowe, also natives of that place, where
his father was a manufacturer of nails. The
family consisted of fourteen children, of whom

our subject was seventh in respect to age, and he
is one of the two survivors ofthe original num
ber. He was a lad of fourteen when he began to
learn the process of manufacturing nails, under
the instruction of his father, and after gaining a
thorough knowledge ofthe business he did jour
neyman work.
Taking passage 011 the sailing-vessel "Johan"
at Bremen, Mr. Lowe came to America in 1853,
reaching this country after a voyage of fifty-four
days. From New York City he went to Con
necticut, where he worked as blacksmith in a
rolling-mill near Stamford. For a time he was
employed in making chains. He learned the file
business in that place, and was employed at it
there until 1861, when he went to Sing Sing,
N. Y., and secured a position with the Arcade
File Works. So efficient did he become in the
trade, that he was said to be the best workman in
the factory. In 1862 he resigned and removed
to Johnstown, N. Y. , whence in the spring ofthe
following year he came to Middletown, accepting
a position in the Eagle File Works. Not feeling
satisfied with the surroundings there, he went to
Matteawan, but in a short time the superintendent
of the works sent urgently requesting him to re
turn to Middletown, which he did, taking a posi
tion as forger of files. For twenty-one years he
remained with that concern, accompanying it in
its three removals, and becoming thoroughly ac
quainted with every department of the work.
In 1883, resigning from the position he had so
long held, Mr. Lowe started in business with his
sons, and since then he has conducted a profitable
and increasing trade. His main building is 200X
202 feet in dimensions, and is surrounded by a
lot 106x153. He owns a neat residence, 79x200,
at No. 180 East Main Street, near his shop.
This property he purchased when it was in an
unimproved condition, and planted shade and
fruit trees, also small fruits and other produce,
making the garden one of the finest iu the city.
In New York City Mr. Lowe married Miss
Eliza Spieker, who was born in Germany in
1826. Only three of their eight children attained
years of maturity, and they were: William, who
is a file-maker and resides in Philadelphia;

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

George, who died in Middletown in 1894; and
Charles J. The last-named was born and reared
in this city, receiving a good education in the
academy here, and then began his trade un
der his father. He is a fine file-cutter and is
said to be the best last rasp-maker in the country.
Socially he is an active member of Eagle Hose
Company No. 2.
For ten years Mr. Lowe was a Director of the
first building and loan association organized in
Middletown. He has served as Inspector of Elec
tions and in other local positions. Politically
his allegiance is given to the Republican party.
In 1869 he joined Middletown Lodge No. 112,
I. O. O. F. , and belonged to it for seven years,
when he became one of the principal organizers
of Luther Lodge. In the latter organization he
has served as First Noble Grand. He is a mem
ber of the Congregational Church and has held
the office of Trustee ofthe congregation.

~cc-

•j^gfi&Qu&z-^ -

"ScT

WILLIAM J. NELSON, M. D., was born in
Romney, Hampshire County, W. Va.,
April 30, i860, and is a son of Rev. Jo
seph and grandson of Joseph Nelson, of County
Antrim, Ireland. His father was educated in
Belfast, Ireland, and graduated from Queen's
College, with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. He
then took a course in theology, and was ordained
a minister in the Presbyterian Church, and
preached in his native country until his removal
to America, in 1857. On coming to the United
States he located in Romney, -W Va., where he
served as Principal and President of Romney
Classical Institute until after the close of the war.
He then removed to Cumberland, Md., where he
was Principal of the Cumberland Classical Insti
tute. Later he removed to Hartford County,
Md., and was pastor of the Bethel Presbyterian
Church. His next change was to Sussex Coun
ty, N. J., where for four years he was pastor
of the Clove Presbyterian Church. He later
removed to South Centreville, where he was
also pastor of the Presbyterian Church for four
years. He then retired from the ministry, and

in the year 1892 his death occurred, at the age
of seventy-four years. His wife, Janette McKib
ben, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and
was a daughter of Joseph McKibben, who was a
salt manufacturer, and engaged in the shipping
business at Belfast. Hewas the owner of several
vessels, and did a thriving business there for
many years. He died in Ireland. Mrs. Janette
Nelson, who now resides in Middletown, is the
mother of two daughters and one son..
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood
days in Maryland and New Jersey, and received
his primary education in private schools, mostly
in those presided over "by his father. Later he
entered Weston Military Institute, at Weston,
Conn., where he remained three years. He then
returned home, and went to school in Maryland
for a time. From early childhood he had a de
sire to study medicine, and in the sessions of
1S79-80 entered the medical department of the
University of Maryland, from which he gradu
ated in 1883, with the degree of M. D. By com
petitive examination he was appointed assistant
in the University of Maryland Hospital and In
firmary, at Baltimore, where he remained two
years, having the practical benefit of every de
partment of that institution. He then located iu
Baltimore, where he engaged in the practice of
his profession for one year, and then went to
Clove, N. J., where he practiced for a time. In
1888 he removed to South Centreville, Orange
County, where he remained iu the practice of his
profession until 1892, when he located in Middle-
town. His office is now at No. 66 East Main
Street, where he is engaged in general practice
and in surgery. He is at present the City Physi
cian of Middletown, having received the appoint
ment July 28, 1894, from the Mayor and Com
mon Council. By virtue of his office he is a mem
ber ofthe Board of Health. In the four years in
which he has resided in Middletown, he has built
up an extensive and paying practice, of which
he may well be proud.
Dr. Nelson was married, in Middletown, to Miss
Cora J. Case, born in Turner, this county, and
daughter of Ira L. Case, a sketch of whom ap
pears elsewhere in this work. They have one

WILLIAM H. HALLOCK
Town of Montgomery.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"85

child, Olive L- Fraternally Dr. Nelson isa mem
ber of Hoffman Lodge, F. & A. M. He is also a
member of Excelsior Hook aud Ladder Company
No. 1. Professionally he is connected with the
Alumni Society of the University of Maryland,
and of the Orange County Medical Society. Like
his father, he is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, and politically is a Republican.

Gz

Lt-

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£©-£?

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•pGjlLLIAM H. HALLOCK. A pleasant and
1A1 we^ improved farm in the town of Mont-
V V gomery is the home of the gentleman
above named, and under his able management
the land produces crops which rank first both in
quantity and quality. The estate comprises two
hundred and eighty acres, upon which have been
placed all the improvements of a model farm.
The owner is an enterprising farmer, and a citi
zen whose worth is recognized by his fellow-men,
by whom he is esteemed accordingly.
Mr. Hallock has spent his entire life iu this
town, and here he was born June 21, 1835, being
the second in order of birth, and the only sur
vivor, among three children comprising the family
of Joshua G. and Mary (Brown) Hallock. His
father was born and reared in Dutchess County,
N. Y., and thence came to the town of Hampton
burgh, Orange County, where he married Miss
Brown. Working on a farm by the month and
operating rented land, he secured a start in life,
and, carefully saving his earnings, he was enabled,
in 1852, to purchase ninety-five acres of land in
this town. From this small beginning he added to
his property from time to time until his posses
sions aggregated two hundred aud eighty acres.
He continued to make his home upon this place
until his death, which occurred at the age of
eighty-five. The life of Joshua G. Hallock was character
ized by integrity and honesty, even iu the small
est details of his business affairs, and no one
could speak aught against his character. Pos
sessing traits of perseverance and economy, he

worked his way from poverty to affluence, and at
his death left his son a valuable property. A
Republican iu political views, he was elected on
that ticket to the position of County Supervisor,
which he filled for several years. In connection
with general farm work, he engaged in raising
stock, a branch of agriculture in which he met
with success. His parents were natives of
Dutchess County, and the family dates back to
1640, when Peter Hallock, one of thirteen Pilgrim
fathers, came from England and settled on Long
Island. Our subject's mother was born in
Dutchess County, and died in the town of Mont
gomery, at the age of eighty years, surviving her
husband only four months.
Remaining with his parents until their death,
our subject then inherited the old homestead,
where he has since resided. His educational ad
vantages were such as the public schools af
forded, and being a man of close observation
and a thoughtful reader of current literature, he
is well posted concerning matters of general or
local value. Like his father, "he supports the
principles of the Republican party, believing
them best adapted to promote the welfare of our
Government. March 4, 1874, he married Miss
Harriet Barrett, of Sullivan County, N. Y., an
estimable lady, whose efficient co-operation has
been of the greatest assistance to him in his under
takings. Mr. Hallock and his wife are members of
the Dutch Reformed Church.

0ANIEL REEVE, deceased, was born in the
town of Minisink, January 1, 1814, and was
a son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Decker)
Reeve, natives, respectively, of Long Island and
Orange County. On the maternal side he traced
his ancestry to Anthony and Hannah (Decker)
Van Etten, members of pioneer families of this
County. They resided in a stone house on a
large farm, in what history calls the "lower"
neighborhood, near the home of her brother,
Maj. John Decker. In July, 1779, Captain
Brandt, with a company of Tories and Indians,
invaded this neighborhood, and Anthony, who

52

n86

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was Commissary for a company of American sol
diers, was killed by a gunshot on going to duty.
Mary, a daughter of Anthony, married Isaiah
Decker in 1783, and at his death she was left with
three children, namely: Elizabeth, who became
the wife of Joseph Davis; Isaac, who died at the
age of eighty-four; and Hannah, who married
Jeremiah Reeve, son of Daniel and Martha (Rus-
sel) Reeve, of Suffolk County, L- I. Jeremiah
and Hannah Reeve had three children, those be
sides our subject being Isaiah, who grew to man
hood and was accidentally killed by being thrown
from a horse in 1832; and Martha G. , who re
mained at home.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on
the old farm and was educated in the public
schools, and in 1839 married Ruth Ann Carpen
ter. They became the parents of five children,
one of whom died in infancy. Daniel C, who
was graduated with honors from Union College,
Class of '63, and from Albany Law School,
practiced law in Middletown for a period of six
years, until a sudden cold developed into lung
trouble, resulting in his death, February 9, 1871,
at the age of thirty years. Valentine H, a suc
cessful farmer, resided on the old homestead until
his death, in 1886. Martha J. makes her home on
the farm where her grandparents settled in 1804.
Ruth A. is the wife of Edward Silk, of Middle-
town, and is the mother of one son, Reeve A.
Silk, an academic pupil.
The first representative of the Carpenter family
in the United States was William Carpenter, born
in 1576, who came from Wherwell, England, in
the good ship "Bevis" to New England, in May,
1638. His ancestry in England is traced back to
Richard, father of John Carpenter, who was Town
Clerk of London and a great promoter of educa
tion; he died in 1442. The descendants of Will
iam are (2d) William, (3d) John, (4th) John,
(5th; John, (6th) Isaac. The last-named was
born in Goshen, March 31, 1747. His father,
who was an early settler of Orange County, was
in July, 1721, one of the men who gave land
for the village of Goshen to be laid out, with its
church, parsonage, cemetery, etc. He had eight
children.

Isaac was married to Mrs. Susanna (McKin
ney) Thompson, of Scotch-Irish descent, a lady
several years younger than himself. Her parents
were Edward and Mary (Dekay) McKinney.
Isaac Carpenter and his wife lived on his large
estate, a part of which is now known as the Reeve
homestead, two and one-half miles south of- Mid
dletown. To them were given two daughters,
Susan aud Ruth Ann, also a son, Isaac, who died
in childhood. Long before the abolishment of
slavery, Isaac, feeling it an unjust principle, gave
entire freedom to those he possessed, though he
retained them in his service for years afterward.
His daughter Susan married James Van Duzer
and reared a son, Isaac, who occupies a hand
some residence upon part of the original tract
of his grandfather; also four daughters, all of
whom married farmers and settled near their old
home. The Carpenter family have a coat-of-
arms, and the present female representatives are
eligible to membership in the Society of Colonial
Daughters. For many years our subject resided on the old
Carpenter homestead, where his death occurred
October 29, 1878; his remains were interred
in the Hillside Cemetery at Middletown. He
was a charter member of the Second Presbyterian
Church of Middletown and was active in religious
work. He was a patriotic man, interested in his
country's welfare, and in politics was a Repub
lican. His death was mourned, not alone by his
family, but by a large circle of friends, who knew
and loved him. A quiet aud retiring man, he
went forward in the discharge of such duties as
devolved upon him in such a manner as to win and
retain the friendship of every acquaintance.
. - — ^)mG — -

EHARLES W. HILL, contractor and builder
of Middletown, was born in Newburgh, in
September, 1838. John Hill, his grandfather,
who was of English descent, was a cooper by trade,
and after residing in Newburgh for many years
removed to Haverstraw, dying there at the age of
eighty-eight years. He participated in the War
of 18 12. Andrew Hill, the father of our subject,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1187

was a native of Dutchess County, but in early life
removed to Newburgh, and later to Haverstraw.
In 1864 he located at Middletown, where he en
gaged in his trade as cooper He married Susan
Wood, who was born in Haverstraw, and who
was the daughter of John Wood, a farmer resid
ing near that city. By their union eight chil
dren were born, six of whom grew to maturity,
and three of whom are now living. In politics
he was a Republican, and religiously was a mem
ber ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church, of which
body his wife was also a member. She died in
1865, and he in 1882.
Charles W. Hill grew to manhood and was ed
ucated in the Haverstraw public schools. When
a mere youth he commenced to learn the cooper's
trade under his father, and continued in that
occupation until twenty-one years of age, when
he began to learn the carpenter's trade, spending
two years in the Ramapo Car Shops. In 1864
he came to Middletown and commenced work,
under instructions, at the carpenter's trade for
Richard Van Horn, but received journeymen's
wages from the start. He was with that gentle
man three years, and then for one year was with
Samuel Wilcox. At the end of that time he
started in business for himself as a contractor aud
builder, and, with the exception of seven years
spent on the police force, has since continued in
that occupation. His first appointment on the
police force was in 1875, when only two men were
required to discharge the duties of that office.
He served until 1882, during which time he had
several exciting adventures, having had dirk
knives drawn on him and revolvers fired at him.
At the end of seven years he resigned his posi
tion, since which time he has been at work at his
trade. Among the buildings erected by him
are the Ropeno, Hornbeck, Stevens, Hinchcliff,
Dicks and McGready & Finch, also two for Mrs.
Annie Hill, and one for Mr. Tate, in Warwick,
besides many others.
Mr. Hill was married at Sloatsburg to Miss
Caroline Finch. Of their five children, only two
grew to maturity, and only one is now living.
Alice died at the age of two years; Charles E.,
who was engaged in the confectionery business,

and who was a very popular young man, being
at one time a member of the Board of Aldermen,
died in 1892, at the age of twenty-seven years;
Gracie died at the age of four months; Mazie is
yet at home.
Mr. Hill is a member of the Knights of Pythias
and also of Middletown Lodge, I. O. O. F. Re
ligiously he is a member of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, in which he is a Class-leader and a
member ofthe Official Board. In politics he is a
Republican.

WALTER H. KNAPP comes of an old Orange
County family of German extraction. He
was born in the town of Canterbury, Jan
uary 11, r 833, and is a son of James and Harriet
(Knapp) Knapp, the former born in the towu of
Canterbury, and the latter born in the towu of
Little Britain. Though bearing the same name,
she was not a relative of her husband. John
Knapp, the grandfather of our subject, was a
farmer by occupation, and died on the old home
stead at the age of sixty-two years. Usal Knapp,
a great-uncle of our subject, served for seven
years in the Revolutionary War, and was the last
of Washington's bodyguard to pass away, dying
at the age of ninety -seven years at Little Britain.
He was buried at Washington's Headquarters,
where the state has erected a monument, on which
is inscribed, "The last of the bodyguard." A
company of Continentals from Albany had charge
of the funeral services.
James Knapp, the father of our subject, was for
many years engaged in farming in the town of
New Windsor, and later in the town of Montgom
ery. He subsequently removed to a small farm
in Coldenham, and died at the age of seventy-
three years. In politics he was originally a
Whig, and on the organization of the Republican
party espoused its principles. He was a member
of the Presbyterian Church, in which for many
years he was chorister. He was buried in Goodwill
Cemetery. His good wife, the mother of our sub-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ject, died at the age of seventy-seven years. Of
the nine children in the parental family, all grew
to maturity, and five are yet living. William, now
deceased, was a member of the Sixty-ninth New
York Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded by a
shell, but served two years, and has since died.
Helen, now Mrs. Higby, resides at Equinunk,
Pa. Walter H. is our subject. James resides in
Newburgh. Lavina, now deceased, was the wife
of Benjamin Dawes, ofthe town of Montgomery,
a soldier in the late war. Nelson enlisted iu Com
pany I, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth In
fantry, under Captain Clark, and was all through
the war; two years after his discharge he died
suddenly. Edwin, a blacksmith, lives at Colden
ham. Emily, who married William Corvey, of
the town of Montgomery, is now deceased; and
Hanford is a furniture dealer and undertaker at
Equinunk, Pa.
The subject of this sketch was reared in the
town of Montgomery, where he resided until
eighteen years of age, assisting in the farm work
and attending the public school. He then came
to Middletown, which had but thirteen hundred
inhabitants, and was apprenticed to learn the trade
of the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds.
He continued at this place until 1863, having
been foreman of a factory for many years, and
then removed to Warwick and engaged in the
furniture and undertaking trade, together with
carriage and sleigh painting. After following
the business there for five years, he returned to
Middletown, and engaged in undertaking on
James Street. Later he bought property 011 the
corner of James and West Main Streets. In 1881
he took in partnership his son W . Nelson, and
the business was continued under the firm name
of W. H. Knapp & Son. In 1891, after being in
business thirty-two years, he retired.
Mr. Knapp was united in marriage in the city
of Newburgh with Miss Martha J. Dickson,
a native of Marlboro, N. J., and daughter of Se-
lah Dickson, who was a carpenter at Newburgh.
Two children have been born unto them: Mary
A., now Mrs. Merritt, of Middletown; and W.
Nelson, whose sketch appears on another page
of this work. For many years Mr. Knapp has

been a member of St. Paul's Methodist Church,
of which he is a Steward. In politics he is a Re
publican, and has ever been active iu political af
fairs, having many times served as a delegate to
county and state conventions. He served seven
years in the old Protection Engine Company No.
2, whicli was one ofthe first fire companies started
here, but which is now extinct. During the war
he was a member of the Union League. In the
spring of 1893 he was elected City Treasurer on
the Republican ticket, was re-elected in 1894,
serving two years, and was offered the nomination
for a third term, but refused to accept. He is a
member of Warwick Lodge No. 544, F. & A. M. ;
Midland Chapter No. 24, R. A. M. ; Middletown
Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F. ; Knights of Honor
No. 2103, of which he is Past Dictator, and of
which he was Treasurer for fourteen years; and is
a member of Lancelot Lodge No. 169, K. of P. In
each of these organizations he has taken an act
ive part.

r@*»

<S •#• . «». ujQ |*

(pQlLLIAM'BURKE, proprietor of the Mud
\ A/ Mills Distillery, is a native of County Cork,
VV Ireland, and was born in 1834. He re
mained at home until eighteen years of age,
when he came to the United States and located
in the town of Goshen, Orange County, where he
first engaged in farming. Later he entered the
employ ofthe Erie Railroad Company, remaining
until 1864, when he came to Middletown and en
gaged in the liquor business. He has had distil
leries at Centerville, Smith's Village and Mud
Mills, and was connected with the old brewery
where the Madison House now stands, and which
was built by H. B. Ogden. Mr. Burke still owns
the building, but leases it to other parties for
hotel purposes. He was also connected with the
old grain distillery on Canal Street, which was
burned. The Mud Mills Distillery is located two and
a-half miles east of the city, and in connection
with it is a forty-acre farm. Mr. Burke is now
the oldest wholesale liquor dealer in the city, and
among his specialties is Burke's Cider Brandy

JAMES VANDEROEF.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1191

or apple jack. In his business he has been very
successful, and iu addition to the fine brick block
at No. 28 Union Street, which he occupies him
self, he owns the adjoining building, besides con
siderable other real estate. His family consists
of two children: Margaret, at home; and William,
who is now engaged in the study of law with
George H. Decker. Mrs. Burke is deceased.
Mr. Burke has been a resident of Middletown
since 1864, and has witnessed its growth from a
small village to a thriving city of over thirteen
thousand inhabitants. He is one of the oldest
business men in the place, and has been active in
all the improvements of the city. When he lo
cated in Middletown it had but one railroad, the
Erie. In religious belief he is a Catholic, and is
at present Trustee of St. Joseph's Catholic
Church.

m

@:#<©iHl«^-

3 AMES VANDEROEF. The city of Mont
gomery, which lies on the east side of the
Wallkill River, is one of the most desirable
residence portions of Orange County, its citizens
being foremost in educational, commercial and
social projects. For twenty-eight years Mr. Van
deroef was one of its most prominent business
men, as he is still one of its most progressive cit
izens. He came here in 1867 and embarked in
the coal business, which he continued in conjunc
tion with a large lumber and feed trade until
1895. Though still a member of the firm of
James Vanderoef & Son, he has practically re
tired from business, having given to his son the
management of his interests.
The first representatives of the Vanderoef fam
ily in America were three brothers, who came
from Holland. The first of the name to settle iu
Orange County was the grandfather of our sub
ject, Cornelius Vanderoef, who died before James
was born. After his death his widow, whose
maiden name was Dorothy Weisner, married
William Shepard. She lived to the advanced
age of ninety-six. One of her nieces, Temper
ance Weisner, died when ninety-seven years old.
John Weisner Vanderoef, our subject's father,

was born in Orange Count)-, where he followed
the trade of a carpenter, and later engaged in ag
ricultural pursuits. His death occurred in the
town of Warwick at the age of eighty-six. He
first married Miss Dorothy Wheeler, who became
the mother of two sons and a daughter, and died
when James was three years of age. Later the
father married Elizabeth ( Rogers) Wheeler, the
widow of Joel Wheeler, a brother of his first wife.
Two children were born of that union. Both
John W. Vanderoef and his brother-in-law, Joel
Wheeler, were active in military circles.
The marriage of our subject, December 9, 1840,
united him with Harriet, eldest daughter of
James T. and Dorothy (Roe) Post, of the town
of Warwick. She was born February 16, 1822,
and is one of four children, the others being Jef
ferson, Moses and Louisa, ofwhom the only sur
vivor besides Mrs. Vanderoef is Louisa, wife of
John Ackerman, of Hartford, Conn. The grand
parents of Mrs. Vanderoef were David and Nellie
(Wisner) Post. Her father was born November
1, 1795, and died January 4, 1863; her mother
was born May 16, 1802, aud died April 3, 1879.
Four generations, including the grandmother and
mother of Mrs. Vanderoef, herself and her son,
John James, were born on the 16th ofthe month.
After his marriage our subject remained for a
time on his father's farm, then purchased one
hundred acres, on which he resided until the out
break of the Civil War. For a few years after
ward he lived in the village of Florida, and later
was for one year in the coal business at Goshen.
In 1867 he came to Montgomery, where he has
since resided. In connection with Chauncey
Brooks, he has erected several houses in the town
and has platted a large addition to the city. In
addition to other enterprises he has purchased
cattle by carload lots, disposing of them at a fair
advance. Politically he is a Republican, but has
never desired office nor mingled in public affairs,
preferring to devote his attention to personal mat
ters. With his wife he holds membership in the
Presbyterian Church, in the prosperity of which
he takes a deep interest.
For fifty-five years Mr. and Mrs. Vanderoef
have traveled life's journey together, and by

1192

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mutual sympathy have doubled their joys aud
divided their sorrows. Theirs has been a happy
uuion, and in their declining years they have the
affection of their children and grandchildren and
the warm regard of a host of friends. Their fam
ily consisted of five sous aud one daughter, viz.:
John James, who is referred to elsewhere in this
volume; Thomas Jefferson, who is in the mercan
tile business in Brooklyn; Charles Weisner, de
ceased, formerly a jeweler. of Sing Sing, N. Y.;
Hattie Louisa; William and Zebulon, who died
in childhood. The two children of Charles,
Harry Wilcox and Lizzie Charline, made their
home with Mr. Vanderoef until their mother's
marriage to Frederick Bodine, since which time
they have resided in Montgomery. The only
daughter of our subject is the wife of William I.
Wallace, M. D., and she has two children, viz.:
Bessie Louise, who was born February 10, 1892;
and James, April 27, 1894. They reside 011 the
old homestead with her parents.

(JAMES C. SPIEGEL, M. D., comes of a noble
I German family, and traces his ancestry back
(2/ to the year 1010. For hundreds of years his
ancestors were court physicians to the ruler of
Hesse-Cassel. His father, Christian Von Spiegel,
was a baron, and was born in Hesse-Cassel. His
grandfather, also named Christian Von Spiegel,
was a court physician, as was also his great-grand
father, great-great-grandfather, and great-great-
great-grandfather. Christian Von Spiegel, the
father, was a graduate of Zurich University, both
in the classical aud medical departments. He
took a prominent part in the Revolution of 1848,
and for that reason was compelled to leave his na
tive country. He came to America, and first lo
cated in New York City, then drifted South, and
finally settled in Memphis, Tenn., where he en
gaged in the practice of his profession for many
years. He was in Memphis the greater part of
the war, but was a strong Union man, and a
friend of General Grant. In 1870 he left Mem

phis and located in Utica, N. Y., where he re
mained until 1887, and then removed to Saratoga,
N. Y., where he now lives a retired life. He was
in Memphis during the dreadful scourge of yellow
fever, and also of cholera, and was active in the
discharge of his duties as a physician. He is a
member of the Presbyterian Church, and in poli
tics is a Democrat. His wife, Martha E. Bosley,
was born in Louisiana, and was a daughter of
James Bosley, a cotton planter above Shreveport,
on the Red River, where he had a large planta
tion, and was the owner of eight hundred slaves
when the war broke out. He was a member of
the Assembly in Louisiana, and was of English
descent. Her mother was a Clark. By this mar
riage there was but one child, the subject of this
sketch. Mrs. Von Spiegel died in 1862, and the
Doctor subsequently married and became the fa
ther of two children by his second wife.
The subject of this sketch was born iu Mem
phis, Tenn., December 23, 1856, and there re
mained with his father until 1870. His primary
education was received in private schools in Mem
phis, and his course was completed at Whitestown
Seminary, near Utica, from which he was gradu
ated in 1873. He then commenced the study of
medicine with his father, and in 1875 entered the
medical department of the University of Buffalo,
graduating therefrom in 1878, with the degree of
M. D. During the summer of 1874 he went to
Europe, and spent eight months in the hospitals
of Berlin and Vienna. He then traveled over
the continent, including England and Scotland,
whence he returned and entered the medical col
lege. Soon after his graduation, in 1878, Dr. Spiegel
located at Mt. Morris, Livingston County, where
he engaged in practice for three years. He then
traveled for a while through the North and West,
and finally located in Schenectady, N. Y., where
he remained for eleven years. During the fol
lowing eighteen months he was traveling, prin
cipally in the South. He has traveled extensive
ly in every state and territory in the Union. In
October, 1893, ne located in Middletown, princi
pally for his health, but at once commenced the
practice of his profession. He makes a specialty

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"93

of chronic diseases and throat troubles, and has
been very successful. Iu the treatment of chronic
diseases he seldom uses a knife.
Dr. Spiegel was married in Utica, N. Y., to
Miss Sarah E. Lord, a native of West Troy, N. Y. ,
and daughter of A. N. Lord. They have one
child, James Bosley. While iu Schenectady he
was County Coroner for six years. He is a mem
ber of the Odd Fellows, Red Men, Royal Arcanum
and Chosen Friends, all of Schenectady, and has
passed through nearly all the chairs of each of
the orders. For a time he was a member of the
Foresters. Religiously he is a Baptist, and po
litically a Republican. He was on the Republi
can Central Committee iu Schenectady, and in
1889 was a member of the convention which nom
inated Donaldson for Senator. He is a member
of the Alumni of Buffalo University.
As already stated, Dr. Spiegel has been an ex
tensive traveler, aud made his second visit to Eu
rope in 1880, at which time he visited many points
of interest. He is a good physician, well edu
cated, and enjoys the respect aud confidence of
all who know him.
¦  ^*£P 

pGjlLLIAM L. DERR, Superintendent of the
\Al Delaware Division of the Erie Railroad at
V V Port Jervis, is conceded to be one of the
best practical railroad managers in the country,
and is much esteemed by the employes as well as
the officials of the company. While he was still
a mere boy, his strong ambition and natural abil
ity manifested themselves, and all his study and
work has beeu toward practical ends. Mathe
matics of the most abstruse sort were easily mas
tered by him, and he is thoroughly informed 011
everything relating to railroad construction . He
frequently contributes articles of scientific merit
and bearing evidence of research to well known
engineering journals, and his opinions meet with
profound respect.
This noted railroad man was born at Charles
town, Cecil County, Md., in 1857. His ances
tors were residents of Easton and Allentown, Pa.,
and his father, J. A. Derr, has been for a number

of years Master Carpenter of the Delaware Divi
sion in this city. His mother, whose maiden
name was Virginia Jones, is the daughter of a
mill engineer and extensive land-owner in Mary
land. Our subject received a good education,
and by his own exertions made sufficient money
to take a special course in engineering in the
Polytechnic College of Philadelphia, graduating
therefrom in the Class of '78.
Mr. Derr's first employment on public works
was for the Phoenix Iron Bridge Company, and
afterward he was with the Baltimore Bridge
Company, thus obtaining practical knowledge of
bridge-construction work. In March, 1875, he
became an employe of the Philadelphia, Wil
mington & Baltimore Railroad in the Susquehan
na Bridge Division, and a year later was at
tached to the engineer corps as assistant civil en
gineer. In 1877 the bridge, over a mile long, at
Havre de Grace was completed, Mr. Derr hav
ing been assistant engineer on construction for
some time.
In April, 1877, our subject received an appoint
ment from the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis
Railroad as assistant engineer in the Mainten
ance of War Department, and in August, 1879,
was made Supervisor of Chartiers Division of
the road. Then he obtained a better position
with the New York & New England Railroad,
with his headquarters at Boston, and. in Septem
ber, 1883, be was notified of his appointment as
Roadmaster of the Woonsocket Division. Only
a short time had elapsed ere he was promoted to
be Assistant Superintendent of this division.
It was in February, 1886, that Mr. Derr be
came Roadmaster of the Buffalo Division of the
Erie Railroad, and the following November he
was made Roadmaster of the Delaware Division,
with his headquarters at Port Jervis. In June,
1889, he was promoted to be Assistant Superin
tendent of the Susquehanna Division, and in
June, 1890, Superintendent of the Jefferson Di
vision. Finally, October 1, 1890, hewas installed
Superintendent of the Delaware Division, and is
still serving as such. In his long years of serv
ice he has come into close contact with and
served under many men who have been at the

"94

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

head of the engineering and railroad profession.
While Roadmaster of the Delaware Division, he
built the second track of the Jefferson Branch, and
since becoming Superintendent of the Delaware
Division has put in the block system the entire
length ofthe branch, demonstrating that heavy
traffic can be handled without delay or difficulty
in this manner. He is a member of the Ameri
can Society of Railroad Superintendents, and also
belongs to the Buffalo Society of Railroad Super
intendents. March 24, 18*93, Mr. Derr married Lillian A-
Kies, of Putnam, Conn. They have had a fam
ily of four children, who are named in order of
birth as follows: Orvill V., Pearl L-, Alice F.
and William T. Mr. Derr has a fine library of
scientific volumes, the contents of which he has
largely mastered. He is perfectly familiar with
the geological formations in this portion of the
state, and knows what rock is best for ballast, for
building bridge abutments, etc. He is a man of
broad mind and wide intelligence, these traits
showing themselves plainly in his high, broad
and full forehead. In manner he is very pleasant
and cordial, and makes friends of all people with
whom he is thrown in contact, whether in a busi
ness or social way.

¦•71.

L-zr

E)

^J

EHARLES HIGH AM. During the early
days in the history of this county, the Com
mercial Hotel, of Middletown, was a "half
way house" for the stage coaches running be
tween Newburgh and Port Jervis. When the old
stage line was superseded by the steam cars, and
Middletown gained metropolitan activity, the
hotel became the favorite stopping-place for tour
ists and commercial travelers. To-day, though
one of the oldest hotels in the county, it loses
nothing in competition with its more modern
successors. It is situated on the corner of West
Main and Canal Streets, and contains thirty-five
or forty rooms, furnished with first-class improve
ments and all modern comforts.

The proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Higham, is
also well known through his connection with the
Middletown Wheelmen, of which he was one of
the founders and has been President since its or
ganization. In 1890 he joined the League of
American Wheelmen, with which he has since
been connected. For thirteen years he has been
an active member of Monhagen Hose Company
No. 1. In 1892 he served as second assistant
engineer, and the following year he was promoted
to be first assistant, which office he has since filled.
In the Order of American Firemen he is a mem
ber of the Board of Directors of the Local Branch,
Hamilton Council No. 14, and takes an active
part in all its affairs. In 1894-95 he was dele
gate to the State Firemen's Convention, and has
also beeu representative of the Monhagen Hose
Company on the Board of Representatives of the
Middletown Fire Department. In fact, he has
been one ofthe most prominent firemen ofthe city.
A native of Manchester, England, the subject
of this sketch was born iu April, 1867. His fa
ther, a native of the same place, was engaged in
business as a fancy-silk weaver, but iu 1868 he
came to America, and settled in Middletown in
January of that year. He became proprietor of
the Wallkill House, which he conducted until his
death, in 1870. By his first marriage he had four
children, of whom three are living. His second
marriage was to Elizabeth Redfield, a native of
Manchester, England, now living in Middletown.
Two children were born of that union, Charles
being the younger. He was reared iu this city,
receiving his education in Wallkill Academy.
His mother continued to manage the Wallkill
House until 1882, when she became proprietor of
the Commercial House, and this later passed into
the hands of our subject and his sister. In April,
1888, he purchased his sister's interest, and has
since been proprietor of the hotel, into which he
has put about $8,000 worth of improvements.
The first of the Higham family to come to
America was John, an uncle of our subject, who
settled in Jersey City aud there carried on a hotel.
From that place he came to Middletown, where
he was prospered, acquiring the ownership of
three hotels and a fine residence property. He

WILLIAM H. CARPENTER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"97

was a man of great liberality, and every enter
prise that was calculated to benefit the city found
in him a warm friend. He continued to reside iu
Middletown until his death, at which time his
property was distributed among his nephews and
nieces, he having no children of his own.
In Middletown, in 1890, Mr. Higham was
united in marriage with Miss Annie Colwell, a
native of this city and a daughter of J. M. Col
well, a retired tobacconist. Socially our subject
is connected with Hoffman Lodge, F. & A. M.
He is a genial, enterprising young man, and has
in this city a host of friends, who take a deep in
terest in his success. Already he has placed his
business affairs upon a substantial footing, and
financially ranks among the most prosperous men
of Middletown .

=+

WILLIAM H. CARPENTER. This well
known resident of Orange County, whose
home is in the town of Hamptonburgh,
was born on the farm where he now resides De
cember 24, 1824. He has been a life- long agri
culturist, and is one of the best citizens of the
section. His father, Nathaniel Carpenter, was a
native of the town of Goshen, while his father,
the grandfather of our subject, was of English de
scent. Nathaniel Carpenter married Miss Charlotte
Coleman, and to them was born a family of five
children. John C, a well-to-do farmer, departed
this life in 1882, when seventy-three years of age;
Oliver's death occurred in 1891; Julia A. is resid
ing with her brother; Mary C. died in 1893; and
William H., of this sketch, was the youngest of
the household. The father of this family was a
mason, which trade he followed for a short time
after learning it, and then gave his attention to
farm pursuits.
The farm on which our subject now lives is a
very old one and was purchased by his father in
the year 1807. The house upon the place was
commenced in 1827 and was completed in 1829.

Though old, it is very substantial, having been
built of the very best materials. The barn and
outbuildings are large and commodious, and the
best arranged of any iu the towu for dairy pur
poses. The barn is one hundred and fifteen feet
long and thirty-two feet wide, aud last season
(1894) it was filled to repletion with fine mead
ow hay, for the use of his large herd of Holstein
and graded cattle. Good spring water, cool and
refreshing, flows through the farm, making a
never failing stream. The location of this fine
estate is quite convenient to the Gerard station of
the Orange County Railroad. On this property
the father continued to live until his death, in
1846. He was very successful in all his undertak
ings, and although beginning in life a poor man,
left to his family a valuable estate, which was ac
cumulated entirely by himself.
Our subject was reared on the home place, and
when a young man of thirty years purchased the
farm from the other heirs and has made it his
home ever since. It is one hundred and sixty-
eight acres in extent and comprises some of the
best farming land in the county. The greater
part of his attention, however, is given to dairy
farming, he selling his milk to the creamery near
his home. Besides the home farm he owns a
tract of one hundred and thirty-five acres, mak
ing in all three hundred and three acres.
In politics Mr. Carpenter always votes the
Democratic ticket. A man of generous disposi
tion, he contributes liberally to the relief of others
and stands well with every class in the neighbor
hood, and is one ofthe town's most substantial and
progressive agriculturists.

-J=3.

^H^l

IOATHANIEL TAFT, whose home is at Mat-
r7 amoras, Pa., opposite Port Jervis, is the old-
| is est engineer in continuous service on the Erie
Railroad. From October, 1856, to 1891, he ran
two express trains, and since then has been in
charge of the yard engine. He has calculated
that up to April 1, 1895, he has run one million,
five hundred and sixty thousand miles on an en-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

gine, and this is the more notable in that he has
never had a serious accident, and the loss of a
single life cannot be laid to his charge.
Mr. Taft was born in Mendon, Mass., March
15, 1825, and is a son of Reuben and Sarah
(Sterns) Taft. The former was born in 1788, and
had a family of six sons and one daughter. His
father, Nathaniel, born in 1747, had a family of
five sons, and his grandfather, Thomas, had but
two sons. Thomas, Sr. , born in 1708, had a fam
ily of four sons, and he in turn was one of the
six sons of Robert Taft, who was born iu 1693.
The boyhood of Nathaniel Taft passed in a
quiet manner in the town of his birth, and when
he was but twelve years of age he commenced
working on a farm, where he remained for two
years. The succeeding year he drove a stage at
Waterford, after which he became foreman of con
struction in a large mill, where sash and blinds
were manufactured, and here he had about one
hundred men under him. He put in the engine
and machinery, and afterward ran the former for
four years. It was in 1854 that he commenced
his railroad career., for five months being fireman
on the Worcester & Nashua Railroad. He was
then given charge of an engine, which he operated
until coming to Port Jervis, October 12, 1856.
Mr. Taft's connection with the Erie Road be
gan at the time ofthe great strike of 1856. Col
onel Philips, President of the road with which
he had been employed, had placed on exhibition
at the Crystal Palace Exposition in New York an
engine barrel-cutting machine, and had our sub
ject run the engine for the same. Homer Rams-
dell, who was President of what is now the Erie
Road, came in to see the exhibition, and asked
Colonel Philips for one hundred engineers on ac
count of the strike. This was agreed to, and Mr.
Taft was among the first of the new engineers to
take the place of the striking ones. He assumed
charge of No. 1, the day express, running to
Susquehanna, and brought back No. 8, an east-
bound day express. The first time that he ran
over the road he had charge of this train, which
had been formerly intrusted only to old and ex
perienced men on this line. In 1861, near Hales
Eddy, the engine was overturned, falling down

an embankment, as it had struck a broken rail,
but Mr. Taft, who went over with the engine-,
came out unhurt. At another time, near Carrs-
. kock, the engine ran into a large boulder that
had fallen from the hillside, and had the train
capsized on the other side it would have gone
down ninety feet into the Delaware; but as it
turned out no one was injured. Again, he ran
over a drawhead on the track at Pond Eddy; the
trucks were carried away, aud the engine crashed
into the bluff. The fireman, Virgil Bell, jumped,
and was killed by having his neck broken.
August 17, 1847, Mr. Taft and Mahala Day-
mon, of Rutland, Mass., were united in marriage.
She is the daughter of Galen P. and Ann B.
(Beeman) Daymon, who came to live with their
daughter a year or so ago. The father died in
October, 1894, aged eighty -eight years, but the
mother is still living, though she has now reached
the extreme old age of ninety-four years. Mr.
and Mrs. Talt have had the following children:
Sarah, now the wife of John J. Reeder, of Middle-
town, N. Y. ; Jane Elizabeth, who died at the
age of ten years; Emma A., wife of John F. To-
zer, of Waverly, N. Y. ; Leonard N., a grocer and
real-estate man of Ridgewood, N. J. ; Frances I.,
widow of George Heidenthal, who was an engi
neer in the employ of the Delaware Division ; and
William A. , Postmaster and station and express
agent at Passaic Bridge, in New Jersey. In 1890
Mr. Taft built his present residence at Matamoras,
and has since continued to reside therein. He
has tweuty-oue living grandchildren.
In company with his son , Mr. Taft started the
first skating rink in this city some years ago.
He has been identified with almost every social
movement here for thirty-five years, and at one
time was a member of thirteen social and benevo
lent organizations. Among those to which he
now belongs is the Deerpark Historical Society ;
the Protective Legion, of which he is a charter
member and Past President; the Royal Templars;
the Odd Fellows' Society, and the Masonic fra
ternity. He is a Master Mason, and belongs to
the Order of the Eastern Star. For years he has
been connected with the Brotherhood of Locomo
tive Engineers. He is a man of strict temper-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"99

ance, never having used tobacco or liquor in any
form. Politically his franchise is used in favor
ofthe Republican party. He has hosts of warm
friends, many of whom have known him for more
than half his lifetime. His favorite engine, No.
38, which was made in the Susquehanna shops,
he ran for fourteen years. At a meeting of the
Master Mechanics and Railroad Superintendents
held in Chicago at the time the railways were
made standard gauge, this engine was chosen as
the type of the most economical and durable one.
A record had been kept of all engines in the
United States, and this one, with Mr. Taft as its
master, received the honor. On the Fourth of
July, 1876, this engine was gorgeously decorated
with Washington's portrait at the head, and a
sixteen-inch brass cannon, which had been cast
and completely finished by Mr. Taft, crowned
the pilot and added to the jubilation by being
fired occasionally.

_J****ijC-I****1?

^*fr***r

*****F

f~RANK G. KAIN, of Middletown, was born
ry near Pine Bush, Ulster County, in 1869.
| and comes of an old family of that county,
who were of Scotch descent. His father, Andrew
Kain, was born on the old homestead, and mar
ried Miss Alvina Niver, who was born in the
same vicinity, and who came of an old family of
Holland-Dutch descent. They were the parents
of ten children, seven of whom are yet living.
The subject of this sketch, who is the second
of the family, continued on the home farm until
sixteen years of age, in the mean time attending
the district school and assisting in the farm work.
At that age he was apprenticed to learn the car
penter's trade at Fishkill, under B. F. Hall,
with whom he remained three years. He then
took up the machinist's trade at Cornwall, under
Holland Emslie, with whom he continued about
one year, at the expiration of which time he went
to Newburgh, where he was superintendent of
the sash, door and blind factory of Little & Ham
ilton, New York parties, for eighteen months.
In the spring of 1891 he came to Middletown,
and engaged as a carpenter and machinist with

Linsey & Co., with whom he is yet connected.
In the mean time he purchased about five acres of
laud from B. F. Lowe, which, in 1893, he had
platted into forty building lots, the greater num
ber of which he has disposed of. On the tract
he has built six residences, all of which have
been sold but one. He also purchased seventeen
lots on the main part of Watkins Avenue, on
some of which he built, and all of which have
been sold. He does his own architect work, and
has built on North Beacon Street, Royce Avenue
and Watkins Avenue.
In February, 1893, at Middletown, Mr. Kain
was united iu marriage with Miss Anna Bennett,
born in Circleville, Orange County, and a daugh
ter of Oliver Bennett, a carpenter and builder,
now residing in this city. Her mother was
Emily Williams, who is a native of Sullivan
County, as is also her father. Mrs. Kain was
reared and educated in Middletown, and by her
marriage has one child, Mildred. Mrs. Kain is
a member of the Second Presbyterian Church,
and in religious and benevolent work takes a
special interest. In politics Mr. Kain is a Pro
hibitionist.

(TAMES H. CLARK occupies au important
I place in the farming community of the town
G/ of Hamptonburgh, but as a veteran of the late
war he is perhaps known best. He served for
three years during the conflict, and participated
in eighteen of its most important battles. His
birth occurred in the town of Warwick, December
19, 1840, he being a son of David Clark, a native
of the same place, and a grandson of Timothy,
likewise a native of Orange County. The last-
named was in turn the son of Timothy, Sr.,
whose birth occurred in New Jersey. The first
of this branch of the family- to make their home in
America was one William Clark, an Englishman
by birth. He chose Orange County for his future
home, coming here at an early day.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The father of our subject married Miss Hannah
Gilson, and to them were granted ten children,
namely: Jehial, Joseph, Elizabeth, John, Sarah,
George, James, Albert, Annie and one who died
unnamed. Our subject was a lad of eight years
when the family removed to the tract on which he
is now residing. Here he grew to manhood and
was educated. When ready to establish a home
of his own, in 1872, he was married to Miss Cor
nelia Vandervort, and two children were born to
them: Henry, who is attending the normal school
at New Paltz; and one who died in infancy.
The property of which Mr. Clark is the owner
comprises a quarter-section of valuable land, on
which he has made very many improvements
since it came into his possession. In July, 1862,
he offered his services in support of his country's
.flag, and was mustered into Company E, New
York Artillery, whence he was ordered to Vir
ginia. The first engagement in which Mr. Clark
participated was the battle of Winchester. Later
he was with General Hunter 011 his raid, after
which he was transferred to the command of
General Sheridan, fighting under him in nearly
every battle which took place in West Virginia.
He was present at Maryland Heights during that
conflict; then fought at Harper's Ferry September
14 and 15, 1862; Lexington, Va., June 12, 1864;
Buchanan, Va., two days later; was again at
Harper's Ferry, July 4; Maryland Heights the
following day ; Winchester, July 24; Martinsburg,
the same month; Cedar Creek, August 12;
Charlestown, August 21; Halltown, August 25;
Barrysville, September 3; Winchester, Septem
ber 19; Fisher's Hill, September 22; Cedar Creek,
October 13; and again at the same place, October
19, 1864. He was mustered out of service at
Harper's Ferry, October 19, 1865, with the title
of Sergeant, and soon thereafter was honorably
discharged. After the establishment of peace Mr. Clark re
turned home and took up the pursuits of farm life.
which he has followed with success ever since. He
is a straightforward Republican in politics and
holds membership with the Grand Army post at
Goshen. In religious affairs he is a devoted
member of the Presbyterian Church, and takes an

active part in the work of the same. He posses
ses intelligent views on all subjects of general in
terest, particularly on political questions, and is
held in high regard by all who know him.

0AVID H. SPRAGUE, M. D., engaged in
the practice of his profession at Middletown,
was born in Princess Bay, Richmond Coun
ty, N. Y., December 7, 1863. Both his father,
Edward, and grandfather, John Sprague, were
natives of the same place. The latter was a mer
chant, and was of an old family residing there.
Edward Sprague, the father, was engaged in the
shipping business on Staten Island for many
years of his life. He is still living there, but has
retired from active business. His wife, Susan
Journeay, the mother of our subject, was also
born at Princess Bay, and is a daughter of Hen
derson Journeay, also of that place. Her great
grandfather, Dr. Journeay, was born there, and
for many years was a physician on Staten Island.
The family were French-Huguenots, and were
among the earliest settlers of Staten Island.
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. To Edward aud Susan Sprague two
children were bom, a son and a daughter.
Our subject received his primary education in
the schools on Staten Island, which he attended
until fifteen years of age, and then entered the
Normal School at Geueseo, N. Y. Later he be
gan the study of medicine with Dr. George C.
Hubbard, of Tottenville, N. Y., and subsequent
ly entered the medical department of the Uni
versity of New York, from which he graduated
in 1886, with the degree of M. D. He was then
appointed by competitive examination to Bellevue
Hospital, but refused the appointment, and was
examined for the city hospital, where he spent
two years. In order to prepare himself for the
cure of nervous diseases, he received an appoint
ment at Ward's Island, and also spent some time
in the Bloomingdale Asylum and the Butler Hos
pital. He then went abroad and made a tour of

JOHN JESSUP.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1203

the Continent, including England, Scotland, Ger
many, Austria, Belgium, France and Switzer
land, spending some five or six months in travel
and visiting all the noted hospitals in those coun
tries. In November, 1889, in partnership with
Dr. James F. Ferguson, he started the Falkirk
Sanitarium at Central Valley, N. Y., purchasing
ground and erecting two buildings. He con
tinued in charge, in connection with outside
practice, until October, 1894, when he located in
Middletown and opened his present office at No.
58 North Street, where he is engaged in general
practice. He is a member of the City Hospital
Alumni Medical Society of New York City; the
Orange County Medical Society; and of the Na
tional Neurological Society. Fraternally he is a
member of Standard Lodge, F. & A. M. , of Mon
roe; Jerusalem Chapter, R. A. M., of New York
City; of Delaware Commandery, K. T. , of Port
Jervis; of Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, of New York City, being a Thirty-second
degree Mason; and of the Schuunemunk Lodge,
K. of P. , at Highland Mills. In politics he is a Re
publican. As a physician he has a fine reputa
tion, and is a successful practitioner. While he
has resided at Middletown but a short time, he
has already succeeded in building up a practice.

->-+¦ — »}>K®^h)®H-c<« — •— *-

(TOHN JESSUP, one of the well-to-do and
I prosperous farmers of Orange County, has
Q) long been a resident of the town of Goshen.
His homestead comprises one hundred and forty
acres of valuable land, all of which has been ac
quired by his industry and frugality. From time
to time he has made good improvements, and the
appearance of the farm reflects credit upon his
energy and thrift.
The subject of this sketch was- born in the town
of Warwick, April 18, 1824, and is the only child
of Peter Clows and Anna (Gobel) Jessup. The
father, who was likewise born in Orange County,
where all of his life was passed, was very suc

cessful in his fanning ventures, and his last years
were spent in retirement, free from the cares
of managing his estate. He died in 1876, loved
and respected by all who knew him. His wife,
who was born in Sussex County, N. J., was a
most estimable and intelligent lady, and aided
him greatly in attaining his high position among
the well-to-do residents of the county. She sur
vived him four years, passing away in 1880. On
his mother's side our subject is related to the Ed
sall family of Sussex County, N. J., who were
among the first and most prominent residents 01
that portion of the state.
Mr. Jessup' s advantages for obtaining au edu
cation were limited to the district school, where he
gained a fair knowledge of the common branches
taught. No pains, however, were spared in train
ing him in farm work, and very early in life he
performed his share of the labors on the home
stead. Agriculture has been his life work, and
he has made of it a success, so that now, in the
closing years of his life, he can live in ease and
comfort. The place is nicely improved with a
neat set of farm buildings, and the residence, which
is one of the finest in the town, is situated on an
eminence some distance from the road. Mr. Jes
sup devotes the greater part of his time to dairy
farming, not, however, to the neglect of grain-
raising, as he has many acres from which he gar
ners in an abundant harvest.
Miss Harriet Thorne Sayer, who became the
wife of our subject October 5, 1848, was the
daughter of William and Martha (Jackson) Sayer,
and was born in the town of Goshen. Her edu
cation was gained in the district school, where
she became well informed, and she trained her
children to good and useful lives. Her family
comprised three members, of whom the eldest,
Henry H, died when three years old. William
Sayer is at home; and Anna married Joel W.
Houston, a prominent farmer of the town of War
wick. The wife of our subject, who died iu January,
1894, was a devoted member of the Presbyterian
Church which meets at Goshen, and in the work
of which she took au active part. Mr. Jessup
has always affiliated with the Republican party.

1204

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

All his life he has been a practical, industrious
farmer, and a citizen who could be relied upon to
advance any measure for the improvement and
upbuilding of the community.

*N^feN*

0ANIEL B. SWEENEY, proprietor of Swee
ney's Bottling Works, and manufacturer of
soft drinks, is a native of Middletown, born
October 27, 1864, and is a son of Miles and Mar
garet (Bradley) Sweeney, both ofwhom are na
tives of County Donegal, Ireland. When a youth
of sixteen, Miles Sweeney came to the United
States and located in New York City, where he
was employed in Worley's Saw Works, and later,
at the solicitation of the late Senator Madden,
came to Middletown, where he was engaged in
the first saw works started in this city. Until
1885 he had charge of the grinding and glazing
department, and then, 011 account of ill-health, he
was compelled to resign the position. One year
later he died, at the age of forty years. His
wife, Margaret Bradley, was a daughter of Daniel
Bradley, a farmer in Goshen. She died in 1877,
leaving five children: Margaret and Bridget, of
Middletown; Miles, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Daniel
B., our subject; and Joseph W., who makes his
home with our subject.
Daniel B. Sweeney grew to manhood in his na
tive city, and attended the First Ward School,
completing his education at Wallkill Academy.
On leaving school he entered the bottling works
of W. F. C. Bastian, where he remained one
year. At the age of sixteen he was au appren
tice in the employ of the Eagle File Works, to
learn the trade of file manufacturing. After com
pleting his apprenticeship he resigned his posi
tion and was employed in the Cohalan Bottling
Works. In 1887, in partnership with C. R.
Smith, he purchased the works, and the business
was continued under the firm name of Smith &
Sweeney until May, 1895, when the partnership
was dissolved, Mr. Sweeney retaining the works.
He is now sole proprietor, and is located at Prince

and Montgomery Streets, where he occupies a
two-story and basement building, which has a
frontage of one hundred feet and a depth of forty
feet. Steam power is employed, and all kinds of
sodas and soft drinks are manufactured. Mr.
Sweeney also manufactures his own flavors. His
icehouse has a capacity of two hundred tons, and
two wagons are employed in conveying his man
ufactures to the railroad depots and local places
of business. His trade extends over a radius of
forty miles, and Mr. Sweeney himself travels over
Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties. The
Sweeney Bottling Works is the largest of its
kind in the city and its capacity is unlimited.
April 26, 1892, Mr. Sweeney was united in
marriage with Miss Mary McAloon, who is a na
tive of Glen wood, Pa., and a daughter of Charles
McAloon, now of Middletown. They have one
child, Miles, and the family residence is at No.
54 Montgomery Street. Mr. Sweeney is a mem
ber of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and of Divi
sion No. 1, A. O. H., of Middletown, of which he
has been President for the last six years. He is
also an honorary member of McQuoid Engine
Company No. 3, of which he was Vice-President
one term. In politics he is a Democrat. In
1894 he was Chairman of the Democratic City
Committee and was re elected in 1895, but re
signed. He is a charter member ofthe Middle-
town branch ofthe New York Co-operative Bank
ing and Building Association, and is also a mem
ber ofthe Columbus Club.

0AVID P. WAGER, manager of C. W. Mar
tin's blue-stone business at Middletown, was
born near Cripple Bush, in Ulster County,
December 25, 1849. The family is of German
descent, his grandfather, Jonathan Wager, hav
ing emigrated from Germany to America in early
manhood, and, after a short sojourn iu Dutchess
County, settled in Ulster County, where he en
gaged in farming until his death. He was a pio
neer ofthe county, and made a farm out of the
wilderness. His wife was also a native of Ger
many.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1205

The father of our subject, David Wager, was
born in Ulster County, and in early life learned
the trades of mason and blacksmith, which he
followed in addition to farming. He had a stone-
shop, also a stone residence, which is still stand-
in^, though now over one hundred and thirty
years old. His death occurred in 1862, when he
was sixty-one years old. In religious belief he
was identified with the Reformed Church. His
wife, who was a Miss Pahlon, died in 1850, when
David P. was eighteen months old. There were
ten children in the family, of whom eight arrived
at years of maturity, and four are living, all sons.
One of them, Henry, was a member of the One
Hundred and Twentieth New York Infantry, in
which he served first as Sergeant aud later for
two years as Captain.
David P., who was the youngest of the chil
dren, was reared in Ulster County until thirteen
years of age. His father dying about that time,
he was forced to begin in life for himself. He
started out for himself with a capital of $2.50, but
with an abundance of determination and perse
verance. Securing work with a carpenter, he re
mained with him about two years. Iu 1864 he
went WTest, traveling through Canada, Michigan
and Illinois, and spending two years in these va
rious places. Returning to New York, he fol
lowed his trade for two years, then went to Pike
County, Pa., where he worked for eighteen
months. On again coming back to Ulster Coun
ty, he began work as a stone-cutter, which trade
he followed later in Chenango, Sullivan and Pike
, Counties. While in Sullivan County, he not
only followed that occupation, but also carried on
a grocery business at what is now Mountaindale.
Afterward he clerked in a store at Ellenville.
In 1887 Mr. Wager came to Middletown and
started in the retail blue and building stone busi
ness. In 1894 he sold out to C. W. Martin, with
whom he continues as manager. While he was
in business, he furnished the stone for the Todd,
Central and Poppino Buildings, the Linden Ave
nue Schoolhouse, and did considerable work 011
the State Asylum, having the principal business
of the kind in the city. Meantime he also car
ried on a hardware store on North Street, and

later had a grocery store on James Street. At
present he is interested in the Mt. Adams Gran
ite Company. During his active business career
he has opened several quarries in Sullivan, Ulster
and Pike Counties.
In Sullivan County, Mr. Wager married Miss
Rozella Oliver, a native of Ulster County. They
have five children, all at home, and named as
follows: Leslie, Alva, Estella, Myra and Ethel.
Socially Mr. Wager is connected with Ellenville
Lodge No. 582, F. & A. M. Politically he sup
ports Democratic principles, and is interested in
everything pertaining to the success of his party.

<0C*******^>^****j£.£***4,****$.****^C>
00. CARPENTER, a wholesale, retail and
manufacturing confectioner of Middletown,
was born in Monticello, Sullivan County,
August 25, 1864. His grandfather, Nathaniel H.
Carpenter, who was born near Thompsonville,
Sullivan County, was a carpenter by trade, but
has followed farming principally; now, however,
he is living retired in Monticello. He is of Scotch
and English descent. His son, Branson Carpen
ter, was born near Greenfield, Ulster County,
and in his youth learned the carpenter's trade
in Monticello, where he is now successfully en
gaged in contracting and building. He married
Lucyette Culver, a native of Niagara County,
N. Y., and daughter of Sylvester Culver, a farm
er, who was also born in Niagara County. Three
children were born unto them, two of whom are
yet living: O. O., our subject; and George S., a
traveling salesman for the latter.
The subject of this sketch was the second child
in the parental family. He was reared in his na
tive town, and received his primary education in
the public schools of that place. He then at
tended the academy, and later took a business
course at the Christie Business College at Lock
Haven, Pa. On completing his course, he learned
the carpenter's trade with his father, and also
studied architecture. In 1887 he came to Mid
dletown, and entered the employ of Liusey Broth
ers, with whom he continued two years, working
at his trade. He then purchased the confection-

1206

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ery establishment of J. F. Colby, on James Street,
and remained in that location for three years, in
the mean time enlarging the business. The old
location becoming too small for his trade, he re
moved to his present location in the Central
Building, at No. 109 North Street. The main
storeroom is 24x85 feet, with a basement the
same size, in which he manufactures ice cream
and confectionery, and part of which is used as a
packing-room The power is furnished by a gas
engine of eight horse-power. The business has
constantly increased, until at present his trade
extends throughout Orange and adjoining coun
ties and into New Jersey. He has the largest
ice-cream jobbing business, as well ' as retail
business, in the city, and has a capacity of turn
ing out five hundred gallons per day. His broth
er, George S., is constantly on the road, sell
ing the manufactures of this establishment.
Mr. Carpenter was married, in Middletown, to
Miss Carrie L- Kinnie, a native of this place, and
they have three children: Harry C, Albert Bran
son and Percy. Religiously Mr. Carpenter is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which he has been Trustee. In politics he is a
Republican. Asa business man he is very popu
lar, and has been very successful in the six years
in which he has been engaged in business.

Gz

•3=

¦^

gEORGE STORCH is the oldest resident
German citizen of Middletown, and has the
finest and most complete fruit farm of any
in this vicinity. He is a native of Germany, born
at Hesse-Cassel, May 2, 1825. His father, Nicho-
laus, and his grandfather, Andreas, were also
natives of the same place, aud the latter was a
cabinet-maker by trade, and served in the army
with Napoleon. The father, Nicholaus Storch,
was a mason and plasterer by trade, and died at
the age of about fifty years. He married Anna
Catherine Wetel, also a native of the same coun
try, and who died at the age of sixty-five years,

leaving two children: Casper, and the subject of
our sketch. The former resided in Middletown
for some years, and here* died in 1893.
George Storch, our subject, was reared in his
native land, and when fourteen years of age was
apprenticed as a buckle-maker, and continued
with his employer' there until twenty-six years
of age. He married Miss Annie Christina
Schmidt in 1849. She was a native of that
country. In 1854 he brought his family to the
United States, leaving Bremen on the sailing-
vessel "Martha," and after a voyage of seven
weeks they landed at New York City, from
which place they came direct to Middletown.
Upon arriving here he found nothing at his trade,
and so sought employment in other lines. He
secured employment with Wheeler, Madden &
Clemson, in the tempering department of their
machine-shop, where for twenty-nine years and
.six months he did all the tempering for the
firm. He then resigned his position to live a
more retired life. He first purchased two acres
in the brush, which was in a wild state, and here
built a residence and commenced the improve
ment of the place. At the present time every
foot of ground is occupied, and on the place can
be found almost every kind of fruit suitable for
this latitude, including the largest vineyard in
Middletown, together with more currants, goose
berries and pears than are raised by any other
one person. During the war, Mr. Storch went
to Rock Island, 111., but remained there only
seven weeks, and then returned to the sawshops
at Middletown. ,
Mr. and Mrs. Storch became the parents of ten
children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and
six of whom are yet living: Mary, deceased;
Carrie, residing at home; Lena, now Mrs. Klohs,
of Middletown; Louisa Emma, Mrs. A. H.
Loebs, of Rochester, N. Y. ; and Amelia and
Eliza, at home. Ann died at twenty-four years of
age. Fraternally Mr. Storch is a member of
Luther Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he isa char
ter member, and also of the Knights of Honor.
In national politics he is a Democrat, but in
local matters votes as his conscience dictates.
Religiously the family are Presbyterians.

7--WA

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1209

HON. WILLIAM JAY GROO. In perusing
the record of the life of Judge Groo, one is
impressed by the magnitude of his interests
and the extent of his influence. As a citizen, as
a professional man, and as an official, he has dis
charged every duty faithfully and well. He is
now engaged, and for many years has been, iu
the active practice of law, having his office at
No. 1 1 1 Broadway, New York, though his home
is still in the city of Middletown, where he has
resided since 1866.
The Groo family was represented among the
earliest settlers of Sullivan County, N. Y., and
from there the Judge's grandfather, Samuel, went
forth to battle in his country's defence during the
Revolution. His parents, Samuel, Jr., and Mercy
(Tuttle) Groo, were natives of the town of Nev
ersink, Sullivan County, the former born Febru
ary 20, 1792, and the latter June 1 , 1798. Of
their marriage, which took place in 18 14, the fol-
loWing-named children were born: David C,
Sarah, Phebe, Nancy, John, Katharine, Isaac and
William J. The only survivors besides the Judge
are David C. and Katharine. The father, who
followed agricultural pursuits, died in the town
of Neversink at the age of forty-one.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was
Selleck Tuttle, a member ofa family that has be
come numerous in this country. Some years ago
there was published a work giving a history of
the different branches of the family, many of
whom have become prominent in different profes
sions. The paternal grandfather of our subject,
who, as above stated, served in the Colonial
army, died at the age af seventy-five. His wife,
who bore the maiden name of Susanna Brooks,
died at the age of sixty.
William Jay, who was the youngest ofthe fam
ily, was born in the town of Neversink, Sullivan
County, September 9, 1831, and was only eight
een months old when his father died. At an
early age he began to work upon the farm, while
the winter seasons were devoted to study in the
district schools. At the age of seventeen, with
the means obtained by hard work, he entered a
private school in Fallsburg, Sullivan County,
where he was under the preceptorship of Henry

R. Low, afterward State Senator. The acquaint
ance thus formed ripened into a warm friendship,
which terminated only with the Senator's death
in 1888. After a year spent in that school he be
gan to teach, in which way he gained the funds
for continuing his education, and subsequently
completed his studies at Monticello Academy.
Having decided to enter the legal profession, in
1852 he entered the office of Gen. A. C. Niven,
at Monticello, and was admitted to the Bar in
1855, receiving at the time from the examining
committee a complimentary notice for having an
swered every question absolutely correctly. Before
being admitted to the Bar he was appointed Dep
uty County Clerk, and continued tp fill that office
until 1854, when, upon the death of Philander
Waring, the County Clerk, he succeeded to the
position. At the close of the term he gave half
of the net proceeds to Mrs. Waring, widow of the
deceased clerk.
Iu the fall of 1856 Mr. Groo was elected to the
office of District Attorney, and in that capacity
he served for three years. He was formerly a
Douglas Democrat, but immediately upon the
outbreak of the Rebellion he espoused the Union
cause, and subsequently became a Republican.
When the statement is made that the county was
strongly Democratic, it will be at once seen that
he was influenced by no personal motives in mak
ing the change. Iu 1864 he was the delegate
from his district to the Republican National Con
vention, and cast his ballot for the re-nomination
of President Lincoln. His choice for Vice-Presi
dent was Lyman Tremain, but Andrew Johnson
finally received the nomination. While still a
resident of Sullivan County, Governor Morgan
appointed him one of the three Commissioners of
Public Accounts, and he served in that position
two years, when the pressure of other duties in
duced him to resign.
A few years after coming to Middletown, our
subject was elected special Judge of Orange Coun
ty, iu the fall of 1868, running several hundred
ahead of his ticket. While active in the Repub
lican party, he used every effort to induce the
leaders of that organization to legislate for the
suppression of the manufacture and sale of intox-

53

I2IO

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

icating liquors. It was his opinion then, and to
that principle he has since adhered, that the sa
loon is a greater evil than even human slavery
ever was, and he had hoped that the party which
had abolished the one would suppress the other;
but when the local option bill was vetoed by Gov
ernor Dix, he saw clearly that all hopes in this
direction were vain. The same conscientiousness
which had led him to leave the Democratic party
now caused him to become a Prohibitionist. In
1873 he united his influence with that party, and
has ever since advocated its principles. In 1876
he was their candidate for Governor, and in 1886
was nominated for Judge of the Court of Appeals,
at which time he received the largest number of
votes ever polled for a Prohibition candidate up
to that time, being thirty-six thousand four hun
dred and thirty-seven. Twice he served as Chair
man of the Prohibition State Convention, three
times was a delegate to the national convention,
and in 1888 was Chairman ot the New York dele
gation. From the "Cotemporary Biography of New
York," we quote the following: "Judge Groo
has beeu an active worker in the temperance
cause, devoting time and energy to its advance
ment, and assisting with other leaders in the
movement to build up such a party as shall event
ually triumph at the polls, and bring about that
needed reform of which the grave necessity is
admitted, even by those who do not uphold this
means of its accomplishment. He is a platform
orator of marked ability, and, gifted as he is with
unusual rhetorical powers, a pleasing manner, to
gether with a clear, argumentative faculty, his
utterances have carried strong conviction to the
minds of many of his hearers. ' '
In one of the editorials of a local paper, we no
tice the following: ' 'As a trial lawyer Judge Groo
is eminently successful. In the management of
a case he is cautious, yet at the same time bold
and brilliant, always eager and watchful to pro
tect his client's interests, and yet fair to his ad
versary. Always deeply impressed himself with
the justice of any cause which he consents to es
pouse, he throws the weight of his personal con
victions into the advocacy of his client's cause,

and wins his case as well by his manifest sincer
ity as by his professional skill and ability. Since
he has been at the Orange County Bar he has
tried many cases for other attorneys, and in his
practice has been associated with, or pitted against,
such men as Charles H. Winfield, Stephen W.
Fullerton, David F.. Gedney, Charles F. Brown
and Lewis E. Carr."
In everything pertaining to the welfare of Mid
dletown, Judge Groo is deeply interested, and the
securing of the New York & Oswego Midland
(now the New York, Ontario & Western) Rail
road for the city was largely aided by his efforts.
His connection with that enterprise may be judged
from the following extracts from a letter written
in 1891 by Hon. D. C. Littlejohn, former Presi
dent ot the Midland Road, iu response to a re
quest from a correspondent of the Argus as to the
influences that were instrumental in locating the
road at Middletown on its way to New York: ' 'Of
course it would be difficult at this late day to re
fer to all the circumstances that bore upon the
question, but I remember distinctly that there
was much opposition to going to Middletown, be
cause of the cost of tunneling Shawangunk Moun
tain. * * * * I also remember well that at
a meeting held by the Directors at Syracuse,
among other things, the question of location of
the road at Middletown was considered and vir
tually determined. A committee of prominent
citizens from that village (H. H. Hunt, William
Evans, M. Lewis Clark, John A. Wallace, Will
iam J. Groo and J. H. Norton) came before us,
and Judge Groo addressed the board in behalf of
the committee. The claims of Middletown, with
its prospective growth and importance, as well as
the great advantage to accrue to the company by
locating its road there, were referred to and dwelt
upon in a manner that had great weight with the
Board of Directors. It is my candid opinion that,
to that committee, more than to any other in
fluence, is due the credit of having secured the
location ofthe Midland Railroad at Middletown."
Fluent and gifted as a public speaker, Judge
Groo's services are often called into requisition in
that capacity. On the occasion of the centennial
celebration of the battle of Minisink, July 22,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1879, on the scene of that conflict, he was the or
ator of the day, delivering an address that was
afterward published. Space forbids any exten
sive quotations, but we take the following ex
tracts from the oration: "One hundred years ago
to-day, on the spot where we are assembled, now
in the town of Highland, Sullivan County, N. Y.,
forty-five brave men gave up their lives at the
call of duty and for the protection of their homes.
If it be true, as some believe, that the spirits of
the departed are conscious of the conduct of the
living, we may well suppose that all who were
present on that ever memorable day are now wit
nessing with the deepest interest our proceedings.
May this thought inspire us to the utterance of
such words as shall fitly commemorate their deeds.
We are not here to simply express our admiration
of the men who were killed in the battle of Min
isink, but of all who fought in that engagement.
Death has now overtaken them all, and we must
remember and recognize the fact that he who sur
vives the performance of a great duty ought to
be awarded equal praise with him who loses his
life before the contest is ended. * * * * The
event we have been considering, although of lo
cal importance, was but a ripple on the bloody-
waters of revolution, then struggling on toward
the broad bay of independence. Three years and
eighteen days only had passed since from Inde
pendence Hall had been proclaimed that sublime
declaration 'that all men are created equal. ' This
truth is the bed-rock upon which republican
Government rests, and without its recognition no
people can enjoy the full measure of human lib
erty regulated by law. The immortal fifty-six
who signed the Declaration of Independence also
expressed their 'firm reliance on the protection of
Divine Providence.' Thus it will be seen that
faith in God and the brotherhood of man are the
two great principles that gave life to this nation —
the lungs into which the infant Republic first
breathed the vitalizing air of freedom."
On the occasion of the unveiling of the soldiers'
and sailors' monument at Monticello, September
5> '•895, Judge Groo delivered the presentation
speech, from which we quote as follows: ' 'It seems
eminently proper and praiseworthy that monu

ments like this should be erected to honor and
perpetuate the memory of those who were in the
military and naval service of their country. It
stimulates and enhances patriotism and local
pride; more than that, it manifests a just appre
ciation of the achievements of subordinate officers
and private soldiers. The names of great com
manders appear upon the pages of history, and
are perpetuated in imposing mausoleums, so
that their deeds will be remembered by a grate
ful people as long as the country they served so
well shall endure. But it was the valor, the con
stancy, the strict obedience to orders of all sub
ordinates, and especially the firm step and steady
aim in battle of the private soldier that overcame
the enemy and achieved the great victories which
have added luster to American arms. From this
platform and in this presence we proclaim honor
to the private soldiers. They responded to their
country's call, not moved by the paltry wages
offered, but, prompted by the spirit of patriotism,
they went forth to defend the Flag and preserve
the Government to which, in its inception, their
ancestors had solemnly pledged their lives, their
fortune and their sacred honor."
Judge Groo is a member of St. Paul's Method
ist Episcopal Church, and served as Chairman
of the Board of Trustees and Building Committee.
The elegant edifice, erected at a cost of $50,000,
was materially aided by his efforts, and in addi
tion to $2,800 personally contributed, he secured
$2,200 from friends outside of the church. In
1872 he was one of the two lay delegates from the
New York Conference to the General Conference
ofthe church held in Brooklyn. By that confer
ence he was chosen Vice-President of the Freed-
man's Aid Society. He has been connected with
the church since September 9, 1866, and is rec
ognized as one of its most valued members.
December 31, 1855, Judge Groo married Sarah
G., only child of David and Margaret (Graham)
Lines, of Monticello, N. Y. Her father was of
New England stock, and her mother of Irish de
scent. Mrs. Groo was a lady of great beauty
of face and character, and her death, May 12,
1870, was deeply mourned. Six children were
born of this union, ofwhom Mary, Lines, Kath-

1212

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

arine and William Jay are still living. Mary and
Lines were taught at home by their mother until
the former was sent to Dr. Van Norman's school
in New York City, aud the latter to an academy
in Delaware County, N. Y. Katharine was ed
ucated in the public schools and academy at Mid
dletown. William J. was for some time a stu
dent in Hartwell's Seminary, and is now en
gaged in railroad work near Pittsburg, Pa. Mary
married Rev. John T. Hargrave, now rector of
Trinity Church, New Haven, Pa. Lines married
Carrie E. Peters, of Lehighton, Pa., and they
now reside at Bayonne, N. J. Katharine married
John L- Wiggins, a lawyer of Middletown.
The present wife of Judge Groo, with whom he
was united February 25, 1873, was Mary F. , only
daughter of David J. M. and Elmira (Lathrop)
Sloat. Seven children were born unto this union,
of whom Fannie, a remarkably sweet and bright
child, died December 24, 1880. The others are
as. follows: Saidee B., Elmira Lathrop, Pearl,
Lillian Lathrop, Frances Willard and Stanley, all
at home. Mrs. Groo is a lady of unusual strength
of character and intelligence, and has taken an
active part in temperance work, having for many
years served as President of the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union of Middletown, which
office she .still fills. The Judge has been identi
fied with almost all the temperance societies that
have existed in New York for the last thirty
years, among them the Sons of Temperance,
Good Templars and Royal Templars of Temper
ance. His has been a busy and useful life, and
he retains, though past life's prime, the energy,
indomitable will and force of character that have
ever been among his prominent personal attri
butes.

W. MATTHEWS, a contractor and builder
'y of Middletown, was born in Andes, Delaware
_ . County, in 1848. His father, Thomas S.
Matthews, was also a native of that county, and
there died at the age of seventy -three years. By
occupation he was a farmer, and followed that
calling almost his entire life, but for a time was
engaged as a buyer and speculator in lumber.

Politically he was a Democrat. He married Sa
rah J. Gregory, who was also born in the town
of Andes, Delaware County, and was a daughter
of Richard Gregory, likewise a native of Del
aware County. Her father died in that county
many years ago. During the War of 18 12 he
served his country faithfully as a soldier. To
Thomas S. and Sarah J. Matthews were born
eight children: Richard, who served in several
different regiments during the late war, and is
now a contractor and builder in Polo, 111. ; Charles,
who served in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth
New York Infantry during the Civil War, and
now resides in Washington; Rensselaer, of Otsego
County, N. Y.; Sylvester, a farmer and horse-
trainer in Otsego County; Hannah, also residing
in Otsego County; Phcebe, residing iu Sullivan
County; and James M., residing in Delaware
County. The subject of this sketch remained 011 the
home farm until twenty years of age and received
but a limited education in the schools of his na
tive county. While generally employed at farm
work, he also for a time worked at the carpen
ter's trade. On leaving home he began work at
that trade as a journeyman', and two months later
became the junior member ofthe firm of Shaeffer
& Matthews, contractors and builders in Dela
ware County. He subsequently located at Wal
ton, from which place he removed to Delhi, where
he continued contracting and building for three
years. He then returned to Walton and engaged
in the flour and grain business, erecting there a
small elevator with a capacity of teu thousand
bushels. He purchased and shipped grain from
the West all over Pennsylvania, New York and
New Jersey, doing both a wholesale and retail
business. For a time he ran a flour and feed mill,
and in the three years in which he was_engaged
in business was quite successful. Later he sold
out, and in 1887 removed to Binghamton, where
he intended starting in the wholesale grain and
produce business, but the competition was so
great he abandoned the idea and resumed con
tracting and building. While residing in that
place he built some large blocks, including that
of Regan & McHale, and many fine residences.

JAMES H. SARVIS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1215

In 1892 he came to Middletown and entered the
employ of Lindsey Bros., where he remained five
or six months, when the firm failed. He then
engaged in contracting and building for himself,
and has continued in the business with good suc
cess. His shop and office are located on the cor
ner of Prospect Street and Wickham Avenue,
and his residence at No. 3 Linden Block.
While still residing in Delaware Count)- Mr.
Matthews was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Neish, a native of that county. Two chil
dren have been born to them, Earl S. and Helen.
While residing at Walton, Mr. Matthews was
made a member of the Independent Order of Red
Men, but does not at present hold membership
with the order. Mrs. Matthews is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

=]

£+£{

3 AMES H. SARVIS. This well known citi
zen of Newburgh traces his ancestry to illus
trious forefathers, who took an active part in
the early wars of our country. His maternal
grandfather, who was a valiant soldier in the
War of 1812, was a son of Gen. Joseph Warren,
of Revolutionary fame. The latter was born in
Roxbury, Mass., June 11, 1741, and died at the
battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. The fam
ily history in America can be traced back to the
year 1659, when the name of Peter Warren ap
pears on the town records of Boston as a mariner.
General Warren was graduated from Harvard
College in 1759, and the following year was ap
pointed master of the Roxbury School. He stud
ied medicine with Dr. James Lloyd, aud began
to practice his profession in 1764. The passage
of the stamp act the next year led him to publish
several able articles in the Boston Gazette, and
brought him into prominence as one of the sup
porters of the American cause. He was Chair
man of the Committee of Safety, also served as
President of the Provincial Congress that met at
Watertown May 31, 1775, and thus became the
chief executive officer of Massachusetts under the
Provincial Government. June 14 he was chosen*
Major-General of the Massachusetts forces, and

three days later he was at Bunker Hill. It is
said that both General Putnam and General
Prescott successively signified their readiness to
take orders from him, but he refused, and in the
final struggle, when he was endeavoring to rally
the militia, he was struck in the head by a musket-
ball and instantly killed.
On the paternal side our subject traces his lin
eage to Holland. His paternal grandfather, John
Jarvis (as the name was then spelled) came to
America in early manhood and settled in Orange
County, purchasing a large tract of land in New
burgh Town, where he remained until his death,
at ninety -six years. He was a member of the
Dutch Reformed Church. The house which he
erected is still standing, being now occupied by
his son Harvey.
The father of our subject, William Sarvis, was
born in the town of Newburgh, and engaged in
farming until 1842, when he removed to the city
and embarked in the wholesale and retail fish
business near the ferry. His trade was large,
and he owned a number of boats and fishing out
fits, having men constantly employed in fishing
on the Hudson. His death occurred in 1884,
when he was eighty -six years old. Politically he
was a Democrat. His wife, whose maiden name
was Mary Warren, was born in Marlborough,
Ulster County, and died in the spring of 1894,
aged ninety years.
Of the seven sous and two daughters of Will
iam Sarvis, we note the following: Lockwood,
who died in Newburgh, was a member of the
Fifty -sixth New York Infantry during the Civil
War. John is a resident of Newburgh. William,
deceased, served during the war as a member of
the Nineteenth New York Infantry. Charles lives
in Newburgh. James H., our subject, was born
in the town of Newburgh, May 4, 1840. Daniel,
who served throughout the entire period of the
war, belonged to the Thirty-sixth New York In
fantry, and now resides in Newburgh. George
died in this city. Mary J. is the wife of George
Mapes, of Newburgh. Josephine, deceased, was
Mrs. George Mould.
From the age of three years our subject was
reared in Newburgh, where he attended the Clin-

I2l6

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ton Street and high schools. In 1855 he shipped
on a sailing vessel that plied between Newburgh
and Albany, and afterward was on various sea
going vessels in the coasting trade. Becoming
an expert navigator, he was promoted to be first
mate and then captain. While serving as cap
tain of the "John R. Brick," a Hudson River
sailing-vessel, he resigned, in July, 1862, to enter
the Union army. He entered as a private in
Company L, Nineteenth New York Infantry, and
later was promoted to the Corporal's rank, his
service being principally in Maryland.
¦ Returning home at the expiration of his period
of service, Mr. Sarvis entered the employ of Ben
jamin B. Odell in the ice business, and when the
concern was merged into the Muchattoes Lake
Ice Company, he remained with it as superin
tendent, filling that position for twenty -four years.
When, iu the spring of 1887, Mr. Odell was
elected Mayor, he appointed Mr. Sarvis Chief of
Police, and in that capacity he served until July,
1894. During his term of office he succeeded in
breaking up the bridge bandits, and made a num
ber of difficult arrests, among which were those
ofthe infamous Thomas O'Brien and Red Orson.
At present he has a forty-two-foot steam launch,
a twenty-five-foot naphtha launch, and about forty
small boats on Orange Lake, from the lease of
which he derives a good income. He also owns
a residence, a small summer hotel and boat
houses at the lake.
The first wife of Mr. Sarvis was Susan M.
Vredenburgh, who died in Newburgh, after hav
ing become the mother of four children, viz.: Jen
nie, Mrs. A. C. Smith; Mary, Mrs. Daniel Smith;
James, who is connected with the West Shore
Road at Kingston; and Frank, who is superin
tendent for a railroad contractor in Brooklyn.
The second marriage of Mr. Sarvis united him
with Miss Flora M. Bennett, who was born in
Norfolk, Va., being a daughter of Richard Ben
nett, a farmer of the Old Dominion. They have
three children: Flora M., who is married and re
sides iu Newburgh; and Henry and Grace, who
are with their parents.
In 1885-86 Mr. Sarvis was Almshouse Com
missioner, but resigned upon being appointed

Chief of Police. When the Seventeenth Battalion
ofthe National Guard was organized, he became
a member of Company E, and was elected Cor
poral. He won the prize for the best marksman
in the battalion, and was a member of the bat
talion team of marksmen that won the champion
ship of the brigade. He is considered the best
rifle-shot in the county, and his skill in that di
rection has brought him considerable local prom
inence. Socially he is a member of Ellis Post
No. 52, G. A. R., the Veterans' Association 01
the Order of American Firemen, and the Veter
ans' Association of the fire department. A stanch
Republican, he has been a member of city and
county committees for thirty-five years, and is
regarded as one of the most efficient workers of
his party.

a****

****c

'•fr***1§8ig§'****

Gl NDREW J. BELL has been very active in
LA the building up of the city of Middletown t
I | and has erected many of the most substan
tial dwelling and business houses iu the city. He
was born near Syracuse, Onondaga County, in
February, 1824, and is of Irish descent. His
grandfather, John Bell, was a native of Ireland,
and came over as a soldier in the English army
under General Wolf, and was present when Que
bec was taken by the Americans and when the
General was killed. After the war he located in
Schenectady, N. Y., where he was engaged in
farming. Later he went to Onondaga County,
and there died at an advanced age. His son,
Joseph Bell, the father of our subject, was born
in Schenectady, N. Y., and was by occupation a
farmer. He there died at about the age of sev
enty-five years. Religiously he was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married
Nancy Marcellus, who was born in Montgomery
County, and who died at the age of seventy-five
years. Of their family of two daughters and seven
sons, only two are now living.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest in
his family, and was reared on a farm, receiving
only the advantages of a common-school educa
tion. When seventeen years old he was appren-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

121-

ticed to learn the trade of a carpenter at Preble,
Cortland County, N. Y., where he remained two
years, and then went to Syracuse and worked at
his trade there for five years. From Syracuse he
went to Washington, D. C, and during his resi
dence there saw all the great men of that day,
including Daniel Webster, Thomas H. Benton,
Henry Clay and others. He next went to Bos
ton, Mass., and then to Providence, R. I., and iu
1847 went to Missouri, via the Ohio River, and
up the Mississippi and the Missouri to Ft. Inde
pendence, where he located and worked at his
trade. After remaining there a short time, he
went through Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana,
traveling principally by boat and on horseback.
In all, he spent about five years in the West and
South, and then returned and located in Monti
cello, Sullivan County, where he engaged in the
wagon-making trade for ten years. He next re
moved to Thompsonville, where he engaged in
the lumber trade and hotel business, in all about
three years. While in Thompsonville he was also
engaged in the manufacture of lumber of all
kinds. Bloomingburg was his next place of op
eration. There he engaged in wagon-making,
manufacturing the Bell Wagon, which at one time
was well known throughout the entire state. He
remained at Bloomingburg from 1865 until the
spring of 1888, when he located in Middletown,
purchased a lot, and built the residence at No.
295 North Street. Later he purchased lots and
built over thirty residences, among them being
fourteen 011 North Street, of whicli he now owns
only one; three on Linden Terrace, of which all
are sold; seven on Cottage Street, of which he
yet owns three; two on Wisner Avenue, one yet
remaining in his possession. He built and owns
Nicholson's Hall on North Street, the first floor
being used as a hall and the upper floor as flats.
Mr. Bell was united in marriage in 1853, a*
Bloomingburg, with Miss Mary Sinsabaugh, who
was born there. They have one child grown to
manhood, Marcellus S., who is engaged with his
father in carpentering. In politics Mr. Bell is a
Democrat, and is at present on the Democratic
County Central Committee, and was on the old
city and county committee until 1893. While

residing in Sullivan County he was nominated for
the Assembly, but declined to make the race. In
the councils of his party he has beeu very active
and has served as a delegate of the county, con
gressional and state conventions. He is an out-
and-out free-thinker, of the Bob Ingersoll stripe.
In business he has been fairly successful, and in
addition to his property interests is a stockholder
in the Co-operative Store, also a stockholder in
the Casino Theatre.

EUNO MUSBACH, slate, tin and metal roofer,
and proprietor of the Midway Park Restaur
ant, was born in Langensalza, Thuringia,
Saxony, April 1, 1865, and is the son of Chris
tian Musbach, also a native of that country. He
remained at home until eighteen years of age, at
tending school until fourteen, and then learning
the trade of roofer under his father. In 1883 he
came to Middletown and started in business
alone. Two years later he entered into partner
ship with Alexander Bennett, under the firm
name of Bennett & Musbach, but since the disso
lution of the partnership Mr. Musbach has con
tinued alone. Specimens of his work may be
seen all over Middletown, including the Armory,
State Hospital, Wickham Avenue Depot, and
nearly all the business blocks that are covered
with slate. Not only in Middletown, but through
out Orange County, including the schoplhouse at
Goshen, may his work be seen. He has also
done considerable work iu Monticello, Sullivan
County. During the busy seasons of the year he
employs from twelve to fifteen men.
In July, 1895, Mr. Musbach became proprietor
of the Midway Park Restaurant, which is beauti
fully located on Wallkill River. It has a front
age of over four hundred feet, and is sufficiently
large to accommodate the immense crowds that
assemble during the heated period of the year to
enjoy the cooling breezes ofthe Wallkill. The re
sort has every convenience necessary to the com
fort and well-being of its patrons, and the res-

I2l8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

taurant has a seating capacity of sixteen hundred
people. The buildings are well planned and
handsomely furnished, and are lighted by elec
tricity. Mr. Musbach was married in Middletown to
Miss Mary L. Goldsmith, who was born in the
town of Wallkill. Fraternally he is a member of
Luther Lodge No. 380, having twice passed all
the chairs, and has been a representative to the
Grand Lodge of the state. He is also a member
of Hoffman Lodge, F. & A. M.

(T CHARLES SCHWARTZ, dealer iu fresh
I and salt meat at No. 21 West Main Street,
Q) Middletown, has been more than ordinarily
successful. He was born in Halle, Wurtemberg,
Germany, June 18, 1856. His father, Frederick
Schwartz, was also a native of that place, and
was engaged in the butcher and meat business
there for many years. He married Lena Collins,
bom in Wurtemberg, where she died in 1878.
The father died there iu 1876, at the age of sixty-
seven years. They were both devout members of
the Lutheran Church. They were the parents
of seven children, who grew to maturity, and
four of that number are now living in America.
One son, Christopher, now residing in Middle-
town, and engaged with our subject, was a mem
ber of a New York regiment during the late war.
William, another son, also resides in Middle-
town, and was formerly in partnership with our
subject; Sophia, now Mrs. Cochenderfer, resides
in New York City.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his na
tive country, and until the age of fourteen at
tended the common schools, and then entered the
high school and took the Latin and French
courses. Under his father he thoroughly learned
the meat business, and continued in his father's
shop until 1873, when he resolved to come to the
United States; first, in order that he might better
himself in life, and secondly, that he might es
cape military duty, which every able-bodied man
was required to do in that country. He left
Hamburg on the steamer ' ' Harmony , ' ' and after a

voyage of fourteen days landed at New York,
from which place he came directly to Middle-
town, and entered the employ of his brother
Christopher, who was here engaged in the meat
business. In 1882, having applied himself too
closely to business, he found it necessary to re
cuperate, and therefore left the shop and entered
Eastman's Business College, from which he sub
sequently graduated. In 1883, in company with
his brother William, he engaged in the meat bus
iness, the firm being styled Schwartz Bros., and
the location on East Main Street. For three
years they continued in that location, and then
removed to No. 21 West Main Street. The part
nership of the brothers was continued until 1893,
when our subject purchased the interest of his
brother, and has since conducted the business
alone. The market has a frontage of twenty
feet, and a depth of one hundred and two feet.
The location is an excellent one for business, and
no market is kept in better order. Everything
about it is neat and tidy, and with every conven
ience for the transaction of business. The refrig
erator is a very large one, with a capacity of sev
eral tons. He" has a large sausage-machine,
which is capable of turning out an immense
quantity of sausage, in which he has a very large
trade. The market is the leading one in this
city, and is supplied with every kind of fresh and
salt meat, including pickled pork, ham and ba
con. Two delivery wagons are constantly en
gaged in filling the orders of the market. In ad
dition to what has already been mentioned,
Mr. Schwartz carries fish of every kind, and
manufactures a large amount of lard.
Mr. Schwartz is quite active in all matters per
taining to the material interest of his adopted
city, and is at present the owner of the block in
which his market is established, which has a
frontage of thirty -eight feet and a depth of one
hundred and two feet, three stories in height and
built of brick . The neat residence in which the
family resides, located at No. 127 South Street, he
also owns. He has built two other houses, one
of which he still owns. He is a member of the
Orange County Telephone Company, and was
j one of the organizers of the Orange County Trust

EBER L. BROWN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1221

and Safe Deposit Company, of which he was a Di
rector for a time. Fraternally he is a member of
the Knights of Pythias, both of the subordinate
and uniformed-rank degrees. He is also a mem
ber of Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company No.
i. In politics he is a thorough Republican, and
in religious belief a Congregationalist. He is a
Trustee of the Congregational Church of this
place, and is very active in this work. Mr.
Schwartz was here married to Miss Elizabeth
Sears, born in the town of Montgomery, and
daughter of Samuel Sears. They have one child,
Winifred.

->—»  02^®fi|i|®^K<«  1— f-

BER LAIN BROWN. Working his way
"y from poverty to wealth, from an humble
_ position to a place of influence among his
fellow-men, Mr. Brown has for years been a
prosperous and successful business man, whose
versatile ability and reliability in his dealings
with others have brought to him the confidence
of the public. At present he gives his time to
the supervision of his farm, which consists of
about seven hundred acres in the town of Mini-
sink. Besides this property he owns seven tene
ment houses and a business block in Unionville,
also several houses in Jersey City, the receipts
from which form a very important addition to his
income. Our subject and his sister, Pamela, Mrs. Jon
athan K. Burr (deceased), were the only children
of Joseph and Phcebe (Lain) Brown. The fa
ther was born in the town of Minisink, on the
farm now occupied by our subject, and was in
early life a school-teacher, but later engaged in
the mercantile business in Newburgh and New
York. His father, who located in the town of
Minisink in an early day, came to this local
ity from Long Island and was the first of the
family to locate in this county. Eber L- was
born in Sussex County, N. J., March 31, 1828,
and in early boyhood attended the district schools
of the home locality. When only eleven years

old he became a clerk in his uncle's store at
Edenville, where he was employed a year. He
then went to another uncle in Beemerville, Sussex
County, N. J., where he stayed three years. For
two years afterward he clerked in a store in New
burgh, and then went to New York City, where
he was similarly occupied for a few years. Next
we find him a member of the wholesale grocery
firm of Stillwell, Brown & Co., of New York
City, with which he was connected for about five
years •
In the spring of 1848, shortly before the great
gold discovery, Mr. Brown set sail for California,
in company with the man who first discovered
gold there. He was delayed for two months on
the Isthmus of Panama, and the entire trip to
San Francisco consumed four months. After
having spent a short time in the last-named city,
he began prospecting and mining at St. Mary's,
which was back of Sacramento, and was fairly
successful during the year he was at that place.
His mining was altogether with the pan, in placer
diggings. He often dug from $100 to $200 worth
of gold per day, and a few times ran as high as
$600. Expenses were correspondingly high, and
he frequently paid $1 apiece for eggs, $1 a pound
for bacon, and from twenty to forty cents per
pound for flour. Besides this he did his own
cooking and washing. He suffered many hard
ships, and in consequence contracted disease.
Often he had to pay a doctor as high as $100 per
visit. The climate, however, did not agree with
him, and his failing health forced him to return
East. On his arrival at the old home, Mr. Brown at
once resumed business. For about two years he
was engaged in the wholesale dry-goods busi
ness in New York City, after which for three
years he was a partner in a large wholesale gro
cery business. The pressure of business cares
again caused the loss of his health, and, hoping
to regain his strength, he came to Unionville
and settled on the farm where his father was
born. There he made his home, engaged in farm
ing, for about twenty years. His next step was
to open a wholesale and retail feed store in Union
ville, which he sold six years later, having made

1222

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a financial success of the enterprise. Turning
his attention to a somewhat different line of work,
he organized the Unionville Silk Manufacturing
Company, of which he became President, and
which invested about $25,000 in a silk plant,
employing fifty hands. Unfortunately, the fac
tory burned down in 1894, and the business has
never since been resumed.
On Christmas Day of 185 1 Mr. Brown married
Miss Sarah E. Lewis, and one child blessed this
union. His second marriage, June 1 , 1863, united
him with Caroline M. Lain, daughter of Richard
A. Lain, and they became the parents of twelve
children, but seven of the number have been
taken by death. The survivors are Joseph M.,
Allison, Eber L-, Phcebe and Millie M. The
sons are all married. Mrs. Brown is a member
of the Methodist Church. Mr. Brown has re
fused to be bound to any political organization in
the matter of casting his ballot, but votes for the
men whom he deems best qualified for office, ir-
iespective of political ties. While serving as Su
pervisor, he rendered careful and satisfactory
service in the interests of the people of the town.
He is a man who is ever to be found on the side
of progress, one who acts well his part in life and
does all in his power to advance the material
prosperity of the country. He was the first man
who put up electric lights in Unionville, was
also the first to use gas in the place, having his
own private plant, and was the first to establish
manufacturing plants there.

"¦-^=I>--^<!

@^

-s—

•p GJlLLIAM S. CARPENTER has been from
\ A / boyhood engaged in the railroad business
V V in one capacity or another, and was pro
moted by degrees until he became engineer on the
Erie Railroad. His residence is at No. 61 Orange
Street, Port Jervis, where he has a pleasant home,
and in addition to this he owns considerable prop
erty in other parts of the city. He is proprietor
of the Deerpark Club House, one of the leading
club houses (to which we will refer later on) ,
owns one hundred and ten feet of land on Pike
Street, and is interested in the Gorman & Abers-

dorf Livery Stable. He has erected two cottages,
and is the owner of several tenement buildings
on Franklin and Ball Streets.
Mr. Carpenter was born November 24, 1846,
in Deposit, N. Y., his parents being Jesse and
Sarah (Barlow) Carpenter. The latter is still liv
ing, her home being with her son William S.
The father was an engineer on the Delaware Di
vision, and for many years resided in this city.
His death occurred February 20, 1876, as the re
sult of an accident. The main connecting-rod
broke and passed through the firebox of his en
gine, letting out steam and gases, which were in
haled by the unfortunate engineer, and his death
took place ten days later, at the age of fifty -seven
years. He had commenced railroading about
1854 as a fireman, and after the strike, two years
later, returned to a brakeman's position, which he
held for a year and a-half. About 1859 he was
placed in charge of an engine, which he ran until
his death. He was, like his son, a native of
Broome County, his birth having occurred near
Deposit. Our subject was about ten or eleven years of
age when the family removed to Port Jervis, and
when in his thirteenth year he was made fireman
on a switch engine. In September, 1863, though
but seventeen years of age, he was made engineer
on the main line, and soon afterward took charge
of an engine on a freight train. In 1867 he as
sumed the responsibility of running a passenger
engine, and now has the honor of running the No.
1 Westbound Chicago Express, and the No. 14
Eastbound Wells Fargo Express. Among the
narrow escapes which befall all railroad men of
long standing, he has had a few unpleasant expe
riences. At one time a freight train breaking left
a drawhead on the track, which was struck by
his engine, which capsized on the bank. The
night express which his engine was drawing com
prised twelve cars, which crashed into and com
pletely demolished the engine. None of the pass
enger^ were killed, but the shooting steam so
badly scalded Mr. Carpenter that he was laid up
five months. Four miles west of this place a storm
once washed out a space of thirty-five feet, leav
ing the rails and ties suspended without founda-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1223

tions. Mr. Carpenter' s engine passed over before
the rails gave way, but the twelve cars attached
were plunged into the creek below. Marvelously,
none of the passengers were injured. With the
exception of three months, when he worked for
the Morris & Essex Road, Mr. Carpenter has
served continuously on the Erie lines since boy
hood. He is a Master Mason, belonging to Port
Jervis Lodge No. 328, F. & A. M.
The Deerpark Club House was originally built,
in i860, for a Baptist Church, and when the new
house of worship was constructed Mr. Carpenter
purchased the old building. He has made great
changes, has partitioned it into elegant reception-
rooms on the first floor, with ballroom and dress
ing-rooms on the second floor, and a well equipped
kitchen in the basement. Here may be found
china and silverware in sufficient quantities to set
a table for one hundred and fifty guests, which
number can be comfortably seated in the commo
dious dining-room. The club is arranged espe
cially for social functions, and the enterprise dis
played by the proprietor is fully appreciated by
the citizens.

HECTOR OSTERHOUT, a photographer of
Middletown, was born in Ulster County,
near Kingston, in 1849, ana traces his an
cestry back to Tunis Osterhout, who came from
Holland in 1640, and settled in the -wilds of Ulster
County. Abraham Osterhout, the grandfather
of our subject, was born in Ulster County, and
was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was hon
orably discharged from the service, and died at
the age of eighty-six years. Kryneus Osterhout,
the father of our subject, who was born in the
town of Rochester, Ulster County, was by occu
pation a painter, but later engaged in farming,
and though now over seventy-six years of age,
yet follows that occupation near Stone Ridge,
Ulster County. In politics he is a Republican,
and is a member of the Reformed Church. He
married Hannah J. Wood, born near Rosendale,

Ulster County, and a daughter of Frederick
Wood, an old settler of that county, but of Eng
lish descent. She is yet living, at the age of sev
enty-one. Of their eleven children, all grew to
maturity, and ten survive.
The subject of this sketch remained at home on
the farm until nineteen years of age, receiving
his education in the public school and at Stone
Ridge Academy. When nineteen he taught his
first term of school, and then engaged as clerk in
a store at Stone Ridge for one year, and later en
gaged in teaching for six months. In 1869 ne
commenced to learn the photograph business in
Kingston, and for a time followed that occupation
in Ulster, Greene and Columbia Counties, finally
locating at Bennington, Vt., where he followed
his profession for ten years. Desiring to make a
change, he came to Middletown in December,
1884, and has since built up an extensive trade
here. He has twice remodeled his place of busi
ness, which now covers an area of 24x130 feet,
aud his operating room is 15x40 feet. There are
two reception-rooms and two showrooms, each of
which is nicely furnished, and the gallery is well
located on the first floor at No. 6 Main Street.
Mr. Osterhout was first married in Ulster
County to Miss Katy Weeks, who died in Middle-
town in May, 1890. In Warwick he subsequently
married Miss Martha Utter, by whom he has two
children, Katy and Martha. The family reside
in a pleasant home at No. 13 Wickham Avenue,
of which he is the owner. Socially he is a mem
ber of the Knights of Honor, and in politics he is
a Republican. Religiously he affiliates with the
Congregational Church.

Cx.'

ScT

HARVEY LAMB is one ofthe prominent citi
zens of Port Jervis, Orange County', and is a
conductor on the Erie Railroad. His life
as a railroad man extends over forty-five years,
during which time he has witnessed many changes
and different systems. He ran on the road long
before the telegraph was used, and recollects
when Charles Minot, Superintendent of the Erie,
wished to put up a telegraph system, but the

1224

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Board of Directors stood aloof. He also remem
bers when the old-style brakes at each end of the
car, without ratchets and with a crank, were in
common use.
Our subject was born in Jackson Township,
Susquehanna County, Pa., November 7, 1830.
When his father died he requested our subject to
purchase the old homestead of his birth, saying
that this farm was all that remained of the large
estates which had formerly belonged to his father,
and he desired that this one, at least, should re
main in possession ofthe family. Accordingly Har
vey Lamb carried out his father's wishes as soon
as it was possible, and now owns the old farm in
Jackson Township. His parents were Chauncy and
Gratia (Wells) Lamb, both natives of Vermont,
and the former born near Brattleboro. He was
but nine years of age when he moved to Pennsyl
vania with his father, Maj. Joel Lamb, and settled
in Susquehanna County when it was a wilder
ness. They were obliged to cut a road from their
home to the Susquehanna depot, and for many
years Chauncy Lamb was engaged in contracting
for a turnpike. His death occurred at the age of
seventy-five years, in 1888. His wife removed
from the Green Mountain State with her sister
when a young girl, and was married in Pennsyl
vania. Their father afterward came to live with
these, his favorite daughters, and survived both of
them. Mrs. Gratia Lamb was only thirty-seven
years of age at the time of her death.
Until he was nineteen years of age Harvey
Lamb was employed in farming, and for a few
terms was engaged in teaching school. He was
only fifteen when he was granted a certificate, and
for his services received $11 per month and
' 'boarded 'round. ' ' His higher education was ob
tained in Hartford Academy, in his home town
ship, where for two terms he was under the in
struction of "Uncle" Lyman Richardson. When
in his twentieth year Harvey Lamb began rail
roading as a brakeman on the Delaware Division
and as a flagman at Callicoon. At length he was
promoted to be conductor of a freight train, and at
the end ofa year and a-half, or in 1852, came to
Port Jervis. He was then a fireman, and about
1854 was given an engine. Then in 1856 occur

red the great strike as the result of a rule which
affected the engineers, but all the hands joined in
expressing their disapprobation. Mr. Lamb left
the company and went to the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy, where for three years he ran on the
division between Galesburg and Aurora, one hun
dred and forty miles. In 1859 he went to Kan
sas as a pioneer, and settled on a farm near Le-
Roy, in Coffey County. During his two years'
residence there he became acquainted with many
of the early settlers, among whom were John
Brown and Jim Lane. In 1861 he was attached
to Jennison's scouting brigade.
In 1861 Mr. Lamb again entered the employ of
the Erie Railroad at Port Jervis and has since
been one of their most trusted aud capable men.
For six years he ran a construction train, being his
own engineer and conductor, and was then made
conductor on a freight train, for a time doing
extra duty. In 1874 he was given charge of a
passenger train, and now, as for the past two and
a-half years, has run the milk train, thus having
every night for a rest. For seventeen years he
ran No. 3 and No. 12 passenger trains, the former
being the night express west and the latter the
eastbound express. The lines traversed were
from Jersey City to Port Jervis and from here
to Susquehanna. The only accident of seri
ous consequence which he has ever had was when
No. 12 ran off the track at Tioga Station, six
miles west of Owego, and collided with other cars.
Six of the twelve cars were burned, two of these
being express and mail cars, and four mail clerks,
Murray, Fox,- Reddiuger and Sebolt, by name,
lost their lives, and the express messenger, a Mr.
Brewer, met a like fate'. Mr. Lamb has had
many hairbreadth escapes, but on the whole has
been fortunate. A cinder which settled in his
right eye caused him great suffering for months,
as it could not be located, and finally he lost
his sight in that eye. He is an honorary mem
ber of the Brotherhood of Locomotive- Engineers,
belonging to Division No. 54, and is a member
of Division No. 9, Order of Railway Conductors.
October 28, 1863, Mr. Lamb and Marcella,
daughter of Dr. Manley, were united in marriage
in Susquehanna. Mrs. Lamb was born in Rut-

HENRV W. SMITH (85 Years)

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1227

land, Vt., of which state her father was also a na
tive. For many years he was engaged in practice
at Windsor, Broome County, N. Y. Mr. and
Mrs. Lamb have no children of their own, but
adopted a young girl, Bertha, who is now the
wife of Don L. Sturgis, of Washington, D. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Lamb attend the Baptist Church, of
which the former is a Trustee. He is a liberal
contributor to church enterprises and was one of
the Building Committee. Politically Mr. Lamb
is a Democrat.

HENRY W. SMITH. A history of the lives
of the best residents of Orange County
would in no wise be complete without an
outline of the life of Mr. Smith, who has lived in
the neighborhood of his present estate since 1849.
He is now in the eighty-sixth year of his age,
aud is retired from labor on account of failing
eyesight and old age. His farm is seventy-six
acres in extent, and but few are superior in point
of cultivation in the town of Goshen.
The subject of this sketch was born in Rock
land County, this state, February 22, 1810, and
is the youngest member of the family bom to
John and Mary Ann (Conkling) Smith, also na
tives of this state. The father, who was a farmer
during his active years, was quiet and unassum
ing in manner, and although never seeking public
office, was always willing to contribute his por
tion, either of money or time, toward the further
ing of his community's interests. He died in
18 1 3, when our subject was three years old.
Henry W., of this sketch, had -very limited
advantages for acquiring an education, as the
schools of his day were few and far between, and
as the class of teachers engaged was very inferior
compared with what the youth of the present age
enjoy. He was trained to farm work, and when
ready to engage in business for himself went to
New York City in order to learn the carpenter's
trade under the best instructors. Meeting with
an accident, however, he was compelled to return
home, and since that time has given his atten
tion to cultivating the soil. In this vocation he

has been successful and has built up for himself
a name for honesty and fair dealing second to
none in the county. In 1849 Mr. Smith located
in this town, and has therefore made his home
here for over forty-six years, and is now one of
its oldest and most highly honored residents.
In 1832 occurred the marriage of Henry W.
Smith with Miss Lucinda, daughter of Richard
and Margaret Quackenbush, natives of this state.
To them were born eight sons and daughters,
five of whom have departed this life. Those now
living are: Sarah, the wife of Ferdinand House,
of this county; Joseph, engaged in the livery-
business in Warwick; and Caroline, who married
John R. Van Nostrand, of this county. Mr. and
Mrs. Van Nostrand reside at the old homestead
and carry on the farm. The wife and mother
passed from earth about 1885.
Mr. Smith is a Presbyterian in religious faith
and during his early years took an active part in
church work. In politics, he never fails to cast
a vote in favor of Democratic candidates aud
principles. He is widely and favorably known,
and his sterling worth and strict integrity have
won for him the confidence and high regard of
all with whom he has been brought in contact.

WILLIAM C. F. BASTIAN, Alderman from
the Fourth Ward of Middletown, and one
of the most enterprising men in the city,
was born in Speier, Bavaria, January 27, 1839,
and served his adopted country faithfully in the
War for the Union. His father, William Bastian,
was a native of Kreutznach, Prussia, and was a
tanner and currier by trade. He had a tannery
at Speier, which he operated for many years, and
later took his son August into partnership, this
connection continuing until the former's death,
in 1894. In religious belief he was a Lutheran.
His wife, Catherine Betsch , was born near Speier,
aud was a daughter of George Betsch, who was
born in 1767, and died in 1851. Her father was
an official of the Government, and served in the
German army against Napoleon. He was also
a member of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Bas-

1228

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tian died in 1864, leaving six sons: William C.
F., our subject; Max, who died in Newburgh;
Louis C, who now resides in New York City,
and was formerly Lieutenant in the Fifteenth New
York Artillery under Colonel Dickey; George,
who resides in Speier, and is engaged in the
leather business; Philip, who also resides in
Speier, where he owns machine-shops; and Au
gust, who died in 1894, in Speier.
William C. F. Bastian was reared iu his native
city, and until fourteen years of age attended the
public school. He then commenced to learn the
tanner's and currier's trade under his father,
where he remained until seventeen years of age,
when he came to the United States, being the
first of the family to locate in this country. He
sailed from Havre, and was thirty -five days on
the voyage to New York City. After remaining
there three weeks, he was engaged by Stephen
McKinstry, who owned a tannery on the Sha
wangunk, in Ulster County, aud there remained
for some years, or until the tannery was closed
up. He then went to Newburgh with Mr. Mc
Kinstry, who, under the firm name of Jennings
& McKinstry, conducted a tannery at that place.
In i860 he went to Wawarsing, Ulster County,
where until 1861 he had charge of a department
in McKinstry & Child's tannery.
On the breaking out of the War for the Union,
our subject enlisted in Company A, Twentieth
New York Militia, under Colonel Pratt, and was
mustered into the service at Kingston for three
months. The regiment was sent to Baltimore,
where it remained until the expiration of its term
of service, when it was mustered out, aud the
men honorably discharged. In August, 1862,
he assisted in recruiting Company E, One Hun
dred and Twentieth New York Infantry, and was
appointed First Sergeant of the company. On
examination, however, he was rejected by the
surgeon, and thus ended his military career.
Soon afterward he went to New York City, where
he engaged in business until 1869, and then went
to Wurtsboro, where he was married, the same
year, to Miss Louisa Belger, a native of that
place. In 1870 he opened a store in Wurtsboro
for the sale of fruits and confectionery, in which

he continued until 1872, when he located in Mid
dletown, and built the Monopole House. He
continued in the hotel business until 1894, when
he sold out to Mr. Russell, who changed the
name of the house to the Oriental.
Mr. Bastian owns a nice residence at No. 97
East Main Street, where he resides with his wife.
One daughter, Millie, died in 1892, at the age of
nineteen years. In politics Mr. Bastian is a Re
publican, and in 1895 was elected on the Repub
lican ticket as Alderman of the Fourth Ward.
He is Chairman of the Public Buildings and Park
Committees, and is a member of the Committees
on Light and Rules and Laws. Fraternally he
is a Master Mason, and first united with Monti
cello Lodge in 187 1, from which hewas demitted
to Hoffman Lodge. He is also a member of
Midland Chapter, R. A. M.; of Delaware Com
mandery at Port Jervis; and of Mecca Temple at
New York City. He is a charter member of
Luther Lodge No. 380, I. O. O. F. , having twice
passed all its chairs, and has served as District
Deputy, and represented the local body in the
grand lodge. While at Port Jervis, he was a
member of the Encampment of Odd Fellows, but
is not active at the present time. He is also a
member of the Knights of Pythias, and is Vice-
Commander of W. A. Jackson Post No. 301, G.
A. R. Like most of his nationality, he is a nat
ural musician, and for some years was Musical
Director of the Maennerchor. He has been con
nected with all the singing societies in the coun
ty, including the Port Jervis Maennerchor, of
which he was Musical Director, and also of a sim-
iliar society at Newburgh. While in New York
City, he was an active member ofthe Turn Verein.
Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran
Church. ¦  £WGz=-.
•fTJEORGE MAIER, manufacturer and whole-
l_ sale dealer in cigars and tobacco, Middle-
\Ji town, was born in Constance, on Lake Con
stance, in Baden, Germany, near the head ofthe
Rhine, April 16, 1837. His father, Engelbert
Maier, was also a native of that place, and served
in the German army as a Corporal in the war

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1229

against Napoleon. He was the originator of the
first bathing and swimming institution on Lake
Constance. Since he first commenced in that
business it has become very popular. He later
formed a company, of which he was President
until he died, the result of an accident, while yet
in middle life. His wife, Rosa Frey, was born
iu Baden, and was a daughter of Michael Frey, a
gardener of that city. She died in 1862. Of
their family of five children, our subject is third
in order of birth, and is the only representative
in America. He was reared in his native village,
and attended the public and high schools until
the age of fourteen. He was but five years of
age when his father died. His mother reared
the family, and did her best by her children.
At fourteen our subject commenced learning the
trade of a shoemaker, and became a practical
workman in his native place. He then traveled
as a journeyman over Germany, Switzerland and
France, after which he returned home and com
menced the manufacture of shoes, and there re
mained until 1863.
With the desire of bettering himself in life, iu
August, 1863, Mr. Maier left his native land for
the United States. The vessel on which he sailed
was wrecked when in sight of the Jersey and
Long Island shore. The passengers were res
cued by a steamer sent from the city, and were
landed in New York after a voyage of sixty-two
days. While in New York he secured work at
his trade, and for eighteen months resided in that
city. He then went to New Paltz, Ulster Coun
ty, and engaged iu the manufacture of shoes, and
there remained until 1868, when he removed to
Kingston and continued to manufacture. In 1 87 1
he started a large retail boot and shoe business
in that place, which he continued until 1878, and
then located in Middletown. Here he again en
gaged in the retail boot and shoe business, in
which he remained one year; then sold out and
engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes,
and in repairs, on West Main Street. His next
location was on East Main Street, and in 1890 he
removed to his present place of business. He
built on the corner of Beadle and Railroad Ave
nue, now known as the Musbach Hotel, which

he subsequently sold. He also put up a double
brick storeroom at Nos. 2 and 4 Beattie Avenue,
and also erected his residence at No. 6 Beattie
Avenue, where he is still engaged in the retail
boot and shoe business, and in manufacturing,
the business being in charge of his son Oscar.
In 1892 Mr. Maier began the manufacture of
cigars, in partnership with another person, under
the firm name of Eibing & Maier. The partner
ship lasted but one year, when our subject pur
chased the stock, and has since continued in busi
ness alone. His manufactory is located on the
second floor of his building, and he employs about
a half-dozen men. Among the brands of cigars
manufactured by him are the "Rose of Sharon,"
a ten-cent Havana cigar; "Up to Make," a five-
cent leader; and "G. M. S. Perfectos," another
five-cent cigar. This is the largest cigar manu
factory in the place. George Maier, his sou, is
continually on the road as a traveling salesman.
In addition to the lines already mentioned, Mr.
Maier is engaged in the buying and selling of raw
furs, and is the only buyer between New York
City and Buffalo. He buys all kinds of furs, and
expends thousands of dollars annually in the
business. His sons assist him in the business.
He is also interested in the Campbell Driving
Park Association, and is a stockholder iu the
Co-operative Store. In politics he is a Demo
crat, and is a member of the County Central
Committee from the First Ward. He has served
his party as a delegate to County and Senatorial
Conventions. Mr. Maier was united in marriage in 1866, in
New York City, with Anna Keck, a native of
Germany, born near Stuttgart, in Wurtemberg.
She died in Kingston, leaving five children: Os
car, in charge of the boot and shoe business;
William, a plumber with Mr. Duryea; George,
who is a traveling salesman for his father; Anna,
now Mrs. Hess, living in Middletown; and Fred,
who was accidentally killed on the New York Cen
tral Railway at Rome, at the age of twenty-one,
while on his first trip out as a brakeman in the
employ of that road. Mr. Maier' s second mar
riage was with Miss Olivia Luckey, who was
born in Bloomingburg, Sullivan County. Sue-

123°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cess has crowned the efforts of Mr. Maier in his
adopted country, and his reputation as a citizen
and a business man is one of which he may well
be proud.

##*#

(|OHN F. WOOD belongs to a family that
I has long been noted for its patriotic zeal and
\~) devotion to the institutions of our Govern
ment. Two of his uncles served in the War of
1812, and three of his brothers were among the
boys in blue who defended the Stars and Stripes.
He himself did valiant service in the Union army,
and the hardships he endured on the field and
in the camp permanently affected his health.
Since 1888 he has been obliged to use crutches,
and for many years he has been unable to engage
in active business, but he still maintains a gen
eral supervision of his interests and has at heart
the welfare of his fellow- citizens.
The father of our subject, Jeremiah Wood, was
born on Long Island, and was a carpenter by
trade, which occupation he followed first in War
wick and later in Chester, his death occurring
in the latter village. His wife, Frances Patton,
was born in New York State, on the Hudson.
They were the parents of five sons and five
daughters, of whom eight attained years of ma
turity, and three sons and two daughters are now
living. Of these, Charles B., William and Peter
served in Company A, One Hundred and Twen
ty-fourth New York Infantry, while John F. was
a member of Company E, Fifty-sixth New York
Infantry. Personal mention of the first-named
of these sons, Maj. Charles B., is made elsewhere
in this volume.
Iu Warwick, this county, where he was born
in July, 1824, the subject of this notice resided
until sixteen years of age, and then accompanied
his parents to Chester, where he learned the
wagon-maker's trade. In 1850 he came to Mid
dletown and secured employment in a foundry as
a pattern-maker. After spending five years here,
he went to Walled Lake, Oakland County, Mich.,
in 1855, and for two years worked at the carpen

ter's trade, returning thence to Orange County.
Near Port Jervis he was employed as assistant
foreman in the building of the Erie Railroad, and
remained there until 1859, after which he worked
at the wagon-maker's trade for a year. He then
turned his attention to the carpenter's trade,
which he followed until the fall of 1862.
Coming to Middletown at that time, Mr. Wood
worked at his trade, principally in the saw fac
tory and hat works. In March, 1864, he en
listed in Company E, Fifty-sixth New York In
fantry, and was sent to Albany as a recruit.
From there he went to Hart's Island and then
to Fortress Monroe. He was taken ill and for a
time remained in the hospital, recovering from a
severe attack of varioloid only to fall a victim to
the typhoid fever. After rejoining his regiment
in South Carolina in December, 1864, he contin
ued to take part in its operations, and was with
it in its engagements until October, 1865, when
he was honorably discharged from the service.
As soon as his health permitted, Mr. Wood re
sumed work at the carpenter's trade in the hat
shop and saw works, but he has continued to
suffer from the effects of army life from that time
to the present, and in 1880 he was obliged to re
tire altogether from work at his trade. He is an
active member of General Lyon Post No. 266,
G. A. R. , and politically is a pronounced Repub
lican. In this city, April 4, 1850, he married
Miss Jane E. Compton, who was born in Decker-
town, N. J. , being the next to the youngest among
six children. She was orphaned at the age of
five years, and in 1845 came to Middletown,
where she was a student in Denton Academy.
By her marriage four children were born, namely:
Frank W., who is flagman on the Erie Road at
Port Jervis; Heman A., a carpenter at Middle-
town; Belle C, widow of Gerard Depeyster Sax
on; and Fred, who is with his parents. Our
subject's son-in-law was the son of Depeyster
Saxon and a grandson of Abraham W. Depeyster,
at one time Judge of the Supreme Court of New
York. He was also a lineal descendant of Lord
Saxon, of England, and a great-great-grand
nephew of William Turner, the famous artist.
William C. Compton, father of Mrs. Wood,

SELDEN H. TALCOTT, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1233

was born in Pompton, N. J., and was a mill
wright in that state until his death. Her grand
father, Jacob Compton, a native of England,
was sent here as a soldier in the British army dur
ing the Revolutionary War, but deserted, and
afterward fought in the American army as a
commissioned officer. The mother of Mrs. Wood
was in maidenhood Elizabeth Post. She was
born in Sussex County, N. J., and died there
when iu middle life. Her parents were Gabriel
and Anna (Wisner) Post, the former a soldier in
the War of 18 12. Her paternal great-grandfa
ther was a resident of Warwick and a son of An-
neke Jans, of Holland. The family was repre
sented among the earliest settlers of this county,
and has always been known for the honesty, up
rightness and industry of its members.

\m

m

If-M***^

(3ELDEN H. TALCOTT, M. D., Superiu-
j\ tendent of the Middletown State Homeo-
\Z/ pathic Hospital, was born in Rome, N. Y.,
July 7, 1842. He traces his ancestry back to
John Talcott, who came from England in the
ship "Lyon," in 1632, in company with the Brad-
fords and other distinguished persons. He first
located in Massachusetts and later in Connecti
cut. One son, James, born in Connecticut, was
Governor of that state from 1723 to 1741. The
great-grandfather of our subject, Jonathan Tal
cott, was born in Connecticut and was an ensign
in the Revolutionary War. He was in the battle
of Long Island, and at the close of the war set
tled in Rome, N. Y.
The grandfather of our subject, Siah Talcott,
married Charlotte House, who was also a native
of Connecticut. At an early day they removed
to New York, where Jonathan Talcott, the father
of our subject, was born. The grandfather was
in the War of 1812, being engaged in the trans
portation of Government stores, and was a farmer
near Rome. The father is also a farmer, a por
tion of his estate lying within the city limits of
Rome, but he has retired from active life. In
politics he is a Republican, and in religious be
lief a Presbyterian. He married Lucy Ann Shep-

hard, born at Brewerton, Onondaga County, at
the foot of Oneida Lake. The Shephards are a
New England family. The mother died in 1844,
leaving a family of five children, and the father
married a second time, by which union there are
also five children.
Dr. Talcott, of this sketch, was reared in his
native city, and there graduated from the Rome
Academy, taking prizes in English composition
and declamation. In 1862 he prepared for and
attended Hamilton College-one year. In 1864 he
enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth New York
Volunteer Engineers, and was mustered into the
service at Elmira. The company was at once
sent to the Army of the Potomac, which was then
in front of Petersburg, and was among the first to
enter the city after its capture. After serving
faithfully until the close of the war, and being in
the Grand Review at Washington, he was mus
tered out, in July, 1865, at Elmira, and received
an honorable discharge. He then • returned to
Hamilton College, from which he graduated in
1869, with the degree of A. B. During his course
he received the appointments of prize speaker aud
Clark prize orator. While in his junior and sen
ior years he was one of the editors of The Hamil
ton Campus, a college weekly. Three years after
graduating he received from his Alma Mater the
degree of A. M., and twelve years later the de
gree of Ph. D. from the same college. In 1869
he commenced the study of medicine under Dr.
E. A. Munger, of Waterville, and in 1870 en
tered the New York Homeopathic Medical Col
lege, from which he graduated in 1872. During
his last course he was chosen Class President and
was unanimously chosen valedictorian ofthe class,
graduating with the highest standing of any in
the class of thirty-six. Since his graduation he
has had the degree of M. D. conferred on him by
the Massachusetts Homeopathic Medical Society,
and also by the Regents of the University of the
State of New York.
In 1872 Dr. Talcott began the practice of his
profession at Waterville, N. Y., where he re
mained until 1875, when he received the appoint
ment of chief-of-staff of the Homeopathic Charity
Hospital, located on Ward's Island, N. Y. The

54

1234

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hospital had just been started, and Dr. Talcott
was the first chief- of-staff. On taking charge of
the hospital there was not a single patient, but
when he left the institution there were some seven
hundred. At the same time he was also in charge
of the medical division of the Soldiers' Home in
New York, with which institution he remained
until it was disbanded and the inmates removed
to the National Home. He was also in charge of
the Inebriate Asylum of New York City, located
in the southeast corner of Ward's Island, aud
had charge of one hundred and sixty insane pa
tients. In 1877 l-)r- Talcott received the appointment
from the Board of Trustees as Superintendent of
the Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital,
and after resigning his position on Ward's Island
came at once to Middletown and took charge of
this institution. At that time there were only
about one hundred patients in the hospital, and
only the main building was completed. At the
present time there are between eleven and twelve
hundred patients. Since taking the superintend-
ency of the hospital, Dr. Talcott has managed
the erection of over twenty buildings, large and
small, and has had to approve every dollar ex
pended during that time. The location of the
hospital is a favorable one, and it has accommo
dations for about eleven hundred patients. The
main building is one hundred and sixty-six feet
long, while tnere are two pavilions, each two
hundred feet in length. There are several cot
tages and halls on the grounds, which comprise
about three hundred acres of land. Over two
hundred and sixty men and women are employed
in the hospital, together with six assistant sur
geons. Few physicians in the entire country have a
larger practice or are more frequently called into
consultation than the Doctor. He is consulting
physician at Thrall Hospital; also occupies the
same position in the new sanitarium at Easton,
Pa. , and is Professor of Nervous and Mental Dis
eases of the New York Homeopathic College.
For four years he lectured on mental and nerv
ous diseases at the Hahnemann Medical College at
Philadelphia. Among the medical societies with

which he is now connected, or has been connected,
may be mentioned the Orange County Homeo
pathic Medical Society, of which he has served
as President; the Oneida County Homeopathic
Medical Society, of which he was President in
1875; the New York County Homeopathic Med
ical Society; the New York State Homeopathic
Medical Society, of which he has been President;
the American National Institute of Homeopathy,
of which he has been President; the Northern
Homeopathic Medical Society of New York; the
Inter-state Homeopathic Medical Society of New
York and Pennsylvania, and an honorary mem
ber of the Massachusetts Homeopathic Med
ical Society. He is an associate member of the
Royal Society of Medicine in Belgium. To the
International Penal Association, held at Christi
ana, Norway, in 1891, he was sent as a delegate
by the New York Medical-Legal Society of New
York City, of which he isa member. In 1879 he
was appointed a member of the State Board of
Medical Examiners by the Regents of the Uni
versity of New York.
Dr. Talcott has spent much time in travel in
the interest of his profession. In 1883, 1888 and
1891 he traveled through the British Isles, France,
Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Prussia,
Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. . On
each visit he made a study of the asylum man
agement in Scandinavia, Great Britain and the
German States. He visited from forty to fifty
asylums, and in 1891 made a report, giving the
results of knowledge acquired. In his travels he
met many distinguished physicians, among whom
may be mentioned J. Al. Peeters, of Gheel; Jules
Morel, of Ghent; Dr. Linboe, of Christiana; Jo
seph Lalor, of Dublin, and others.
Since he received his first appointment, Dr.
Talcott has made twenty annual reports, eighteen
of them covering, his work in the Middletown
State Homeopathic Hospital, and two for the
hospitals on Ward's Island. He has written
much on medical subjects which has been pub
lished in pamphlet form and in medical jour
nals. Among the topics treated are "Prognosis
in Insanity," "General Paresis," " Medical Notes
on the Treatment of the Insane," "Mania, its

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1235

Causes, Course and Treatment," "Melancholia
with Stupor," "Phimosis in its Relation to In
sanity," "Delusions ofthe Insane," "The Insane
Diathesis," "Sleep Without Narcotics, and The
Hospital Idea." He was also editor of the "In
ternational Homeopathic Annual," published in
Paris iu 1894, to which he was a liberal contrib
utor. In 1873, at Waterville, N. Y., Dr. Talcott was
united in marriage with Miss Sarah A., daughter
of Dr. E. A. Munger, who was an old practitioner
iu that place, and for many years Coroner of Onei
da County. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of
Continental Lodge No. 287, F. & A. M., of New
York City, and of Warren Chapter No. 22,
R. A. M., of Waterville; and Rowell Post No. 23,
G. A. R., of Waterville. In politics he is a Re
publican. Religiously he is a Presbyterian, and
is a Trustee and Elder in that church. While his
medical practice requires almost his entire atten
tion, he is yet ready to do his part in all things
pertaining to the welfare of his adopted city.
Financially he has been quite successful, and is
at present a Trustee of the Middletown Savings
Bank, and a Director in the First National Bank
of this place. As a physician his reputation is
second to none in the country, and the success
that has attended the Middletown State Home
opathic Hospital has been largely due to his per
sistent efforts. He perfected several of the plans
ofthe buildings comprising the group, and assisted
in devising the plans of each of them.
(JOB B. GILES, junior member ofthe firm of
I Lindsey & Co., at Middletown, was born
(2/ near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, March
21, 1865. The family of which he is a member,
though for many years residents of England,
originated in Wales. His father, Job, was born
in Wiltshire, and was the son of James Giles, for a
long time proprietor of an inn situated on the
main road leading from Trowbridge to Frome.
The father was also an innkeeper, succeeding the
grandfather as landlord ofthe Royal Oak Hotel.
For some time he also engaged in the mercantile

business. He spent his entire life in his native
land, and died there in 1879, when forty-one
years of age. In religious belief he was a Baptist,
to which faith his progenitors had adhered for
several generations.
The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Doel,
a native of Wiltshire and a daughter of William
Doel, a large and successful contractor. She
still makes her home in her native shire, where
she carries on the old Royal Oak Inn and the
mercantile business established by her husband.
Her ten children all attained years of maturity
and are still living, but only two of the family
ever came to America, these being our subject
and his younger brother, W. H, superintendent
for Lindsey & Co. J. B. , who was sixth in order
of birth, remained at home until eleven years of
age, at which time he went to London and was
apprenticed to the carpenter's trade under his
uncle. Unable to carry on his studies in daytime,
he attended the night schools of London until
eighteen years of age.
In 1883 Mr. Giles came to America, the first ot
the family to establish his home in this country.
Landing in New York, he came direct to Mid
dletown, where he worked at the carpenter's
trade with Lindsey Bros. About 1887 he became
foreman of their factory, which position he held
until the spring of 1892, and then entered the
.firm of Lindsey & Co. as a partner. The firm
carries on a large trade as manufacturers of build
ers' materials, including sash, doors, blinds, hard
wood trimmings and mantels. Their planing-
mill is situated on Union Street, and the plant
is operated by an engine of sixty horse-power and
a boiler of eighty horse-power. For some of the
finest residences of Middletown they have held the
contracts, and they have also had contracts in
Tuxedo Park, Orange (N. J.), Goshen, War
wick, Turner, Washingtonville, Liberty, and
Morristown, N. J., as well as other places 011 the
line of the Erie and the Ontario & Western. Mr.
Giles is still manager of the mill and also fur
nishes the estimates 011 contracts.
In this city Mr. Giles married Miss Lillian
Williamson, who was born here, being the daugh
ter of John and Mary A. Williamson. In relig-

1236

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ious belief Mrs. Giles is identified with the Old-
school Baptist Church. She is popular in social
circles and unites with her husband in extending
to their friends the hospitality of their cozy home
at No. 21 Bonnell Street. As a Democrat, our
subject has taken an active part in local affairs,
and has been a member of the city and county
committees, also has frequently attended county
and state conventions of his party.

INCREASE CROSBY JORDAN. Noting the
splendid success with which Mr. Jordan has
met in his business enterprises, it may with
iustice be concluded that he is a man of large
ability and shrewd discernment. He began as a
dairy farmer, later became interested in the cream
ery and wholesale milk business, all of which he
still continues. In fifteen or twenty creameries
he holds a controlling interest, and the most of
these were built by himself. Shipments are made
to New York City over the Lackawanna, Lehigh
Valley, Lehigh & Hudson River, Erie, Ontario,
Susquehanna & Harlem, and other railroads.
In the town of Wallkill the subject of this no
tice was born August 18, 1849. He is a name
sake of his father's maternal grandfather, Dr. In
crease Crosby, a fine painting of whom adorns
the walls of his city residence. Dr. Crosby was
a pioneer of the town of Crawford , and for many
years one of its most influential citizens. The
Jordan family was founded iu America by three
brothers who emigrated from Ireland in an early
day. Grandfather John Jordan, who was a civil
engineer, was killed when a young man by the
falling of a tree, and his body was buried with
Masonic honors in Bloomingburg Cemetery.
The father of our subject, Increase C. Jordan,
was a successful farmer and prominent Republi
can. His wife, who survives him, and who is
now seventy-nine years of age, makes her home
with her children. She bore the maiden name of
Susan T. Norris, and was born near Hopewell,
Sullivan County, being a member of au old Con

necticut family of Revolutionary connections. In
religious belief she is identified with the Reformed
Church. Of her seven children six are living, our
subject being the fifth. He was reared on thehome
farm, of which, on arriving at man's estate, he
became the owner. It consists of one hundred
and ninety-five acres, and he has made of it a
dairy farm, stocking it with about forty cows.
Forming a partnership with his brother, J. V.,
our subject in 1882 started in the creamery busi
ness, building the creamery at Hurleyville, Sulli
van County. In the fall of the same year he
built at Liberty a creamery which he still runs.
His next venture was the erection of a creamery
at Stevensvilie, aud afterward he was similarly
engaged in the counties of Madison, Chenango,
Broome and Otsego, N. Y., Hunterdon and War
ren, N. J., Susquehanna and Wayne, Pa., from
all of which places he makes shipments to New
York City. The shipments aggregate twelve
hundred cans daily, and each can holds ten gal
lons. Recently he opened a creamery at Mt.
Rose, Pa., which bids fair to be as successful as
his previous ventures in a similar line. Each of
his creameries is managed by an efficient Superin
tendent. His partner, John P. Werk, has charge
of the Brooklyn office, located at Nos. 488-90
Broadway, that city, where a large wholesale and
retail business is carried on.
In additiou to the enterprise with which his
name is most closely associated, Mr. Jordan is in
terested in the glass factory, has served as Treas
urer of the Unadilla Valley Milk and Cream Com
pany, and is a charter member and Director of
the Orange County Trust and Safe Deposit Com
pany. He is also connected with the City Club.
In 1894 he bought his present residence iu Mid
dletown aud has here established his permanent
home. His marriage, in 1 88 1, united him with
Miss Sarah E., daughter of P. L- Seybolt, and a
native ofthe town of Mt. Hope, having been bora
near Otisville. Five children complete the fam
ily circle, namely: Lena, Cora, Antoinette, Louise
and Gertrude.
In 1892 Mr. Jordan was elected a member of
the Board of Education, but resigned the .position
after holding it for two years. Socially he is

THERON CRAWFORD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1239

connected with Hoffman Lodge, F. & A. M., and
Midland Chapter, R. A. M. Though not. active
in political affairs, he is a firm defender of Re
publican principles, which he upholds by his bal
lot in local and national elections. He was a
member of the committee that organized the
Milk Exchange of New York City, and in other
ways he has been associated with many of the im
portant enterprises aud organizations of Middle-
town, of whicli he is an honored citizen.

"HERON CRAWFORD, one of the progress
ive and influential farmers of Orange Coun
ty, is living in the town of Crawford, where
he was born June 26, 1823, 011 the same farm and
in the same house where he now resides. His
parents, Robert I. and Deborah (Dickerson)
Crawford, had eleven children, of whom Theron
was the youngest but one.
We make the following mention of the brothers
and sisters of our subject: Emeline, who never
married, lived to be eighty-five years of age;
Leander was seventy -three at the time of his de
cease; Millicent, died July 23, 1864; John A. was
eighty -one years of age at the time of his death;
Albert was thirty-nine years old; George is liv
ing retired in Middletown; Sarah E. is deceased,
as is also Esther; Robert is a well-to-do farmer
of this town; and Angeliue still makes her home
in this locality.
The father of the above family was born at
Bloomingburg, Sullivan County, N. Y., and
while young he was brought to the town of Craw
ford by his parents, John and Sarah (Barkley)
Crawford, the former of whom was a native of
this state. He was among the first to settle in
the town of Crawford, which was named in his
honor. His parents were both born in Ireland.
The paternal grandmother of our subject was a
native of this county, while her parents were
born in Scotland. The father of our subject was
reared to a useful life and became successful as
an agriculturist in this town. He was a stanch
Republican in politics and took a very active part
in local affairs, giving of his time and means to

ward the furtherance of all worthy measures. He
possessed the entire confidence of the people, and
was often called upon to settle estates, which he
was always able to do in a satisfactory manner.
Iu the Hopewell Presbyterian Church he was an
Elder for a great many years, and was also an
active worker. His death occurred here on the
old homestead, September 15, i860, and it was
with deep regret that his many friends heard of
the sad event, for in him the community lost one
of its best citizens.
Our subject's mother was a native of the town
of Crawford, and for many years prior to her de
cease, which occurred April 28, 185 1, was a de
voted member of the Hopewell Presbyterian
Church. She was the daughter of Benjamin and
Esther (Ogden) Dickerson, both born in Con
necticut. On the death of his parents, Theron Crawford
found himself in possession ofthe old homestead,
on which he still resides. It comprises ninety -
nine acres of excellent land, and has been handed
down in the family from father to son for one
hundred years. Our subject was married, No
vember 24, 1870, to Miss Anna F Cooper, of
New Windsor.
In politics Mr. Crawford is a stanch Republi
can, but has never aspired to official honors, as
he finds his time fully employed in the manage
ment of his farm. Following in the footsteps of
his honored parents, he, too, is a member of the
Hopewell Church, which he has served as Trus
tee for many years. He is both enterprising and
energetic, and has won the good- will of all with
whom he has come in contact.

$+$t

"-"""3

GJ1 UGUST PFAFF, proprietor of the Wallkill
T\ House, and one of the well known citizens of
I \ Middletown, was born in Hanover, Ger
many, in 186 1 . He is the eldest of the four chil
dren of George and Louisa (Wilkening) Pfaff,
natives of Hanover, where they still reside, the
father being City Morgue-keeper and also propri
etor of a transfer line. August, who is the only
member of the family that emigrated to the Uni-

1240

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ted States, was educated in the public schools of
his native place, and at an early age developed a
fondness for a seafaring life. At the age of
fourteen he shipped with an uncle, who was cap
tain in charge of the trans-Atlantic vessels of
Knoppe & Co. , and, beginning in an humble
position, worked his way upward, continuing be
fore the mast for three years. His first trip was
to Brazil, where he spent six months. Afterward
he went on a voyage to Siam, Bangcock, Singa
pore, the East Indies and Portugal, spending one
year in that part of the world. He also made
several trips between Bremen and New York
City, and in the latter place his uncle died.
In 1877 Mr. Pfaff came to the United States,
intending to return to Germany after a short visit
in New York, but he afterward decided to estab
lish his permanent home in this country. For a
time he was employed in a cousin's grocery store,
then was employed by others in the same city, and
later started in business for himself, but retired aft
er his wife's death. In 1888 he came to Middle-
town, where for five years he was in the employ of
Mr. Gunther in the restaurant business. In 1893
hi* leased the Wallkill House, which he remod
eled and improved, and of which he has since
been the proprietor. The hotel is one of the fin
est north of New York, and is conducted upon
the European plan. The barroom is the most
elegant in the city, and everything about the place
is first-class. In the rear is a summer-garden,
the only one in the city.
One ofthe attractions ofthe hotel is the splen
did collection of curios. The natural-history cab
inet, which is displayed with four electric lights,
surpasses anything of the kind in Orange Coun
ty, and contains more than two hundred and fifty
specimens of the birds, reptiles, rodents and wild
animals of the county. Mr. Pfaft's collection of
coins and postage stamps is also very complete
and interesting. Iu addition to these he has
specimens of animals from the West and from the
Old Country, including among the latter the only
genuine German wild boar's head in America.
This was secured from the imperial forest by a
brother-in-law of Mr. Pfaff.
The first marriage of Mr. Pfaff took place in

New York City, his wife being Miss Emma
Buehler, who was born there, and died eighteen
months after their marriage. His second wife,
whom he married in Middletown, bore the maid
en name of Emma Wendt, and was born in Ger
many. They are the parents of two children,
Lucy Irene and Elsie. Socially our subject ranks
high in the Masonic order, belonging to Hoff
man Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M.; Midland Chap
ter No. 240, R. A. M.; Delaware Commandery
No. 44, K. T. ; Union Consistory No. 59; and
Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He
also belongs to Luther Lodge, I. O. O. F. ;
Knights and Ladies of the Golden Star; Morning
Star Lodge No. 40, in New York City; and Jef
ferson Lodge No. 268, of the German Order of
Haugai, iu that city. In the Maennerchor of
Middletown he has held the offices of Treasurer
and Vice-President, and has served as fireman in
Wallkill Engine Company No. 6. In religious
belief he is a Lutheran, but as there is no church
of that denomination in Middletown he attends
Grace Episcopal Church.

ROBERT LAWRENCE, of Middletown, was
born in Birmingham, England, in 1849,
and is the son of Samuel, a native of Glouces
tershire, aud a grandson of John Lawrence, a
farmer of that country. His father was reared to
manhood upou a farm, and in youth became a
gun-barrel grinder, which occupation he followed
until coming to this country. In his native land
he married Ann, daughter of Robert Smith, a
shoemaker of Gloucestershire. Accompanied by
all the members of his family excepting our sub
ject, who joined him three years later, he came to
America iii 1863, and for a short time was em
ployed in the Colt Pistol Works at Hartford,
Conn., from which place he came to Middletown,
and secured a position as a grinder iu the Mon
hagen saw factory, now the National Saw Works.
There he remained until his death, in 1886, at the
age of sixty years. His wife, who was a lady of
amiable disposition and noble life, and a member

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1241

of the Episcopal Church, died in this city in 1889.
Of their -four children, two are living, Robert and
Francis Samuel, both of Middletown.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Bir
mingham, where, prior to the age of eleven years,
he attended the common schools. He then com
menced to learu the butcher's trade, and after
completing his apprenticeship he continued to
work at that occupation in Birmingham until
1866, the year of his emigration to America. In
June of that year he took passage at Liverpool
on the steamer "City of Dublin," which arrived
in New York City on the 3d of July. At once
coming to Middletown, he has since made his
home in this city. Here he apprenticed himself
to the saw-maker's trade under Wheeler, Madden
& Clemson, with whom he remained, in various
capacities, for twenty-two years altogether. In
1888 he resigned from their employ, and accepted
a position with the Columbia Dye and Print
Works, and has since been with that concern, at
present being in charge of the steaming-room.
With various social, business and religious en
terprises originated for the benefit of this city
Mr. Lawrence has been intimately associated.
He is interested in the Homestead Building and
Loan Association, now one of the well known
institutions of the city. A Republican in politics,
he is a stalwart adherent of the principles of that
party, and for one term served as a member of the
Board of Health. Fraternally he is connected
with Middletown Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F. , in
which he has passed all the chairs, and has filled
the position of Past District Deputy Grand Master.
He is also a member of the American Legion of
Honor, and Ivanhoe Lodge No. 2103, K. of H.,
in which he has served as Financial Reporter for
the past eleven years. In the Methodist Episco
pal Church, of which he is an active member, he
has served as Steward, and for eight years was
Superintendent of the Sunday-school. His resi
dence, at No. 24 Myrtle Avenue, is presided over
by his wife, formerly Miss Amelia Thornton, with
whom he was united in marriage at Homowack
(now Spring Glen), Ulster County, N. Y. She
was formerly a resident of that village, where her
father, Charles Thornton, was a speculator and

prominent citizen. The)- are the parents of three
children now living, namely: Cora B., who is
employed as bookkeeper in Predmore's grocery
store; Howard R., clerk in a clothing store in
this city; and Ethel A.

EHARLES E. MILLER, a representative of
the young business men of Middletown, was
born in the town of Wallkill in 1861, being
a son of Silas J. Miller, a native ofthe adjoining
county of Sullivan. His grandfather, Abraham,
was born in Dutchess County, whence he re
moved to Sullivan County and engaged in farm
ing there. Tracing the ancestral history back
one generation further, we find that the great
grandfather was a native of England, and founded
the family in America, coming here in early
years and making settlement in Dutchess County.
In youth Silas J. Miller learned the carpenter's
trade in Middletown, and followed that occupation
here and in other parts of Orange County, being
quite successful as a contractor and builder.
When past middle age he removed to a farm sit
uated near Walker Valley, on the line between
Sullivan and Ulster Counties, aud there he still
resides, being now about fifty-two years of age.
The Brookside Farm, as the place is known, is
advantageously situated on the Plattekill, and the
scenery and climate being all that could be de
sired, a large summer boarding-house has been
erected for the accommodation of city guests, to
whose entertainment Mr. Miller gives much of his
time. The mother of our subject was Nettie Dailey,
whose father was a farmer of the town of Wall -
kill, though she was born in Middletown. She
had three children, of whom Charles E. is the
eldest and the only son. He was reared in Or
ange and Sullivan Counties and attended the dis
trict schools in boyhood. Under his father's in
structions he commenced to learn the carpenter's
trade, which he later carried on with his uncle,
T. W. Dailey, of Middletown. After gaining a

1242

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

thorough knowledge of the trade, he became his
uncle's foreman, working in that capacity until
the spring of 1895, when he started out independ
ently as a contractor and builder. During the
five months that have since elapsed he has com
pleted two houses and has seven partially fin
ished. Among them are two fine residences on
Beattie Avenue for C. B. Warner, the Morris
home on Royce Avenue, three houses on Cottage
Avenue, and one on Woodlawn Avenue.
The residence occupied by Mr. Miller is situ
ated at No. 304 North Street, and is presided
over by his accomplished wife, formerly Miss
Carrie E. Mulford. Mrs. Miller was born in Ul
ster County, a daughter of Ford Mulford, and by
her marriage she has one child, a daughter, Hazel
Undine. They attend the Methodist Episcopal
Church and are well liked in social circles.
While Mr. Miller has not taken an active part in
politics, he is unswerving in his allegiance to the
Democratic party, and always votes that ticket
at elections. In addition to his work as a contract
or, he manifests considerable ability as an archi
tect, and his plans commend themselves to the
critic by reason of their adaptability to the wants
and needs of the people. If the future may be
judged by the past, he will certainly attain success
in his vocation.

©YLVANUS GREER, one of the brave men
7S who did service iu the illustrious One Hun-
>jjr dred and Twenty -fourth Regiment, was born
in March, 1827, near Mt. Hope, in the town of
Wallkill, three and one-half miles from the pres
ent place of his residence in the city of Middle-
town. His father, James, was born in the town
of Blooming Grove, this county, where the pa
ternal grandfather had made settlement on com
ing hither from New England. During the War
of 18 1 2 James Greer rendered brave service for
his country. Afterward he moved to the town
of Wallkill and followed the blacksmith's trade
throughout the remaining years of his active life.
His death occurred at the age of seventy-six. His
wife, Mary, was born near Bloomingburg, Sulli

van County, and died at the age of seventy-five.
Her father, Jonathan Martine, was a farmer,
and made his home in Sullivan County.
The parental family consisted of nine children,
all of whom attained years of maturity, and two
sons and three daughters are now living, Syl-
vanus and Alpheus (twins) being the youngest.
Our subject was reared in the town of Wallkill.
On coming to Middletown he entered the employ
of Henry Little in the Monhagen Mill, where he
worked for eight years. In the spring of 1862
he settled on a farm in the town of Goshen, but
did not long remain there, as a call was made for
soldiers and he responded promptly to the appeal.
At Goshen Mr. Greer was mustered into serv
ice as a member of Company K, One Hundred
aud Twenty-fourth New York Infantry. In De
cember, 1862, he was at Fredericksburg. May
3, 1863, he took part in the engagement at Chan
cellorsville, and during that battle a ball entered
his head below the left temple and came out in
the right eye, which it turned out on his face.
The ball was extracted and is still in his pos
session. Taken prisoner by the enemy, he was
held two weeks on the field, deprived of necessary
medical and surgical attentiou. At the end of that
time he was exchanged and taken to the Aqua
Creek field hospital, where he remained two
weeks. June 9 he returned to Middletown, but
after a furlough of thirty days reported at head
quarters. This he continued to do until he was
honorably discharged in October, 1864, on ac
count of physical disability. Since the unfortu
nate catastrophe in battle he has been almost
blind, able only to distinguish daylight and the
outline of large objects, and as a partial compen
sation for this affliction and for his valor in war,
he receives from the Government a pension of $72
per month.
Until 1868 Mr. Greer remained with his par
ents, but he then came to Middletown, where he
has since resided, his home being on the corner
of Mill and Fulton Streets. For five years he
engaged in the grocery business with J. P. Upde-
grove, but in 1885 he bought a farm, to which he
moved, making it his home for four years. Since
his return to Middletown he has lived in retire-

WILLIAM D. STRATTON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1245

ment from business. He was first married, in
Middletown, to Miss Catherine Carpenter, who
was born in the town of Wallkill aud died in
this city in April, 1862; she was a daughter of
Edward, and a sister of William W., Carpenter,
of whom mention is elsewhere made.
In New York City, in 1867, Mr. Greer married
Miss Sarah A., daughter of John and Hannah
(Moore) Wait, and a native of New York City.
Her father and grandfather, both of whom were
named John, were natives of Boston, whence the
former removed to New York prior to his mar
riage. He was engaged as a truckman for many
years, and died in Brooklyn at an advanced age.
Grandfather William Moore was born in Scot
land. On emigrating to America he settled in
Boston, but later removed to the town of Wall-
kill, this county. His wife bore the maiden name
of Letitia Sutherland, and was of Quaker faith.
Mrs. Hannah Wait died in New York City, after
having become the mother of seven daughters and
one son, of whom six attained mature years and
four survive. Those living are Sarah A.; Mrs.
Mary Corby, of Brooklyn; Mrs. Hannah Hig
gins, of Jersey City; and Mrs. Sophia Hunt, of
Mt. Vernon, N. Y.
Politically Mr. Greer has been a believer in
Republican principles since the organization of
the party. Socially he is connected with General
Lyon Post No. 266, G. A. R., of which he is a
charter member. His wife is connected with the
Woman's Relief Corps, in which she is a leading
worker. Both are connected with the Second
-Presbyterian Church of this city, and are highly
respected by the best people of the place.

+=

=+

pGJlLLIAM D. STRATTON. Thereis per-
\ A / haPs no raiiroad contractor in our country
V V whose career has been more successful than
that of W. D. Stratton, of Middletown. In 1891
he was an active factor in securing the incorpora
tion of the Drake-Stratton Company, which be
gan in business with a capital stock of $100,000,

but which has since been increased to $1,000,000.
He was chosen Treasurer and General Manager,
but the oversight of affairs entailed so much labor
on his part that he resigned as Treasurer, and
.has since devoted his entire attention to the man
agement of the business.
The Stratton family was founded in America
by a native of England, who on coming to this
country settled in Massachusetts. The next in
line of descent was our subject's great-grandfa
ther, who was born in Massachusetts, removed
thence to Connecticut, and later became a pioneer
of the town of Thompson, Sullivan County,
N. Y. His son Eliphalet was born in Connect
icut aud served in the War of 1812; he passed
away suddenly, being found dead, at the age of
eighty-one years.
William Benjamin, son of Eliphalet, was born
in Thompsonville, Sullivan County, and there
learned the trade of a millwright, which he fol
lowed for some years, building a large number of
saw and grist mills. Later he settled on a farm
between Thompsonville and Fallsburg, in what is
now the town of Fallsburg, and there engaged in
general farming until his death, in 1887, at the
age of seventy-seven. Politically he was a Dem
ocrat, and in religious belief an Episcopalian.
His wife, Sarah Elizabeth, was born in Connect
icut, as was also her father, Nelson Canfield,
who was a mason and builder, and became an
early settler, of Thompsonville. Mrs. Stratton
resides on the old homestead, aud is now seventy-
one years of age.
Ofthe six children of William B. and Sarah E.
Stratton, three are now living, namely: Will
iam D.; James, who is a general contractor in
New Jersey; and Benjamin, who resides on the
home farm. The first-named son was born in
Thompsonville, Sullivan County, in November,
1844, and was reared in the place of his birth,
receiving a district-school education. In boy
hood he learned the millwright's trade, at which
he worked until his enlistment, in 1864, as a
member of Company K, Fifty-sixth New York
Infantry. He joined his regiment at Charleston,
S. C, and did picket duty on the island off that
city. In the spring his regiment was attached to

1246

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Sherman's army and moved up toward Richmond,
but later was sent back to Charleston, where he
was mustered out and honorably discharged in
July, 1865.
For two years after his return from the South,
Mr. Stratton worked at his trade in Sullivan
County, after which he became a journeyman
carpenter on the Wallkill Valley Railroad, and
later was promoted to the position of foreman.
He spent five years as foreman of the erection
aud construction of bridges, his business taking
him throughout the entire country. At the ex
piration of that period he resolved to embark in
business for himself, which he did, and after con
siderable effort and having overcome the numer
ous obstacles in the way, he gained a substantial
foothold. In 1878 Mr. Stratton formed a partnership with
his brother-in-law, Mr. Drake, and the first con
tract taken by the firm of Drake & Stratton was
that of rebuilding the bridge over the canal at
Huguenot. Later they had the contract for build
ing the New York & New England Road between
Waterbury and Brewster, after which they re
ceived orders from various parts of the country.
They had one hundred and nine consecutive
monthly estimates from the Pennsylvania Road,
for which they worked nine years or more; built
thirty-eight miles between Monroe and Madison,
Wis. , and then double- tracked the Mahoning Val
ley Railroad between Youngstown and Cleveland.
The McKeesport & Belle Vernon Road, of thirty
miles in Pennsylvania, was built and equipped
by them, and afterward sold. For a number of
years they were employed on the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern, working from Dunkirk east
and west. They are now building a railroad of
fifty miles on the island of San Domingo, upon
which eighteen hundred men are employed, and
which will require two years to complete. This
contract, which was made with the San Domingo
Improvement Company of New York, calls for
Government protection.
The firm also built fifty miles of the Pittsburg,
McKeesport & Allegheny Road, and five miles
of the Schuylkill Valley Railroad for the Pennsyl
vania. They are now building one hundred miles

of railroad between Charleston, Kanawha and
Sutton, the charter of which they have purchased.
Twenty-eight miles are now in operation, and
fifty miles have been graded. The only work
they have done west of the Mississippi was a con
tract for masonry for the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy at Rulo, Neb. They bridged the Tom-
bigbee River at Jackson, Ala., on the Mobile &
Birmingham Railway, and have a contract for
repairing and straightening out the Delaware &
Hudson Railroad between Albany and Schenec
tady ; also for a bridge over the Delaware River at
Philadelphia for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and
for the stone arches for the Conestoga Bridge on
a branch line of the Pennsylvania. In Maryland,
West Virginia and other states they have similar
contracts. One of their contracts is for the erec
tion of a bridge over the Monongahela River at
Pittsburg. They have a five-years contract with
the Oliver Mining Company and the Ohio Min
ing Company of Minnesota, and a contract for
the A. W. Byers Ore Company of Minneapolis.
In addition to their other enterprises they are op
erating a large quarry at Sandy Hill, Washing
ton County, N. Y. They furnished the stone for
the Poughkeepsie Bridge, and have done consid
erable work for the Baltimore & Ohio, also for the
Erie. While it is difficult to approximate the
gross amount of their contracts per annum, yet it
is safe to say that $4,000,000 would be a conserv
ative estimate of their operations. They own
and operate the Akron & Chenango Falls Rail
road, which runs from Barberton, Ohio, via
Akron, to Cuyahoga Falls.
The history of the firm since 1883 is one of un
varying and remarkable success. They have
never failed on a contract, nor refused to meet an
obligation, and as a business concern their repu
tation is an enviable one. Their remarkable
prosperity is largely due to the judicious efforts of
Mr. Stratton. Prior to 1888 he resided in Sulli
van County and New York Cfty, but in that year
he came to Middletown, where he owns and oc
cupies an elegant residence on Wisner Avenue,
opposite Grand. Aside from this property, he
owns a number of acres within the city limits and
also has four farms in Sullivan County. The

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1247

Hogan Boiler Company, one of the growing con
cerns of this city, owes much to his wise counsel
and interest, and he is now serving as its Presi
dent. He is also a Director of the First National
Bank, the Orange County Trust and Safety De
posit Company , and the New York Construction
Company of Philadelphia, and is a stockholder in
the West End Trust and Safe Deposit Company
of Philadelphia. In politics a Democrat, he was
elected a member of the Board of Water Com
missioners in 1893, being the nominee of both
political organizations, a fact which attests his
popularity with the citizens. In Fallsburg, N.Y.,
he married Miss Mary C, daughter of James
O'Niell, a farmer of that place. They have three
children, namely: Frank M., whose sketch ap
pears on another page; Ralph and Grace, who re
side with their parents.

<"§._

<=i

$+^&

— **— si
fijEORGE W. O'NEAL, traveling engineer
|_ for the New York, Ontario & Western Rail-
\jl road, was born in Laurel, Sussex County,
Del., November 10, 185 1, and is the son of George
and Margaret (Boyce) O'Neal, also natives of
Delaware. The former remained on his father's
farm until nineteen years of age, when he began
to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, and on com
pleting his apprenticeship he followed that occu
pation for a time, but later was employed as a
carpenter and ship-builder on the Chester River.
Afterward he was proprietor of a large mill on
that river, then turned his attention to agricult
ure, and for some years he has made his home
upon a valuable farm which he cultivates. His
father died in early life. His father-in-law, Ho
sea Boyce, was born in Delaware, and was a sea-
captain, owning a vessel and engaging in the
coasting trade. After retiring from the sea he
devoted his time to the management of his three
large plantations until his death, which occurred
at the age of sixty -two.
In the family of George and Margaret O'Neal
there were ten children, all of whom reached ma
ture years, and nine are now living. One of the
sons, Andrew, is an engineer on the Ontario &

Western, and resides at Norwich. George W.,
who is the fourth among the children in respect
to age, was reared on the home farm, receiving
his education in the public school aud Laurel
Academy. In the spring of 1869 he began his
railroad career, going at that time to Norwich,
where for nine months he was employed 011 con
struction by the New York & Oswego Mid
land, now the New York, Ontario & Western
Railway Company. In October, 1869, he went
back home, but in April, 1870, returned to Nor
wich, where he was employed in the roundhouse
a short time, and then became fireman between
Norwich, Sidney and Oswego.
Going West in 1873, Mr. O'Neal was employed
for three months as fireman on the St. Louis &
Iron Mountain Road, after which he was promot
ed to engineer, his run being between St. Louis
and Poplar Bluffs. In the spring of 1875 he re
turned to New York and resumed work for the
New York, Ontario & Western, having the prom
ise of a new engine, but as the road was embar
rassed he continued as fireman until 1877, when
he was made engineer of a milk train between
Middletown and Liberty. At that time only seven
cans of milk daily were secured from the district
north of Summitville, but the dairy industry has
developed to such an extent that now there are
over five thousand cans per day.
In 1878 Mr. O'Neal went to New Berlin, and
for eight years was engineer 011 the New Berlin
Branch of the Ontario & Western. On his return
to the main line he ran the night express between
Middletown and Norwich, later had the train be
tween Liberty and New York for eighteen months,
and then took the day express west and the night
express east between Middletown and Norwich.
In March, 1892, he was promoted to the position
of road foreman of engines, and in the discharge
of his duties he spends a large portion of his time
traveling, inspecting engines at different points.
The residence of Mr. O'Neal is situated at No.
33 Linden Avenue, Middletown. He married in
this city, in 1877, Miss Ruth- Etta Seaman, who
was born in Spring Glen, Sullivan County, N. Y.
Her father, Rev. Isaac Seaman, was born in New
burgh, this state, and was educated for the ruin-

1248

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

istry of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which
profession he followed until failing health obliged
him to retire. He died in Mountain Date, Sulli
van County, in the autumn of i860. In politics
he was a Republican. His wife, who bore the
maiden name of Christina Frantz, was born in
Mamakating, and died in New Berlin, at our
subject's home. Her father, Joseph Frantz, was
for many years a grocer at Spring Glen. She
was the mother of nine children, of whom seven
are living, Mrs. O'Neal being the youngest. Two
of the sons served in the Civil War, namely: Har
rison, who was a member of the One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth Regiment, and is now a resi
dent of Maryland; and Alfred, who was in the
Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, and now lives in
Mountain Dale. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal are the
parents of four children: Howard H, Daisy D.,
Clarence G. and Irma.
Socially Mr. O'Neal is a member of Phcebus
Lodge No. 82, F. & A. M., at New Berlin, and
Hillington Chapter No. 224, R. A. M. For three
terms he was Chief of the United Division No.
292, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, at
Middletown, and was their delegate to the con
vention at Denver in 189 1. He is identified with
the Traveling Engineers' Association, and at
tends the annual meetings of that organization.
In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.

<C*************fj*g* ?**?*********)£>
HENRY MOREY, Jr., engineer on the New
York, Ontario & Western Railroad, between
Middletown and WTeehawken, was born in
the town of Mt. Hope, February 25, 1853. His
grandfather, Eben Morey, was born in Rhode
Island, whence in the early days he came to Or
ange County and settled in the town of Mt. Hope,
about two and one-half miles from Howells.
There he established his home in a primitive log
cabin and set about the task of developing a farm
from the wilderness. Here he spent the remain
der of his life, dying when advanced in years.
His wife, Prudence, attained the great age of
ninety-seven years and six months. His ances

tors were of Scotch-Irish lineage and were early
settlers of Rhode Island.
Henry Morey, Sr., father of our subject, was
born in Rhode Island, whence he accompanied the
other members of the family to Orange County
and settled in the towu of Mt. Hope. His entire
active life was spent there, but on reaching ad
vanced years he retired from business and went
to East St. Louis, 111., where he makes his home
with his older sou John, a manufacturer of that
place. His wife, who died at the home of our
subject in 1888, bore the maiden name of Mary
Hunter and was born in Ireland. Her father,
John Hunter, also a native of the Emerald Isle,
brought the family to America and settled in Pat
erson, N. J., where he engaged in the mercantile
business until he fell a victim to cholera. Mrs.
Morey by her first marriage had two sons, one of
whom spent seven years at sea, and died in New
York. The other, James A., was Major ofthe One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York Infantry
throughout the entire period of the Civil War;
he also served iii the Mexican War, and is now a
resident of Tioga, Pa.
Our subject is the younger of two sons born of
his mother's sedbud marriage. He remained on
the home farm in the town of Mt. Hope until
1869, when he began to work in the construction
department of the New York, Oswego & Mid
land, now the New York, Ontario & Western,
his work being between Winterton, N. Y., and
Franklin, N. J. After being engaged in that
capacity for twenty-two months, he came to
Middletown and became an employe in Babcock &
Fuller's hat shop, later working in Fuller Bros. '
hat shop. March 9, 1880, he resigned from his
position there and entered the employ of the On
tario & Western as watchman in the round
house, remaining in that capacity about one year.
In June, 1881, he was promoted to be fireman
between Middletown and Norwich. In Septem
ber, 1883, he was made engineer on a freight
train, and now runs both freight and passenger
trains, at present having charge ofthe "Liberty"
from Liberty to Weehawken. He is known as a
reliable and efficient engineer, and has been fortu
nate, in that he has had very few accidents. At

WILLIAM VANAIVIEE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD;

1251

one time his train collided with another at Han
cock, Delaware County, but no one was injured.
In Middletown Mr. Morey owns a residence
at No. 135 Wicklmm Avenue, where he and his
wife, with their two children, Harry and Lillian,
make their home. Mrs. Morey bore the maiden
name of Mary Murphy, aud was born in England,
but was reared, educated and married in this
city. The family attends the Second Presbyte
rian Church. Politically our subject is a Repub
lican, and socially he is identified with Hoffman
Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M. He is connected
with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
his membership being with the United Division
No. 292, at Middletown.

•pQlLLIAM VANAMEE. The subject of
\ A/ this sketch was born in Albany, N. Y.,
V Y January 9, 1847, °f mingled Dutch and
Scotch descent, his father, Dr. Simon Vanamee,
being a descendant of one of the early settlers
from Holland, and his mother, Anna (Graham)
Vanamee, being of Scotch extraction. While he
was yet a child his parents removed to Kingston,
Ulster County, N. Y., where he received an edu
cation at the Kingston Academy. When he was
nineteen years old he went to Middletown, Or
ange County, to study law with Judge Groo.
Two years afterwards he was admitted to practice
at the General Term of the Supreme Court held
at Poughkeepsie in May, 1868. He began the
practice of law iu Middletown, where he has ever
since continued it, and he has been connected
with many important cases. He was the sole
counsel for the Receiver of the Middletown Na
tional Bank for eight years after its failure in
1884. The complicated litigations following that
failure, some of which required his presence and
arguments in the United States Circuit Court in
the state of Nebraska, resulted invariably in
favor ofthe Receiver, and saved to the depositors
a large portion of the assets of the bank.
After the death of Judge Wilkin in 1889, Mr.
Vanamee was appointed attorney for the Mid
dletown Savings Bank, which position he still re

tains. In the same year he was appointed the
attorney for the New York, Ontario & Western
Railway Company for the county of Orange, and
he has conducted many important cases for it.
At the same time he has not allowed himself to
be exclusively a corporation lawyer, and he has
frequently brought actions against railroad com
panies. The verdict of $18,500 obtained by him
in favor of Gabriel Tuthill against the Long Is
land Railroad Company is a well known case.
He was the specially retained attorney for the
city of Middletown in the action brought by
Jehiel Vaughn against the city for $40,000. He
secured a favorable ruling, which defeated a large
portion of the claim, and the remaining portion
was then compromised.
Mr. Vanamee has always enjoyed the confi
dence of the courts. He was appointed by the
General Term upon the committee to examine
applicants for admission to the Bar. In 1894 he
was appointed one of the Commissioners of Ap
praisal to determine and award the damages sus
tained by property- owners in Putnam County in
the proceeding taken by the city of New York to
acquire land for a pure-water supply.
Mr. Vanamee has always been a Democrat,
casting his first vote in 1868 for Horatio Seymour
for President. He does not take an active inter
est in politics, though he has occasionally re
sponded to the demand for a speech in important
campaigns. He was never a candidate for public
office, except once, when, in 1888, he was the un
successful nominee of his party for County Judge.
This was the year in which Harrison was elected
President, and when Orange County was over
whelmingly Republican. For almost twenty-
years he has been a Trustee of the Middletown
State Homeopathic Hospital.
For four years Mr. Vanamee was a member ot
the Middletown Board of Education. In 1880 he
was chiefly instrumental in securing the election
of the very first women who were elected in the
state of New York to positions upon school
boards. Five women were elected, Mrs. Persis
A. Marvin, Mrs. Sophronia B. Corwin, Mrs.
Harriet B. Morgan, Mrs. Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck
and Mrs. Mary A. Moore. Mrs. Corwin declined

125:

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to serve, and Mr. Vanamee was invited by the
board to accept the position thus left vacant. He
did so, chiefly because he was anxious to observe
closely the working of the new system. He
came to the conclusion, which he has always
cherished, that women are peculiarly fitted for
the successful discharge of such duties, and that
they are more faithful and conscientious than
men in the performance of them. Afterwards he
was elected by the people to a three-years term of
office on the board.
Mr. Vanamee did not have the benefit of a col
legiate course, but in 1886 Hamilton College con
ferred upon him the degree of A. M., which was
considered to be a well deserved mark of high
distinction. Mr. Vanamee' s tastes are literary
When he was twenty years old he founded a de
partment in the Orange County Press, entitled
"Society and Literature," to which he con
tributed social and literary discussions. He is
frequently in demand for memorial and public
occasions. He was one of the speakers at the
New Windsor Centennial, held at Temple Hill
in 1883, and at the celebration ofthe Middletown
City Charter in 1888. His tributes to the mem
ory of Judge Wilkin, Judge Gedney and David A.
Scott are especially remembered.
In October, 1889, Mr. Vanamee presented the
name of Hon. J. O. Dykman to the Judicial Con
vention held in Brooklyn; and in October, 1893,
Mr. Vanamee, at the request of the friends of
Judge Isaac H. Maynard, presented his name to
the Democratic State Convention at Saratoga
Springs. Without reference to the political is
sues involved, his address upon this occasion was
complimented by members of both parties.
Mr. Vanamee has made three trips to Europe,
in 1878, 1887 and 1892. He has accumulated an
extensive law and miscellaneous library. He is
a member of the Bar Association of the City of
New York and of the Reform Club. He is also
a member of Winnisook Club, founded by Judge
Alton B. Parker, Hon. Thomas E. Benedict aud
others, owning a portion of Slide Mountain in
the Catskills; and of Camp Sabael, an associa
tion founded by Hon. Roswell C. Coleman upon
the shores of Indian Lake, in the Adirondacks.

In the year 187 1 Mr. Vanamee was married to
Lida Ostrom, daughter of Dr. J. W. Ostrom, of
Goshen. He has three children, Talcott, Theo
dora and Parker. By his untiring industry in
the preparation of his cases and by his able, elo
quent and convincing presentation of them in
court and before juries, Mr. Vanamee has ob
tained a front rank in his profession.

0SCAR MILTON TERWILLIGER, freight
agent for the New York, Lake Erie & West
ern Railroad at Middletown, was born in the
town of Crawford July 2, 1852. Hisfather, Mil
ton, and grandfather, Samuel, were of Holland-
Dutch descent, and were farmers in the town of
Crawford, occupying a farm three miles east of
Pine Bush. The former, upon reaching advanced
years, retired from active labor and removed to
Pine Bush, where he is now living, at the age of
seventy-four. Politically he is a Republican. He
is one of the oldest living members of the Pros
pect Reformed Church, in which he has been an
officer, and contributed liberally to the erection of
the edifice.
The mother of our subject, Mary (Moffatt)
Terwilliger, was born in the town of Shawan
gunk, Ulster County, and was a daughter of
Thomas Moffatt, a native of New England, and
for many years a farmer of Ulster County, where
he died. The family of Milton and Mary Ter
williger consisted of four children, but the only
survivor besides our subject is Charles H., who is
baggagemaster 011 the Crawford Branch of the
Erie at Pine Bush. Oscar M. was reared 011 his
father's farm and attended the public school at
Pine Bush. In the spring of 1873 he began for
himself, and for three years following he was em
ployed in the works of the New York Knife Com
pany, becoming thoroughly initiated into the
process of manufacturing knives.
In 1878 Mr. Terwilliger came to Middletown
and here for nearly four years he was employed
in S. S. Wickham'smill. In 1882 he accepted a
position in the freight department of the Ontario
& Western, remaining with that company for two

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

!253

years. In 1884 he became yardmaster for the
Erie Railroad Company, but after two years he
was transferred to the freight office, where he held
the position of way-bill clerk until July 1, 1893.
Since then he has been freight agent at Middle-
town, which is the largest station between Jersey
City and Binghamton. In the freight department
he has nine men under him, aud a very large
business is carried on.
The marriage of Mr. Terwilliger, at Walden,
united him with Miss Amelia Samuel, daughter
of Charles Samuel, and a native of that village.
Mrs. Terwilliger is a member of the Presbyterian
Church and is popular in society, receiving with
grace and hospitality the many friends who visit
her in her pleasant home at No. 69 Academy
Avenue. Socially our subject is actively con
nected with Middletown Lodge No. 112, I.O.O.F. ,
in which he has held official position, and he is
also a member of Lancelot Lodge No. 169, K. of
P., in this city. In politics he votes the Repub
lican ticket.

fi> GjlLLIAM H. KIRBY, passenger conductor
\A/ on ^e New York, Ontario & Western
V V Railroad, was born in South Centreville,
N. Y., January 17, 1866, and is of direct Eng
lish descent. His father, Oscar, was born near
Honesdale, Wayne County, Pa., August 11, 1843,
being a son of David, a native of Orange County,
and a grandson of John Kirby, whose birthplace
was in England. The latter, who was the son
of an English merchant, was pressed into the
English army for the War of 181 2. One day,
when injuries received prevented him from keep
ing up with the other soldiers in the line of
march, he was struck by an English officer with
a sword, which so aroused him that he deserted.
After secreting himself for about a year, he man
aged to reach American lines, and finally came
to Orange County, where he settled perma
nently. From Wayne County, Pa., where he had en

gaged in farming, David Kirby came to Orange
County, and in 1852 settled in the town of Wall-
kill, where he was similarly occupied until his
death, at the age of sixty-three. Politically he
was a Democrat, and for some time he served as
Justice of the Peace. In religious belief he iden
tified himself with the Old-school Baptists. His
wife, Esther, was born in the town of Wawayanda
as was also her father, Abraham Bennett; he was
a farmer, and was massacred with the other
people of that locality in the battle of Minisink.
The father of our subject was seventh among
ten children, all of whom attained mature years,
and seven are still living. In 1852 he came to
Orange County, where he attended the district
schools and Wallkill Academy. In 1862 he went
to Pennsylvania in the employ of the Pennsylva
nia Coal Company as brakeman on their road be
tween Holly and Dunmore. Two years later, in
1864, he became conductor 011 the same road,
continuing there until 187 1, when he resigned
to enter the employ of the Erie Company. In
1880 he accepted a position as conductor on the
Ontario & Western, with which road he has since
remained, his home being in Middletown.
Though born in Orange County, the first six
years in our subject's life were spent principally
in Pennsylvania, but since then he has resided in
Orange County. He began life for himself as
clerk in a grocery store, and later was express
messenger on the Ontario & Western Railroad
between Ellenville and Middletown, with the
American Express Company. In 1883 he be
came brakeman on a milk train between Middle-
town and Sidney, on the Ontario & Western,
which position he filled for two years. Then, go
ing to the western part of the state, he became
conductor on a construction train with the Syra
cuse & Phcenix Railway Company, but had been
there only three weeks when he was dragged
under the wheels of a car, the flange of the right
wheel entering his left limb. He was brought
home, and for a year was unable to resume work,
but fortunately, and as it seemed almost miracu
lously, he saved both limbs.
For seven months after his recovery Mr. Kirby
was employed in the Homeopathic Hospital. In

1254

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1888 he was made baggagemaster at the Ontario
& Western Depot, Middletown, where he re
mained for a year. Next he became flagman
between Middletown and Weehawken. In Au
gust, 1890, hewas promoted to be conductor, and
during the winters since that time has made the
run with engines Nos. 29, 30, 31 and 32, while
in the summer he has charge of the through
freight and extra passenger trains. In 1890,
while coupling the cars in the dark, his thumb
was smashed, inflicting a painful and serious
wound; but, with his usual fortitude, he rode
back eighty-two miles before he had it dressed,
and was on duty again eight weeks afterward.
In Ellenville Mr. Kirby married Miss Carrie
A. Kuhfeldt, who was born in that village. They
are the parents of one son, Ralph. Politically
our subject is a Republican. He is a Director
in the Ontario & Western Branch at Middletown
of the Western Building and Savings Association
of Rochester. In religious belief he is connected
with Grace Episcopal Church. Socially he be
longs to Owosling Lodge, K. of P., at Ellen
ville, and Millard Division No. 52, Order of Rail
way Conductors, at Middletown, in which he has
been active on various committees and has passed
most of the chairs.

i'i'i'i ii

~~ lting Dubois France, of the firm of
'd C. E. Crawford & Co. , Middletown, was bora
__ near Ulsterville, in the town of Shawangunk,
Ulster County, N. Y., September 17, 1854. The
family which he represents originated in France,
and was numbered among the pioneers of Ulster
County. The grandfather, Elting France, was
born near New Paltz in 1800, and married Cath
erine DuBois. Settling near Ulsterville, he was
engaged as a tanner and scythe manufacturer
there until his death in 1872. The France, Elt
ing, DuBois and Schoonmaker families of Ulster
County were all related to one another.
The father of our subject, Oliver D. France,
was born in Ulster County, and in early life en
gaged with his father in the tanning business
and manufacture of scythes, gradually giving the

latter industry a larger share of his attention, un
til he followed it exclusively. The burning of
his shops caused him subsequently to turn his at
tention to agriculture. He purchased a tract of
one hundred and five acres, and built up a valu
able farm, upon which he died in 1890, at the
age of fifty-eight. He was well informed regard
ing public questions, and advocated the Demo
cratic policy. His wife, whose maiden name was
Mary Crist, was born near Pine Bush, Orange
County, and died in 1875, at the age of forty-
two. She was a daughter of Milton Crist, who
in early life carried on a hotel, but later turned
his attention to farming.
There were seven children born to the union
of Oliver D. and Mary France, as follows: Elting
DuBois; Bernice, of Middletown; Clarence, a
farmer residing at Syracuse, Otoe County, Neb. ;
Abbie, who lives at Pine Bush; Mona J., wife of
John Beckwith, of Frankfort, N. Y.; Theresa,
Mrs. George Andrews, of Syracuse, Neb.; and
Oliver, who resides in California. Our subject,
who is the eldest of the family, remained with
his parents until he attained his majority, when
he started out for himself. About 1880 he came
to Middletown, and for six months was employed
in the delivery department of C. E. Crawford's
store, after which he was in the packing depart
ment two years. He then became a salesman,
and continued as such until February, 1891, when
he became a member of the firm of C. E. Craw
ford & Co. The following year the firm opened
a branch store in Port Jervis, and in 1894 com
menced business in Goshen, and they now carry-
on a large trade in the three cities. They carry
in stock the finest grades of furniture and buy in
large quantities, in order to compete with the
New York City trade.
The family residence at No. 15 Grove Street is
presided. over by our subject's wife and bright
ened by the presence of their two daughters,
Ethel M. and Alice. Mrs. France, who bore the
maiden name of Alida Boyd, was born in Mt.
Hope, this county, being a daughter of Tooker
Boyd, who died in Middletown. In Bingham
ton, this state, she received an excellent educa
tion, which fitted her for life's duties. Though

SAMUEL C DURYEA.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1257

not neglectful of the duties she owes to society,
she finds her greatest happiness in contributing
to the pleasure and promoting the welfare of her
husband and children. The family attends the
Second Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. and
Mrs. France hold membership.

-*— 1 — ?}2+s®iiii)®fH'<v

(c) AMUEL CRAWFORD DURYEA. The
?\ family of which this gentleman is a member
\~) originated in France, and was of the Hugue
not faith. After the revocation of the Edict of
Nantes, in 1582, the ancestors were compelled to
flee to other lands, leaving their possessions to be
confiscated by the enemy. Joost Duryea, the foun
der of the family in this country, came to Long
Island from Holland in 1675; and from Jamaica,
Queens County, Yost, or George, our subject's
great-grandfather, came to Orange County and
settled in the town of Blooming Grove, of which
he was a pioneer. He died in 1760 and was
buried at Greycourt. His three children were
George, Garret and Hannah.
George, our subject's grandfather, was a farmer,
and a valuable factor in the pioneer development
of his section. During the Revolution he was in
active service in the cavalry department of the
Colonial army. At his death, in 1832, at the age
of eighty-six, he was buried on the homestead
where his life was passed. His wife was Hannah
Hudson, of Goshen, whose father came from New
London, Conn. , 'and was the first Sheriff of Orange
County. Their family consisted of five sons and
four daughters, viz.: George, John, Henry, Gar
ret and Hudson; Hannah, who married Cornel
ius Decker, ofthe town of Montgomery; Dolly,
Mrs. John Rosa, of Sullivan County; Betsey, who
became the wife of Pierson Geming, of Blooming
Grove; and Mitte, who never married.
At the old homestead in Blooming Grove, John
Duryea, father of our subject, was born Decem
ber 29, 1778. In early life he learned the black
smith's trade. February 18, 1800, he married
Mary, daughter of Samuel and Jeannette (Mc

Curdy) Crawford, of the town of Montgomery.
This lady was born May 27, 1778, and died No
vember 27, 1857. After their marriage they re
moved to the town of Wallkill and settled two
miles east of Bloomingburg, where he engaged in
farming until his death, January 21, 1859. Of
his children we note the following: Nancy mar
ried Daniel Brush, then of Bloomingburg, subse
quently a farmer ofthe town of Crawford; Jean
nette became the wife of Horace Mills, of Bloom
ingburg; Hannah married James G. Thompson,
of Craigsville; Mary A. formerly resided in Mid
dletown; John H. was for fifty years pastor of
the Second Reformed Church of Paterson, N. J.;
Samuel C, our subject, is the only surviving
child of the parental family; Jonathan for many
years occupied his father's homestead, but after
ward lived in Middletown until his death; and
two other children died in youth.
The mother of our subject was born in the
town of Crawford and was the daughter of Samuel
I. and Jeannette (McCurdy) Crawford. The
former, who was born in the same town, Decem
ber 18, 1750, and died October 17, 1828, was a
son of James Crawford, a native of Ireland, who
settled in this country in the early part of the last
century. Jeannette McCurdy was born February
14, 1757, in Pennsylvania, and died January 12,
1839- In the town of Wallkill, where he was born
July 16, 1815, the subject of this notice was
reared to manhood. April 6, 1838, he removed
to the town of Crawford and purchased the farm
where he now resides. His first marriage occur
red January 24, 1838, and united him with Miss
Emily Tuthill, who was born in the town of
Blooming Grove, December 1, 18 14, being a
daughter of James and Sarah (Wells) Tuthill.
She died July 2, 1850, leaving one son, John E.
January 7, 1852, our subject married Mary E.
Bull, daughter of Henry Bull and a native ofthe
town of Crawford. She died April 20, 1892.
Our subject commenced life with but limited
capital and now owns one hundred and forty acres
of valuable land. Politically he is a Republican,
and since 1870 he has been Railroad Bonding
Commissioner. Though now eighty years old,

55

I258

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he is an active, hale and well preserved man.
The accompanying portrait was taken after his
eightieth birthday.
John E., our subject's son, was born in the
town of Crawford, September 6, 1840, and has
always remained on the home farm, which he now
superintends. December 2, 1863, he married
Miss Jane Frances Hunter, who was born in the
town of Montgomery March 20, 1842, and died
March 19, 1883, leaving four daughters: Emily
C, wife of Murray M. Hunter, of Milwaukee,
Wis.; Mary F., Edna H. and Anna Z., accom
plished young ladies who are with their father.
As a Republican John E. Duryea takes an active
interest in political affairs. For twelve years he
has been Justice of the Peace, and for four years
Justice ofthe Session of Orange County. He is
a member of Wallkill Lodge No. 627, F. & A. M.,
at Walden, and Hiawatha Lodge, K. of P. , at Pine
Bush. ¦  ^£P  ¦
EEORGE L. KNOX. Though for about
thirty years connected with the Caldwell
Lead Works of New York City, and a resi
dent of Jersey City, Mr. Knox has never lost in
terest in old Orange, the county of his birth, nor
his love for Middletown, where his childhood
days were spent. No one takes a deeper interest
in its welfare or greater delight in its progress
than does he, and "by his frequent visits here he
is enabled to keep in touch with the material ad
vancement made in every line.
Mr. Knox is a member of an old and honored
family of this county, and full mention of his pa
rental and ancestral history will be found in the
sketch of his brother-in-law, Isaac L. Cassell,
presented on another page. He was born in
Middletown May 2, 1828, and was reared there
and in New Vernon, receiving his education in
the common schools and iu Liberty Institute, at
Liberty, Sullivan County, where he was under
the preceptorship of Prof. John S. Stoddard.
After completing his studies he engaged in teach
ing for three years at Matamoras, Pa. , and Wurts
boro aud White Lake, N. Y. He then took up
civil-engineering, which he followed for a few

years, becoming very proficient in that occupa
tion. While thus employed he ran the line from
Suffern to Jersey City, double-tracking the old
narrow gauge to a six-foot gauge.
Going West in 1858, Mr. Knox became pay
master for a contract on what is now the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, and was
employed in that capacity about three years, hav
ing his headquarters near Erie, Pa. On his re
turn to New York, he had charge of a contract
for the building of the Warwick Railroad, now
the Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad, between
Greycourt and Warwick, and on closing that
contract he became timekeeper and paymaster in
the yards at Jersey City.
In January, 1866, when his uncles started the
Caldwell Lead Works, Mr. Knox became book
keeper for the concern, and upon the incorpora
tion ofthe company, in 1869, he became a stock
holder. For some time he has been a. Trustee
and the Treasurer of the company. The works
are situated at No. 63 Center Street, New York
City, and a specialty is made of the manufacture
of shot and of plumbers and steam-fitters' sup
plies. There is a shot tower one hundred and
seventy-four feet high, together with two- large
lead presses and a rolling-mill. The founders ofthe
enterprise, his uncles, are dead, and he is the
only one of the original members left. As a busi
ness man he is keen, shrewd and discriminating,
and the success of the business is due not a lit
tle to his zeal and energy. The firm carries a
capital stock of $250,000, and is conducting busi
ness upon a sound financial basis.
The home of Mr. Knox is at No. 218'Eighth
Street, Jersey City, and he belongs to the Second
Presbyterian Church of that place; also to Me
chanics Lodge No. 66, I. O. O. F. , of that city,
in which he has been an officer and its represen
tative to the grand lodge. At one time he was
a membei of the encampment. Since the nomi
nation of Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency,
he has advocated the principles of the Republican
party and has cast his ballot for its candidates.
He was united in marriage, in Monroe, Orange
County, with Miss Fannie Mapes, who was born
there, being the daughter of Julius and Saman-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1259

tha Mapes, prominent farmers of that locality.
Mrs. Knox passed from earth February 8, 1894,
and was laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery, Mid
dletown, where a monument has been erected to
her memory, bearing the simple inscription,
' 'She has gone home. ' '

Gl MZY A. TURNER, a veteran of the Tenth
LI Legion, residing in Middletown, was born
/| in Fishkill, Dutchess County, N Y., May
15, 1843, and is a son of Stephen M. and Delia A.
(Moshier) Turner, the former a native of Dutch
ess Couuty, and the latter of Newburgh, Orange
County. The father was a farmer in his native
county, and also engaged in raising thoroughbred
fast horses. Late in life he retired from the bus
iness and located at Canterbury, where he died.
His wife, the mother of our subject, conies of an
old Revolutionary family of German descent, her
grandfather, Captain Moshier, being an aide-de
camp on the staff of General Washington. He
was wounded in the aim, although he recovered
and died at Newburgh. The mother died when
eighty-nine years of age. She had a brother who
lived in Newburgh and who died in 1894, at the
age of one hundred and three years. Of the chil
dren born to Stephen M. and Delia A. Turner, we
mention the following: Harvey, who was a sol
dier in Company D, Fifty-sixth New York In
fantry, now resides in the Black Hills; Isaac, who
was in Company K, of the same regiment, resides
in Newburgh; John, who was in Company C, of
the Fifty-sixth, also makes his home in New
burgh; Amzy is the subject of this sketch; Joseph
N. , who also served in the Ffty-sixth, resides at
No. 84 Grand Avenue, Middletown; Phcebe now
resides in Montana; Mary, who became Mrs.
Knoff, died in Middletown; and one daughter
died in infancy.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his na
tive village, and received a limited education in
its public schools. As his father met with mis
fortune when he was but seven years of age, he
was compelled to start out in life for himself, and
began work on a farm in the town of Goshen,

where he remained until he was thirteen years
old. In 1856 he began work in the brickyard of
Solomon Wood, of Goshen, with whom he learned
the trade of brick-making, and then went to
Ridgebury, and in Cummings' brickyard was
employed until in July, 1861, when he enlisted in
Company D, Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, or
the Tenth Legion, under Colonel Van Wyck. He
was mustered into the service at New Windsor.
While the regiment was being enlisted, he spent
$400 in enlisting and taking men to the regiment,
and took down about one-third of the regiment.
Soon after being mustered in, the regiment was
ordered South, and was in active service until it
was mustered out. Among the battles and skir
mishes in which our subject participated, may
be mentioned Lee's Mill, Baltimore Cross-roads,
Chickihominy Swamp, Yorktown, Williamsburg,
Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Newport
News (N. C), Charleston, Honey Hill, Ladies'
Island, John's Island and Secessionville.
In front of Charleston he volunteered to go out
for the boys and get water which was in the
magazine. He was the only one that had cour
age enough to go, and for the service he was
offered $20. He refused it, however, both before
and after his return with the water. Gathering
up the canteens, about thirty in number, and
stringing them over his neck, he passed out to
the magazine, filled the canteens and returned in
full range of the rebels. He walked stooping,
and had just reached the riflepit, into which he
was ready to jump, when a rebel sharpshooter
shot at him, the ball striking the edge of one eye
and lodging in the skull. He jumped up, how
ever, and the boys dragged him into the riflepits.
This was on Sunday morning, and he had to lie
there until about ten o'clock in the evening, when
he was taken to the field hospital. For a time
he was blind in both eyes. The ball was extract
ed, however, and in seven weeks he returned to
the field again. The eye was damaged, and at
times even now is painful, and his sight is defect
ive. Rejoining his regiment, he was with it on
the Peninsula, where he received a sunstroke,
and later he was mustered out and honorably dis
charged, in 1864, just before the expiration of his

1260

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

term of service. While in the service, in Mary
land, the regiment was ordered to make a raid.
As a result they obtained about two thousand
head of swine, fifteen hundred head of sheep, fif
teen hundred head of horses, about the same num
ber of cows, four hundred aud fifty head of steers
and numerous fowls.
At Fair Oaks, while on picket duty, a rebel
crawled up to our subject, with the intention of
shooting him. Hearing him, Mr. Turner reached
out his hat, which was fired upon by the rebel.
Mr. Turner fired back and killed the latter. Mr.
Turner was one of the color guards of his regi
ment, and was often a mark for rebel bullets.
Several balls were shot through his clothes, and
his canteen was shot several times.
On receiving his discharge Mr. Turner came to
Middletown, and for a long time he was unable to
do any work, and has never been in good health.
In 1866 he was united in marriage with Miss
Catherine Knoff, who was born here, and who
died March 28, 1892. They were the parents of
six children, five of whom are yet living. Georgi
ana is deceased; Arthur W. is in the employ of
the Tompkins Hat Works; and Mary, Bell, Louis
S. and Stella are at home. Mr. Turner is a mem
ber of General Lyon Post, G. A. R., and iu re
ligious belief he is a Methodist, being a member
ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church at Middletown.
Politically he is a true-blue Republican, and cast
his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in
i860. While iu North Carolina he voted for him
the second time.

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(JOHN ALFONSUS GANNON has been in
I the employ of the New York, Susquehanna
(2/ & Western Railway Company since 1870,
and in point of years of service is the oldest engi
neer on the present railroad system iu Middle-
town. He is of Irish parentage, but American
birth, and with the versatility of one race com
bines the energy characteristic of the other.
His father, John Gannon, was born in Ireland,

being the son of a large laud-owner there. After
his marriage he came to America, and for a time
sojourned in Spring Valley, Rockland County,
from which place he removed te Piermont, and
became an employe of the Erie Railroad there.
Thence he went to Port Jervis in 1864, still,
however, continuing with the Erie, and he has
remained an employe of that company up to the
present time, having been with them forty-seven
years. He is now railroad baggagemaster be
tween New York and Dunkirk, and though past
the prime of life is still active and robust. His
wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ga-
lancy, was born in Ireland, and died in Port
Jervis. The family of John and Mary Gannon com
prised nine children, all of whom attained years
of maturity. The first death among them was
that of Edward, the third eldest, who held the
position of engineer on the New York & North
ern Railroad. During a severe blizzard in 1888 he
was opening the track with a snow plow, and
through an accident was killed instantly. Frank,
the eldest son, and a twin of our subject, is a very
successful and prominent railroad man. He is
Superintendent of the Baltimore & Ohio be
tween Staten Island and Pennsylvania, and Pres
ident and Superintendent of the Staten Island
Railroad, also manager of the boats. Mrs. Kate
McGovern, the eldest daughter, is a widow and
lives in Port Jervis. James is an engine-dispatcher
at High Bridge, on the New York Central Rail
road. Thomas is an operator on the Erie at Port
Jervis. Bernard, the youngest son, is ticket
agent on the Staten Island Road at Perth Amboy.
The youngest children, Mary and Lizzie, reside
with their father iu Port Jervis.
At Spring Valley, Rockland County, N. Y.,
the subject of this sketch was born September 24,
1852. He was reared in Piermont until twelve
years of age, when he accompanied the other
members of the family to Port Jervis, and there
he attended school. Commencing for himself, he
was for eighteen months employed in the Erie
shops in Port Jervis, after which he was clerk in
Turner's Hotel for eighteen mouths. In 1870 he
became brakeman on the Jersey & Midland, now

ABNER S. WELLS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1263

the New York, Susquehanna & Western, and
after six months in that capacity he took a posi
tion as fireman between Middletown and Ellen
ville. In June, 1874, hewas promoted to engi
neer, in which position he has since been em
ployed, being with a freight train the first six
months, and afterward on a passenger train. For
the past sixteen years his run has been on a milk
train between Middletown and Jersey City. Since
1879 he has made his home in Middletown, where
he owns residence property at No. 158 Railroad
Avenue. At Port Jervis Mr. Gannon was united in mar
riage with Miss Mary A. Cuff, who was born
there, and died in January, 1894, leaving four
children, Frank, Andrew, Regina and Winnifred.
In national politics our subject is a Democrat,
though in local elections he is inclined to be in
dependent, giving his ballot to the man whom he
considers best qualified for office. He is identi
fied with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi
neers, belonging to Silk Division No. 521, at
Paterson, N. J.

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fjlBNER S. WELLS. There are no names
LA more worthy to be perpetuated than those of
f I our brave soldier boys, some of whom have
passed away to join the great army of the dead,
but many remain, boys no longer, though still
as devoted to our country as in the days of their
youth. In the list of brave men whom Orange
County sent to the front in defense of the institu
tions of our Government, we find the name of
Abner S. Wells, of Middletown. During his
long service in the army he was ever gallant,
brave and loyal, and as in war, so in peace he
has displayed the noblest principles and highest
honor in his life work.
The birth of Mr. Wells occurred June 3, 1838,
in the town of Wawayanda, 011 the Wallkill line,
four and a-half miles southwest of Middletown.
His father, Abner S., Sr. , was also born in that
town, being a son of William Wells, who with
five or six brothers came from Long Island, some
of them settling in this locality. During the

Revolutionary War Grandfather Wells rendered
loyal service in the army. He gained consider
able prominence in this county, and the farm
owned by him iu the town of Wawayanda became
the center ofa settlement known as Wells' Corner.
There one of his sons, Abijah, ran a hotel. The
place is now known as South Centreville, and in
it the grandfather's death occurred at the age of
about seventy.
In the town of Wawayanda, near the Wallkill
line, Abner S. Wells, Sr., cultivated his finely
improved farm, following agricultural pursuits
until he became blind, when hewas obliged to re
tire from active labor. He died when seventy-one
years old. He had served valiantly iu the War
of 1812, and politically was first a Whig and later
a Republican. In religious belief he was con
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Hunter,
was born in Slate Hill, and was a daughter of
Robert Hunter, a descendant of Dutch ancestors.
She passed from earth in 1893, aged ninety- four
years. Of her thirteen children, ten attained
years of maturity and five are still living. George,
one of the sons, was for a short time a member of
a New York battery.
From an early age our subject displayed a re
markable aptitude for music, his favorite instru
ment being the violin, on which he soon acquired
such proficiency as to attract attention. While
he learned the trade of a carpenter under a cousin
iu Pennsylvania and later followed that occupa
tion , yet he still devoted a large share of his at
tention to music, and for ten or twelve years after
the war his time was largely spent in travel, vis
iting different cities, where he gave concerts.
The Wells Orchestra, of which he was the leader,
consisted of five pieces, and possessed a high
order of merit. Finally, however, owing to the
ill effects of the night work upon his health, he
retired from the profession.
In September, 1861, at the opening of the Civil
War, Mr. Wells enlisted iu the Second Cavalry
Company of the Tenth Legion, or Fifty-sixth
Regiment New York State Volunteers, Col. C. H.
Van Wyck commanding, and was mustered into
the United States service the following Novem-

1264

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ber. The regiment was ordered to Washington,
and went into camp on Calorama Heights.
Thence they removed to Rock Creek, and after
wards proceeded to Meridian Hill. From this
place the two cavalry companies were detached
for Fortress Monroe, where they formed the First
New York Mounted Rifles, commanded by C. C.
Dodge. Mr. Wells was here taken ill with the
black measles, followed by typhoid fever, and for
a long time he was so ill that many considered
his recovery impossible. However, his good
constitution enabled him to conquer the disease,
and in time he regained his strength. At Will
iamsburg, Va., in 1863, he was assigned to the
veteran corps, and in July, 1865, the First New
York and the Third New York Cavalry were
consolidated aud mustered out as the Fourth
Provisional Cavalry at City Point, Va.
Locating iii Middletown at the close of the
war, Mr. Wells became leader of the orchestra
that bore his name, and with it traveled through
out the country. In 1876 he began the occupa
tion of contracting and building, in which he
continued for a number of years, but later re
tired from active business. Among the residences
erected by him is his elegant home at No. 86
Monhagen Avenue, where the commodious house
is surrounded by four and a-half acres of ground.
He has built three residences for himself, and
still owns two, and he has also erected a num
ber of houses owned by the most prominent
men ofthe city.
In Middletown occurred the marriage of Mr.
Wells and Miss Libbie Van Inwegen, who was
born in Huguenot, in the town of Deerpark. Her
father, David, who was born in the same place,
was a farmer by occupation, and died near Monti
cello. Her paternal grandfather, Harmonis Van
Inwegen, was of Holland-Dutch descent. Her
mother, Sallie Van Inwegen in maidenhood,
though bearing the same name as her husband,
was in no way related to him. The maternal
grandfather, John Van Inwegen, was a farmer of
Huguenot, and served in the War of 1812. His
wife, who was a Miss Van Fleet, was of Dutch
extraction, and died in Port Jervis. Mrs. Wells
was the eldest of four children, all of whom are

living. By her marriage she is the mother of a
daughter, Lottie Mae, a talented violinist and a
member of the Class of '96, Wallkill Academy.
Every old soldier is interested in Grand Army
affairs, and Mr. Wells is a member of Capt. W.
A. Jackson Post No. 301. He and his wife
and daughter belong to the Methodist Episco
pal Church and are regular attendants at the
services. In national affairs he favors protection
of home interests, and therefore upholds the prin
ciples of the Republican party, but in local mat
ters he works for prohibition, believing that the
country will be benefited and the people elevated
when the liquor traffic is exterminated.

REV. FRANK ARTHUR HEATH, pastor of
the First Baptist Church at Middletown, is
one of the most popular ministers in the city.
He was born March 20, i860, at Boston, Mass.,
and is a son of Thomas and Caroline (Pierce)
Heath, the former a native of Rhode Island, and
the latter of Fall River, Mass. On his father's
side he is of English, and on his mother's side of
Scotch, ancestry. His grandfather, Capt. William
Vose Heath, was a native of Newport, R. I., and
for many years was a sea-captain, engaged iu the
coasting trade. On one of his trips he fell from
his vessel and received injuries which resulted iu
his death. Thomas Heath, the father of our sub
ject, is a carriage manufacturer, and has been en
gaged in the business in Boston, in one location,
since 1858. While somewhat advanced in years,
he is hale and hearty. He is very prominent in
social and benevolent societies, and has been Dis
trict Deputy Grand Master of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows for years. He is also a
prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, hav
ing filled all the offices in the local lodge, and ofthe
uniformed rank. He is a very sociable man, and
a very successful after-dinner speaker. His wife,
the mother of our subject, is an active worker in
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and
in the Pythian Sisterhood. They have three sons

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1265

and one daughter, all living. William H. is a
chief engineer in Brooklyn. Frederick, blind from
infancy, is a natural musician, and a graduate of
Perkins' Institute for the Blind in South Boston.
He is an instructor on the organ and piano, and
is also an eminent soloist. Mary is now Mrs.
Warren M. Blood, of East Pepperell, Mass.; and
Frank Arthur is the subject of this sketch.
Rev. Frank Arthur Heath graduated from the
Boston Latin School, an institution formerly at
tended by Charles Sumner, Wendell Phillips,
and other prominent men, and then entered Col
gate University, at Hamilton, N. Y., from which
he graduated in 1885 with the degree of A. B.
Three years later, on the completion of his course
in theology, he received from that institution the
degree of A. M. While in college he was a member
of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. On completing
his regular course, he entered the theological
seminary at Hamilton, from which he graduated
in 1888. After he entered the sophomore year,
he preached continually, and in that way mainly
secured the means to pay his way through college.
While at Hamilton he preached four years stead
ily at Unadilla, N. Y., and after his ordination,
July 7, 1888, at Acton, Mass., an old Revolution
ary town, whence Capt. Isaac Davis and his
minutemen went and met the British on the old
North Bridge at Concord. He remained at Acton,
Mass., as pastor ofthe Baptist Church until 1891,
when he received an urgent call to Binghamton,
N. Y. , to take charge of a new mission church at
that place.
While at Binghamton, our subject bought new-
ground, on which he moved the chapel, and
during his two-years pastorate received one hun
dred and fifty new members, leaving the church
in excellent condition. In August, 1893, he was
called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church
at Middletown, as successor to Rev. Christian
J. Page. The church here is an old society, and
for some years had been burdened with debt, but
Mr. Page aided greatly in clearing it, and the
balance was paid within four months after Mr.
Heath took charge of the church. In October,
1893, on payment ofthe debt, the church had a
jubilee, which was participated in by Rev. Mr.

Page. With a present membership of over three
hundred and fifty, which is constantly growing,
the church has a bright future before it. Soon
after coming here, Mr. Heath began the agitation
for having Sunday services at Midway Park,
which was opposed by some of the clergy, but
Mr. Heath was determined, and began the work,
in which he has been eminently successful, being
able to reach a class of people there that never go
to church. In his work he now has the co-opera
tion of the majority ofthe people of Middletown,
who bid him God-speed.
Mr. Heath was married, in Boston, to Miss
May Walker, born iu Kingston, Nova Scotia,
and daughter of John Walker, who died there,
after which the family removed to Cambridge,
where Mrs. Heath was educated. Three children
have been born unto them: Genevieve, Sherburne
and Marjorie.
Mr. Heath is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, holding membership with the lodge
at Unadilla. He is also a member of Mid
dletown Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F., and of
the Independent Order of Good Templars. In
politics he is independent, with strong Republican
and Prohibition leanings. For years he has been
a valued contributor to various religious journals.
His pulpit ability is of the highest order, and it
is a delight to sit under his ministration. In his
pastoral work he is very successful, and is popular
with those inside and outside of his church.

(TAMES G. MARTIN, a practical moulder in
I Middletown, was born in Dublin, Ireland)
G/ in 1852, and is a son of John and Ann
Martin. His father, and also his grandfather,
Peter Martin, were architects and builders in
Dublin, of which city they were both natives.
They were the architects and builders of Con
ciliation Hall, built at the time of the repeal of
the Union. His father did quite a large business,
and died in Australia, about 1880. To John and
Ann Martin were born two children, our subject
being the only living one.
James G. Martin was educated in Dublin, at

1266

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Clongeswood College, and then took up the
study of law with John D. Rosenthal, remaining
with him three years. In 1869 he left Dublin
for Liverpool, and from there took the steamer
"Queen" for New York City. After remaining
there a couple of mouths, he came to Middle-
town, and entered the employ of Howell, Hinch-
man & Co., tanners, with whom he remained
until October of that year, aud then began to
learn the moulder's trade with E. P. Wheeler, one
of the pioneers of Middletown. After continuing
with that gentleman four years, he worked for
him as a journeyman until his death, with the
exception of a short time spent at Goshen, New
York City and Franklin. While in Mr. Wheeler's
employ, he made several trips to the Old Country,
and in 1886 took his family with him, with
some idea of remaining there. His presence in
Dublin was rendered necessary in the settlement
of his father's estate. Disposing of his interest
in that city, he returned to Middletown, and en
gaged in whittling blocks for straw hats, remain
ing in the business, more or less, for sixteen
years. In 1891 he formed a partnership with
Thomas H. Butler, a practical moulder, and, under
the firm name of Butler & Martin, built the pres
ent shop, which has a capacity of five tons per
day. After continuing the business one year,
our subject purchased Mr. Butler's interest, and
has since continued alone. The main building
is 50x100 feet, fronting on Wisner Avenue, and
is on the line of the New York, Ontario & West
ern Railway. The engine is of twenty -four horse
power, and the boiler of forty horse-power. Mr.
Martin makes a specialty of green sand work, and
has quite a trade with New York parties, besides
a local trade. He also does considerable work
for the New York, Ontario & Western Railway.
In 1 87 1 Mr. Martin was married, in Middle-
town, to Mary A. Cunningham, whose birth oc
curred here. She died in October, 1886, on the
voyage from Greenock to New York, when five
days out, and was buried iu midocean. At her
death she left five children, four of whom are liv
ing: Annie, now Mrs. Andrew Riley, of New York;
James, who, at this writing, is in China; and
Michael and Gregory, at home. Mr. Martin's

second marriage was with Mrs. Annie (Houston)
Killbride, who was born in Middletown, but who
resided in Newark. They have two children,
Kevin and Kathleen. Mr. Martin is a member
of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, aud in politics
is independent.

q)EORGE HEATER, a contractor and builder
_ residing at Middletown, was born in the
^J town of Wantage, Sussex County, N. J.,
October 12, 1832. His father, Martin, who was
born in Warren County, that state, was of Ger
man ancestry, and was a son of a hero of the
War of 1812, who engaged in farm pursuits in
New Jersey. In early life he learned the trade
of a moulder at Oxford, .and later removed to
Deckertown, where he died at the age of seventy -
seven. His wife, Eliza Ketcham, was born in
Warren County, and there died. Of their eight
children, all of whom arrived at mature years,
only four are now living, George being the eldest.
The subject of this notice spent his boyhood
years principally in the vicinity of Hamburg and
Newton, Sussex County. In every respect he
is entitled to be called a self-made mail, for he
never attended school, nor did he have any op
portunities for advancing himself in the world
save those which he made for himself. When
only eight years old he began for himself, and from
that time forward he was self-supporting. For a
while he was employed on a farm, later worked
in a blast furnace in Hamburg, and afterward
learned the cooper's trade in Sussex County,
N. J., near Unionville, N. Y., where he followed
his chosen occupation.
Going South, Mr. Heater was for six years
foreman of a shop in Murfreesboro, Tenn. While
there the war broke out, and owing to his loca
tion he was harassed considerably. When Buell's
army fell back to Tennessee, he joined thein and
returned with them to Louisville, Ky., from
which city he came to his former home. He
soon afterward engaged in the grocery business
in Jersey City, where he remained until May,
1863, the date of his arrival in Middletown. For

MILTON C. CONNER, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1269

a time he worked at the cooper's trade in this
place, and had a shop on John Street, near Lin
den Avenue, which was burned down once, but
afterward rebuilt. In 1880 he worked at his
trade with P. F. Miller, and later was with other
parties until 1894, when he began as a contractor
and builder. Among the residences erected un
der his supervision are those of W. Adams,
Emery Van Kturen and George Jacobs.
• In Shelbyville, Tenn., in 1862, Mr. Heater
married Miss Annie Ruth, daughter of David
Ruth, a carriage-painter of that place. Four
children survive of the eight born unto them,
Elsie, William, Lizzie and Mamie being deceased.
Mrs. Mattie Hoyt, the eldest daughter, lives in
Middletown. George is engaged in the milk
business in New York City. Annie and Edgar
are with their parents, the family occupying a
neat residence on Sprague Avenue. Socially Mr.
Heater is connected with the Knights of Honor
and also with Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. &
A. M. In politics he votes for the men and
principles advocated by the Republican party.

«g Gy ••**» • ••• ^

•jSJ.

y illLTON C. CONNER, M. D. Since the
V completion of his medical course and his
(A graduation from college, Dr. Conner has
practiced his profession in Middletown, and the
flattering success with which he has met is in
dicated by his constantly increasing practice.
While he is skilled in the treatment of all diseases,
his specialty has been diseases of the eye and ear,
concerning which he is accurately informed, and
in the treatment of which he has few superiors.
He has an office in the Everett Building, on the
corner of Main and North Streets; also at his resi
dence. In addition to his general practice, he was
for four years Health Officer of Middletown, and
for one year served as City Physician.
The Conner family originated in Ireland, and
was first represented in America by the Doctor's
grandfather, William Conner, who emigrated to
this country and settled in the town of Wallkill,
Orange County, where he was variously employed
as a mason, distiller and farmer. His death oc

curred when he was about seventy years of
age. The father of our subject, Hezekiah, was
born in the town of Wallkill, where he spent his
entire life, following the occupations of mason and
farmer. In religious views he was a Presby
terian, while politically he supported the Repub
lican party. In 1889, at the age of eighty-one,
while on his way to the city one day, he was
thrown from the wagon and run over by the team,
sustaining fatal injuries.
Three times married, Hezekiah Conner had
two children by his first marriage and five by his
second, four of them surviving; his third union
was childless. His second wife, our subject's
mother, was Caroline, daughter of Phineas Cor
win, a farmer ofthe town of Wallkill. She died
at the age of forty-six years. Milton C. is the
youngest of the family, and was born on the
home farm near Scotchtown, town of Wallkill,
September 6, 1853. In boyhood he attended the
Wallkill Academy for a time, but was obliged to
temporarily discontinue his studies on account of
his father having broken his leg, which rendered
it necessary for him to manage the home place.
He then entered the Ft. Edward Institute, and
later was a student in the Cazenovia Seminary,
spending two years iu each institution. Mean
time he taught school at Ft. Ann, N. Y., for one
year. Having resolved to become a physician, our
subject entered the Detroit Medical College, iu
which his brother was a professor. Two years
were spent, there, after which he became a student
in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New
York, from which, after two years, he was gradtv
ated, in 1883, with the degree of M. D. Upon
completing his studies he opened an office iu Mid
dletown, where he has since had charge of a
general practice. He is examining surgeon for
numerous insurance companies, and is one of the
most popular physicians of the city. Interested
iu everything that pertains to the science, he holds
membership in the New York State Medical As
sociation, and is serving on the Executive Com
mittee of the Fifth District Branch of that
organization. He is also identified with the
American Medical Association, and was a delegate

1270

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to the conventions of that body held at Detroit,
Milwaukee, San Francisco and Baltimore.
The marriage of Dr. Conner took place in this
city and united him with Frances Adelaide Cox,
who was born in Bloomingburg, N. Y. , being the
daughter ofthe late George Cox, formerly an at
torney of Middletown. Socially the Doctor is
connected with Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. &
A.M., and Midland Chapter No. 240, R. A. M.
He is intelligently posted upon public questions,
and believes that the policy of the Republican
party is best calculated to advance the welfare of
the people; hence he gives it his unqualified
support.

| EWIS STEWART STIVERS. One of the
I C influential Republican papers of Orange
|_2f County is the Middletown Daily Times, a
nine-column folio, devoted especially to the in
terests of Middletown. It has the largest cir
culation of any daily between Paterson and Bing
hamton, and is surpassed by only one paper in
this county, the Newburgh News. Through the
Associated Press reports, it is enabled to furnish
its readers the latest and most authentic news
from every part ofthe world. Not a little of its
success is due to the zeal and ability of the sub
ject of this notice, who is one of its editors and
proprietors. Aside from this paper, he is also
one of the publishers of the Semi-weekly Times, a
nine-column folio, and read by a large number
of subscribers in this and adjoining counties. Iu
addition to the newspaper work, there is a large
and well equipped job office, from which work of
the highest grade is turned out, and which is
liberally patronized by the people of the city.
In the town of Wawayanda the subject of
this sketch was born April 20, 1859. After at
tending the public schools and Wallkill Academy,
he entered Peekskill Military Academy, from
which he was graduated in 1876. On conclud
ing his studies, he entered the office of the Mid
dletown Press, of which his father was editor
and part owner. Iu 1891, with his brother,

John D. Stivers, he began publishing the Mid
dletown Daily Times and the Orange County
Times, a semi-weekly paper.
Mr. Stivers was one ofthe original members and
organizers of the Twenty-fourth Separate Com
pany National Guard of New York, which was or
ganized in 1887. For three years he was Second
Lieutenant ofthe company, and in 1890 was pro
moted to the rank of First Lieutenant, which he
still holds. -
Besides his other interests Mr. Stivers is a
charter member and Director of the Orange Coun
ty Telephone Company. Now an honorary mem
ber of the Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company,
he was for several years an officer ofthe organiza
tion, and for two years he was Secretary of the
Middletown Fire Department. For a number of
years he was a member and officer of the
Bachelors' Social Club. He was united in mar
riage, in this city, with Miss Cora D. Mackay,
daughter of John Mackay, who for many years
was connected with the Orange County Foundry
Company. They are the parents of two children,
Christina and Gladys.

3^S\****3*tz--1'*^ .5..$. .$..$.—

EHARLES TIERNEY, who is an engineer
on the New York, Ontario & Western Rail
road, was boru at Howells Depot, this coun
ty, March 14, 1852. His father, James, was born
in County Tyrone, Ireland, and when a young
man emigrated to America, and bought a farm at
Howells Depot, where for a short time he carried
on agricultural pursuits. Later he was employed
as section man on the Erie Railroad, and after
ward became section foreman, in which capacity
he was employed until his retirement from busi
ness. He died at Howells Depot, at the age of
fifty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name
was Ellen Gibbon, was boru in County Donegal,
Ireland, and died in Middletown, at the home of
our subject, July 4, 1889.
The family of James and Ellen Tierney con
sisted of nine children, of whom five are living,
Charles being next to the eldest. He was reared
in the place of his birth, and at the age of ten

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1271

began to work on a farm adjoining his home. In
1869 he was employed on the construction of the
New York & Oswego Midland, now known as
the New York, Ontario & Western, working at
Summitville until the fall of 1870, when he came
to Middletown. He was brakeman on the first
train that was put on at Middletown, being un
der Engineer McNiff. In the spring of 1871 he
began as fireman on a switch engine, afterward
was fireman between Middletown and Liberty,
and in 1872 was promoted to engineer, running a
switch engine in the Middletown yards. Next
he was employed as fireman on the New York
Division of the New York & Oswego Midland,
between Middletown and Jersey City. In 1874
he was again made engineer, and from that time
until 1883 his run was on the New Jersey Mid
land, and the New York, Susquehanna & West
ern. During the last-named year, he resigned to
accept a position as engineer on the New York,
Ontario & Western, between Middletown and
Norwich. Until 1886 his run was on a freight
train, but from that time until 1 891 he had charge
of a passenger train, and since the latter year he
has been extra passenger and yard engineer.
Only one serious accident has happened to Mr.
Tierney during his long railroad experience.
This was near Stockholm, N. J., in October,
1873, when he was in the employ of the New
Jersey Midland. A bank had washed away from
under a bridge, and the train, running on the
bridge, precipitated the structure into the water.
The engine turned over, throwing him into the
water, but he made his way to the shore, where
he was soon found. Though severely bruised,
his injuries were not serious, and he was able to
resume work in six weeks from the time of the
accident. At No. 27 Broad, corner of Prince, Street, Mr.
Tierney has a neat and comfortable home, where
he and his family reside. He was married in
this city, his wife being Ellen Murphy, daughter
of Thomas Murphy, formerly a railroad man re
siding in this city. Their family consists of four
children: George, Charles, Frank and Ellen.
Active in the ranks of the Democratic party, Mr.
Tierney has served as a member of the City Com

mittee, and in other local positions. In religious
connections he is a member of St. Joseph's Catho
lic Church. He is a member ofthe Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, and is first engineer of
United Division No. 292.

^it

ra.1'

m\\

0ANIEL BAILEY HARDENBERGH, M. D.
The son of a physician and the grandson of
a physician, the subject of this sketch may
claim his profession through heritage as well as
by the unusual zeal and advantages devoted to its
acquirement. The genealogy of the Hardenbergh
family has already been reviewed in the sketches
of the subject's father, Dr. Henry Hardenbergh,
and grandfather, Dr. Charles Hardenbergh. His
mother, Delia, was born in Wallkill, the daugh
ter of Nathaniel Bailey, aud a descendant of Capt.
Daniel Bailey, an officer in the Revolutionary
War. Daniel Bailey Hardenbergh was born in Port
Jervis, March 13, 1866, and graduated from the
Port Jervis Academy as valedictorian of his class
in 1883. After a year spent under private tuition
to complete preparation, he entered Yale College,
from which he was graduated in 1888, with the
degree of A. B. In his sophomore year he se
cured a position in his class crew, and after two
winters' training with the university crew,
through the spring of the junior year he acted as
stroke-oar of the class crew, and was also a mem
ber of the university tug-of-war team. In his ju
nior year he was elected a member of the Delta
Kappa Epsilou Society, asocial fraternity; and in
his senior year, through rank in scholarship, was
made a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity.
At graduation he was a Commencement-day
speaker, and a member of the Ivy Commit
tee. In the fall of the same year he entered the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York
City, which is the medical department of Colum
bia College. During these three years of study
he obtained practical experience in minor surgery
at the Chambers Street Hospital, and in obstet
rics at the Sloane Maternity Hospital and Broome
Street Lying-in Dispensary.

1272

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Our subject received the degree of M. D. in
1891, and through a competitive examination,
participated in by the graduates of the three reg
ular medical schools of New York City, obtained
an appointment in Bellevue Hospital, securing
the first place as results of the examination. The
Doctor remained as i?iterne two years in the hos
pital, acting for nine months ofthe time as house
physician, In addition to a wide medical service
the two years were spent in constant operative
gynecological work under the visiting surgeon, Dr.
W. Gill Wylie. The experience here gained and
associations formed in turn opened opportunities
for greater advantages, and in the summer of 1 893,
following the hospital service, Dr. Hardenbergh
became connected with the Post-Graduate Medi
cal School and Hospital, conducting the clinics
and delivering the lectures during the summer
months, in place of Prof. F. Ferguson, upon the
subject of "Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Med
icine' ' to the older practitioners, who return to
become more familiar with the recent views in
medical science. The material for these clinics was
drawn from the out-patient department of the
New York Hospital, with which Dr. Harden
bergh was connected for one and a-half years.
Later he was appointed provisional assistant, as
sistant and full attending physician to the out-pa
tient department. The following winter he severed
his connection with the Post-Graduate Medical
School in order to become associated once more
with Prof. W. Gill Wylie, at the New York Poly
clinic Medical School, acting as instructor in
gynecology and delivering the lectures during
the summer months and during the absence of
Professor Wylie. About the same time he was
appointed Assistant-Surgeon to the New York
Cancer Hospital, and delivered frequent lectures
to the training schools for nurses of the Post-
Graduate and Cancer Hospitals.
For private practice Dr. Hardenbergh located
with Dr. William B. Coley at No. 52 West Thirty-
fifth Street, New York City. His first contribu
tion to medical literature was an article upon
"Salophen in Acute Rheumatism," to the New
York Medical Record. He became assistant edi
tor ofthe Epitome of Medicine, having charge of

the department in gynecology, and later assistant
editor ofthe American Medico-Surgical Bulletin,
with which he is still connected in the same ca
pacity. In the fall of 1893 there was held in
Washington, D. C, a medical congress from the
different countries of the Western Hemisphere,
the first "Pan- American Medical Congress."
Dr. Hardenbergh was chosen by the editor of the
New York Medical Record to report for that jour
nal the transactions ofthe section in "Abdominal
Surgery and Gynecology," which he did in an
article running through successive numbers of
that journal. October 1, 1894, after having en
joyed six years in New York City as student, prac
titioner and instructor, Dr. Hardenbergh chose
Middletown as the field of his endeavor. A most
favorable introduction had been obtained through
Dr. Theo D. Mills, whose practice for several
years he had conducted during his absence on va
cations.

QOBERT D. MAPES, who is engaged in the
kf wholesale and retail milk business, and
P \ also has a growing trade as a dealer in agri
cultural implements in Middletown, was born
at Howells Depot, in the town of Wallkill, Sep
tember 14, 1862. His grandfather, John V.
Mapes, was born in this county, and for many
years was a farmer near Howells Depot. The
father, Albert, was born in the town of Wall-
kill, one mile from Howells Depot, and still
makes his home in the house where he was bora.
As a general farmer he has met with considerable
success, and he now also runs a large dairy. His
wife, Frances, was born in Mt. Hope, where her
father, Seth Mapes, was a farmer. The two
families, though bearing the same name, were
not related to each other. The parents are mem
bers of the Congregational Church at Howells
Depot, and have reared their nine children in the
doctrines of that denomination.
Robert D., who is the eldest ofthe family, was
reared on the home farm and received a district-
school education. He remained at home until

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1275

about 1877. In May of that year he and his fa
ther started a milk route in Middletown, and con
tinued in partnership until 1886, when our sub
ject purchased his father's interest in the busi
ness, and established a retail trade in Middle-
town. . Since that time he has carried on busi
ness at No. 4 Knapp Avenue, where he has in
creased the capacity ofthe building by adding a
milk and cooling room. He has one delivery
wagon, with which he supplies the retail trade.
In 1890 he started in the agricultural-implement
business, and now keeps on hand, in the ware
house on Knapp Avenue, a stock of Deering
mowing-machines and hay rakes and New York
Champion horse rakes.
At Howells Depot, in 1886, Mr. Mapes mar
ried Miss Margaret Isabelle Axford, who was
born in Port Jervis. Her father, the late Calvin
Axford, was for many years a farmer in the
town of Wallkill. For eight years Mr. Mapes
has served as Inspector of Elections, and at dif
ferent times he has served in other local positions,
the duties of which he has always discharged in
a manner satisfactory to the people and reflect
ing credit upon himself. Politically he is firm
in his advocacy of Republican principles, and in
variably votes for the candidates of that party.

OC************^***^*********X>
pGJlLLIAM E. DOUGLASS, M. D., has been
1 A / in practice in Middletown since 1881. He
y V was born in Franklin, Delaware County,
July 14, 1853, and is of good old Revolutionary
stock, his great-grandfather, Asa Douglass, serv
ing as Captain during that struggle. For his
services he was granted a tract of land, supposed
to have been in Massachusetts, but on surveying it
was found between the two states, now in Rensse
laer County, N. Y. He was born in Franklin, Del
aware County. Judge Amos Douglass, the grand
father, was born in Stephentown, in Rensselaer
County, and in early life moved to Franklin,
Delaware County, where he was one of the first
attorneys. He was subsequently County Judge
there, which office he held for many years. The
father of our subject, who was also named Amos,

was a native of Franklin, and for twenty-five
years was engaged in the mercantile business,
and later in the banking business. He was one
of the organizers of the First National Bank of
Franklin, and was President of" the same for more
than twenty-five years. He married Miss Mar-
riette Hine, who was also a native of Franklin,
and was a daughter of William Hine, a native
of Woodbridge, now New Milford, Conn. He
was, however, an early settler iu Franklin,
and was by occupation a farmer. His grand
father, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Doug
lass, who was named Stephen Hine, served in
the Revolutionary War, and died in Connecticut.
Her father was a Deacon in the Congregational
Church for many years. Amos Douglass, the fa
ther of our subject, was a strong Republican, but
one who never aspired to official position. He
was Clerk in the Congregational Church for many
years, or until he gave it up on account of ill-
health. He died iu Franklin in 1888, and his
wife died in 1886. They were the parents of
four children, three of whom grew to maturity,
and two are yet living: Amos Stanley, who re
sides in Middletown, and who is a special insur
ance adjuster; and Dr. William E., the subject
of this sketch. Charles A. grew to manhood
and was Cashier of the First National Bank of
Middletown, but resigned, and has since died.
The subject of this notice was reared in Frank
lin, and received his education in the literary in
stitute at that place, from which he graduated.
At the age of sixteen he began reading medicine
in the office of Dr. Ira Wilcox, and subsequently
entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New
York City, where he remained four and a-half
years, taking his degree of M. D. in 1876. On
graduating, he removed to Lisle, Broome Coun
ty, where he opened an office and commenced
the practice of his profession. He remained
there until 1881, when, as already stated, he lo
cated in Middletown, where he has since resided,
and where he has built up an extensive practice,
being recognized as one of the leading physicians
of the count)-. Since the institution was started
he has been on the medical staff of Thrall Hos
pital. He is a member of the State Medical So-

1276

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ciety, is ex-President of the Orange County
Medical Society, and is examiner for several life-
insurance companies, besides being a Director of
the First National Bank at Middletown, and a
member of the Board of Water Commissioners.
Dr. Douglass was married, in Broome County,
to Miss Katharine Whitney, a native of that
county, and they have one child, Amos Stanley,
Jr. Fraternally the Doctor holds membership
with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias,
and politically is a Republican. He is a member
of the Congregational Church of Middletown
and is Chairman of its Board of Trustees. Per
sonally he is very popular and is held in high es
teem by those who know him.

-*-*:

=+

jj EVI VANDERLYN SINSABAUGH. On
It the corner of Linden Avenue and John
\ J Street is located one of the prominent in
dustries of Middletown. Here, in 1888, Mr. Sin-
sabaugh embarked in the lumber business, which
he has since enlarged and is now conducting with
flattering success. His planing-mill is 130x130
feet in dimensions, two stories in height, with a
basement containing a thirty-five horse -power
engine. The first floor is devoted to the planing
of the lumber and to the manufacture of sash,
doors aud blinds, while the upper floor contains
the turning and carpenter's department. Ad
joining this place is a large ware and store room.
The principal lumber-yard is situated on Union
Street. Careful management on the part of Mr. Sinsa-
baugh has secured success for the enterprise.
Since purchasing the factory he has introduced a
full equipment of modern machinery for turning
and planing, and now has all the essential ap
purtenances to secure the patronage of the build
ers ofthe city and surrounding country. Being a
man of great energy, he has not limited himself
to the management ofthe factory, but has gained
other important interests. He has devoted some
attention to contracting and building, and has

built a number of cottages at Tuxedo and Ar-
verne-by-the-sea. In Middletown he has erected
about twenty houses, which he has sold on easy
terms to working men, in that way promoting
the growth of the place. He owns four acres on
Monhagen Avenue, near the state hospital, which
he is improving and will plat for residences. His
own residence he has built there, it being a com
modious and elegant structure, an ornament to
that part ofthe city.
A native of this county, Mr. Sinsabaugh was
born in the town of Montgomery, July 28,' 1857.
His father, R. P. L. Sinsabaugh, was born iu the
town of Crawford, of which the grandfather was
a pioneer farmer. The former, who is still living
in the town of Montgomery, is a man of upright
character, the possessor of a host of friends in his
community, and a prominent leader in local Re
publican ranks. Fruit-growing and the dairy
business have received his attention throughout
life. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth, was born
in the town of Montgomery and was a daughter
of Levi Vanderlyn, a native of New Jersey, who
early settled in Montgomery and became a large
and successful farmer there. The first represent
ative of the family in America was Peter Vander
lyn, who came hither from Holland. One of his
descendants was the famous artist Vanderlyn,
whose painting, "Landing of Columbus," adorns
the walls of the capitol in Washington. Levi
Vanderlyn was a prominent Republican in his lo
cality and a well informed, intelligent man. One
of his sons, Abraham, a soldier in the Civil War,
fell in the battle of the Wilderness. Another son,
John N., was for two terms District Attorney of
Ulster County, and now has a large practice at
New Paltz. The great-grandfather, Abraham,
was a farmer of New Jersey, and his father, Ja
cobus, was the son of Peter Vanderlyn, the orig
inal settler in this country. Grandfather Van
derlyn married Elizabeth, daughter of Charles
Newkirk, a farmer of the to%vn of Montgomery
One of her brothers was Judge John Newkirk,
who resided at Hudson, Columbia County, N. Y.,
and died there iu 1894.
In the parental family, which consisted of five

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1277

children, our subject is the eldest. He was reared
on the home farm and learned the carpenter's
trade in Walden. In 1886 he came to Middle-
town, and two years later bought the Piatt sash
and blind factory, on Linden Avenue. This, as
above stated, he improved and enlarged and is
still conducting with success. He is a Director
in the Orange County Telephone Company, also
Vice-President and a Director of the Industrial
Building and Loan Association. On the 29th of
September, 1886, at the time of coming to Mid
dletown, he married here Mrs. Eldora Simpson
nee Brown, of Goshen, an accomplished lady and
a graduate of Seward Seminary at Florida. She
is a daughter of Martin Washburn and Elizabeth
(Ward) Brown, both ofwhom are now deceased.
Mr. Brown was formerly a wholesale jeweler in
New York City, but resided in Goshen, that be
ing a more healthful location. Mrs. Sinsabaugh
has one daughter, Bessie, by her former husband.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Sinsabaugh has
been intimately connected with public affairs in
this city since becoming a resident of this place.
In 1893 he was elected Alderman from the Sec
ond Ward, and so satisfactory was his service that
he was re-elected two years afterward. Since
becoming a member of the council he has been
Chairman of the Fire Department Committee
and the Committee on Law, and has also served
on the Committees on Sewers, on Ways and
Means and on Public Buildings and Grounds.
He is a member of the Excelsior Fire Company
and Vice-President of the Royal Arcanum. He
is a member of the Board of Trade and is con
nected with other enterprises and organizations
that have promoted the progress of this city.
In Grace Episcopal Church, of which he and his
wife are members, he officiates as Vestryman.
March 1, 1895, Mr. Sinsabaugh took into
partnership his former superintendent, John H.
Burch, who has been employed in the factory
since the spring of 1890, and who now gives his
attention to the factory business and lumber-yards
on Union Street. The business has enjoyed a
constant growth, and during the past year (1894)
it was estimated that the sale of lumber was two
million feet, the value of the sales aggregating

over $100,000. The firm of L- V. Sinsabaugh
& Co. is one of the most progressive in the city,
and is carrying on business in such a manner as
to prove remunerative. The finances are on a
substantial basis, and every indication points to
years of uninterrupted business prosperity and
growth.

-§>^-<I=^

— i 5-

•SVrA DORRANCE, ex-Postmaster, aud Presi-
j dent of the Board of Aldermen of Middle-
X town, was born in Mamakating, in Sullivan
County, N. Y., in 1832. His father, George
Dorrance, was also a native of Sullivan County,
while his grandfather, David Dorrance, was a
native of Rhode Island, and settled in Sullivan
County at a very early day. By occupation
David Dorrance was a farmer, and during the
Revolutionary War served as a Captain under
General LaFayette. He died in Sullivan Coun
ty many years ago. George Dorrance, who for
many years was a hotel-keeper and forwarding
merchant on the canal, also died in Sullivan
County some years ago, at the age of seventy-
six years. He married Martha Beyea, whose
family were from Westchester County, N. Y.,
and who came of old Revolutionary stock, of
French extraction. They were the parents of
three children, all of whom are yet living, our
subject being second in order of birth.
Ira Dorrance grew to manhood in his native
county and received his education in the common
school. In early life he was engaged with his
father in forwarding and merchandising between
Wurtsboro, Albany and New York City. They
had a very large business, and our subject con
tinued to serve iu this line until 1862, when he
enlisted in the service of his country. He raised
a company of men, principally from the neigh
borhood where he resided, which became Com
pany E of the One Hundred and Forty-third
New York Infantry, and was commissioned Cap
tain. Soon after his enlistment, his regiment
was ordered to the front in the defense of Wash
ington Unfortunately, the Captain was taken sick and

1278

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

subsequently resigned, and our subject returned
to his old home, taking up his former business
again. He continued to follow this until 1866,
when he received the appointment of postal clerk
in the Railway Mail Service, being assigned to
the Erie Railroad, between New York and Buf
falo. After holding this position until 1884, he
was appointed Postmaster at Middletown by
President Arthur, filling the office until 1889,
when he was removed by President Cleveland.
However, he was only out of the office three
months, the man appointed by President Cleve
land failing of confirmation. In March, 1889, he
was re-appointed Postmaster by President Har
rison, being one of the first appointed by the
new administration. Captain Dorrance continued
in the office until August, 1893, when he stepped
out on account of his politics. During his time
the postoffice was enlarged, free delivery estab
lished, and other improvements made, and it goes
without saying that he made a most popular and
efficient official.
In 1894 Captain Dorrance was elected Alder-
man-at-large for the city, and was made Presi
dent of the Board, which position he still retains.
His progressive spirit is such that he is ever ready
to undertake any work that tends toward the up
building of his adopted city. Socially he is a
member of General Lyon Post No. 146, G. A. R.
In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first
Presidential vote for the first nominee of that
party, Gen. John C. Fremont.

WILLIAM H. PERLEE, an engineer on the
New York, Ontario & Western Railroad,
and also a member of the firm of George
H. Hill & Co., druggists of Middletown, was
born in Schenectady, N. Y., in July, 1848. He
is the son of Henry Perlee, a native of Canada,
whose father, Henry, Sr. , had emigrated to that
country from France. In early days Henry, Jr. ,
engaged in merchandising in Grand Trunk, but
later settled in Schenectady, N. Y., where he

was employed in the locomotive works until his
death. Prior to leaving Canada he married Eliza
Perlee, a native of that country, who died in
New York State in 1856. Of their three chil
dren, William H. is the sole survivor. He was
orphaned at the age of thirteen years, but con
tinued for a time afterward to make his home in
Schenectady, being employed in the office of the
locomotive works.
At the age of sixteen Mr. Perlee went to Syra
cuse, where he was employed in a drug store and
studied pharmacy for eighteen months. When
about nineteen years old he began as fireman on
the New York Central Railroad, being employed
in the yards at Syracuse and on the Western Di
vision ofthe road, between Syracuse and Buffalo.
Sickness, however, soon forced him to discontinue
work for two seasons. In 1873 he went to Os
wego, in the employ of the New York & Oswego
Midland, now the Ontario & Western Railroad,
and first had charge ofthe engines at Sidney, but
later was made fireman of a passenger train on
the main line between Norwich and Middletown.
When the road went into the hands of a receiver,
he was thrown out of a position , but soon secured
work as a machinist on the Delaware & Hud
son Railroad. After a short time he resumed
work on the New York, Ontario & Western
road, on the main line, later on the Delhi Branch,
and was fireman on the passenger train between
Middletown and Norwich. In 1881 he was pro
moted to the position of engineer, and ran the
pusher engine at Sidney for six months; then had
the Delhi Branch engine for five months, and
afterwards ran an engine on the construction of
the West Shore Railroad in New Jersey for eight
een months.
In June, 1883, Mr- Perlee became an engineer
on the milk train between Middletown and Wee
hawken, a distance of seventy -eight miles, mak
ing the round trip, one hundred and fifty-six
miles. He has since served in that capacity, and
is known as one of the most reliable engineers on
the road. In addition to this work he is owner
ofthe principal drug store in Middletown, situat
ed on the corner of North and Courtland Streets,
and carried on under the firm style of George H.

J. FRANCIS MATTHEWS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1283

Hill & Co. In former years he had extensive
agricultural interests, but he is not interested iu
agriculture at present. His residence at No. 12
Albert Street, Middletown, is the finest on the
street and one of the best in the city.
The first wife of Mr. Perlee bore the maiden
name of Emma Alcott, and she died in this city.
His second marriage, which took place here, unit
ed him with Mrs. Edith (Decker) Younglove, a
native of Middletown, and daughter of Jesse F.
and Sarah E. (Crans) Decker, old and promi
nent residents of this county. Her father, in
1894 and 1895, entertained the members of the
Decker and Crans families on the occasion of
their reunion. Our subject and his wife are the
parents of one son, RossH. Socially Mr. Perlee
is identified with Lancelot Lodge, K. of P., and
the United Division No. 292, Brotherhood of Lo
comotive Engineers, of which he was First As
sistant Engineer for four years. Politically he is
a Republican.

33®

(TARED FRANCIS MATTHEWS was born
I in Southington, Conn., in 1815, and was one
(2/ of a family of twelve children. After com
ing of age, he with two brothers, Miles and El
bert, joined a colony of men who moved with
their families to Greene County, and engaged in
a. manufacturing business, which they afterward
removed to Middletown, N. Y., where they con
ducted a most successful business in leather goods,
manufacturing bags, belts, etc., in connection
with their large carpet store of that place, widely
known throughout the county as the Matthews
Brothers' Carpet Bag Factory. Their good stand-
ring and sterling integrity in conducting their
business insured their success. Their salesrooms
were in Dey Street, New York, but they after
ward built and removed to their fine store at No.
92 (now known as No. 168) Church Street.
Among other things, Mr. Matthews became
interested in farming. He was a good judge of
and was fond of fine horses; he also owned a choice
«
dairy of cows. He was identified with many
other enterprises and progressive movements in
56

Orange County. He retired from active business
four years before his death. For many years he
was a devoted member and faithful officer in the
Episcopal Church. After an exemplary, useful
life, he passed away, August 29, 1884.
The lady who became the wife of Mr. Matth
ews February 10, 1859, and who from that time
until his death was his devoted helpmate, bore
the maiden name of Sarah Thurman Thorne,
a relative of the late Judge John Thurman, of
New York. She was born in the house where
she still resides, where her father lived for seven
ty years. Notwithstanding the fact that the
house is about one hundred and fifty years old, it
presents as substantial an appearance as the homes
of the present decade. The beautiful farm ad
joining the house has been in the possession of
the family over a century, and consists of seventy-
acres of highly cultivated land, well equipped as
a grazing farm, with a number of outbuildings,
etc., all within the corporate limits of the village
of Goshen.
The grandfather of Mrs. Matthews was Rich
ard Thorne, a native of England, who settled at
Great Neck, L. L, and was living there at the
time of the Revolutionary War. He was wealthy,
and when his property was invaded by the Hess
ian soldiers his family buried their valuables in
the garden to save them. He and his son John
took part in the defense of the Colonists and were
taken by the British and imprisoned in the old
Sugar House in New York. Among his eleven
children was Thomas Thorne, father of Mrs.
Matthews, and a native of Great Neck, L. I. He
married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Waters,
a wealthy man residing on the Florida Road and
the owner of extensive tracts of land. He was
proprietor of a racecourse, and at one time held
the office of Sheriff of Orange County. In early
life he owned a number of slaves, but, being op
posed to the system of slavery, he gave them all
their liberty. During the war with England he
succeeded in taking a fine span of horses from
the British camp near his home. His sister mar
ried Gabriel Wisner, who was one of the slain in
the massacre at the battle of Minisink.
When only sixteen years of age Thomas Thorne

1284

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

came to Goshen in order to enjoy the school priv
ileges here. Later he bought the farm where his
remaining years were spent, becoming the owner
of one hundred acres of valuable land. In addi
tion to farming he conducted a tannery for years,
and was also prominent in public affairs, serving
as Commissioner ofthe county and as Supervisor
for one term. For years he was Senior Warden
in the Episcopal Church and died firm in the
faith in 1859, aged eighty-six. His first wife was
the widow of Robert Seeley, her maiden name be
ing Hatfield. His second wife, Elizabeth Wa
ters, was related to the Wisner family of Goshen;
she died about 1864, at the age of seventy-five.
Of her three children, Mary died at the age of
seven years, and John passed away soon after
reaching his majority.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews was
blessed by the birth of five children, three of
whom are living, namely: Thomas A., William
Thorne and Elizabeth Montague. Mrs. Matth
ews is connected with the Episcopal Church, and
is generous in her benefactions to the poor and
unfortunate. She still superintends the manage
ment of her valuable property, which she does
in such a manner as to prove her executive abil
ity and secure the largest possible returns.

G| UGUST KROEGER. Though he had been
LA in the United States only about one year
/ I when the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Kroeger
displayed a patriotism equal to that of any native-
born son of the country. He enlisted in the
Union army, and did valiant service in the de
fense of the Stars and Stripes, taking part in a
number of memorable engagements, as well as in
many skirmishes, where the peril to life was equal
ly great, though the results to the nation were
less important. Since 1872 he has made his
home in Middletown, and is the proprietor ofa
merchant-tailoring establishment situated at No.
43 James Street.
February 21, 1838, the subject of this sketch
was born in Oldesloe, Holstein, Germany, where
also were born his father, Henry Kroeger, and

his mother, known in maidenhood as Gretchen
Grapp. The former engaged in the manufacture
of paper in his native land until his death. Of
his four children, two are now living, August be
ing the only one who ever came to the United
States. He was reared in Holstein and attended
the common schools until fourteen years of age,
at which time he was apprenticed to the tailor's
trade. In i860, hoping to better his fortunes in
America, and at the same time to escape military
oppression, he emigrated to this country, leaving
Hamburg on the sailing-vessel "C. Robert Peal,"
and arriving in New York City after an unevent
ful voyage of seven weeks. He remained in New
York, working at his trade, until April, 1861.
At the first tap ofthe drum, in the opening of
the mighty conflict between the North and the
South, Mr. Kroeger enlisted in the Union army,
becoming a member of Company E, Twentieth
New York Infantry. He was mustered into serv
ice at New York City, and went at once to the
front, taking part in the engagement at Ft. Hat-
teras, the seven-days battle at Richmond, the
second battle of Bull Run, and the two engage
ments at Fredericksburg. In the latter engage
ment a bullet grazed his neck, inflicting a slight
wound, but with that exception he escaped unin
jured. In all the battles this regiment was con
spicuous for bravery, and at Antietam their loss
was heavier than that of any regiment. After
two years of service, he was honorably discharged,
June 14, 1863, immediately after the battle of
Fredericksburg. Returning to New York City, Mr. Kroeger con
tinued at his trade there until 1872, when he came
to Middletown and started a merchant-tailoring
business at the corner of Main and North Streets.
For one year he was a member of the firm of Wolf
& Kroeger, after which he was alone until 1894,
and then formed a partnership with G. Gunther,
the firm name being now Kroeger & Gunther.
His residence, which was erected by himself, is
situated at No. 16 Liberty Street. In religious
belief he is a Lutheran. Politically he is a Re
publican in the national issues, but somewhat in
dependent iu local affairs. He is one of the offi
cers of Capt. W, A. Jackson Post, G. A. R., and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1285

is a member of the Twentieth New York Infan
try Veterans' Association, the annual reunions of
which in New York. City he always attends.
In New York City, in 1864, Mr. Kroeger mar
ried Miss Fredricka Badd, who was born in West
phalia, Germany, and died in New York in 187 1.
The following year he married Miss Mary Roed,
a native of Frieburg, Baden, and they are the
parents of six children, four of whom survive.
Dora died of diphtheria at the age of four years.
Andrew, who was a youth of unusual promise,
and very popular among his associates, was
drowned while swimming in Dewsuap Pond at
Mechanicstown, June lo, 1891, at the age of fif
teen years. He was a member of the Episcopal
Church choir and belonged to the Young Men's
Christian Association. The four surviving chil
dren are Henry, who is engaged in business in
this city, and is an active member of DeWitt
Camp, Sons of Veterans; Augusta; Charles, who
is associated in business with his elder brother;
and Hilda, who is at home.

-*—• — •>^hK®(|||)®'h-c^ — « — 5-

ROBERT HIGHAM. For twenty-six years
Mr. Higham was proprietor of the oldest
hotel in Middletown, the Wallkill House,
situated at the corner of James and Depot Streets,
but in 1893 ne retired from the business and
leased the hotel to other parties. Since that time
he has given his attention to the supervision of
his general real-estate and other interests, and
though he is not actively engaged in business
his life is nevertheless a busy one.
Born in Manchester, England, in 1844, the
subject of this notice is a son of Robert, Sr. , a
native of the same place and for many years a
cotton warper there. After the death of the wife
and mother, the father came to America, in 1866,
and soon afterward with his son opened the Wall-
kill House, continuing its management until the
death of the senior Mr. Higham a few years later.
At a very early age our subject began to support
himself, and when only eight years old he com

menced to work in the cotton-mills of Manchester.
There he remained until 1861, meantime work
ing in every department of the mills.
Believing that America offered him better op
portunities for advance than England, our sub
ject determined to come hither. Accordingly, in
1 86 1, he took passage on a ship bound for this
country, and after landing proceeded at once to
Middletown, reaching this city May 4 of the
same year. To this place his uncle, John Higham,
had preceded him, becoming proprietor of the
Holden (now the Jefferson) House. 4Hewasthe
second male representative of the Higham family
to seek a home in this country. Three years
after coming here, in 1864, he enlisted in the
United States navy as landsman in the South
Atlantic Squadron. Later he became an ordinary
seaman. He proceeded on the gunboat "Flor
ida" to Port Royal and Ft. Sumter, and at the
latter place took part in a severe conflict with
the Confederates. Later he was on the "New
Hampshire," the "Tallapoosa" and the "Inoe."
At the expiration of a year, his term of enlist
ment, Mr. Higham was honorably discharged
from the service at the Brooklyn Navy-yards.
On his return to Middletown, he remained for a
time with his uncle, then with his father as
sumed the management of the Wallkill House,
which has the best location of any hotel in the
city. He still owns it, though since 1893 he has
not been engaged in the hotel business. He ex
pects soon to build a residence in Oakland Place,
on East Main Street, where he will establish his
permanent home. His wife, with whom he was
united in Middletown, bore the maiden name -of
Lydia E. Walker, and was born in London, Eng
land. They are the parents of two daughters,
Edith E. and Alice M.
Prior to the war Mr. Higham served in the old
Middletown Militia Company until its disband-
meut. He served for a time in the Eagle Hose
Company, of which he is now an honorary mem
ber. In his fraternal relations he is connected
with Middletown Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F. ,
and with General Lyon Post No. 266, G. A. R.
While not a member of any religious body, he
is a regular attendant at the services of the

1286

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Grace Episcopal Church and a contributor to its
maintenance. Politically he has always advo
cated Republican principles, which he believes
best adapted to promote our country's welfare.

HARVEY MOORE, engineer on the New
York, Ontario & Western Railroad, between
Middletown and Norwich, was born in Mon
ticello, N. Y., August 21, 1846. His father, Will
iam J., was born in Canada, of Irish descent,
and when a young man came to Montgomery,
Orange County, where he learned the black
smith's trade. Later settling in Monticello, he
resided there for a short time, then removed to a
farm in Thompsonville, Sullivan County, where
he carried on agricultural pursuits for ten years.
When advanced in years he retired from active
labor and returned to Monticello, where he is
now living with a daughter, being hale and ro
bust, notwithstanding his ninety years. Political
ly he is a Republican.
Twice married, William J. Moore has two
daughters and one son surviving of his first un
ion. Of his second marriage, six children were
born, of whom two are deceased. The mother
of our subject, Eleanor L., was born in Connecti
cut, and died in Ulster County at the age of
seventy-three years. Her father, John Crumley,
came from Connecticut to New York, and settled
in Bethel, Sullivan County, where the closing
years of his life were spent. Harvey Moore was
reared principally in Monticello, and attended
the public schools of that village. In April, 1861,
when less than fifteen years of age, he began
driving a stage and carrying mail between Mon
ticello and Grahamsville. After fifteen months
spent in that way, he drove a mail-coach between
Monticello and Liberty for three years. He next
drove the four-horse stage between Monticello
and Middletown, via Wurtsboro, a distance of
twenty-five miles, the round trip consuming three
days. This coach was sufficiently large to ac
commodate seventeen passengers and their bag
gage, as well as the express and mail.
Iu 1870 Mr. Moore discontinued work as a

stage-driver, and began the manufacture of nitro
glycerine for the tunnel at Bloomingburg. After
six months in that capacity, he went to Monticel
lo, where he resumed his former occupation, and
drove the stage between Monticello and Never
sink, connecting with the terminus of the Oswe
go Midland Road. August 7, 187 1, he became
an employe on the Jersey Midland, now the On
tario & Western Railroad, and for thirteen months
he was fireman between Unionville and Franklin.
In September, 1872, he was made engineer, and
has since been retained in that capacity. His first
position was on the work train at Ellenville, but
in 1875 he was transferred to the freight running
between Middletown and Walton, and two years
later he began to run the milk train between
Middletown and Livingston Manor and Sidney.
In 1882 he was transferred to the night passen
ger train from Middletown to Norwich, after
ward was placed on the day run, and since then
he has held one of these positions, at present be
ing engineer on Nos. 1 and 2 day trains, between
Middletown and Norwich. During his long ex
perience in railroading he has had only one seri
ous accident, and that was caused by the opposite
crew mistaking a train. His car collided with
the other, his fireman being killed, and he escaped
only by jumping from the train.
In addition to his other interests, Mr. Moore is
a Director in the Granite State Providence Build
ing and Loan Association. Politically he is a Re
publican, and socially holds membership in Uni
ty Division No. 292, Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, and the Royal Templars of Temper
ance. His religious connections are with the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He was united in
marriage, in Liberty, N. Y., with Miss Anna A.
Crispell, a native of that city, and daughter of
David P. and Grace E. (Adgate) Crispell, na
tives, respectively, of Orange and Sullivan Coun
ties. Her grandfather, Richard D. Crispell, was
a carpenter, which trade her father also followed,
being a contractor in Liberty. Hoping to regain
his health, which was poor, he went to Leadville,
Colo., but the change did not prove beneficial,
and in a short time he died, leaving an only child,
Mrs. Moore.

DAVID R. MILLER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

I2t

0AVID R. MILLER, of Middletown, one of
the largest real-estate dealers in Orange
County, is also one of the most liberal and
enterprising men in the business, and to the
growth of this city he has probably contributed
more than any other man. His addition to Mid
dletown, known as Central Park Addition, con
tains about two hundred and fifty acres, and is
beautifully located, running north from Wisner
Avenue. Already nearly two hundred acres have
been platted, from which more lots have been
sold than from any other addition iu the city.
Mr. Miller was born in South Centreville, Or
ange County, March 13, 1848, and is a son of
Charles S. and Jane (Robertson) Miller, the
former born near Dover, N. J., but of Scotch de
scent, and the latter born in South Centreville.
When a youth the father was bound out to learn
the trade ofa carpenter, his apprenticeship contin
uing until he was twenty-one years of age, when
he received $100 in cash. On completing his ap
prenticeship, he located at South Centreville,
where he followed his trade for over thirty years,
and among the buildings which he assisted in
erecting was the Orange County Almshouse. He
was quite successful as a contractor, and became
the owner of two good farms near Centreville.
His death occurred when he was seventy-two
years of age. Religiously he was a devout mem
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and iu
politics was first a Whig aud then a Republican.
He married Jane Robertson, who, as already
stated, was born in South Centreville. Her fa
ther, David Robertson, was born in Scotland,
and, in company with two brothers, William
and Robert, came from that country aud settled
on adjoining farms in Orange County, and reared
large families. To Charles S. and Jane Miller
were born three children, two of whom grew to
maturity, David R. and George R., the latter re
siding in Middletown.
When our subject was but fourteen years of
age, his mother died. He grew to manhood in
his native town and received his early education
in the public schools, later attending Unionville
Academy one term. From boyhood he was handy
with tools, and at an early age commenced work

as a carpenter and mason. He remained at home
and worked with his father until past eighteen,
when he rented one of his father's farms, which
he operated for three years. He then became the
possessor ofthe George W. Robertson Farm, con
sisting of one hundred acres, to which he re
moved in i860. In 1870 he located in Middle-
town, bought the old Webb Farm of seventy-five
acres, and later purchased the old Everett Farm
of eighty-one acres, on which he yet resides.
Another farm which he purchased later is known
as the Dan Wood Farm. Besides engaging in
farming, he also deals in real estate, making sev
eral additions to the city, and has given away
several acres for manufacturing and other pur
poses. He laid out Washington Square of sev
eral acres, and gave the right of way to the Street
Railway Company. In addition to what has al
ready been mentioned, Mr. Miller owns one hun
dred and seventy-four acres at Midway Park, on
the Wallkill, whicli he improved, and which he
operates. He also owns one hundred and sixty
acres at Livingston Manor, Sullivan County,
which is principally timber-land.
March 19, 1867, Mr. Miller was married, in
Centreville, to Miss Eliza J. Mulford, who was a
native of that place and the daughter of Linden
Mulford, who is there engaged in farming. Five
children were born to them, as follows: Annie B.,
who died at the age of five years; Emily B., now
Mrs. Josiah Miller, of Wallkill; Nellie K., the
wife of Rev. Gilbert A. Shaw, of Clayton, N. Y.;
Hermon C, of the firm of Ritter & Miller, gro
cers of Middletown; and Viola S., at home.
Mr. Miller has been quite successful in life and
is actively engaged in his business, sparing no
pains to make Middletown one of the best cities
in Orange County. He is a stockholder and Di
rector in the Middletown & Goshen Traction Com
pany, of which he was one ofthe organizers, and
was also the largest stockholder in the old Horse
Street Railway Company. He is a strong temper
ance man, and is a member and Lodge Deputy of
the Independent Order of Good Templars. Religi
ously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of which he has been Class-leader and
Trustee for many years. He assisted in starting

1290

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the North Street Methodist Episcopal Mission,
and gave the lot for the church site. The Sun
day-school finds in him a warm supporter, and
he has served as Superintendent for many years.
In politics he is a Republican.
Among other enterprises which Mr. Miller has
assisted in starting are the Middletown City Iron
Works and the North End Machine-shops, in
both of which a large number of men are em
ployed. He has ever been ready to assist, with his
counsel and his means, any enterprise calculated
to advance the interests of Middletown.

HENRY L. ADAMS, agent for the Adams
Express Company at Middletown, was born
in Minisink, this county, in 1843. He is a
representative of a family that has long been con
nected with the history of America, being the
fifth in line of descent from the first ofthe name to
come hither. Little is known of this ancestor save
that he purchased from King George a tract of
land lying near Deckertown, N. J., and there es
tablished his permanent home.
The grandfather of our subject, Crowell Adams,
was born in New Jersey, and followed agricultural
pursuits until his death, in the city of Newark.
Next in line of descent was Samuel C, a na
tive of Deckertown, N. J., who selected agricult
ure for his occupation, and was thus engaged in
the town of Wallkill, Orange County, two miles
from Middletown. When advanced in years he
retired from active work, and his closing days
were spent in this city, where he died at the age of
sixty-nine. In religious belief he was a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and politically he
affiliated with the Republicans. His wife, whose
maiden name was Sarah Van Cleft, was born in
Minisink, and died in Middletown when more
than sixty-six years of age. She was a sister of
Lewis, father of Joseph Van Cleft, of Newburgh,
whose sketch is presented on another page,
The family of Samuel C. and Sarah Adams
consisted of five children, three ofwhom attained
years of maturity. Henry L. was reared in the
town of Wallkill and attended the public schools

and Wallkill Academy, completing his education
in the latter institution. He was engaged in farm
ing until 1868, when he came to Middletown,
and here for six years he carried on a boot and
shoe business. In 1874 he entered the employ of
the American Express Company, as messenger
on the Susquehanna & Western Railroad from
New York to Middletown. In 1883 he was made
agent for the company, remaining with them for
the succeeding ten years, and was also agent for
the National Express. In 1893 he resigned in
order to accept a similar position with the Adams
Express Company. He commenced his duties
in 1893, and started the business for the company,
being their first agent at this point. His office
is located at No. 5 North Street.
The pleasant home of Mr. Adams at No. 45
South Street is presided over by his wife, a na
tive of this city and known in maidenhood as
Charity Weed. They are members of the First
Presbyterian Church and sing in the choir, besides
which he is chorister of the Sunday-school. Since
1869 he has been connected with the Excelsior
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, of which he
was assistant foreman and is a member of the
Board of Trustees. Aside from other interests, he
is a member of the Board of Trade. In politics
he favors Republican principles. His experience
in the express business, covering a period of twen
ty -one years, has made him familiar with every
detail connected with it, and his good manage
ment has brought the well deserved commenda
tion of superior officials ofthe company.

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•f^JEORGE W. REED, the present Alderman
I— of the Fourth Ward, Middletown, was born
\J[ in July, 1844, at South Centreville, in what
was then the town of Minisink, but is now the
town of Wawayanda. His father, Alonzo, and
grandfather, James Reed, were born in the same
place, and were of Scotch descent. The latter,
who was a farmer by occupation, served in the
War of 1812. The former, also an agriculturist,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1291

spent his active life at South Centreville, but now,
at the age of eighty- one, he is living retired at
Denton. His wife, who bore the maiden name of
Mary Carr, was born in the town of Wawayanda,
where her father, Peter Carr, followed the shoe
maker's trade. Her ancestors were of Scotch-
Irish origin. She is still living aud is now in
her eighty-second year. In religious belief she is
connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
to which her husband also belongs.
The family of Alonzo and Mary Reed consisted
of ten children, nine of whom attained years of
maturity, and seven are now living, George W.
being the eldest. Three of the sons served in the
Union army during the Civil War. Benjamin
F. was a member of the Thirteenth New York
Battery, and died soon after the close of the Re
bellion; and Charles H., a member of the Eight
eenth New York Infantry, died during the Pen
insula campaign. Our subject was reared on
the home farm and received a common-school ed
ucation. At the opening of the war, though he
was then only in his teens, he enlisted in the
Union army, and in October, 1861, his name was
enrolled as a member of Company C, First New
York Mounted Rifles. He was mustered into
service at Newburgh, sent South from there, and
engaged in duty in Virginia, participating in the
battle of Petersburg and other engagements of
the war. He veteranized in 1863 and continued
with his regiment until the close of the Rebellion,
when he was mustered out as Corporal at Albany,
in December, 1865, having served for more than
four years.
After retiring from the army Mr. Reed spent a
year in South Centerville, and in 1866 came to
Middletown, where he was for five years an ap
prentice to the carpenter's trade under Theodore
W. Dailey. At the expiration of that time he
became foreman for Edwin McWilliams, and has
since followed his trade in this city and the sur
rounding country. He erected a number of build
ings, which he afterward sold at a profit, and has
done some contract work. Aside from his other
interests he is a Director in the Middletown Co
operation Company. He is a charter member of
Capt. William A. Jackson Post No. 301, G. A. R. ,

and is its Commander. With his family he be
longs to the First Congregational Church of Mid
dletown. Politically he is active in the ranks of
the Republican party, and is a member of the Re
publican City Committee. In the spring of 1894
he was nominated and elected Alderman from the
Fourth Ward, and is now serving his second year
in that office, having acted as President of the
Board during the summer of 1895. He has served
as Chairman of the Committee on Ways and
Means, also as a member of the Street, Sewer and
Fire Committees.
The first marriage of Mr. Reed took place at
Middletown in 1867, uniting him with Phcebe
Decker, daughter of Densmore Decker, of this
city. She died in 1879, leaving three children
Ida U., wife of John Moshier, of Middletown
Jennie A. , Mrs. W. H. Mapes, also of this city
and Henry W. , who is connected with a New
York store, and is Quartermaster of DeWitt Camp
No. 37, Sous of Veterans. At New Vernon, in
1 88 1, Mr. Reed was united in marriage with Miss
Susan F. Corwin, a native of that place, her fa
ther, J. P. Corwin, having been a farmer there.

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HORACE W. COREY, real-estate dealer aud
manager of the Casino Theatre, Middle-
town, was born at Port Jervis, August 16,
1859, and is a son of Alexander and Cordelia
(House) Corey, the former a native of Goshen,
N. Y., and the latter of Newton, N. J. He trac
es his ancestry back to David Corey, who came
from Wales during Cromwell's time, and located
first in Connecticut, and later settled on Long
Island. Alexander Corey, the great-grandfather
of our subject, was born on Long Island, and
commanded a company from that island and
Connecticut during the Revolution. While on
the heights, of Quebec he was shot through one of
his lungs. Afterwards he settled in the town of
Goshen, where the grandfather of our subject,
Benjamin Corey, was born. The latter was a
soldier in a New York regiment, and served in
the War of 18 12. For many years he was a
farmer in the old town of Minisink, but late in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

life retired, and resided in Middletown until his
death, at the age of eighty-six. He was a mem
ber of the Old-school Baptist Church.
Alexander Corey, the father of our subject,
learned the carpenter's trade in Port Jervis, and
followed the occupation of a contractor and build
er for many years in Newburgh, as the senior
member of the firm of Corey & Crumbley. He
continued to work at his trade until age rendered
it necessary for him to retire from active business,
when he removed to Middletown, and here died
at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, Cor
delia House, was a daughter of Thomas House,
who was born at Ft. Orange, now Albany, N. Y.
Her great-grandfather, Ephraim House, was born
in Alsace-Lorraine, France, coming to New York
at the age of eighteen, and during the Revolu
tionary War served in the defense of his adopted
country. He settled at Ft. Orange, and later re
moved to New Jersey, where he died. Her
grandfather settled in Sussex County, N. J.,
where he engaged in farming, and later in hotel-
keeping. He died in 1876, at the age of eighty-
eight. The mother of Cordelia House was of
French extraction and bore the maiden name of
Annie Rousselle, which has been Anglicized as
Russell. She was born in Lorraine, and her fa
ther, Col. Derrick Rousselle, was also in the Rev
olutionary War, as a Colonel with La Fayette.
Many of his letters written during this period are
still in the possession of our subject. Mrs. Cor
delia Corey is yet living aud resides at Middle-
town. She became the mother of four children,
all ofwhom are yet living.
Horace W. was reared in Newburgh and
Port Jervis, and in both places received his edu
cation in the public and high schools. After
leaving school he entered the office of W. E.
McCormick, real-estate dealer and civil engineer
of Port Jervis, and on the Erie Railroad took his
first lessons in surveying. He was afterward
with the Marvin Safe Company for four years,
traveling as their salesman through the Middle
and Southern States. He continued traveling
until 1884, when he located in Middletown aud
engaged in the real-estate business for several
years, having charge of Senator Low's real-es

tate interests in Middletown. He acted as agent
for Mr. Low until the latter's death, since which
time he has been in the real-estate business for
himself. In 1887, in company with I. F. Van
Duzer and R. O. Lewis, he purchased the old
Casino Rink, which was altered and converted
into the Casino Theatre. One year later it was
burned down, when a stock company was organ
ized, known as the Casino Theatre Company,
which built the present fine theatre building.
The company was organized with a capital stock
of $40,000, but the building aud the land cost
about $67,000. Mr. Corey has been manager of
the business from the start. The plans of the
building were drawn by Leon H. Lempert, of
Rochester. It has a frontage of sixty-two feet
and a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The
first floor is devoted to stores and the electric plant,
and the remainder to the theatre and offices. In
cluding the balcony and gallery, it has a seating
capacity of twelve hundred. The stage is 40x57
feet and is provided with a fine drop curtain and
scenery sufficient for the production of almost any
ordinary play. The house is seated with uphol
stered red plush chairs. During the regular sea
sons it is engaged about four nights during each
week. Richmond Hill, the largest and most popular
addition ever laid out in Middletown, aud prob
ably the most successful financially, comprised
the Rockafellow Farm of about seventy -five acres.
It is in the southern portion of the city, and
through it run Conkling Avenue, Mountain Av
enue and a number of the city's best streets. It
was laid out in February, 1895, and one hun
dred and twenty-five lots were sold in four
months. In less than six months $10,000 worth
of building lots were sold, and $75,000 worth of
buildings were erected. This addition is the prop
erty of Stratton & Corey, and is handled exclus
ively by Mr. Corey. While engaged with the firm
of Ferguson & Corey, they platted the North End
Addition, and Highland Avenue, the property of
the late Judge Low.
In 1885 Mr. Corey was married, in Middle-
town, to Miss Sadie Mapes, who was born in Go
shen, N. Y., a daughter of John W. Mapes. In

DANIEL T. WEED.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1295

politics Mr. Corey is a Democrat. He is a mem
ber of the Managerial National Association of
Theatres, and takes a great interest in all theat
rical matters. Mr. Corey's residence is at
"Locksley Hall," in the southern end ofthe city,
and comprises about fifteen acres, on which he
has made an artificial lake, well stocked with
bass, pickerel, etc. It is one of the neatest sub
urban residences about the city, and here may
probably be found the finest apple orchard in Or
ange County, comprising about eight acres of land.
He has taken from this orchard seven hundred
barrels of apples in a season, the famous Conk
ling Seedling being the only apple of the kind on
the market.

ANIEL T. WEED is Superintendent of
*) Downing Park, which is located in the sub
's) urbs of Newburgh, and which was named in
honor of his personal friend, Charles Downing,
now deceased. Horticulture has always been an
interesting subject to Mr. Weed, and it would in
deed be difficult to find a man better qualified to
hold the position which he so ably fills. He is a
member of the Agricultural Society of Orange
County, and is a member of its Advisory Com
mittee. For many years he and Mr. Downing
were judges of fruits and vegetables at the state
and county fairs, they being considered authori
ties on these subjects.
The grandfather of our subject came to the
United States from Ireland at an early day, set
tling in Newburgh, where his son David, the fa
ther of Daniel T. , was born. The father was a
farmer by occupation, and died in early life as the
result of an accident. His wife, whose maiden
name was Deborah Noyes, and who was also born
iu Newburgh, was thus left a widow with seven
children, only three of whom are now living.
She died at the ripe old age of seventy-three
years. Her brother, Aaron Noyes, who was well
known in the early history of Newburgh, owned
a brickyard where the West Shore freight depot
now stands.

Daniel T. Weed was born in Bethlehem, this
county, March 13, 1820, and until he was in his
fourteenth year lived 011 a farm, his educational
privileges being very limited. His first employ
ment in the business world was in the Roseville
brickyards, of which in time he became the pro
prietor, aud for twenty years was engaged suc
cessfully in the manufacture of brick, at the same
time taking contracts. About 1852 he settled
upon a farm of one hundred acres at Middle Hope,
where he made a specialty of raising fruits and
vegetables and also conducted a large dairy. He
still engaged in general contracting, building or
superintending many of the roads in the town.
For twelve years he was one ofthe Commissioners
of the town of Newburgh, and in 1877 located
here permanently, engaging in the hardware bus
iness with Joseph Van Cleft, and having -charge
of one of the stores for five years. Then he be
came agent for the Newburgh & Albany Trans
portation Company in the Albany freight office,
acting in that capacity for seven years. The fol
lowing four years he was Assistant Superintendent
of the Newburgh Street Committee, and in 1894,
when extensive improvements were inaugurated
in the beautiful thirty-acre Downing Park, he
was placed in charge of the work as Superinten
dent by the Park Commissioners. He brings to
bear upon this wide experience and a great love
of the business.
January 16, 1840, Mr. Weed was married, in
the town of Newburgh, to Elizabeth A. West-
lake, who was born in Middle Hope, N. Y., and
whose father, Daniel Westlake, was a farmer in
that vicinity. Six children, of whom four are
now living, were born to our subject and wife,
and are as follows: Juliet, wife of Leander Clark,
Jr., of this city; J. Irving, a gold miner in Den
ver, Colo. ; Adolphus, baggagemaster for the
West Shore Railroad in Newburgh; and Emma,
wife of Joseph Simpson, of Passaic, N. J.
In company with his brother, Jonathan N.
Weed, our subject has been greatly interested in
the upbuilding of Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church. He has been one of the most liber
al donors to its various departments of activity,
and also aided in the erection of the beautiful

1296

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

house of worship. For twenty years he was a
member ofthe Official Board, serving as Steward,
Trustee, etc. For two years he was one of New-
burgh's Assessors, and politically he is a stanch
Republican. Formerly he was a member of the
Union League, and for years he has been one of
the most active promoters of general works of
benevolence and progress.

mt

(JOHN CUMMINGS is senior member of the
1 firm of J. & P. Cummings, wholesale gro-
C2/ cers and liquor dealers, and also of the firm
of Cummings Brothers, wholesale liquor dealers.
He was born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1839,
and landed in New York December 25, 1854,
making the voyage in twenty-three days. (For
an account of the ancestry of our subject, see
sketch of Peter Cummings, on another page of
this work.) On arriving in New York, he pro
ceeded at once to Otisville, where he entered the
employ of the Erie Railroad, but later removed
to Naglesville, near Scranton, Pa. Soon after
wards, however, he left the railroad and pur
chased a boat, which he ran on the Delaware &
Hudson Canal, in which business he was later
joined by his brother Peter. After selling his in
terest in the canal-boat, he purchased the boat
"National," and ran on the Erie Canal from
Buffalo to New York City and to Baltimore for
three years. Subsequently he sold out his boat
ing interests and with his brother devoted his at
tention to mercantile pursuits. Under the firm
name of J. & P. Cummings our subject erected a
building on the corner of what is now Fulton
Street and East Avenue, then Water Street and
East Avenue, where they engaged in the whole
sale and retail grocery and liquor business. Soon
afterwards they rented the place to Frank
Murphy, and started a canal store in Honesdale,
Pa., which was in charge of our subject for three
years. Peter went to Acadia, but subsequently
returned and continued the grocery and liquor
business. In 1880 the brothers bought the dis

tillery of Jefferson Roberts, at South Centreville,
which they enlarged, putting in new machinery.
This distillery they yet operate, manufacturing
apple brandy, and they carry a full line of liquors
from Kentucky, having a large trade in Orange,
Sullivan and Ulster Counties, and New York
City. Some shipments are made as far west as
Ohio. In 1893 they started a wholesale and
liquor business at No. 100 North Street, the fine
building in which it is located being owned by
Peter Cummings. Their manager at this place
is Peter T. Kirk.
In addition to his mercantile interests, in com
pany with his brother Peter, our subject is inter
ested in fine horses, aud owns a number of thor-
ough-breds. He is individually interested in the
real-estate business, and is the owner of lots in
various parts of the city. The large brick block
on the corner of East Main Street and Railroad
Avenue was erected by him some years ago.
Mr. Cummings was married, in Middletown,
to Miss Margaret F. Sheridan, a native of Howells
Depot, aud daughter of Dennis Sheridan, a farmer
of that place. She died in December, 188 1, leav
ing three children: Myrtie J., attending school
at the Ursuline Academy; John, at Middletown
Academy; and Christopher.
Mr. Cummings is a member of St. Joseph's
Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.
He is now an honorary member of McQuaid
Hose Company, and for some time was an active
member, being one of the original number forrn-
ing-the company.

DWARD FITZGERALD. The scenery of
¦y the Hudson has been immortalized in song
__ and story by some of the greatest writers
America has produced. The serene flow of the
river, the beauty of the adjacent valley, with its
low-drooping trees, and the grand old forests
through which the sunlight steals, all these and
many other attractions of the vicinity have been
made familiar to the people of the United States.
Of late years a portion of the valley, more beau
tiful even than that which enjoys a wider fame,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1297

has been gaining an increased amount of attention
from the lovers ofthe beautiful in nature.
Orange Lake is situated in the town of New
burgh, about three miles from the city of that
name. It is a mile and a-half long and one mile
in width, and furnishes excellent facilities for
boating, bathing and fishing. It is not strange,
therefore, that it is popular among the people by
whom its beauties and attractions are known.
The subject of this sketch had the shrewdness to
see that in coming years visitors would be drawn
hither in ever-increasing numbers, and he invest
ed largely in property on the lake. He was born
in Cornwall, N. Y., Decembers, 1865, and has
spent his entire life in this county, so that he is
well known among the citizens.
In 1890 Mr. Fitzgerald purchased the Orange
Lake Hotel, with the surrounding grounds, cover
ing about thirty-three acres. Two years later he
took charge of the hotel, of which he has since
been proprietor. The house is roomy, conveni
ently arranged and admirably adapted for the
purpose for which it is used. The farm has for
years been a noted one, and has a good half-mile
race- track. It is known as the place where
"George Wilkes" was born and bred, and other
horses have been trained here that have made
excellent records on the turf. Two steamers ply
the waters of the lake, enabling the guests of the
hotel to enjoy a pleasant outing on the water.
No pains are spared to secure the comfort of vis
itors, who welcome with delight every opportun
ity to enjoy a few days' recreation at Orange
Lake.

EHARLES ZACHARY TAYLOR, contractor
and builder of Middletown, was born in New
York City in 1846, and is a son of Abraham
L- and Eliza G. (Reed) Taylor, the former a na
tive of Yonkers, and the latter of New York
City. Grandfather Taylor, an uncle of the ex-
President of that name, was a soldier in the
War of 18 12, and carried 011 a farm near Yonkers.
Abraham L. Taylor, the father of our subject,

was a builder, having learned the carpenter's
trade when a boy, and for many years was en
gaged in contracting and building in New York
City. From 1849 to 1854 he was at Dunkirk,
N. Y., engaged at his trade and in farming. He
was a Captain in the New York City Militia, and
had charge of the fort at Central Park. In poli
tics he was a Democrat. He died in 1871, at the
age of about fifty-four years. His wife, Eliza G.
Reed, was a daughter of James Reed, a gardener,
who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland- and who
died of cholera in New York. Mrs. Taylor
died in 1890. Three of the five children in the
parental family are now living. Jacob, who was
a Captain of a pioneer corps in a New York regi
ment during the Civil War, now resides in Har
lem, N. Y., where he is engaged in the real-
estate business; and George is an electrician in
Mt. Vernon.
The subject of this sketch was reared in New
York City and at Dunkirk, and was educated in
the high schools, graduating from a New York
academy when seventeen years old. While in
Dunkirk he saw the Erie Railroad opened, and
regards it as one of the grandest sights that he
ever saw. He learned the carpenter trade under
his father, and completed it under an architect
and builder in New York City. He then en
gaged in business with his father and brother,
under the firm name of Taylor & Sons, until
187 1, when his father died. The firm did quite
an extensive business in the erection of residences
and school buildings. After the death of the fa
ther the business was continued by our subject
and brother until 1875, when the partnership
was dissolved. Mr. Taylor then removed to Mid
dletown, where he continued contracting and
building until 1882, when the Anglo-Swiss Con
densing Company was organized, and he was
made superintendent of the building department,
having charge of the erection of all the buildings
of the company. He continued as superintend
ent until 1892, when he resigned and again en
gaged in contracting and building. In the spring
of 1895 he built the shop and moved to his pres
ent location, No. 1 Railroad Avenue.
Mr. Taylor was married in Middletown to Miss

1298

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Adelia Parson, who was boru iu the town of
Wallkill, and is a daughter of Gilbert L- Parson,
who was a farmer, and who died in January,
1894, at the age of ninety years. Mrs. Taylor
is a graduate of Wallkill Academy, and is a
highly educated and acorn plished woman. Five
children were born unto them, four of whom are
living, viz.: Mary, Emma, Grace and Cora, all
of whom are at home, and the two oldest are at
tending Middletown Academy. Bertha, the fourth
child, died at the age of eight.
Fraternally Mr. Taylor is a member of the
Knights of Honor and of the Knights of Pythias.
He is an active member of Eagle Hose Company
No. 2. Religiously he is a Baptist, and is a Trus
tee ofthe church in Middletown. Politically he
is an active and straightforward Republican. He
was Chairman of the Ward Republican Commit
tee for many years, aud has been a member of
the City Central Committee and also of the Coun
ty Central Committee.

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EHARLES PIATT, a retired business man of
Middletown, was born in the town of Mt.
Hope, near Otisville, November 1, 1825.
His grandfather Piatt was born in New Jersey,
where he lived and died. He was of French
descent. His father, Daniel Piatt, was also a na
tive of New Jersey, but located in the town of
Mt. Hope at an early day, and later removed to
Mamakating, Sullivan County, where he was en
gaged in farming until his death, at the age of
eighty-three years. He married Rhoda Camp
bell, who was born in Mt. Hope, and who died
iu early womanhood. Her father, David Camp
bell, the grandfather of our subject, was a native
of Virginia, who came to Orange County during
the last century, and located adjoining the vill
age of Otisville, where he farmed and worked
at his trades of gunsmith and blacksmith. The
family was driven from Virginia by the Indians,
and he escaped to Orange County, crossing the
Delaware River with his little sister on his back.
None of the family were injuried. His death
occurred when past eighty years. He was of

Scotch descent, and a member of the old-school
Baptist Church. To Daniel and Rhoda Piatt
were born three children, our subject being the
only one now living. After the death of his first
wife, Daniel Piatt again married, and by his sec
ond wife had five children, three of whom are
now living. One son, John, enlisted in the late
war from Sullivan County, under Colonel De-
Witt, was wounded, taken prisoner and sent to
Andersonville, where he died. Another son, Will
iam Lewis, was also in the service, and now re
sides in Sullivan County, engaged in farming.
After the death of his mother our subject re
sided with his grandfather Campbell until ten
years of age, and then went to work on a farm
in Mt. Hope with an uncle, John M. Piatt. All
the educational advantages enjoyed were iu the
district subscription schools. In 1841, when but
sixteen years of age, he came to Middletown,
and was apprenticed under Robert Cavanaugh
as a cabinet-maker, with whom he remained four
years. He continued to work at his trade both
in Middletown and Goshen as a journeyman for
a few years, and about 1850 purchased an interest
in a door, sash and blind factory, in partnership
with Mr. Clawson, H. Williams, William Wil
kinson and T. P. Ogden, and continued that
business for several years. About 1861 he pur
chased the interest of all his partners, and con
tinued the business alone, at the old location on
James Street, and then, about 1876, located on
the corner of John Street aud Linden Avenue,
erected a building, put in machinery and engaged
in the manufacture of doors, sashes, blinds and
mouldings, and also did a planing-mill business.
During that time he erected his present residence
at No. 18 Highland Avenue, and rebuilt the old
factory on James Street, converting it into brick
stores, which he still owns. He continued the
planing-mill business until 1887, when he sold out
and retired from active business.
Mr. Piatt was married, in Middletown, to Miss
Juliet Swayze, a native of New Jersey, and a
daughter of Gabriel Swayze, also a native of
that state, but who was then engaged in farming
in the town of Wallkill. She died here, leaving
three children: Emmett, in the United States

PROF. JOHN H. BURROWS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1301

Custom House in New York City; Eva, who
died at the age of five years; and Burt S., of Mid
dletown. Mr. Piatt's second marriage occurred in March,
1887, when he married Mrs. Cornelia A. Hill,
nee Mulford, a native of the town of Minisink,
and daughter of William Mulford, also of Mini-
sink, and a sister of J. P. Mulford, of Middle-
town, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this
work. She grew to womanhood at Centreville
and Hamptonburgh, and at Middletown first mar
ried William F. Hill, who was a carpenter by
trade, and who died here. By her first husband
she had one child, James M., residing in Mid
dletown. Mr. Piatt is a member of the First Presby
terian Church, and since its organization has
been a member of the Republican party. For
some years he was a member of the Odd Fellows,
but does not at the present time hold member
ship in the order. In early days he was an
active member of the fire department.

+=

=+

RROF. JOHN H. BURROWS. There is no
yr resident of Orange County whose life affords
\Z) a better illustration of what may be accom
plished by determination and indefatigable in
dustry than Professor Burrows, the efficient Prin
cipal of the schools of Washingtonville. Dur
ing his experience of seventeen years as an in
structor of youth, he has gained the confidence
of the people and considerable prominence as a
successful educator. In the fall of 1891 he came
to this village, and has since filled the position of
Principal of the schools, which under his ener
getic management have been raised in standard
until they now rank with the best of any village
in the county.
The Burrows family is of English origin, and
its members have been honest, industrious and
persevering people. The Professor's parents,
Richard and Mary Ann (Holman) Burrows, spent
their entire lives in England, and there the father,

who was a miner by occupation, died at sixty
years of age. The mother also died in that coun
try, in i860. By their union they had twelve
children, three of whom are now living, namely:
Eliza, whose home is in Pennsylvania; John H.;
and Elizabeth, a resident of Iron Mountain, Mich.
By another wife Richard Burrows had two daugh
ters: Thirza, who makes her home in Crystal
Falls, Mich.; and Agnes N., the only member of
the family remaining in England.
In St. Pinnock, England, Professor Burrows
was born October 21, 1849, and he spent the first
twenty-one years of his life in the vicinity of Lis-
keard. At the age of ten he commenced to work
in the mines, being obliged to earn his own live
lihood. His educational advantages were ex
ceedingly meager, and the prospects for the future
seemed almost hopeless. But he was not easily
discouraged, and in the face of apparently insur
mountable obstacles he persevered until he had
achieved the goal of his ambition and obtained
an education. At the age of twenty-one he emi
grated to America, and for the four years follow
ing he worked in the mines of Essex County,
N. Y. Saving his money, he was at last enabled
to carry out his plan of attending school. He
entered the Ft. Edward Institute, where he re
mained for two terms. Subsequently he taught
school, and in the intervals between terms he at
tended that well known educational institution
as his funds enabled him, finally graduating in
1879. In the spring of 1881 he became a tutor
in the Ft. Edward Institute, where he remained
as instructor for four years, also teaching the
union school of that place. Later he attended
the State Normal School for one and one-half
years, perfecting himself in his chosen profession,
and is now recognized as one ofthe best teachers
in the state. Since coming to Washingtonville
he has built up the school at this place, and now
has four teachers under him and one hundred and
fifty pupils. Not only is he an excellent instruc
tor, but he is a good disciplinarian as well, being
kind, yet firm and efficient, and by his effective
methods of imparting knowledge he has material
ly promoted the welfare of his pupils.
Iu 1880 Professor Burrows was united in mar-

1302

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

riage with Camilla Kessler, of Altoona, Pa., who
died the following year, leaving an infant son,
who died six months later. In 1891 he married
Miss Nellie McDonald, of Ft. Edward, N. Y., and
they have one child, Helen May. Believing
that the greatest question before the people to-day
is not the protection of home industries or the
adoption of free-trade principles, but the prohi
bition of the liquor traffic, and the destruction of
the saloons which have brought dishonor and
death to so many of our countrymen, Professor
Burrows gives his support to the party whose
platform is pledged against the saloon element
and the licensing of the sale of intoxicating liq
uors. Socially he is identified with the Masonic
fraternity. In his religious views he is liberal,
and while a believer in the Christian religion,
he does not uphold the creeds and doctrines of
denominationalism. He attends the Methodist
Episcopal Church, because it most nearly carries
out his idea of what a church should be, though,
were it in his power to do so, some of the features
of that denomination would be eliminated.

4m&

v^t

\tH%— «— •

3OHN DUNNING STIVERS, one ofthe edi
tors of the Middletown Times, was born in
Middletown, August 30, 1861. In boyhood
he attended the public schools of this city and
Wallkill Academy, where the rudiments of his
education were obtained. Later he became a stu
dent in Peekskill Military Academy, from which
institution he was graduated in 1878, at the age
of seventeen. He then began his journalistic ca
reer, entering the office of the Press as book
keeper, and later filling the position of city editor.
Resigning from the Press, Mr. Stivers became
private secretary to his father, Hon. M. D.
Stivers, during his term as Member of Congress
from this district. Upon the latter's retirement
from office, he returned to Middletown, and with
his brother, Lewis S., established the Middle-
town Times, which has now gained a place
among the most influential organs of the Repub
lican party in this section. He was elected to

take his father's place as Trustee of the Orange
County Trust and Safety Deposit Company.
Mr. Stivers is one of the oldest members of the
Bachelors' Social Club, and for five years offici
ated as its President. He is also identified with
Lancelot Lodge No. 169, K. of P., and Hoffman
Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M., at Middletown.
He is an honorary member of Excelsior Hook
and Ladder Company No. 1 , and was Secretary of
the organization for several years. Upon the or
ganization of the Twenty-fourth Separate Com
pany, New York National Guard, in 1887, in
which he aided, he was elected Sergeant, and
served in that capacity until 1891, since which
time he has been Second Lieutenant.

"~DWARD AYERS, senior member of the
'S firm of Ayers & Rodgers and a rising young
__ business man of Middletown, was born in
Wantage, Sussex County, N. J., January 5, 1866,
being theson of David B. and Hulda (Beemer)
Ayers, natives of the same county as him&elf.
His paternal grandfather, who was of English
descent, was a farmer there; his maternal grand
father, who became a member of a New Jersey
regiment during the Civil War, served with valor
until he fell in an engagement with the Confed
erates. Iu 1880 David B. Ayers came to Middletown,
where he remained until his death. Here he was
for some time extensively engaged in the stock
business, buying cattle and horses and shipping
them by carload lots. His yards and stables
were situated on the Dolsontown Road, where his
son Edward now has a farm. At the age of fifty-
six years he passed away, in 1889, in the faith of
the Presbyterian Church, to which he belonged.
In politics he affiliated with the Republican
party. His widow still makes her home in this
city, and their three children also reside here,
namely: Edward, of this sketch; Gabriel B., who
is engaged iu the livery business on Canal Street;
and David B., who is with his eldest brother.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i3°3

Until fourteen years of age our subject resided
in Sussex County, where he attended the com
mon schools. After coming to Orange County he
was a student iu Wallkill Academy. At an early
age he helped to drive stock from Western New
York to New Jersey, his first work in that line
being when only about nine years old. After his
father's death iu 1889, he took charge of the busi
ness, which he ran for his mother one year and
then became sole proprietor. In 1895 he bought
the place on Academy Avenue, including resi
dence, barns and substantial outbuildings adapted
for the successful prosecution of a stock business.
In April, 1894, he formed a partnership with Will
iam H. Rodgers, under the firm title of Ayers &
Rodgers, and started in the livery business on
Sprague Avenue. They have large and well
equipped stables, with vehicles of every kind, and
all the conveniences for carrying on the enterprise
successfully. Aside from his interest in the livery, Mr.
Ayers has been prospered in his work as a stock-
dealer. Many of his purchases are made in west
ern Pennsylvania and the cattle are shipped here
and sold from his stock-yards. He has for sale both
milch and beef cattle, carrying on a large trade in
that line, and also deals extensively in horses.
Politically he is a Republican, and socially holds
membership in the Excelsior Hook and Ladder
Company No. 1, at Middletown. In Middletown
he married Miss Carrie May, daughter of Will
iam H. Rodgers, his partner and the manager of
the livery business. Mrs. Ayers was born in
Port Jervis, and by her marriage is the mother of
one child, named Rema.

<X*************l($**************X>
(JOSEPH B. PENNY, of Middletown, was
I born in Ellenville, Ulster County, May 11,
\2J 1859, and is a son of Jonathan and Angeline
(Williams) Penny, both of whom were born near
Ellenville. The grandfather, Daniel Penny, was
a native of Holland, and came to this country in
early life, locating in Ulster County, where he
followed the occupation of a farmer until his
death. Jonathan Penny remained upon the old

homestead until seventeen years of age, assisting
his father in the cultivation of the farm, and then
went to Sullivan County, where tor one year he
worked for his board, at the same time attending
school. At the expiration of this time he se
cured a school in Sullivan County and began
teaching. The following year he went to Penn
sylvania, and there taught one or more terms,
when he removed to Ulster County and engaged
iu the same occupation. Later Mr. Penny en
gaged in the mercantile business at Ellenville
for a few years, and then again engaged in teach
ing, which profession he continued until 1885,
when he located in Sparrow Bush. He is now
living a retired life, at the age of seventy-five
years. In politics he is a strong Republican.
In Ulster County he was married to Angeline
Williams, a daughter of Joseph Banks Williams.
The latter was a native of Connecticut, but re
moved at an early day to Ulster County, where
he engaged in farming and school teaching. All
of their six children are yet living. Charles A.
resides in Port Jervis; Joseph B. is the subject of
this sketch; David L is a tanner in Newark,
N. J.; Carrie is Mrs. Vannoy, of Sparrow Bush;
Ira B. is a tanner in Chicago; and William is a
tanner of Sparrow Bush.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Ellen
ville, and until ten years of age attended the pub
lic schools of that place. For three years he fol
lowed the baker's trade, and later was employed
as a clerk in a general store at Ellenville, where
he remained as general salesman until 1887.
After severing his connection with the store, he
started in the grocery business, under the firm
name of J. B. Penny & Co., but in 1890 sold out
and removed to Middletown, engaging as a
traveling salesman for the Prior Medicine Com
pany, his route being from Philadelphia to Bing
hamton. After traveling for this firm two years
he entered the employ ofthe New York, Ontario
& Western Railway, where he remained until
January, 1895, when he was elected Truant
Officer by the Board of Education. During the
ten mouths of the school year his entire time is
taken up in the discharge of his duties. His of
fice is in the rooms of the Board of Education.

1304

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Penny was married, in Ellenville, to Miss
Elizabeth Sherwood, who was born in Ulster
County, and who is a daughter of John E. and
Sarah J. (Terwilliger) Sherwood, the former a
native of Ulster County, and the latter of Sulli
van County. Both parents are yet living, Mr.
Sherwood being a general carpenter for the Dela
ware & Hudson Canal. Three children have
been born unto them, Cora E., Addie M. and
Joseph S. In politics Mr. Penny is a Republi
can, and fraternally is a member of the Knights of
Pythias. EHARLES H. BABCOCK, who resides on
Beattie Avenue, Middletown, and is em
ployed as a conductor on the New York,
Ontario & Western Railroad, was born in the
town of Warwick, December 5, i860. His fa
ther, J. M. Babcock, a native of the same place
as himself, was a son of Erastus Babcock, who
was born in this county, was of English descent,
and followed the occupation of a farmer in the
town of Warwick. J. M. Babcock, whose life
occupation has been that of an agriculturist, still
resides on the old homestead five miles from War
wick, and there his wife, formerly Keziah Rainer,
resided until her death.
Of nine children, all still living, the subject of
this notice is fifth in order of birth. He re
mained on the home farm until nineteen years of
age, meantime attending the district schools. In
1879 he went to Illinois and embarked in farm
ing near Rochelle, Ogle County, where he re
mained until 1886. The* attractions of old Or
ange, however, were greater than those of the
West, and iu 1886 we find him back at his boy
hood's home. vSoon afterward he entered the
employ of the Erie Railway Company as a brake-
man between Port Jervis and Jersey City, his run
being 011 a through freight. In the fall of 1889 he
became brakeman for the Ontario & Western on
a local freight train between Cornwall and [riv-
ingston Manor. One year later, in November,
1890, he was promoted to the position of conduc
tor, remaining 011 the same train for two years.
Since then he has had the freight train between

Middletown and Mayfield, Pa., a run of one hun
dred and twenty-two miles, which is made in
eleven hours. In his railroad experiences he has
been exceedingly fortunate, having never had a
serious accident on his train.
Since coming to Middletown, Mr. Babcock has
built his residence 011 Beattie Avenue, near Al
bert Street. While not active in politics, he is
known as a stanch and pronounced Republican,
always upholding party principles. Socially he
is connected with Middletown Lodge No. 112,
I. O. O. F., and United Division No. 104, Or
der of Railway Conductors. In this city, in 1886,
he married Miss Elizabeth Brown, a native of
this place and daughter of William Brown, one
of the well known business men and old residents
of Middletown.

—i  ••>K®B

s*>tO-

-«— f-

l^jABRIEL B. AYERS, one of the rising
I— young business men of Middletown, is pro-
\Ji prietor and owner of the livery, boarding
and sale stables at No. 28 Canal Street. In his
barns are twenty stalls, and the sheds in the
rear have an equal capacity. He carries a full
line of buggies, carriages, hacks and phaetons —
in fact, everything necessary for the proper man
agement of the business. Though he has been in
the business for a short time only, he has al
ready gained a large trade and the confidence of
the people as a man of honorable dealings with
all. By referring to the sketch of Edward Ayers,
which is presented upon another page of this vol
ume, mention will be found of David B. Ayers,
our subject's father. Gabriel B. is the second
among three children, and was born in Beemer-
ville, town of Wantage, Sussex County, N. J.,
in 1869. From the age of eleven years he was
reared in Middletown, and his education was
principally received in the schools of this place.
He remained at home, assisting his father in the
stock business, until the death of that parent,
when he began in the world for himself. For a

GEORGE W. PETERS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1307

time he was employed in New York City, after
which he spent ten mouths in Scranton as a con
ductor in the employ of the Street-railway Com
pany. Returning from there to New York City,
he secured a position on the Eighth Avenue line
of the city street railroad.
April 15, 1894, Mr. Ayers embarked in the
business which he has since conducted. From
the start he has met with encouraging success,
and without doubt will iu time build up a very
large and profitable business. He gives his at
tention principally to its management, though
he is also prominent in social circles and popu
lar among the best people of the place. In his
fraternal relations he is identified with Paugh-
caughnaughsinque Tribe of Red Men. He is an
enterprising and capable young man, and will
without doubt gain an influential position among
the business men of Middletown.

z'mr'

"2JEORGE W. PETERS, one ofthe well-to-do
— and retired business men of Newburgh, re-
^Ji sides at No. 148 Montgomery Street. Under
Mayor Doyle hewas Superintendent of Streets for
two terms, and has always been very active in
Democratic campaign work, serving on executive
and ordinary committees. He is a stockholder
in the Palatine Hotel, is a stockholder and mem
ber of the City Club, and belongs to the Board of
Trade. For years he has been President of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
helped to obtain a separate charter, and was the
first President of the new organization. For the
past twenty-five years he has been a member of
the Newburgh and New Windsor Horse-thief
Protective Society, of which he is also President.
Mr. Peters was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,
September 27, 1826, his parents being Charles
and Phcebe (Dean) Peters. The father was a
native of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, and
the grandfather came from a Long Island fam
ily. Charles Peters was proprietor of a butcher-.
shop in Poughkeepsie, and afterward in Wash
ington Market, in New York City. He was
a soldier in the War of 181 2, and at the time

of his death, which occurred in New York, he
was iu his sixty-third year. His wife "Was also a
native of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, in
which locality her father, Gilbert Dean, a native
of Long Island, had settled at an early day. He
was a boot and shoe maker by trade and followed
that occupation until shortly before his death.
Mrs. Peters died in New York City, at the age of
fifty-two years. Both parents were members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Our subject is one of sixteen children, all but
two of whom grew to maturity, though only
seven survive. He was reared in Poughkeepsie,
attending the public schools of that place, and iu
his sixteenth year he moved to New York City
and learned his father's business. At that time
his stand was located in the old Washington
Market, formerly known as Bear Market, but
afterward the father and son opened a shop on
Eighth Avenue, near the corner of Twenty-third
Street, under the old Knickerbocker Hall, where
the present Grand Opera House stands. On
reaching his majority, young Peters became a
member of the firm, which for ten years was
known as Charles Peters & Son, and from that
time up to 1S65 he was sole proprietor. In the
year last mentioned he sold out his interest and
moved to Newburgh, buying a farm on the north
ern plank road, four and a-half miles from the
city, and for two years and a-half was engaged in
agricultural pursuits. Then for a like period of
time he operated a farm near Monticello, N. Y.
In 1869 he opened a meat-market at No. 113 Wa
ter Street, and continued at that location for four
or five years, when he took his two sons, Charles
and William T. , into partnership. Five years
later the former died, and at the end of three
years more the senior Mr. Peters retired from the
firm. The other son, William T., continued to
engage in trade until his death, which occurred
in January, 1892. Besides his home our subject
owns three other residences, one at No. 146
Montgomery Street, another at No. 3 Catliu
Street, and the third at No. 263 Grand Street.
In 1852 Mr. Peters was initiated into the Ma
sonic order, becoming a member of Hope Lodge,
of New York City, and in later years was Master

57

i3o8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Hiram Lodge, of the same city. He is now a
member of Hudson River Lodge No. 607; of
Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; and of Hud
son, River Commandery No. 35, K. T. He is a
member of the Veteran Association and is with
one exception the oldest Mason in Newburgh.
While in New York he was a member of Hose
Company No. 30 for several years, and belonged
to the Eighth Regiment of the National Guard,
known as the Washington Grays. His son,
William T., was Quartermaster of the Tenth
Separate Regiment of the New York National
Guard, was identified with Lawson Hose Com
pany, and was also a Mason.
The first marriage of our subject occurred in
New York City in 1845, when his union with
Miss Marinda Wallace was celebrated. Of the
five children born to them Charles and William T.
were the only ones that grew to maturity. The
former died at the age of twenty-six years, and
the latter, who died in his forty-sixth year, left
two daughters, who reside with their grandfather.
The second marriage of Mr. Peters was with Miss
Mary Whitney, who was a native of Germany,
and who died iu Newburgh. His present wife
was formerly Miss Georgiana Wier, whose birth
occurred in Newburgh. Mr Peters is a member
ofthe Unitarian Church, being a member of the
Board of Trustees, while his wife is a member of
Calvary Presbyterian Church.

^>^-<m^ -

-5—

«]rSAAC L. CASSELL, one of the oldest en-
l gineers on the New York, Lake Erie &
X Western Railroad, was born in New York
City in 1833. His parents, William and Hannah
(Lilly) Cassell, were natives, respectively, of
France aud Wales, and the former, who emigrated
to America in early manhood, was employed in
New York City as a teacher of languages. After
his death, which occurred in middle life, his
widow took charge of the children, whom she
reared to fill positions of trust and usefulness in
the world. She attained an advanced age, dying
at the age of seventy-six.
Of the eight children comprising the family ,

two grew to years of maturity, the other be
sides our subject being Mrs. Mary Hill, who
died when visiting iu Chicago. Isaac L- was
reared in New York City until ten years old,
when he went to West Point as messenger boy
for the civilian treasurer at the post. Three
years were spent there, after which he returned
to New York City and served an eighteen-
months apprenticeship to the gold-beating trade.
In 1850 he secured a position on the Harlem Rail
road, working first in an humble capacity, but
was sooti promoted to be fireman. In 1853 he
went into the employ ofthe Erie, with headquar
ters at Port Jervis, being fireman between that
city aud Piermont. In 1855 he became engineer,
his run being into Jersey City.
Going west to St. Louis in 1856, Mr. Cassell
secured a position as engineer on the Missouri
Pacific Road between St. Louis and Jefferson City.
Three years were spent there, after which he
made a short visit to Orange County. On again
going West, he stopped iu Indiana, where he was
engineer on a passenger train between Richmond
and Logansport for five years. On h's second
return to Orange County he secured employment
as engineer on the Erie between Port Jervis and
Jersey City. In 1867 he went to Ohio, where for
two years he ran a passenger train on the Cincin
nati, Hamilton & Dayton between Cincinnati and
Dayton. On his return to Orange County in 1869,
he became freight engineer, and continued in that
capacity until 1884, since whicli time he has run
the passenger train, and since 1888 he has had
the Middletown way-train local between this place
and Jersey City.
At Middletown, in 1858, Mr. Cassell married
Miss Frances Knox, who wasboru in this county.
Her father, James, was born in the town of Craw
ford, to which place her grandfather, John Knox,
had emigrated from the North of Ireland. Though
of direct Irish descent, the family is of remote
Scotch lineage, their ancestors having been
prominent Protestants during the days of religious
agitations. In the town of Crawford, where he
was reared, James Knox learned the carpeuter's
trade, and afterward he settled near New Vernon,
where he was engaged as a contractor and builder.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1309

In 1855 he purchased a farm of eighty-seven
acres within the limits of the city of Middletown,
and lying between the Asylum and Hillside Ceme
tery, on the Erie Railroad. Here he died in 1863,
at the age of sixty-three. In politics he was a
Jacksoiiian Democrat, and in religious belief an
Old-school Baptist. . His wife, who bore the
maiden name of Vashti Caldwell, was born in
Dutchess County, and died in 1869. Her father,
Joseph Caldwell, was a native of that county, and
a farmer there, and her grandfather, who also re
sided there, was a soldier iu the Revolutionary
War. Mrs. Cassell is the youngest of six children, the
others being as follows: Nelson, who died in
Brooklyn; George L , Treasurer of the Caldwell
Lead Company of New York City, and of whom
mention is elsewhere made; Henry, who is living
near Topeka, Kan. ; Harrison, who was a member
of the First California Infantry in the Civil War,
and served principally in the West, running the
Apache blockade; and Eliza, wife of Charles
Robbins, of New York City. The old Knox
homestead is now either built up or laid off in
lots, its principal streets being Monhagen, Knox
and California Avenues, and West Main and Erie
Streets. Mrs. Robbins was the first to build
here, after which Mr. Cassell erected his elegant
residence at No. 173 West Main Street.
Socially Mr. Cassell is identified with Hoffman
Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M., and Midland Chap
ter, R. A. M. He and his wife also belong to
the Order of United Friends, in Jersey City.
They are members of the Second Presbyterian
Church, and politically he is a Republican.

fcj EORGE W HESS, senior member of the
— firm of Hess & Van Ness, proprietors of
j[ the North End Machine-shops, at No. 325
North Street, is a fine machinist aud electrical
engineer. He was born in Scranton, Pa., July
4, 1862, and is a son of Hieronymus and Mar
garet (Wolfinger)_ Hess, the former a native of
Germany, and the latter of Oxford, N. J., but
of German descent. The father came to the

United States when but eighteen years of age,
and was employed as a stationary engineer at
Scranton, and later was with the Lackawanna
Iron and Coal Company as engineer, remaining
there until his death, at the age of sixty-four
years. His wife, who was a member of the Ger
man Methodist Church, died in Scranton, leav
ing five children, four ofwhom are yet living.
George W. Hess was second iu the parental
family of five children. He grew to manhood in
his native city, and there had the advantage of
the public and high schools. When sixteen he
was apprenticed as a machinist in the shops of
the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, and after
serving five years became an engineer under his
father. Subsequently he was with A. B. Stur-
gis, as electrical engineer, aud later was chief
engineer of the suburban electric station. Then
for a time he was with Mr. Whiting, of Scranton,
as superintendent of the electric plant at that
place. In April, 1894, he came to Middletown
as chief engineer of the Middletown & Goshen
Traction Company, and has had charge of the
construction of the power-house and electric- plant
in this city. After the completion of the build
ing, he was chief engineer until April 1, 1895,
when he resigned to go into business, forming
the present partnership with Richard Van Ness,
and under the firm name of Hess & Van Ness
they leased the building, put in new machinery,
including planers, drills and lathes, and iu fact
everything needed in modern machine works.
The engine is six horse-power and the boiler ten
horse-power. They do machine work of all kinds,
but make a specialty of electrical work, and man
ufacture the safety brake and the feeder combined
for electric-street cars. In the short time they
have been engaged in business, they nave had
remarkable success, and are securing orders from
many points. They do general job work, and
have a blacksmith-shop in connection.
Mr. Hess was married, in Scranton, to Miss
Sarah Parsons, a native of that city, and they
have three children: Arlington, Margaret and
Ella May. The family resides at No. 19 Prince
Street. While in Scranton Mr. Hess was a mem
ber of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the Scranton Branch of the United Order of
Machinists of America. He is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and is an active
worker in that body. In politics he has always
been a Republican.

-*— J  »>3^®(®)®>C;«  t"— ¦*¦

j EWIS G. WILSON, general manager ofthe
IC Middletown Ice Company, was born at Plai-
l_2f stow, Rockingham County, N. H, Feb
ruary 15, 1853, being a member of an old Scotch
family that was early represented in Vermont.
His father, George M., who was born in Top-
sham, Vt., was a carpenter by trade, and early in
life settled in Plaistow, N. H., on the Massachu
setts line, where he was engaged as a contractor
and builder. After many years in that place, he
removed to Haverhill, Mass., and there he died
at eighty -three years of age.
Though beyond the limit of age for military
service, George M. Wilson enlisted in the Union
army during the Civil War, and was Corporal of
Company K, Fifth New Hampshire Infantry, in
which he served until he was discharged on ac
count of physical disability. In religious belief
he was a Baptist, devoted to the doctrines of that
denomination. For his wife he chose Harriet M.
George, who was born in Plaistow, N. H., and
died at the age of sixty-six. Her father, Jesse
George, was an extensive farmer and successful
hotelman, and at one time held the office of High
Sheriff of Rockingham County.
The subject of this sketch is next to the young
est of eight children, and is the only son among
the five children who attained years of maturity,
and of whom three are now living. At the age
of thirteen he accompanied his father from Plai
stow to Haverhill, five miles distant. About the
same time he was graduated from Phillips Acad
emy, at Andover, Mass. He then secured a po
sition as clerk in a dry-goods store at Haverhill,
where he remained until January, 1873, and
thence moved to Port Jervis, N. Y., where he be
came fireman on the Erie Road between Jersey

City and Port Jervis. For seven' years he was
employed in that capacity, and for the two fol
lowing years was engineer between the same
points, after which he retired from railroading, and
bought a' meat-market in Chester. For eighteen
months he was a member of the firm of Rundell
& Wilson, after which he bought out his part
ner's interest, and soon took in a Mr. Osborn,
under the firm title of Wilson & Osborn, contin
uing as such until December, 1888, when he sold
out to his partner. Shortly afterward he came to
Middletown, where he has since resided.
Forming a partnership with John D. Wood,
under the firm name of Wilson & Wood, our
subject bought the Consumers' Ice Company's
plant, and carried on the business until 1892,
when the concern was merged into the Middle-
town Ice Company, with himself as general man
ager. Later he bought out Josiah Miller's ice
business, which he consolidated with the Middle-
town Ice Company, and the firm now has an ice
house at the Summit, and also at Miller's Lake.
During the summer months eight wagons are
used for delivery, and the business is a very large
one. The icehouses have a capacity of twelve
thousand tons.
Meantime our subject commenced iu the coal
business as a member of the firm of Bodine &
Co., and alter the death of Mr. Bodine iu 1895,
the concern was carried on by the firm of Wilson
& Wood. As a business man Mr. Wilson is
sagacious and progressive, and his large trade
has been secured through his earnest efforts and
untiring energy. While residing in Chester, he
married Miss Mary E. Fredricks, who was born
in that village. Her father, Henry P Fred
ricks, was a business man of that place for many
years, and also engaged in business at Washing
ton Market in New York City.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Wilson repre
sents the Second Ward on tire Republican Coun
ty Committee, and is also a member of the City
Committee. In 1892 he was elected, without
opposition, a member of the Board of Excise
Commissioners, of which he .was Treasurer for .
two terms, and is now President. While a resi
dent of Chester, he was elected Collector by the

JOSEPH GAVIN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1313

largest majority ever given any candidate. So
cially he is connected with Hoffman Lodge No.
412, F. & A. M.; Mt. William Lodge, K. of P.,
at Port Jervis; -and the Esther Anthony Lodge,
I. O. O. F., at Port Jervis. Since September,
1889, he has been a member of the Excelsior
Hose and Ladder Company No. 1 .

?-i ' 1 1

3OSEPH GAVIN, a prominent citizen of
Orange County, was born in County Galway,
Ireland, June 18, 1833, a son °f John and
Bridget (Moore) Gavin, both natives of Ireland,
where they spent the greater part of their lives.
In 1853 they emigrated to this country, and in
October, 1854, they came to Chester, N. Y.,
where they passed their last days. John Gavin
met with an accident April 24, 1856, which re
sulted in his death a few days subsequently.
Strange to relate, Mrs. Gavin, the mother of our
subject, also met an accidental death. With her
daughter, she was sitting near an Erie Railroad
track when a train came along unexpectedly and
caught a cow on the cow-catcher. The animal
was thrown with great force against Mrs. Gavin,
and her death occurred a few days later. This
was also in 1856.
Joseph Gavin, our subject, received a limited
education in Ireland during his youth. His fa
ther being a blacksmith h Joseph learned that trade
with him, and was engaged in that work iu his
native land until the age of twenty, when he came
to America and soon after located at Chester, this
state. He established a blacksmith business at
¦this place, and successfully conducted the same
from April 1, 1858, until 1865, when he disposed
of his property and business. He then moved to
Middletown, where for six months he was en
gaged in blacksmithing, when, in 1866, he pur
chased a farm of one hundred and forty-one acres
near Goshen, for which he paid $11,000. Six
years later, or in 1872, he sold that farm for $20,
000, and bought one hundred and ten acres near
Stony Ford, Orange County. In 1878 he pur
chased a lovely home where he now lives, which
comprises fifty-five acres of finely improved land

near the village of Chester, and whicli is part of
the farm formerly owned by the famous Ristick,
owner of "Hambletonian."
Mr. Gavin is comparatively a self-made man,
and has made some very profitable deals in horses.
He was married, in 1859, to Miss Ann Burke, a
daughter of Martin Burke, of Ireland. Five chil
dren were boru of this union, three of whom are
yet living: Mary B., of New York City; Anna,
wife of F W Downey, of Dobb's Ferry; and
Katie E., also of New York City. Mrs. Gavin
died in February, 1870, and in 1872 Mr. Gavin
married Ann Sullivan, daughter of David Sulli
van, of Ireland. By this marriage there are six
children: Elizabeth May, Joseph, Emily G.,
David, Mary Lucy and Helen, all of whom are
yet at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Gavin and their children are
members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Gavin
was largely instrumental in erecting the church
at Chester. He is a Democrat at all times and
under all circumstances; however, in local politics
he is conservative. He has never aspired to offi
cial position, preferring to attend to his own af
fairs, and is a kind husband, an indulgent parent
and an accommodating neighbor.

¦+=

WILLIAM M. O'NEAL, a veteran of the
late war, and at present a contractor and
builder at Middletown, was born in Scotts-
town, town of Wallkill, January 16, 1842. The
family of whicli he is a member originated in Ire
land on the paternal side, and in Holland on the
maternal side. Our subject's great-grandfather
was born in the North of Ireland, and, emigrating
to America, settled in Orange County. Edward,
who was next in line of descent, was born iu the
town of Monroe, but spent his life principally at
Scotchtown, where he engaged in farm pursuits.
His wife was a native of Scotland. During the
War of 18 1 2. he enlisted in the defense of our
country and served until the close of the conflict.
The father of our subject, Samuel O'Neal, was

i3H

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born in the town of Wallkill, and in youth learned
the stone-mason's trade, but made farming his
principal occupation. In 1852 he settled near
Ellenville, where he improved his land and made
of it a fine dairy farm. He died May 5, 1895,
when over seventy-four years old. His wife, who
was known in maidenhood as Margaret Bennett,
was born in the town of Mamakating, Sullivan
County, and was of Holland-Dutch descent. She
died in 1888. They were the parents often chil
dren, eight ofwhom arrived at years of maturity,
and seven are now living, William M. being the
eldest. The others are Sarah, Samuel, Helen,
Martha, Lottie and James.
The first ten years of our subject's life were
passed in Scotchtown, whence in 1853 he accom
panied his parents to Ellenville, Ulster County,
where he was reared to manhood on a farm. At
Lackawack, the same county, he was employed
on a farm and in the lumber business. In June,
1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred
and Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, being mus
tered into the state service at Kingston, Ulster
County, and into the United States service at
New York City. He was assigned to the Army
of the Gulf, under General Banks, and started
South, but the transports were wrecked off the
coast of Florida. The soldiers were taken on the
"Blackstone," a mail steamer, and "Gemsbock,"
a blockading steamer, which landed them at Ft.
Taylor December 12, 1862, and shortly afterward
they reached New Orleans. From there they
were sent up to Camp Carlton, where they
drilled; next went to Baton Rouge, then to Port
Hudson, falling back to New Orleans, and then
going to Burwick's Bay, and up the bayous until
they reached Alexandria. In the battle of Ft.
Bisslin the First Lieutenant of the company was
killed. The troops also took part iu the battles
of Alexandria and Port Hudson, and in a large
number of skirmishes.
After the surrender at Port Hudson, July 8,
1863, the company was sent back to New Orleans
on a steamer, and in the spring of 1864 they went
to the bayous and Opelousas. After the battle of
Mansoria they went to Alexandria, and from
there accompanied Banks to Shreveport and Sa

bine Cross Roads, fighting during the entire jour
ney. After that expedition was concluded our
subject was sent farther east aud assigned to duty
in the Shenandoah Valley, under Gen. Phil Sheri
dan, taking part in the battles of Winchester
(September 19, 1864), Fisher's Hill, Mt. Craw
ford and Cedar Creek. In the last-named en
gagement he was wounded three times within
ten minutes, but refused to leave the field, aud
in spite of three troublesome flesh wounds he
" stayed on picket duty all night. In the morn
ing, however, he had become so weak that it was
necessary to convey him to the hospital, and an
ambulance was sent for him by Harry Lockwood,
the Lieutenant iii charge of Company D, who also
dressed his wounds. The regiment went to
Winchester, thence to Baltimore, from there to
Ft. Pulaski, Savannah, Goldsboro, Morehead
City and Newbern, N. C. After the surrender at
Raleigh, they were sent to Athens, Ga. , thence to
Savannah, and in September, 1865, were mus
tered out of the service.
Upon being honorably discharged from the
army, Mr. O'Neal returned to New York State,
and for a year was unable to engage in active
business. As soon as he partially regained his
strength, he became employed in a lumber manu
facturing business, and later was variously occu
pied at different places. Having learned the ma
son's trade with his father, in 1869 he began work
at that occupation. The following year he went
to Bradford County, Pa., , where he spent a year.
For two years he was a clerk in a grocery busi
ness, after which, in 1877, he came to Middle-
town and started to work at his trade, and with
the exception of three years spent in Sullivan
County he has ever since remained in Middle-
town. Since January, 1893, he has done contract
work, and has erected residences in various parts
of the city.
In Phillipsport, Sullivan County, Mr. O'Neal
married Miss Suestia' Richerson, who was born
there. They have five children living, namely:
Charlotte A., Mrs. O. Simpson, of Hurley ville;
Mary M., Mrs. S. Chambers, of Middletown;
Franklin N., a mason, living in Middletown;
Cora E. and Edna D., who are at home. Ida M.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

t.3i

j'o

died at the age of fifteen years. The family at
tends the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politi
cally Mr. O'Neal is a Republican, and socially
he is connected with Lancelot Lodge, K. of P. ;
Monticello Lodge No. 532, F. & A. M.; and
Capt. W. A. Jackson Post, G. A. R., of which he
is a charter member.

Q YRON S. DAYTON, senior member of the
TJi firm of B. S. Dayton & Co., merchants
\J at Middletown and Liberty, was born near
Napanoch, Ulster County, N. Y. , July 12, 1847.
The family of which he is a representative origi
nated in England, and was founded in America
by three brothers, who came from that country
and made settlement in Connecticut. Thence
Joseph Dayton, the great-grandfather of Byron
S., emigrated to Ulster County, and became the
founder of the family in this locality. He was
one of the brave soldiers of the Revolution, in
which memorable contest he fought for liberty
and independence. His son, William I., was
born in Ulster County, at a place known as Day
ton's Corner, and he spent his entire life in that
vicinity, engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Marinus Dayton, father of our subject, was
born near Modena, in Ulster County, and while
yet a boy began boating 011 the Hudson. In
partnership with his cousin, Morgan A. Dayton,
he owned and ran the sloop "Othello" for years
between Albany and New York City, but his
wife's failing health induced him to abandon that
occupation, and he purchased a farm north of
Napanoch, Ulster County. Later he spent a few
years in Sullivan County, whence he went back
to Ulster County. After the death of his wife,
he came to make his home with his son Byron
S. in Middletown, ¦ and here he now resides,
being in the eighty-sixth year of his age.
The mother of our subject, Jane Barnes, was
born on a sailing-vessel on the Atlantic Ocean
when her parents were en route from Ireland to
America. They settled in Philadelphia, and then

went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where she was
reared, educated and married. Her death oc
curred in Ulster County in 1878, when she was
about sixty -three years of age. She became the
mother of five children, all of whom are still liv
ing, Byron S. being the eldest of the number.
His boyhood years were spent in Napanoch,
Ulster County, and Grahamville, Sullivan Coun
ty, where he gained a common-school education.
In the latter place he assisted his father, who was
proprietor of a hotel there.
At the age of seventeen years, in the summer
of 1864, Mr. Dayton volunteered in the Union
army, and became a member of the First New
York Mounted Rifles. He was mustered into
the service at Kingston, and joined his regiment
before Richmond, where within six days he was
under fire in the skirmish line. In the various
cavalry charges and dashes made by the regi
ment he took a valiant part. In a cavalry- charge
into Murfreesboro in 1865 his horse fell, throw
ing him on the ground, where his own and an
other horse fell over him, injuring him severely
in the back. In June, 1865, he was mustered
out . of the service and honorably discharged at
Richmond, Va.
On returning to New York, Mr. Dayton joined
his parents in their home at Phillipsport, Sulli
van County. Soon afterward he purchased a
boating outfit for the Delaware & Hudson Canal,
and this he ran between Honesdale and New
York for two seasons, later trading it for a gro
cery store at Napanoch, on the canal. In 1870
he removed from that village westward, and set
tled in Madison County, Neb., becoming a pio
neer of that now thickly populated state. He
pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, a por
tion of which occupied the present site of the
county seat. After six mouths he proved pos
session to the property, and then took advantage
of his homestead right, locating at Traceyville,
Platte County, near the present site of Humphrey.
While proving that claim, he also took up a tree
claim, but disposed of it before it had beeu proved
up. He remained on his homestead claim for the
required period of five years, less the time of his
army service, and then located at Columbus,

1316

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

where he was proprietor of a boarding-house, the
hotels in the West at that time being boarding-
houses and quite distinct from a bar. At one
time he owned a portion ofthe site of Humphrey,
but this he sold.
In 1876 Mr. Dayton disposed of all his Nebras
ka property excepting his homestead, which he
sold many years later. Immediately after dis
posing of his interest there, he returned to New
York and engaged in merchandising at Hunk
Hill, north of Napanoch. Later he went to Ellen
ville and opened a general store there. In 1886
he came to Middletown and started a novelty
store on North Street. Some time afterward he
opened branch stores in Goshen and Otisville,
aud for two years made his home in the former
village. On returning to Middletown he started
a store on James Street, but after a short time
sold the concern, and took a position as traveling
salesman. Later he carried on a grocery busi
ness on East Main Street, and was thus engaged
until he opened his present store on North and
King Streets. In addition to this, he has a
branch store at Liberty. His sou Warren F.
has been in partnership with him since he was
eighteen years of age, and is now in charge of
the Liberty store. Besides his mercantile inter
ests, Mr. Dayton does some real-estate business,
and erected his residence at No. 36 Broad Street.
At Omaha, Neb., in 1870, Mr. Dayton mar
ried Miss Lydia Potter, who was born in Potter-
ville, Ulster County, being a daughter of Francis
Potter, formerly a lumberman of that county.
They have two children, namely: Thornton
Byron, proprietor of a novelty store at Walden,
N. Y.; and Warren Francis, junior member of
the firm of B. S. Dayton & Soil. While in
Nebraska Mr. Dayton was a Supervisor in Platte
County. He is now a member of the Board of
Education of Middletown, and is an active factor
in the promotion of the educational interests of
the city. Politically he is a Republican. So
cially he is identified with Paughcaughnaugh-
sinque Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and
is keeper of the Wampum. For a time he held
official position in General Lyon Post No. 266,
G. A. R., from which he was demitted; he is now

connected with Capt. W. A. Jackson Post, and
on Decoration Day of 1894 and 1895 served as
Marshal of the day for that post. As a business
man he is unusually keen, vigorous and efficient,
and his financial success has been achieved
through his indomitable perseverance and per

sistence.

(T MILTON BARNES, a merchant of Central
I Valley, Orange County, New York, was born
•2/ in Cornwall, Orange County, October 9,
1844, and is the youngest of a family of twelve
children born to Matthew and Mary (Van Duser)
Barnes, the former a native of Otsego County,
N. Y., and the latter of the town of Cornwall,
Orange County, N. Y. Our subject was reared
in his native town, and attended what is now
known as a "mountain school" until the death of
his father, which occurred when he was about
seventeen years of age. Being thrown on his
own resources, he first engaged as a clerk in a
store in the village of Canterbury, now Cornwall.
He continued as clerk for a few months, and then
learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed
until the spring of 1876, working in all parts
of Orange County. During the year 1875 he
worked at his trade in Central Valley, and, liking
the place, he formed a partnership in a mercan
tile business with Alfred Cooper, succeeding the
firm of Cooper & Ackerman. This partnership
continued eight years, when Henry C. Thorn
purchased the interest of Mr. Cooper, and the firm
name became Barnes & Thorn. At the end of
two years, Ambrose Duraii succeeded Mr. Thorn,
and the business was continued under the name
of Barnes & Duraii for one year, and then
changed to J. M. Barnes & Co. Mr. Duran con
tinued with the firm three years, since which time
Mr. Barnes has been alone, but until January 1,
1894, the firm name was not changed. At that time
the "Co." was dropped. Mr. Barnes was ap
pointed Postmaster in 1885, and again in 1892,
and is the present incumbent.
On the 6th of November, 1884, Mr. Barnes
was united in marriage with Miss Hannah
Shuit, a native of Highland Mills, and a daughter

CHARLES L. MEAD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

I3J9

of Morgan and Mary Ann (Titus) Shuit. (See
sketch of Morgan Shuit in another part of this
work.) Iu politics Mr. Barnes is a Democrat,
and has supported that party during his entire
life.. He never sought or desired public office,
and only served a short time as Highway Com
missioner by earnest request. He was elected
Justice ofthe Peace, but refused to qualify.
The mercantile business of Mr. Barnes has
been developed, until it is more than double what
it was when he first became a member ofthe firm
of Cooper & Barnes. After being in business
three years, he purchased the building in which
the store is located, which is a two-story building,
with basement and attic. He carries a full line
of general merchandise, having added hardware,
wall-paper and other lines to the stock. As a
citizen, he enjoys the confidence and respect of
the community, and is ever ready to do his part
in building up his adopted village.

•^4\

m\\

in

EHARLES L. MEAD, LL. B. This promi
nent attorney of Middletown comes of an old
and honored family of New York State.
He is a popular gentleman, and is at present serv
ing as Treasurer of Orange County. His birth
occurred in the town of Wawayanda, August 27,
1851, and he is a son of William H. Mead, also a
native of that town. His grandfather, Roswell
Mead, was a native of Connecticut, but became
one of the pioneers of the town of Minisink,
where his death occurred. He was one of the
prominent residents of this section, and for many
years served as Justice of the Peace, also filled
the office of Supervisor. On one occasion he was
elected a Member of the Assembly on the Demo
cratic ticket. During the War of 181 2 he served
as a soldier in the ranks and rendered his country
efficient service at that time. He married Han
nah Cash, whose parents were also well known
residents of this portion of the state.
The great-grandfather of our subject was Lieut. -
Col. Matthew Mead, who was born in 1736, and
died in 18 1 6. He served as Captain of the Fifth
Regiment Connecticut Line, under Col. David

Waterbury, and was wounded at St. John's,
Canada, September 6, 1775. The following year
he became Captain of the Ninth Regiment Con
necticut Militia, and shortly afterward was made
Major of the First Battalion Connecticut State
Troops, under Col. G. S. Sulliman. December
25> I77°1 he was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Fifth Regiment Connecticut Line, Col. P. B.
Bradley, serving in that capacity from January 1 ,
1777, until May 25, 1778. Col. Matthew Mead
served as Lieutenant-Colonel during the Revo
lutionary War on the staff of General Washing
ton. His brother John was a soldier in the
Revolution and died during the service. (For
further information relative to the Mead and
Cash families, see sketch of Judge Roswell Cole
man on another page. )
The father of our subject was an extensive
land-owner of Orange County, where he died in
1876, at the age of fifty years. He had held
many of the town offices and enjoyed the high re
gard of all who knew him. His wife, Cornelia,
was a daughter of Hon. Joseph Davis, a Member
of the Assembly and Supervisor of the town of
Minisink for many years. From the time of
its organization until his death, at the age of
threescore years and ten, he was President of the
Middletown National Bank. He was born in
the town of Minisink and was there buried. The
great-grandfather of Mrs. Mead was John Davis,
a Scotchman. Her father married Elizabeth
Decker. The parental family included four children,
namely: Hannah Davis Mead, deceased; Roswell,
now a resident of St. Joseph, Mo.; Lizzie Decker
Mead, who resides in Middletown; and our sub
ject. The last-named, who was the eldest of the
family, remained on the home farm until four
teen years of age, when he became a student in
the Wallkill Academy. He then took a course
in Claverack College, Columbia County, N. Y.,
from which he was graduated in 1873. He next
entered Princeton with the Class of '77, where
he was a student for two years.
Being desirous of following the profession of
law, Mr. Mead, in 1875, entered Columbia Law
School at New York City, from which he was

1320

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

graduated in 1877, with the degree of LL- B.
He at once settled , at Goshen for practice. In
the fall of 1892 he was elected Treasurer of
Orange County, by a majority of over nine hun
dred, carrying the town of Wawayanda, which
was strongly Democratic. In January, 1893, he
assumed the duties of his office, which he is still
filling. In Middletown, June 5, 1878, Mr. Mead mar
ried Miss Fannie, daughter of William Tuthill, a
large farmer, owning extensive tracts near Mid
dletown, in which place he resides. From 1891
to 1893 Mr. Mead was a member of the City
Council, representing the Third Ward, and dur
ing that time aided greatly in securing the build
ing ofthe electric street railway ofthe city. He
is a member of the Sous of the Revolution.
Politically a stanch Republican, he has repre
sented his party in various conventions for many
years, and at this writing is a member of the
County Committee.

HILAND H. BLANCHARD, general superin
tendent of the National Saw Company, Mid
dletown, was born in Acra, Greene County,
near Catskill, N. Y., February 18, 1850. He is
a descendant of French ancestors, the first of
whom to cross the Atlantic was his paternal great
grandfather, one of the pioneers of the Hudson
Valley and a jeweler by occupation. From their
French- Huguenot ancestors the family has in
herited that rectitude of character and upright
ness of action which were dominant traits of their
forefathers. Our subject's father, Justus, and grandfather,
Dr. Joseph Blanchard, were natives of Greene
County, where the latter practiced medicine for
many years. The former, who for a time engaged
in the hotel business, afterward settled on a farm,
and there he died at the age of thirty-five years.
His wife, Emeline, was born in Greene County,
where her father, Miles Darby, was a blacksmith.
She survived her husband's death many years

passing away at the age of seventy. She reared
her two children in Greene County, and her
younger child, Elizabeth, married Myron F. Gage,
and went to New York City, where she died, leav
ing one son.
The only surviving member ofthe family is the
subject of this sketch. He was reared at Acra,
Greene County, where he attended the public
school. In 1865 he entered Wallkill Academy at
Middletown, where he remained until completing
the course. In the fall of 1868 he became an em
ploye of Wheeler, Madden & Clemson, saw man
ufacturers, being in their packing department for
several years, though from 1870 he was in charge
as shipping clerk. In 1888 he was made super
intendent of the works, which position he con
tinued to occupy after the concern was merged
into the National Saw Company. He is one of
the oldest of the three hundred or more employes
of the company. That he has been energetic,
capable and efficient, is proved by his long service
with this concern, and also by the fact that he
has worked his way upward to a position of great
trust and responsibility.
Until 1883 Mr. Blanchard resided in Middle-
town, but he then removed to his eighty-acre farm
adjoining Fair Oaks. This place is situated on
a branch of the Erie and on the main line of the
New York, Ontario & Western Railroad, about
three and one-half miles from the city of Middle-
town. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Blanchard
has been active in political clubs, and has served
as a member of city and county committees. So
cially he is connected with Hoffman Lodge No.
412, F. & A. M., of which he was Treasurer for
a number of years. He is also associated with
the Knights of Pythias at Middletown, and with
the Legion of Honor. For one year he was Sec
retary of Excelsior Hose and Ladder Company
No. 1, Fire Department. In religious matters he
is connected with Grace Episcopal Church.
In Middletown Mr. Blanchard married Miss
Sarah Biggin, who was boru in Sheffield, Eng
land. Her father, Samuel Biggin, was a large
saw manufacturer in that place until 1857, when
he came to America and settled in Middletown.
Here he had charge of the saw-manufacturing

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1321

department of Wheeler, Madden & Clemson for a
number of years. Wishing to revisit the scenes
of his youth aud renew old associations, he start
ed across the Atlantic, but died on the voyage.
Four children comprise the family of Mr. and
Mrs. Blanchard, namely: Hiland H., who is em
ployed as a mechanic in the saw works; George
R., Maude and Edith. Mr. Blanchard possesses
to an unusual extent that happy combination of
traits which marks him at once as a man who is
prompt in action, yet prudent and cautious in
carrying out his undertakings, and he looks zeal
ously after the interests of the company.

0AVID E. LAIN, who is a member of the
Orange County Roofing Company at Mid
dletown, was born July 31, 1861, on a farm
adjoining the old Lain homestead near Westtown,
in the town of Minisink. His father, L- L- , and
grandfather, David Lain, were born on the home
stead. The great-grandfather, William, was born
on Long Island in 1743, and was orphaned by his
mother's death when an infant. He was then
taken by his father to Moorestown, N. J., where
his boyhood years were passed in the home of
maternal relatives. On attaining manhood he
settled in the town of Minisink, in 1765, and pur
chased a tract of unimproved land, upon which
he built a log house. In 1785 the log cabin was
replaced by a substantial stone dwelling, which
still stands, being occupied by our subject's broth
er, Milton A., whose children represent the fifth
generation of Lains residing there. William Lain
married Keziah Mather, a lineal descendant of a
brother of Cotton Mather, and they had ten chil
dren. Of these the youngest, David, became the
owner ofthe farm.
David Lain was born January 28, 1791, and was
twice married, his first wife being Millicent Aber,
and his second Rhoda Lee. Lebeus L- , who was
born of the first marriage, grew to manhood on
the old homestead, and combined farming pur
suits with the mercantile business, having a store
in Westtown. On retiring from business he pur
chased the old home farm from the widow of his

youngest brother, Mortimer, and there he still
makes his home. He is interested with our sub
ject in the Orange County Roofing Company. In
politics he is a Republican, and religiously holds
membership with the Baptist Church at Union
ville. The mother of our subject, Arminda Terry,
was born near Liberty Corners, Orange County,
and spent her girlhood there, being, a member of
an old and honored family of this locality. Her
father, Uriah Terry, who was boru in this county,
owned a farm at Liberty Corners, comprising the
present site of the Drake & Stratton stock farm.
On retiring from agricultural pursuits, he retired
to Westtown, where he died at the age of about
sixty-five years. In religious belief he was a
Presbyterian, and his daughter is a Baptist.
The parental family consisted of three children,
namely: Milton A. , who occupies the home farm;
David E.; mid Millicent J., Principal ofthe Mid
dletown School of Stenography and Typewriting.
Our subject was reared in Westtown and on the
homestead. He attended the public schools un
til 1870, after which he prepared for college under
private instruction, and also attended Wallkill
Academy. In 1881 he entered Cornell Univer
sity and four years later was graduated, receiving
the degree of B. S. in electrical engineering. He
was a member of the first class that graduated in
electrical engineering from that institution. While
there he served for one year as editor of the Cor
nell Daily Sun.
In 1885 Mr. Lain became associated with the
electrician, Stephen D. Field, as his assistant, and
while engaged iu that capacity they built a large
electric motor for use on elevated roads. This
was successfully completed and was run in 1887
for Cyrus Field. In 1888, when Mr. Field asso
ciated himself with Rudolph Eickemeyer, of
Yonkers, in electrical-railway work, Mr. Lain
entered their employ and assisted in developing
an electrical-railway system, which they sold in
1893. He also invented several valuable patents,
including a trolley and magnetic ore separator.
In 1893 he located in Middletown, where he and
his father have since been proprietors of the Or
ange County Roofing Company, with an office on

1322

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Franklin Square. They manufacture a roof paint
from our subject's own formula, and have had a
number of important contracts. Through their
agents the company do business in this and ad
joining counties.
Recently Mr. Lain has introduced and com
menced to use Sackett's Wall-board, a new inven
tion, for which he has the agency in this section.
The board is built of composite layers of plaster
of paris and paper, and is proving a splendid suc
cess. The outside can be finished in any style,
which adds greatly -to its desirability. A resi
dence has been built of it in the North End, aud
it will undoubtedly soon become popular, as its
desirable features become more generally known.
While living in Yonkers Mr. Lain married Miss
Maude Bonham, who was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio, and who is the daughter of the late N. A.
Bonham, of that city. Her mother, Lydia J.,
was a sister of George W. Barnum, of Monticello,
N. Y., in whose home, after her mother's death,
she was reared to womanhood. Two children bless
the union, Marion A. and David L. Mr. Lain
is a member of the American Institute of Elec
trical Engineers, and while engaged in electrical
work contributed largely to the electrical litera
ture of that time. Politically he is a Republican,
and has been elected to offices of trust in his own
church and allied societies.

dEMG:

QETER CUMMINGS, of the firm of J. & P.
yr Cummings, distillers, and wholesale and retail
fZ) grocery and liquor dealers in Middletown, was
born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1846, and is
the son of Christopher andFrances ( O ' Keefe) Cum
mings, the former a native of County Meath, and
the latter of County Kildare, Ireland. For several
generations the Cummingses were interested iu
fine horses, the grandfather of our subject being
a thorough sportsman, and a breeder of some of
the finest horses in his native country. Iu his
native land Christopher Cummings, the father of
our subject, was an inn-keeper.
James, an elder brother of our subject, came to
America in 1851, and in 1854 John also crossed

the Atlantic. Two years later the father and
mother, together with our subject, came to this
country. They settled at Otisville, in the town
of Mt. Hope, where they remained until 1872,
when they removed to Middletown, where the
father died at the age of seventy-four years. The
mother, who was a daughter of James O' Keefe,
a gardener in his native land, lived until 1888,
and died in Middletown at the age of eighty-four.
Both parents were devout members of the Catho-
, lie Church. Their three children are yet living.
James, now residing at Kingston, was Alderman
of the Ninth Ward for many years; John's sketch
appears on another page of this work; and Peter
is the subject of this sketch.
Soon after arriving here, Peter Cummings was
employed on the farm of William Wilkins, in the
town of Wallkill, and remained with him for
three years, working steadily in the summer
and attending school in the winter. At the ex
piration of three years he secured a position as
driver on the Delaware & Hudson Canal, with
his brother John. As soon as his age would
permit hewas made captain of the boat,- which
ran between Honesdale and Rondout, carrying-
coal and merchandise. In connection with this
duty, our subject was the agent for the brewery
in Kingston now owned by his brother James.
Feeling the necessity of a better education, our
subject attended Wallkill Academy one year, and
then studied in Otisville for two years. He left
before graduating in order to enter into business
with his brother John at Middletown.
Since coming here in 1868, Mr. Cummings'
mercantile interests have increased year by year,
and his surplus earnings have been judiciously
invested in real estate, both in Middletown and
New York City, he having built many private
residences and business ' houses. His love for
fine horses, which he doubtless inherited, is such
that he has made many investments in this direc
tion, and has bred some of the best horses in this
region. lie now owns "Lady C.,"by "Clay,"
a Hambletonian, dam by "Messenger Durrock."
She has raised three fine colts, two by "Alber-
ton," sired by "Kentucky Prince," and one by
"Old Sweepstakes," all promising horses.

WILLIAM C. TRIMBLE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1325

Mr. Cummings was married, in Port Jervis, to
Mary F. Sheridan, born in New York City, and
daughter of John and Mary Sheridan, both of
whom are now deceased. Her father was a mer
chant of that city. Three children have been
born unto them: John H., a graduate of Man
hattan College; Mary, now attending Mt. St.
Vincent Academy, on the Hudson; and Annie,
attending the Ursuline Academy of Middletown.
Mr. Cummings is a member of St. Joseph's
Catholic Church, and was a member of the Build
ing Committee at the time of the construction of
the church edifice. In politics he is a Democrat.
He resides in a beautiful residence on Monhagen
Avenue, adjoining the city limits, his grounds
comprising four acres of land.

r • oC
© QlLLIAM C. TRIMBLE is the senior mem-
\ A / ber of the firm of W. C. Trimble & Son,
V V proprietors of a livery, boarding, training
and sales stable at Newburgh. With one excep
tion, he is the oldest driver on the turf to-day.
By those who are competent to judge, he is con
sidered the best trainer of horses in the Hudson
Valley, and the animals that have been trained
by him have made the best record of any in Or
ange Comity. The junior member of the firm is
his sou, George E., who attends to the business
part of the concern and has personal supervision
of the stable.
The. Trimbles are of Irish extraction. The fa
ther and grandfather of our subject, both of whom
were named John, were natives of Crown Point,
N. Y., but the latter, who engaged in teaching
school there, filially removed to Pike County,
Pa., where he died. John, Jr., when a boy, came
to Orange County, and made his home with an
aunt, Mrs. Hill, in the town of Montgomery.
On arriving at man's estate he began to farm,
afterward acquiring the ownership of one hundred
acres. In 1850 he removed to Fox Lake, Dodge
County, Wis., where he engaged in farming for
a number of years. His death occurred in 1856,
when he was fifty-six years of age.
The mother of our subject, Margaret, was a

daughter of Cadwallader Colden, a farmer of
Orange County. By her marriage she had seven
children, of whom only three are living. Our
subject was born in the town of Montgomery,
this county, December 29, 1826, and was reared
upon a farm there, receiving a common-school
education. In 1849 he went, via the Lakes and
rail, to Chicago, thence by canal to St. Louis,
from there down the Mississippi to New Orleans,
and on the coast in Louisiana he engaged in the
race-horse business with D. F. Kenner, remain
ing there for seven years. In 1857 he located
near Newburgh, and engaged in general farming,
also devoting considerable attention to raising
horses. In 1862 he came to Newburgh, where
he commenced to deal in horses. Five years later
he opened a livery stable on Third Street, where
he carried on business until 1872.
In 1876 Mr. Trimble built a livery stable on
the corner of Chambers and First Streets, and
here he has engaged in the livery business since
1878. The building which he occupies is 50X
135 feet in dimensions and three stories in height.
It contains fifty stalls, an elevator, and everything
necessary for the successful prosecution of the
business. Among the noted horses which Mr.
Trimble has trained, we mention the following:
"Mountain Boy," a fine racing horse, that was
sold to Commodore Vanderbilt, in 1865, for $12,-
000; "Judge Fullerton," which was bought for
$3,000 and sold three months later for $20,000;
"Commodore," purchased for $700, and sold for
$8,000 four years later; "Music," a sorrel filly,
that was bought at the age of three years for $325
and sold five years afterwards to Robert Bonner
for $8,500; "Cornelia," a black mare, bought for
$2,000 and sold for $13,000; "Inez," a black mare
that was bought for $2,000 and sold for $8,000,
after having been on the turf as a trotting-horse
for two years; "Garnet," a well known trotter,
purchased for $1,000, by J. G. Coster, who two
years later refused ten times that sum for him;
" Zen obi a Moore, " purchased for $1,000, eight
times that sum being refused for her three months
later, but she afterward died; "Patience," pur
chase price $1,000, trotted for one year, then sold
as a brood mare; "Instant," bought in if

1326

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Trimble owning a half-interest in her, trotted
for two years, and sold for $4,200, after having
made a record of 2:14 }{; " S. J.," a chestnut
horse belonging to Gen. Austin Lathrop, trained
here, trotted for one year, gained a mark of
2:16 }(, and is now on the road in New York ;
and "Cobweb," a young horse condemned in
California when five years old, but bought in
New York for $550 by John Turf's sons, and
given to our subject May 9, 1894, for the purpose
of training for the turf. This horse is the finest
perhaps of any trained by Mr. Trimble, as he has
made a record of 2:12 and won $6,600. At present
our subject has in training the filly "Morwent,"
five years old, foaled by " Instant," and sired by
" Kentucky Prince." This filly had been con
demned by three or four trainers, but Mr. Trim
ble is proving that she has good qualities, and is
getting work out of her for her owners, Colonel
Page and Dean Sage.
In 1857 Mr. Trimble married Miss Abbie
Woodruff, who was born in this county. Their
only child, George E., was born in Newburgh,
June 6, 1862, and received a good education,
graduating from Siglar's Academy, at the age of
eighteen. He then entered into business with
his father, and has since had charge of the stable
and livery trade. 'November 10, 1892, he married
Miss Lizzie Town Stocker, a native of Boston,
and a graduate of the Conservatory of Music in
that city, also at one time a teacher in the New
burgh Academy. George E. is a member ofthe
Orange Lake Ice Yacht Club and the Newburgh
Gun and Rifle Club.

Gz

CF

-V*!

®^

=c)

fiTjEORGE CRAWFORD, for many years one
l_ ofthe influential and enterprising business
^j| men of Middletown, is now living retired at
his beautiful home in this city . Pie has shown .
marked ability as a business man, and has been
very successful in all that he has undertaken.
Our subject was born September 10, 18 16, in
the town of Crawford, which was named in honor

of his grandfather, who .located here many years
ago. The parental family included eleven chil
dren, of whom we make the following mention:
Emeline, who never married, died when eighty
years of age; Leander at the time of his death was
in his seventy-third year; Millicent was sixty-five
years at the time of her death; John A. lived to
be eighty-one; Albert was sixty-three years old
when he died; George, of this sketch, was the
next- born; Sarah E. is deceased, as is also Esther;
Theron is one of the most prominent agriculturists
of this section, and occupies the old home farm;
Robert is a substantial farmer of the town of Craw
ford; and Angeline is also living in the town of
Crawford. The father of our subject, Robert I. Crawford,
was born in Sulli.van County, N. Y. , to which
locality he was brought by his parents when
young. He was here reared to mature years,
and led an honorable and useful life. He was a
very prominent man in the affairs of his locality,
and in settling up estates there was none better.
Honorable and upright in all his dealings, he
won many friends, who held him in high esteem.
The mother of our subject, Deborah (Dickerson)
Crawford, was a native ofthe town of Crawford,
and was the daughter of Benjamin and Esther
(Ogden) Dickerson, who were born in Dutchess
County. She belonged to the Hopewell Presby
terian Church, with which denomination her
husband was also connected, and of which he was
an Elder for many years.
Our subject passed the first thirty years of his
life on the old homestead, in the meantime ac
quiring a good education. On starting out for
himself, he purchased a farm in the town of
Montgomery, which he operated with success for
ten years. At the end of that time he rented his
estate, and, moving into Middletown, engaged in
the crockery and woodenware business. Several
years later he opened up a grocery store, and for.
four years conducted a thriving trade among the
best people of the locality. He is now living re
tired, giving his attention to looking after his
real-estate interests.
November 5, 1846, Mr. Crawford married Miss
Mary E. Crawford, a native of Orange County,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

r327

and to them have -been born two children: Emma,
at home; and Frank, a merchant of Middletown.
Mr. Crawford owns three residences in this place,
which he rents, and in this way derives a good
income. He is a stanch Republican in politics,
and is actively interested in the success of his
party. Like the other members of his family, he
belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

#5+^=

GlBRAM VAN NEST POWELSON is en-
/ I gaged in general law practice at Middletown,
/ J and in addition to protecting the interests of
a large clientage, he is filling the positions of As
sistant District Attorney and Justice of the Peace.
The latter office he has held since 1869, being
elected to succeed himself every four years. His
political views are in accordance with the declara
tions of the Republican party, and in its progress
he takes a great interest, for he believes its teach
ing and policy are best fitted to insure the wel
fare of the country and the prosperity of the
citizens. The Powelson family is of Dutch descent. The
subject of this notice was born in Somerville,
N. J., April 15, 1842, and both his father, Abra
ham, and his grandfather, John, were born near
the same place, and were farmers by occupation.
The former, who is still living, is now seventy-
nine years of age. He still takes an interest in
public affairs, and in politics is a Republican.
His religious connections are with the Presbyte
rian Church. The lady whom he married was, like
himself, of Dutch descent. She bore the maiden
name of Sarah A. Van Nest, and was born near
Somerville, N. J., where her father, John, was
.engaged in farming pursuits.
The parental family consisted of three children,
those besides our subject being John A., Presi
dent of the Somerville Woolen Manufacturing
Company; and Mrs. Adeline Hagaman, who lives
near Somerville. Our subject was prepared un
der a special tutor for Union College, which he
attended for some terms, graduating in 1864 with
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years
later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred

upon him. In 1864 he came to Middletown as
instructor in the classics and higher mathematics
at Wallkill Academy, remaining in that position
for two years. Believing, however, that the law
offered greater opportunities for advancement
than the teacher's profession, he began its study
under Judge John G. Wilkin, and carried it on
for two years during his leisure hours, while en
gaged as Superintendent of the public schools.
Since his admission to the Bar in 1869, he has
carried on an extensive practice, giving his at
tention, to some extent, to his official duties, but
finding sufficient time outside of them to manage
the interests of his clients. Interested in edu
cational matters, he is a member of the Board of
Education and is Chairman of the Academy Com
mittee, the duties of which are very important
and responsible.
At Neversink, Sullivan County, Mr. Powelson
married Miss Adeline Palen, a native of that
place, and a daughter of Arthur Palen, who is
head of the firm of Palen, Fleager & Co., the
largest tanners there. Six children blessed the
union of Mr. and Mrs. Powelson. The older
ones have attained years of maturity and have
proved themselves not only the joy and comfort
of their parents, but of value in the world. Un
usually brilliant in intellect, they have gained
distinction by their culture and mental acumen.
Arthur P., the eldest son, is a graduate of the
Middletown High School and the New York
Homeopathic Medical College, Class of '94, in
which he was Class Prophet. He took a post
graduate course in Europe at the University of
Gottingen, and on returning to the United States
opened an office in Middletown, N. Y., where he
has since practiced his profession,
Wilfred Van Nest, the second son, entered the
United States Naval Academy at the age of six
teen, where, in the first year's examination, he
was placed seventh among seventy-two. In the
second year he rose to the second place, and in
the third year stood at the head of the class. In
his last year he fell back to second place, but his
average for the four years was so much better
than that of anyone else that he was the undis
puted "honor man" ofthe class. Before the

1328

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

age of twenty-one, he joined the "Bennington,"
as a midshipman, and later went on the "Chica
go" to Europe. He was sent by the Govern
ment to the University of Glasgow, where he
took a special course, receiving the first prize.
Ou his return to the United States, he was as
signed to duty on the "New York," and is now
an ensign on the personal staff of Admiral Bunce,
of the North Atlantic Squadron. The third son,
Howard J., is a graduate of the academy and the
Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia,
completing the studies of the latter institution in
1895, at the age of twenty-one, and standing third
in his class, with a percentage of ninety-eight and
one-fifth. The three youngest children, Nellie,
Louise and John, are students in the academy.

«:=3&^>

Gl V. BOAK, President of the Board of Trade
l_l of Middletown, was born in the town of
J I Wallkill, Orange County, and is of Irish
aud English descent. James Boak, his grandfa
ther, was born iu the North of Ireland, and came
to this country in early life, locating in the town
of Wallkill, where he died many years since, hav
ing passed his fourscore years. James F. Boak,
the father, was born in the town of Wallkill, and
was reared to the life of a farmer, which occupa
tion he ever afterward followed. In that town he
married Martha Vail, a native ofthe same town,
and a daughter of Abraham Vail, who was also
born there, and who was of English descent. He
was a farmer by occupation, and served as Su
pervisor for some years. The Vail family was a
prominent one, General Vail being one of its
members. The father was a member of the Pres
byterian Church, and for years held the office of
Trustee. He died 011 the farm near Scotchtown
in 1890, at the age of seventy -one. The mother
also died there some years ago. Four children
were born to James F. Boak and his wife, two of
whom are now living: James E., living on the old
homestead; and A. V., the subject of thissketch.
The latter was reared in his native town, aud

received his primary education in the common
schools. Later he entered Wallkill Academy,
from which he graduated with honors, and then
entered Eastman's Business College at Pough
keepsie, from which he graduated in 1869. Three
years later he came to Middletown, and, in part
nership with M. Lewis Clark, he engaged in the
real-estate aud insurance business, the partner
ship continuing two years, when Mr. Clark with
drew from the firm , since which time Mr. "Boak
has been alone. On the retirement of Mr. Clark,
he abandoned the insurance business, and con
fined himself exclusively to dealing iu real-estate.
His office is now the oldest established real-estate
office in Middletown.
In 1878 Mr. Boak was united in marriage, in
Baltimore, Md., with Miss Frances M. Brewster,
a native of that city, and a daughter of James
Brewster, now deceased. At that time he was en
gaged in the machinery business in Baltimore,
having retired from the practice of homeopathy,
which was unpopular there. In Maryland he
was a prominent Mason, and had taken the high
est degrees in the order. Mrs. Boak was educated
in Baltimore, and is a lady of great refinement
and intelligence. By her union with our subject,
three children were born: Frankie, Eleanora and
Ada Lynda.
Since coming to Middletown Mr. Boak has
been an active business man. He owns seven
teen acres inside the city limits, has laid out sev
eral additions to the city, and handles the prop
erty of others who have made additions to the
city plat. Experience in the real-estate business
for over twenty-three years has made Mr. Boak
an authority 011 Orange County real estate, and
his appreciation of present and prospective values
of property is reliability itself. He makes a spe
cialty of handling Middletown residences, city
lots, business and investment properties, hotels,
and Orange County farms, and has sold more of
the latter than any other firm in the county,
Mr. Boak was one of the originators of the
Board of Trade, and was one of its first Trustees.
In the re-organization of the Board about five
years ago, hewas elected President, and has since
held the office. Twice he was elected Alderman

S**-

REV. PHILIP E. AHERN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

•33i

from the Second Ward, and is a member and
Presiding Officer of the Board of Water Commis
sioners of the city, being made a Commissioner
at the time of the completion of the last reservoir.
Socially Mr. Boak is a charter member of the
Knights of Honor of Middletown, and religiously
is a member ofthe Second Presbyterian Church,
taking an active interest in the affairs of that body.
For seven years he was a member of the Excelsior
Hook and Ladder Company, and is now an hon
orary member. In politics he is a Democrat, and
has been Chairman of the City Central Commit
tee. Few men in Orange County are better known
and none more highly esteemed, and the success
which has attended him he richly deserves.

REV. PHILIP E. AHERN, pastor of St.
Thomas' Roman Catholic Church at Corn
wall on the Hudson, has had charge of this
congregation for the past two years. In it there
are about eighty families represented, over whom
he is a faithful shepherd, and, being a close and
earnest student, he is a general favorite in the
community. Rev. Mr. Ahern is the successor of
Rev. Henry G. Gordon, who was pastor here for
five years. The church was incorporated No
vember 17, 1870, and the Trustees who executed
the certificate were Most Rev. John McCloskey,
Archbishop; Rev. William Starr, Vicar-General;
and Rev. John Keogh, pastor; the laymen being
James Sheridan and Patrick Piggott. This was
the legal organization ofa society founded by the
indefatigable labors of Father Keogh, who was
appointed to the Cornwall mission by the Arch
bishop of New York.
For some years prior to this time Catholic serv
ices had been held in a small brick church which
had been erected in i860, under the direction of
Rev. Edward J. O'Reilly, subsequently pastor of
St. Mary's of New York City. Father Keogh
resolved on having a better edifice in which to
meet, and after the ground was secured excava
tion was made by voluntary labor in the winter
of 1870-71. The corner-stone was laid in the
spring following by the Bishop of Rochester, Rt.-
58

Rev. D. McQuade (assisted by several promi
nent priests from New York and elsewhere), in
the presence of a large concourse of citizens.
The work was pushed with great energy, so that
both the church and pastoral residence were
enclosed before the fall. In the spring of 1872
the old church property was disposed of, and in
the month of June the altar was moved to the
basement of the new edifice, which had been
fitted up as a chapel.
Father Keogh retired from this charge April
1, 1876, and was succeeded by Father Stephen
Mackin. The latter was followed by Father
William Ward, who found here a debt of about
$25,000. Through his indefatigable efforts, how
ever, $20,000 of the amount was paid off during
his stay. His work was carried on later by Rev.
Henry G. Gordon. Although a comparatively
new priest here, our subject has shown himself
to be a conscientious worker and a valued acquisi
tion to the moral force of the community.
The subject of this sketch was born in New
York City, June 9, 1854, and was the son of
Philip and Margaret (Smith) Ahern, natives of
Ireland. Father Ahern was given the best ad
vantages for gaining an education, attending
first the public schools of the metropolis, and in
1867 became a student of St. John's College,
Brooklyn. After pursuing the higher studies,
he was regularly graduated in 1872, and then
attended St. Joseph's Seminary, completing the
course in that institution in 1877. May 26 of
that year he was ordained and stationed in New
York City, but remained there only three months,
however, when he was sent to take charge ofthe
congregation of St. Peter's at Poughkeepsie,
holding the same for three years. At the end of
that time he returned to New York, aud for the
same length of time was pastor of a congregation.
We next find him in Ulster County, where he
remained for nine years, having charge of two
missions besides the regular charge. It may
thus be seen that his preparation has been thor
ough, and his popularity here attests the high
standing in which he is regarded by the people.
The church is finely located, and is a large struct
ure, built of brick. It is not entirely completed,

1332

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but will be ere long. It has a large seating ca
pacity, and was planned to accommodate the
members of the surrounding villages and towns
of the county.

-?'•£= 

QjlRGILCOX, Vice-President ofthe New York
W & New Jersey Roller Coaster Company, of
V Middletown, was boru near Deckertown,
Sussex County, N. J., in January, 1863. The
first of the family to come to America was his
grandfather, George Cox, a native of England,
who emigrated to this country and, settling in
Orange County, became proprietor of the Salis
bury Mills. There our subject's father, George
W., was born and reared. In youth he learned
the carpenter's trade, and became a contractor
and builder in the vicinity of Deckertown and
Port Jervis. He finally came to Middletown,
where his closing years were spent and where
his death occurred. His wife, Mary A., was
born in Sussex County, as was also her father,
Amos Mead, but the latter removed from there
to Montrose, Pa., where he died.
The subject of this sketch is the second among
four children, his brothers and sister being Will
iam H., General Manager and Secretary of the
Roller Coaster Company; Frank, who is in the
employ of the Times at Middletown; and Carrie,
Mrs. John Dreher, of Hornellsville, N. Y. Vir
gil was reared in the vicinity of Deckertown,
N. J., where he received a public-school educa
tion. In 1880 he came to Middletown as au
apprentice to the carpenter's trade under Lemon
& Madden, with whom he remained about two
years. Afterward for a year he was with Mead
& Taft at Cornwall. Next he went to Orange,
N. J., where he worked at his trade, gradually
turning his attention to contracting and building.
He was employed in that way both iu Orange
and East Orange, N. J. In the fall of 1893 ne
came back to Middletown, where he has since
engaged iu building. He has erected two resi
dences on Prince Street and sold to other parties,

and also erected the residence he now occupies
on Spring Street, being also the owner of the
three adjoining lots.
In the summer of 1894 Mr. Cox and his
brother secured the necessary lease from the trac
tion company and erected the Roller Coaster
building at Midway Park. When the enterprise
was almost completed, they formed a company,
which was incorporated as the New York &
New Jersey Roller Coaster Company, our sub
ject being Vice-President, and his brother Sec
retary and General Manager. The scheme has
proved a successful one, and will undoubtedly
be remunerative to the proprietors. The build
ing is arranged so that there is an elevation of
one hundred and twenty-five feet and an incline
of four hundred feet, the coaster being three-
fourths of a mile in length. It has proved one of
the greatest attractions of the park, and as a busi
ness venture is a success. In his political belief
Mr. Cox is a Republican, but has never taken an
active part in public affairs, preferring to give
his business matters his entire attention.

***i

(S\ B. WHEELER, a veteran of the late war,
LA was born in Craigsville, town of Blooming
/ I Grove, Orange County, August 31, 1846.
His grandfather, Seth Wheeler, was the youngest
of ten brothers, born in Danbury, Conn., all of
whom went to sea excepting him, and he re
mained on the home farm, giving his attention
principally to the carpenter's trade. From Con
necticut, after a time, he went to New York City,
where he was employed as a contractor. Later he
went to Bloomingburg, Sullivan County; thence,
a few years later, to Fishkill, N. Y., where he
worked as a contractor. Iu 1830 he settled in
Craigsville, and there he died in 1863, at the age
of eighty-four. During the War of 1812 he
served in defense of this country. In religious
belief he was connected with the Methodist Epis
copal Church.
The marriage of Seth Wheeler united him with

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1333

Mary Hulse, who was boru in the town of Bloom
ing Grove, her father, Benjamin Hulse, having
been an early settler there. They became the
parents of two sons and one daughter. Their
son Henry, who was a carpenter and wheel
wright, spent his early life principally in Bloom
ing Grove, thence removed to Newburgh, and
fifteen years later settled in Jersey City, where
he now resides. The other son, William, our
subject's father, was born iu New York City,
and in youth served a seven-years apprenticeship
to the trades of carpenter and wheelwright at
Fishkill; later worked for a similar period at
Brooklyn, becoming a thorough master of these
trades. He was a Drum Major in the Twenty-
second New York State Militia, the brigade that
was commanded by Gen. William C. Little, of
Goshen. Settling at Craigsville, he was engaged
there as a contractor and builder until his death,
which occurred July 1, 1859, at the age of forty-
three. The mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Sarah E. Braffett, and was boru in Mon
roe, this county, as was also her father, Hezekiah,
while her mother, Elizabeth (Newbury) Braffett,
was from Kingston. At the time of her husband's
death, she was left with six children, the eldest of
whom was thirteen years, and the youngest six
months old. She afterward married again, and
now makes her home in Philadelphia. Of the
children of her first marriage, only three are liv
ing, our subject being the eldest of the number.
He was reared at Craigsville, and from the age of
nine years was self-supporting, as he then began
to work at the cotton-spinner's trade in Craigs
ville. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Wheel
er's sympathies were aroused in behalf of the
Union, and five times he endeavored to enlist in
the army, but was refused on account of youth.
The sixth attempt, however, proved successful,
and August 22, 1864, he was accepted as a soldier,
though at the time he weighed only ninety
pounds. At Goshen he was assigned to Company
C, Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, and joined his
regiment at Charleston Harbor, September 16,
1864, entering active service immediately. He was

in the engagements at Graham's Station, Honey
Hill, Boyd's Landing, Devore's Neck and Greg
ory's Farm, and participated in three different
engagements, on the 6th, 7th aud 9th of De
cember. At the battle of Coosacatcha, December
29, he was wounded with a musket-ball, when
firing from the skirmish line, the ball entering
the bridge of the nose from the left flank, and
passing across the right eye. After being
wounded, he walked three miles to the field
hospital, being obliged to ford the river with the
water rising as high as his neck. On reaching
the hospital, the wound was dressed, and he was
removed from the active list. January 31, 1865,
he was sent to the general hospital at Port
Royal, from there went to David's Island, New
York Harbor, and was honorably discharged May
30, 1865, on account of disability resulting from
injuries received in action.
As soon as the condition of his health permitted,
Mr. Wheeler resumed work at spinning in Craigs
ville. Soon, however, he abandoned that occupa
tion and engaged in farming in the town of
Blooming Grove. In 1868 he removed to Hamp
tonburgh, where he spent one year, and after
ward for ten years cultivated a farm in the town
of Goshen. In 1878 he came to Middletown, but
continued farm work for a couple of years, after
which for five years he was superintendent of what
is now the Middletown Ice Company, and then
for one year was with C. L- Webster & Co. In
August, 1877, he was appointed a letter-carrier
for the city, and continued in Government employ
until September 10, 1894, when political reasons
led to his removal, after he had served for seven
years and one month. Since then he has been
traveling salesman for the Household Supply
Company at Danbury. Conn., with branch office
in the Central Building at Middletown.
In the town of Blooming Grove, May 30, 1867,
Mr. Wheeler married Miss Hannah W. Oldfield,
who was born in the town of Warwick, as was
also her father, Joel Oldfield. Her grandfather,
Nathaniel Oldfield, was an old settler and pioneer
farmer of Warwick. Her father, who was born
in 1812, resided iu Tompkins County from 1843
until 1865, returning thence to Blooming Grove,

1334

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

where he died in May, 1891 . He married Melissa
Moon, who was born in Monroe, this county, and
was orphaned in infancy. Five children were
born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler,
namely: Melissa A., who is married, and lives in
Middletown; Harrison W., who is in the engineer
corps, United States regular army, stationed at
West Point, and was formerly Lieutenant of
General Custer Camp No. 96; Joel B., who is in
the employ of the National Saw Company, and is
Captain of General Custer Camp No. 96; Emma
E. and Sarah L-
Politically Mr. Wheeler is a stanch Republican.
Socially he belongs to Hoffman Lodge No. 412,
F. & A. M.; Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe No.
77, I. O. R. M., in which he has held official
position; Knights of Labor, in which he was for
five years Master Workman of his lodge, the
strongest of the district; the Tenth Legion Veter
ans' Association, in which he was Vice- President
for four years; and General Lyon Post No. 266,
G. A. R., in which he was Commander for seven
years in succession. Since becoming a member
ofthe latter organization, he has personally re
cruited one hundred and sixty-five members. In
1894 ne was Aide-de-camp, under Gen. J. G. B.
Adams, of General Lauder Post No. 5, G. A. R.,
at Lynn, Mass. In religious belief he is aMethod-
ist. He is prominent among the veterans of the
war, with whom he loves to meet and recount
the thrilling events connected with those stirring
times.
^=z^mG — - ..
30HN I. BRADLEY. Since the age of four
teen years the subject of this sketch has
made his home upon his present farm in the
town of Wawayanda. The land which he owns
and operates is finely improved, and here may be
found all the accessories of a model estate, in
cluding a large and commodious residence.
Through his persevering efforts he has become
one of the most prosperous farmers of his locality,
and is known as a man of upright character and
accommodating disposition.
The subject of this notice and his brother, Ben
jamin W., were the only children born to the

union of Simeon and Eleanor (Williams) Brad
ley. The father was a native of Fairfield, Conn. ,
as was also the grandfather, John Bradley. The
great-grandfather, also John Bradley, emigrated
with his family from England and settled in
Fairfield County, Conn., about the year 1730.
He was still living at the time the British sol
diers burned Danbury, Conn. , during the Revo
lution, and he hauled powder for the Continental
troops. Simeon Bradley was born in Fairfield County,
Conn., in 1795, and when eighteen years old
came to Orange County, and taught school for
six or seven years north of Newburgh. At Middle-
Hope he was married to the daughter of Benjamin
Williams, the latter one of the descendants of the
Williams family who came from England at an
early day and settled Williams Bridge, in West
chester County, N. Y. The father purchased
a tract of land near Middle Hope, but in 1847 ne
disposed of that place and removed to Brock
port, Monroe County. Seven years later, in 1854,
he came to the town of Wawayanda and pur
chased two hundred and forty acres known as the
old Dalton Homestead, and which is now the
place owned by his son John I. Here he died in
1889, at the age of ninety-four years, and his
remains were interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
A devout Christian man, he held membership in
the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a loyal
supporter. His wife, who died in 1885, was like
wise a member of the Presbyterian Church, and
possessed many noble qualities.
In the town of Newburgh our subject was
born August 20, 1840. When the family re
moved to his present home, he was a lad of four
teen years, and here he has since remained, en
gaged in agricultural pursuits. His primary ed
ucation was obtained in a private school, and aft
erward he was a student in the Middletown
Academy. In 1868 he was united in marriage
with Sarah Little, the daughter of William and
Emma (Andrews) Little, both of whom were
from well known families of the town of Waway
anda. Mr. Little died in 1870. His widow still
lives on the old homestead, which adjoins Mr.
Bradley's farm. Our subject and his wife became

H. H. ROBINSON, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1337

the parents of four children. Eleanor was the eld
est. William L- graduated from Princeton Col
lege in 1892, and from the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of New York City in June, 1895;
he is now on the staff of the New York Hospita'l.
Mary B. and John I. are pupils in the district
schools. It is a fact worthy of note that there
has been a John I. Bradley for four generations.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Bradley took
charge of the home place, where he has since been
extensively engaged in general farming. The
farm is under a high state of cultivation and
produces bounteous harvests. In politics he is a
Democrat. For three terms he has served as
Supervisor ofthe towu of Wawayanda, has also
been Commissioner of Highways, and is a Di
rector in the First National Bank of Middletown,
and President of the Pine Hill Cemetery Associa
tion. He is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, with which his wife, who died May 19,
1889, was also identified. She was buried in
Pine Hill Cemetery. A good man and an honest
citizen, Mr. Bradley is worthy of the respect and
confidence of his neighbors and friends.

HEMAN HUMPHREY ROBINSON, M.D.,
stands at the head of the medical profession
in Goshen, where he is located for practice.
He was born in Bellport, L I., August 20, 1838,
and is a son of Rev. Phineas Robinson, whose
birth also occurred at the above place. The lat
ter was graduated at Hamilton College, and pre
pared for the ministry at Princeton. He first
preached on Long Island, and in 1841 and 1842
taught in Middletown Academy. He afterward
was pastor of a congregation at Washingtonville
for five years, and for four years held a charge
in Jefferson, Schoharie County. For a period of
nine years he taught the languages and mathe
matics in Chester Academy. After being retired
from the ministry for some years, he again be
gan preaching the Gospel on Long Island, be
ing at that time seventy-five years of age. He
was recognized as one of the able Presbyterian
clergymen of the state, and was also a noted edu

cator. As a poet he had gained considerable
fame, and one edition of his writings has been
published. Our subject's mother was known in maiden
hood as Eliza Day, and was born in Connecti
cut. She departed this life at Middletown, when
sixty-five years of age. In the parental family
were twelve children, ten of whom grew to ma
ture years. Of these seven were sons, two of
whom became physicians and one an attorney.
Heman H. attended the Middletown Academy
for five years, and was a student iu Chester Acad
emy, where his father taught for nine years.
When in his seventeenth year he went to Sea
men's Retreat Hospital, on Staten Island, in or
der to study medicine, remaining there two years.
In 1859 he entered the medical department ofthe
University of New York, from which he was
graduated with the Class of '60. He was there
fore ready to commence the practice of medicine
when just past the age of twenty-one. Finding
a good opening in Jeffersonville, Sullivan Coun
ty, he opened an office there, and soon became
noted as a skillful and successful practitioner. He
remained there until 1870, when he came to
Goshen, where he has for years had a very ex
tensive practice. He now occupies with his fam
ily a fine residence on Murray Avenue, which is
a model in its arrangement and furnished in a
manner indicating the occupants to be people of
taste and means.
In 1 86 1 Dr. Robinson was married, in Sullivan
County, to Miss Maria Pendell, a native of Scho
harie County, and the daughter of Lemuel Pen
dell, a manufacturer in Gilboa, Schoharie Coun
ty. Her paternal grandfather was a Methodist
minister, and met with great success in preaching
the Gospel. The Doctor and his wife have seven
living children: Josephine, Kittie, Mary, Robert
Thomas, Harry H., Lee and Florence, who are
at home. Dr. Robinson has been physician on
the Board of Health for many years, for two
years was President of the Orange County Medi
cal Society, and for three years served as its
Treasurer. He is now filling the position of lo
cal surgeon of the New York, Lake Erie & West
ern Railroad, and is also Medical Examiner for

1338

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company,
the New York Life Insurance Company, Equi
table Insurance Company, besides others. He is
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and one of
its valued and most active workers. In politics
he is a strong supporter of Republican principles,
aud rejoices greatly in the success of that party.

c*-

L-zr

=0

WIlCHAEL F. FRITZ, of Port Jervis, has
lr been an engineer on the Delaware Division
(9 of the Erie Railroad for seventeen years
and is one of their most efficient employes. Per
haps his most notable experience during this
time was in the well remembered accident of
August 13, 1888. He was in charge of engine
No. 672, which was drawing a stock-train. It
struck the rocks that had fallen 011 the track near
Schohola and the engine upset at a point eighty-
five feet perpendicularly above the Delaware River
and only one hundred and fifteen feet from the edge
of thebank. The engine, or at least the boiler there
of, remained on the bank, but the cars carried
away the cab, in which were Mr. Fritz and a fire
man. The former's clothes caught fire and he was
pinned down by a timber, but the river water put
out the fire and he, lying in such a position, was
wonderfully saved from drowning. Though suf
fering terribly and with death staring him in the
face, the thought crossed his mind that the night
express No. 3 westbound was due. He shouted
to the conductor, who was standing on the bank,
to flag the train. The whistles of the fated train
were already heard in the distance. The fireman
had fainted, and the lights of the approaching en
gine had no witness but our subject. He was
well acquainted with John Kinsella, the engineer,
and Alexander Newman, the fireman. They
were running 011 fast time, as they were a little
late, and as it was on a curve they could see but
a little way in advance. The express engine
struck the fore part of Mr. Fritz's engine, which
was still lying on the track, bounded into the riv
er, and some ofthe forward cars followed, though

the Pullman stopped on the brink. Language is
inadequate to describe the sight which our subject
witnessed as the immense engine, its wheels re
volving like lightning, struck fire from the stones
which it hit in its descent, and, with fire and steam
bursting from every side, finally plunged, hissing
and snorting, a few feet beyond him into the river.
The fireman was killed and engineer Kinsella was
badly injured, but though the ladies' car was full
of passengers when it went over the bank only
one was killed, though nearly thirty were more or
less wounded. At length some order was evolved
from the chaos, and when all the passengers were
extricated, Mr. Fritz was released from his un
happy position, and was taken to the opposite
shore in a boat. His hip was seriously hurt and
he was completely covered with bruises, so that
his life was despaired of, but after careful nursing
his strong constitution brought him through.
Mr. Abbey, Mrs. Langtry's manager, was on the
train, en route to California.
M. F. Fritz was born in Corning, N. Y., Sep
tember 14, 1853, his parents being John aud
Mary Grace (Webber) Fritz. The former was
an old railroad man, being in the service for many
years. At one time he was a conductor on the
Rochester Division, aud for a time ran on the
Coshocton Railroad from Corning to Rochester.
He was a native of Germany, and died in 1875,
when sixty-two years old. He was accidentally
drowned during a spring freshet at Corning while
standing on the bank of the river, the earth cav
ing iu and precipitating him into the water, and
as he was unable to swim he was drowned before
assistance could reach him. He was one of the
best known men on the Susquehanna Division
of the Erie.
The boyhood of Michael Fritz, until reaching
his fifteenth year, was passed quietly in his
native city. Soon afterwards he took a position
as brakeman on the Delaware Division, this being
in September, 1869. For two years he was a
brakeman, after which he was made baggage-
master 011 the Jefferson Division, and thus acted
until 1 87 1 . The following year he was promoted
to a couductorship on the Delaware Division, and
a few months later commenced running on an en-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

!339

gine as fireman. During the succeeding four
years he was much of the time in the roundhouse
as a hostler, and finally, in February, 1878, was
given an engine. While serving as au extra
conductor, February 13, 1872, the engine exploded
and a man who was sitting next him in the ca
boose was killed instantly. For nearly twenty
years Mr. Fritz has been a member of Mt.
William Lodge No. 105, K. of P. He is also
connected with the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, and is Secretary of the General Griev
ance Committee of the Erie System, all com
plaints along the lines from New York to Chicago
coming under his notice. He is a Republican in
his political views. At the time of the serious
accident in which he was so badly injured aud to
which we have referred at length in the beginning
of this sketch, he received the kindest possible
attention from Superintendent W. A. Starr of
the Erie Road, and all expenses, such as doctor's
bills, etc., were met by the company. It was a
matter of wonder to his physicians that he ever
recovered and that blood poisoning did not set in,
as, with the exception of the palm of his right
hand and the sole of his right foot, he was liter
ally black and blue.
September 7, 1875, Mr. Fritz and Alice Spen
cer, of Port Jervis, were united in marriage. The
father of Mrs. Fritz is William Spencer, who is
now a blacksmith in the railroad shops. Our
subject and wife have three children, Albert,
Grace and Walter, who are all at home.

-"""""¦"I

^rr^

HENRY L. BEAKES is a representative of
one of the oldest families in Orange County,
and no family is more highly honored or re
spected. Wherever found, the Beakes are honest,
industrious and upright, and are very successful
in their various avocations. November 7, 1824,
our subject was born on the present homestead,
which adjoins Middletown, and where the father,
Joseph, was also born. Stacey Beakes, the
grandfather, was a native of New Jersey, where
he married Miss Yard. The young couple came
from Trenton and located on the farm now owned

by our subject, who has the original deed, signed
January 3, 1781. Orange County at that time
was a part of Ulster County. On locating here,
Stacey Beakes built a house and improved the
farm, and there three sous and four daughters
were boru. Stacey, who was a merchant and a
Member of the Assembly, served in the War of
1812, and died in Middletown; Joseph was the fa
ther of our subject; Mahlon died near Ann Ar
bor, Mich.; Mary A., Mrs. William Murray, now
deceased, had one sou, Ambrose Spencer Murray,
who became a Member of Congress; Ruth died in
this county; Martha passed away in Michigan;
and Agnes died in Pennsylvania.
Joseph Beakes, the father of our subject, bought
the one-third interest of his brother Mahlon in the
home farm, aud inherited one-third, which gave
him a farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres.
He continued to cultivate the farm until his
death, in 1857, at the age of seventy-seven years.
He was an attendant at the Old-school Baptist
Church, and in politics was originally a Whig,
and afterwards a Republican. He married Anna
Witter, who was boru in Wallkill, half a mile
from the Beakes place. Her grandfather, Isaac
Witter, was born in the town of Wallkill, where
he engaged in farming. Later, however, he sold
out and located at Canadaigua, Ontario County,
N. Y., where he continued farming until his
death. Mrs. Anna Beakes died in 1879, after
having become the mother of eleven children,
ten of whom grew to maturity. Maria, who
married Isaac Decker, died at Monticello; Will
iam O. died in Wallkill in 1893; Lucinda, who
married Daniel Harding, died in Mt. Hope in
1844; Sally Jane, who married S. C. Howell, re
sides at Howells Depot; Alanson died in Wall-
kill; Mahlon Stacey died iu Wallkill in 1891 ; Mar
iam is the widow of Thomas P. Pitts and resides
iu Middletown; Fannie married Cyrus Tuttle,
and died in Dowagiac, Cass County, Mich.; Hen
ry L- is our subject; Hiram, an attorney and a
great friend of Judge Cooley, died in Ann Arbor,
Mich.; and George M., a prominent physician at
Bloomingburg, was educated at the University of
New York, and graduated from the medical de
partment. He was Surgeon in the Fifty-sixth

J34°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

New York Volunteer Infantry, and is an ex-Rep
resentative in the General Assembly.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the
old homestead, and was educated in the district
schools. He remained on the home farm and
gradually took charge of its management, and
when the father died, in 1857, ne willed it to
bur subject. The latter paid off the legacies re
quired in the will to the brothers and sisters.
Our subject has shown himself an enterprising
farmer, and has made many improvements on the
place. The farm is well watered by springs and
is well improved in every respect. In connection
with general farming, Mr. Beakes is engaged in
the dairy business, and has from thirty-five to
forty head of cows.
Mr. Beakes' first marriage occurred in Florida,
Orange County, and united him with Miss Ame
lia Gardner, who was born near Florida, and who
died on the home farm, leaving one child, John
G. The latter is a graduate of Eastman's Busi
ness College, and is now engaged in the flour,
feed and coal business at Unionville. The sec
ond marriage of Mr. Beakes occurred at Middle-
town in 1865, with Miss Jennie Norris. She was
born near Bloomingburg, Sullivan County, and
was a daughter of Alfred Norris, also a native of
Sullivan County, but whose family were origin
ally from Connecticut, and whose father served
in the Revolutionary War. Alfred Norris, who
was a farmer of Sullivan County, was also a mer
chant for many years, but now resides on the old
homestead, at the age of eighty-five years. His
wife, Catherine Bull, was born in Bullville, and
was a daughter of Thomas Bull, who was there
engaged in farming. She died in Sullivan Coun
ty, at the age of about eighty years. They were
the parents of six children, three of whom are
now living, Mrs. Beakes being fourth in order of
birth. To Henry L- and Jennie Beakes were born
three children: Jennie, who married E. Sanford
Crowell, of New York City, manager of the
Marlboro Hotel; S. Murray and Ada May, at
home. Mr. and Mrs. Beakes are members of
the First Presbyterian Church at Middletown, of
which he was formerly Trustee, and when the

present handsome church edifice was erected was
a member of the Building Committee. In poli
tics he is a Republican, and was a member of the
Union League during the war. As already stat
ed, he is an enterprising man. His farm is fenced
into convenient fields, and is well improved in
every respect. It has a splendid location, and
part of the farm lies within the city limits of
Middletown.

5)****j_-?***•$•! 

WILMOT DURYEA, a plumber, steam and
gas fitter at Middletown, is a native of the
town of Wallkill, born May 26, 1856, and
is a descendant ofa French-Huguenot family, who
were early settlers of Orange County. His
grandfather, John, and his father, Jonathan C,
were both born upon the same farm as was the
subject of this sketch. The father was engaged
in general farming and dairying until his retire
ment in 1870, when he removed to Middletown,
and there died in 1891, at the age of seventy-six
years. While not a politician in the ordinary
. sense of the term, he was a strong believer in the
principles of the Republican party, and an earnest
advocate of the same. He married Ruth L.
Seeley, a native of Blooming Grove, who died
in 1861, leaving five children, who grew to ma
turity. Three are now living: Arietta T., now
Mrs. Hutting, of Jamaica, L. L; Wilmot, our
subject; aud Jennie S., Mrs. Bradner, of Mid
dletown. The subject of this sketch remained at home
with his parents until 1870, when he came to
Middletown, where he received his education in
the academy. In 1873 he was apprenticed to
learn the plumbing trade with I. F. Van Duzer
& Co. , and after serving his time continued with
the firm until 1888, when he started in business
for himself, first locating on the corner of Depot
and North Streets. In 1889 he removed to his
present location, No. 50 North Street, occupying
the basement of the Gothic building. The room
he occupies is 30x70 feet in size, and here he
carries a full line of everything required in his
business. He usually employs from six to eight

SAMUEL C. VAN VLIET, JR.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

r343

hands. Among the residences and places of
business that he has furnished may be named
those of Mrs. Merritt, Frank Madden, P. F.
Miller, George E. Adams and W. E. McWill-
iams, and he has also done work iu Goshen,
Tuxedo, and many towns in Sullivan County,
and across the line in New Jersey. He is the
oldest practical plumber in the city, and his work
is always satisfactory.
Mr. Duryea was married, in Middletown, to
Jennette E. Mills, who was born in Blooming
burg, and who is a daughter of William H. Mills,
a farmer of that town. Two children have been
born unto them, Ethel R. and Alafair. Mr.
Duryea is interested in the Middletown Driving
Park Association, and is an honorary member of
Phcenix Hose Company No. 4, having served for
five years as an active member. In politics he
is a Republican, but has never aspired to local
office. Fraternally he is a member of the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Middletown
Lodge No. 112, and of Lancelot Lodge.

JAMUEL C. VAN VLIET, Jr. The princi
pal resident of Oxford, the one to whom the
management of its interests is largely due,
and whose devotion to its welfare has been the
source of its advancement, is the subject of this
notice, who is engaged in a general mercantile
business at this place, and is also Postmaster,
express agent and railroad agent for the Erie.
He is a man who, from an humble beginning,
has risen to a position of prominence in the
community, and who, while gaining a compe
tency, has not done so at the expense of others,
but throughout life has maintained a reputation
for probity and honor.
The Van Vliet family, as the name indicates, is
of Holland extraction, and the ancestors were
among the original settlers of New Amsterdam.
The father of our subject, Samuel, and grand
father, Alva, were born in Dutchess County,
N. Y., and were farmers by occupation, the

j former dying at the age of eighty-four years.
The mother of our subject, Keturah Owen, died
in 1858, at the age of fifty-nine years. Her
j eleven children were as follows: Lavinia, de-
1 ceased; Ann Eliza, Mrs. Franklin Bull; Martha
| R-, who married J. R. Hoffman, of West Vir-
| ginia, and is now deceased; James H.; Samuel
C; Lavinia B., Mrs. Henry Shaw, deceased;
William D., of Goshen; Esther and Charles E.,
who died in infancy; Chauncey O.jand Sarah
Frances, who is deceased.
The subject of this sketch was born in the
town of Blooming Grove, December 29, 1833,
and was reared on a farm until seventeen years
of age. His education has been gained rather by
practical observation and reading than by atten
dance at schools. At an early age he was ap
prenticed to the blacksmith's trade, at which he
worked five years, but discontinued it on account
of illness. Subsequently for two years he was
clerk in a railroad office, for three years was em
ployed in a dry-goods store at Monroe, and for
three years was in a general merchandise busi
ness for himself there. In March, 186 1, he came
to Oxford, where he has since engaged in general
merchandising, being the principal business man
ofthe vicinity.
In 1858 Mr. Van Vliet married Miss Euphemia
L- Jenkins, a native of Monroe and a daughter
of Ira and Millie (Smith) Jenkins, both deceased.
Two daughters bless their union. The elder,
Elsie J., is the wife of S. G. Lent, and has one
child, Helen Grace. The younger, Effie L. ,
lives at Chester, and is the wife of Fred L.
Conklin. Politically Mr. Van Vliet is a Republican, and
for thirty-four years has been Postmaster through
different political administrations. For four years,
from 1868 to 1872, hewas a member ofthe Board
of Supervisors, and one of its valued and active
workers. He does not advocate a gold stand
ard exclusively, but insists that it is neither wise
nor just to insist on gold as the only unit of
value. His membership is in the Presbyterian
Church, in which he has long been an active
worker. Since 1875 he has been an Elder, and
has taken part in most of the councils of the

1344

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

church for many years. His religion, however,
does not make him narrow-minded nor bigoted,
but he is liberal in his views and charitable in his
judgment of others. His character is a noble
one, thoughtful, considerate, just and energetic,
and the large measure of success which he has
gained belongs to him deservedly.

ROBERT A. SAYER, proprietor and mana
ger of the Crescent Steam Laundry at Mid
dletown, was born July i, 1867, in War
wick, where also his father, Andrew Sayer, was
boru. The latter was the youngest son of James
H. Sayer, who was also a native of that town, and
who married Sarah E. Courter, likewise a native
of Warwick. They resided there until 1868,
when they located in Middletown, where the fa
ther engaged in trucking, and had the contract
for lighting the street lamps. He died in May,
1885. For many years he was an earnest and
devoted member of the Baptist Church. Of their
family of nine children, seven are yet living, all
sons. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
Middletown, being only six months old when his
parents removed to this city. He was here edu
cated in the public schools and the academy, and
when thirteen years of age was thrown on his
own resources. He then accepted a position in
the store of Stephen Wolfe, merchant tailor and
dealer in men's furnishing goods, as a clerk, re
maining there five years. He then entered the
office of the Middletown Press, and learned the
printer's trade, being in the job department.
During the last six months hewas foreman ofthe
office, succeeding L. S. Stivers, when they started
the Times. He remained there until September
2, 1890, when his right hand was accidentally
caught in the bed of the big press, resulting iu
the loss of his thumb and three fingers. He was
laid up for three months, and on his recovery,
after having passed the civil-service examination,
he was appointed clerk in the postoffice, but on
account of the loss of his fingers he resigned six
weeks later.

Ou leaving the postoffice, he purchased the cigar
business of J. J. Kirkpatrick at No. 12 North
Street, which had been established forty-nine
years, but the trade of which had been allowed to
run down. He improved the business until he
had the best cigar trade in the city, and contin
ued in the business until June 11, 1895, when he
sold out. The following day he purchased the
laundry which he now operates. He does the
finest work in the country and has offices in all
the adjoining villages. The laundry, which is
located at No. 101 Fulton Street, has a frontage
of thirty feet and a depth of one hundred and
twenty-seven feet. About twenty hands are con
stantly employed, and two wagons are run for
city trade. A part of the shirts manufactured by
Millen & Co., of New York City, are laundried at
this establishment.
Mr. Sayer was married, July 24, 1889, in Mid
dletown, to Miss Effie Colville, who is a native
of this place and a daughter of Robert Colville.
They have one child, Harold. In politics Mr.
Sayer is an active Republican, and fraternally is
a member of the Knights of Pythias.

HJHZ

=+

I ENJAMIN BROWN WILLIAMS, of Mid-
A dletown, is a wholesale liquor dealer, and a
I jobber of foreign and domestic cigars. His
grandparents were Leonard andEleanora (Bullard)
Williams, the former a farmer in the town of New
burgh. They were of Welsh descent, and reared
a family of sixteen children, one of whom was
James, the father of our subject. When a mere
lad he left home and engaged as clerk for an uncle
in Auburn, N. Y., where he remained some two
or three years. Afterward he went to Monticello,
where for a time he clerked for James H. Foster,
and then purchased a store in partnership with
J. C. Holly, the partnership continuing for fifteen
years. During a portion of this time Mr. Will
iams served as Postmaster of the city. His mer
cantile career in that place covered a period of
thirty years. As Treasurer of Sullivan County,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1345

he served for a term of three years, and was re
elected four times in succession, serving in all
fifteen years.
Disposing of his interest in Sullivan County,
Mr. Williams came to Middletown in 1875, and
with the exception of a short time when he was
in partnership with the subject of this sketch in
the clothing and men's furnishing-goods trade,
lived a retired life. For two terms, or six years,
he served as Treasurer of Orange County. His
term of office expired January 1, 1891, and on
the 27th of that month he passed to the better
world. He was a life-long Democrat, and in Sul
livan County was a Master Mason. He married
Abigail Brown, who was born near Monticello,
and who was a daughter of Benjamin Brown,
whose birth occurred near Elmira, N. Y. Mrs.
Williams died in Middletown in 1886, at the age
of fifty-three years. In the parents' family were
four children: Nellie, Mrs. T. S. Tenny, of Jersey
City; Adelaide S., Mrs. Kernochan, of Middle-
town; Benjamin B., our subject; and James H.,
also of Middletown.
The subject of this sketch was born in Monti
cello in 1857, grew to manhood in his native city,
and was educated in the Monticello Academy,
from which he graduated.. Soon after coming to
this city with the family, he started in business
with his father, the partnership continuing until
the election of the latter as County Treasurer.
They then sold the establishment, and for two
years and a-half our subject assisted his father iu
the Treasurer's office. In 1886 he engaged in
the liquor business with his brother-in-law, T. S.
Tenny, under the firm name of Tenny & Will
iams, but in 1 891 he purchased the interest of
Mr. Tenny, and has since continued the business
alone. His present location is on James and
King Streets, where he has a fine brick building
22x100 feet in dimensions, the first floor and base
ment being occupied by himself. He conducts a
wholesale business exclusively. In April, 1895,
he was burned out, but he refitted his storeroom
in an elegant manner, and has the largest and
finest establishment in the city.
Mr. Williams was married, in Newburgh, to
Miss Minnie P. Goodale, born in Coldenham,

Orange County, and daughter of J. H. Goodale,
ex- Deputy Sheriff, aud ex -Superintendent of the
J Poor Farm of Orange County. They have one
child, Highland Goodale. In politics Mr. Will
iams is a Democrat. He served for a time in
Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, and
is interested in the Casino Theatre, and the Mid
dletown Ice Company. Mr. Williams is a lover
of fine horses, owning several fine specimens of
standard-bred trotters, and from its inception he
has been interested iu the Middletown Driving
Park Association. The family resides on West
Main Street.

<XI*******-fr****|i^****-fr-2-*-}-******X>
"^ ENJAMIN F. LOW. of Middletown, one of
C\ the leading attorneys of Orange County,
_J was bora in the town of Fallsburg, Sulli
van County, April 1, 1828. His grandfather,
John Low, was one of the French- Huguenots who
came from Holland and settled in Ulster County,
becoming one of its pioneers, and there lived and
died. His son, John A. Low, the father of our
subject, located at Fallsburg, Sullivan County,
where he was extensively engaged in farming until
his death, in 1862, when sixty -two years old.
His farm comprised four hundred acres of land,
which he had under a high state of cultivation.
In politics he was a Democrat. His wife, Char
lotte Drake, was born in the town of Neversink,
Sullivan County, and was a daughter of Jeremiah
Drake, a native of Connecticut. He married
Miss Phcebe Reynolds, a daughter of Henry
Reynolds, who was a prominent factor iu the
Revolutionary War. On one occasion the Tories
made an attack on Mr. Reynolds, and with swords
inflicted twenty-three wounds on his person, and
then hung him up in a chimney, leaving him for
dead. On leaving they stated they would shoot
the first one who came outside, but his daughter
Phcebe ran out, cut him down and resuscitated
him, and together they started for Washington's
camp, which they reached before morning.
Soldiers from the camp at ouce started in pursuit
of the Tories, whom they captured and shot.
Mr. Reynolds was in charge of all the munition

1346

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of war of the American army, and served until
the close of the conflict, then settling in Never
sink, Sullivan County, where he died, his re
mains being interred in Pound Hill Cemetery.
Jeremiah Drake was in the cavalry service in
the Revolutionary War, and at its close settled
in Sullivan County, where he engaged in farming
until his death. Mrs. Charlotte Low died in
1850, leaving two children, Henry- R. and Ben
jamin F. The former was County Judge of Sul
livan County for several years, and was a mem
ber of the Assembly and Senate of New York for
twelve years. At the time of his death, Decem
ber 1, 1888, he was President of the Senate.
Politically he was a thorough Republican.
Benjamin F. Low grew to manhood in his
native county, received his primary education in
the public schools, and at the age of eighteen
commenced teaching, in which occupation he
continued for some years. Until twenty-one he
taught school during the winter months, and as
sisted on the farm the remainder of the year.
With his brother, he opened a select school at
Monticello, which was the foundation of the
Monticello Academy. This school was continued
until 1850, when he engaged in farming and lum
bering in the town of Liberty, on the home farm,
which comprised about four hundred acres. On
the farm was a sawmill, which he operated in
the manufacture of lumber, drawing it to Ellen
ville, and thence shipping it by canal to various
markets. He carried on this industry quite ex
tensively until 1859, when he began the study of
law under O. Porter, at Homer, N. Y. Three
years later he was admitted to the Bar at Bing
hamton, Broome County, and at once located at
Monticello, as a partner of his brother, under the
firm name of Low & Low. This partnership
continued during the war and up to 1870, when
his brother's private business had become so ex
tensive that his removal was rendered necessary,
and he therefore opened an office in New York
City. Our subject continued alone until 1873,
when he located in Middletown and continued
the practice of his profession. Shortly afterwards
he was admitted to practice before the courts of
New Jersey at Trenton. He then located in

New York City, and again formed a partnership
with his brother, at No. 120 Broadway, which
continued until the removal of his brother to
Pittsburg. While in New York his practice was
very extensive, but failing health necessitated his
removal, and in 1877 he returned to Middletown,
opened an office there, and in 1886 erected the
Low Building, where he has been located since
1887. The building has a frontage of fifty feet
and a depth of ninety feet, and comprises three
stories and basement, the first floor of which is
used for stores, the second for law offices, and the
third for lodge rooms. His residence is at No.
100 Highland Avenue, where he has the finest
well of water in Orange County.
Mr. Low has tried a great many important
cases to a successful issue, and has been one ofthe
leading attorneys, not alone of Orange County,
but of the entire state. He has had as many as
fifty cases on the calendar at one time. He
makes a specialty of no particular line of practice,
but transacts a general law business in both
civil and criminal courts. His practice extends
throughout Orange, Sullivan, Delaware and
Westchester Counties, New York City aud into
New Jersey. He has quite an extensive prac
tice in the United States Courts. At the present
time, however, he tries to confine himself as
much as possible to office work as a counselor.
In 1850 Mr. Low was united in marriage, in
the town of Liberty, Sullivan County, to Miss
Harriet A. Porter, a native of that town, and
daughter of Granville Porter, a native of Con
necticut, and a large farmer and lumberman of
the town of Liberty. Five children were born
unto them, four of whom grew to maturity, and
two are now living. Heury R. , an attorney-at-law,
practiced his profession for some time at Atchi
son, Kan., and at the corner of Reed Street and
Broadway, New York City. He died in 1890, in
the latter city, at the age of thirty-nine years.
Walter, who was a literary man and good com
poser, died in 1883, at the age of thirty years.
Mary C. is at home. Carrie is deceased. John A.,
who was educated at Wallkill Academy, is now
assisting in his father's office.
Mr. Low has been quite prominent in the af-

HARRV m. waring.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1349

fairs of Middletown, and has contributed exten
sively in its upbuilding, especially in the north
ern part of Highland Avenue and along Wat
kins, Royce and Wisner Avenues and Beacon
Street. He has always been a liberal contrib
utor towards everything calculated to improve
his adopted city, and helps every good cause
financially. In politics he is a Republican, hav
ing advocated the principles of that party since
i860, prior to which date he was a Democrat.

HARRY M. WARING has the reputation, of
being a strictly first-class business man, re
liable and energetic, and is now proprietor
ofthe Newburgh Ice Company. He was born in
the town of Newburgh, October 13, 1865, and is
a son of Daniel S. and Phebe A. (Moffat) War
ing, the former born in the town of Newburgh,
and the latter in the town of Blooming Grove.
The mother departed this life in 1889, leaving a
son and daughter.
Daniel S. Waring remained upon the home farm
until 1853, when he embarked in the coffee and
spice business in Brooklyn, and in the year that
Newburgh became a city he located here, erect
ing a coffee and spice mill, which he operated for
one year. He then entered the firm of D. S. &
C. S. Lockwood, in the coal business, and in
1873 succeeded those gentlemen in the proprietor
ship ofthe yard on Mailler* s Dock. In 1885 he
opened a coal-yard on the corner of Lake Street
and Broadway, and in 1890 George S. Weller
was admitted to partnership. The following year
Mr. Waring sold out his interest in the other yard
to W. O. Mailler, and became a large stockhold
er and Trustee in the Kilmer Manufacturing Com
pany. In 1885, in connection with our subject,
he organized the Newburgh Ice Company, and
five years later purchased the Walsh Paper Mill
property, where he commenced the manufacture
of ice by the Pictet process.
Daniel S. Waring was a stockholder and Sec
retary of the Newburgh Highland Hotel Com
pany, which erected the large building afterward
known as the Baldwin House, and The Leslie,

and is a Trustee of the Newburgh Savings Bank,
and a Director of the Highland National Bank.
He has given his aid and influence to many pub
lic movements, and does all he can to encourage the
growth and prosperity of the city. From the or
ganization of the Board of Trade he was its Pres
ident until a few years ago, when he declined the
position in favor of Robert Whitehill. He has
been foremost in all the good work the Board has
accomplished, and rendered invaluable service in
securing the removal ofthe Kilmer Manufacturing
Company to Newburgh. He is a member of the
Newburgh Real-estate Company, which purchased
the Roe property, between Grand and Montgom
ery Streets, now occupied by a number of hand
some dwellings and the Misses Mackie' s large
boarding-school. He built a number of fine dwell
ings on Grand Street, and has otherwise dealt
considerably in real estate. In 1872 Mr. Waring
represented the Third Ward on the Board of Su
pervisors, and afterwards served for twelve terms
on the Board.
On the death of Dr. Forsyth he was chosen
President ofthe Woodlawn Cemetery Association,
which office he still holds, and he is also Elder in
the First Presbyterian Church of Newburgh. In
1 89 1 he was appointed by Mayor Doyle as Alder
man from the Third Ward to fill a vacancy.
Almost the entire life of Harry M. Waring has
been passed in the city of Newburgh, from whose
academy he graduated in 1882, and is now a
member of the Alumni Association. On leaving
school he engaged in the coal business at the cor
ner of Third and Front Streets in connection with
his father, being quite successful, but in 1889 dis
posed of the same in order to give more attention
to the manufacture of ice. As before stated, the
Newburgh Ice Company was formed in 1885, and
it has since grown to extensive proportions. The
plant is located at No. 442 Broadway, occupies
five acres from Broadway to First Street, and is
supplied with a ninety-horse-power engine and
boiler. The ice is made by the Pictet process,
and they can turn out fifteen tons per day. Dur
ing the busy season twenty hands are employed,
and the ice is delivered all through the city and
suburbs. In 1892 our subject became sole pro-

I35Q

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

prietor, now having complete charge of the ex
tensive business, with a main office at the place of
manufacture and another on Front Street.
Mr. Waring was married, in Newburgh, to
Miss Jessie Chambers, of which place she is a
native, and they now reside at No. 6 Dubois
Street. He is a prominent member of the Mason
ic order, belonging to Hudson River Lodge No.
607, F. & A. M.; Highland Chapter No. 52, R.
A. M.; Hudson River Commandery No. 35, K.
T. ; and Mecca Temple, M. O. M. S., of New
York City. For seven years he has been a mem
ber of the Ringgold Hose Company, and is a
charter member ofthe City Club, of which he has
served as Secretary since January, 1894, being
one of its leading and most popular members.
Mr. Waring is President ofthe Newburgh branch
of the New York Mutual Savings and Loan Asso
ciation, which office he held at the time of its or
ganization here, and is also connected with the
Newburgh Building and Loan Association. From
1885 to 1888 he was Assistant Secretary and
Treasurer of the Orange Comity Agricultural
Society. In 1894 he held the same position, and
in the fall of that year was elected Treasurer. Po
litically he is a loyal adherent of the principles of
the Republican party, while in religious faith he
is a Presbyterian, belonging to the First Presby
terian Church of Newburgh.

=!2*fec

3 AMES SHAFER, a farmer in the town of
Crawford, was born December 2, 1826, on
the farm that he now owns. He was second
iu a family of three children born to John aud
Hannah (Confort) Shafer, both of whom were
natives of the town of Crawford, and who spent
their entire lives here. The parents of John
Shafer were natives of Orange County aud were
among the early settlers of this region. To John
Shafer and his first wife, Hannah Confort, were
born three children. Frederick, a farmer in the
town of Crawford, married Harriet Linderman, a
daughter of Absalom Linderman. After a few
months of married life she died, and Mr. Shafer
chose for his second wife Mary Smith, of Che

nango County, N. Y., by whom he has three
children living. James, our subject, was next in
order of birth. Ruth Elizabeth is now the wife
of William Weller, a farmer in the town of Craw
ford. They have two sons and two daughters.
John Shafer had no children by his second wife,
Phcebe Maria Confort, a sister of his former wife.
The father was quite successful in life, and a mem
ber of the Presbyterian Church. The mother of
our subject belonged to the Reformed Church.
The parents were earnest Christian people, whose
memory is cherished by all who knew them. The
father died at the age of eighty, and the mother
when sixty-one years old.
The subject of this sketch remained with his
parents until their death, when he inherited the
old homestead. On the 4th of March, 1880, he
married Miss Elizabeth Weller, daughter of Peter
and Margaret (Elder) Weller. The former was
born in the town of Montgomery, and came to
Crawford with his parents when he was two years
old. He remained on the farm until his death,
when seventy years of age. He was greatly re
spected by all acquaintances and beloved by his
friends, and at his death he was deeply mourned,
all feeling that a kind friend had left them. He
was known as "Uncle Peter" the county -round.
His parents were born in the town of Montgom
ery , but were of Holland-Dutch extraction. The
mother of Mrs. Shafer was born in the town of
Crawford, and her death occurred at the age of
seventy-six. Her parents, the grandparents of
Mrs. Shafer, were also born in the town of Craw
ford, but were of Irish and German extraction.
Mrs. Shafer' s mother was a descendant of Rev.
Joseph Houston, first minister of the Goodwill
Church of Montgomery, Orange County. To Peter
and Margaret Weller were born ten children, as
follows: George, deceased, formerly a farmer of
this town; William, a resident of Crawford; Eliz-
beth, Mrs. Shafer, Catherine Sinclair, who died
in infancy; Charles, a resident of Bullville; Peter,
a resident of Colorado; Susan Jenueatte.who mar
ried H. H. Brown, aud is living in Brooklyn; John
Seibert, of Norfolk, Va. ; Joseph Wilkin and Sid
ney, both deceased.
To James Shafer and wife has been born one

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i35i

son, John Weller Shafer, who was born April
12, 1881, and who yet resides at home. Polit
ically our subject is a Democrat, and at present
occupies the position of Excise Commissioner of
the town. Both he and his wife are members of
the Presbyterian Church. The home farm, which
'consists of one hundred and seven acres, has been
in the family a great many years. Among the
old families of Orange County none are held in
higher esteem than that of the subject of this
sketch.

55-^— '
REV. ROBERT BRUCE CLARK is one of
the most popular clergymen of Orange Coun
ty, and is highly esteemed in the commu
nity where it has been his good fortune to be lo
cated since the beginning of 1886. He has varied
abilities and many accomplishments, which have
been devoted to the benefit of his church, the
village in which he resides, and to the entire
western section of the county, where his influence
is felt. As preacher and pastor he is warmly
commended by those who know him and his work
most intimately. Executive ability of a rare na
ture is manifested aud marked by the smooth and
successful work of his large church and in the
operation of many enterprises in which Mr. Clark
has been interested. Many of the substantial
interests of the village of Goshen have been
planned and promoted by his untiring industry,
among which might be mentioned the Music
Hall, the Goshen Library, the Electric-light
Company and the Goshen Vocal Society, whose
reputation has gone out into, the musical circles
of the country. Mr. Clark has exhibited skill
and prudence, and has shown himself such a
man of affairs that he commands the respect and
confidence of the business interests, with whose
co-operation he has im»de himself seemingly in
dispensable to the beautiful and aristocratic coun
ty seat.
Mr. Clark comes ofa patriotic and distinguished
family. His great-grandsire was a hero of the
Revolutionary War, and his grandfather, Israel
Clark, for many years a well known and re

spected resident of New York City, inherited a
strong and upright character. Mr. Clark was
the second son aud last child of William H. Clark
and Elizabeth S. Munn, and was born in New
ark, N. J., September 22, 1852. The only other
offspring of this union was a brother, now a well
known and successful physician, Dr. W. B. Clark,
of New York City. On his mother's side the
ancestry was also distinguished. She was the
eldest child of Albert Munn, for many years
identified with the public affairs of Newark and
a man of ample means. Her grandfather was
Judge Munn, a jurist of wide reputation both in
his own state and throughout the Middle States.
Mr. Clark, therefore, was fortunate in his ances
try. His mother was a woman of great accom
plishment as a lady, a scholar and a musician.
His father, who was an officer in. the Civil War
for three years, was seriously wounded, being
confined to the hospital for several weeks, aud
was mustered out of the service with distinction.
Afterward he became a leading factor in the
Grand Army of the Republic. Itwas thus that
the subject of this sketch was early impressed with
the influences that have asserted their effects in
his own public life. Those who have heard Mr.
Clark's voice upon a patriotic occasion (for he
is frequently in demand for addresses upon Lin
coln's anniversary, Washington's birthday and
Memorial Day) will understand the vigor of his
patriotism and sturdy Americanism.
Mr. Clark felt the bent of commercial pursuits,
and at the age of fourteen entered a large whole
sale commission house in the hosiery aud woolen
trade in New York. At seventeen he occupied a
responsible position, taking charge ofthe receiv
ing and shipping department of the firm, the
volume of whose business was $2,000,000 annu
ally. Not long after uniting with the Presbyte
rian Church the desire to enter college and pre
pare for the ministry asserted itself. For this
purpose Mr. Clark left business, sacrificing- thus
unmistakable prospects of commercial success and
wealth, and fitted himself in the preparatory
studies under private tutors, covering all the re
quirements in twelve months' time, and entered
the Class of '76 at Amherst College. While

1352

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

there he was a member of the Alexandria Society
and of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He was
college organist during his course; leader of the
choir and of the glee club the last two years, and
graduated in the honorary division of his class.
Then he entered Union Theological Seminary,
and completed his studies in divinity in the spring
of 1879. The Presbytery of Newark licensed
him to preach, and he at once went West and was
ordained by the Presbytery of Waterloo and in
stalled pastoi of the Presbyterian Church at State
Centre, Iowa, in October, 1879. After a pastor
ate of four years, which was singularly successful,
he became pastor of the Forty-first Street Pres
byterian Church of Chicago. From this field of
labor Mr. Clark was invited to become the suc
cessor of Dr. Snodgrass, a man of great eminence,
in the pastorate of the large and influential Pres
byterian Church of Goshen. His ministry- in
this charming village began in January, 1886.
Mr. Clark is the tenth pastor in succession (now
in his tenth year of incumbency) of this church,
which has just celebrated its one hundred and
seventy-fifth anniversary with a fitting jubilee.
After graduating from the seminary, Mr. Clark
married Miss Adelaide Roome, the eldest daugh
ter of Lewis E. Clark, of Plainfield, N. J. Four
children, three sons and one daughter, have
blessed their union. In addition to his accumu
lated duties as a busy pastor of a large congrega
tion, and the many demands upon him from his
own community and from repeated calls to min
isterial service outside his own town, Mr. Clark
has been able to devote considerable of his time
to music. This is noticeable in the services of
his own church, where upon special occasions it
has been of a very high order. The name of
Goshen has become famous as the center of the
best musical influence. This is due to the pres
tige and concerts of the Goshen Vocal Society,
which was organized in 1887 by Mr. Clark, and
has been directed by him with signal social and
artistic success ever since. The standard and
classical works of the great composers are ren
dered by this society under the able conductor-
ship of Mr. Clark every season, with the use of
the most affluent accessories. In the line of this

recreation Mr. Clark has extended his acquaint
ance and usefulness over a large territory, yet
without detriment to his reputation as a warm
hearted friend and pastor and an eloquent and
forcible preacher. His apparently inexhaustible
energy and fertility of resource are richly es
teemed by the people of his village, who delight
to do him honor.

SHARLES H. BRINK. A representative of
the young business men of Middletown, to
whose energy the city is largely indebted
for its recent progress, and through whose wise
policy it will undoubtedly broaden its commercial **
activity in the coming years, Charles H. Brink is
justly entitled to rank among the successful and
prominent citizens of the place. The plumbing,
steam and gas fitting establishment of which he
is the owner and proprietor is situated at No. 14
King Street, where the building, 20x85 feet. is
stocked with a full line of everything pertaining
to the business. Employment is furnishd to eight
or ten plumbers, whose work is guaranteed to be
first-class. In this way the most satisfactory re
sults are secured for every customer.
The history of the Brink family is given in the
sketch of Leander Brink, father of Charles H.,
presented on another page. Our subject, who is
the only child of his parents, was born in the
town of Wallkill, September 14, i860, and was
reared iu Middletown, receiving his education in
Wallkill Academy, from which hewas graduated
at the age of eighteen. He then took a position
in his father's hardware store, where he learned
the tinsmith's trade and became a practical work
man. In December, 1889, he left the employ of
Brink & Clark and embarked in his present en
terprise, buying out Vanduzer Brothers. He
has since carried on an increasing business, and
has become known as a judicious and energetic
business man. He has had the contract for
plumbing in many of the most substantial and
elegant residences of Middletown, among them

JOHN J. POPPINO.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1355

(JOHN J. POPPINO. The gentleman whose
I honored name appears at the head of this
\J sketch is a representative of the men of ener
gy, ability and enterprise who have made Orange
County so prominent in the state. His name is
associated with agriculture as one who has made
a success of tilling the soil, and as one who has
helped to improve the stock of the county by
careful breeding. He is greatly interested in
dairy farming, which branch of husbandry he finds
to be very profitable.
A native of this county, our subject was born
December 12, 1853, and is the eldest son of James
G. and Frances (Hulse) Poppino, also natives of
this county. The father's birth occurred on the
estate where his son, our subject, now makes his
home. He was also an agriculturist of promi
nence aud high standing in the community, and
although quiet and unassuming in manner, his
death, which occurred in August, 1894, was
59

those of I. C. Jordan, B. F. Low, Albert Bull,
Frank Harding, Nathan Hallock, R. M. Smiley,
Alton J. Vail, C. E. Gardner, James A. Clark,
W. N. Knapp, W. H. Knapp, H. H. Crane,
E. T. Hanford, Clarence Sweezy, Mrs. E. K. Reed
and F. McWilliams. In addition to his work in
this city, he has also had contracts for work in
the cities of Goshen, Montgomery and Monroe.
In Rochester, this state, Mr. Brink married
Miss Sarah Douglass, who was born in Mt. Hope,
this county, and is a daughter of James Douglass.
Mr. and Mrs. Brink, with their children, Will
iam D., Harry and Bessie, occupy a pleasant
residence at No. 24 Wickham Avenue. The
various enterprises inaugurated for the promotion
of the welfare of the people receive the cordial
and substantial support of our subject, and he
may at all times be relied upon to aid in worthy
projects. He is a member ofthe Orange County
Telephone Company, and of the Middletown &
Bloomingburg Traction Company. He is intel
ligently informed regarding the great public
questions of the age, and in politics favors the
platform adopted by the Republican party.

greatly felt in the community where his entire
life had been passed. He attended strictly to his
own affairs, aud was contented with the results
of his labors. The family is of French-Huguenot
descent, and an old one in the county, and its
various members, who have taken a prominent
part in local affairs, are deserving of the respect
which has been accorded them. The first ofthe
name who is known to have located in the coun
ty was one Major Poppino, a Revolutionary offi
cer, who took up his abode in this portion of the
state prior to the outbreak of that war.
The mother of our subject is still living, at the age
of sixty -six years. John J. received his primary
education in the district schools, and subsequently
took a course of study in the academy at Goshen.
He was reared 011 the home farm, and when ready
to begin in life for himself very naturally chose
this as his vocation. When twenty-three years
of age he left the parental roof and located on the
tract of one hundred and sixteen acres where he
is at present residing. This farm has been iu the
family for nearly one hundred years, the grand
father having purchased the place in 1823. It is
very productive, being cultivated after the most
approved methods, and is adorned with a neat set
of. buildings, including a substantial residence,
pleasantly located and conveniently arranged. In
addition to the dairy business Mr. Poppino is in
terested in the growing of onions.
October 4, 1876, our subject and Miss Cather
ine B. Elston were united in marriage. The lady
was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Space)
Elston, natives of this county. Of their union
four children were boru: Carrie A., James G.,
Elizabeth E. and Agnes, all at home. The wife
and mother departed this life September 10, 1885,
and December 19, 1889, our subject married
Mary C, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Pop
pino) Roe, of Florida, N. Y. To them has been
born a daughter, Sarah Helen. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Poppino are members of the Presbyterian
Church of Florida, in which the former is Elder.
In politics he casts his vote with the Democratic
party. He takes a great interest in political mat
ters, and for several years past has been Election
Inspector. With intelligent conception of his du-

1356

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ties as a citizen, with a feeling of good- will toward
mankind, and a deep regard for his family, he en
deavors to honorably fulfill all the duties which
devolve upon him, and in so doing has gained
the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.

*>=0^^

WON. JOSEPH D. FRIEND, M. D. Not
only has Middletown gained prominence as
a commercial centre, but in the professions,
in literature, science and art, it has given many
noble thinkers and workers to the world. In
these latter departments its reputation has been
heightened by the labors of Dr. Friend, for many
years one of its most honored residents. It may
be said, and with justice, of Dr. Friend, that as
a legislator he was incorruptible and liberal-
spirited; as a physician, skilled; as a medical
lecturer, profound; as an editor, discriminating
and full of resources; and as a writer, terse, clear,
fluent and entertaining. His death, which oc
curred February 19, 1889, was a loss to the pro
fession he had honored aud to the city whose
welfare he had promoted.
The Friend family originated in England aud
is in the direct line of descent from Sir John
Friend, whose life in the service of the British
Government is a matter of history and dates back
to 1687. In the fierce struggles of opposing fac
tions, contests between Catholics and Protestants,
rendered the lives of legislators exceedingly diffi
cult and dangerous. From him descended the
coat-of-arms in the Friend family in Gloucester,
Mass., now in a good state of preservation, al
though yellow with age. The next in descent
was Dr. John Friend, a few of whose many writ
ings are as follows: "Nine Commentaries upon
Fevers and Two Epistles Concerning the Small
pox;" "Emnenologea," written in Latin, and
translated into English by Thomas Dale, M. D.,
who said: "I am not ignorant of how difficult a
task I assumed iu attempting to translate so
masterly a writer, who by his polite discourses
has done honor to our country and profession."

Some of these writings are in the possession of the
Friend family in Middletown. He was appointed
Physician to the Queen in 1828, and the papers
giving this appointment were in the Friend fam
ily at a late date.
The Doctor's father, Solomon, was a son of
Richard Friend, and was born in Massachusetts,
where his entire life was passed and where, at an
advanced age, he died in Gloucester. He mar
ried Belinda Richmond Dunham, whose father at
one time owned Martha's Vineyard, and they be
came the parents of seven children. Joseph D.,
who was the youngest ofthe family, was born in
Salem, Mass., November 12, 1819, and passed
his youthful years in his native place, receiving
his primary education in the common schools.
Afterward he went to Hartford, Conn., where he
prepared for college, and when quite young he
matriculated as a student in Madison University.
His devotion to his studies, while it brought him
a high grade in scholarship, injured his health to
such an extent as to force him to leave college.
Restored to health through the skill of Dr.
Isaac Sperry, then a prominent physician of New
England, our subject afterward began the study
of medicine under that gentleman, and a few ¦
years later he was graduated with honors from
the Metropolitan Medical College of New York.
In 1842 he came to Middletown, and here he
spent the most of the intervening years until his
death. Soon after settling in this city he became
the editor of the Middletown Mercury, with which
he was connected about five years, and afterward
he published and edited the Middletown Mail for
many years. His editorials attracted widespread
attention, aud his views upon political questions,
while decidedly Democratic in their tenor, won
not only the enthusiastic endorsement of his
party, but the admiration of the opposing politi
cal organization. ",'
From 1852 until 1854 Dr. Friend was editor-
in-chief of the Medical four nal of Reform, pub
lished iu New York. During this period he was
also Professor of Obstetrics in the college from
which he was graduated. While the positions of
editor and professor would seem to demand rad
ically differing characteristics, yet in both he

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1357

achieved remarkable success. His lectures, al
though prepared for undergraduates, attracted
even physicians in practice, and young men from
other institutions often came there to hear him.
It is said of him that he won the friendship, as
well as the admiration, of every student. Multi
plicity of duties never caused him to lose that
geniality of manner which was one of his dis
tinguishing characteristics. When he retired from
the professorship it was with sincere regret on
the part of the students and other members of the
faculty. In fields of public activity, too, the name of
Dr. Friend was well known. In 1877 he served
as a Member of the New York State Assembly,
and in that responsible position was able to ren
der lasting service in behalf of his constituents.
He was a pioneer in the cause of popular free
education, and a prime mover in the founding
and maintenance of public libraries. Socially he
identified himself with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. He was a man of sincere Chris
tian faith, upright and consistent character, and
though gifted far above most men, he delighted
in the society of others, and his companionable
nature won the regard of his associates.
November 12, 1843, at Middletown, Dr. Friend
was united in marriage with Miss Susan A. Cole
man, who was born in this city, as was also her
father, Charles Coleman. The Coleman family
was founded in this country by five brothers who
came hither from Wales at the time of the Revo
lutionary War, and made settlement iu Orange
County. Her grandfather, Samuel Coleman, was
born in the town of Warwick, but made his home
iu the town of Wallkill, where he became a
wealthy farmer. He was a man of the greatest
integrity of character, an enemy to vice and in
temperance even in those early days. "He loved
his fellow-men. ' ' Many incidents are remembered
of his kindliness of heart and great benevolence.
He had only two faults, great pride and a hasty
temper. He married Elizabeth Burt, who was of
French descent and belonged to one of the prom
inent families of the county. They had three
children, Annie, Harry and Charles. Annie mar
ried Thomas Welling, who came ofa wealthy and

leading family of Warwick. Harry and Charles,
both very young men at their father's death,
opened a store in Mt. Hope, but Harry later set
tled in Newburgh and Charles in Middletown.
Harry had two beautiful daughters, Anna M. and
Harriet E., and two sons. Mrs. Dr. Barclay and
W. W. H. Armstrong, of Newburgh, are his
great-grandchildr«i. The wife of Charles Coleman, Catherine, was
born in Sullivan County, N. Y., and was a daugh
ter of Thomas and Susanna (DeCamp) Norris,
natives, respectively, of Morristown and Newark,
N. J. The latter's father, Dr. John DeCamp,
accompanied General La Fayette from France dur
ing the Revolutionary War, in which he served
as Surgeon. At the batttle of Trenton he was
shot from his horse and killed, and a few hours
afterward a riderless horse returned to his old
home. His wife died three years after his death.
She was a granddaughter of Samuel Sanford, of
Newark, N. J., where many of both the DeCamp
and Sanford families now reside.
The Norris family is of Scotch origin, but was
early established in New Jersey. Subsequently
grandfather Thomas Norris settled in Sullivan
County, N. Y., but the large tracts of land he
owned there were so wholly destitute of improve
ment that he removed to the town of Mt. Hope,
in Orange County. There Mrs. Coleman was
reared and educated. After her husband's death
she continued to reside in Middletown, where she
reared her children, fitting them for honorable
positions in the world. Hers was a beautiful
character, and her memory is sacred to her de
scendants. She passed away at the age of eighty-
three. Mrs. Friend is one of seven children, of whom
six attained years of maturity, namely: Mrs. Julia
Stubbs. who died in Wellsboro, Pa. ; Adeline,
who married George W. Bailey, and resides in
Great Bend, N. Y. ; Augustus Ludlow, formerly a
farmer near Milwaukee, Wis., where he died;
Oliver Perry, for many years Postmaster of Mid
dletown, where his death occurred; Thomas
N., who served in a Wisconsin regiment for three
years during the Civil War, and afterward re
turned to Orange Countv where he died; and

1358

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Susan, Mrs. Friend. The last-named was reared
in Middletown, receiving her education in Wall-
kill Academy. She has been a member, of the
First Presbyterian Church of this place since
childhood, and is warmly interested in every en
terprise that will elevate mankind. Her tastes
are refined, and in literary ability she was the
peer of her gifted husband. Their children, too,
are unusually gifted intellectually and have at
tained positions of prominence in the literary
world. The two daughters, Catherine Dunham
and Anna, are connected editorially with L' Art
de la Mode office at No. 3 East Nineteenth
Street, New York City, aud the former is also
editor of the fashion columns of the New York
Evening Post, while the latter has attained signal
success as a writer of original stories. The eldest
son, Dr. Frederick N. Friend, who was a soldier in
the Union army during the Civil War, is now a
practicing dentist of Middletown. The second
son, Herbert S., was lost at sea, and the young
est sons, William and James W. , are reporters in
New York City.

(TAMES H. CONKLING, who is proprietor
I of a tin and hardware store at No. 9 Depot
(2/ Street, Middletown, is a member of the fam
ily to which the illustrious statesman, Roscoe
Conkling, belonged. He was born in Newburgh,
in March, 1844, being a son of James R. and
Frances W. (Parshall) Conkling, natives of this
county, who died and were buried in Goshen.
His father was born near Conkliugtown, named
in honor of the family, and grew to manhood
there, afterward going to Newburgh aud engag
ing in the hotel business. Later he came to Mid
dletown, where the closing years of his life were
spent. The family of James R. and Frances W. Conk
ling consisted of four sons and three daughters,
and three of the number are living. John Au
gustus and William H. served in the Union army
during the Civil War, the former belonging to a

Wisconsin regiment, and the latter being a mem
ber of a Pennsylvania regiment; both are de
ceased. James H., who was next to the young
est of the family, came to Middletown with his
parents when he was seven years of age, and here
he attended the old Orchard Street School for
some time. At the age of thirteeii he was ap
prenticed to the tinsmith's trade under Joseph
Crawford, with whom he remained for one year,
after which he was with A. C. King for five years.
He then was hired by Scott Brothers, and later
was foreman in a shop at Westtown for two years.
On his return to Middletown, he took a position
with Armstrong & Lyon, being their foreman for
five years. In 1878 he embarked in business for
himself, occupying for the first eight months a
shop adjacent to his present store at No. 9 Depot
Street. He carries a full line of tinware and
hardware, stoves, pumps and house-furnishing
goods. He has made a specialty of tin and sheet-
iron roofing, and does more than one-half of the
work in that line in the city, as well as some in
neighboring villages. His manufacturing depart
ment is situated on the second floor of his store.
Among the buildings for which Mr. Conkling
has held the contracts for roofing, may be men
tioned the Howell & Hinchman tannery, Ontario
& Western shops, Eagle Hose Company's build
ing, the Armory, Casino Theatre, Russell House,
Academy Building, Wallkill House and Ontario
Hose building. As a business man he is sturdy,
progressive, honest and capable, and bears a rep
utation for probity which has never been assailed.
At one time a Republican, he now affiliates with
the Democratic party, and is a member of the City
Democratic Committee, and has served as a dele
gate to county and congressional conventions. In
1887 he was Collector ofthe town of Wallkill and
village of Middletown. In 1892 he was elected,
on the Democratic ticket, to represent the Fourth
Ward on the Board of Aldermen, and served for
one term of two years, retiring in 1894. -Since
the organization of the Homestead Building and
Loan Association he has been one of its Trustees.
Socially he is connected with the Knights of
Honor, and in religious matters, while not iden
tified with any denomination, attends the First

?I*

'llfefc ". ¦/ i

i  :

THOMAS H. ORAM.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 361

Baptist Church. He is a member of the Board
of Trade, and formerly belonged to Excelsior
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.
In Gardnerville, this county, Mr. Conkling
married Miss Phcebe C. Tuthill, a native of the
town of Minisink, and six children bless their
union, namely: George M.; John W., who mar
ried a daughter of Dr. James D. Johnston, and
is employed as a mail-carrier in the Middletown
Postoffice; Arthur, who is a tinsmith by trade,
and is assisting his father in the store; Eugene;
Alice A., who is married and lives in this city;
and Addie. Mrs. Conkling is a daughter of
Abraham P. Tuthill, a farmer of this county.
She had three brothers, George M., Eugene aud
William, who served in the Union army as mem
bers of a western regiment, and all died soon
after the close of that memorable conflict.

i^»i ii 1 1 1 1 1 1

f I ' I I L-»

"HOMAS H. ORAM. Since the close ofthe
war Mr. Oram has been a resident of Ft.
Montgomery, town of Highland, where he
is now officiating as Postmaster, and is also car
rying on a general mercantile business. For
twenty-three years he was closely associated with
the Forest of Dean Iron Ore Company's works,
of which he was general superintendent. Dur
ing the long period of his residence here he has
been distinguished for the uprightness and hon
esty of his business transactions, as well as for his
firmness of convictions and unflinching integrity.
The ancestors of Mr. Oram were of English
birth and were natives of Cornwall. His father,
Thomas, was born in that county, and there
learned the trade of a mining engineer, which
he made his life work. After his marriage he
came to America and resided in Pennsylvania for
one year, then returned to England for his fam
ily, bringing them back with him to Pennsyl
vania. He continued to reside there until 1849,
when he removed to New Jersey aud began work
in the Boonton Iron Works of Fuller, Lord &
Co. , remaining with them for six years. Going
from there to St. Lawrence County, he was con
nected with the Rossie Lead Works. Later he

went to Tennessee and assisted in opening the
copper mines in Ducktown, Polk County, but
subsequently returned to New Jersey and con
tinued to make his home on his farm until he
died, at the age of eighty-two. His wife, who
bore the maiden name of Ann Gundry, is now
eighty years old, and makes her home on a large
farm in New Jersey, which was bequeathed her
by her husband.
Thirteen children comprised the family of
Thomas and Ann Oram, and it is a notable fact
that all of them attained mature years, none dy
ing under twenty-three years of age. Thomas
H., our subject, is the eldest; Elizabeth lives in
New Jersey; Benjamin is deceased; Lovdie and
Alice make their home in New Jersey ; Joseph is
dead; Frank is a farmer of Central Valley ; Rob
ert, who was an agriculturist by occupation, went
West and died in Colorado; Serena is the wife of
George Connell, an insurance agent of Central
Valley; and Louisa married Dr. Dalrymple, a
well known physician of New York City.
The subject of this sketch was boru in Corn
wall, England, February 22, 1837, an(l was
brought to this country when a child. Passing
his early years in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
New York, he received excellent educational ad
vantages in the schools of those states. His
tastes led him to adopt his father's occupation,
and he soon became an expert mining engineer,
having gained a thorough knowledge of every
detail of the business when only seventeen years
old. Before he was twenty he had charge of
public works, filling with efficiency a position of
great responsibility. For some time he was em
ployed in the copper mines of Tennessee, forty
miles east of Cleveland, Tenn.
Upon attaining his majority, Mr. Oram started
out for himself, going to Chattanooga, Tenn.,
where he opened the coal mines on the Nash
ville & Chattanooga Railroad. Thence he went
to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, aud for one year
was engaged in the iron mines near Massillou,
after which for three years he was in the coal
business in Pennsylvania. In 1864 he connected
himself with Colonel Almy of the Union army,
and served until the close of the war, his services

1362

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

being of great practical help by reason of his
knowledge aud experience as a mining engineer.
Soon after peace was declared he came to Ft.
Montgomery and took charge of the Forest of
Dean Iron Ore Works, near this place, being con
nected with that enterprise for the ensuing twen
ty-three years. Meantime he took a trip to Mex
ico and investigated the gold and silver mines
there. On retiring from his connection with the iron
ore company, Mr. Oram embarked in the mer
cantile business, which he has since conducted.
He also has charge of the postoffice, which he has
in his store. Aside from his other interests, he is
connected with the Ramapo Water Works, and
his advice in matters of a public nature is of
much value. Just before he went to Ohio he was
united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Green, of
Maine, and they are the parents of a son and
daughter, Thomas and Alice, both at home. So
cially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity,
while in political matters he is inclined to be in
dependent and liberal, supporting the men best
qualified for office, irrespective of political ties.

_5 — y. — ?"'"3+M

~t— «-

T~) V. WOLF, Vice-President of the Home-
rT\ stead Building and Loan Association, is one
\_) ofthe oldest business men of Middletown,
having commenced business here in 1853. He
was born near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany,
in July, 1817, and is a son of Victor and Esther
(Rothschild) Wolf, both of whom were natives of
that country. The former was reared in his na
tive country, and was engaged in business near
Frankfort. His primary education was received
in the common schools, and he finished his course
at Fulda College, where he mastered three ancient
languages, Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and two
.modern languages, German and French. On
leaving college, he went to Frankfort as book
keeper in a large mercantile establishment, re
maining there until 1847, when he came to the

United States via Havre, aud arrived in New
York City after a voyage of thirty-five days.
After mastering the English language, Mr.
Wolf filled a position as bookkeeper in a mer
cantile establishment in New York City until
1853, when he came to Middletown and engaged
in business, being among the first Germans to
locate here. In i860 he put up the first four-
story building on North Street, and there began
the manufacture of clothing. During the war he
manufactured extensively, having in his employ
over one hundred men and women, and he con
tinued in this business until 1875, when he closed
out. His son Morris B. afterward engaged in
the same Hue, aud is still in business opposite
the old place.
In 1875 Mr. Wolf engaged in a real-estate and
general office business, including conveyancing,
collection and the settlement of estates. He is also
a Notary Public, and represents the North German
Lloyd Steamship Company. During his long resi
dence here he has satisfactorily discharged all busi
ness entrusted to his care, and he has the entire con
fidence of the people. His office is also the head
quarters of the Homestead Building and Loan
Association, an institution which has been emi
nently successful.
Mr. Wolf was married, in New York City, to
Miss Caroline Ehrenreich, a native of that city,
and daughter of Jacob Ehrenreich, who was there
engaged in merchandising. She died in Middle-
town, in September, 1890, leaving seven chil
dren: Victor B., of Brooklyn, a large wall-paper
dealer at No. 829 Broadway, who married a Miss
Hart, a sister of Maj. G. E. B. Hart, of New
York; Bertrand B., who is interested in business
with his brother Victor B.; Morris B., a manu
facturer and retail clothier of Middletown; Moses,
engaged with his brother Morris in Middletown;
Joseph B., an employe of his brothers at Brook
lyn; and Esther and Celia, at home.
Mr. Wolf is a member of the Legion of Honor,
and was one of the charter members of Empire
Council. Subsequently he became a charter
member of Harmonia Council, and is a past officer
and au ex-representative to the grand lodge.
Formerly he was a member of Hoffman Lodge,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'363

F. & A. M., but isnowdemitted. He is the old
est fireman in Middletown, having been a mem
ber since 1859, aud helped to organize Eagle
Hose Company No. 2, of which he was Trustee
for years, and of which he was Vice-President
for several years. In politics he was formerly a
Democrat, but at present takes little interest in
political matters. He was City and Town Col
lector in 1878, and in 1879 was Town Clerk.
Mr. Wolf has always been active in forwarding
the business and material interests of Middle-
town. 0R. ANDREW J. THOMPSON, one of the
oldest veterinary surgeons in the state, was
born in the town of Goshen, January 26,
1834, and is a son of Robert and Susan (Johnson)
Thompson. His father was bora in the town of
Goshen, as was also his grandfather, William
Thompson. Dr. J. H. Thompson, of Goshen, is
an own cousin of our subject. Robert Thompson ,
the father, was a carpenter by trade, but the
greater part of his life was spent iu farming. He
owned one hundred and thirty acres near Go
shen, which he operated until his death in 1875,
at the age of eighty-five years. In the Presby
terian Church, of which he was a member, he
was quite an active worker. Susan Johnson, his
wife, was also a native of Goshen, and was a
daughter of John Johnson, a tanner in the town
of Wallkill. She died in Middletown, at the age
of ninety-four years, having beeu the mother of
six children: Olivia, Mrs. Berthol, of Middle-
town; Mary, wife of William Thompson; Aim,
who resides in Middletown; Mittie, Mrs. Weller,
who formerly resided near Bullville, but who died
in September, 1895, aged eighty-three; Dr. Ben
jamin and Dr. Andrew J. Benjamin was a gradu
ate of the New York Medical College, and prac
ticed at Goshen. There he married Miss St. John,
of Port Jervis, and later removed to Muscatine,
Iowa, where he has since died.
The subject of this sketch was reared 011 the
farm, and attended Blooming Grove and Chester
Academies. For three years he then studied
medicine with his brother Benjamin, part of the

time being engaged iu practice. Subsequently
he studied veterinary surgery under English
George, of New York City, for seven years. On
the death of Dr. George, our subject took charge
of his practice, which he continued until the
death of his father, when he returned to Goshen
and operated the old farm for a few years, at the
same time practicing his profession. Iu 1870
he located at Middletown, where he has since
continued to reside. For over fifty years he
has been iu the general practice of veterinary
surgery, and has had calls iu every adjoining
county, Long Island, Philadelphia, Albany, and
along the line of the Erie Road for many miles.
At present he has about all the practice from the
various livery barns in Middletown.
Dr. Thompson has been twice married, his
first marriage being with Miss Harriet Merritt,
of Blooming Grove, where she was born. She
died in Goshen, leaving three children: Robert,
who was foreman in the machine-shops of Mid
dletown, but is now deceased; Anna, Mrs. Darby,
of Middletown; and Susie, who married David
Mulloch, but is now deceased. For his second
wife the Doctor married Mrs. Hattie L. (Par
son) Joyce, a native ofthe town of Wallkill, and
daughter of Hudson L. Parson, a blacksmith by
trade, who served thirty- three years as Police
Constable in Middletown. Her mother was Julia
Jamp. Iu politics Dr. Thompson is a Democrat,
but has never accepted political office. For some
years he was a member of the Old Thirty-fourth
Fire Engine Company of New York City. His
wife is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
in Middletown.

<C*************jp*************3<>
EHARLES GARDNER, a contractor and
builder residing in Middletown, was born
in Monticello, N. Y., November 19, 1845.
His father, George H., and grandfather, Henry
Gardner, were natives of Orange County, where
their English ancestors had settled in au early
day. The former, who is a carpenter by trade,
removed to the vicinity of Monticello, where he
occupied and operated a farm, though also giving

1364

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a large share of his attention to his trade. Iu
those days it was the custom for the carpenter to
go to the woods with his men and there hew out
the timber for a house. From Sullivan County
he removed to Broome County, where he became
superintendent of a stock farm. He is still liv
ing, and is hale and hearty, notwithstanding his
eighty-six years. His wife, who was known in
maidenhood as Sarah Tharp, was born in Wash
ingtonville, in the town of Blooming Grove, and
died in Sullivan County in 1865. She was a sis
ter of James Tharp, the old and well known
merchant of Washingtonville.
Of four children comprising the parental fam
ily, three are now living, Charles being the next
to the youngest. He was reared on a farm near
Monticello and in .boyhood attended the district
schools. At the age of eighteen he was appren
ticed to the carpenter's trade in Monticello, and
worked at that occupation for the twelve years
ensuing, after which he learned the trade of a
mason, which he carried on for a time in that
vicinity. In 1870, in New York City, he mar
ried Miss Harriet N. Taylor, who was born in
Washingtonville, as was also her father, Robert
Taylor. The latter, who was a life-long farmer,
married Fannie Jacques, a member of an old fam
ily of the town of Blooming Grove. They were
faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church until death. Of their ten children, five
are now living, Mrs. Gardner being the youngest
of the family.
For three years after his marriage Mr. Gard
ner resided in Monticello, whence, in 1873, he
went to Washingtonville and for some years was
superintendent of Mr. Howell's farm. Later,
for four years, he superintended a farm owned by
Mrs. Hulse. He next leased the Barber Farm in
that locality, which he operated for four years as
a dairy farm, having thirty cows. At the expira
tion of that time he transferred his attention to
the mason's trade, and began contract work.
Iu November, 1889, he came to Middletown,
and here for two years he followed his trade, aft
er which, in 1891, he began as a contractor and
builder. In this line of work he has been very
successful, and this season (1895) he has fifteen

contracts for residences, of which he has com
pleted six. He gives constant employment to
eight or ten men, and is regarded as one of the
reliable, progressive business men of the city.
Among the houses he has erected are those for
Messrs. Osterhout, Waterbury, Cheney, Davis,
D. R. Miller, William Logan, Isaac Miller and
Wilbur Hill. Politically he is a Republican.

ILLIAM G. TAGGART. This very
prominent and energetic gentleman is the
popular Clerk of Orange County. He
was born in Newburgh in 1856, and is the son of
Archibald Taggart, a native of Ireland, in which
country his father, George Taggart, was also
born. The father emigrated to America when
nineteen years of age, at once making his home
in Newburgh. Later he engaged in the meat
business, in which he has built up a large trade.
Mr. Taggart and his family are devoted mem
bers of the Presbyterian Church, in which body
he is an active and valued worker.
William G., of this sketch, is the eldest in the
parental family of four children. He was grad
uated from Newburgh Academy in 1873, after
which he was associated in business with his fa
ther, aiding him greatly in establishing the busi
ness on a sound basis. April 2, 1891, however,
he was obliged to abandon his operations in this
line, as he was then appointed by President Har
rison Postmaster of Newburgh, succeeding Will
iam R. Brown. This office he held acceptably
and efficiently until February, 1892, when he re
signed to assume new duties.
In the fall of 1892 Mr. Taggart was elected on
the Republican ticket to the office of County
Clerk, and January following took the oath of
office. He has under his supervision seven em
ployes and they occupy large rooms in Goshen.
Mr. Taggart is interested in the Muchattoes Lake
Ice Company, of which he is one ofthe Directors.
They do a large wholesale and retail business
and supply their customers with the purest of
ice.

WILLIAM H. SOARE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1367

In social matters our subject is a Mason, hav
ing attained the degree of Knight Templar, and
is a member of the Order of Foresters. He is
one of the Directors of the Masonic Hall Associa
tion, and has been a member of the County Repub
lican Committee for years, representing his party
in both county and state conventions. He en
joys the esteem and confidence of the entire com
munity, and as an official his record is above
reproach .

WILLIAM HUNT SOARE was a native of
Warwickshire, England, born near Coven
try, November 30, 1805, and was a son of
Thomas Soare, whose birth occurred in the same
country. He grew to manhood in England, learn
ing the trade of a silk weaver, and when twenty-
one years of age he emigrated to the United
States, sailing on the "Little Briton." He came
at once to Orange County, N. Y., where he be
came acquainted with Sarah Ann Fulton, their
marriage being solemnized February 14, 1839.
She was a native of New York State, born Octo
ber 13, 1816, and a daughter of Robert and
Margaret (Cooper) Fulton, both of whom were
born in New York State.
After his marriage Mr. Soare with his young
bride removed to West Newburgh, where they
lived for a time, and where he was engaged in
teaching. Later he settled on. a farm near his
wife's father, in the town of New Windsor, and
followed farming for twenty-two years. Selling
his place, he purchased another near Canterbury,
in the town of Cornwall, where he lived a few
years, after which he removed to Blooming Grove,
where he resided for a short time. He then pur
chased a farm near Bethlehem Church, one and
a-half miles from his old home, and resided there
until 1866, his wife dying July 17 of that year.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Soare,
Robert Fulton, William Hunt and Mary Eliza
beth. On the death of his wife, Mr. Soare, accom
panied by his daughter, returned to his old home
near Coventry, England, and visited among old

friends and relatives for some months. Return
ing to America, he came to Cornwall, Orange
County, where he again taught school for a time,
and then removed with his daughter to Virginia,
locating on a farm thirty-five miles west of Rich
mond. In the management of this place he was
assisted by his son, William Hunt. On leaving
Virginia he returned to New York, locating in
Ulster County, where he purchased what is now
known as the Borden Mill, which he operated
until his death, which occurred in 1886.
Mr. Soare was a whole-souled man, a gentle
man by birth, education and practice, thoroughly
honest and successful in all his business ventures.
He was not a politician, nor did he ever aspire to
hold public office. He was a true Christian in his
life, a member of the Church of England, and
was a warm friend and neighbor. All who knew
him greatly admired his sterling worth and placed
the greatest reliance in him as an honorable man .
Since the death of her father, Mary Elizabeth
Soare has purchased the mansion known as the
Embler House, standing on a commanding emi
nence near the Wallkill River, with a view un
surpassed. The house is a large, roomy structure,
and the grounds on which it is located comprise
sixteen acres. Its mistress, a lady of refinement,
was always a companion to her father and was
most ardently loved by him. In her elegant home
she delights to entertain her many friends, and
is loved and respected by all who know her.

#+£{

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r*\ATRICK LARKIN, engineer on the through
yr fast passenger train of the New York, On-
fD tario & Western Railroad, h^s been connect
ed with the road since 1870. He was born in
Rome, N. Y., in 1848, and is eleventh in a fam
ily of twelve children born to Paul and Mary
(Kennedy) Larkin, both of whom were natives
of Ireland, where they remained some years after
their marriage. Desiring to give their growing
family the advantages of a free country, they
came to the United States, and located in Rome,
N. Y., where the father died some years ago.
The mother still resides in Rome. One son, Mi-

i368

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

chael, who was a soldier in the War for the Union,
was wounded in battle, and died from the effects
of his wound and exposure after the war.
Patrick Larkiu was educated in the public and
high schools of Rome, and there grew to man
hood. When sixteen years of age he accepted a
position on the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg
Railroad as a wiper, then as watchman, and later
fireman between Rome and Watertown. In May,
1870, he entered the employ of the New York,
Oswego & Midland Railroad, now the New York,
Ontario & Western, in the Northern Division, as
fireman for Edward McNiff. He remained with
that gentleman for eighteen months, and in Sep
tember, 1872, was made engineer on the road,
with a run between Middletown and Jersey City,
on what was called the New Jersey Midland.
When the Midland Division was opened in 1873,
he was given a run between Middletown and Nor
wich. For about twenty years he ran the local
passenger, and is now running a fast passenger
express between Middletown and Norwich, a dis
tance of one hundred and fifty miles. *
In Middletown, Mr. Larkiu was married to Miss
Mary Murphy, who was born in this city. Three
children have been born unto them: James, who
resides at home; and Thomas and Mary, residing
in Rome. Mr. Larkiu is a member of Middle-
town Division No. 292 of the Board of Locomo
tive Engineers. He has been a life-long member
of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and in politics
is a Democrat.

EHARLES J. BOYD, the junior editor and
proprietor of the Middletown Press, was born
a newspaper man, so to speak. Early he
took a deep interest in the "art preservative,"
and had, at the age of ten years, an outfit with
which he published a miniature paper. While at
tending school he spent his Saturdays in the Whig
Press office.
Mr. Boyd was born of Orange County parents,
in New York City, February 19, 1847, on Green
wich Street, near Warren, then a residence sec
tion, now a busy mercantile thoroughfare. His

ancestors on his father's side were Scotch, de
scending from a younger son of the illustrious
lord, the first High Steward of Scotland, who was
murdered by Macbeth, the usurper, in 1043. The
name came from Simon, the third son of Alan,
the second Lord High Steward, whose eldest son,
Robert, being of fair complexion, was named
"Boyt" or "Boyd," from the Gaelic, meaning
"fair." His great-grandfather Boyd went to
Philadelphia before the Revolutionary War. His
maternal ancestry was the numerous French
family of Fosters, who settled in Newark. The
father of Charles J. was David Robertson Boyd,
who became a druggist and chemist in New York,
which business he gave up to join a colony seek
ing gold in California, and spent seven years,
from 1852 to 1859, in the mines within sight of
Mt. Shasta. He died in Middletown in 1881.
His mother was Miss Frances Amelia Jackson,
with whom his father became acquainted at Mont
gomery, to which place Mr. Boyd's family re
moved when he was a lad.
Charles J. was an only child. He received his
education in the Middletown schools, and in 1862,
at the age of fifteen, entered the Whig Press office
as apprentice under the administration of John W.
Hasbrouck. Abraham Lincoln's call for troops
almost depleted the Press office of its force the
first year of his apprenticeship, aud he gained
rapid promotion. The last two years that he
served Mr. Hasbrouck he was foreman and as
sistant editor. In 1866 Mr. Boyd entered Wall-
kill Academy, and graduated December 6, 1866,
delivering the valedictory of his class before an
audience that packed "Gothic Hall" to the very
doors. It is somewhat remarkable that in his
later years as a journalist he should labor in the
same building — for the former Gothic Hall is the
home of the Press, which has grown from a small
weekly until now it holds an influential place in
the newspapers of the county, having daily and
semi-weekly issues.
The next day after graduating from Wallkill
Academy (December 7, 1866), Mr. Boyd entered
Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie.
Before graduating at Eastman's, a fine opening
presented itself in the city of Newburgh as confi-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1369

dential clerk to John R. Wiltsie, Assistant Assessor
of Internal Revenue, for that district, who also
controlled a large and increasing insurance and
real-estate agency. In 1868 a business oppor
tunity brought him back to Middletown, where
his school days were passed, and he entered the
insurance agency of Selah R. Corwin, who was
also Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue.
In a short time he became a partner with Mr.
Corwin, and as a member of the firm of Selah R.
Corwin & Co. he was actively engaged in that
line of work until 1880, when Mr. Corwin retired
by reason of age. Soon thereafter he accepted a
proposition to return to his favored profession, and
became a partner with Mr. Slauson in publishing
the Press, and sold his insurance interests to
Douglas & Dolson.
Mr. Boyd early manifested an interest iu the
Republican party. His first nomination for official
position was as Inspector of Elections in the village
of Middletown, and while the Democratic ticket
was successful at that election, he was chosen by
three majority. He always looks back to that
with pride as the greatest triumph of his life. In
1875 he was.appointed Village Clerk, which in
cluded at that time the clerical work of the Water
Board, and held that position for seven years. His
¦f^ next office was that of Supervisor of the Second
Ward, for which he was nominated by acclama
tion when Middletown became a city. He has
had six successive nominations by acclamation,
and is still holding this office. He was the only
Republican elected in the city in 1890, his ward
showing a Democratic Alderman and other Demo
cratic ward officers. His largest majority was
the last time he ran, in 1894, when he received
one hundred and ninety-seven votes more than his
opponent, who had both the Democratic and
Prohibition nominations.
In 1892 Mr. Boyd was honored with the posi
tion of Chairman of the Orange County Board of
Supervisors, and again, without soliciting the
office, he was unanimously chosen to the position
of Chairman in 1894. In the month of June last,
while absent from home, he was selected by
Governor Morton as the Representative of this,
the Second Judicial, district on the new Commis

sion of Prisons for the state, which commission
was provided for by the new Constitution, and had
the first intimation of his selection by reading the
announcement in the telegraphic dispatches from
Albany. Mr. Boyd has twice represented his district in
the Republican State Convention, of 1891 and 1895.
In 1892 he was selected to make the canvass for
Member of Assembly in what had for thirty years
been a strong Democratic district, and, while de
feated, he polled a vote fully equal to that given
General Harrison for President.
For many years Mr. Boyd was a Director in the
First National Bank of Middletown, and has,
since its organization, been the Treasurer of the
Homestead Building and Loan Association, the
assets of which now reach $300,000. He is
identified with the Masonic, Odd Fellows and
Knights of Pythias orders, with Excelsior Hook
and Ladder Company, and the First Presbyterian
Church, in all of which he has held office.
Mr. Boyd is clear, positive and convincing in
his editorial writing, and of late years has con
tributed his share of the political articles which
have made the Press an influential party journal.
He is firm in his party convictions, and, while
dealing hard blows, has the respect and confidence
of his political opponents. His family consists of
a wife, Mary E., daughter of Stephen S. Conkling
(who was a lumber dealer in Middletown during
his business life), and two daughters: Ada Stewart
Boyd, sixteen years of age; and Helen Ames
Boyd, in her fourth year.

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^*"RA L. CASE, real-estate dealer and insurance
1 agent at Middletown, was born in Sullivan
X County, near Monticello, iii 1844. His father,
E. Inman, was born near Unionville, Orange
County, and his grandfather, John Case, also re
sided near that place; dying there many years
ago. E. Inman Case, the father of our subject,
was a well educated man, and iii early life read
medicine. He took a course of lectures, but, be-

1370

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

coming dissatisfied with the profession, never en
gaged in practice. Later he engaged in teaching
near Monticello, where he also purchased a farm,
and divided his time between teaching and farm
ing. In 1856 he returned to Orange County,
locating near Unionville on a farm, and there
continued until the death of his wife, when he
removed to Middletown, and died at the home of
our subject, when past seventy-six years of age.
In the Baptist Church he served in the capacity
of Deacon. He married Lydia A. Mather, who
was born near Westtown, and who was a daugh
ter of Jonathan Mather, also a native of Orange
County, and who was by occupation a farmer and
wagon-maker. Six children were born of this
union, five ofwhom grew to maturity, but only
one of them is living, the subject of this sketch.
One son, Joseph M. , enlisted in an independent
regiment and served through the late war, and at
its close entered the regular army. He died in
Virginia, of yellow fever, some years ago.
Ira L. Case, our subject, received his primary
education in the public schools, and finished his
school life in the academy at Unionville, where
he graduated at the age of eighteen. He then
commenced teaching school in the vicinity of his
home, and also in New Jersey for two years. He
later taught in his home district for two years,
when he went to Washington, N. J., where he
spent two years associated with his eldest brother
in the mercantile business, under the firm name
of John M. Case &. Bro. He then went to Pine
Bush, where he remained one year as Principal
of the public school, and then was at Turner in
the same capacity four years. In the fall of 1874
he was made Vice-Principal of Wallkill Academy,
and had charge ofthe school until his election, in
1884, as School Commissioner on the Democratic
ticket from the Second Assembly District of
Orange County. He was re-elected, and served
until January 1, 1891. During his term the uni
form examination was adopted in his district,
under State Superintendant Draper, and also the
revision of the school code. He made many im
portant changes in school work which have been
satisfactory to the people.
In January, 1885, Mr. Case became a partner

of J. M. H. Little in the real-estate and insurance
business, buying out Wood T. Ogden. During
his terms as School Commissioner he gave only so
much of his time to the real-estate business as he
could spare from official duties. Since his retire
ment from office, however, he has devoted his
entire attention to it. Some years ago the busi
ness was consolidated with that of T. K. Walker,
and the firm became Little, Walker & Case. Six
months later Archibald Taylor bought out Mr.
Walker, and the firm became Little, Case & Tay
lor for one year, at which time the agency was
divided, Mr. Little taking the former agency of
Little & Case, and Mr. Case and Mr. Taylor tak
ing that of T. K. Walker, and continuing the'
business under the firm name of Case & Taylor.
This change was made in 1889.
In connection with the real-estate business, the
firm of Case & Taylor has the agency for many
ofthe best insurance companies in the country,
including the Liverpool, London & Globe, Home,
Hanover, Phoenix of Hartford, Orient of Hart
ford, Glens Falls, Fire Association of Philadelphia,
Manchester of England, London & Lancashire,
North British & Mercantile, Caledonian, Travelers'
Life and Accident, New York Life, Metropolitan
Plate-glass and Hartford Steam Boiler. Their
business covers a large extent of territory, and is
constantly increasing. The company now own
valuable property in Middletown, which they
handle exclusively, beside having charge of a
number of properties belonging to other parties.
November 24, 1869, Mr. Case was married, in
Pine Bush, to Miss Bella G. Taylor, a native of
that place, and daughter of James and Aim M.
Taylor. Four children have been born unto them :
Cora J., now Mrs. Dr. W. J. Nelson, of Middle-
town; Florence and Wilhemetta, at home; and
Anabelle, who died in infancy. In politics Mr.
Case is a Democrat, and has been quite active in
the councils of his party. In addition to the office
of County Commissioner, he held the office of
member of the Board of Education of the city
of Middletown for three years, commencing in
1891, during which time he was Chairman ofthe
Committee on the Academy. He is a Master
Mason of Hoffman Lodge, in which he is at pres-

HON. MOSES DUNNING STIVERS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1373

ent Junior Warden , and is also a member of Mid
land Chapter, R. A. M., having passed all the
chairs. For nine years he was High Priest of
the chapter, and for three years was Assistant
Grand Lecturer of the chapter for this district.
He is an honorary member of the Excelsior Hook
and Ladder Company, and has been Vice-Presi
dent of the organization. He is a successful in
surance and real-estate man, and is popular in the
community where he resides.

HON. MOSES DUNNING STIVERS, for
many years one of the most influential citi
zens of Middletown, was born December 30,
1828, and died February 2, 1895. He was the
son of John Stivers, and grandson of Randal Stiv
ers, both natives of Middlesex County, N. J., re
siding near New Brunswick. From there, in the
early part of the present century, the latter
moved to Sussex County and settled in the town
of Frankford, where his remaining years were
spent. Born October 3, 1802, John Stivers was reared
to manhood in Sussex County, having but meager
educational advantages. March 22, 1828, he
married Margaret Dunning, who was born near
Scotchtown, Orange County, July 1, 1803, and
at the age of about three years was taken by her
parents, Jonathan and Rachel (Crans) Dunning, to
the town of Wantage, Sussex County, N. J. Her
father was a private soldier in the American army
during the War of 1812. After their marriage,
John and Margaret Stivers settled on a farm near
Beemerville, N. J., where their three children,
Moses D. , Randal and Jesse L. , were born. In
1845 they removed to Ridgebury, Orange Coun
ty, where Mr. Stivers purchased the old Deacon
Hallock Farm. There he died February 21,
1865, and upon that place his son Randal still
resides. The wife and mother died iu Middle-
town March 19, 1883.
The youngest son, Jesse L-, enlisted in Com
pany B, Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, known

as the Tenth Legion, and commanded by Col.
Charles H. Van Wyck. With his regiment he
participated in the campaign in front of Rich
mond and the battle of Fair Oaks, where he was
wounded. Afterward he was stationed at York-
town, Va., and subsequently on Morris Island,
S. C. After having served for three years, he
re-enlisted for a similar period, and for some
time served as Second Lieutenant. The hard
ships incident to camp life and enforced marches,
however, undermined his health, which had never
been robust, and he was obliged to resign his
commission in 1865, when he received an honor
able discharge. Afterward he was associated
with his brother as part-owner of the Orange
County Press. He died of heart disease in New
York City, April 30, 187 1, aged thirty years.
The subject of this memorial attended the com
mon schools in youth, and at the age of fourteen
was sent to the private school kept by Edward A.
Stiles, iu the town of Wantage, Sussex County,
N. J., afterward known as Mt. Retirement Semi
nary. In that school he remained for two and
one-half years, after which he studied for a term
in a select school at Beemerville, and also for a
time attended the academy at Ridgebury, Orange
County. His studies concluded, he worked upon
his father's farm in the summer seasons, while
during the winters, for ten years, he engaged in
teaching in Sussex and Orange Counties.
September 26, 1855, Mr. Stivers married Mary
Elizabeth, second daughter ofthe late Lewis and
Christina Stewart, of the town of Wawayanda.
Five children were boru unto them, namely:
Mary Ellen, wife of Edwin T. Hanford, of the
firm of Hanford & Horton; Lewis Stewart and
John Dunning, concerning whom mention is
made upon another page of this volume; Chris
tina S., wife of Dr. Theodore D. Mills, of Middle-
town; and Dr. Moses Ashby, Assistant Superin
tendent of the New York Cancer Hospital in New
York City. There are four living grandchildren,
as follows: Christina Mills and Gladys Mackay,
daughters of Lewis S. Stivers; and Samuel Wick
ham and Elizabeth Stivers, children of Dr. Mills.
For two years after his marriage Mr. Stivers
was proprietor of a country store at Ridgebury.

1374

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In the spring of 1859 he came to Middletown,
where his widow still resides, and where he re
mained, with the exception of three years in Go
shen, until his death. Forming a partnership
with William Evans, the firm of Evans & Stivers
for five years carried on a mercantile establish
ment _ on West Main Street, when Mr. Evans
sold his interest to Harvey Wallace, of Goshen,
and John A. Wallace, of Middletown. The busi
ness was continued under the title of Stivers &
Wallace until the election of Mr. Stivers to the
office of County Clerk in the fall of 1864.
At the expiration of his term of office, iu March,
1868, Mr. Stivers purchased from John W. Has
brouck the printing-press and weekly paper, the
Orayige County Press. Though he had no prac
tical experience in the field of journalism, he at
once met with flattering success. The paper was
improved and enlarged, and from a circulation of
between six and seven hundred, it ran up in a
few months to three times that amount, and sub
sequently equalled or surpassed the circulation of
any paper in the county. For a time his brother,
Jesse L. , was associated with him, and in Decem
ber, 1869, Albert Kessinger, of Rome, N. Y.,
was taken into partnership, the latter remaining
until his death, August 5, 1872.
Meantime the firm also established the Middle -
town Tri-weekly Press. After the death of Mr.
Kessinger, in order to make a settlement with his
heirs, Mr. Stivers sold the plant to F. Stanhope
Hill, of Chester, Pa., who associated with him
self John W. Slauson, and continued the business
under the firm name of Hill & Slauson. In the
summer of 1873 Mr. Stivers made a tour of Eu
rope, visiting Great Britain and the Continent,
and attending the International Exposition at
Vienna. Just prior to his departure he again
became part-owner of the Press, by repurchase
from Mr. Hill of his two-third interest therein,
and he admitted Mr. Slauson to an equal partner
ship in the business. On his return from abroad
in September, 1873, he resumed the editorship of
the paper (the Daily Press having meantime been
established), and remained connected with it un
til December, 1880, when he sold his interest to
C. J. Boyd. In August, 1882, he again became

connected with the Press by purchasing a third-
interest in the plant, the firm becoming Stivers,
Slauson & Boyd, and he was a member of the
firm until his return from Congress in 1891, when
he sold to Slauson & Boyd.
In 1873 Mr. Stivers erected the building now
occupied by the Middletown Savings Bank. The
following year, with Linus B. Babcock, he built
the Masonic Block, on North Street. He also
made the first Casino into a public hall. For
some time he was connected with the Orange
County Agricultural Society, and served for some
years as its President. In 1859 he aided in the
organization of the Eagle Engine Company, of
which he was foreman, and later President until
his death. For a number of years before his
death he was a member of the Middletown Club.
He was a regular attendant at the services of the
First Presbyterian Church, and was a member of
its Board of Trustees for several years. Socially
he was identified with Hoffman Lodge No. 412,
F. & A. M., and in 1871-72 served as Master of
the lodge. He was also connected with Midland
Chapter No. 240, R. A. M., and was associated
with Middletown Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F.,
and Ivanhoe Lodge No. 2103, K. of H. In 1890
he was elected President of the Mt. Retirement
Alumni Association, was later re-elected, and was
the incumbent of the office at the time of his
death. There were few who took a deeper inter
est iu the establishment of the State Homeopathic
Hospital in this city than did he, and to that en
terprise he contributed liberally of his time and
means, and after it was located iu Middletown he
was chosen a member of its Board of Trustees,
being Secretary of that body until his death.
At its annual gathering at Washington, D. C,
Mr. Stivers was elected President of the New
York Press Association. During his incumbency
of the office, the association made a trip to Boston
and points in the New England States, where it
was entertained by like organizations and city
officials-. For a time he was a Director of the
Middletown, Unionville & Water Gap Railroad,
and also of the Port Jervis, Monticello & New
York Railroad. Until he resigned, he was a
Trustee of the Hillside Cemetery Association; for

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1375

many years was a Trustee ofthe Middletown Sav
ings Bank; one of the organizers, and until his
resignation in July, 1892, a Director, ofthe Mer
chants' and Manufacturers' National Bank of
Middletown, and one of the originators, and dur
ing its period of organization Treasurer, of the
Orange County Trust and Safe Deposit Company,
of which successful financial institution he took
the presidency July 1, 1892, holding the position
at the time of his death.
A sketch of the life of Mr. Stivers would be in
complete were no mention made of his political
and public career. From the time of coming to
Middletown, he was a leader in the ranks ofthe
Republican party, and his fellow-citizens, appre
ciating his large talents and keen judgment, fre
quently chose him to represent them in positions
of honor and trust. As has been already men
tioned, he served as County Clerk of Orange
County for three years. In October, 1869, he
was appointed by President Grant Collector of
United States Internal Revenue for the Eleventh
District of New York, which then comprised the
counties of Orange and Sullivan. In 1873 Ulster
and Greene Counties were consolidated with the
Eleventh, and Mr. Stivers was retained as Col
lector for the new district. He continued to serve
in that capacity until the district was consolida
ted with the Albany district iu 1882, a period of
about fourteen years. During that time millions
of dollars of the public money passed through
his hands, and every cent was properly accounted
for. At the close of his administration he re
ceived from the Internal Revenue Department
at Washington a very complimentary letter, re
ferring to the fidelity with which he had exe
cuted his trust.
In February, 1880, Mr. Stivers was selected to
represent his party at the Republican National
Convention in Chicago the following June. From
the outset he insisted that he would obey the
wishes of his constituents rather than the instruc
tions of the state convention, and joiuednvith a
number of other delegates in opposition to the
unit rule, which position was sustained by the
subsequent action of the National Convention.
He voted in the convention for James G. Blaine

until the name of General Garfield was presented,
when he assisted in securing his nomination.
The death of Hon. Lewis Beach, M. C, in
1886, left his position vacant, and at a conven
tion of the Fifteenth Congressional District, held
in Middletown, Mr. Stivers was nominated for
the office. He accepted only on condition that
he should not be expected to use any money in
the purchasing of votes, which practice he con
demned in pointed terms. The sentiment which
he expressed regarding this matter proved popu
lar, and he was sustained by his party in his ac
tion. He succeeded in cutting the usual Demo
cratic majority down from fifteen hundred to four
hundred, and received the largest vote ever given
a Republican in this district for Member of Con
gress. In 1888 Mr. Stivers was again nominated for
Member of Congress, his competitor being Hon.
Henry Bacon, his former successful opponent.
He was elected by a plurality of seventy-four
votes, and had the honor of being the second Re
publican elected from this district since Rockland
County, with its large Democratic majority,. had
become a part of it. The responsibilities of the
position were many, but all of them he discharged
in a manner reflecting the greatest credit upon
his own ability and the judgment of his constitu
ents. Aside from his duties in the House, he
gave personal attention to the wants of his con
stituents, and rendered valuable service, especial
ly in the matter of pensions. He took great in
terest in securing a Government building for
Newburgh, and it was largely through his efforts
that a bill was passed appropriating $100,000 for
that purpose. He was a member of the Commit
tee on Militia, of which Gen. D. B. Henderson,
of Iowa, was Chairman. He also served 011 the
Committee on Printing, of which Hon. Charles
A.Russell, of Connecticut, was Chairman, and
Hon. J. D. Richardson, of Tennessee, the other
member. This is one of the few joint commit
tees ofthe House and Senate, and is a Privilege
Committee, having permission to report at any
time. Many large and important contracts, in
volving the expenditure of immense sums of
money, came before it for consideration, and

1376

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

were awarded by it. Just before the nominating
convention met in 1890, Mr. Stivers published a
letter positively declining renominatioii for Con
gress. From this resume of the life of Mr. Stivers it
will be seen that he was for many years intimate
ly associated with the progress of this city and
the development of its material, commercial and
financial interests. In the varied duties of his
active aud busy life he made many warm friends,
and won the highest regard even of those whose
political opinions differed from his own. His
death was mourned by a host of acquaintances,
and it was felt that one of the best friends the
city had ever had was called from the scene of
his former activities. The good that he accom
plished, the enterprises that he fostered, the proj
ects that he planned for the welfare of the people,
remain to testify as to the value of his life and
the stability of his character.

— '  *}3-K®(^B)®^ii-C<»-

~t-~ *-

SEORGE BARTLE, Superintendent of Bridge-
building on the New York, Susquehanna &'
Western Railroad, and the Wilkes Barre
& Western Railroad, is one of the oldest bridge-
builders in the country. When he began build
ing bridges, they were constructed of wood, but
these have since been removed, and he has con
structed iron bridges in their places. He was
born in Cuba, N. Y., June 1, 1831, while his fa
ther, Stephen, and his grandfather, Andrew, were
born in Chenango County. By trade the father
was a millwright and mason, and located in Cuba
as superintendent of the locks on the Genesee
Canal. He died there at the age of sixty-four.
Iu early life he was a Jackson Democrat, then an
Abolitionist, and later a Republican. For many
years he was a Deacon in the Presbyterian
Church, in which he was a faithful and active
worker. His wife, Sarah Keller, who was born
in Mechlenberg, Pa., was a daughter of Andrew
Keller, a farmer in Allegheny County, who was of
German descent. She died at the age of eighty-

four years. In the parental family were nine
children, seven of whom are yet living. One son,
Stephen, was a private in the Twenty-third New
York Infantry, in which he served two years,
and was then Sergeant in the Second New York
Mounted Rifles. While leading a charge in the
absence of all the commissioned officers of his
company at the battle of Cold Harbor, he was
killed and his body was brought home by his
brother Birney G., who was in the commissary
department of the regiment. The Grand Army
regiment post at Cuba, N. Y. , is named in his
honor. The subject of this sketch is second in order ot
birth iu the family of Stephen and Sarah Bartle,
and grew to manhood 111 his native towu, where
he was educated in a public school. Under his
father he learned the carpenter's trade, and in
1857, when the Buffalo, Bradford & Pittsburg
Railroad was being built, he was erecting a mill
near Bradford, Pa. He later entered the employ
of R. Cummings, a contractor and bridge-builder,
and continued with him seven years. Among
others he has built bridges for the Erie, the
Dutchess & Columbia, the New York, Ontario &
Western, the Grand Trunk and the Evansville
& Crawfordville Railroads. At Meredosia he
built a draw-bridge across the Illinois River. It
was all built of wood and was the largest ever
constructed up to that time.
During the war Mr. Bartle was engaged in
farming in Allegheny County, where he still owns
one hundred and twenty acres of fine laud. In
1870 he first came to Middletown on the construc
tion of the New York & Oswego Midland and
the New Jersey Railroads. The same year he
was also engaged with the Wallkill Valley Rail
road, and March 1, 1872, was made Superin
tendent of Buildings aud Bridges on what was
then the New Jersey Midland, afterward known
as the Oswego Midland, then as the New Jersey
Midland, but which is now the New York, Sus
quehanna & Western Railroad. His position
has been the same during all this time, with the
exception of one year, when he also performed the
duties of Roadmaster of the whole of the New Jer
sey Midland. In his position as Superintendent

JAMES A. CLARK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1379

of Bridges he has charge of over two hundred
miles of road, with headquarters at Middletown.
He has also taken some outside contracts, and
has built all the bridges on the Stroudsburg
Branch, and 011 the Lake Erie & Hudson Rail
road. He built a bridge across the Wallkill for
the Middletown & Goshen Traction Company at
Midway Park.
Mr. Bartle was first married at Friendship,
N. Y., to Miss Flora Utter, who was born there,
and who was a daughter of Judge Josiah Utter.
The latter was Judge of the Allegheny County
Court for twenty years, and served in the War of
1812. Mrs. Bartle died in Middletown, leaving
one child, Vina, now Mrs. Amsden, of Cuba.
Mr. Bartle subsequently married Miss Ella Stout,
a native of Sussex County, N. J., and they have
two children, Charles and Evelyn. In politics
Mr. Bartle is a Republican, on which ticket he
was elected Trustee from the First Ward in Mid
dletown, serving two years. Fraternally he is a
member of the Legion of Honor. Mrs. Bartle is
a member ofthe Congregational Church.

(Tames alonzo clark. in point of,
I years of experience in the business, thejun-
\2/ ior member of the firm of Brink & Clark
is one of the oldest hardware men in Middletown.
Beginning in 1862 as a clerk in the hardware
store of Scott Brothers, he continued with them
and with their successors, gaining a thorough
knowledge of every department of the business,
and' finally he was taken into partnership. The
success of the enterprise is due to his energy in
no small degree. Aside from business interests,
he is prominent socially, and is identified with
various fraternal organizations, prominent among
these being the New York Sons of the Revolu
tion, of which he has been a member for some
years. Like many of the influential families of this
county, the Clarks came here from Long Island.
James, our subject's grandfather, was a son of
John Clark, and engaged in farm pursuits in this
county, his death occurring in the town of Wall-
60

kill. The father of our subject, Mortimer S., was
born in this county in 1803, and followed the
trade of wagon-maker until his death, which took
place iu Middletown in i860. His marriage
united him with Mary Jane Bailey, who was born
in 18 13, in the old Millspaugh homestead, on the
banks of the Wallkill River, below Hopkins'
Bridge. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Oliver
Bailey, was born in the town of Wallkill, near
Phillipsburg, December 18, 1788, and he and his
wife, whose maiden name was Susan Millspaugh,
resided on a farm near Scotchtown, but afterward
settled in the town of Goshen. He died iu 1867,
when about seventy-nine years of age. Oliver
was a son of Capt. Daniel Bailey, who was born
in Jamaica, L. I., in 1757, and at the age of
nineteen enlisted in Captain Wright's company,
Col. John Lasher's battalion, a regiment made
up of men from Long Island and New York.
After his first enlistment he came to Orange
County, where he again enlisted, becoming a
member of Colonel Allison's regiment. His
entire service was for three years.
On coming to this county, Captain Bailey set
tled west of the city limits of Middletown, where
he built a log cabin aud began the improvement
of a farm. In 1783 he bought the farm at Phillips
burg now owned by Edwin Mills. His death
occurred in Middletown May 16, 1841. He was
a man of splendid physique, tall and robust, and
retained his mental and physical vigor to the last.
In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and
served as an Elder in the church at Goshen. His
wife, Mary Tuthill, was a daughter of Nathaniel
Tuthill, and traced her ancestry back to John
Tuthill, who came this country in the good ship
"Swallow," sometime between 1633 and 1638,
and settled in New Haven, but later removed to
Southold, L- I. Nathaniel Tuthill was one of
the minutemeu of Orange County and partici
pated in the battle of Ft. Montgomery.
The Baileys originally spelled their name
Baylis, from which form it was changed to
Bayley, and finally became Bailey. Daniel, father
of Captain Bailey, was born in England, and
emigrated to Long Island, where he made his

i38o

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

home in Jamaica. During the Revolutionary
War he served in the Colonial army, and was a
stanch patriot. Taken prisoner by the British,
he was confined in the old Presbyterian Church
in Jamaica, of which he was an Elder, but which
had beeu seized by the British and converted by
them into a prison. He was a member of Capt.
John Skidmore' s company of minutemen of
Jamaica. On one occasion, it is said that a British
officer remarked to him, "You'll see England
yet." He promptly replied, " 'Twill be a sight,
won't it?"
The mother of our subject was a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and was a woman of sin
cere Christian faith, which found expression in
many kindly deeds aud encouraging words to
those in need. She died October 3, 1893, i11 her
eightieth year. Of her three sons and two daugh
ters, we note the following: Oliver B. died in
1866 on the old homestead; Theron B., who was
a member of the Tenth Legion band during the
late war, is now a coal merchant of Elizabeth,
N.J.; Margaret died in infancy; Mary E. died in
1877; James A., our subject, who was the young
est of the family, was born on William Street,
Middletown, March 26, 1845. He was reared in
this city, and in boyhood attended the old school
on Orchard Street. In i860, when a lad of fifteen,
he began to clerk in Alexander Wilson's book
store on North Street, remaining in that place for
two years. In June, 1862, he secured a clerkship
in Scott Brothers' hardware store, and, as above
stated, remained with the concern through vari
ous changes until he became a member of the
firm iu 1879. The title was then Vail, Brink &
Clark, but in 1884 the senior member sold out,
and the firm became Brink & Clark, which name
it has since retained.
In his pleasant home at No. 89 Highland
Avenue, Mr. Clark enjoys, in the society of his
wife and child and of those friends whom his
genial nature draws to himself, a needed relaxa
tion from business cares. His marriage, which
took place in this city in 1887, united him with
Mrs. Emma (Cole) Dunning, daughter of David
B. Cole, formerly a confectioner of this city. Mrs.
Clark was born in New York City. One daugh

ter, Mildred Murray, was born to them October
23, 1888. Mr. Clark is a Trustee iu the Middle-
town Savings Bank, and has other responsible
interests in this place. Since 1865 he has been
connected with the Excelsior Hook and Ladder
Company, one of the oldest aud finest organiza
tions ofthe kind in the county, and/in it he has
filled all the offices. His interest in the New
York Society of Sons of the Revolution is deep,
and he is justly proud of the fact that he is the
descendant of one of the heroes of that desperate
struggle which ended in securing liberty for the
colonies. Socially he is connected with Hoffman
Lodge, F. & A. M., Midland Chapter, R. A. M.,
and is also identified with the Knights of Pythias.

30HN A WALLACE, coal dealer, No. 14
Railroad Avenue, Middletown, was born, in
Bullville, this county, April 23, 1838. He
is of Scotch descent, his grandfather, William,
and his great-grandfather being natives of Scot
land. With his wife and five children the latter
came to the United States, settling first in Virginia,
and subsequently in New York. At an early date
the grandfather located near Scotchtown, where
he engaged in farming, and here died when past
eighty years of age. William W. Wallace, the
father of our subject, who' was born in Orange
County, was a wagon-maker by trade. After
locating in Bullville, he engaged in the mercantile
business, but later sold out and removed to
Middletown, where he died at the age of fifty-six
years. He was a Presbyterian in religious be
lief. For many years he was Justice of the Peace,
and was also Postmaster at Bullville for more
than twenty years. He married Mary Thomp
son, whose birth occurred at Thompson Ridge,
and who was a daughter of Robert A. Thompson,
a farmer. She died in Middletown in 1892, at
the age of seventy-seven years. In the parental
family were four children, three ofwhom grew to
maturity: John A., our subject; Mary, who mar
ried John Rotherham, but who is now deceased;
and Frances, Mrs. James W. Philips, of Middle-
town,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD..

1381

John A. Wallace remained with his parents
until fifteen years of age, during which time he
attended the district schools whenever possible.
He then went to Goshen aud engaged as a clerk
for H. & F. B. Wallace, general merchants of that
place. After remaining in their employ for about
fifteen months, he came to Middletown, in the fall
of 1854, and clerked for Little & Evans, who
were engaged in a general merchandise business
on East Main Street. After continuing with that
firm for several years, he went to Newburgh,
where he remained one year, later spent one year
at Goshen, and then was in New York City for
two years. In 1864 he returned to Middletown,
and bought out his old employers, and, forming
a partnership with M. D. Stivers, under the firm
name of Stivers & Wallace, they continued a dry-
goods business for one year. As Mr. Stivers
was elected County Clerk, he sold his interest to
J. D. Horton, and the business was continued by
Wallace & Horton for about five years, when the
former retired from the firm, disposing of his in
terest to G. A. Owen. Mr. Wallace then pur
chased the building on North Street now occupied
by the Merchants' Bank, and opened a dry-goods
store, under the name of J. A. Wallace & Co., his
partner being his uncle, Harvey Wallace. Three
years later his uncle died, and his widow con
tinued as the partner for two years, when Eli
Rightmeyer purchased her interest, and Wallace
& Rightmeyer continued in partnership for two
years more. Our subject then purchased the in
terest of his partner, but immediately admitted
into the firm R. H. Dolson, and for one year
business was continued under the name of Wallace
& Dolson, when the firm moved into Bull's Opera
House. Later Chancy Horton was admitted to
the firm. The business was now enlarged and
continued by Wallace, Dolson & Horton for three
years, when Mr. Horton disposed of his interest
to the company and retired from the firm.
In the fall of 1876 Mr. Wallace was elected
County Clerk on the Democratic ticket, and
January 1, 1877, to°k tne oath of office. This
position he held for three years, his deputy dur
ing this time being C. G. Elliott. In 1878 Mr.
Wallace sold his interest in the dry-goods store,

in order to give his undivided attention to his
official duties. After the close of his term he re
turned to Middletown, and in January, 1880,
bought out Mr. Dolson, who was engaged in the
dry-goods business, and for two years continued
alone. He then took into partnership C. H. Win
field, and business was continued by Wallace &
Winfield. Later Mr. Winfield retired, and Mr.
Wallace continued alone until 1889, having in
the mean time removed the stock to a new loca
tion on West Main Street. In 1889 he sold out to
Benjamin Smith, and retired from the dry-goods
business. Soon afterward he was appointed the
Main Street station agent for the New York,
Ontario & Western Railway, which position he
held for four years, when he resigned, and formed
a partnership with S. H. Bodine in the coal busi
ness. The firm of Bodine & Wallace was located
on Depot Street, and continued in partnership
three and a-half years, when Mr. Wallace with
drew and commenced business alone at No. 1 4
Railroad Avenue, the old McKee stand. He
handles all kinds of coal, and has a storage ca
pacity of three hundred tons.
Mr. Wallace was married in Goshen, in 1861,
to Miss Abbie M. Wood, who was a native of
that place. Four children were born unto them:
Lena, now Mrs. B. A. Bordwell, of Chicago;
Harvey Clifford, in the dry-goods business at
Scranton, Pa.; William W. , a graduate of Wall-
kill Academy and Hamilton College, now in his
senior year at Yale College; and George E., book
keeper for the Merchants and Manufacturers'
Bank of Middletown. Mrs. Wallace died here in
1873, and in February, 1875, Mr. Wallace mar
ried Miss Adeline Hill, born at Liberty, and
daughter of George Hill, a farmer. Two children
have been born to this union, Blake L. and
Mary. Mr. Wallace has filled other official positions
besides County Clerk. Before his election- to that
office he was Trustee of the village of Middle-
town three years, and after his return home, hav
ing filled out his term as County Clerk, he was
elected President of the Village Board of Trustees
for two years. Since the incorporation of the
village as a city, he has served two terms as

'382.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Treasurer, and was School Trustee of the town of
Wallkill when there was but one school in the pres
ent city of Middletown, known as the Orchard
Street School. In politics he is a Democrat, and
each time has been elected on the Democratic tick
et. Socially he is a member of the Masonic frater
nity, and is Past Master of the Blue Lodge, Past
High Priest of Midland Chapter, R. A. M., and
has been Secretary of the latter for ten years. He
is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church,
and has held the position of Trustee of that body.
He was interested in the building of the Middle-
town, Unionville & Water Gap Railroad, now the
Susquehanna. In the councils ofthe Democratic
party his advice is often sought, and he has beeu
sent as a delegate to state conventions. A suc
cessful man aud energetic citizen, he enjoys the
respect and esteem of all who know him.

3*£

EORNELIUS E. CUDDEBACK, one of the-
leading attorneys of Orange County, located
at Port Jervis, is an able counselor and a
man of wide information. In many of the lead
ing enterprises of this vicinity he has been in
terested. Recently he has taken an active part
in the re-adjustment of the affairs of the Port
Jervis, Monticello & New York Railroad Com
pany, and was Chairman of the Re-organization
Committee, through whose efforts an indebtedness
of $650,000 was reduced to $225,000, and the
corporation restored to solvency.
C. E. Cuddeback is the eldest in a family of
four children, who reached mature years and
whose parents were Elting and Ann B. (Elting)
Cuddeback. He was born March 10, 1849, ar|d
after obtaining a good common-school education
entered Prof. A. B. Wilbur's Academy. In 1867
he was enrolled as a student at Yale College, and
graduated from the classical course in the Class of
'71, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
On considering the question of his life vocation,
Mr. Cuddeback determined to read law, and took
the regular course in the Columbia Law School

of New York City, from which he graduated in
1873. In order to pay his way through the
school, he taught private classes of students who
were preparing for college. In August, 1873, he
opened an office in Port Jervis, where he has since
been engaged in general practice. He is particu
larly versed in corporation law, and has been in
terested in many important legal contests. For
ten consecutive years he served as Village At
torney, and for a long time held a like position for
the town of Deerpark. He has often acted for the
village and town as their legal advisor, and was
attorney for the receiver of the Port Jervis &
Monticello Railroad. His attention is chiefly
given to counsel and corporation law, and as a
rule he prefers to defend cases.
October 6, 1875, Mr. Cuddeback married
Esther, daughter of Rev. S. W. Mill, D. D. She
was born in Bloomingburg, and was educated in
what was then known as the Neversink Female
Seminary of Port Jervis. Our subject and wife
have had born to them five children, but two of the
number are deceased, Harry having died when
four and a-half years of age, and Nellie in infancy.
Those living are: Samuel M., Anna M. and Cor
nelius E., Jr. The parents are members of the
Reformed Church. Mr. Cuddeback is very do
mestic iu his tastes and has a very pleasant home.
He is classed among the prominent and repre
sentative citizens ofthe county. Politically he is
a Democrat.

p QlLLIAM H. McGOWAN, who is a prom-
\ A / inent citizen of the town of Wallkill, Was
V V bom in Circleville, N. Y., in 1827, and is
a son of John and Melissa (Fowler) McGowan,
both of. whom were natives of Orange County,
and spent their entire lives within its limits. His
father, when a young man, learned the trade of
a blacksmith, aud this occupation he followed for
several years. Later he became interested in farm
ing pursuits, and he was successfully employed
at that vocation until advancing years caused his

FRED HERMAN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1385

retirement from active work. He passed from
earth in 1878, having long survived his wife,
whose death occurred iu 1864.
The rudiments of his education Mr. McGowan
gained in the district schools, and the knowledge
there acquired was supplemented by systematic
reading and self-culture in later years. His en
tire life has been spent upon a farm, with the ex
ception of some six years, during which time he
was collecting agent and Treasurer ofthe Farm
ers' Milk Association of Circleville, N. Y. His
property consists of thirty-two acres in the home
farm, which is embellished with a neat residence,
and contains all the equipments necessary for the
successful prosecution of the work. The princi
pal industry iu which Mr. McGowan engages is
the milk business, and of this he has made a de
cided success.
Iu 1858 our subject aud Miss Sophia Horton
were united in marriage, and their union has been
one of mutual helpfulness and happiness. Mrs.
McGowan was born in this county, of whicli her
father, Hiram Horton, was a worthy citizen. In
religious belief she affiliates with the Baptist
Church, and her Christian character has won the
esteem ofthe people of this locality. Being op
posed to monopolies, Mr. McGowan naturally
finds a home in the Democratic party, of which
he is a stanch adherent. However, while he uni
formly votes that ticket in national affairs, he is
conservative in local matters, voting for the man
whom he deems best qualified for official position,
no matter what his politics may be.

I^HH^

["=

f- RED HERMAN, a prosperous business man
r*») in the western part of Newburgh, is an act-
|* ive Republican, and at one time served as
Alderman from the First Ward. Besides serving
on local and county committees, he has also been
Chairman of the Fire Department Committee.
In 1 89 1 he was elected to serve as one of the Alms
house Commissioners, and at the end of three
years was re-elected, being made Chairman ofthe
Outdoor Relief Committee and a member of the
Children's Home Committee. He is engaged iu

the hide and leather business, and is Secretary
and Treasurer of the Newburgh Rendering Com
pany. Mr. Herman was born iu Canterbury, town of
Cornwall, Orange County, February 9, 1848.
His father, Jacob Herman, was a native of Zwei-
bruckeu, Germany, on the River Rhine, and
there learned the tanner's trade. Iu his early-
manhood he emigrated to the United States, and,
settling in the vicinity of Newburgh, conducted a
tannery on his own account. Later he moved to
West Newburgh and built the tannery now oper
ated by his son. He was actively engaged in
business up to the time of his death, which oc
curred iu February, 1862, when he was nearly
sixty-one years of age. Religiously he was a
Lutheran, aud in his political faith was a Repub
lican. His wife, who was a Miss Riedinger be
fore their marriage, was born in Germany, aud
died when her son Fred was only a year old. The
father afterward married Catherine Van Aiken,
who was bora in Newburgh, and who is still liv
ing here. Her two sons are Jacob, who is in the
grocery business; and Robert, who is in the post-
office, both being residents of Newburgh. The
only sister of our subject is Mary, who is now
living in New York City.
Until he was thirteen years of age, Mr. Her
man attended the Newburgh schools, and was
then apprenticed to the tanner's trade under his
father, continuing with him until the latter's
death. For the following five years he and his
brother Jacob managed the business, but at the
end of that time the partnership was dissolved.
Since then our subject has carried on a hide, leath
er and findings trade, his business location be
ing at No. 531 Broadway. In May, 1894, he
helped to incorporate the Newburgh Rendering
Company, he being made Secretary and Treasur
er. The company has a capital stock of $3,000,
and the plant is located adjacent to the city.
In Port Jervis, in 1873, Mr. Herman was mar
ried to Florence E. Sawyer, who was born in
Pike County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Herman became
the parents of five children, the eldest ofwhom,
Celim, was drowned when the steamer "Elbe"
sank; Homer is attending the academy; and Ful-

1386

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ton is engaged in the tinsmith and plumbing bus
iness. The two daughters, Katie and Belle, are
still living at the parents' home, which is situated
on Broadway. Mr. Herman is a member of the
Knights of Honor, and belongs to Newburgh
Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M. He is a charter
member of Highland Steamer Company No. 3, of
the fire department, with which he has served
for thirty years. Among his business associates
he bears a well deserved name as a man of strict
integrity and honor.

Gz

CF

~-\

=0

pQlLLETT J. MARSHALL is one ofthe
\ A I largest wholesale provision merchants in
V V Newburgh. His well equipped establish
ment is also devoted to the sale of all kinds of
cured and smoked meats, and in the prosecution
of this business he is meeting with success.
Mr. Marshall is a native of this state, having
been born in Hyde Park, Dutchess County, Au
gust 6, 1837. This was also the birthplace of
his father, Hiram, and grandfather, Willett. The
latter was a farmer by occupation, and during
the War of 18 12 served as a soldier in its ranks.
His son Hiram was likewise a tiller of the soil,
and owned a splendid property four miles east of
Hyde Park, where he died when fifty-five years
of age. The mother of our subject, Hannah
(Haight) Marshall, was born in Clinton, Dutchess
County, and was a daughter of Isaac Haight, a
Quaker and farmer of Clinton.
The parental family included six children, all
ofwhom are living, aud of whom Willett J. was
the eldest. He was reared to farm life and edu
cated iu the Quaker schools of Washington, re
maining at home until his father died, in 1855.
That year he went west to Illinois, locating on a
farm in Knox County, within one mile of Gales-
burg, where he engaged in farming for two years,
when he returned to his native state and began
working on the old homestead. In May, 1867,
he located on Gidney Avenue, Newburgh, and
engaged in his present business, whicli was the

first of the kind carried on in the city, and for
the first three years he operated alone. Mr. Coles
then became his partner, and the firm known as
Coles, Marshall & Co. has existed up to the pres
ent time. After six years spent at the old stand,
they moved to Nos. 21 and 23 South Water
Street, where they have a large and well equipped
eestablishment, conducted on strictly business
principles. The senior member of the firm and
Mr. Gidney reside in New York City, looking
after their interests there. They also do a whole
sale provision business in that city, their house
being located at No. 100 Forsyth Street. They
purchase their own stock and cure their meats,
the establishment for that purpose being located
in Jersey City. Their house iu Newburgh, which
our subject conducts, occupies five floors. The
firm of Coles, Marshall & Co. is well known
throughout the East, the business extending to
almost every city on the Atlantic Coast. Two
traveling salesmen are kept on the road during
the entire year, looking after the firm's interests
iu Newburgh and New York City.
Mr. Marshall was married in Hyde Park, in
1859, to Miss Emeline Avery, who was born at
Lima, Livingston County, this state, iu 1841.
To them has been born a son, Hiram, who is at
present residing in Middle Hope. Mr. Marshall
occupies one of the pleasantest homes in the
city, aud surrounds his family with all of the
comforts and many of the luxuries of life.. In
politics he is a supporter of Republican princi
ples, and religiously belongs to the Society of
Friends.
: — 0#P — • .
(j OHN J. HOGAN. The name of this gentle-
I man deserves to be perpetuated as a public
G) benefactor, for through the exercise of his
mechanical genius he has been enabled to wholly
revolutionize the science of boiler-making. He is
mechanical engineer of the Hogan Boiler Com
pany, of Middletown, the other officers being W.
D. Stratton, President; G. N. Clemson, Vice-
President; C. Macardell, Treasurer; and C. L.
Merritt, Secretary and Manager. Mr. Hogan
himself is the founder of the works, the success

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1387

and rapid growth of which are due almost en
tirely to his skill and inventive ability. The
Hogan Water Tube Boiler, which he has per
fected, and through which his name has become
widely known, possesses a three-fold advantage
over the ordinary boiler, in that it saves first cost,
space and fuel.
Among the advantages of this boiler we note
the following: instant and continuous precipita
tion of all sediment in the water and its certain
deposit in the mud drum; steady water line at all
pressures, irrespective of capacity or forcing; in
troduction of the feed-water in a way to promote
and assist circulation instead of retarding it; the
impossibility of water of low temperature coming
in contact with the surfaces which are exposed to
the heated gases; positive vertical circulation and
continuous circulation, insuring clean surfaces
and freedom from accumulation of sediment in
tubes and cylinders, irrespective of the kind of
water used; vertical water tubes, insuring nat
ural circulation; free expansion of all parts with
out any strain on the joints; dry steam at all
times, 110 matter what the conditions of firing and
use may be; and the heating surfaces located di
rectly above the fire surfaces in one chamber of
large volume.
That the boiler is economical, may be inferred
from the fact that a plant of one thousand horse
power will save $5,000 in fuel above what any
other boiler has been able to accomplish. Its oper
ative economy is also very large, as it generates
more steam per pound of coal used than any other
boiler ever made. It is admirably adapted for
marine purposes, and is now being introduced into
shipping. The boilers have been tried at sea and
it has been found that four of the Hogan Boilers
can replace twelve of the largest size of others,
and twenty-eight of the smaller size. There is,
therefore, in view of their great economy of fuel
and space, a probability that these boilers will en
tirely replace the others in use at the present time,
for the cost of operation is materially smaller and
the space occupied is two-thirds less than that
taken by other boilers.
Of this line of work Mr. Hogan has made a
specialty since boyhood. He studied mechanical

engineering in England, and was a pupil in the
Reading Iron Works, near London, paying a tui
tion fee of $1,500 and receiving in wages for the
five years from sixty cents to $1.25 per week.
Believing that America offered a wider field for
work in his occupation, he came hither, and for
some time was with Alexander L. Holley, design
ing and erecting the Bessemer Process. Not in
frequently, in the erection of plants, it was nec
essary to put in from ninety to a hundred of the
largest boilers of that day. He spent some time
in this business both at Scranton, Pa., and St.
Louis, Mo. In 1893 he came to Middletown and
erected the necessary buildings for the manufact
ure of boilers, completing them so as to begin
in business early in 1894. Since that time he has
conducted a large contract business, manufactur
ing boilers of from seventy-five to eight hundred
horse-power. The Hogan Boiler Company has
a capital stock of $300,000 and owns five acres of
land within the city limits, on which they intend
in the near future to build large shops, sufficient
to furnish employment to four or five hundred me
chanics. Since 1871 Mr. Hogan has been perfecting the
boiler which now bears his name, and he now has
about one hundred different patents upon it. The
Novelty Hot Water Circulator and Novelty Steam
Boiler are manufactured by the Model Heating
Company of Philadelphia, under their patents.
The Hogan Metallic Joint, used on the boiler, is
a valuable patent. The whole structure is sup
ported 011 a wrought-iron frame, neatly enclosed
and covered with brick. The front is of wrought
and steel plates, secured with long bolts in away
to prevent all movement of the brickwork. In
addition to these steel plates and bolts, the brick
work of the furnace has air spaces between it and
the external walls. The man-holes are provided
with copper seats in their joints, which are under
compression at all times. The man-holes are es
pecially designed for high pressure, and the cov
ers may be replaced without renewal of copper
seat. The opening of two or three man-holes,
the number varying according to the type of
boiler, gives access to the inside of the boiler.
One of the most important contracts taken by

1388

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the Hogan Boiler Company was for the erection
of a boiler in the State Hospital for the Insane
at Middletown. The grate area of this boiler is
a little more than eighty square feet, being ji}4
xy. The heating surface is equal to four thou
sand and one hundred square feet, and the floor
space occupied by the boiler is 20x11^/3. The
height of the chimney from ground to top is fifty
feet. These figures will serve to give an idea of
the magnitude of this enterprise, which was one
of the most important ever undertaken by the
company. In everything pertaining to the business Mr.
Hogan is deeply interested, and probably few
men are better informed concerning every detail
of boiler- making than is he. A considerable por
tion of his time is devoted to the publication of
tne "Boiler Review," a magazine for the trade, in
which are technically reviewed theory and prac
tice relating to the design, construction and op
eration of stationary, marine and locomotive
boilers.

4€h

j OUIS DOUGLAS FOUQUET, Assistant
It Engineer on the New York, Ontario &
|_2f Western Railway , with headquarters at Mid
dletown, was born in the village of Fishkill,
N. Y., October 12, 1867. The family of which
he is a member has been represented in this
country since the Revolution, when his paternal
great-grandfather accompanied General LaFay-
ette from France to America. The grandfather,
D. L. Fouquet, was proprietor of the Fouquet
House at Plattsburg, Clinton County, N. Y.,
and owned a number of stage lines running to
the Adirondack Mountains.
Our subject's father, John D., was born in
Plattsburg, and took a course in civil-engineer
ing at the Troy Polytechnic Institute, from which
he was graduated. He was a civil engineer on
the Atlantic & Great Western, the Erie and in
the United States navy under Admiral Bailey, on
the frigate "St. Lawrence." Later he settled at
Fishkill, where he was a division engineer on
the Dutchess & Columbia Railroad, then became

architect for the large print works of Garner &
Co., and afterward was architect for the West
Shore Railroad, with headquarters at Weehawken,
N. J.; he also served as superintendent of build
ings and construction for the same road. His
next position was that of architect for the New
York Central at Grand Central Station, New
York. About 1894 he resigned this position and
established an office at No. 35 Broadway, New
York, where he has since been engaged as a civil
engineei and architect, making a specialty of
railroad work. In religious belief he is an Epis
copalian. The mother of our subject, whose maiden
name was Emma J. Leffiugwell, was born at
Athens, Greene County, N. Y., and is of Eng
lish descent. Her father, Capt. John Leffiug
well, was for a long time a captain On the Hudson,
and owned a number of sloops aud barges that
plied the waters of that river. Our subject is
the elder ofthe two children, and has a brother,
M. L-, who is Assistant Engineer on the New
York Central Railroad. Louis D. was reared in
Fishkill, where he attended the public schools.
At the age of seventeen he went to Pittsfield,
Mass., where he was clerk in a pharmacy for one
year, but not liking the business, he took up
civil-engineering. His first position was as clerk
and draughtsman in the West Shore Railway
office, after whicli he was chainman for the New
Jersey Railroad between Weehawken and Jersey
City, and later was draughtsman for the same
company. For one year he was draughtsman on
the New York Central Railroad at Grand Cen
tral Depot, New York, and then was transferred
to One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Street, the
same city, as rodman 011 the Harlem Depres
sion. He was also employed on the construction
ofthe Mott Haven yards.
Resigning that position in 1889, Mr. Fouquet
became leveler 011 the construction ofthe zig-zag
tunnel in Delaware County, 011 the New York,
Ontario & Western. From that position he was
promoted to transitman, and in 1891, while work
ing on the tunnel, he became assistant engineer.
The construction of the tunnel required two years
and eleven mouths, and he was the first to pass

HARVEY ALEXANDER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J39i

through it upon its completion. The work of
building it was done very rapidly, the world's
record on that score being broken by their speed.
Not only was the work rapidly done, but it was
done well, and when the two lines met there was
not the least variation in them.
In 1891 Mr. Fouquet came to Middletown as
Assistant Engineer of the entire system, but iu
1893, when the railroad was divided, he became
Assistant Engineer of the Southern Division.
His entire time is given to the duties of his posi
tion, which he fills most efficiently and satisfac
torily. He has superintended the building of a
number of bridges and viaducts of steel, and
aided in the construction ofthe Ellenville Bridge.
He is a Junior in the American Society of Civil
Engineers, and takes a warm interest in every
thing pertaining to the science. Like his par
ents, he is an Episcopalian, his membership be
ing in Grace Church. Fraternally he is identified
with Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M.; Mid
land Chapter No. 240, at Middletown; Delaware
Commandery No. 44, at Port Jervis; and Mecca
Temple Shrine in New York City.

-J— - i  *!5+i®^H)®^»^;»  •—- ¦

NARVEY ALEXANDER. This worthy old
settler of the town of New Windsor has
dwelt on his present farm uninterruptedly
since 1846, with the exception of one year, which
was passed in Cornwall. Though now in his sev
enty-ninth year, he still enjoys good health and
carries on the work of his farm in a manner be
fitting a man of half his years. He is mainly self-
educated, for in his boyhood he had little chance
for attending school, and was obliged to rely upon
private study and general observation. His first
Presidential ballot was cast for William Henry
Harrison, and he also had the privilege of voting
for his grandson in 1888. He has always been a
stalwart Republican, and has held a number of
local offices of trust and honor, having served as
Town Trustee for fourteen years.
The parents of our subject were James and

Catherine F. (Billiard) Alexander, the former 01
whom was born iu Belfast, Ireland, November 2,
1770, and the latter in Connecticut, December 29,
1780. Tlieir family numbered thirteen children,
of whom John died in 1858, aged fifty-eight years;
Thomas died January 1, 1895, when in his ninety -
fourth year; Joseph, bom in 1804, is still living;
James died in 1888, when in his eighty -third
year; Franklin, boru March 9, 1808, is a resident
of Cleveland, Ohio; Annie E., boru January 16,
1810, and now living in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., is the
widow of Thomas McClellan; Jane, born Feb
ruary 14, 1812, married Daniel Sayer, and died
March 12, 1895; Catherine, born December 27,
1813, is the widow of A. T. Rumsey, and resides
in Newburgh; Rebecca, who was born April 13,
1818, and was the wife of Samuel McCoon, died
May 28, 1857; Mary, born January 17, 1821,
the widow of Mathew Crist, lives in Newburgh;
Daniel M., born January 9, 1824, is a resident of
Morristown, N. J. ; Rhoda, born October 24,
1827, is the wife of George W Shaw; and our
subject completes the family. The father of this
large family was a weaver by trade. In 1798 he
came to America on a sailing-vessel, and from
that time onward lived in Newburgh.
Harvey Alexander is a native of this town, hav
ing been born within its limits February 15, 18 16,
and was reared on the farm now owned by James
Corwin. When he was about sixteen years of
age he commenced working at the carpenter s
trade, serving for three years as an apprentice,
and receiving therefor his board and about $40
per year. Later he worked at his trade for a
short time, but since 1846, when he moved to
the farm which he still owns, he has given his
principal attention to agriculture.
April 7, 1841, Mr. Alexander married Amanda
Kernaghan, who was born in this town, April 27,
18 17, being a daughter of William and Sarah
Kernaghan. Three children came to bless the
home of our subject and wife. Sophia C. lives at
home and is keeping house for her father; George
B. is ex-Under Sheriff of Orange County; and
Joseph K. is ex -Sheriff. The mother died March
6, 1884, and was buried in Bethlehem Cemetery.
She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian

1392

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Church, to which Mr. Alexander and daughter
also belong. The former has served as Trustee
in the Methodist Church at Little Britain, and
has always taken great interest in religious affairs.

EHARLES G. BALDWIN is the junior
member of the firm of Wood & Baldwin,
proprietors of a livery, boarding and sales
stable at Middletown, and who are also operating
a sandbank with great success. In public affairs
he is a man of influence. In 1890 he was elected
to represent the Third Ward 011 the Board of Al
dermen, and two years later he was re-elected,
serving for four years, but refusing further nomin
ation for the position. While a member of the
Council he seived as a member of almost all ofthe
committees aud was Chairman of the - Street and
Police Committees.
Mr. Baldwin was born in East Fishkill, Dutch
ess County, February 27, 1861, and his father,
Peter A., and grandfather, Elisha, were born at
the same place. His great-grandfather, Daniel,
removed from Connecticut to New York and set
tled on a farm near Fishkill, remaining there un
til his death. Peter A. Baldwin has for years
beeu successfully engaged in farming and stock-
raising, and still makes his home in Dutchess
County, near Hopewell, being quite robust though
sixty-four years of age. He has been active in
local matters and has served as Supervisor, his
popularity being shown by the fact that he ran
considerably ahead of his ticket at election. So
cially he is a Mason. His wife, whose maiden
name was Mary Green, was born in the town of
Hyde Park, Dutchess County, and was a daugh
ter of Charles Green, a shoe merchant of New
York City. She is identified with the Dutch
Reformed Church in religious belief.
There are three children in the family of Peter
A. and Mary Baldwin, of whom our subject is
the eldest. The others are Frank, a farmer liv
ing near Poughkeepsie; and Aletta, who is with
her parents. Charles G. remained on the home
farm until twenty-one years of age, meantime at
tending Monticello Academy, from which he was

graduated iu 1879. In boyhood he frequently
rode on horseback to and from Ohio, driving from
two to three hundred head of cattle, and from
twenty-five to fifty head of horses, from the Buck
eye State to New York City.
Going to New York City in 1882, Mr. Bald
win became bookkeeper for the Syndicate Mining
Company, at No. 2 Wall Street. After three
months there, he secured a position as claim
clerk of the live-stock department of the Erie
Railroad in New York, being with his uncle,
A. S. Baldwin. Iu 1885 he went to Camden,
N. J., and formed a partnership with his father-
in-law in the lumber business, under the firm
name of L. M. Stanton & Co., but one month
after starting in business Mr. Stanton died. The
business was then sold out and Mr. Baldwin went
to Fishkill, where he engaged iu dealing iu horses.
In December, 1888, he came lo Middletown,
where he began as a horse dealer, and later
bought and opened a sandbank of thirty acres,
one mile from the city, on South Street, lying on
the line ofthe Susquehanna & Western Railroad,
with which it is connected by a switch. There
is also a large supply of clay here, and it is the
intention of the firm to start a brickyard at some
future time. From two to six men are employed
at the bank, and a very extensive business is
done, large sales being made of moulding, build
ing, gravel and paving sand.
In 1893 Mr. Baldwin started in the livery bus
iness on James Street, and here he has since car
ried on a large trade. He sells large numbers of
horses, both for himself and other parties, and
raises a few standard horses for sale. He is a
stockholder and Director of the Driving- Park
Association aud has twelve or more horses at the
park, where they are being trained. Politically
he is a Republican, but does not care for promi
nence iu public affairs, preferring to give his at
tention to business matters.
In Monticello Mr. Baldwin married Miss May
Stanton, daughter of Lewis Stanton, at one
time County Clerk of Sullivan County, but now
deceased. Mrs. May Baldwin died in Middle-
town, after having become the mother of two
children, Elizabeth and Adriance. The present

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

L393

wife of Mr. Baldwin was Miss Anna. B. Harmaii,
who was born in Middletown, being a daughter
of Frank Harman, a resident of this city aud con
nected with the Erie grain elevator at Jersey
City. One child blesses this union. Mrs. Bald
win is a member of Grace Episcopal Church , and
moves in the best society in this city. As a rep
resentative and successful business man, Mr.
Baldwin has won a place among the prominent
men of the city, and is rapidly gaining a solid
and substantial prosperity, of which he is well de
serving.

**=#*M*

WILLIAM M. CORNELL, one of the well-
to-do farmers of the town of Cornwall, was
born in the town of Monroe, August 19,
1826. He attended school for some time in his
native place, but since 1842 has made his home
in this locality, where his father, Josiah Cornell,
was the proprietor of a large tract of land, com
prising over seven hundred acres. This property-
was inherited by his two sons, James and Will
iam, the latter receiving two hundred and fifty
acres. The paternal grandparents of our subject were
Josiah and Catherine (Maillor) Cornell, natives,
respectively, of Westchester and Orange Coun
ties, this state. Josiah was but a small boy when
his father, Daniel, came to this county, soon aft
er the close of the Revolutionary War. The lat
ter lost much property in the way of cattle, etc.,
during that period, and on one occasion two sol
diers were compelled to run the gauntlet for steal
ing some carpet which belonged to him.
Daniel Cornell married Miss Mary Quimby, to
whom were born three daughters and three sons,
and of these Josiah was the third. He married
Catherine Maillor, and lived on the farm adjoin
ing that occupied by our subject. Their family
included eight children. Of these, Charity is liv
ing in this section; James and Esther are de
ceased; William, our subject, was the next-born;
Mary Ann is the wife of Charles Ryder, of Brook
lyn; Rebecca makes her home at Mineola, L. I. ;

Elizabeth married Reuben Birdsell, a native of
Chappaqua, but now living in Mineola; and the
youngest member of the household died in in
fancy .
Our subject was married in Highland Mills,
November 24, 1859, to Miss Sarah Cornell, the
daughter of Harrison aud Charity (Earl) Cor
nell. Her father was the son of Samuel Cornell,
a native of Westchester County, and by his union
with Miss Earl there were born the following
eleven children: Samuel, Hannah, John, Mary,
David, Elizabeth, James, Charles, Charlotte (the
wife of Charles S. Ostrander, now living in Port
land, Ore.), Sarah, and one who died unnamed.
To our subject and his estimable wife there
have been born six sous and daughters. Char
lotte married John S. Drake, of Green Point,
L- I.; Harrison is a farmer living on a farm ad
joining his father's; Josiah is a farmer in the town
of Woodbury; Charity is at home; Sidney is al
so a farmer of Woodbury; and Charles is also
at home. The parents are members of the Soci
ety of Friends. In politics Mr. Cornell is a Dem
ocrat of the old-fashioned type. He has been
active in public affairs and for some time served
as Road Overseer. He is an influential worker iu
his church and has been overseer of his congrega
tion. The land which he cultivates is a very
productive tract and yields him a good income.

HE MIDDLETOWN PRESS, which is one
of the oldest and most widely circulated
newspapers in southern New York, was
established in Middletown as a weekly in 1851,
by John W. Hasbrouck, who is still living, an
honored resident of this city. It was from the
first strongly Republican in politics, and then, as
now, made the local news a leading feature.
Mr. Hasbrouck conducted the paper, with
unvarying success, for seventeen years, and then
sold out to Moses D. Stivers, who had then just
completed a term as Clerk of Orange County.
He was an ardent Republican, and proved to be a
" born newspaper man"'
The first paper under the editorship of Mr.

!394

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Stivers was issued April 3, 1868. December 3,
1869, he formed a partnership with Albert
Kessinger, and the paper was issued by the firm
of Stivers & Kessinger until the sad death ofthe
junior ofthe firm in 1872. During this interval,
May 24, 1870, a tri-weekly edition of the paper,
known as the Middletown Evening Press, was
started and was a great success. The paper was
sold in 1872 in order to settle Mr. Kessinger's
estate, and was bought by F. Stanhope Hill, an
experienced newspaper man of Chester, Pa., who
at once sold an interest to John W. Slauson, one
of the present proprietors.
Feeling that the time for a daily paper in Mid
dletown (which then had a population of over six
thousand) had arrived, the new firm of Hill &
Slauson changed the tri-weekly to a daily, and
sent out the first issue of the Middletown Daily
Press October 26, 1872. Mr. Hill remained in
the firm only nine months, when he resold to Mr.
Stivers, and the pajjer had a very prosperous
period, under the firm of Stivers & Slauson, from
July 2, 1873, to December 14, 1880. At the lat
ter date Mr. Stivers sold his interest to his part
ner, who at once sold the same to Charles J.
Boyd, one of the present proprietors, and the firm
of Slauson & Boyd was formed. This firm ex
isted three years, during which the weekly edi
tion of the paper — the Orange County Press —
was changed to a semi -weekly, the first issue
bearing date July 24, 1883. This was the first
semi-weekly paper in this part of the state, and
its success was remarkable from the start.
In August, 1883, Mr. Stivers repurchased an
interest in the paper, and the firm became
Stivers, Slauson & Boyd. He remained in
active connection with the firm until elected to
the Fifty-first Congress, in the fall of 1888.
During his term of office he was necessarily ab
sent from his newspaper work. At the clpse of
his official term he decided to dispose of his in
terest in the paper, a decision to which his part
ners gave reluctant consent. They finally pur
chased Mr. Stivers' share in the establishment,
and for the second time the firm became Slauson
& Boyd, and has so continued ever since.
While there have been several changes of firm

titles, as mentioned above, the real changes in
proprietorship were few, one of the present own
ers having been connected with the paper for
twenty-three years and the other for about fif
teen. The paper owns its own real estate, is equipped
with niodern and rapid-printing machinery, has
a large job-printing department, and has always
been in a flourishing and healthful condition
The building in which the paper has large and
commodious quarters was once the only public
hall of the towu, and its walls have echoed the
voices of the leading orators and statesmen of the
country. The following mention of the charac
ter and influence of the paper was prepared for
this volume by W. T. Doty, editor ofthe Orange
County Farmer:
' ' The career of the Middletown Press has been
onward and upward. With no faltering step, it
has worked its way from a mere ' diminutive
chronicler ' of events to au eminence of ability
aud far-reaching influence, — a credit to the great
'art preservative' and an example of thorough,
high-toned, even-tempered management.
' ' The Press has made a record of great useful
ness. It has nearly reached its half-century
mark, being now in its forty-fourth year. Dur
ing that time it has seen its birthplace grow
from a hamlet to a prosperous, beautiful, busy
city; its own state from greatness to grandeur;
and its own Republic from a border-land of
struggling civilization to an empire of enlight
enment. " Its own columns have grown from few to
many. In size and usefulness it has kept pace
with the march of events, never slighting a duty
or evading an issue. Steadfastness to principle
has ever found it in the columns of the Repub
lican party's army of occupation. Boys have
become men and men have grown gray in its
service. The Press has always been one of the clean
est of journals,— the steadfast aim of its suc
cessive proprietors having been a continuity of
noble purpose and a marvel of attainment. The
writer of these lines has been more or less familiar
with the work, — he may say the domestic work, —

-\&/

PROF. LOUIS J. DIEMER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1397

of the office for more than thirty years, and
during that time he has found so much to com
mend and so little to condemn in the conduct of
the Press, that he takes pride iu pointing to it as
a model newspaper establishment in every re
spect. This term, 'model newspaper,' is so
often misused that it generally fails to convey its
true meaning; but in this case the highest ap
plication of encomium expresses only the truth."

+=

I OUIS J. DIEMER. Newburgh is known
| C among the other cities ofthe Hudson Valley
\ J as having among her citizens a number of
gentlemen whose superior musical ability and
skill have won for them an enviable reputation,
and whose public-spirited service has raised their
city to a high position in artistic circles. Such
is Professor Diemer, who is recognized as one of
the most skilled pianists and organists, not only
of Newburgh, but also of this part of the state.
As an instructor in music he has earned a wide
spread reputation for thoroughness and accuracy.
In addition to instruction in the art, he is offici
ating as organist of St. Paul's Protestant Episco
pal Church and of the Jewish Temple, Congrega
tion Beth Jacob.
Though of German parentage aud ancestry,
Professor Diemer is a native of New York, and
was born in Newburgh, October 18, 1858. His
educational advantages, both literary and musical,
were of the very best, and being naturally of a
bright and assimilative nature, he acquired a
broad knowledge of the sciences, literature and
art while still quite young. From early child
hood he displayed a predilection for music, and
the talent which it was seen that he possessed
he was given the best opportunities to cultivate.
When only eight years of age he began the study
of music under the instruction of Prof. Louis
Hammerstein, with whom he continued for six
years. The first public work done by Professor Diemer
was in May, 1878, when he secured the positioii

of organist at St. George's Episcopal Church of
Newburgh. The following year he studied organ
and harmony with Prof. C. B. Rutenber, of New
York, remaining under his instruction for one
term. In 1880 he studied piano, organ and har
mony with Dr. E. Eberhard, President of the
Grand Conservatory of Music of New York City.
Later he studied the piano with Otto Hackh, A. M.
The ability of Professor Diemer was recognized
by his appointment as a member of the faculty of
the Grand Conservatory in 1883, and during the
following year he accepted the position of organ
ist of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Later he was
organist for the American Reformed and the
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Churches, and at
present, as before stated, he is organist for Con
gregation Beth Jacob and St. Paul's Protestant
Episcopal Church. At the early age of twelve
years he began to compose music, and this he has
since continued, but has modestly declined to
publish any of his compositions, not deeming them
of sufficient merit. If the opinions of others may
be relied upon, however, in preference to his own
estimate of his ability, he is without doubt one of
the most efficient musicians and skilled composers
of the state. In the profession he stands very-
high, while his genial manners and unvarying
courtesy of demeanor have brought him - equal
prominence in social circles.
The marriage of the Professor occurred October
15, 1884, uniting him with Miss Josephine M.
Waring, of Newburgh, and daughter of James K.
and Sarah K. (VanWyck) Waring. To our sub
ject and wife have been born four children.

EARL KEEHNER, or Charles Keener, as he
is best known (the change in name being
rendered necessary on account of the persis
tency ofthe people in calling him so), is a manu
facturer of fine hand-cut files, and is a successor
to the Homebreaker-Keener Company. He was
born in Germany, at Rheinpfalz, about thirty
miles from the Rhine, November 5, 1852. His
parents, Mathias and Susanna (Flockerzie) Keeh-
ner, were also natives ofthe same country. His

1398

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

paternal grandfather was an officer in the French
army in the Napoleonic Wars. During the Rev
olutionary War he came to America to assist
the Colonists, after which he returned to Ger
many, where he held the position of Forester to
the king. He was a prominent man, a valiant
fighter, and had many medals bestowed upon him
for his bravery in action. He passed away at
the age of eighty-five years.
Mathias Keehner, the father of our subject,
was by trade a stone-cutter and general contractor
in street paving. He died iu his native land at
the age of fifty-two years, firm in the faith of the
Evangelical Church. The mother of our sub
ject, as already stated, was a native of Germany.
Her father was also a Government officer, and
held high rank in the German army. When he
retired from the army he was employed as Head
Forester to the king. Of their family of four
sons and one daughter, all are yet living, two of
the number residing in America: David, who re
sides in Middletown, and who is a contracting
mason; and the subject of this sketch.
Charles Keener attended the public schools of
his native country until fourteen years of age,
when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a
dyer in a large woolen-manufacturing establish
ment.' For nearly two years he worked at this
trade, when, his health failing him, he decided to
come to America. In the spring of 1869 he left
home, sailing from Hamburg in the steamer
"Zumbria," and after spending eleven days on
the water landed in New York, from which place
he went to Saugerties and engaged iu cutting
bluestone for two years. He then removed to
Grahamsville, Sullivan County, and for two years
and eight mouths was employed in a tanning es
tablishment. The firm with which he was em
ployed having failed, our subject then came to
Middletown and entered Howell & Hinchman's
tannery, where he worked for eighteen months.
Iu 1878 he entered the sawshops of Wheeler,
Madden & Clemson, now the National Saw
Works, where he remained three years. He then
formed a partnership with his brother-in-law,
Herman Homebreaker, a practical file-maker, to
manufacture files and rasps, and erected a build

ing for their works. Business was conducted
under the name ofthe Homebreaker-Keener Com
pany until July, 1894, when the partnership was
dissolved. Mr. Keener then purchased the in
terest of his partner, and has since continued alone
in business. The location of the house is at
No. 37 Broad Street, where, in addition to the
manufacture of files and rasps, he cuts, tempers,
hardens and finishes up steel for various manu
facturing purposes. He manufactures rasps from
bar steel, and files from the rough. The house
has a capacity for turning out from one hundred
and seventy-five to two hundred files every twen
ty-four hours. The business amounts to several
thousand dollars each year, and the products are
shipped from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and North
and South. Mr. Keener himself does much of
the traveling for the house.
In 1878 Mr. Keener was united in marriage in
Middletown with Miss Matilda Homebreaker, a
native of Germany, and daughter of Peter and
Wilhelmina (Schilling) Homebreaker. Her fa
ther was a file manufacturer by trade, and fol
lowed that work both in his native land and after
he came to America. On coming to this coun
try, he located in Pompton, N. J., where he was
employed at his trade for a short time. After
living in various places, he came to Middletown,
about 1858, and entered the employ of Wheeler,
Madden & Clemson, file manufacturers. He yet
resides in this city, and works at his trade. Mrs.
Keener was reared iu this country, and she has
become the mother of six children: Mabel, Emma
M., Clara J., Florence, Grover Cleveland and Al
fred Robert, all of whom reside at home.
Since coining to Middletown Mr. Keener has
been quite successful, and in addition to his busi
ness interests owns property at Nos. 37 and 47
Broad Street. Fraternally he is a member of
Luther Lodge No. 380, I. O. O. F. , in which he
has passed all the chairs, and has twice repre
sented the lodge in the grand lodge of the
state. He is Trustee of the Odd Fellows' Home
in Westchester County, this state. He is also a
member of the Maennerchor, and was Second
President of the association. As a business man
he is conservative, aud is a member of the Mid-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1399

dletown Co-operative Store Company. The files
which he manufactures are considered the best in
the country. Both parents are members of the
Congregational Church.

-=^41

m\\

EHARLES H. SMITH, of Middletown, is a
successful architect and civil engineer, and
at present is serving in the latter capacity,
the duties of which office he has discharged in a
manner eminently satisfactory to the people. His
office is located in the Trust Building, at No. 75
North Street, and his time is busily occupied in
the management of his extensive business and
professional interests.
The first representative of this branch of the
Smith family in Orange County was our subject's
grandfather, Melanctou, a native of New York,
and a farmer in Chenango County, whence he
removed to the town of Wallkill. When ad
vanced in years he came to Middletown and set
tled at No. 12 William Street, where he lived re
tired until his death, at the age of seventy-five.
Our subject's father, George, was born in Ox
ford, Chenango County, but was reared in Or
ange County. Early in life he entered the em
ploy of the Erie Road, and after a time became
Roadmaster of the Eastern Division of the Erie.
Iu 1887 he accepted a position as Roadmaster for
the New York, Susquehanna & Western Rail
road, which position he still holds, with head
quarters at Middletown. His wife, Abbie J.
Horton, was born in the town of Wallkill, and
was the daughter of A. J. Horton, who for many
years served as station agent aud Postmaster at
Howells. The family of George and Abbie J. Smith
consisted of seven children, of whom all but one
are living. Charles H., who is next to the eldest,
was born in Howells, this county, in 1861, and
was reared principally in Paterson, N. J., where
he resided from the age of six to sixteen. From
that place he came to Middletown, where he has
since resided. After graduating from Wallkill
Academy, at the age of nineteen, he took up civil-
engineering, and spent two years in practical

work under Chief Engineer O. Chanute, of the
Erie Road. He then entered Lehigh University,
and for two years was a student in the depart
ment of civil-engineering. Later he was Assist
ant Engineer between Ridgewood and Ruther
ford, N. J., after which he was promoted to the
position of Division Engineer on the Erie, his
headquarters being at Elmira for two years. He
was then transferred to a similar position on the
Western Division, with headquarters at Hornells-
ville, his territory being between that city and
Dunkirk, also the Bradford (Pa. J Branch. In
that capacity he was employed for two and one-
half years.
At Hornellsville, N. Y., in 1890, Mr. Smith
married Miss Minnie A. Hollands, whose father,
George Hollands, was a prominent business man
of that place and at one time Sheriff of Steuben
County. In 1890 Mr. Smith was appointed As
sistant Chief Engineer of the New York, Ontario
& Western Railway, with headquarters at Mid
dletown. For three years he held that position,
being under E. Caufield, Chief Engineer, and hav
ing charge of the division extending from Oswe
go to New York City, with all the branches. Iu
1893 he resigned iu order to give his attention
wholly to civil-engineering, and in the spring of
the following year he opened an office in Middle-
town. About the same time he was appointed
City Engineer by the Council, iu which capacity-
he has since served.
A number of new streets -iu this city have been
opened by Mr. Smith. He is Chief Engineer of
the Middletown & Goshen Traction Company, of
which he was one of the organizers, aud in which
he is a stockholder and Director. He laid out the
Central Park Addition to the city, comprising six
hundred acres, also the R. N. Boak tract of forty
acres, Columbia Park, Richmond Hill and other
portions of the city that are fast growing in pop
ularity. He had the contract for the engineering
of water works at various towns in the county,
aud is now making surveys, and is Chief Engi
neer, for the Middletown & Bloomingburg Electric
Street Railroad, being one of the organizers and
Directors of that company. Recently he com
pleted, au elegant residence for his family at No.

1400

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

129 South Street, and in addition to this property
he owns nine acres of land in the southern part
of the city.
It has been Mr. Smith's custom to attend the
annual meetings of the American Society of Civil
Engineers, of which he is a member. He is con
nected with the Middletown Club, the Board of
Trade, and is an honorary member of the Excel
sior Hook and Ladder Company. In religious be
lief he is associated with the Second Presbyterian
Church of Middletown. He is an enterprising
business man, and employs four assistants in
his office.

EOL. CHARLES WILLIAM EARNED, Pro
fessor of Drawing in the United States Mili
tary Academy at West Point, was born in
the city of New York, March 9, 1850, and is the
sou of William Earned, Additional Paymaster in
the United States army, who died of disease
contracted in the field in the performance of his
duties during the War of the Rebellion. His
great-grandfather, William Lamed, was au officer
of the Revolutionary War, and his progenitor,
William Larned, came over to Charlestown, Mass. ,
among the early Puritans, in 1632, and was one
ofthe Selectmen of that town.
Colonel Earned entered the United States mili
tary as cadet July 1, 1866, and was graduated
from that institution June 15, 1870. His graduat
ing leave was spent in Europe during the Franco-
Prussian War. His first assignment was to the
Third United States Cavalry, but before reporting
for duty he was transferred to the Seventh Cav
alry, which regiment he joined at Ft. Hays, Kan. ,
in October, 1870. He was temporarily assigned
to "D" Troop, and commanded it during the
march to Ft. Leavenworth, where he wintered. In
March ofthe following year the regiment was se
lected for service iu the South during the recon
struction period, and Lieutenant Larned moved
with the headquarters to Louisville, Ky., where
he remained with his troop until sent in com
mand of a detachment of men to Livingston, Ky . ,
for the purpose of assisting the United States

Marshal in his raids upon illicit distilleries dur
ing the winter and spring of 1873. In April of
that year the regiment was ordered to Dakota to
protect the survey of the Northern Pacific Road,
and rendezvoused -at Yankton, where, after being
buried under the snow in a blizzard, it marched
to Ft. Lincoln, and thence, under command of
Gens. D. S. Stanley and G. A. Custer, it pene
trated the then unknown region of the Yellow
stone and Musselshell Rivers.
As topographical officer, Lieutenant Earned
mapped the route ofthe expedition, and was pres
ent at the fight with Sitting Bull, at the mouth of
the Big Horn River. During the winter of 1873-
74, he was ordered to Washington on special duty
in the office of the Secretary of War, aud the fol
lowing August was ordered to report to the Mili
tary Academy for duty as instructor iu the de
partment of drawing, under Prof. Robert Weir.
In July, 1876, after receiving his promotion to a
First Lieutenancy iu the cavalry, he was, upon
the letirement of Professor Weir, appointed to
succeed him, and has continuously held the chair
of Drawing up to the present, with the assimil
ated rank of Colonel since 1886.
Colonel Earned is a member of the Century,
the Union League and Church Clubs of New
York; he is also a member of the Federation of
Fine Arts and the Architectural League of that
city, and a member ofthe American Philological
Association. He has been a frequent contributor
to art and other periodicals.

****^SS ****>^S

i\****t- y****F

0ANIEL H. MERRITT, one of the promi
nent general farmers of this county, was born
January 1, 1835, on the farm which he now
occupies. Here he has passed his entire life, anu
has aided, by his perseverance and honesty, in
making the community one of the best of the
count)-. His father, Daniel, was also born on
this farm, the year of his birth being 1799. The
grandfather, Underhill Merritt, was a descendant
of French ancestry, and was born in Westchester
County, this state. Prior to the Revolutionary
War, Humphrey, the grandfather of Underhill

JOSEPH BOARD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1403

Merritt, settled on the land now owned by our
subject. He became the owner of a very large
tract of land, and a portion of the property has
been handed down from generation to generation ,
being retained in the family all these years.
On this place the father of Daniel H. died May
7, 1867. His wife, who bore the maiden name of
Eliza Hait, was boru in Ulster County in .1805,
being a daughter of John and Jennie Hait, who
were old residents of that county. Mrs. Merritt
died on the old homestead in August, 1891, and
her body was buried beside that of her husband
in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Her children, four in
number, were as follows: Daniel H., of this
sketch; Hiram, who is engaged in the real-estate
business in New York City; Mary J., who is the
wife of Daniel T. McFarlan, of Yonkers, N. Y.;
and Theodore, a druggist of Newburgh.
The educational advantages which the schools
ofthe district afforded were given to our subject,
and he also early acquired a thorough knowledge
of farm work. As a result of the manner in
which he was trained to agricultural pursuits, he
is now enabled to superintend the operations of
his farm in a most efficient manner. In addition
to raising the usual amount of grain, he devotes
some attention to breeding live stock, aud has on
his place a number of fine horses, cattle and swine.
He has never desired office, but is content to use
his influence in a quiet way, upholding the prin
ciples ofthe Republican party in a loyal manner.
If the citizens of New York were all of this type,
our state, which we love so dearly, would increase
in prosperity tenfold.

c3

<H^

(S~

-a

(JOSEPH BOARD, a prominent business man
I of Chester, was born in the town of Chester,
(2/ November 9, 1842. He is the eldest child of
"eter S. and Madeline (Conklin) Board, the for
mer a native of Board ville, N. J., where he re
mained until twenty years of age, when he came
to Chester and took up his abode with his uncle.
Peter Board, who was a quiet, unassuming man,
was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his
death in September, 1853, and was respected by
61

all who knew him. He was a son of Gen. Charles
Board, also born in'Boardville, N. J., where he
spent, his entire life. The latter was prominent
in New Jersey politics and represented his county
j several times in the Legislature. He was a son
j of Joseph Board, who was born at Bloomfield,
! N. J., and who spent his entire life there and at
Boardville. With his brother he pre-empted the
land on which our subject's father and grand
father were born. Joseph Board was a Captain
in the Revolutionary War, and was a son of Cor
nelius Board, who emigrated from England to
America in 1730. It is the impression that he
was sent here by Lord Sterling to establish an
iron manufactory. We quote the following tes
timony- of James, son of Cornelius Board, in a con
troversy as to the boundary line between the
Wawayanda and Cheesecock Patents:
"James Board, born in England. Came with
my parents to America in 1730. My father was
sent by Lord Sterling to discover copper mines,
and purchased one hundred acres at what is now
known as Sterling Pond, under the New Jersey-
grant of 1736. He afterwards made further loca
tion of one hundred and fifty acres. Later, in
| 1738, he built a forge. In 1740 he removed to
Ringwood, and soon after the forge was started
sold it to Colden & Ward."
Our subject, who has spent considerable time
in tracing the genealogy of the Board family,
thinks that Cornelius Board came from Bristol,
England. Mrs. Board, the mother of our sub
ject, was a native of the town of Warwick, and
died iu 1884.
Joseph Board, the subject of this sketch, re
ceived his primary education in Chester, under
Prof. Edward Orton. At the age of twenty he
entered Amherst College in Massachusetts, finish
ing the course in 1867. He then returned to
Chester, and January 1, 1868, engaged in the feed
and lumber business. In 1883 he added coal, and
has since been successfully engaged in this trade.
He is among the oldest established business men
in the village.
Joseph Board was united in marriage, January
3, 1868, with Miss Josephine Bradbury Curry,
a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Tebbetts)

1404

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Curry, natives of Sanbornton, N. H., where Mrs.
Board was born. She died April 6, 1869. She
was a prominent teacher in the Chester schools
prior to her marriage, and her health was seri
ously impaired while engaged in this profession.
November 2, 1870, Mr. Board was married to
Hannah A. Curry, a sister of his former wife, who
was also born in New Hampshire. This union
was blessed by the birth of five children, one of
whom, Helen, died at the age of two and a-half
years. Those living are: Joseph Orton, who
was so named by his father to perpetuate the
name in the family; Anna Tebbetts, Ben Curry
and Josephine Clough, all ofwhom yet reside at
home. Mr. Board is a member of the Presbyte
rian Church and Mrs. Board of the Episcopal
Church. Socially he is a member of the D. K. E.,
a college society, and of the Phi Beta Kappa
Society. The Board family was of Democratic extrac
tion, but our subject associated himself with the
Republican party when a young man, and cast
his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in
1864. He has ever since affiliated with that par
ty and has been active in its councils. In 1877
he was elected Excise Commissioner, and in 1878
he was elected Supervisor of this town, creditably
filling the position for three years. In 1883 he
was again chosen for this position and served
for two years. He has served 011 the Board of
Education for the past twenty years, and is at
present the President of that body. Iu 1892 he
served as managing superintendent of the laying
of the pipes for the Chester Water Works. At
present he is the efficient clerk of the Village
Board of Chester.
Joseph Board is well and favorably known
throughout the county and has several times been
chosen as administrator of estates. In 1869 he
was commissioned to deliver two new passenger
cars on the Union Pacific Road, and he extended
his tour to California, spending some two months
in the Golden State. In 1883 he made an ex
tensive trip through the Southwest, visiting Tex
as, Arizona and several of the Southern and West
ern States. In 1887 he made a trip to England,
Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, France, Italy, Ger

many, Austria and Switzerland, spending some
four mouths in his foreign travels, and in the
near future he contemplates another trip to the
Old Country. In 1884 he was nominated by his
party for the Assembly, and although the county is
largely Democratic, he came within sixty-seven
votes of election .

EHARLES W. DOELL, of Middletown, en
tered the employ of the New York, Ontario
& Western Railway Company April 30, 1886,
as a brakeman, later became a flagman, and Oc
tober 12, 1889, was promoted to the position of
conductor, which he has since held. He was
born in the Tenth Ward, New York City, April
7, i860. The family of which he was a mem
ber originated in Germany, and his paternal
grandfather, Charles A. Doell, was born in Min-
den, from which place he emigrated to America
and settled in New York City. He was a brewer
of Weiss beer, and was the first to introduce it
into New York. His death occurred when he was
eighty-two. The father of our subject, whose name was
also Charles, was born in New York City, and
was a civil engineer by occupation, being em
ployed principally by the Government, and mak
ing surveys throughout almost the entire coun
try. His last work was in Duluth, Minn., where
he surveyed a township for three hundred fami
lies. Later he took passage on the steamship
"Henry Ames," bound for New Orleans for a
coast survey, but while on board ship he died at
Cairo, 111. This was in 1873, and he was forty-
three years of age. During the War of the
Rebellion he had served for three years and six
months as Corporal in Company A, Seventy-
third New York Infantry, Excelsior Brigade,
under Gen. D. E. Sickles. His wife, Mary, was
boru in Germany, and died in Port Jervis in 1876.
She was a daughter of Jacob Hauber, who for a
time was employed as horseman in the king's
stables iu his native land, and who died on board
ship as the family were en route to America.
There were five children iu the family of Charles

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1405

and Mary (Hauber) Doell, of whom three are
living, viz.: Charles; George, a railroad man, re
siding in Paterson, N. J.; and James, who is em
ployed in the saw works at Middletown. At the
age of nine years our subject accompanied the
family from New York City to Providence, R. I.,
and one year later he removed with them to Port
Jervis. There he learned the trade of glove-cut
ting and kid-leather dressing. In 1886 he came
to Middletown and entered the employ of the On
tario & Western as brakeman between Norwich
and Weehawken, later worked as flagman be
tween Middletown and Weehawken, and iu 1889
was made conductor, his run being between
Middletown and Weehawken on the express
freight. In Port Jervis Mr. Doell married Miss Mary
Green, who was born in Mongaup, Sullivan Coun
ty, N. Y., her father, Gabriel Green, having
been a farmer there. One child, Mary, blesses
their union. Since January, 1885, Mr. Doell has
been a member of Middletown Lodge No. 40,
Order of Railway Trainmen, and has been a dele
gate to the biennial conventions of the order at
St. Paul, Minn., in 1889; Galesburg, 111., in
1891; Boston, in 1893; and Galesburg, 111., in
1895. F°r five years he was Secretary of his
lodge, served as Master one year, and is now
serving his second year as Financier. The lodge
has increased in numbers since he united with it,
and now has ninety-three members. In national
politics he is a Democrat.

|7RANK M. STRATTON. To those who,
IW appreciating the vast possibilities offered by
I the real-estate business, embark therein,
guiding their transactions with caution, discrim
ination and sagacity, success almost invariably
comes. Such has been the fortunate experience
of Mr. Stratton, who is not only one of the
youngest real-estate men of Middletown, but one
of the shrewdest aud most enterprising as well.
For the history of the Stratton family, the
reader is referred to the sketch of our subject's
father, William D. Stratton, which appears else

where iu this volume. Frank M. was born in
Thompsonville, Sullivan County, March 1, 1872,
aud was reared in his native place, receiving his
rudimentary education there. He prepared for
college at Wallkill Academy, and iu 1891 en
tered Columbia College, where he remained one
year, leaving to engage in business for himself.
His first venture was the West View tract of land,
situated in New Jersey, eight miles from New
York City, and which his father had purchased
and commenced to improve. In 1892 he took
charge of the property, of which he took pos
session the following year. It consists of eighty-
two acres, subdivided into one thousand lots,
and situated on the Hackensack River, and on- the
West Shore and the Susquehanna & Western
Railroads. The entire property is platted into
residence lots, with the exception of twelve acres
of river frontage, to be utilized for manufactur
ing purposes. The tract adjoins Ridgefield Park,
and is within the limits of the same.
In 1893 Mr. Stratton purchased the River Edge
tract of forty acres, of which one-half has been
platted and is rapidly building up. . This prop
erty is situated sixteen miles out of New York
City, on the New Jersey & New York Railroad, a
branch of the Erie, and also 011 the Hackensack
River. In 1894 Mr. Stratton bought the Cherry
Hill property of forty acres, which he intends to
develop soon. He has an office in New York
City, at No. 1 Park Row, aud at Middletown iu
the Casino Theatre Building. He is interested
in the foundry property on Kings Street, Middle-
town, which has been platted into lots, and also
in the Eagle Hose Company's building, a brick
business block in the center ofthe city.
The firm of Stratton & Corey, in December,
1894, bought fifty-eight acres, comprising the old
Rockafellow Farm, which they have laid out into
a beautiful addition at an expense of $3,000.
This is proving one of the most successful of their
ventures. Aside from his other interests, Mr.
Stratton is a stockholder iu the Casino Theatre
Building and Secretary of the company that owns
it. He is also interested iu the Orange County
Telephone Company, of which he is a Director.
Since August, 1888, he has made his home iu

1406

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Middletown, where he owns a beautiful residence
on the corner of Wisner and Grand Avenues.
He was married in this city, his wife being Miss
Delle Wilkes, daughter of Mrs. Theodore Wilkes,
of Middletown. Politically he affiliates with the
Democratic party. He is a member of the Board
of Trade, and socially is connected with the Mid
dletown Club.

0ANIEL FINN, a leading and successful at
torney of Middletown, traces his ancestry
back to his great-great-grandfather, Dr. Finn,
who came from Finland, leaving home when a
mere lad. After landing in New York City, he
went to Goshen, where he was educated, and
where he began the study of medicine. He com
menced to practice his profession near Little
Britain, at a time when this section of the coun
try was known as Ulster County. In 1750 one
of his descendants was Surrogate of Orange
County, and Assemblyman of this district. The
great-grandfather was a Baptist minister, and
preached iu New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For
some time before the massacre he was an inmate
of the old fort of Wyoming, aud while there his
vigilance kept the Indians out and none of their
stratagems succeeded, but after he left the fort
the fearful massacre occurred.
Daniel Finn, the grandfather of our subject,
was a native of Beaver County, Pa., and served
in the War of 1 8 1 2 . Shortly after the war he
settled in Warwick , where he worked at his trade
of blacksmith, and subsequently engaged in farm
ing until old age compelled him to retire, when
he moved to Middletown, and died at the resi
dence of his son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Seward. His
wife, Alice Armstrong, was born near Florida,
Orange County, and her ancestors came from
England in the same vessel with the Clintons.
William Finn, the father of our subject, was a
native of Orange County, and was boru near
Warwick. By occupation he was a farmer, and
followed that vocation almost his entire life, but

shortly before- his death removed to Vineland,
N. J., where he died at the age of sixty-six years.
He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church at
Florida, as was also his father before him. His
wife, Frances Halsey, was born in Morris County,
N. J., and was a daughter of Alexander Halsey,
who was also a native of that state. The Hal
sey s were originally from Long Island. Her
mother, formerly a Miss Hedge, was a lineal
descendant of Henry Hudson. She died iu
1867. In the parental family were four children,
three of whom are now living.
Daniel Finn, the subject of this sketch, was the
eldest in the family, his birth occurring iu West-
field, Chautauqua County, N. Y., November 9,
1843, and he is the only one of the family in
Orange County bearing the name of Finn. He
was reared on a farm near Florida, and attended
Seward Institute, where he prepared for college.
After teaching school for a time, he entered Union
College, where he spent part of one year, and
then entered Hamilton College, in the third term
of the freshman class. In 1868 he graduated
with the degree of A. B., and during his last
year, iu addition to the regular course, took a
course in the Hamilton Law School. On gradu
ating, he studied in the law office of McQuoid, at
Middletown, and in the office of Osborn & Swayne,
of Toledo, Ohio. He was admitted to the New
York Bar in the fall of 1870, and iu the spring of
1871 opened au office in Middletown, where the
Merchants' Bank is now located, and there re
mained until 1873, at which time the firm of
Hulse, Little & Finn was formed. This lasted
two years, and was then succeeded by the firm
of Hulse & Finn, which one year later was dis
solved, since which time Mr. Finn has conducted
his practice alone. Since 1873 he has been in
his present location, iu what is now known as the
Lipfeld Building, but which was formerly known
as the Postoffice Building.
Since commencing practice, Mr. Finn has been
a very active man. While he conducts a general
practice, his business is mostly of a chancery na
ture. In the settlement of estates, and iu liti
gation that frequently follows, he has had wide
experience. Since its organization he has been at-

LEANDER BRINK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1409

torney for the Merchants' Bank, aud is also attor
ney for the Cosmopolitan Theatre Company, in
both of which he is a stockholder. Socially he
is a member of Clinton Lodge, F. & A. M.; Mid
land Chapter, R. A. M. ; and Delaware Com
mandery at Port Jervis. While in college he
became a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
Society. He is a member of the First Presby
terian Church of Middletown, iu which he is
Trustee. In politics he is a Republican, but has
never held a civic office.
Mr. Finn married Miss Clara S. Slauson, of
Wawayanda, and a sister of N. W. Slauson.
They have one child, Frank Halsey, a graduate
ofthe Class of '94, of Middletown Academy, and
who is now attending Hamilton College, a mem
ber of the Class of '98.
In the quarter of a century Mr. Finn has
practiced his profession in Middletown, success
has crowned his efforts in almost every direction.
As an attorney he ranks high, and as a counselor
he is reliable. By consanguinity he is related to
the Sewards, and is well posted in their family
history. | EANDER BRINK. The history of the hard-
I C ware business of which Mr. Brink is pro
lix prietor extends back to the year 1842, when
I. O. Beattie opened a store in Middletown. He
was succeeded by the firm of King & DeWitt,
after which the establishment was owned succes
sively by King, DeWitt & King, A. C. King &
Scott, and Sayer & Scott. When Mr. Sayer en
tered the Union army during the Civil War, the
title was changed to Scott Brothers, but soon one
of the latter became a soldier and went to the
front, where he was killed during the engage
ment in the Wilderness.
Afterward the business was carried on by Scott
& Vail and Vail & Brink until 1879, when the
firm name was changed to Vail, Brink & Clark,
and in 1885 the present title of Brink & Clark
was adopted. In spite of these frequent changes
of name, the business has been conducted on
practically the same site since it was founded,

April 1, 1845. The present building was erected
in 1865, and the extension to King Street added
iu 1877. The structure has a frontage on North
Street, with dimensions of 24x120, aud on King
Street 18x60. Each of the four floors is occu
pied, the first floor containing the heavy goods,
the second or main floor being utilized for the re
tail trade, while on the third floor tinware and
stoves are manufactured. On the fourth floor
are stored goods not in present demand. The
stock is unusually large, and comprises every
variety of heavy and shelf hardware, furnaces
and heating apparatus of all kinds. Employ
ment is furnished to five clerks and four work
men in the factory.
The subject of this notice, to whom the success
of the enterprise is largely due, is one of Middle-
town's most public-spirited citizens. He was
born in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster County,
January 30, 1833, and is a sou of James Brink,
whose birth occurred in the town of Wallkill,
Orange County, in 1804. The grandfather,
Cornelius, was boru on Long Island, and settled
in Wallkill, becoming a profninent farmer there.
He served in the American army during the War
of 1812. Until his death, which occurred at
eighty-four years, he had been for some years an
Elder in the Dutch Reformed Church iu Bloom
ingburg. The great-grandfather, Cornelius, Sr.,
was a life-long resident of Long Island. The
family is of Dutch lineage and of sturdy old
Knickerbocker stock.
After his marriage to Jane Horton, in 1827,
the father of our subject settled in Shawangunk,
Ulster County, where for a time he engaged iu
farming. In 1835 he removed to Schuyler Coun
ty, and settled near the head of Seneca Lake, at
the present city of Watkins. The journey thither
was made with teams and wagons, his family ac
companying him. That part of the state was
then considered the far West, and he was en
titled to the title of pioneer. In 1852 he moved
to Genoa, Cayuga County, where he successfully
conducted farm pursuits. There his death occur
red June 1, 1895, at the age of ninety years, seven
months and one day. He was a stockholder in
the Tompkins National Bank, and in politics ad-

1410

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hered to Jacksonian principles. A man of re
markable character, tireless energy, unflinching
integrity aud blameless life, he was loved, not
alone by his family, but by all with whom he had
business or social relations.
The mother of our subject was born in the
town of Wallkill, where her father, Silas D. Hor
ton, engaged in farming until his death at the
age of more than fourscore years; she died in
1840, aged twenty -nine. Afterward the father
married Miss Delilah Martin, a native of Tomp
kins County, and unto them were born six chil
dren, all still living. Of the first marriage, four
children were born, all living, as follows: Maria,
Mrs. Williams, of Burdett, N. Y.; Leander; Mrs.
Eliza Hollister, of Cayuga County; and Harriet,
who is at home. At the funeral of the father,
three sons and three sons-in-law were the pall
bearers. When two years old our subject was taken by
his parents to Schuyler County, and his boyhood
days were passed on a farm near Watkins. When
five years of age he was brought to Orange Coun
ty on a visit. In 18*54 ne came to Middletown
and began as clerk for his uncle, Hiram Brink, a
furniture dealer, with whom he remained as clerk
until October, 1857. He was then admitted as
partner, the firm name becoming H. & L. Brink.
In 1864 he went to Saginaw, Mich., and engaged
in the manufacture of salt, making it by the Sy
racuse process. The capacity of the works was
one hundred and fifty thousand barrels a year.
A joint-stock company was formed, known as
the Orange County Salt Company, and of it he
was made Superintendent. He continued the
operation of the works until 1867, when he re
turned to Middletown. However, he retained
his interest in the salt works for seven years, sell
ing out in 1876.
When business affairs are in a condition to per
mit a vacation, Mr. Brink is accustomed to take
a relaxation from work. He has visited the
Rocky Mountains, and enjoyed the sport of hunt
ing the animals of that region. In 1884 he took
a trip to Europe, accompanied by his wife. Leav
ing June 1 1 of that year, they spent three months
visiting England, Ireland, Scotland, France,

Switzerland and Germany, and thoroughly en
joyed this glimpse of European customs and
towns. Interested in mines, he owns a number
of these in Colorado, and is interested in manu
facturing enterprises in Nebraska. While a Re
publican in politics, he inclines toward Prohibi
tion principles and is a man of strong temperance
sentiment. He has made a remarkable success
both of the wholesale and retail departments of
his business, and at the fairs his exhibitions in
variably receive first premium.
At Middletown, in 1857, Mr. Brink married
Miss Mary Horton, daughter of Hiram Horton, a
farmer of the town of Wallkill. They reside at
No. 39 South Street, and their younger child,
Jennie, a graduate of Ursuline Convent, is now
with them. Their son, Charles H., is engaged
in the plumbing business in this city. Mrs. Brink
is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church,
and interested in all its good works. The family
rank high socially and are highly esteemed wher
ever known. Ji****|-^— — — -— ,

*****F
WILLIAM E. McWILLIAMS, Assessor of
Middletown, is a representative of the
young and enterprising business men ot
the place, and was born in the town of Wallkill,
near Scotchtown, iu 1861. His great-grandfather,
John McWilliams, was a native of Scotland, and
was one of three brothers who came from that
country to America. He settled in the towu of
Wallkill, and the village of Scotchtown was so
named 011 account of a Scotch settlement at that
place. Here Stewart McWilliams, the grandfa
ther, and J. Spencer McWilliams, the father, of
our subject, were born. The latter is one of the
most extensive drovers and stock-dealers in the
vicinity, and now resides on Wickham Avenue,
Middletown. He married Susan Bailey Coleman,
who was born near Scotchtown, and whose father,
William N. Coleman, was born at Amity, Orange
County. Her great-great-grandfather, Nathaniel
Finch, was an Adjutant in the Minisink Massa
cre under Colonel Tusten, and perished with the
rest of his comrades. His name is inscribed on

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1411

the monument at Goshen. Her mother, Marga
ret Bailey, was a daughter of Oliver Bailey, who
was a son of Capt. Daniel Bailey, of Revolution
ary fame. The latter was boru in Jamaica, L. L,
in 1757, and at the age of nineteen enlisted in
Captain Wright's company and Col. John Lash
er's battalion, a regiment made up of men from
Long Island and New York. After his first en
listment he came to Orange County, where he
again enlisted, becoming a member of Colonel
Allison's regiment. His entire service was for
three years. On coming to this county, Captain
Bailey settled west of the city limits of Middle-
town, where he built a log cabin and began the
improvement ofa farm. In 1783 he bought the
farm at Phillipsburg now owned by Edwin Mills.
His death occurred iu Middletown, May 16, 1841.
He was a man of splendid physique, tall and ro
bust, and retained his mental and physical vigor
to the last. In religious belief he was a Presby
terian, and served as an Elder iu the church at
Goshen. His wife, Mary Tuthill, was a daugh
ter of Nathaniel Tuthill, and traced her ancestry
back to John Tuthill, who came to this coun
try in the good ship "Swallow" some time be
tween 1633 and 1638, and settled in New Haven,
but later removed to Southold, L- I- Nathaniel
Tuthill was one of the minutemen of Orange
County, and participated in the battle of Ft.
Montgomery. When our subject was but nine years of age
his parents removed to Middletown, and he here
completed his education in the Middletown Acad
emy. In 1879, at the age of seventeen, he en
gaged in the mercantile business at No. 7 West
Main Street, and continued the same for about
eleven years. He then engaged in the insurance
and real-estate business, in company with John
McWilliams, under the firm name of J. & W. E.
McWilliams. They were located at No. 25 North
Street, where the business was successfully cou-
.tinued until 1893, when our subject sold his in
terest, since which time he has been eugaged in
dividually in buying and selling real estate. He
is Secretary of the Central Building Association,
of which he was one of the incorporators.
Mr. McWilliams was married in Blo.omingburg

to Miss Carrie T. Shearer, who is a native of that
village, and a daughter of the late William T.
Shearer, who was there engaged in farming. She
is a great-great-great-granddaughter of William
Bull and Sarah Wells, so largely connected in
Orange County. Mr. McWilliams and his wife
have two children, Edgar Coleman and Lester
Shearer. In politics Mr. McWilliams is a Re
publican, and in 1895 was elected City Assessor on
that party ticket. He is a member of the Second
Presbyterian Church, and has served that body
as a member of its Board ot Trustees. In busi
ness affairs he is active, with an eye single to the
best interests of his adopted city, and is a mem
ber of the Board of Trade of Middletown.

"S3

^^

[""""""L

("=

GJRCHIBALD C. REYNOLDS, chief clerk
I I in the transportation department of the New
/ I York, Ontario & Western Railway, was
born in Ellenville, Ulster County, N. Y., March
26, 1867, aud is a sou of S. H. and Mary (Childs)
Reynolds, both natives of Neversink, Sullivan
County, N. Y. He traces his ancestry back to
his geat-grandfather, Henry Reynolds, who lived
near Vail's Gate, and as a minuteman served
under Gen. Anthony Wayne at the storming of
Stony Point, July 16, 1779. At one time he was
attacked by Tories and Indians, under the leader
ship of Benjamin Kelly, who murderously as
saulted him and left him hanging in his fireplace,
as they supposed dead, but he was rescued after
their departure by his daughter. A few years
after the war he located in Sullivan County,
where he reared his family, and where his son'
Hophni, the grandfather of our subject, was born.
The latter was a mechanic and miller by occu
pation, aud lived and died in Sullivan County.
S. H. Reynolds, the father of our subject, was
a millwright and machinist by trade. For some
years he was engaged in building mills and tan
neries in Sullivan and Ulster Counties, N. Y.,
and in Pennsylvania. From 1870 to 1884 he re
sided at Tunkhannock, Pa., and from there re
moved to Middletown, where he now resides,
and where he is a general inspector of motive

14*2

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

power for the New York, Ontario & Western
Railway. His wife, Mary Childs, is a daughter
of John G Childs, au attorney and ex-Sheriff of
Sullivan County.
The subject of this sketch is the only surviving
child of the parental family. He attended the
common and high schools at Tunkhaunock, Pa.,
until 1883, when he went to Walton, N. Y., and
spent one year in the academy at that place. Iu
July, 1884, he came to Middletown, and at once
secured a clerkship in the office of the purchasing
agent and paymaster of the New York, Ontario
& Western Railway, where he remained until
May, 1887, when he was transferred to New
York, and later became secretary to the General
Manager. He remained in that office until De
cember 1, 1893, when he was again transferred
and made chief clerk iu the transportation de
partment of the same road.
Fraternally Mr. Reynolds is a member of Hoff
man Lodge, F. & A. M.; Midland Chapter,
R. A. M.; Union Consistory at Middletown; and
Mecca Temple, N. M. S., at New York. In pol
itics he is a Democrat. While yet a young man,
he has had nearly twelve years' experience in the
railroad business, and in every position occupied he
has served with fidelity, and has received the ap
proval of his superior officers. No man on the
line of the New York, Ontario & Western Rail
way is more popular than the subject of this
sketch.
^=E)#P  : .
j~" ) O. LEWIS, mason and contractor at Mid-
Y\ dletown, was one of the youngest soldiers
n\ in the late Civil War. He was born in
Westchester County, N. Y., iu December, 1848,
and is eighth in the family of thirteen children
born to William I. and Eliza (Mangum) Lewis.
His father was also a native of Westchester
County, and there resided until 1866, when he
located at Port Jervis, where he followed his
trade of contractor and builder until his death,
at the age of sixty-eight. His wife, Eliza Man-
gum, was also a native of Westchester County,
and was a daughter of William Mangum, who for
many years was engaged in the real-estate' and

hotel business in that county. Of their thirteen
children, eight are yet living. One son, Gilbert
M . , was a member of the Seventieth New York
Infantry, which was a part of Gen. Dan Sickle's
brigade. He was transferred to the First New
York Mounted Rifles, and served until the close
of the war, a period of four and a-half years.
In one of the engagements in the Wilderness cam
paign he was shot in the arm. He was mustered
out as Quartermaster-Sergeant, and now lives iu
Scranton, Pa., where he is engaged in farming.
The subject of this sketch remained in West
chester County until twelve years of age, and
then attended school at Monticello. In June,
1864, he enlisted as a private in Company G,
First New York Light Artillery, and was mus
tered in at New York City. He was at once
sent to his battery at City Point, opposite Peters
burg, Va. , and participated in the siege of Peters
burg, and also took part in all the movements
around Richmond, resulting in its capture. He
served until October, 1865, and was then mus
tered out at Elmira, N. Y.
Ou receiving his discharge, Mr. Lewis went
to Sullivan County, where he remained until
1866, and then came to Port Jervis, but remained
there only a short time, going thence to New
York City, where he worked under instruction
as a mason for three years. He then engaged
in contracting and building in New York City,
where he remained until 1875, and then returned
to Port Jervis, where he contracted as a mason
and builder until 1885. Since that time he has
made his home in Middletown, where he has
erected scores of buildings, among which is the
Opera House. In addition to contracting aud
building, he has engaged to some extent in buy
ing and selling real estate. He is one of the
originators of the Cosmopolitan Theatre Com
pany, of which he was a Director, but has since
sold out.
While a resident of Port Jervis, Mr. Lewis
married Miss Kate Stearns, a native of that
place, and a daughter of Josiah Stearns, a farmer,
who has resided at Port Jervis fifty-two years.
Four children have been born unto them: Lena,
Eva, Stella and Roberta.

DWIGHT W. BERRY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Hi5

Fraternally Mr. Lewis is a member of the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Knights
of Pythias, and is a charter member of Capt.
William A. Jackson Post, G. A. R. He also
served five years in the Excelsior Hook and
Ladder Company of Middletown. All work en
trusted to him is completed with the utmost care.
As a citizen he is enterprising aud progressive,
and is willing to do all in his power in, building
up and maintaining the reputation of his adopted
city. fTi  .

L**-**-

«=bS

=0

0 WIGHT W. BERRY. The first creamery
established in Middletown was started in
April, 1892, by Mr. Berry, whose thorough
familiarity with every detail of the business en
abled him to manage this enterprise successfully.
The building is situated on Cottage Street, near
Wickham Avenue, and the plant has a capacity
of four thousand quarts per day, transportation
being rendered easy through a switch of the New
York, Ontario, & Western Railroad. Iu addition
to this concern, he owns a creamery at Circleville,
with the same capacity as this. He makes large
shipments of milk and cream, the latter, however,
being his specialty. In the creamery there are
fine coolers, and an icehouse with a capacity of
six hundred tons, every effort being made to se
cure purity and sweetness on the part of the
products. For more than twenty-five years he
has shipped cream to the well known J. M.
Horton Ice-cream Company, of New York City,
and still continues to furnish their regular supply.
In Pharsalia, Chenango County, N. Y., Mr.
Berry was born, June 5, 1839. His father, Rich
ard Wayne, was born in Stonington, Conn., and
was a son of Richard W. Berry, Sr., a native of
Connecticut, but a pioneer of Chenango County,
N. Y. The father, who was a farmer of Chenan
go County, was a man of remarkable industry and
perseverance, and possessed considerable influ
ence in his community. For two terms he was
Superintendent of the Poor, and was the sole
Building Committee for the Chenango County

Poor House. He also served as Supervisor. In
politics he was a Democrat until the candidacy
of General Fremont for President, after which he
voted with the Republicans. In religion he was
a Universalist. While hauling timber one day,
he was accidentally killed. His wife, Lucy, was a
daughter of Luther Osgood, a farmer of Chen
ango, where she was boru, and where she re
mained until death.
Of four children now living, our subject is the
eldest. His sisters are: Mary D., of Noiwich,
and Lucy O., wife of George D. Brown, of Scran
ton, Pa. His brother, Hon. Silas W. Berry, now
of Norwich, N. Y., has held many important
public positions, having been Supervisor, Super
intendent of the Poor of Chenango County two
terms, Member of the Legislature two terms, and
Deputy Internal Revenue Collector of his district.
He is a man of considerable influence, and a local
leader in the Republican party. Our subject was
reared on the home farm, and in youth received
a good education in Oxford Academy, where he
completed the course of instruction. He taught
school for five successive winters, the first three
terms being in Chenango County. After coming
to Orange County, he taught one term in Wall-
kill and another in Minisink.
The year 1862 witnessed the arrival of Mr.
Berry in this county, where for a short time he
was employed in Alanson Slaughter's co-operative
creamery. Later, for three years, he was in
charge of Brown & Bailey's creamery at Glen-
wood, N. J., after which he purchased a cream
ery three miles north of Middletown, known as
the Rockville Creamery, carrying it on for twenty-
five years. His next purchase was the Circleville
Creamery, which he still operates. He was also
a partner with Pound & Tayntor at New Berlin,
Chenango County, establishing a creamery there,
and conducting it for three years, after which the
connection was dissolved. For three years he
owned and operated the Holmesville Creamery,
and for about the same length of time he carried
on a creamery at Morrisville, Madison County,
N. Y. In April, 1892, he established the cream
ery at Middletown, which he has since conducted
in a most efficient manner.

1416

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In this city Mr. Berry married Miss Mary S.
Boyd, who was born in Rockland County, being
a daughter of Rev. John N. Boyd, a Presbyterian
clergyman of this part of the state. Mr. Berry
has taken a commendable interest in questions af
fecting the public welfare. For one term he
represented the First Ward on the Board of Alder
men. He was the first member of the first Board
of Water Commissioners elected under the new
city charter, and served the full term of five years,
during which time the Highland Lake reservoir
was built. His popularity was attested by his
election, on the Republican ticket, by a majority
of fifty-seven in a ward that usually gave one hun
dred Democratic majority, to represent the First
Ward on the Board of Supervisors. In the Milk'
Exchange Limited he held the office of Director
for ten years. No one takes a deeper interest in
the progress of the city than does he, and certainly
no one labors more to secure its advancement.
His prominence has led to his election as a mem
ber of the County Republican Committee, and he
has also served as delegate to county, senatorial
and congressional conventions.

oc**************-^ ******** ****;x>
EORNELIUS CASKEY was boru in the town
of Deerpark, on the banks of the Delaware
River, August 11, 1819. His father, Mar
tin Caskey, was born in the old Buckley House
of Port Jervis, February 11, 1783, and was a son
of Samuel and Sarah (Decker) Caskey, who lo
cated there before the Revolution. Martin Cas
key was married, December 30, 1808, to Jane
Meaddagh, daughter of Henry C. Meaddagh,
who cleared the flats on the Pennsylvania side
below where Matamoras now stands, and ran
the ferry. He lived there before the War for In
dependence. Martin Caskey died February 2.,
1839. He owned all the property along the Del
aware River now included iu Germantown, and
was a lumberman and raftsman, piloting the rafts
down the river to the Philadelphia market.
Cornelius Caskey began this work as a boy,
and at the age of fourteen became a steersman,
steering a raft the third time he went down the

river. During his first years' work at that busi
ness he made five trips and has made as high as
thirteen trips m a season, receiving from $40 to
$55 per trip, aud each trip took from two and a-
half to seven days. During all the time he was
on the river he never had but one mishap; his
third raft, however, ran into the rocks at Trenton
Falls, where he did not know the stream very
well, and was broken into pieces. The Delaware
contains a number of dangerous rapids, but he
was careful and painstaking, and therefore had
but one accident. On one occasion he took a
company of tourists from Port Jervis to Phila
delphia on a flatboat. When the Erie Railroad
bridge, two miles above Port Jervis, was carried
off by the ice, he was called upon to take a rope
across the river, and just a few days before this
he and his son were engaged in ferrying pas
sengers across the river at Matamoras. When
the bridge was destroyed the Supervisor, E. J.
Thomas, sent for Mr. Caskey, told him to get
what supplies he needed and begin the work of
repairing the bridge, which he did on the 19th
of March, and on the 27th the cars were able to
cross. The railroad company had ordered out
two thousand men, and they spent two days in
doing nothing, but Mr. Caskey dispatched the
work quickly and faithfully. He and his sou
moved the stone of the old abutments of the old
bridge on flatboats to the position for the new
bridge. He has been connected with nearly
every piece of work on the river aud knows every
turn and bend in the stream.
In 1868, when an engine exploded at bridge
No. 1, and the engineer was thrown into the
canal, the company had several men out searching
for the body for hours, but they were not suc
cessful, and called upon Mr. Caskey, who found
the body in a few minutes. On another occasion
when a car loaded with cheese ran off of bridge
No. 2 into the river, he succeeded in recovering
within a short time seven ot the cheeses, and the
next day a number of additional ones. No one is
more familiar with the Delaware, and several
times he has crossed the stream when no one else
would attempt it. He has almost made the fast
est time with rafts that has ever been made on

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1417

the river, and in his work was usually assisted
by his son, who was also an expert in such work.
He had many narrow escapes, but his thorough
knowledge of every rock and bend in the river
enabled him to always reach home in safety.
Mr. Caskey was married, June 5, 1841, to
Catherine J. Stearns, who died December 8, 1886.
Their children were as follows: Margaret, wife
of Sanford Clawson, of Port Jervis; Joel, who
died in infancy; Elizabeth, wife of John Oster
hout; Naomi, who was the wife of John McAllis
ter, and died May 1, 1882; Asenath, wife of
Joseph Westbrook, of New Jersey; Martha Alice,
wife of Ford Ackerson, of New Jersey; Ada
Hortense, widow of Hon. Charles St. John; Uril-
la E., wife of Benjamin Carpenter, of Jersey
City; and Samuel F. , who married Annie West
brook, of Port Jervis. Mr. Caskey is a Demo
crat in politics. Some fifteen years ago he re
tired from the river and has since lived upon his
farm in the neighborhood where his entire life
has been passed, and where he is an honored and
respected citizen.

(IOHN WIGGINS, Justice of the Peace at
I Middletown, was born in Mt. Hope, N. J.,
C* September 22, 1826. His father, William
H. Wiggins, was boru in the town of Mt. Hope,
Orange County, and for some years was engaged
as a clerk in Newburgh, and subsequently as a
clerk for Mr. Phillips, at Phillipsburg. He then
had charge of the Mount Hope Iron Mines, and
later removed to Ramapo, N. Y., and was ap
pointed superintendent of the large manufactur
ing establishment of William Parsons, where he
remained until his death in 1833, at the age of
thirty-eight years. His father, William Wiggins,
the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer in
the town of Mt. Hope.
William H. Wiggins married Catherine E.
Lewis, a native of Wales, and a daughter of
Richard Lewis, who first located in Goshen on a
farm, whence he removed to Sullivan County,
and later to Chenango County, where he was
quite successful in his business affairs. Two

years after the death of her first husband, Mrs.
Catherine E. Wiggins married George F Sey
bolt, who was a soldier iu the War of 18 12.
Three children were born of her first marriage,
our subject being the only one that grew to
maturity .
After the death of his father, our subject
moved with his mother to the town of Mt. Hope,
where he grew to manhood, receiving his educa
tion in the common schools in the winter months,
and assisting in the farm work the remainder of
the year. On attaining his majority he became
possessor of the home farm, to which he added
from time to time, until he was the owner of three
hundred and forty acres. While carrying on the
farm, he was also for a time engaged in lead min
ing in the Shawangunk Mountains, on a portion
of his own farm, one mine being known as the
" Empire" and the other as the "Washington."
In his mining operations he was quite successful,
and continued farming and mining until 1887,
when he removed to Middletown. The farm
was between Otisville and Port Jervis, and while
residing there he was Justice of the Peace of his
town for a period of sixteen years. Shortly after
locating in Middletown he was elected Justice of
the Peace, was re-elected in 1892, and is still
serving in that capacity, his office being at No.
1 1 North Street.
On the 7th of February, 1850, Mr. Wiggins
was united in marriage with Miss Antoinette
Mullock, a daughter of Joshua Mullock, who
was for many years a Justice of the Peace and
Supervisor of tne town of Mt. Hope, where he
was engaged in farming. He also served in the
War of 18 1 2. Mrs. Wiggins died February 7,
1875, leaving seven children: Willis H., a rail
road attorney and ex-Representative in the Ohio
Legislature, now residing at Chillicothe, Ohio;
Erwin A., Assistant Traveling Auditor of the
Erie Railroad; John L., an. attorney, and now
Corporation Counsel for the city of Middletown;
Catherine, Mrs. F. W. Pyatt, of Charles City,
Iowa; George M., in the cigar business at Bing
hamton, N. Y. ; Lillian A., a teacher in the
Highland Avenue School, residing at home; and
Ella A., also at home.

1418

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Fraternally Mr. Wiggins is a member of Hoff
man Lodge, F. & A. M., -and religiously is a
member of the First Presbyterian Church in
Middletown. In politics he was originally a
Whig, and since the .organization of the Repub
lican party has been an earnest and enthusiastic
advocate of its principles. As a Justice of the
Peace, he brings to bear a strong judicial mind
and the exercise of good common-sense. His
decisions are seldom, if ever, set aside by the
higher courts. As a citizen he is enterprising,
and has ever at heart the best interests of his
adopted city. His popularity is attested by his
repeated election to office.

+z

=+

STEPHEN ST. JOHN, an old and honored
/\ resident of this village, departed this life at
\~) his home August 30, 1870, at the age of
eighty-two years. He was born at Norwalk,
Conn., November 16, 1788, and when a lad of
fourteen years left home and made his way to
New York City, where he apprenticed himself to
learn the shoemaker's trade. He afterward came
to the town of Deerpark, before Port Jervis was
ever dreamed of, and here he opened a small
store .
Mr. St. John remained at the above location
until 1808, when he formed a partnership with
a Mr. Holly and built a tannery at a point be
tween Middletown and Mt. Hope, where they
were soon in command of a good business. He
was drafted into the War of 1812 about this time,
and in order to enter the service postponed his
marriage, which was to have taken place very
soon, until October 16, 1816. The lady on this
occasion was Miss Abigail Horton, of Mt. Hope,
who departed this life just four months prior to
his death.
At the close of the war the country lying about
Port Jervis contained but few Dutch settlers,
but as it was a good business point, it soon grew
to large numbers. Our subject came hither
about that time with Benjamin Dodge and, pur

chasing land, erected thereon a store, which he
operated. He also bought what was known as
the Stone House Farm, the residence standing on
which was originally built as a fort during the
War ofthe Revolution.
Meantime our subject removed his store to Mt.
Hope, a distance of twelve miles, although his
family still continued to reside on the Stone
House Farm, he walking home every Saturday
evening iu order to spend Sunday there. In
1828 the building of the Delaware & Hudson
Canal was begun, a project which had long been
talked of. It was destined to pass through Mr.
St. John's farm, and it was not long before the
engineers, Mauruce Wurts, Philip Hone and
John B. Jervis, had obtained his consent. This
now flourishing village was named in honor of
the latter, who was the engineer, aud as soon as
the canal was completed the settlers began to
flock in, as it was an important point on the route
and was destined to become an enterprising city.
In the year 1828 Mr. St. John was appointed
Collector of Port Jervis, holding the responsible
office for a period of forty-two years, or until his
decease. In 1825 the firm of St. John & Dodge,
in addition to their general merchandise busi
ness, began dealing extensively iu pine lands.
They erected large mills, and until 1840 turned
out annually large quantities of pine and hemlock
timber, which was rafted to points down the
Delaware River. Soon after the canal was com
pleted they erected a storehouse on its western
bank, and "Dodge, St. John & Co." may still
be read upon its sides.
Our subject continued in active business until
1839, when he was succeeded by his son Charles,
an enterprising and energetic young man. In
1 846 the Erie Railroad survey, showed it to pass
through a portion of his farm, and later he sold
sixty acres to the company at $100 per acre,
which at that time was considered a remarkable
price. After retiring from the store Mr. St.
John devoted himself to looking after the finan
cial part of the business until his death, in 1870.
October 16, 1866, occurred his golden wedding,
which was the first ever held in Port Jervis. His
ancestors were Quakers, and although he did not

A. W. CUDDEBACK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1421

belong to that sect, his religious views strongly in
clined that way. Hewas a member ofthe Re
formed Church. He was a Mason of fifty years'
standing and took au active part in the workings
of that order. His home was always open to the
deserving, and more than one young man owes
his success in life to the assistance received from
Mr. St. John. He was plain, temperate, frugal
aud faithful in his friendships, kind as a parent
and kind and social to all. He had been in feeble
health for many years before his demise, so that
his death was not unlooked for.

GlBRAHAM WESTBROOK CUDDEBACK
U is a representative of one of the old and hon-
| \ ored families of the Empire State. Jacob
Caudebec came from France iu 1685, and died
when about one hundred years of age. He mar
ried Margaret Provost, and their children were:
Benjamin, who died at the age of eighty ; Will
iam, who married Jemima Elting, and died at the
age of seventy-four; James, who married Antje
Decker, and died at the age of thirty; Abraham,
who married Eleanor Swartwout, and died at the
age of eighty-eight; Jacob, who married Jeannette
Westbrook; Elsie, who became the wife of Har-
monas Van Gordon, and died at the age of eigh
ty; Morice or Maria, who married George West-
fall, and afterward a Mr. Cole, and died at the age
of one hundred; Dinah, who married Abraham
Low, and died at the age of seventy-four; El
eanor, who married Evert Hoornbeek, and died
at the age of seventy ; and Naomi, who married
Lodiowyke Hoornbeek.
In the line of direct descent is William Cudde
back, who married Jemima Elting. Their chil
dren were James, who died at the age of eighty;
Capt. Abraham, who married Esther Gumaer,
and died at the age of eighty-two; Benjamin, who
married Catherine Van Fleet, and died at the
age of forty-five; Roulif, who died at the age of
fifty; and Sarah, who became the wife of Daniel
Van Fleet.
The great-grandparents of our subject, Abra
ham and Esther Cuddeback, had six children:

Col. William A.; Peter G. ; Jacob; Cornelius; Es
ther, wife of Ernest Hornbeck; and Jemima, wife
of David Westfall. The grandparents, Col.
William A. aud Charlotte (Van Inwegen) Cud
deback, had nine children, namely: Samuel, Ab
raham. Margaret, Ezekiel, Harmonas, William,
Col. Peter, James and Lewis.
The father of our subject, William Cuddeback,
wedded Mary, daughter of Abraham T. and
Mary (Van Keuren) Westbrook. Mr. Cudde
back died in October, 1866, at the age of seventy-
four, and his wife passed away January 1, 1864,
at the age of sixty-three. The record of their
children is as follows: Abraham W. is the subject
of this review; Margaret is the wife of Elting
Cuddeback; Mary is the wife of John Van Etten;
Sarah is the widow of Martin Wheeler; Elsie is
the widow of William Mapes, of Otisville, N. Y.;
Charlotte resides in Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Min
erva is the wife of Rev. Egbert Winter, of Grand
Rapids; Harriet is also living in that place; and
Catherine died in childhood.
William Cuddeback spent his entire life on the
farm which is now the home of our subject, the
place comprising two hundred acres of land, on
which he erected in 1822 a good residence. He
carried 011 lumbering for a time, but devoted the
greater part of his life to agricultural pursuits.
At the time when the canal was built, he and his
father and brother Abraham built one mile of the
same. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and
served for some years as Justice ofthe Peace and
Supervisor. He was a man of fine physique and
was said to have been one of the strongest men in
the county. His remains were interred in the
cemetery at Cuddebackville, and in his death the
community lost one of its best citizens.
Abraham Westbrook Cuddeback was born in
an old log house on his present farm, April 27,
18 1 6, and was reared in the usual manner of
farmer lads, spending a part of the time with his
maternal grandfather at Westbrookville. Hav
ing arrived at years of maturity, he was married,
March 25, 1843, to Miss Emeline, daughter of
William and Mary (Van Inwegen) Penny. She
was born March 10, 1825, and is also a represen
tative of an honored old family. The children

1422

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born of this union are Horace and George, at
home; Edgar, Herbert and John, who are engaged
in the milk business in New York City; Yancey
and Mary, at home; and Maggie, who died in her
twenty-sixth year.
Mr. Cuddeback is a supporter of the Democ
racy, and his wife belongs to the Reformed
Church. He is one of the oldest living descend
ants of an illustrious family, and is a well pre
served man, on whom the long years rest lightly,
although his hair has been whitened by the snows
of many winters. He is a genial, whole-souled
gentleman, who has hosts of warm friends aud
no enemies, and his well spent life is worthy of
emulation.

P^ETER G. LEWIS, a progressive agrieultur-
yr ist, whose farm is situated near Mt. Basha
f>9 Lake, in the town of Monroe, was born at
Turner August 16, 18-33. In boyhood he at
tended school at Turner and Forshee Hill, and
upon discontinuing his studies he gave his atten
tion to farm work. He remained with his par
ents until his marriage, after which he rented a
farm adjoining the old homestead for three years.
Iu 1859 he purchased a portion of his present
farm, and to this he has added until he now owns
two hundred and forty acres, extending down to
the shores of the pond. A portion of the farm
has been in cultivation for many years, while the
remainder is utilized for the pasturage of stock,
and one meadow has not beeu turned with a plow
for over one hundred years. When he took the
place twelve acres would produce only seven loads
of hay, but he has, by his practical methods of
work, increased the amount to thirty-five. Pos
sessing an unusual knowledge of agriculture as a
science, he has been enabled to secure the very
best results from his property, and justly ranks
among the most capable farmers of his locality.
He makes a specialty of the dairy business, which
he conducts on a large scale, shipping as high as
one hundred and eighty gallons of milk per day.

The father of our subject, Thomas Lewis, was
a son of Isaac and Hannah (Galloway) Lewis,
who died when ninety years and six months and
seventy-five years, respectively. He was born in
1803, and spent his entire life on the farm where
he was born, and which his father had bought
one hundred years ago. His death, which was
the result of an accident, occurred in June, 1876.
His maternal grandfather, Jacobus Galloway,
lived to the age of almost one hundred years, and
died on a farm adjoining that now owned by our
subject. The mother of our subject, Mary Ann
Bush, was born May 2, 1809, and died May 20,
1894. She was a daughter of Peter and Mary
(Smith) Bush, both of whom were born near
Turner, the latter being a daughter of James
Smith. In New York City, March' 10, 1853, M**- Lewis
was united in marriage with Miss Adelia Ann
Davis, a native of that city and a daughter of
John, Sr. , and Catherine Jane (Seward) Davis.
Her father was at one time a farmer, but later
dealt in real estate. Eleven children were born
to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, of whom the
fourth died in infancy unnamed. Of the otheis
we note the following: George and Mary Cather
ine died at the ages of eleven aud three months,
respectively. Sarah Frances passed away when
two and one- half years old. Emma married Syl-
vauus Roberts, a farmer of the town of Chester,
and they have two children. Tillie, Mrs. Har-
ley Smith, resides in the town of Monroe and
has two children. Lemuel, a carpenter of the
village of Monroe, married Maria Webb, and they
' have two children. Isaac, who married Ella
Smith and has two children, is a farmer of the
towu of Monroe. Henry assists our subject on
the farm. Abbie is the wife of Fred Smith, of
the town of Monroe, and they have one child.
Adelia, the youngest, resides with her parents.
The political belief of Mr. Lewis brings him into
active co-operation with the Republican party,
and he may always be relied upon to support its
county, state and national tickets. For six years
he filled the office of Road Commissioner, and he
also served as School Collector and in other po
sitions of trust and responsibility. His ancestors

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H23

were men of patriotic spirit, and his grandfather
was a soldier in the War of 18 12. Their love of
country and devotion to its welfare has descended
to him, and he is always ready to champion any
cause that will benefit the people and promote
the general welfare.

§$+$#*

(JOHN L. WIGGINS, City Attorney of Mid-
I dletown, was born in the town of Mt. Hope,
Q) March 21, 1855, and is a son of John and
Antoinette (Mullock) Wiggins, a sketch of whom
appears on another page of this work. Our sub
ject traces his ancestry back many generations
to the barony of Wigen in England. Jacob Wig
gins, who was the great-grandfather of our sub
ject, first located on Long Island, from which
place he came to Orange County and settled iu
the town of Mt. Hope. During the French and
Indian War, which followed shortly after his ar
rival in this country, he was a member of the
Home Guards, and providentially escaped death
at the battle of Minisink.
John L. Wiggins spent his boyhood days in the
town of Mt. Hope, and until fifteen years of age
attended the common schools of that town, and
also assisted in the farm work. He then took
the course of study under private tutors at home,
aud later at New Haven, Conn., where he re
ceived instructions in both the sciences and class
ics. While pursuing his studies in New Haven
he taught several terms of school, and also en
gaged in the study of law. From the latter city
he came to Middletown, continuing the study of
law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1878. He
then went to Chillicothe, Ohio, and entered the
office of McClintock & Smith, who were then the
General Counsel for the Marietta & Cincinnati
Railroad, now the Baltimore & Ohio Southwest
ern, where he remained two years. In 1881 he
came to Middletown and entered into partnership
with Judge Groo, which partnership continued
until 1886. He has a large clientage, and is a
very successful practitioner of his chosen profes
sion. In 1894 he was appointed City Attorney,
and was re-appointed in 1895. He has been ex

ceedingly successful in taking care of the city's
interests, and has won several important cases
since he has been such Corporation Counsel.
In 1886 Mr. Wiggins was united in marriage
with Miss Katharine Groo, a daughter of Judge
W J. Groo. They have one child, Ada, who is
the pet of the household. Fraternally Mr. Wig
gins is a member of Middletown Lodge, I. O. O. F.
His wife is a member of Grace Episcopal Church,
and is very popular in church and social circles.
In politics Mr. Wiggins is a Republican. A num
ber of years ago he purchased the old King place
on Highland Avenue, which he has occupied
since coming to Middletown. His offices at No.
1 1 North Street^are the same ones he has occu
pied since 188 1.
As an attorney Mr. Wiggins takes high rank
in the profession, and enjoys the confidence and
esteem of those associated with him in practice,
and also of the general public. He is counsel for
several corporations, and is regarded as a sound
and safe legal adviser. In the trial of cases he
is quick to see and take advantage of any points
of law or practice that might result to his client's
interests, but is always fair and courteous to his
opponents. As a speaker Mr. Wiggins is forcible
and possesses marked ability, and seems always
ready with an address for almost any occasion.
He is a hard worker, and believes that in order
to accomplish any great achievement one must
work hard, early and all the time.

'>->>>>i ' 1 '

0AVID DILL HOUSTON, a native of Orange
County, born in Middletown in 1833, is of
Irish descent, and traces his ancestry back
to his great-great-grandfather, Rev. Joseph Hous
ton, who, with his two brothers, John and James,
emigrated from the North of Ireland in the begin
ning of the eighteenth century and landed in
Jamestown, Va. James remained near there, and
John settled in Pennsylvania. After preaching a
few years at Jamestown Rev. Joseph came North,
and was the first settled pastor of the Goodwill
Presbterian Church iu the town of Montgomery,
Orange County. There he purchased some six

1424

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hundred acres of land, upon which he resided un
til his death, and upon which his sons, Joseph
and James, resided.
James, the great-grandfather of our subject, mar
ried Anna, daughter of Rev. George Carr, a Pres
byterian minister of Goshen, who bore him the
following children: Joseph, George, Thomas,
James, John, Samuel, Andrew, Polly (wife of Rob
ert Wilkin) and Jane (wife of Adam Dickerson).
Of these children George was the grandfather of
our subject. For a few months during the Revolu
tionary War he was on guard in the Mamakating
Valley, to protect the whites from the incursion of
the Indians. He was born in 1763, and died in
December, 1825. His wife, Jane, the daughter
of Robert Hunter, of the town of Montgomery,
died iu 1801, aged about thirty-two, leaving the
following children: Ann, Mrs. Samuel W. Brown,
of Scotchtown; John G. , James G., Robert H. and
George. The latter cultivated land on which part
of Middletown is now located, and afterward was
a merchant and Justice of the Peace. For his
second wife he married Julia, widow of Chester
Gale, and daughter of William Thompson, of
Goshen, who bore him the following children:
Anthony and Jane, twins, the latter becoming the
wife of Charles Heard, of Hamptonburgh; Henry;
Sally, wife of Hector VanCleft; Samuel and Theo
dore, who died young; Almira, wife of Orange
Horton, of White Plains; Elizabeth, the wife
of William Church, of Orange; aud Thomas.
George Houston, the grandfather, settled on a
farm at Scotchtown in 1787, where he remained
until 1805, when he located in the town of Wall-
kill, there residing the remainder of his life. He
was one ofthe founders ofthe Presbyterian Church
at Scotchtown ; for many years was one of its Eld
ers, and gave the site for the church edifice at that
place. Robert H. Houston, the father of our subject,
was boru in the town of Wallkill, August 20, 1798.
At sixteen he began learning the tanner's and
currier's trade, completing it when twenty years
old, and then for six years had charge of his fa
ther's farm. In 1826 he came to Middletown,
and, in company with Charles Dill, rented*; and
afterwards purchased, the Anderson Tannery,

which is located across the street from the Com
mercial Hotel. For a time business was con
ducted under the firm name of Dill & Houston,
but later they sold out and built another tannery
on the site of the present Anglo-Swiss Condensing
Building, continuing there until 1846. In 1831
they purchased a farm of sixty acres adjoining
the village, which they also operated. In 1846 the
partnership was dissolved, Samuel S. Wickham
purchasing an interest in the factory, and busi
ness was continued under the firm name of Hous
ton & Wickham until 185 1, when the former
sold out to Mr. Wickham. Mr. Houston retained
the original farm, however, laying it out as an ad
dition to Middletown, and it has since been well
built up. He laid out East Avenue, east of the
railroad; Prospect Avenue, and Sprague, Spring,
Houston, Washington, Fulton and Grant Streets,
all of which were formerly comprised in his old
farm. He bought part of the Bennet Farm, to
which he added later, and bought land adjoining
the Reeve Farm, subdividing all these tracts.
For many years he was also engaged in the lumber
business in Sullivan County. He assisted in the
extension of the Erie Railroad after its completion
to Goshen, and also in the erection of two
churches, besides other institutions. He was an
active Presbyterian, and died in that faith in 1889,
at the age of ninety-three years. His wife, the
mother ot our subject, was Mary Dill, daughter of
David and Elizabeth (Houston) Dill. She died
in 1883, at the age of about eighty.
The subject of this sketch is the only living
child of Robert and Mary Houston. He was edu
cated in the public schools and in the academy,
and spent his early life on the home farm. In
1875 ne bought the old Monhagen Mill of Mr.
Little and started in the feed business. Later he
sold the same to his father, since which time he
has devoted all his time to farming and the dairy
business, having about thirty head of cows. He
still has the old farm of eighty acres in the south
ern part of the city , and from time to time he has
platted a portion of the same. For over forty
years he has resided in the neighborhood of his
present residence.
Mr. Houston was married, iu Middletown to

HON. GILBERT O. HULSE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1427

Catherine Moore, who was born in Slate Hill, and
who is a daughter of John K. Moore, a carpenter
by trade, now residing in San Francisco. Four
children have been born unto them: Frances, Mrs.
Oscar J. Worley, of Middletown ; Robert H., en
gaged in the feed business, and at the head of the
firm of Houston, Webster & Co.; Mary,' Mrs.
Madden, of Middletown ; and John, ofthe firm of
Houston, Webster & Co. In politics Mr. Hous
ton is a Republican, and during the war was a
member of the Union League. For a great many
years he has been a member of the Presbyterian
Church. For one term he was Trustee of Middle-
town, and throughout this section of the country
he is well and favorably known.

HON. GILBERT O. HULSE. Without
doubt no attorney in the Hudson Valley is
more favorably known for ability and keen
ness of intellect than the influential and able law
yer whose name introduces this sketch. Having
offices in both New York City and Middletown,
he spends three days of the week in each. In
the former city he occupied an office at No. 1 67
Broadway until 1886, when his son Levi S. was
admitted into partnership. They then removed
to No. 120 Broadway, and now have their office
at No. 52 Exchange Place, where, under the
firm title of G. O. & L. S. Hulse, they have
charge of an extensive legal business.
The Middletown firm, which bears the name of
Hulse & Melick, has a suite of rooms in the Du-
zenberry Building at No. 16 North Street. The
junior member, J. Elmer Melick, was admitted
into partnership June 1, 1895, prior to which
time Mr. Hulse had for some years been alone.
While he has met with flattering success in every
branch of the profession, perhaps his greatest
triumphs have been gained in cases of civil law.
Some of the suits iu which he has been attorney
have become famous, and the decisions rendered
have established important precedents.
Among these we mention the Everett case, the
62

main facts of which were as follows: Walter
Everett, who lived on North Street in Middle-
town, had a sou, Collins, the owner of large tracts
of land. The latter died unmarried in 1842, and
left a will, which his father secured possession of
and destroyed. In 1848 Walter Everett died and
willed his son's property to other parties. A
sister, in 1862, after having consulted a number
of lawers, all of whom told her there was no hope,
asked the advice of Mr. Hulse regarding the
matter. He said the lost will could be proved,
and at once commenced action in the Supreme
Court for that purpose. Though the opposing
counsel was able, he succeeded in establishing the
will as lost, under Judge John W. Brown, at a
special term of court. This decision was after
ward sustained by the general term of the same
court. After the property, valued at $30,000,
was sold, he was the attorney to recover it,
which after seveii years he succeeded in doing.
This was the first record of proof of a lost will in
any of the courts of the state, and was a very
intricate and complicated case, the last settlement
not being made until twenty-seven years after the
death of Collins Everett.
Another noted case was that of Howell vs Hur-
tin. General Hurtiu had a farm at Scotchtown
that had been given him by his father for life,
after which it was to go to his sons. He bor
rowed $2,000 from Howell, an attorney at Go
shen. Not' long afterward he failed, and Howell
brought a partition suit. The place was sold to
the eldest son for $3,000 in that action and the
latter re-mortgaged it to Howell for $9,000. One
of the sons was a minor at the time of the sale,
and through his father, in an action in the Su -
preme Court, consulted Mr. Hulse when the fam
ily was about to be dispossessed under the fore
closure of the $9,000 mortgage. Mr. Hulse be
gan proceedings in the partition action by motion
to set aside the partition sale, which was denied
at a special term, and on appeal from the order to
the general term the same was affirmed. He then
took it to the Court of Appeals, which reversed
the decision, set aside the sale, and gave the son
his half of the property.
In the well known case of Brown vs Knapp,

1428

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Brown sued an executor of his grandfather's es
tate in an action in the Supreme Court. The
grandfather in his will bequeathed him a legacy
of $3, 000, to be paid to him at the age of twenty-
one. If he died before that age the legacy was
to be given to a son of the testator, who was ex
ecutor of the will, but the executor refused to
pay the interest on the same to the grandson.
Seven or eight years after the grandfather's
death the mother of the grandson began suit to
recover interest on the legacy. The case was
tried before Judge Pratt and was defended by
Close & Robertson, a well known legal firm of
Westchester County. Mr. Hulse won the case
for his client, whereupon the defendant appealed,
first in the general term of said court, and later
in the Court of Appeals, but in both instances the
first decision was sustained.
Mr. Hulse is a native of the town of Wallkill,
and was born three miles from Middletown, on
the 22d of September, 1824. His grandfather,
Thomas Hulse, engaged in farming upon the old
family homestead three miles from the city, and
there Oliver, our subject's father, was born Jan
uary 1, 1794, being the third among a large num
ber of children. He was a soldier in the War of
1812, serving first as Corporal and later as Ser
geant. The family was founded in this country
by three brothers who came from England and
settled on Long Island. Later one ofthe broth
ers removed to Orange County and settled in the
town of Wallkill, becoming the founder of the
family of which our subject is a descendant.
About 1725 our subject's great-grandfather set
tled on the ground now adjoining the State Hos
pital, in the suburbs of the city, aud there he
reared a large family and continued to reside un
til his death. Upon the old homestead, which
consisted of two hundred and thirty acres, our
subject's father engaged in general farming, aud
there his death occurred July 27, 1871. Polit
ically he was a Democrat.
The mother of our subject, whose maiden
name was Eleanor Oakley, was born in Fairfield,
Conn., and died in Orange County, in April,
1875. She was a daughter of Gilbert and Elean
or (Wakeman) Oakley, natives of Connecticut,

where the former was engaged in tilling the soil.
During the Revolutionary War, in which he was
a brave soldier, he was wounded in the leg, and
from the effects of that wound he died in 1805.
Our subject was one of teu children, of whom
eight attained years of maturity, and three
daughters and one son are now living.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the
old homestead, and after spending a short time in
a district school in Middletown, he entered the
Jessup private school, and later was a student in
Wallkill Academy for eighteen months. On
leaving school he went back to the farm, where
he remained until 1845. At that time his father
purchased the Franklin House, now known as the
Holden House. In December, 1847, he began
the study of law under Asa D. Jansen, of Goshen,
and was admitted to the Bar in Brooklyn No
vember 9, 1849.
Locating in Middletown, Mr. Hulse at once
began the practice of his profession. In 1850 he
moved his office to the building that stood on the
site of his present office. In August, 1851, he
located at Elmira, and there, in December of the
same year, he married Miss Sarah E. Schoon
maker, who was born in Searsville, Orange
County, and was the daughter of Levi Schoon
maker, a native of Ulster County. Mr. Hulse re
mained in Elmira until the fall of 1854, when he
went to New York City and opened an office with
ex-Gov. Lucius Robinson, and in the spring of
1855 opened au office at No. 61 Wall Street. In
1865 he returned to Middletown and opened an
office. Two years later he was elected Surrogate
on the Democratic ticket, which carried the coun
ty for the first time since 1856. Entering upon
his duties in January, 1868, he filled the office
with conspicuous ability until his retirement in
January, 1872. During that time he never had
but one case appealed, and that was sustained
upon appeal. In 1872 he became a member of
the firm of Hulse, Little & Finn, which firm three
years later was changed to Hulse & Finn, con
tinuing in that way for one year. In 1878 he
established an office in New York City, where,
as before stated, he spends three days of each
week.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1429

By his marriage Mr. Hulse had four children.
M. Louisa is the wife of John Wilkfu, of Middle-
town. Oliver Gilbert, a graduate of Wallkill
Academy, is one of the leading stenographers of
New York City, where he has an office at No. 10
Wall Street. Levi Schoonmaker, the younger
son, is also a graduate of Wallkill Academy, and
studied law under his father; he is now the junior
member of the New York firm. Sarah Frances
died at the age of four years and three months.
Politically Mr. Hulse is firm in his allegiance to
the Democratic party, the principles of which he
supports by his ballot. In 1850 he served as
Town Clerk, and he has held other local positions,
but it has been his preference to give his atten
tion wholly to his practice, to the exclusion of
public offices. He assisted in the organization
of the Savings Bank and served as one of its
Trustees until other duties induced him to resign.
As a lawyer he has great energy and tenacity of
purpose. He is a strong and tireless combat
ant, devoted to his clients' interests; an able ad
vocate, logical and convincing in argument, at
tractive in address and fluent in speech. He is a
man of ardent temperament and strong convic
tions, an interesting companion and popular with
all who know him.

-f— »-  »>2^®(®)®<+C-«  1 — "-

NH. FARNUM, deceased, was one of the most
prominent citizens of Port Jervis. He was
a wealthy man, and was very generous and
liberal in his charities. It will never be known
how many he has assisted, for he was modest and
retiring and made no ostentatious display, but
certain it is that numerous local industries owe
to him their prosperity, and his memory is cher
ished and honored in thousands of homes. Just
before his death, which occurred suddenly, Octo
ber 11, 1879, the result of heart disease, he had
contributed $15,000 to the new chapel ofthe Re
formed Church.
Mr. Farnum was boru May 10, 1808, in Litch
field, Conn., being a son of Peter Farnum, who

removed to Butternut, Otsego County, N. Y., in
1815 with his family. Our subject received a
fair education, and in 1827 attended the Albany-
Academy for six months. It was in the fall of
that year that he came to Port Jervis, joining the
corps of engineers then surveying the Delaware
& Hudson Canal, and at the same time the late
R. F. Lord became a member ofthe corps. John
B. Jervis was the chief engineer, and Mr. Farnum
was made resident engineer of this section. He
continued to do efficient service on the canal con
struction until it was completed, in 1828, and was
then made superintendent of the section which
had been built under his jurisdiction. He held
this office until 1832, being succeeded by his
brother, S. B. Farnum, and was promoted to be
assistant engineer under R. F. Lord. During
the last years of his service, which terminated in
1838, he had entire charge of the canal from
Rondout to Lackawaxen. In 1838 he became
resident engineer ofthe Black River Canal, having
his headquarters at Boonville, N. Y., until 1842,
his former co-laborer, Mr. Root, being his imme
diate superior. Many important works which
added greatly to his reputation were instituted in
this period. When the state put a stop to work
on the canal Mr. Farnum returned to Port Jervis
and soon afterward entered into partnership with
Charles St. John, sou of Stephen St. John, in a
general dry -goods trade. Mr. St. John retired
from the firm about a year later, Mr. Farnum
continuing the business until 1854, when he took
in as partners his nephews, H. C. Cunningham
and A. H. Peck, the style being H. H. Farnum
& Co. Five years later Mr. Cunningham retired
and Messrs. Farnum & Peck continued their con
nection until 1861. From that time onward our
subject was not actively engaged in commercial
pursuits. He was a Director in the Bank of Port
Jervis, which he organized in 1863, with Thomas
King President, and after the latter's death, in
1867, Mr. Farnum was elected President, holding
that position until his death. He was the first
President of the local gas-light company, which
was organized in i860. In 187 1 he became in
terested in the organization of the Barrett Bridge
Company, and a year later was made Vice-Presi-

H3°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dent of the concern. He was a clear-headed,
far-seeing business man, and owned a large share
of the town, his investments rarely turning out
to be anything but remunerative.
The first marriage of Mr. Farnum. was cele
brated January n, 1837, with Abigail Ann,
daughter of the late Stephen St. John. Her death
occurred May 4, 1874, iu Washington, D. C, at
the age of fifty-six years, nine months and fifteen
days. She had gone South the previous October,
hoping to regain her health, but was not mate
rially benefited. She was a warm-hearted, lov
ing Christian woman, ever ready to lend her aid
to the poor and needy, and was very active in
church work. October 8, 1879, Mr.- Farnum
married Diana Zearfoss, widow of George W.
Farnum, his eldest brother. She died March 24,
1885. Of the eleven brothers and one sister of
our subject, but four survive, namely: Harriet,
wife of Rev. Levi Peck, of this city; Caroline,
Mrs. Henry Tervell; Samuel B., of Port Jervis;
and the widow of Rodman M. Fuller, of Pond
Eddy. In May, 1868, Mr. Farnum became a member
of the Reformed Church, and contributed about
$13,000 to the present house of worship, which
was erected at a cost of $40,000, and contains a
fine organ, valued at $3,000. Mr. Farnum was
very much interested in the construction of this
edifice, and was an active member of the Build
ing Committee. On- several occasions he was
elected to church offices, but peremptorily de
clined to serve. He contributed $2,500 for en
larging the theological library of the seminary at
New Brunswick, N. J. His portrait and name
are to be found in an alcove of the library, thus
perpetuating his memory. A local coal dealer
states that on various occasions during severe
winters Mr. Farnum instructed him to supply
poor families, saying nothing as to the donor, aud
present the bill to him. We will mention but
one other incident of his undoubted liberality of
heart: In 1859 Rev. Samuel R. Brown, then 011
the point of sailing as a missionary to Japan, was
much troubled about the education of his son. It
seemed best to leave the youth in America, and
he was without means for his support. Mr. Far

num learned of the case and at once contributed
$650, the amount necessary for the education of
the youth. He was a believer in the great value
of learning, and contributed $500 to the college
at New Brunswick for founding a perpetual schol
arship.

— o«y-

Gl NDREW JACKSON DOWNING. More
T\ than forty years have passed since the tragic
/l death of this gentleman terminated the ex
istence of one of Newburgh's most illustrious citi
zens. As an author he won for himself a national
reputation, and his works are still considered
authorities upon the subjects of which they treat.
His literary*career began in 1 84 1 , with the publica
tion of the ' 'Treatise and Practice of Landscape-
gardening, Adapted to North America, with a
View to the Improvement of Country Residences;
with Remarks on Rural Architecture. ' ' The book
leaped into instant popularity, and the orders to
his publishers for copies ofthe work were followed
by orders for the construction of houses and decor
ation of grounds
ill 1842 "Cottage Residences" was published,
and was received with equal favor. "The Fruits
and Fruit Trees of America' ' was printed simul
taneously in London and New York in 1845, and
five years later a second edition, with colored
plates, appeared. In 1846 he became connected
with the "Horticulturist," for which he wrote
an article every month until his death. In 1849
he wrote "Additional Notes and Hints about
Building in the Country," for an American re
print of Wightwick's "Hints to Young Archi
tects." The summer of 1850 he spent in Eng
land, visiting the great country-seats, of which
he wrote descriptions, and in that year he pub
lished his "Architecture of Country Houses."
His remaining work is au edition of Mrs. Lou
don's "Landscape-gardening for Ladies."
The entire life of Mr. Downing was spent at
the homestead in Newburgh, where he was born
October 30, 18 15. From boyhood his tastes were
directed to the natural sciences, his inclination be-

DR. G. J. APPLETON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H33

ing fostered by his father, a practical nursery
man. His education was gained principally in
the academy ofthe village of Montgomery. At the
age of sixteen, with his brother Charles, he be
gan the management ofthe nursery, and by vis
iting the estates of gentlemen in his neighbor
hood, he studied the forms of plant life and cul
tivated a taste for landscape-gardening. In June,
1838, he married the daughter of John Peter De
Wint, of Fishkill, and during that year he built on
his estate a beautiful mansion in the Elizabethan
style, which was the first practical illustration of
what an American home might be. In 185 1 he
was commissioned to lay out and plant the pub
lic grounds of the Capitol, the White House and
the Smithsonian Building at Washington. These
and other professional labors occupied his re
maining years.
On the 28th of July, 1852, Mr. Downing left
Newburgh on the steamer "Henry Clay," but
he never reached his destination, the city of New
port. On the Hudson the boat entered a contest
with the "Armenia," and when near Yonkers
was discovered to be on fire. In his heroic ef
forts to save other passengers, he perished in the
flames. His "Rural Essays" were collected and
published in 1853, with a memoir by Frederika
Bremer, who was Mr. Downing' s guest during a
portion of her visit to the United States, and was
an enthusiastic admirer of him and his works.

-%+^i

© 1 — 'i
¦JjETHEN J. APPLETON, D. V. S., one of
— the best known men of Orange County,
J makes his home at New Windsor. Besides
devoting his attention to the practice of veterinary
surgery, he takes au active interest in the work
of the Humane Society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals, and has accomplished great
results by insisting on the rules of the society be
ing observed. Like many of the best residents of
this portion of the state, Dr. Appleton was born
in England, his birth occurring near the city of
London, October 28, 1831.
John Appleton, the father of our subject, was
a real-estate man in his native land, and in 1849

came with his family to America, locating in the
town of Hamptonburg, near Goshen. There he
purchased a small farm, and for seven years was
employed in its cultivation. He then moved to
the town of Newburgh, and gave his attention
to stock-farming, importing many fine horses.
Among them was "Tom Cribb," a thoroughbred
race-horse, who was well known to the stockmen
of the county. When advanced in years he re
tired from active business, and lived in New
Windsor until his decease, which occurred when
he was in his eighty-sixth year. In religious
matters he was an Episcopalian. The grandfa
ther of our subject, Joseph, was also born in Eng
land, and lived a retired life.
The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden
name of Eliza Bailey, was likewise a native of
England, and died in this county when in her
seventy-fourth year. She was the mother of three
children, all of whom are living, Gethen being
the eldest. His sisters are Eliza Julia and Eliza
beth, both single, and residents of New Windsor.
Our subject is finely educated, and upon complet
ing the course of study at the Blue Coat School,
or what is now called Christ Hospital, took a
course in the Royal Veterinary College of London.
In 1849 our subject accompanied the rest ot
the family on their journey to America, coming
hither on the sailing-vessel "Henry Hudson,"
which was five weeks in making the trip. He
continued to make his home with his parents for
a number of years, then became assistant to Dr.
Grice, of New York City. After remaining with
him for three years, he returned to Orange Coun
ty and began practicing at Newburgh. In 1870,
however, he located in New Windsor, which is
the seat of his operations. His practice is very
large, extending throughout Orange County, and
he is often called upon to make visits in adjoin
ing counties. He is thoroughly qualified for the
work in which he is engaged, and his services are
in great demand by the horsemen of this locality.
December 22, 1865, the Doctor married Mrs.
Mary Amelia, Havemeyer, widow of Charles H.
Havemeyer, of New Windsor. She died July 30,
1868, since which time he has made his home
with his sisters. The Doctor is a Democrat in

H34

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

politics, although not radical in his views. So
cially he is a Mason, belonging to Newburgh
Lodge No. 309. In him the Episcopal Church
has a valued member, he being actively interest
ed in the work of that denomination, and to its
support is a regular contributor.

DWARD McNIFF is the oldest engineer in
^ point of service on the New York, Ontario
__ & Western Railway, having run the first
construction train on the road and set up the
first engine. He was born iu the province of
Quebec, Canada, iu 1842, and his father, John
McNiff, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, where
he grew to manhood on a farm. He married
Nancy McLaughlin, a native of Scotland, whose
parents emigrated from the Highlands of Scotland
to Ireland. Soon after their marriage they moved
to Canada, where they remained a few years, and
finally located in St. Lawrence County, N. Y.,
where the father followed contracting and build
ing, and where he died some years ago. They
had a family of eight children, five of whom grew
to maturity, two sons and three daughters. Of
their two sons, Patrick is an engineer on the
Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad.
Edward McNiff removed with his parents from
Canada to Norwood, St. Lawrence County, in
early childhood, aud iu the common schools of
that place he received a very limited education.
At the tender age of nine years he commenced
work on a farm in that county, and from that
time he has made his own way in the world. At
the age of fifteen he secured employment as
brakeman on the old Potsdam & Watertown Rail
road, now a part of the Rome, Watertown &
Ogdensburg System. He soon began firing, and
January 1, 1862, before he was twenty years of
age, became au engineer 011 that road, having
charge of a freight train . Later he ran the pass
enger train between Watertown and Ogdens
burg. In 1869 he went to Oneida, N. Y. , as en
gineer for the New York, Oswego & Midland
Railroad, now the New York, Ontario & Western
Railway. He set up engine No. 5 on the side

track of the New York Central Railroad at that
place, ran a construction train, and built one
hundred miles of the road from Oswego to Nor
wich. He opened up the first section ofthe road
from Oneida to Central Square, aud then pulled
the first regular passenger train from Oswego to
Norwich. He thus opened the first one hundred
miles of the road, and continued that run until the
spring of 187 1, when the section below was
opened up.
Taking engine No. 5 to Syracuse and over
the Central to Binghamton, and then to Middle-
town, Mr. McNiff unloaded it and set it upon
temporary tracks. He then took a construction
train and ballasted ten miles of road between
Middletown and Bloomingburg, and the same
summer had charge of the motive power in con
structing the Crawford Road. That fall he built
this road as far as Liberty Falls, and then re
turned to Oswego, remaining there until Septem
ber, 1872, when he returned to Middletown and
ran a passenger train from Ellenville to Jersey
City, over the new Jersey Midland Road. He re
mained there until the road was given up by the
Ontario & Western, and then returned to Middle-
town and ran mail trains No. 1 and No. 2 from
Middletown to Norwich, on the Midland Division.
In 1874 he took leave of absence and accepted a
position on the Canada Southern Railroad, run
ning from Buffalo to St. Thomas, but remained
there only four months, when he returned and
took the same train 011 the Ontario & Western
that he had given up. Soon afterwards, how
ever, he took charge of a train between Ellenville
and Middletown, and later had charge ofa milk
train between Delhi aud Middletown. In 1888,
he took charge ofthe yard engine at Middletown,
whicli position he yet holds, his engine being
known as No. 49. He has never been injured, al
though he has had some narrow escapes.
Mr. McNiff was married, in Mountain Dale,
N. Y., to Miss Henrietta Cox, who was born in
that place, aud who is a daughter of Mitchell
Cox, a tanner by trade. They have one child,
Elizabeth. The family residence is on East Main
Street. Mr. McNiff and wife are members of
Grace Episcopal Church, of which he is a Vestry-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'435

man. In politics he is a Democrat, but iu local
affairs is quite liberal. He is a charter member
of Oswego Lodge No. 152, B. of L. E., and isa
member and Chief Engineer of Division No. 292,
in Middletown. He is Chairman of the Board of
Adjustment ofthe Ontario & Western System for
the Board of Locomotive Engineers.

3*+**, -****

fig§i+***P ****F

(D QlLLIAM REID THOMAS, D. D., was
\KI appointed Archdeacon of Orange County,
YV diocese of New York, in 1887, which of
fice he still holds. He was also elected Bishop of
Northern Michigan at the general convention of
1892. Our subject was born at Schenectady,
N. Y., and when a child removed with his par
ents, Rev. William B. and Jane P. (Livingston)
Thomas, to Poughkeepsie.
The subject of this sketch was educated in
Dutchess County Academy at Poughkeepsie, St.
Stephen's College at Annandale, and the General
Theological Seminary of New York City. He
was graduated from college with the Class of '69,
and from the seminary in 1872. He was or
dained Deacon by Rt.-Rev. Horatio Potter, Bish
op of New York, June 30, 1872, and Priest No
vember 14 of that year.
Rev. William R. Thomas received the degree
of Bachelor of Arts in 1869, Master of Arts in
1872, Bachelor of Divinity iu 1884, and Doctor of
Divinity in 1889, and has been Rector of the
Church ofthe Holy Innocents at Highland Falls
since his ordination. Dr. Thomas is President of
the Morgan Library and Reading Room, and
takes a warm interest in all local movements
tending toward good government and the im
provement of the village.

QEV. AME VENNEMA, pastor of the Re-
1^ formed Church of Deerpark at Port Jervis,
r\ is a native of Holland, Ottawa County,
Mich., his birth occurring May 25, 1857. His
parents were Ame and Elizabeth M. (Vander-
thaar) Venuema, the former of whom is a native

of Holland. He crossed the Atlantic iu 1847,
making his way westward to Holland, Mich.
When a lad of fifteen years our subject began
working iu a furniture factory in Grand Rapids,
but was employed there only a few months how
ever. He afterward spent two years as a student
in Hope College, and after completing his educa
tion returned to Grand Rapids, where he lived
for a time, and then was engaged in teaching
school for two years in Ottawa County. When
eighteen years of age he again entered college,
graduating with the Class of '79, with the de
gree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later the
college conferred upon him the degree of Master
of Arts.
Desirous of following the ministry, Mr. Ven-
nema went to New Brunswick, N. J. , where he en
tered the theological seminary of the Reformed
Church, completing the course in 1882. He was
then licensed to preach, and received a call from
a church iu Ulster County. In July of that year
hewas ordained, remaining at that place forover
three years. Later our subject went to Kalama
zoo, Mich., where for three years he was pastor
of the new Reformed Church of that city, preach
ing iu the English language. Previous to this
time he had used the Dutch dialect. While there
he was instrumental in securing the erection of a
new building, which was paid for before he left.
From Michigan Mr. Vennema returned to New
York and accepted a call to Rochester, which was
the center of his pastoral work for the following
two years. From there he came to Port Jervis,
entering upon his duties here in January, 1892.
The church numbers about four hundred and
fifty members, about one hundred and fifty- of
whom have joined during the past three years.
There was an indebtedness of $6,000 on the
building when he came here, but this has since
been paid off, and the congregation is now free to
spend its means in making additions and im
provements on the premises.
Rev. Mr. Vennema is interested in the work of
the Riverside Mission, and is correspondent from
this section for the Christian Intelligencer, the
church organ, and also edits the Church Life, a
local paper. He is connected with W. G. Baas

H36

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in translating aud publishing the writings of Rev.
Dr. Theodore Cuyler, a noted divine of Brook
lyn, distributing them among the Dutch-speak
ing people of the state. Our subject is a member
ofthe Board of Education of his church, which
has a general oversight of the educational work
in the United States, and which numbers about
eighteen members. While at New Paltz he re
ceived a call- to the Reformed Church at New
Durham, N. J., and while at Kalamazoo was so
licited to take charge of the work of the First
Reformed Church at New Brownsville, N. J.
Rev Mr. Vennema was married, June 7, 1882,
to Miss Henriette LeFebre, of Holland, Mich.,
a lady whom he had known for many years. To
them have been born three children : Edith May,
born August 29, 1883; Augustus Whiton, May
13, 1887; and Florence Elizabeth, December
3. 1891-
QQlLLIAM H. SHAW. The life record of
\A/ ^is gentleman has been one reflecting
Y V credit upon himself. In the town of Wall-
kill he owns and operates a finely improved farm
of sixty -seven acres, upon which he has erected
modern aud substantial buildings, and from the
cultivation of which he derives a fair income.
For three years, or since Mr. Shaw has resided
upon his present farm, he has devoted much of
his time and attention to raising veal for the New
York market, which has proved remunerative.
His success is especially commendable when the
fact is taken into consideration that from youth
ful years he has been obliged to earn his own
livelihood, his father's death forcing him to be
gin life's struggles at an early age.
In the town of Wallkill, in 1836, the subject of
this notice was born to the union of Alexander W.
and Adeline (Welch) Shaw. His father, who
was a native of Connecticut, learned the tanner's
trade in the place where he was born. Coming
to Orange County in early manhood, he began iu
that occupation, forming a partnership with his
brother William. Subsequently he purchased a
farm near Middletown, and there he spent the re

mainder of his life, passing away in 1852. He
served his fellow-citizens creditably in the capac
ity of Assessor of the town, and held other local
offices. He was also a Trustee of Wallkill Acad
emy, and assisted in drawing to the grounds the
material for the construction of the building. His
wife, who was a native of this county, passed
away ten years after his demise.
In the academy of which his father was a Trus
tee, the subject of this sketch received excellent
educational advantages, attending that institution
for some terms. For twelve years he was ex
press agent at Middletown, but with that excep
tion he has followed agricultural pursuits through
all his active life. His father died when he was
sixteen, and since that time he has struggled for
himself, with what success his valuable farm at
tests. June 17, 1857, ne married Miss Arminda
H., daughter of Dr. Cyrenus Crosby, a physician
of the town of Crawford. His father, Dr. In
crease Crosby, was a very prominent physician in
his day. He was an early settler iu the towu of
Crawford, aud the second practicing physician in
Orange County. The only child born of the union
of our subject and wife was Charles A., who was
called from earth at the age of sixteen, his death
being a deep bereavement to his devoted parents,
who had cherished the brightest hopes for his fu
ture. Iu religious connections Mr. Shaw is iden
tified with the First Presbyterian Church of Mid
dletown, to which his wife also belongs. Socially
he is identified with the Masonic order.
When the tocsin of war was sounded, Mr. Shaw
donned the blue and went in answer to his coun
try's call for volunteers. He served for three
months in the Seventy -first New York State Mil
itia, returning home at the end of his period of
service. Like all old soldiers, he is interested iu
the Grand Army, his membership being in Capt.
William A. Jackson Post. In politics he may
always be depended upon to give his vote and in
fluence to the Democratic party, and upon that
ticket he has been chosen to serve in important
capacities. For three years he was a member of
the Board of Supervisors of Tioga County. He
has also served as Constable, Justice of the Peace
and Trustee of the Fourth Ward of Middletown.

MARTIN C. EVERITT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H39

He at one time made the race for Assemblyman
in Tioga County, which stood one thousand ma
jority for the Republican party, but he succeeded
in reducing this majority to four hundred and
twenty-nine, a fact which shows the confidence
reposed in him by those of the opposite party.
He has served efficiently as President of the Agri
cultural Society of this county, and in whatever
position to which he has been called he has dis
played sound common-sense and excellent judg
ment.

yVlARTIN COLE EVERITT, President of
V the First National Bank of Port Jervis, has
(3 the reputation of being a strictly first-class
business man, reliable and energetic, and is a
citizen of whom Orange County may be justly
proud. He was born in Montague, Sussex
County, N. J., on the 4th of February, 1828,
aud is a son of John D. and Roanna (Decker)
Everitt. His grandfather, Isaac Everitt, who
was a farmer, was a son of Dr. Everitt, the
founder of the family in America. The latter
was a native of Germany, and located in Hunter
don County, N. J., prior to the Revolutionary
War. He was the author of a medical work used
by the professors in his native land. On his
grandmother's side Mr. Everitt is descended
from Holland-Dutch ancestors. The father of
our subject was a teacher by profession, but in
later life followed merchandising and farming.
He served as Justice of the Peace for many years,
and also as Associate Judge. In politics he was
an old-line Whig. His death occurred at the
age of seventy-nine, while his wife, who was a
daughter of Daniel Decker, died at the age of
sixty years. In their family of six children our
subject is the fourth in order of birth; his youngest
brother died in 1851, at the age of twenty-one
years; Daniel D. is a resident of Montague, N. J. ;
and Robert lives in Centreville, N. J.
M. C. Everitt remained on the home farm
until reaching the age of sixteen years, when he
began clerking in a country store. In connec

tion with a brother-in-law, he later embarked in
merchandising in Centreville, N. J., near the
old home, starting with a capital of only $300,
and they continued to conduct that store for two
years and a-half, when, in 185 1, Mr. Everitt sold
out to his partner and came to Port Jervis. For a
year he was employed by St. John & Birdsall, and
then for a year by Charles St. John, when he
purchased a half-interest in the business, the firm
name becoming St. John & Everitt. For ten
years they engaged in general merchandising
near where Farnum' s store now stands. Al
though Mr. Everitt had to borrow money to
start, a successful and lucrative business was
carried on. In 1861 the firm sold out, and in
connection with Henry Nooney our subject
started a general store, which was carried on for
two years and a-half with first-class results.
On his retirement from that firm in 1864, Mr.
Everitt took the contract for supplying the Erie
Railroad with wood, and furnished from eight to
ten thousand cords of wood annually. He
bought lands covered with timber and hired men
to cut the same, which business he followed for
five years, and during that time made his home
at Port Jervis. At the same time he converted
the land into farms, and still owns one in Broome
County of four hundred and fifty acres, and an
other one of two hundred and forty -four acres. In
1868 he formed a partnership with John T. Van
Etten in general merchandising, but later John
Rightmeyer took the latter's place, and they con
tinued business for two or three years, when our
subject retired from the firm.
In 1870 a stock company was formed to pur
chase the First National Bank of Delhi, and by
a special permit from Congress it was removed to
this place and the name changed. It became the
First National Bank of Port Jervis, with a capital
of $100,000, and Mr. Everitt became its first
Vice-President, while Jacob Hornbeck was Pres
ident, and George A. Guernsey Cashier. In
January, 1871, our subject was elected Cashier,
and took charge of its affairs, but in 1874 he was
elected President, which office he has since filled;
and at the same time C. F. Van Inwegen was
made Cashier, which position he still continues

1440

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to fill. Eli Van Inwegen is Vice-President.
Mr. Everitt devotes his time and energy to the
interests of the bank, which does a strictly le
gitimate banking business. The capital stock has
remained the same, and their present location is
at the corner of Ball and Sussex Streets.
On the gth of October, i860, Mr. Everitt was
married to Miss Louisa Armstrong, of Montague,
N. J. At her death, in 1865, she left a family
of three children: John E., a conductor on the
Erie Railroad; Charles B., of Waterbury, Conn.,
superintendent of the blanking room in the
Plume & Atwood Manufactory; and George,
who was a railroad employe, but who died in
April, 1892, at the age of twenty-seven years.
Mr. Everitt has always been true to his first love
and has never married again. He is a man of
pleasing address, slender build, clear-cut features
and open expression. He is a stalwart supporter
ofthe Republican party, and takes an active in
terest in its welfare. He attends the Presbyte
rian Church, though not a member of the same,
but gives liberally to its support. Socially he
belongs to Port Jervis Lodge No. 328, F. &
A. M., serving as Secretary of the Blue Lodge
many years, and is a member of Neversink Chap
ter, R. A. M. He is held iu the highest respect
throughout Orange County, and has the con
fidence an«l esteem of all with whom he comes in
contact.

oc************^l****»*******^o
gEORGE W. WEST, Superintendent of Mo
tive Power of the New York, Ontario &
Western Railway, was born in Troy, N. Y. ,
April 3, 1847. His father, Capt. James D. West,
was born in Exeter, N. H, but came of a Mass
achusetts family. As a boy he ran on sloops,
and later was owner and captain of sloops before
steamers were placed on the river. After the dis
covery of steam power and the manufacture of
steamboats, he became the owner and captain of
several boats. He had two steamers, "A. A.
Watkins No. 1" and "A. A. Watkins No. 2,"
both of which he sold to the Government. The
first was a very fast boat, and was used by the

Government between Washington and Alexan
dria during the war. Soon after the disposal of
these boats he was taken sick, and died at the
age of sixty-eight years. In the forty years that
he ran upon the Hudson River, he never lost
but one trip. He ran between Troy and New
York City, and also to Boston in early days, and
for many years he acted as pilot on the river. At
Troy he married Electa Wager, who was born in
Keene, N. H., and who died at the age of about
sixty-eight years. Of their eight children, six
grew to maturity, but only two are now living.
One son, Chester, was on the Hudson River as
pilot and captain, and fell from the mast of a
barge. After that event he quit the business,
and is now located in West Newburgh, in the
employ ofthe Erie Railway.
The subject of this sketch was the seventh in
the parental family, and grew to manhood in his
native city, receiving his education in the public
schools. From early childhood he was on his
father's boat, and went with his father and broth
ers to Washington on the steamer "A. A. Wat
kins' ' at the beginning of the war. He did not
remain there, however, but returned to the Hud
son and ran on the river between Troy and
New York until 1862, when he accepted a posi
tion as wiper on the Troy & Greenbush, now the
New York Central, Railroad. Soon after he was
made fireman, and ran between Troy and Green-
bush. Two years later he went to Baldwinsville,
N. Y., and entered a machine-shop as au appren
tice, in which an elder brother, Mason West, was
general foreman. After being there about two and
a-half years the works were shut down and he went
to Schenectady, and in the New York Central Car-
shops completed his trade. He continued work
there until that shop was abandoned, when he
was transferred to Syracuse, remaining there un
til 1872, when he was made Master Mechanic of
the Chenango Valley Railroad, with headquarters
at Syracuse. In 1883 this road was absorbed by
the West Shore Railroad, and the shops were
abandoned. Mr. West was general foreman of the West
Shore Railroad Shops at East Buffalo for one
year, when he was appointed Master Mechanic of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1441

the Buffalo Division of the West Shore, with
which he remained until 1886. He then became
Master Mechanic of the Mahoning Division of
the Erie Railroad, with headquarters at Cleve
land, but after holding that position about nine
months he was transferred -to their main shops at
Meadville, Pa., as Master Mechanic. Iu Febru
ary, 1888, he was transferred to the Eastern Divi
sion at Jersey City as Master Mechanic. Up to
this time there had been two departments, the
car department and the locomotive department,
but these were now consolidated and Mr. West
was made Master Mechanic of the consolidation,
holding the position until February, 1890, when
he resigned to accept the Superintendency of
Motive Power of the New York, Ontario & West
ern, with headquarters at Middletown. In 1893,
on the completion of the new depot, he was
among the first to occupy offices in the building.
He has now entire charge of the motive power on
the main line from Oswego to New York, and
also on the Scranton, Utica, New Berlin, Delhi
and Rome Divisions, in all four hundred and
twenty -four miles. Since beginning railroad
service he has never been a day out of employ
ment, his positions being changed by transfer
ring from one department or place to another.
He has been a very successful man in every posi
tion occupied, and his success is due to the fact
that he thoroughly understands his business and
has acquired his knowledge by actual work in
every department.
Mr. West was united in marriage in Schenec
tady, N. Y. , with Miss Jennie Van Slyck, a na
tive of that place and daughter of Jacob and Ann
Van Slyck, the former being engaged in mer
chandising in that place. They have one child,
Arthur Conklin. Fraternally Mr. West is a
member of Central City Lodge, F. & A. M., at
Syracuse, and of Union Consistory at Middle-
town. He is also a member of the American
Railway Master Mechanics' Association; of the
Master Car Builders' Association, with which he
meets every year; and is President of the New
York Railway Club, with headquarters at New
York City. Politically he is a true Republican.
Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Epis

copal Church, and ofthe Railroad Young Men's
Christian Association at Middletown. He is also
President ofthe Ontario & Western branch ofthe
Western Savings and Loan Association.

Gz

<zzr

t@fe&

-O,

=0

j^jEORGE KETCHAM, a miller at Middle-
I— town, is a native of the town of Mt. Hope,
\J[ born in 1837, and there both his father and
grandfather were alsojporn. Amos Ketcham, the
father, was a miller by trade, and for many years
ran a mill which was erected by Isaac Ketcham,
the grandfather. In 1848 the father repaired the
old mill, operating the same until he retired,
and it is now carried on by his son Isaac Edward.
The 'father was an old-line Whig, and died in
1888, at the age of seventy-five. He was twice
married, first to Sallie Eliza Seybolt, who was
born near Otisville,- and who was a daughter of
George Seybolt, a farmer at that place. She
died in 1870, leaving four children: Laruira,
now Mrs. Sweezy, of Unionville; George, the sub
ject of this sketch; C. C. B , formerly a grain
dealer in Middletown, who died here some years
ago; and Isaac E. , who has charge of the old
mill. The second marriage of Amos Ketcham
was with Miss Margaret Seybolt.
The subject of this sketch was reared near the
old mill, and had the advantages of a common-
school education. He learned the trade of a
miller with his father, and remained with him
until twenty-two years of age, wheii he located
on a farm near Otisville. After operating that
eighteen months, he opened a butcher-shop in
Otisville, which he continued some three or four
years. His next business enterprise was in New
York City, where he purchased a milk route,
and engaged in the milk business for several
years. Closing out that industry, he came to Orange
County, and for eleven years conducted the Salis
bury Mills, doing custom work. In 188 1 he
took charge of the Wickham Mill, whicli is con
nected with the Erie Road by a side track. This

1442

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

mill he superintended for sixteen months, when
it was sold to Drake & Dewitt, and for the suc
ceeding eighteen months he superintended it for
that firm. He then leased it, and has continued
to operate it since that time, making a specialty
of the manufacture of buckwheat flour, and doing
custom work exclusively. The mill is an old
structure, with four floors and au elevator, and
is run by a fifty horse-power engine. In addi
tion to milling, he does a wholesale and retail
business in feed and grain.
Mr. Ketcham was married in the town of Mt.
Hope to Miss Minnie A. Harding, who was born
there, and who is a daughter of J. Columbus
Harding, a farmer in that locality. Four chil
dren have been born unto them: Georgianna, a
dressmaker of Middletown; Ida M., a trained
nurse, and graduate of Mt. Sinai Hospital; Mel-
vin H., a printer, residing in Brooklyn; and Ira
B., at home. In politics Mr. Ketcham is a
Democrat. The family resides at No. 147 Acad
emy Avenue.

;@®@i^jm^-

30HN L. HART, Justice of the Peace of
Walden, was boru in Shawangunk, Ulster
County, 011 the 26th of August, 18 15, and
is a son of Thomas and Susan (Colden) Hart,
the latter being a widow at the time of her mar
riage with Mr. Hart. The father was also a na
tive of the Empire State, and resided iu one
neighborhood all his life. He died at the age of
fifty-nine. There were six children in the fam
ily, ofwhom our subject is the only one now liv
ing. A brother of Thomas, Cadwallader C. Hart,
was for many years captain of a Hudson River
steamboat of the Caledonia & Susquehanna Line,
and resided at Newburgh. He died at Orange,
N. J., at the age of seventy-four.
The subject of this sketch remained on his fa
ther's farm until 1840, when he removed to Wall-
kill, Ulster County, where for five years he was
engaged in the hotel business. In 1850 he came
to Walden, and first engaged in running an oys
ter saloon, and was also iu the meat business for
fourteen years in connection with Mr. Hepper.

In 1861 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and
with the exception of about one year has served
in that office ever since, his terms being each of
four years. Politically he is a Republican, but
has ever been popular with both parties.
On the 2 ist of October, 1840, Mr. Hart was
united in marriage with Miss Cornelia Ostrander,
who resided in the same neighborhood near the
old home farm. Three children were born unto
them, but they all died in childhood. Mrs. Hart
is a member ofthe Reformed Church.

-*—»-•

••>M^®^S)®'|+C-»-

•-c — f-

|~"RED R. WILLIAMS, of Newburgh, was
IV) born in GlenS Falls, N. Y., in 1858, and is
| the son of Stephen I. and Jane A. (Ray)
Williams, natives, respectively, of Glens Falls and
Virgil, N. Y. His father, who was for some
years a merchant tailor in Glens Falls, and also
served as Postmaster of the place, removed from
there at the time of the burning of the town, in
1865, and settled in Chestertown, this state. Iu
1880 he came to Newburgh, where he remained
until his death. His widow at present makes
her home in Jersey City.
The subject of this sketch passed the first
twelve years of his life in the city were he was
boru, and there and iu Chestertown his educa
tion was conducted in the public schools. In
1876 he came to Newburgh, where he served an
apprenticeship to the printer's trade in the com
posing-room of the Daily Mail, of which his
brother was one of the owners. On the consoli
dation of that paper with the Telegraph, and the
subsequent change of the name to the Register,
he remained with the different proprietors, being
a compositor there for twelve years.
Afterward, for one year, Mr. Williams was
employed as bookkeeper and advertising agent,
and later for two years he was local editor for
the Newburgh Daily News. His next position
was that of solicitor for the Calcium-light Ad
vertising Company of Newburgh, iu which ca
pacity he remained for three years. In Septem-

THEODORE D. MILLS, M. D.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H45

ber, 1893, he aided in the organization of the
Lime-light Advertising Company, of which he
is manager and part-owner. This enterprise has
beeu successful, and has beeu introduced into
eight states.
The marriage of Mr. Williams united him with
Miss Lettie Johnson , daughter of John D. John
son, who was formerly proprietor of the City
Hotel of Newburgh. They are the- parents of
three children, Clifford, Ray and Grace.

<^"HEODORE D. MILLS, M. D., one of the
f C leading physicians in Middletown, is a na-
\*) tive of Bloomingburg, N. Y., born June
9, 1852, a son of Rev. S. W. Mills, D. D., a
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
The family remained in Bloomingburg until our
subject was six years of age, when they removed
to Port Jervis, where Theodore received his pri
mary education in the public school, prepar
ing for college in the select school of Professor
Wilbur. In 1870 he entered Rutgers College at
New Brunswick, N. J., where he pursued the
classical course, and was graduated in 1874 with
the degree of A. B. At the expiration of three
years he received the degree of A. M. from the
same college. He was elected a member of the
Phi Beta Kappa and D. K. E. fraternities. Soon
after his graduation he began to read medicine in
the office of Dr. H. R. Baldwin, of New Bruns
wick, and in 1874 entered the College of Physi
cians and Surgeons of New York City, from
which he was graduated in 1876. He then
passed acompetitive examination at Bellevue Hos
pital in New York, and was made house surgeon
in that institution.
After completing his hospital service Dr. Mills
returned to Port Jervis and opened an office in
connection with Dr. Henry Hardenbergh, and
there he continued in practice from October, 1877,
to January 28, 1881, when he removed to Mid
dletown, his office now being located at No. 60
West Main Street. Since locating here the Doc
tor has built up a very extensive practice, and as
a skilled physician and surgeon has a reputation

second to none in Orange County. He has been
called into consultation by leading physicians in
his section of the country, and his merits have
been recognized by various bodies. For about
twelve years he has been surgeon for the New
York, Ontario & Western Railway, and is also
attending surgeon at Thrall Hospital.
While Dr. Mills is engaged in general practice
he pays special attention to general surgery and
the treatment ofthe eye and ear. He is Secretary
of the Orange County Medical Society, of which
he was formerly President, and has always taken
an active interest in its proceedings, at times con
tributing papers that have received marked atten
tion. Iu the State Association of Railway- Sur
geons, of which he is a member, he takes an active
interest. He is also a member of the National
Association of Railway Surgeons, ahd attended its
sessions in Omaha in 1893, and in Galveston,
Tex., in 1894. The Tri-State Medical Society
and the New York State Medical Society, in
both of which he is a member, also require a
share of his attention. The Doctor is a very close
student and is ever abreast of the times in all
medical research. In 1887 he took a post-grad
uate course in the New York Post-Graduate Col
lege, thus preparing himself for greater useful
ness. He is examiner for the Royal Arcanum
and the Legion of Honor, in both of which he
holds membership, as well as numerous old-line
companies. October 20, 1887, Dr. Mills was united in mar
riage iu Middletown with Miss Christina S. Sti
vers, who is a native of Middletown and daugh
ter of Hon. M. D. Stivers. Three children were
born unto them, two ofwhom are living: Samuel
Wickham, Jr., and Elizabeth Stivers. Theodore
D., Jr., died at the age of nine weeks.
While Dr. Mills is au active man in his pro
fession, he yet finds time to devote to social and
business intercourse, and ever takes an active in
terest in all things tending to advance his adopted
city. He is one ofthe Trustees of the Orange
County Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and is
a Director of the Orange County Telephone Com
pany, of which he was one ofthe incorporators.
He is a member of the Middletown Club and also

1446

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the Board of Trade. Religiously he holds
membership with the Presbyterian Church, in
which body he is active and influential. Politi
cally he is independent.
Dr. Mills is yet in the prime of life, aud with
his studious habits and careful attention to all de
tails of his business and profession, has a bright
future before him. Not only in the practice of his
profession has success attended him, but in a bus
iness way as well. As a citizen he stands high in
the estimation of his fellow-men .

VANDER M. HAMILTON, City Clerk
'S and Collector of Middletown, was one ofthe
__ Union defenders during the late war. He
was born near Auburn, N. Y., December 10, 1842,
and is a son of James W. and Elizabeth Cather
ine (Taylor) Hamilton, the former a native of
Scotland, and the latter of Orange County. Will
iam Hamilton, the grandfather of our subject,
was a machinist by trade. He came to this coun -
try at an early date, first locating in Philadelphia,
and subsequently lived for a time in Brandy wine,
Md.; Walden, N. Y., and New York City, at
which latter place he died many years ago.
James W. Hamilton, the father, was a mill
wright by trade, learning the same in Orange and
Dutchess Counties, N. Y. Later he settled at
Auburn, from which place he went to St. Paul,
Minn., there building the first flourmill ever
erected in Minnesota, on the falls of St. Anthony.
Plis family followed him to St. Paul, and he there
resided for some years, engaged in the erection of
mills, and subsequently located at Toledo, Ohio,
where he still followed his trade. From Toledo he
went South, spending some years in the erection
of cotton-mills, and was in Alabama when the
war broke out. Returning to Toledo, Ohio, he
ran the Toledo Novelty Works for a time, and
then engaged in the oil-refining business. In
1864 he located at Middletown, where for ten
years he carried on the latter business, but was
then forced out of business by the Standard Oil
Company. From that time he lived a retired life
until his death, in February, 1892. In politics

he was a Republican, and religiously a Presbyte
rian. His wife, Elizabeth C. Taylor, was a
daughter of William Taylor, who was a native of
Ireland, but who came to this country prior to
the Revolutionary War, and served his adopted
country in the struggle for independence until
the close of the war. He located near Montgom
ery, where he engaged in farming, and where his
last days were spent. He was a member of the
Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Elizabeth C. Ham
ilton died May 30, 1893.
The subject of this sketch was the eldest of four
children, and remained on the farm near Auburn,
N. Y., until fourteen years of age. He then re
moved with the family to St. Paul, and subse
quently to Toledo, Ohio. His education was re
ceived in a common school near Auburn, and in
the high schools of St. Paul and Toledo. In May,
1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred
and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered
in as Second Sergeant at Johnson's Island, where
for a time the regiment was stationed guarding
prisoners, aud from there was sent to Petersburg,
Va. Mr. Hamilton continued with the regiment
in active duty until he was mustered out and
honorably discharged, in September, 1864. In
November following he came to Middletown and
engaged with his father in the oil-refining busi
ness, under the firm name of J. W. Hamilton &
Son. Their business was the first one established
on Genung Street, and was continued until 1874,
when, as already stated, the firm was forced out
of business by the Standard Oil Company.
Soon after retiring from the oil business, Mr.
Hamilton went to New York City, and for four
years w -.., engaged in the manufacture aud sale of
tobacco and cigars. He next removed to Shef
field, Pa., where he remained one year, and the
succeeding eighteen months he was in the em
ploy of Wells, Fargo & Co. Returning to Mid
dletown, he was made inspector for the city in
the construction of the Highland Lake Reservoir,
and also the principal sewers' of the city. He
continued in this occupation until 1892, when he
was made Superintendent of Streets. In March,
1893, he was appointed City Clerk and Collector
by the Common Council, and has been twice re-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

r447

appointed. From June, 1886, until June, 1893,
he was Chief Engineer of the fire department in
Middletown. Before leaving the place for New
York City, he had had experience in the fire de
partment, being a member of Excelsior Hook aud
Ladder Company No. 1 , of which he was foreman
three and a-half years, resigning the position on
his removal from the city. He still retains his
interest in the fire department, and has been Pres
ident of Hamilton Council No. 14, Order of
American Firemen. He assisted in the organi
zation of the council and has been its President
ever since. In politics he is a Republican, and
has served his party in various conventions.

"LLSWORTH A. WHEELER, a horse-shoer
v) in Middletown, was born in Shoemakersville,
_ in Berks County, Pa., September 16, 1864.
His grandfather, Henry Wheeler, was also a na
tive of that county, and was by occupation a
farmer. Isaac and Lovina (Adams) Wheeler, the
parents of our subject, were likewise natives of
Berks County. There the former grew to man
hood and learned the trade of a mason, which oc
cupation he followed for many years, and finally
located on the farm on which he still resides. He
is an old Jacksonian Democrat, and is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is of
English ancestry, although for many generations
the family have lived in Pennsylvania. Of the
seven children in the parental family, six grew to
maturity, and five are yet living.
The subject of this sketch is second in order of
birth of the children born to Isaac and Lovina
Wheeler. Until the age of seventeen he was
reared on the home farm, receiving the advant
ages ofthe common school only. In 1881 he left
the parental roof and went to Gardiner, Ulster
County, being employed by his uncle, Peter
Adams, who was then engaged in farming. Two
years later he left his uncle and commenced to
learn the trade of a blacksmith at New Paltz,
where he remained one year, and then went to

Gardiner and finished his trade under Mike Du-
gan. After remaining in the latter village for
three years, he went to Florida, Orange County,
as a journeyman blacksmith, remaining there two
years and seven months. In November, 1890,
he came to Middletown and entered into partner
ship with John Boland, under the firm name of
Boland & Wheeler. This partnership continued
two years and ten months, when Irving Barr pur
chased the interest of Mr. Boland, and the busi
ness was continued by Wheeler & Barr, who are
at present engaged in general blacksmithing, al
though they make a specialty of horse-shoeing.
They have a good reputation in this section of
the country, and shoe the fastest horses in Mid
dletown, including "Nora L. ," Robert Lemon's
mare. They also shoe the horses of Messrs. Tyn-
dale, Donovan, Wilkinson, Hansford, Clemson
and Sweager.
Mr. Wheeler was married, in Florida, Orange
County, to Miss Jennie Chambers, a native of
that place, and they have one child, Jennie. The
family resides at No. 14 Watkins Avenue, in a
neat residence which Mr. Wheeler has erected
since coming to Middletown. His business loca
tion is at No. 96 North Street. In politics he is
a Democrat.

ROBERT I. CRAWFORD, a farmer residing
in the town of Crawford, was born August
23, 1822, in this town. (See sketch of The
ron Crawford for family record. ) His early life
was spent on the home farm, and his education
was received in the district schools of his native
town and in the academy of Montgomery. When
he attained his majority, his father gave him part
ofthe old homestead, where he now lives, and
where he has since made his home. He married
Miss Nancy J. Thompson, who was a daughter
of James R. Thompson, and who died in March,
1887, leaving seven children: Elmer, a prosper
ous farmer ofthe town of Crawford; Emily J. , who
married C. B. Martin, a farmer in Ulster County;
Robert, Jr., now residing in this town 011 his
great-grandfather's old place; Leander, a farmer

1448

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

just across the line in Sullivan County; Deborah,
who married William Decker, a farmer of the
town of Crawford; Agnes, the wife of Watson
Ellivy, of Ulster County; and James, who runs
the old home farm in connection with his father.
The subject of this sketch is a stanch Republi
can in his political views, and is an active worker
in local political affairs. He has been a member
of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church for forty
years, and has been an Elder in the same for
thirty years. His wife was also a member of that
body, as are all the children. Mr. Crawford has
been quite successful in life, has given his' chil
dren all the advantages possible, and has lived to
see each well settled in life.

•CjEORGE A. ELSTON, the genial and pop-
I— ular Postmaster of Port Jervis, assumed the
\Ji duties of that position January i, 1894, and
is proving that the best interests of the public
are very near to his heart by giving them prompt
aud faithful attention. His appointment to this
position was secured by the earnest efforts of his
many friends in Democratic circles, and previous
ly, in 1890 and 1891, he filled the position of
Secretary of the County Democratic Committee.
At various times he has been a delegate to coun
ty and district conventions, and for years he has
been very active and influential in political af
fairs. The Elston family was represented among the
early settlers of Orange County. Capt. David
Elston, our subject's grandfather, was born here,
and by occupation was a farmer. For many
years he was active in the Greenville Baptist
Church, and assisted in the organization of the
first Baptist Church iu Port Jervis. Though his
home was about seven miles east of this place,
he often walked the distance when well along in
years. His mental vigor and physical strength,
which he retained to an advanced age, were due
largely to his regular aud temperate habits. A
man of patriotic spirit and loyal devotion to his

native country, he ever upheld those interests
which tended to the advancement of his com
munity and fellow-citizens. He won his title in
the militia service, and his old Queen Anne
musket is now in possession of his only male
descendant, our subject. His last years were
spent in Unionville, N. Y., where he died at the
age of seventy -seven. His wife, who bore the
maideu name of Lydia Schoonover, died at the
age of eighty- nine Their son Abraham de
parted this life leaving no children.
The parents of our subject, George and Deb
orah Jane (Hawkins) Elston, were natives ofthe
towns of Greenville and Mt. Hope, Orange Coun
ty, respectively, the latter being a daughter of
Eliab Hawkins, a farmer. When a young man,
George Elston started in the dry -goods business in
Port Jervis, being one of the first merchants of
the village. After a time he became a member of
the firm of Elston & Green, but iu 1876 retired
from that concern and embarked in business in
Middletown. In early years he was a Democrat,
but after 1872 he affiliated with the Republican
party. His death occurred March 5, 1887, and
his wife passed away December 17, 1888. Their
eldest son, David, died when eighteen years ot
age, and their daughter, Ida J., is the wife of
Floyd W. Cole, junior member of the firm of
Farnum & Cole, of Port Jervis.
In Port Jervis, where he was born September
24, 1859, the subject of this notice has spent his
entire life. At the age of sixteen he entered the
general store of Nearpass & Bro., with whom he
remained for six years, learning all branches of
the business. For some nine years afterward,
or until 1890, he was employed as bookkeeper
and manager ofthe Port Jervis Flint Glass Works,
having charge of the greater part of the business.
Upon leaving that firm, he took a place as book
keeper in the office of Swift's branch of the
Chicago Beef Company in Port Jervis.
As assistant to Charles M. Preston, Superin
tendent of the Banking Department of the State
of New York, Mr. Elston held a very responsible
position, and during his two years of labor as an
examiner he acquitted himself creditably in
every way, the books of banks and building and

ISAAC BANKER.

•-/

21 S^

MRS. ISAAC BANKER.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H53

loan associations coming constantly under his no
tice. That position he resigned that he might
enter upon his present work, to which he de
votes his earnest attention. Though often urged
to accept nomination for local offices, he has in
variably declined, the only exception to this be
ing when he served one year as Clerk to the
Board of Education. Socially he is identified
with the Order of United Friends and the Ameri
can Legion of Honor, and for several years was
District Deputy ofthe former organization.
September 29, 1881, Mr. Elston was united in
marriage with Miss Jennie Caskey, adopted
daughter of John Caskey. They are members
of the Presbyterian Church and have the friend
ship of a large circle of acquaintances. There is
no citizen of Port Jervis more interested in its
progress than Mr. Elston, nor one who has dis
played a more commendable degree of public
spirit. By fostering progressive enterprises, he
has done not a little to promote the interests of
the place, and justly ranks among its most influ
ential citizens and prominent men.

CVSAAC BANKER, one of the most prominent
1 and highly respected agriculturists of Orange
X County, is the owner of one hundred and
forty-one acres in the town of Goshen. His ca
reer has been upright, and his neighbors and
friends may hold him up as an example of what
may be accomplished by zeal aud energy.
Our subject was born in Washingtonville, iu
1829, and was the youngest son born to Isaac
and Sallie (Denton) Banker, natives of Orange
County. Here the father was identified with
farm pursuits, in which he was more than ordi
narily successful. He owned the farm upon which
his sou Isaac is now living, and which has de
scended from father to son for three generations.
The father was a man who attended strictly to
his owu affairs, and was well aud favorably
known throughout the county. In politics he
was a Whig until the formation of the Repub-
63

lican party, when he joined its ranks. He closed
his eyes to the scenes of this life in 1870. His
wife had died five years previously, in 1865.
Isaac, of this life sketch, gained his first knowl
edge ofthe common branches in the schools taught
in his district. He was later sent to the Chester
Academy, and after finishing his education re
turned to the old home farm, where he has since
made his home, and to which he has devoted his
attention up to the present time, each year gar
nering abundant harvests. Dairying, however,
forms his principal industry, aud on his place he ,
has a large herd of fine cattle of the best breeds.
His residence, which is of a modern style of archi
tecture, is one of the most attractive in the coun
ty, and is presided over by his estimable wife,
to whom he was married in 1870. She was for
merly Miss Martha L. Howell, and is the daugh
ter of Joseph B. and Elizabeth Jane (Weedenj
Howell, both of whom are deceased, as are all of
their family, with the exception of Mrs. Banker.
The parents were natives of this state, and the
former was a prominent man in what is now the
town of Chester, having served as Justice of the
Peace for many- years.
Mrs. Banker is a member in excellent stand
ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is
one of its most influential workers. Her husband
always takes a great interest in the same church,
and is one of its liberal supporters. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Banker are always foremost in every
good work, and give liberally of their means toward
the spread of the Gospel. In politics he is a Re
publican, and therefore gives his support to the
success of its chosen leaders.

¦"•f-sh

(3AMUEL S. TOOKER, one ofthe oldest and
/\ most highly respected citizens of Orange
\~) County, was born in what was formerly the
old town of Minisink, but what is now the towu
of Wawayanda, near Slate Hill, September 8,
1824. His grandfather, Samuel Tooker, was
born on Long Island, and located near Slate Hill
at a very early day. There Charles P. Tooker,
the father of our subject, was born. By profes-

1454

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sion the grandfather was a surveyor, and also en
gaged in teaching and farming. On locating
here, he purchased one hundred aud sixty acres
of land, which he improved, aud which is now
owned by a grandson, Prof. James H. Tooker.
Charles P. Tooker, the father of our subject,
was a farmer on the old Tooker place. By his
marriage with Hannah Neeley, who was also a
native of the old town of Minisink, five children
were born: Prof. James H, now residing on the
old homestead; Samuel S. , our subject; Charles
L-, who died on the old place in 1845; Catherine
J., who married Albert Wickham, and died in
1850; and Julia A., the widow of Fletcher Vail,
of Middletown. The father died March 15, 1865,
at the age of sixty-six years. He was a successful
farmer, and a very popular man iu the commu
nity. Originally he was a Democrat, with whicli
party he affiliated until the organization of the
Republican party, with which he united because
of his hatred of slavery. The mother died Au
gust 10, 1873, at the age of seventy -six years.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on
the old homestead, and in his youth attended the
subscription schools of his neighborhood. There
he learned geography, grammar, spelling, read
ing and arithmetic, going in the last-named study
as far as the ' 'double rule of three. ' ' From a boy he
turned his attention to farming, which occupation
he followed until his retirement iu 1867. He was
married, February 21, 1850, in the town of Wa
wayanda, to Miss Emeline R. Stanton, who was
born in the town of Deerpark, and who was the
daughter of Samuel Stanton, the latter of whom
engaged iu farming in that town. At the time of
her marriage her father had moved to Wawayanda,
which was subsequently divided into three towns,
Minisink, Greenville and Wawayanda. After the
division our subject's house was in Wawayanda.
He continued to farm there for two years after
his marriage, and iu 1853 removed to the town of
Wallkill, two and a-half miles west of Middle-
town, where he also carried on farming. His first
purchase there was of eighty-nine acres, to which
by subsequent purchase he added twenty-two
acres from the Everett Farm and engaged in gen
eral farming and the dairy business for about four

teen years, when he removed to Middletown, and
has since virtually lived a retired life. However,
he is a stockholder in the Merchants and Manu
facturers' Bank, and is interested in other finan
cial operations. He has a fine place at No. 10
Highland Avenue, where he keeps open house,
and where he has entertained many friends in
past years. His wife died December 15, 1890.
In politics he is an old Jacksonian Democrat, and
has voted the ticket for fifty years. He is a liberal
and public-spirited man, whom it is a pleasure to
meet.
: — gmp  ,

"7 DWARD E. CONKLING is the oldest real-
^ estate and insurance agent in Middletown.
_ The agency was started in 185 1 by Selah
R. Corwin, and in the mean time has undergone
many changes. Our subject is a native of Mid
dletown, boru August 20, i860. His grand
father, William Conkling, was for many years a
resident of Pennsylvania, where he was engaged
in merchandising, and later removed to West-
town, N. Y., where he engaged in farming. He
died in Middletown many years ago. The noted
Roscoe Conkling came from the same family as
did he.
Stephen S. Conkling, the father of our subject,
was born in Westtown, and in early manhood re
moved to Middletown, where for many years he
was engaged in the lumber trade. He was also
engaged in building and in the real-estate busi
ness, and laid out many lots aud additions to the
city. Among the streets and avenues that he
laid out were Everett Street, Genung Street,
Liberty Street, Lake Avenue and Academy Ave
nue. His lumber-yard was located near the Erie
depot. He is now living a retired life in his
beautiful residence located on Wickham Avenue.
In politics he is a strong Democrat. Relig
iously he is a member of the Congregational
Church, in which body he has always taken an
active interest, is a member of the Official Board,
and served 011 the Building Committee when the
present church building was erected. His wife,
Phcebe J. Lathrop, was born in the town of
Wawayanda, and is a daughter of David Lath-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1455

rop, a farmer of that town. Nine children were
born unto them, seven of whom are now living.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
his native city, and received his education in the
academy here. When seventeen he entered the
employ of his brother-in-law, C. J. Boyd, with
whom he remained until January 12, 1880, when
he commenced clerking for Boyd & Corwin, who
were in the insurance and real-estate business.
Here he remained through all the changes ot the
firm, including Boyd & Douglas, who soon suc
ceeded Boyd & Corwin. In April, 188 1, Mr.
Boyd sold out to Mr. Dolson, and the firm be
came Douglas & Dolson. In 1885 Mr. Conk
ling bought a one-fourth interest and the firm be
came Douglas, Dolson & Co. This lasted until
1 89 1, when Mr. Douglas sold his interest to Mr.
Conkling, and the firm became Dolson & Conk
ling, continuing thus until December 28, 1893,
when Mr. Conkling purchased the entire busi
ness, aud has since conducted it alone. The fol
lowing old reliable companies are represented iu
the insurance department: Continental; German-
American; Niagara and Williamsburg City, of
New York; Franklin, of Philadelphia; Sun and
Phoenix, of London; Hartford and vEtua, of Hart
ford; Queen, of New York; Springfield, of Spring
field, Mass.; Dutchess County Mutual, of Pough
keepsie; and the Imperial, of London; also the
Inter-state Casualty Company, an accident-in
surance company; and the Mutual Life, of New
York. In the real-estate business, Mr. Conkling
handles the new addition of Vail & Foote, be
sides much other west-end property. He has on
his list farms all over the country, including New
York and the Southern States. He has made
many improvements in the city, including two
neat residences erected for himself, one on East
Avenue, which he sold, and the other at No. 103
Highland Avenue, in which he resides. In all
matters pertaining to the business interest of
Middletown, he takes a lively- interest. He is a
member of the Orange County Telephone Com
pany, and is interested in the Driving Park and
Building Bank.
Mr. Conkling was married, iu Scotchtown, to

Miss Florence Sutherland, who was born in
Orange County, and who is a daughter of Abra
ham Sutherland, a wholesale merchant of New
York City. They have two children, Lawrence
S. and Anna L. Mr. and Mrs. Conkling are
members of the Congregational Church of Mid
dletown, in the work of which they take an act
ive interest. Our subject is a member of the
Orange County Underwriters' Association, and
of the Middletown Board of Underwriters. In
the latter he serves as Treasurer, and in both or
ganizations is a member of the rating committee.
He is an active member of Excelsior Hook and
Ladder Company No. 1. As a citizen he enjoys
the respect and confidence of his fellow-men, and
is ever ready to give of his means aud time to
the advancement of the material interests of his
native citv.

+=

HOMAS S. HUTCHISON, Superintend
ent of the Columbia Dye aud Print Works,
is at the head ofthe silk-printing iu America.
He is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was
born August 24, 1854, a son of George and Chris
tine (Stodhard) Hutchison, both of whom were
also natives of Scotland. George Hutchison was
a fancy weaver, a trade which he learned in
youth, and which he followed until his retirement
on account of age. He worked at his trade iu
his native country until 1873, when he located at
South Manchester, Conn., and there continued in
the same line. Now, however, he is living a re
tired life, at the age of sixty-eight. In religious
belief he is a Presbyterian, aud comes of an old
Scotch family of the Highlands. His wife, Chris
tine Stodhard, is a daughter of Thomas Stodhard,
who served in the English army as a private in
the Ninety-second Highlanders. He was in the
war against Napoleon, and also in Egypt. The
Stodhards came from the Lowlands, where they
had long been established. To George and
Christine Hutchison were boru twelve children,
ten ofwhom grew to maturity, and nine ofwhom

H56

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

are yet living, and all residing in America. Three
brothers are with our subject; two reside in South
Manchester; one, James, is superintendent of
Cheney Brothers' weaving establishment; and
three daughters are in South Manchester.
Thomas S. Hutchison was the third-born in
the family. His educational advantages were
very limited, but, by reading and observation, he
is now a well informed man. When nine years
of age, he commenced to learn the weaver's trade
under his father, with whom he continued until
he was past sixteen, when, in company with his
brother James, he came to America. He left
Glasgow hi May, 1871, on the steamer "Austra
lia," bound for New York City. After his arrival
he at once proceeded to South Manchester, where
he worked at weaving about one year, when , on
account of failing health, he was compelled to
seek outdoor employment. For six months he
was fireman of an engine on the railroad, and later
apprenticed himself to learn the trade of silk
printing with Cheney Brothers, that industry
then being in its infancy in this country. Com
mencing at the bottom, he worked his way up
through every department until he had mastered
the business in all its parts, and to-day is credited
with being the most experienced silk-printer in
America. When he began, the printing was all
done by hand, but at the present time it is prin
cipally done by machinery.
Our subject learned the business under Robert
Melville, who was from an old family of printers
in Scotland, aud who has since returned to his
native land. On the return of Mr. Melville to
Scotland, Mr. Hutchison was made foreman of
the printing department. He subsequently- re
signed his position, however, and went to Pater
son, N. J., with the Hawthorne Works, or Ames
Dyeing, Finishing and Printing Company, as
superintendent. He remained there but six
months, when he was offered his present position.
For some time he had been flooded with letters
offering him positions, but on account of his wife's
ill-health he decided to come to Middletown, and
iu April, 1 891, took charge ofthe Columbia Dye
and Print Works as superintendent and manager.
The works have since been enlarged by the addi

tion of two printing-machines, and now have a
capacity of thirteen thousand yards of silk per
day. They are located on the corner of Railroad
and Grove Streets, the main building being
100x150 feet, five stories in height. All of the
building is occupied and used in the business, and
five engines are required. The success of the
mills has been unprecedented, and the proprie
tors are branching out into other lines, now print
ing flannels and woolens. Employment is given
to about one hundred and ten hands, and the pay
roll amounts to over $1,000 per week.
Mr. Hutchison was married in South Man
chester, Conn., to Miss Hattie Stebbins, a native
of Hadley, Mass., and of old Puritan stock. She
died in Manchester, leaving one child, George E.,
who is a practical color-maker. Mr. Hutchison
subsequently married Matilda Christine Nelson,
a native of Sweden, but who came to this country
in early childhood, and was here reared and
educated. They have four children living: Jo
seph Nelson, Thomas C, Carrie Agnes and
Marjorie A.
Mrs. Hutchison is a lady of superior ability,
and is well educated. Her father was a professor
in the schools of Sweden, having been educated
at Gutteuberg. Her mother, Caisa Peterson, is
also a native of Sweden. The parents still reside
in their native country, but their four children
reside iu America.
Fraternally Mr. Hutchison is a member of
Middletown Lodge No. 112, I. O. O. F., and
religiously is identified with the First Presby
terian Church of Middletown, of which body his
wife is also a member, although she was reared
a Lutheran. While in South Manchester,- Mr.
Hutchison was a member of the Congregational
Church. Since coming to Middletown he has
been active iu religious work, and for one year
was superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is
au active worker and director of the Young Men's
Christian Association of this place. In politics
he is a Republican.
Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison reside iu a beautiful
home on Ridge Street, which has a frontage of
two hundred and forty feet, and a depth of two
hundred and fifty feet. Coming to this country

HON. D. H. BAILEY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'459

a poor boy, by industry and faithful discharge of
all duties devolving upon him he has worked his
way up to his present enviable position. In
handling men he has been ver)- successful, and
has never had a strike among those in his employ.
As a testimonial of their regard, the employes of
the print works presented him with a handsome
cane, and his wife a handsome chair. In this
country there are at present but three silk-print
ing works, the Hawthorne, Cheney Brothers' and
the Columbia Dye and Print Works, of which our
subject is the manager. The latter leads them
all, and its success is largely due to the enterprise
ofthe subject of this sketch.

"»—»»¦>'» *

HON. DANIEL H. BAILEY, Secretary and
Treasurer of the Middletown Savings Bank,
was born near the village of Mechanicstown,
Orange County, in June, 1834, and is a son of
Deacon Nathaniel and Mahala (Dunning) Bailey.
The former was born in the town of Wallkill, and
the latter near Middletown, this county. They
were of Revolutionary stock, the grandfather of
, our subject having served in the War for Inde
pendence as a Captain. By occupation Deacon
Bailey was a farmer, spending the greater part of
his life in agricultural pursuits, but his later
years were spent in Middletown. He purchased
a tract of land 011 High Street, 011 which he
erected a comfortable home, and there spent his
declining days. His death occurred some years
ago, aud his wife has since passed away. They
were both members of the Presbyterian Church,
in which body he was first a Deacon, and subse
quently an Elder for many years. In politics he
was originally a Whig, but on the organization of
the Republican party allied himself with it, and
was a strong advocate of its principles. Deacon
Bailey was twice married, aud by his first wife
had one child. His second wife was a daughter
of Jacob Dunning, who was a farmer living north
of Middletown, on the plank road. By this mar
riage there were four children, three ofwhom
were daughters, our subject being the only son.
Almeda J. was the first wife of Dr. S. W. Mills;

Harriet E. became the first wife of Theodore J.
Denton; and Delia married Dr. Henry W. Har
denbergh. Daniel H. Bailey received his primary educa-
cation in the public schools, later attended Wall-
kill Academy, and subsequently studied under the
direction of Mr. Freeman. His first business ex
perience was in the capacity of clerk in the employ
of T. J. Denton, with whom he remained only a
few mouths, however, when, in 1856, he engaged
with Bull & Van Fleet, then doing business in
Middletown. In 1858 he accepted a situation
with the dry-goods firm of Lord & Taylor in New
York City, remaining with them two years, and
at the expiration of that time he entered into part
nership with T. J. Denton. His father dying
about a year afterward, he sold out to his partner
and came to Middletown. Home affairs occupied
his attention for several years, after which for one
year he was in the employ of the American Ex
press Company as agent and messenger. On the
ist of December, 1873, he entered the Middletown
Savings Bank, and in July, 1885, he was elected
Secretary and Treasurer of the same, which posi
tion he has since continued to hold. The bank
is recognized as one of the solid institutions of
Orange County, and under the management of
Mr. Bailey it has gradually increased its business
from a very small beginning, until now it has de
posits aggregating $1,500,000. It has occupied
its present location since 1874.
The life of Mr. Bailey has been a most active
one. Notwithstanding the arduous duties devolv
ing upon him as Secretary aud Treasurer ofthe
Savings Bank, he has yet found time to devote to
public interests and social intercourse. In poli
tics he has always been a Republican, and cast
his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont,
the first candidate of the party for President. In
1868 he was elected President of the Village
Board, was re-elected to that position in 1869, the
term of office being for one year, and in 18S0 he
was elected. for a term of two years. During
his term of office there was much to make
the position a busy one. The first sewer was
built during his administration; it is called the
Trunk Sewer, and extends from John Street to

1460

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Monhagen Brook, being a very expensive piece
of work. Main and High Streets were widened,
a drinking fountain erected, North Street was
paved with Belgian block, and other improvements
were made. In 1892 Mr. Bailey was elected
Mayor of the city, and during his term the trolley
was built and completed. He served from March,
1892, until March, 1894, and refused are-nomi
nation. In his election to office he was always a
candidate on the Republican ticket.
Personally Mr. Bailey is a man of very quiet
tastes and habits. He is possessed of excellent
judgment and is one not likely to be led astray by
a boom iu stocks or any investment not particu
larly substantial. He ever has the interests of
his city at heart, being willing to make many-
sacrifices in building it up, and at the time ofthe
location of the asylum here he took an active
part. He has been a member of the First Pres
byterian Church for over forty years, and has
been Trustee and Chairman of its board sev
eral times. Since 1863 he has been a member of
Phoenix Engine Company No. 4, and travels
with the company every fall. He served as first
President ofthe company, and continued to hold
this position until elected Mayor, when he re
signed. During the war hewas a member ofthe
Union League and served as Trustee. Mr. Bai
ley was married, in January, 1862, to Sarah E.,
daughter of John H. Robertson.

— »  •>3+'>®W^B®<+C""V  « — "-

6HARLES DOWNING. While it is impos
sible, within the limits of this volume, to
review in detail the life of the illustrious
gentleman above named, it is fitting that some
mention be made of his honorable and useful
career. A life-long resident of Newburgh, he
was here born July 9, 1802, and died January 18,
1885. His parents, Samuel and Eunice Downing
were natives of Lexington, Mass., aud upon their
marriage removed from Cambridge to Newburgh,
but later went to Montgomery, where the father
intended to follow his trade of carriage-maker.

Ill-health, however, caused him to return to New
burgh, where, about the beginning ofthe present
century, he established a shop for the manufact
ure of wagons, on the northeast corner of Broad
and Liberty Streets. Within a few years he aban
doned his trade to become a nurseryman, in which
he was the first in the county to successfully
engage. He died November 1, 1822, and his wife
passed away October 29, 1838.
The four children of Samuel and Eunice Down
ing were: Emily, born in 1801, married Sylvester
Ferry, and died in 1864; Charles, of this sketch;
George W., bora in 1804, aud died in 1846; and
Andrew J., whose biography is presented on an
other page of this volume. The early years of
our subject were passed under the careful training
of his father in the nursery business and in at
tendance upon the common schools of his day.
Before he had attained his majority his father
died, and the responsibility of conducting the
business, and the support of the family, to a large
degree devolved upon him.
Forming a partnership with his brother, under
the firm name of C. & A. J. Downing, our sub
ject embarked in the nursery business, but a few
years later the connection was dissolved, and in
1837 he removed to the outskirts of the city. He
continued iu the nursery business for thirty years
and became the most prominent pomologist ofthe
United States. His was a penetrating and in
quiring mind, that led him to study carefully the
forms, varieties and qualities of the different fruits
that came under his observation, and by experi
menting and proving he was enabled to improve
many varieties of fruits and originate others, some
of which bear his name to this day. His last
years were passed at his home on the corner of
Chambers and South Streets, where, free from
business cares, he was at liberty to pursue his
pomological investigations and literary work with
greater assiduity than iu former years.
In his earlier years Mr. Downing devoted his
attention principally to the cultivation of fruits,
but in later life he became a regular contributor
to periodicals, and twice revised ' 'The Fruits and
Fruit Trees of America, ' ' written by his brother,
aud after the last revision he added two appen-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 46 1

dices, containing new fruits, corrections, etc.,
making the work twice its original size. It has
become a classic, and is regarded as the highest
authority on the subjects of which it treats. In
creasing honors came to Mr. Downing with his
advancing years. In his chosen field he gained
high renown. People from all parts of the country
sought his advice and deferred to his judgment,
and he was conceded to be the authority on
pomology. Largely through his influence New
burgh became the center of a great fruit-growing
district, and thus he was instrumental in promot
ing the prosperity of the locality.
September 20, 1830, Mr. Downing married Miss
Mary, daughter of Samuel Wait, of Montgomery ,
N. Y. For fifty years they lived happily to
gether, sharing their joys and sorrows, until they
were separated by her death, October 18, 1880.

A. KETCHUM, a lumber and coal dealer
^ at Middletown, was born in the town of
(*) Mamakating, near Wurtsboro, in Sullivan
County, January 24, 1831. His father, James
Ketchum, was boru iu Putnam County about
1800. His grandfather, Daniel Ketchum, who
was of Welsh descent, was long a resident of
that county, but removed with his family to Sul
livan County, where he died. In early life the
father learned the trade of a millwright, and
erected and equipped many mills throughout Put
nam and Sullivan Counties. Later he engaged in
the manufacture of cart felloes and wheelbarrows
at Oakland, N. Y. About 1845 he purchased a
farm near Oakland, which he improved, and on
which he passed the remainder of his life, dying
at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, the
mother of our subject, was Miss Harriet C.
Fields. She was born in Putnam County, near
where the Ketchums lived. Her grandfather, Jo
seph Coles Fields, was also a resident of Putnam
County, in the town of Southeast, where his
death occurred. Mrs. Harriet C. Ketchum died
in 1878, at the age of seventy -seven years.
In the parental family were ten children who
grew to maturity, and eight of the number are

now living. Hiram was a member of the One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Infan
try, and was wounded in the thigh at the battle
of Chancellorsville. He now resides in Middle-
town. The subject of this sketch was fifth in
the family, and was reared on the farm, receiving
his education in the district school. Later he
took charge of the home farm, and operated it
until 1857, when he engaged in business in Oak
land, manufacturing lumber and wheelbarrows.
For a time the business was run under the firm
name of Ketchum Brothers and later by our sub
ject alone. He operated two sawmills in Oakland,
and largely engaged in the manufacture of wheel
barrows, tray, coal and garden barrows. Thou
sands of them were carted to Otisville, then sent
to New York City, and from there were. shipped
all over the country. After operating the two
branches of business for a number of years, Mr.
Ketchum gave up manufacturing and engaged
in the lumber business exclusively Much of
the lumber was supplied to the Erie Railroad,
being used in car-manufacturing, and he ran the
mill until he came to Middletown in 1886. In
carrying on the business, he found it necessary to
purchase a great deal of timber-land, and he is to
day the owner of over seventeen hundred acres on
the Neversink.
Since locating in Middletown Mr. Ketchum
has been engaged in the lumber and coal business
at No. 245 North Street. He has a frontage of
one hundred and fifty feet running back to the
Ontario & Western Railroad, where he has a
coal-pocket and siding, the pocket being 144x18
feet. He carries from three hundred to six hun
dred tons of coal, and is the largest dealer in coal
in the city. He has a fine arrangement with drop-
screen in the wagon. His main shed is 100x20
feet, with an addition adjoining of 50x18 feet.
Everything is well aud conveniently arranged,
aud Mr. Ketchum does a large wholesale aud re
tail business both in lumber and coal. He was
one of the first to locate on North Street.
In 1858 Mr. Ketchum was united in marriage
with Miss Susan J. Williams, who was born iu
Forestburg, Sullivan County. To them five chil
dren have been born: A. F., residing in Middle-

1462

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

town; John A., with his father in the office;
Charles H., iu the insurance business at Cleve
land, Ohio; and Clara C. and D. Albert, at
home. The family resides iu a neat aud com
fortable house at No. 202 North Street, which
was erected by Mr. Ketchum on coming to this
city. Politically he is a Republican.

WlARCUS S. HAYNE, M. D. During the
Y long period of his residence in Unionville,
[3 no one accomplished more in behalf of its
progress, or became more thoroughly identified
with its best interests, than did the late Dr.
Hayne. He was known throughout this locality
as one of the most honorable and straightforward
of men, upright in every respect. For some
time prior to his demise, failing health prevented
him from actively participating in public affairs,
and he lived retired, rejoicing in the good-will of
his acquaintances, and filling up the measure of
his days with good works. Laying down the
burdens of life at length, he entered into rest
April 8, 1891, and his body was buried iu the
cemetery which his efforts had secured for the
village nearly twenty-five years before.
The Hayne family is of German origin. The
first representative in this country was our sub
ject's great-grandfather, who emigrated from
Germany, and settled iu Wantage, N. J., in
1775. The Doctor was born near Deckertown,
that state, January 23, 18 16, and was the son of
Benjamin and Millie (Whittaker) Hayne, of the
town of Minisink. After carrying on the studies
of the district school at Unionville, he attended
the well known school of William Rankin at Deck
ertown, N. J., where he was later a teacher. In
1838 he commenced to study medicine with Dr.
Lynn, of Deckertown, and afterward entered the
office of Dr. Sylvester Austin, in Ontario County,
N. Y. Later he became a student iu the Geneva
Medical College, from which he was graduated
in 1841.
Opening an office iu Westtown, the Doctor
began the practice of his profession, remaining
there until 1844, when he moved to Mt. Salem

Su.ssex County, N. J. In 1846 he came to
Unionville, where he resided until his death.
Until 1870 he gave his attention assiduously to
his profession, and had a large practice among
the people of the town and of the country round
about. In 1870 he relinquished general practice,
though still retaining professional work. in con
sultations, and he then turned his attention to
business matters. In 1865 he had become inter
ested, with his father-in-law, in the Unionville
Creamery, and later in the creamery at Wantage.
Both of these enterprises he managed until
shortly before his death, when he transferred
them to his son, S. Christie, who runs them suc
cessfully, and iu addition to the regular work
manufactures sugar of milk in the Unionville
Creamery. In 1843 Dr. Hay ue married Amelia VanFleet,
who died January 30, 1848. Their two children
died iu infancy. In 1849 he was united with
Jane Decker, who died July 16, 1856. The
children by that marriage were Albert B., who
died October 12, 1876, aged twenty-six; Annie
M., deceased; and Marcus P., au attorney of
Minneapolis. The third marriage of the Doctor
took place in January, 1858, when Eliza A.,
daughter of Samuel and Jane Christie, of Wan
tage, became his wife. Mrs. Hayne, with one
son, S. Christie, an enterprising and capable busi
ness man, survives.
The brothers and sisters of Dr. Hayne were
as follows: Peter, who lives in Goshen; Millie,
wife of Henry B. Lee, of Waverly, N. Y.;
Frances, Mrs. A. W. Van Fleet, of Unionville;
Caroline, Mrs. O. W. Cooke, of New York City;
Jacob, who lives iu Goshen; Martha, wife of J.
B. Hendershot, of Newton, N. J.; and Lewis and
Henry, deceased. Interested iu everything per
taining to his profession, Dr. Hayne identified
himself with the Orange County Medical Society
iu 1841 and remained a member of it until his
death. In 1868 he was instrumental in laying-
out the Unionville Cemetery, and this he managed
as a private enterprise for some years, but after
ward transferred it to a Board of Trustees, by
whom it was incorporated.
Iu early life a Whig, Dr. Hayne joined the

ELTING CUDDEBACK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1465

Republican party at its organization, and was
always true to its principles. In April, 1879, he
was appointed Postmaster at Unionville, and
served efficiently in that capacity until removed
by the Cleveland administration. Upon settling
in Unionville, he joined the Presbyterian Church,
and of it he remained a consistent member until
his death. In addition to his residence in the
village, he owned another dwelling here and a
valuable farm over the Jersey line.
In all his enterprises he was assisted by his de
voted wife, who survives him, and who occupies
a high place in the regard of the people of this
community. Her husband's energy and excellent
judgment secured a comfortable property, and she
is surrounded by every comfort which enhances
the pleasure of living. The estate is in charge
of her son, S. C, a young man of superior abil
ity, who looks after affairs in a most praiseworthy
manner.

"7 LTING CUDDEBACK, one of the reliable
^ and representative agriculturists of the town
__ of Deerpark, was born October 10, 1816, on
the farm where he now resides, although at the
present time it fs within the corporation limits of
Port Jervis. His parents, Benjamin and Blan
dina (Van Etten) Cuddeback, were well known
people of this community, and the former was a
son of Benjamin and Catherine (Van Fleet) Cud
deback. The grandfather of our subject lived
about two miles from Huguenot, in an old stone
house, which is still used as a residence. There
his death occurred when his son Benjamin was
only eight years old. He had three sous, Ben
jamin, Henry and William, and two daughters,
Synche and Jemima. William, of the town of
Deerpark, who wedded Miss Van Inwegen, had
a large family, none of whom now live in this
county, and his death occurred on the old home
stead when he had reached the age of ninety
years. Henry, also of this town, married Esther
Gumaer, and bought a farm on the east side of
the Neversink, where his grandson, Henry G.,
now lives; he also reached the age of ninety years.
Synche married Simon Westfall, of Port Jervis;

and Jemima became the wife of Anthony Van Et
ten, ofthe town of Owasco, Cayuga County.
Benjamin Cuddeback, the father of our subject,
was united in marriage with Blandina Van Etten,
a daughter of Levi and Jane (Westbrook) Van
Etten, who lived where Levi Van Etten, his
grandson, now resides, on the east bank of the
Neversink. The farm purchased by his father is
the one on which Elting now makes his home,
and there he carried on agricultural pursuits un
til his death. Politically he gave his support to
the Democracy, and was a public-spirited, enter
prising man. In early days he had engaged in
teaching, but later learned the weaver's trade,
which he followed for many years. Each house
then had a loom of its own, but employed some
skilled workman to do the weaving. He served
as Town Supervisor, and was Justice of the Peace
for a number of years, holding that office at the
time of the building of the canal. The Irish
workmen would often get into a pitched battle,
and on Monday morning they would be brought
before him, and he would send them to jail at
Goshen by the wagon-load. He had more power
as a Justice of the Peace than those in that office
to-day. He was quite an active politician, being
one of the leaders of his party in Orange County.
His death occurred on the 25th of July, 1870, at
the age pf ninety-one years, aud his wife, who
was two years his junior, passed away in 1868.
He was a stout, strong, robust man, an able suc
cessor and a noble ancestor. For forty years he
was Elder in the Reformed Church, of which he
was a stanch supporter.
Of the present family we make the following
mention: Catherine married James Cuddeback,
who, though of the same name, was not a relative,
and she died at the age of seventy-eight years.
Jane, who wedded Alex Johnson, a teacher and
farmer, lives in Port Jervis. Asenath became
the wife of Samuel B. Farnum, of Port Jervis.
(See sketch elsewhere.) Elting is the next in
order of birth. Hannah, who married Peter P.
Swartwout, father of Dr. Henry Swartwout,
makes her home in Huguenot, Orange County.
Thomas, a doctor, practiced here for a time, but
later removed to Big Flats, Chemung County,

1466

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

where he died at the age of seventy-four years.
Jemima became the wife of Lemuel S. Chapiu,
now of Crete, Neb. Lydia married Wallace Tits-
worth, a farmer residing near Deckertown, N. J.
All but two of the family are still living.
Elting Cuddeback was named in honor of Rev.
Cornelius C. Elting, who had recently arrived in
Port Jervis at the time of his birth, but preached
in this place for twenty-five years. His boyhood
was passed upon the home farm, and when he
was ten years of age the canal was cut through
his father's land, and he became familiar with
every detail of canal-buildiug. All his life has
been devoted to the labors of au agriculturist, and
he -now keeps on hand about fifty cows for dairy
purposes. Besides the Delaware & Hudson Can
al, the Monticello Railroad also crossed his prop
erty, about ten acres of which he has platted and
built upon, and it now forms au addition to Port
Jervis. He uses his right of franchise in support
ofthe Democratic party, but takes no active part
in political matters. He is a man of remarkably
good judgment, sound common-sense and ability,
which traits have made him prosperous aud influ
ential; and the respect in which he is held is due
to his high moral character and his disinterested
benevolence. On the 1 8th of September, 1844, Mr. Cudde
back was united in marriage with Miss Ann B.
Elting, who was born April 29, 1820, in New
Jersey, and was a daughter of Rev. C. C. and
Anna Maria (Bevier) Elting, the latter a native
of Rochester, Ulster County, N. Y. Mrs. Cud
deback was called to her final rest January 20,
1862, aud she left four children. Cornelius Elting
is an attorney of Port Jervis, of whom see sketch
elsewhere in this volume; Benjamin, who died
June 17, 1892, at the age of forty-two years, was
engaged in farming on the old home place, and
he left a widow and four children, who are now
living in Port Jervis; William L- is a physician
and surgeon of the same place; and Blandina
Maria is the wife of Rev. John L. Stilwell, pastor
of the Reformed Church of Bloomingburg, Sulli
van County, N. Y. Mr. Cuddeback was again
married, on the ioth of August, 1871, this union
being with Margaret Cuddeback, who was born

April 10, 1818, and was a daughter of William
and Mary (Westbrook) Cuddeback, of Cudde
backville. Her death occurred on the 21st of Oc
tober, 1884. Her sister Sarah, the widow of
Martin Wheeler, who was a carpenter of Cudde
backville and died in Newburgh in 1862, has for
ten years been housekeeper for our subject. She
has two sous, Frank W. and William H. Wheeler,
printers ofWaterbury, Conn., where she made
her home for some years.

Q AMES A. BEAKES was one of the brave
I boys in blue in the One Hundred aud
Q) Twenty-fourth New York Infantry, which
was principally made up of men from Orange
and Sullivan Counties. He was born at Middle-
town, on the North Plank Road, February 5, 1841 ,
and is a son of Mahlon Stacey and Emeline (Car
penter) Beakes, both of whom were natives of
the town of Wallkill. They were the parents of
eleven children, ten of whom are yet living:
James A., our subject; George E.; Charles H.
C, of Cornwall; and Mary F., William B., Joseph
E., Albert S., Abbie J., Annie M. aud Sarah E.
Spencer M. died at the age of two years.
James A. Beakes was reared on the home farm,
where he remained until his enlistment in the
United States service during the War of the Re
bellion. He received his primary education in
the district school, and completed it in Wall-
kill Academy. On the 5th of August, 1862,
he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and
Twenty -fourth New York Infantry, and as a pri
vate was mustered into service at Goshen. Among
the engagements in which he participated were
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Getty s-.
burg. In the last-mentioned engagement, in
which they were engaged three days, all the of
ficers of his company were either killed or
wounded, and he was left in command of the
company. After the battle, with nine others of
his regiment, he was on detached service, and
was sent to Hart's Island to forward troops,
where he remained until the close of the war.

HON. CHARLES ST. JOHN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1469

He was mustered out and honorably discharged
at the latter place, June 15, 1865, at which time
he was a sergeant in the company.
Returning home, he engaged in farm labor on
his father's place until his marriage, in 1867,
near Mt. Hope, with Miss Mary Augusta Mapes.
Her birth occurred near that place, and she was
a daughter of Stephen S. Mapes, who was also
boru in the same locality. Her grandfather,
Selh Mapes, was a farmer by occupation, and
served in the War of 181 2. Her great-grandfa
ther, Erastus Mapes, lived to be nearly one
hundred years of age. Mrs. Beakes grew to
womanhood in her native town, where she re
ceived her primary education, completing her
course in the Wallkill Academy. Six children
were born unto them: Fred M., employed by C.
H. C. Beakes, of New York City; Janet, at home;
Laura, who died in 1893, at the age of seventeen
years, in the year of her graduation from Wall-
kill Academy; Albert L- and Mary Augusta, at
home; and Harry, who died in infancy.
In 1867 Mr. Beakes purchased his father's
farm of one hundred acres, continuing in farm
work and in the dairy business at that place for
four years, when he removed to New York City,
and engaged in the retail milk business. Three
years later he sold out and returned to his farm,
where he remained two years, and then leased a
creamery at Dwaar Kill, Ulster County, which
he operated for nine years. After closing out the
same he went to Merrickville, Delaware County,
and purchased a creamery, which he has since
continued to operate. In 1894 he purchased a
creamery at Franklin, that county, which he also
operates. He is engaged in shipping milk and
cream to New York City, and also engages iu
the manufacture of butter and cheese. His
creameries have a capacity of about three hun
dred and fifty cans per day. Mr. Beakes is inter
ested in the raising of blooded cattle, especially
Jerseys, and has upon his place a herd of twenty-
five head.
In the spring of 1890 Mr. Beakes removed
his family to Middletown, and purchased his
present residence at No. 27 Washington Street.
In politics he is a Republican, and while residing

in Ulster County was Commissioner of the town
of Shawangunk. Religiously he is a member ol
the First Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife.
He is a member of the Board of Trade at Mid
dletown, taking an active interest in its proceed
ings, and fraternally is a member of Hoffman
Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M., and of Capt. W. A.
Jackson Post No. 203, G. A. R.

HON. CHARLES ST. JOHN. Treasured in
the hearts of the men and women of Orange
County is the memory ofthe honored dead,
those who once lived and labored among us, but
who now have gone away. By the remembrance
of their progressive spirit aud noble deeds, the
young are stimulated to action and the old are
cheered and soothed. From the life of Hon.
Charles St. John there may be gleaned may les
sons of honor, truth and lofty principle. For
many years a resident of Port Jervis, he was
known and honored by all the citizens of this
place, and by them he will be remembered with
affection through the years to come.
A volume of this character would be incom
plete were no mention made of Mr. St. John, for
at one time he was more widely known than any
other citizen of the county. His public service
was of a useful and important nature, and he
contributed effectively to the development of the
resources of this section. It is fitting, therefore,
that we should perpetuate, through these pages,
the record of his honorable career. A life-long
resident of this county, his birth occurred in the
town of Mt. Hope, October 8, 1818. He was the
son of Stephen and Abigail (Horton) St. John,
whose family consisted of eight children. His sis
ter, Mrs. Amelia Marvin, who died in 1894, was
for many years one of the most cultured ladies
and prominent social leaders of Port Jervis.
The boyhood years of Mr. St. John were passed
in the village of Port Jervis, whither his parents
removed when he was about two years of age,
and he early identified himself with public affairs,
ever maintaining an interest in matters relating
to the public welfare. Politically he espoused

H7°

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the principles of the Republican party, and to its
tenets he was ever loyal and true. He became
one of the leaders of his party r and his superior
ability led to his selection to serve in important
official positions. It is unnecessary to state that
in every office to which he was called he served
with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of
his fellow-citizens. In 1870 he was elected Rep
resentative to Congress, and was re-elected in
1872. As a member of that honorable body, he
was enabled to present and support many meas
ures helpful to his constituents, and having in
view the advancement of the general welfare of
the people. He was a stockholder in the National
Bank of Port Jervis, being Vice-President at the
time that Henry H. Farnum was President. After
that gentleman's death, Mr. St. John became
President, and held the office until his death. He
was engaged in many business enterprises, and
in the early days was greatly interested in the lum
ber business, floating large rafts of lumber down
both the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers to
the markets of Baltimore and Philadelphia. For
many years he was a prominent merchant in Port
Jervis, and was also interested in a foundry.
Mr. St. John owned a farm iu every state in
the Union at one time and several in some states.
These he rented on shares, refusing to rent for
money, but aiding every man who needed assist
ance. In some places he owned a number of
farms, and in South Dakota he owned a half-in
terest in a farm of twenty-five hundred acres.
He also owned an orange grove and valuable real
estate at Palatka, Fla., and much of his time was
spent in that place, superintending his important
interests there, as well as gaining needed recu
peration. For a time he was engaged in business
in New York City, but, preferring a country life,
he sold out his interest there and returned to Port
Jervis. Mr. St. John's first wife was Ellen S. Thomp
son, who at the time of her death left three sons
and three daughters: Ellen; Elizabeth, wife of
Aloiizo Stryker; Stephen, a druggist in Port Jervis;
Charles, proprietor of the Port Jervis Union and
the Orange County Farmer; George; and Amelia,
wife of Lewis Goldsmith. Two children died in

infancy. For his second wife Mr. St. John mar
ried Frances Reed, who died leaving no children.
His third wife, Ada Hortense, was a daughter of
Cornelius Caskey, a life-long friend of Mr. St.
John, and of whom mention is made on another
page. They were united in marriage October
10, 1888, three years prior to his decease. He
was taken ill June 6, 1891, and on the 6th of the
next month he died at his home in Port Jervis.
He was mourned by hundreds of men and wo
men, who numbered him among their friends, and
his death was regarded as a public loss.
Mr. St. John never held membership with any
fraternal organizations, nor was he a church
member, though in early life he attended the
Dutch Reformed Church and sang in the choir,
but later, becoming dissatisfied, he withdrew. His
family was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian
Church, aud he was one of the most liberal sup
porters of and contributors to that organization.
He was a man ofthe greatest generosity; in fact,
his constant benevolences prevented him from
ever gaining wealth, though he was iu comforta
ble circumstances. His friends, when in need,
he assisted to the extent of his ability, and no
needy person ever appealed in vain to him for
help. His benevolence was well known, and he
was often imposed upon. Generosity may be
said to be his leading characteristic, and there are
scores of poor persons who remember him with
the greatest reverence as their friend in time of
trouble.

OC**** **** **** SjS-M"}"?- •5-5"5"5- ***+5C>
"TOWARD R. RUSSELL, proprietor of the
*p Oriental Hotel at Middletown, was boru in
_ Honesdale, Pa., November 25, 1850, and is
of Scotch descent, his great-grandfather coming
from Scotland and locating in New York at a
very early day. His father, Albert H. Russell,
was born iu Fredonia, N. Y., grew to manhood
in his native state, and subsequently removed to
Honesdale, Pa. , where he engaged in the mer
cantile trade with his brother, Zenos H. Russell.
The latter was also President of the Honesdale

WICKHAM C. McNISH.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1473

National Bank. From Honesdale Albert H.
Russell removed to New York City, and at No.
99 Barclay Street was engaged in the wholesale
provision trade. He later removed to Narrows
burg, and became proprietor of Murray's Hotel.
In 1863 Mr. Russell came to Middletown and
purchased the Ogden House, which he continued
three years, and then engaged in the retail lum
ber business, the firm being Eaton & Russell.
They remained on the corner of Main and Canal
Streets until 1879, when Mr. Russell sold out
and again engaged in the hotel business, taking
charge of the old Taylor House. Iu 1881 he
rebuilt the old Grand Central, and changed the
name to the Russell House, which he continued
to operate until his death, in 1885. He was
quite prominent in local affairs, and was Super
visor ofthe town of Wallkill, when the town and
village of Middletown comprised one district.
He was a member of the Board of Education for
nine years, and was for some years Trustee of
the Middletown Savings Bank. In politics he
was a Republican, and religiously he was a Bap
tist. His wife, Harriet Babcock, who was born
near Westerly, R. I. , and died in 1868, came of au
old Eastern family. The parental family com
prised the following children: Edward R. , our
subject; Albert H., ofthe McQuaid Iron Com
pany, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Sarah B., Mrs.
Lucky, of Middletown.
For the most part the childhood days of our
subject were spent in Middletown, and his educa
tion was received in Wallkill and Monticello
Academies. He began his business life as a clerk
in the lumber-yard of Eaton & Russell, remain
ing with them as bookkeeper for eight or nine
years, then accepting a clerkship in the Middle-
town Water Works Company, and later with
Denton & Barker, clothiers. He was next pri
vate secretary to C. W. Douglass, General Su
perintendent of the New York & Oswego Mid
land Railroad, and in 1878 he became conductor
on the New York, Ontario & Western Railroad,
running between Middletown and Norwich. He
remained with that company until 1893, and then
bought the Monopole- Hotel, remodeled it and
changed its name to the Oriental Hotel. It is now

a first-class house, located on East Main Street,
near the Main Street Depot, and has a frontage
of one hundred and two feet.
Mr. Russell was married, in Bloomingburg, to
Miss Ella N. Hennion, a native of New York
City, and a daughter of David Hennion, one of
the first to engage in the creamery business, and
the first to take Orange County milk to New York
City. One child has been born unto them,
Henry Z. Mr. Russell is an active member of
Millard Division ofthe Order of Railway Conduc
tors, and takes great interest in its proceedings,
although he is not at present on the road. He is
a member of Grace Episcopal Church of Middle-
town, and in politics is a Republican.

J****i

:3»3*»?.»$»»i»'52£g

^«}»«$..$..J»t 
ij .J* .J* •$.•5*!  ¦

(DGjlCKHAM C. McNISH, one of the oldest
\KI anc^ ^es^ lcnown residents of Middletown,
Y V is a descendant in the fifth generation
from Rev. George McNish, a native of Scotland,
who came to America in 1705, upon the solicita
tion of Rev. Francis Mackenzie, who was after
ward styled "the father of the Presbyterian
Church in America. ' ' Rev. George McNish was
licensed to preach here by Rev. Mr. Seymore, of
Maryland, in 1706. He was one ofthe members
ofthe first Presbytery formed in America, and
upon the first vacancy in the pulpit after the
formation ofthe Philadelphia Presbytery, he was
called to the Presbyterian Church at Jamaica,
L- I-, in 17 10. He began to preach there iu
1711, and is called "the father of the Presbyte
rian Church on Long Island," being among the
first Presbyterians in the province of New York.
He was a man of much Christian zeal, and was
well prepared to meet with determined resistance
the aggression of the English Church on the
island. When the latter finally succeeded in tak
ing from the Presbyterians their church property,
Mr. McNish preached to his congregation in pri
vate places. He owned one thousand acres of
land in the town of Wallkill, which after his
death became the property of his only child,
Rev. George McNish. He died March 10, 1722.
Rev. George McNish, the son of the above,

H74

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married a daughter of Joseph Smith, of Jamaica,
and settled in New Jersey, preaching at New
town, now Newton, between 1744 and 1746.
He subsequently preached in Goshen, aud spent
his life in the ministry. He died in Wallkill in
1779, aged sixty-five. His children were: An
drew Clark, who served in the Revolutionary
War, and fortunately escaped from Ft. Mont
gomery when taken by the British; Peggy; and
Polly, wife of George Conkling, of Goshen.
Andrew Clark McNish, the grandfather of our
subject, was bora August 17, 1752, and died
February 12, 1805. He owned one hundred
acres of land within what is now the corporation
limits of Middletown, where he built a log house
and barn and where he resided until his death.
His wife was Elizabeth Davis, of Long Island.
Their eldest child, Joshua, the father of our sub
ject, was born September 1, 1779, and served in
the War of 18 12. For fifteen months he was
stationed on Long Island. As he was the eldest
child, upon the death of his parents he succeeded
to the homestead, and gave, as requested in his
father's will, each of his brothers and sister $75
each, and a trade if they chose to learn one. He
resided upon the homestead during his entire life.
His marriage united him with Mary M. Reeve, a
daughter of Deacon James Reeve, one ofthe found
ers and the first Deacon of the Congregational
Church in Middletown. He came from Long
Island and settled in the town of Wawayanda,
where he reared a family of thirteen children.
The parental family comprised six children,
three of whom are now living. George C. died
at the age of twenty-one; Andrew C. died at the
age of thirty -seven; Elizabeth resides in Middle-
town; Wickham C. is our subject; Sarah married
James B. Crawford, of Middletown, and died at
the age of sixty-two; Phebe J. is now Mrs. Ol
iver B. Carpenter, of Wawayanda. After the
death of her husband, Mrs. McNish managed
the homestead farm with superior ability and judg
ment, and reared her children with all the care.
and devotion of a Christian mother until her
death, in December, 1863.
Wickham C. McNish was bom on the old
homestead, August 25, 1823, aud grew to man

hood on the farm. His education was received
in the Wallkill Academy, from which he was
graduated, and he then taught school for six years
during the winter months and assisted on the
farm in the summer. In 1850 he took a steamer
for California, via Panama, where he waited six
weeks, and then took passage on the propellor
"Columbus" for San Francisco, but before ar
riving there was taken sick with Panama fever,
from which he did not recover for six months.
He finally arrived in San Francisco, and in the
fall began clerking in a boot and shoe store.
Later, in company with J. B. Roberts, he en
gaged in the same line of business under the firm
name of Roberts & McNish. He returned home
after he had been gone from New York City
just three years to a day. Subsequently he locat
ed iu Boston as buyer for the business in Cali-
ifornia, forwarding the merchandise by vessel
to California around Cape Horn, afterwards
across the Isthmus, and thence by steamer to San
Francisco. This partnership continued until
1869, when it was dissolved by mutual consent,
Mr. McNish returning to California by rail to
make the final settlement. Mr. Roberts still re
sides there. Mr. McNish and his partner began
a small retail business but soon entered a jobbing
trade, their sales being over half a million a year.
About 1866 our subject became interested in
the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and took stock
in a company formed the previous year at Bos
ton, known as the Phoenix Oil aud Land Com
pany. He held the controlling interest and be
came manager, removing to Titusville, Pa.,
where he remained until 1873, when the company
sold out. He has, however, been interested in
the oil business almost ever since. Many wells
were sunk by his company, aud a great deal ot
land was bought and sold. Of late years his in
terest has beeu chiefly iu the Bradford fields.
Mr. McNish was married iu Middletown, Jan
uary 14, 1857, to Miss Mary Etta Reeve, who
was born near Middletown. Her parents were
William Wickham and Jane (Ayers) Reeve, the
former of whom was bom here in April, 1802.
Her father was an engineer and surveyor, being
one of the oldest surveyors in the country, and

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H75

laid out the Erie Plauk Road, the grounds on
which the water works of this city are located,
and the asylum grounds. His farm comprised
the land now occupied by the asylum He sold
this, however, and removed to the city, building
a neat and comfortable residence at No. 150 East
Main Street. For many years he was Supervisor
of Wallkill, and for several years was a Member
of the Legislature. He was a well known and pop
ular Democrat, and a Trustee and member ofthe
Congregational Church. He died here in 1876.
His wife, Jane Ayers, was born in the town of
Wallkill, and was a daughter of David and Martha
(Crawford) Ayers. She died in 1892, in her
eighty -seventh year. Mrs. McNish received her
education in Middletown and New York City.
Mr. and Mrs. McNish were the parents of two
children, one ofwhom died in infancy. Mary J.,
the surviving one, resides with her parents.
Mr. McNish aud family are members of the
Congregational Church, and he has ever been
active in the Master's work. For several years
he has filled the office of Deacon, aud has also
been President of the Board of Trustees. He
was Chairman of the Building Committee during
the erection ofthe present church edifice in 1873,
and was the largest contributor to the building
fund. Politically he is a Republican. With his
family he resides iu a fine residence at No. 146
East Main Street, which was erected in 1892.

"£JEORGE SMITH, Roadmaster of the New
a York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad, is
one of the oldest railroad men in Middle-
town, having commenced work with the Erie
Railroad in 1849. He was born in Sullivan
County, near Bloomingburg, December 16, 1834,
aud his father, Melancthon, and his grandfather,
George, were also natives of that county. His
paternal great-grandfather came from the North
of Ireland and settled in Sullivan County, where
hewas one of the pioneer farmers. Melancthon
Smith, the father, was a farmer in Mamakating,

Sullivan County, aud later removed to Oxford,
Chenango County, where he remained for a time,
and then located at Middletown, where he died at
the age of seventy-five years. His wife was
Amanda Harding, a native of Sullivan County,
and a daughter of Charles Harding, who was an
old settler of that county, and a farmer by occu
pation. For many years she was a member of the
Old-school Baptist Church, and died in Goshen
at the age of seventy-five years. The parental
family- comprised the following children: Charles
H., a graduate of the Albany Medical School,
who died soon after his graduation; Augustus B.,
a saw- maker by trade, who now resides in the
far West; George, our subject; Mary A., Mrs.
Mapes, of Goshen; and Helen M., Mrs. Oakley,
of Newark.
The subject of this sketch was but two years
old when his parents moved to Chenango Coun
ty, where they remained some years aud then re
moved back to Sullivan County. He had only
the advantages of a common-school education,
and in 1849 entered the employ ofthe Erie Rail
road at Middletown. At that time the road had
but a single track, the rails being laid on hard
wood stringers, and the longest rail was sixteen
feet. After three months' service he was made
foreman of a section of four miles, one mile from
Middletown, and was thus engaged for twelve
years; afterward he was made Supervisor over
thirty-one miles of road through New Jersey,
from Suffern to Jersey City. This position he
held for six years, and was then made track fore
man of the Eastern Division and branches of the
Erie Railroad, covering about six hundred miles,
including Newburgh, Newark, Pine Island and
Montgomery Branches. During this time he had
charge of laying the third rail from Port Jervis to
Jersey City, and of narrowing the track from
a six-foot to a four-foot eight and a-half inch
gauge. March 20, 1883, he resigned in order to
accept the position of Roadmaster of the New
York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad, which
position he still holds. His territory includes one
hundred and fifty-six miles on the main line, and
fifteen miles known as the Winton Branch, aud
covers twenty- eight sections.

1476

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Smith was married, at Howells Depot, to
Miss Abbie J. Horton, born in the town of Wall-
kill, and a daughter of A. J. Horton, a merchant
at Howells Depot. Seven children were born unto
them: Emma, Mrs. Mills, of Middletown; Charles
H., City Engineer; M. Ada, a successful artist
in oils; Jennie, deceased; Alfred K., a graduate
of the medical department of Columbia College
and the College of Pharmacy; Cora G., a success
ful school teacher; and George A., at home.
Fraternally Mr. Smith is a member of the Royal
Arcanum, and in politics is a Republican. Re
ligiously he is a member of the Second Presby
terian Church.

m>-^r<m^

(JOHN F JOHNSON, Assistant Roadmaster
I of the Hudson River Division of the West
(2/ Shore Railroad, was born in Sweden, July 4,
1858. His father, Olaf, also a native of Sweden,
brought the family to America during the prog
ress of the Civil War, settling at Mont Clair,
N. J., and removing thence to Hancock, Dela
ware County, N. Y., where he still resides. His
life occupation has beeu that of an agriculturist,
and he is the owner of a well improved farm of
two hundred and sixty acres. He is still in the
prime of life, being fifty-six years of age. Iu
religious belief he is actively identified with the
Lutherau Church.
By his marriage with Johanna Oleson, also a
native of Sweden, Olaf Johnson had five children,
namely: John F., Charles, Frank, August aud
Lottie, all of whom are with their parents except
ing the eldest. Upon the home farm in Delaware
County the childhood years of our subject were
passed, his education being such as the neigh
boring schools afforded. From boyhood he
evinced a preference for railroading, and at the
age of sixteen he entered the employ of the Os
wego & Midland Railroad as section hand. When
twenty he became foreman of the same section,
remaining at Hancock for one year, after which
he had charge of a "floating" gang on the road
for over three years. His next position was

that of superintendent in the laying of the new
track on the Oswego & Midland between Mid
land and Cornwall.
Upon completing that job, Mr. Johnson went
to Haverstraw, and in the fall of 1882 became an
employe of what is now the West Shore Road,
his duty being to ballast the track between
Haverstraw and Ft. Montgomery. While thus
engaged, he had more than a hundred men un
der him. From Haverstraw he went to Wee
hawken, N. J., to ballast the yards there and
put in the tracks. On the completion of that
work, the majority of the employes were dis
charged, but he was retained as foreman of the
Weehawken yards for three years, being gener
al foreman the last year. May 1, 1886, he was
made Assistant Roadmaster between Weehawken
aud Kingston, his headquarters the first year
being at Weehawken and the second year at
Cornwall. In 1888 he was transferred to New
burgh, where he has since held the position of
Assistant Roadmaster between Newburgh and
Weehawken, also ofthe Thirty-fifth Street yards
in New York City, and the New Jersey Branch
of the West Shore, his route extending over fifty-
eight miles of the main line, five miles of the
branch road, and all the yards. He travels over
the road every day, sometimes twice a day. Un
der his supervision are thirteen sections 011 the
main line, one on the branch, and a floating and
two tunnel gangs.
September 21, 1892, at Newburgh, occurred
the marriage of John F. Johnson and Miss Emma
Bennett, a native of this city. Her father, George
Bennett, was born near London, England, whence
he accompanied his grandfather, William Bennett,
to America. The latter engaged in farm work in
Orange County for some time, but later went to
Colorado, where he died. Her father was in the
United States navy during the Civil War. For some
years he was a machinist iu the western part of
Colorado, but after his return to Newburgh he
entered the Whitehall Engine Works, where he
is now the oldest employe. His wife, Mary, was
born iu Poughkeepsie, being a daughter of Aaron
Van Vlack, a farmer, who died in Dutchess
County. They were the parents of six children,

"V.

^¦V

SAMUEL RITCHIE.

FRANK S. HULL.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

HI 9

ofwhom four survive, Mrs. Johnson being next to
the youngest. Socially our subject is connected
with the Good Templars and the Young Men's
Christian Association of Railroad Men. While
taking no active part in politics, he has decided
opinions regarding national questions, and ad
vocates Republican principles. His wife is a
member of St. John's Methodist Episcopal
Church, to the support of which he is a liberal
contributor.

*-"

=+

0AMUEL RITCHIE, senior member of the
?\ firm of Ritchie & Hull, editors of the fournal
\2) *at Newburgh, was born in Larue, Ireland,
July 3, 1836, being the second son of Robert L.
and Sarah E. Ritchie. At the age of three years
he was brought by his parents to this country,
and has made his home in Newburgh since then,
with the exception of the year 1867. His con
nection with the four?ial began March 1, 1865,
and he has been its editor and one of its proprie
tors since March 1, 1877. Hewas united in mar
riage, in May, 1869, with Kate L- , daughter of
the late James F. Kelly.

*»-****,

-i»»-

?**«>...«..

J~RANK S. HULL, who is associated with
ry Samuel Ritchie iu the publication of the
I fournal at Newburgh, was boru in this city
June 6, 1853. His education was received in the
public schools of this place, and he also attended
a number of private schools. He is the eldest
son of Dr. Duane and Sarah S. Hull, the former at
one time a well known dentist of Newburgh, but
known principally through several important in
ventions. The most valuable of these was the
facing of the iron guards 011 the mowing-machines
with cast steel to afford a keen and durable cut
ting-edge for the knives to operate across. This
invention proved to be so great an improvement
over the cutting apparatus previously used, that
64

itwas universally adopted, though, through some
defect in his formal application, Dr. Hull did not
secure a patent for his invention.
From boyhood Mr. Hull displayed a predilec
tion for journalism, and when only thirteen years
of age he began to publish the American Eagle.
This he published with little interruption until
1868, the paper being enlarged several times dur
ing that period. The place of publication was
changed from Newburgh to Millerton and West
New Brighton, N. Y., respectively, as his resi
dence was removed thereto. In 1870 he returned
to Newburgh and accepted a position in the four-
nal office. In 1876 he was foreman of the office
of the Middletown Press, but resigned that posi
tion, and March 1, 1877, formed a partnership
with Samuel Ritchie and Lawrence C. Bodine,
purchasing the y^raa/establishment from Cyrus
B. Martin. In December following he aud Mr.
Ritchie purchased Mr. Bodine's interest, and have
since carried on the publishing, printing and
book-binding business.
Mr. Hull has served as President of the Young
Men's Christian Association, and in religious con
nections is identified with the Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Churcli, of which he isa Steward. He
is one of the five Newburgh representatives in
the Advisory Board of the Orange County Agri
cultural Society. In 1882 he married Miss Ida,
daughter of the late James Weygant, and they
have two children, Marjorie W. and Stanley W.
:  ^*iP 

GEORGE W. DECKER, of Newburgh, Su-
_ perintendent and Cashier of the Pennsyl-
J vania Coal Company, is a native of Orange
County, boru in Minisink, June 16, 1846, and is
a son of DeWitt aud Jane (Duryea) Decker, both
of whom are also natives of Orange County . Th e
Deckers were early settlers of this county, the
first ofthe name being Jacob, the grandfather of
our subject. Mrs. Decker was a daughter of
Henry Duryea, who was well known as an ex
tensive farmer of this county. She was born
near Craigsville, Blooming Grove Township, and
died in 1872, at the age of sixty-four years. The

1480

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father died in his eighty-sixth year. They were
the parents of six children, five of whom are
now living, George W. being the eldest. One
brother resides on the old farm, two in New York
City, and a sister on a farm near the old home
stead. The subject of this sketch was reared on the
farm aud remained at home until March, 1864,
when he came to Newburgh and engaged as a
clerk in the store of Isaac Wood, Jr. He con
tinued in the employ of Mr. Wood until May,
1867, when he entered the employ of the Penn
sylvania Coal Company, with which he has ever
since been connected. He was elected Cashier
of the company on entering its employ, and has
continued to hold that office until the present
time. In February, 1894, he was also elected
Superintendent of the company at this place.
The Pennsylvania Coal Company is an incor
porated institution and one of the oldest and
strongest in this state, with shipping points at
Buffalo, Cleveland, Duluth, Milwaukee and New
burgh. Its mines. are located at Dunmore, Pa.,
and the Wyoming region, near Scranton. It has
a great many collieries and employs about three
thousand men. At Newburgh the company's
docks are very large, and about one-half of the
product of the mines, or nine hundred and seven
ty-five thousand tons, is handled each year at this
point. The business was first begun here in *i 864,
when the docks were built. The storage capacity
at Newburgh is about seventy-five thousand tons,
and about three hundred men are employed in
different capacities in the yards. The river and
canal boats owned and used by the company are
about two hundred in number. About twenty-
acres of ground are required at this point. The
office is located on South Water Street, and is a
large, room)- structure, well adapted for its use.
The main office of the company is located at No.
1 Broadway, New York, and is connected by
telephone with the one at Newburgh.
Mr. Decker was masried, in Newburgh, to Miss
Sarah Allard, boru in New York City, and a
daughter of Noham Allard, a native of Massa-.
chusetts, but who lived and did business-in New
York City, afterward coming to Newburgh, where

he died. Two children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Decker, Henry P. and Elizabeth.
George W. Decker is recognized as one of the
best business men in Newburgh; beginning life
here, as already stated, as a clerk, he has worked
his way up until he is now the manager of one of
the largest institutions iu this section. In busi
ness he is very methodical and punctual in all his
appointments. His office is always neatly kept,
and the surroundings are also in the best of order.
His residence is at No. 154 Grand Street, and
his home life is a most pleasant one.

Gz

i?m

G1

-^

=0

V/JOSES M. CLARK, of the town of Wood-
Y bury, was bora at Crotou-on-Hudson, West-
(9 Chester County, N. Y., August 4, 1815.
He remained iu the place of his birth until he
was sixteen, when he went to New York and
served au apprenticeship of four years to the
trade of a carriage-maker. After having worked
in the employ of others for a number of years, he
embarked in business for himself, and was suc
cessfully engaged iu that way for some time.
About 1853 he brought his family fo his present
home, in order that his wife might take care of
her parents, whose farm it was. For ten years
afterward he continued his business, going home
about once a week, as his trade permitted. In
1863, however, he retired from business, aud
since then has made this his permanent home.
The father of our subject, John Clark, Jr., was
born at Dikeman's Place, N. Y., August 12,
1775, and died iu February, 1852, at the age of
siventy-seveu. He was twice married, his first
wife being Sarah Clark, who was born at Dike-
mau's Place shortly after the Revolution. Their
union resulted in the birth of ten children, one of
whom died unnamed iu infancy. The others
were William, Elizabeth, Thomas, States, Sam
uel, Moses, Rebecca, Maria and Sarah Matilda.
By his second marriage, one son and one daugh
ter were born.
The Clark family originated in Scotland, from

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

148 1

which couutry our subject's grandfather, John
Clark, Sr. , emigrated to America. At the age
of eleveu years he secured work as a cabin-boy
on an ocean steamer, and at various times re
ceived promotions, until finally he was a captain.
During his voyages he visited almost every port
in the world. He married Maria Dikeman, a
member of one of the oldest families of New
York, whose ancestors in 1663 purchased five
hundred acres near Kingsbridge, the patent for
which was signed by the Duke of York, aud aft
erward again signed by George IV and the
Governor of New York.
Soon after his marriage, John Clark, Sr. , pur
chased a tract of five hundred acres near Croton-
on-Hudson, and upon that place he built a large
stone house. During the Revolutionary War, in
which he took part, the Hessians took possession
of the house, and some of them slept in his gar
ret. Some years after the close of the war, Mr.
Clark sold his farm and bought another tract of
five hundred acres farther up in the lumber dis
tricts. The deed for this property was registered
at White Plains, on the 4th of July, over a hun
dred years ago. His wife, Maria, was a daugh
ter of Hans Dikeman, a native of Holland, who
emigrated to this country and settled on the Har
lem River.
The mother of our subject was boru in 1785,
and died in 1825. Her father, Thomas Clark,
was a farmer by occupation, aud a son of Capt.
William Clark, a native of Virginia, and a Cap
tain in a company in Washington's army. Thom
as, then a lad of sixteen, was mail-carrier dur
ing the war. The Clark family first settled near
Jamestown, Va., but finding the country there
thickly settled, moved to the vicinity of Mt. Ver
non, General Washington's home, where the
Captain engaged in agricultural pursuits. He
was of English birth, but a loyal patriot, and de
voted to the welfare of the Colonies.
In the city of New York, July 4, 1837, the
subject of this notice married Miss Mahitable,
daughter of Elam and Eunice (Clark) Earl. She
was born July 16, 181 7, in a house that stood on
the site of her present home. Her father was a
son of Peter and Elizabeth (Bull) Earl, the form

er of whom was one of three brothers, who came
from England and settled iu this country. One
brother located in New England, John went to
New Jersey, while Peter came to Orange County,
and settled near Highland Mills, taking under
patent over fifteen hundred acres, all the land ly
ing between the present homestead and Highland
Mills. He aud his wife were the parents of nine
daughters and three sous.
Elam Earl was born on a farm adjoining the
present homestead, and spent his entire life in this
vicinity, following agriculture for his occupation.
In his youth he attended the district schools at
Bakertown and Highland Mills, but his educa
tional advantages were very meager, and his
knowledge was mainly acquired by self-culture.
Unto his marriage seven children were bora,
namely: Elizabeth, Mrs. Jacob Blaheney, de
ceased, formerly of New York City, and who had
four sons in the war; Mahitable; Mary, deceased,
wife of Simeon Howell, of Blooming Grove;
Rachel, who married Charles Mapes, of Monroe;
Nathaniel, who resides on a farm lying between
Highland Mills and Central Valley; Matilda,
whose first husband was Charles Peters, and her
second Henry Mapes; and Peter, who married
Hannah Conklin, and is now deceased.
The union of our subject and his wife resulted
in the birth of eight children. Moses E. , the eld
est, was born May 29, 1838, makes his home in
Jersey City, N. J., and is engaged in business in
New York; he married Emma Tanner, and their
children are: Albert; Francis Herman, of Jersey
City; Emily Jessica, who married Oscar Whit
ney; Moses Ernest, Jr.; and Henry Holmes, de
ceased. Albert, the eldest son of Moses E., Sr.,
married Louise Fronk, May 21, 1885, and they
have three children, Louise, Emma Maude and
Gladys Earl.
The second son of our subject, Isaac A., re
sides at Suffern, Rockland County, aud is con
ductor on the elevated railroad in New York City;
he is married and has one child. Mary E., the
eldest daughter, is the deceased wife of George
W. Green, of Highland Mills. Charles A. aud
Sarah E. are deceased. Matilda Julia married
James Hall, of Roslyn, L- L, and they have two

1482

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

children. Simeon H. is a car- painter of New
York. Ida A. married William S. Andrews, .a
confectioner of New York.
It is a remarkable fact that in the house where
our subject now resides four generations are liv
ing under the same roof, and thela;id has been in
possession of the family for two generations pre
vious, making six generations that have resided
here. In their younger years, Mr. and Mrs.
Clark were active workers in the Methodist Epis
copal Church, but they are prevented now, by
the infirmities of age, from taking the active part
in religious affairs they formerly maintained.
Mrs. Clark has had a number of remarkable vis
ions during her life, one of which was four nights
before the assassination of President Lincoln,
when she saw him fall, and also saw the assassin
trip, fall and injure himself. •
During the existence of the Whig party, Mr.
Clark gave it his allegiance, and he also advo
cated the principles of the "Know- Nothings."
Since the organization of the Republican party he
has upheld its principles. Notwithstanding their
advanced years, he and his good wife are hale
and hearty, retaining to a large extent the pos
session of their mental and physical faculties.
They are an honored and worthy couple, and
their memory will be held in love and affectionate
esteem by their descendants long after they shall
have been called to their rest.

DGAR SMITH. The attention of the trav-
"y eler passing through Orange County is in-
_ variably attracted to the many pleasant
country homes which have been built up through
the perseverance and industry of a more than or
dinarily intelligent class of men. A number of
these farms have been in the possession of the
same family, descending from father to son, for
several generations. This is true of the farm
where Mr. Smith resides. Bequeathed to him
by his father, it consists of ninety acres of fertile
land, which he devotes to general farming and
dairying, and upon which he has placed a num
ber of valuable improvements.

The elder of the two children of Alonzo and
Rachel (Baker) Smith, the subject of this bi
ography was born in the village of Montgomery,
this county, August 28, 1856. His father was
born in a log house situated on the farm now
owned by our subject. On this place he was
reared to manhood, but then removed to Mont
gomery, and for a number of years successfully-
engaged in the manufacture of cigars aud the
tobacco business. Accumulating a comfortable
competence, his last years were spent in retire
ment from business, and he remained a resident
of the village until his death, at the age of sixty-
seven. His parents were born in this county,
whither his grandparents had emigrated from
Holland. Our subject's mother was born in
Ulster County, N. Y., and her parents were also
natives of this state, though of English extrac
tion. In the public schools of Montgomery our sub
ject was the recipient of excellent educational ad
vantages. Upon attaining his majority he began
the management of the old homestead, which he
has since conducted. January 17, 1878, he
married Miss Mary L. Kidd, a native ofthe town
of Montgomery, aud the eldest daughter of Her
man Edgar and Susan (Leeds) Kidd. She has
two sisters, namely: Emma W., wife of Edward
L. Anderson, of Montgomery ; and Frances, who
married Frank V Leeds, a commission merchant
of New York City.
Born near the village of Walden, Herman E.
Kidd spent his entire life upon a farm, his vent
ures as an agriculturist being quite successful.
He was prominent iu local affairs, and filled the
majority of the town offices. His death occurred
when he was about sixty years old. It is worthy
of note that his father and grandfather were boru
in the same house, on the old homestead near
Walden. The family history in America dates
back to Alexander Kidd, who came to this coun
try from the North of Ireland in 1732, and set
tled near Walden, being one of the first settlers
of that part of Orange County. The mother of
Mrs. Smith was also born near Walden, being a
daughter of Silas aud Susan Weed Leeds, who
settled in this town about 18 15. She spent her

AMOS F. HOLDEN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

14S5

entire life in this locality, and died at the age of
fifty-eight. Grandfather Kidd was one of the
heroes ofthe War of 1812, and his father, Alex
ander, rendered valiant service iu the Revolution.
Two daughters comprise the family of Mr. and
Mrs. Smith, namely, Alta L. aud Mary L. , who
are receiving excellent advantages and are being
prepared for positions of honor in social circles.
Socially Mr. Smith is connected with Freeman
Lodge No. 120, I. O. O. F., at Walden. With
his wife he holds membership in the German Re
formed Church, and his contributions to religious
and benevolent enterprises are as generous as his
means permit. Politically he upholds the policy
of the Democratic party, and maintains the in
telligent interest in public affairs which every
citizen should feel.

^4\

m\

SI MOS F. HOLDEN is one of the proprietors
LA and is sole manager of The Little Falls Pa-
/ I per-mills, situated on the Quassaick Creek,
Newburgh. This is one of the leading industries
of Orange County. The mill has a capacity of
five tOus per day, the product of which is used
almost exclusively by the Albany Paper Com
pany, of Albany.
In Little Falls, N. Y., Mr. Holden and his
partner also operate a paper-mill, which has a ca
pacity of about half the extent of the former, and
this mill is also managed by our subject. An
other mill, situated a few miles from Syracuse,
has recently been leased by The Little Falls Pa
per Company, as the demands for their product
were beyond what could be supplied by the two
former mills. The capacity of these three mills is
about ten tons per day. All the mills are fur
nished with the finest machinery and equipment
for the manufacture of the various grades of tis
sue and manilla paper for toilet use.
Abel Holden, father of our subject, was born
in the Bay State, and in mature life operated a
farm in Rutland County, Vt. He is now in his
eighty-fourth year, and is living retired, his
home being in Charleston, N. H. His wife, who
was before their marriage a Miss Mary Sterns,

was also a native of Massachusetts, and at the
time of her demise was eighty years old. They
were the parents of eight children. The birth of
A. F. Holden occurred in Mt. Holly, Vt., iu
April, 1848, he being the youngest in his father's
family. He was educated iu the district schools,
and remained on the old homestead until shortly
before reaching his majority, when his father sold
the farm. For a few years after this, Mr. Hol
den clerked in a boot, shoe and clothing store at
Springfield, Vt. Subsequently he purchased one-
half interest in the business, but sold out within
a year. Then, locating at Bellows Falls, he op
erated a retail boot and shoe and men's furnish -
ing-goods store for ten years.
About this time Mr. Holden became desirous
of engaging in business as a manufacturer, and
in' February, 1885, in association with H. W
Church and O. M. George, a company was formed.
Au old mill was purchased at Livingston, Colum
bia County, N. Y., fitted with new machinery,
and they engaged in the manufacture of paper.
After running between three aud four years, they
purchased the Little Falls Mills, on the Mohawk
River, the latter having greater advantages in
water-power. This is an extensive mill, built
substantially of stone, and completely fitted up
with the most approved machinery.
In 189 1 Mr. Holden and his partners purchased
the Orange County Mills of Newburgh, to which
were built new additions; new machinery- was
put in, besides the best of the machinery from the
Livingston Mills, and other extensive alterations
made. A switch from the Erie Railroad has re
cently been placed, thereby greatly facilitating
the shipping, and the mills are kept running night
and day. In November, 1891, Mr. Church died,
and Mr. Holden and his surviving partner, Mr.
George, bought out the interests of their deceased
partner's heirs. The whole interest in the mills
now belongs to Mr. Holden and Mr. George.
In 1872 Mr. Holden was married in Springfield,
Vt. , to Miss Sarah Spencer, who was born in that
locality, and whose father was a well-to-do farm
er. In 1892 Mr. Holden built a comfortable resi
dence at No. 80 First Street, Newburgh. He is
a member of the Bellows Falls Lodge No. 41,

i486

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

F. & A. M., and politically is an ardent Repub
lican. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holden are members
ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church.

EORNELIUS MACARDELL, President of
the First National Bank of Middletown j
Treasurer of the Middletown State Homeo
pathic Hospital, and proprietor of the Daily Ar
gus and the Semi- Weekly Mercury, was born in
Darien, Ga., October 24, 1836. He is the sou of
Cornelius Macardell, a native of Dublin, Ireland,
who, after having graduated from Trinity College,
came to America, and after a brief sojourn in
New York City went to Georgia, settling in
Darien, where he published the Darien Telegraph,
and afterwards the Savannah Daily Telegraph.
In 1841 he returned North, making his home in
Brooklyn, N. Y., and following journalistic work.
He was a writer of marked ability, but his career
was cut short by death in early manhood.
The marriage of Cornelius Macardell, Sr. , united
him with Rebecca Campbell, who was born in
Ireland, and who died in Orange County. Their
only son, the subject of this sketch, was a child
of five years when in 1841 the family came North.
Educated in the public schools of Brooklyn, be
fore attaining his majority Mr. Macardell en
gaged in journalism. In 1859 he became inter
ested in a business newspaper venture in New
Orleans, au enterprise which proved most profit
able, but which came to a sudden termination
through the outbreak ofthe Civil War. Returning
North in 1861 , he became interested in Wall Street
activities and in 1866 was elected to membership
in the New York Stock Exchange, and his name
is still upon its roll-book.
Retiring from business iu New York in 1871,
Mr. Macardell came to Middletown. In 1876 he
founded the Daily Argus; two years later the
Argus and the Middletown Mercury, a weekly
publication, joined fortunes and were for several
years published by Thompson & Macardell. By
purchase of Mr. Thompson's interest Mr. Mac
ardell some years since became sole owner of
both papers. The Argus first appeared as a folio,

but it has been enlarged several times and is now
a six-column quarto. The Merctiry was founded
in 1858. Both papers are strongly Democratic.
In 1877 Mr. Macardell resumed active work in
the New York Stock Exchange, but after eleven
years in the business retired. In 1891 he became
interested in the First National Bank as a Di
rector, and the following year he was made Presi
dent. The marriage of Mr. Macardell, in Orange
County, united him with Esther, daughter of
Oliver and Penelope Crawford. Of their numer
ous offspring seven are living. Their eldest son,
Cornelius, Jr., is business manager of his father's
newspaper properties.
Mr. Macardell has had his share of adversities ;
several times he has had to begin the fight anew,
but always with good name untarnished and
with debts paid in full.
¦  9*P  ' ¦

3 AMES P. CHAMBERS, a contractor and
builder residing in Middletown, was born in
the town of Blooming Grove, near Washing
tonville, January 5, 1845. His parents, James
H. aud Ann (Redner) Chambers, were natives,
respectively, of Succasunna Plains, N. J., and the
town of Monroe, Orange County, N. Y., the for
mer being of English descent. For some years
the father followed the blacksmith's trade, after
which he engaged in farming in the towns of
Blooming Grove and Monroe. He now resides
in the town of Goshen, and is about eighty years
of age. During the late war he enlisted in the
One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York In
fantry, and after serving one year was honorably
discharged, having contracted rheumatism, that
rendered him unfit for service.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of
Peter Redner, and was descended from English
progenitors. She died when thirty- eight years
of age, having been the mother of seven chil
dren, five ofwhom are living. Cornelius, one of
her sons, served first in the Nineteenth New York
Infantry, and on the expiration of his term of serv-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ice enlisted iu the One Hundred and Seventy-
sixth New York Infantry, iu which he served
one year.
The subject of this sketch was reared in the
towns of Monroe and Cornwall, and was educated
in the public schools. In 1864 he commenced to
learn the carpenter's trade at Ramapo, Rockland
County, where he remained one year; he then
went to Hohokus, N. J., where he likewise re
mained one year, and then to Sloatsburg, N. Y.,
where he remained one year. In 1867 he located
in Middletown and began working at his trade
for Theodore Wilkes, and continued with him
and others until 1872, when he began contracting
and building for himself. He was at first in
partnership with John H. Little, and then with
Martin B. Van Fleet. Since the dissolution of
the partnership with the latter, he has been alone.
While a journeyman he assisted in the erection of
the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational
Churches. Among the buildings erected by
himself was one for George Bartle. He also built
a two-story dwelling for John E. Iseman, on Lib
erty Street; Mrs. Smith, Knapp Avenue; Frank
Tanney, Lake Avenue; Thomas A. Mapes, Ben
nett Street; Jonathan C. Duryea, Grand Avenue;
Carl A. Iseman, corner of Prince Street and Grand
Avenue; F. M. Barnes (two), Beattie Avenue;
Allan Ridgeway (three); John J. Silk (three);
Miss Bennett, Albert Street; Dr. E. R. Varcoe,
of Goshen; James H. Wallace, of Pine Bush;
and Eli Mapes. He has erected scores of other
buildings, including his own residence at No. 36
Knapp Avenue, and one at Nos. 37 and 37^
Knapp Avenue, which he owns aud leases. In
the prosecution of his work he frequently em
ploys ten or twelve men.
Mr. Chambers was married in 1866, at Pater
son, N. J., to Miss Margaret J. Barbarow, a na
tive of Bergen County, N. J., and daughter of
John J. Barbarow, a retired shoe manufacturer of
Sloatsburg. She died in 1892, at the age of
forty-six years, leaving five children who grew
to maturity: John J., in the drug business at
No. 57 North Street; William H., engaged in
carpentering with his father; Samuel B., a car
penter of Middletown; Frank T., a drug clerk

1487

of Monroe; and Ida M., at home. Freddie died
at the age of seven years. Mr. Chambers' sec
ond marriage was with Charlotte Talmadge, a
native of the town of Monroe, and daughter of
Nathaniel Talmadge, who died in Monroe.
Socially Mr. Chambers is a member of Hoff
man Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M., of which he
has been a member over twenty years. He is
also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of
St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, of which
he has been a member since 1866. In politics he
is a Prohibitionist, but was originally a Repub
lican.

DWIN S. MERRILL, A. B., B. L-, is one
>) of the rising young attorneys of Middle-
mmm town. He is a native of Maine, born in
Pownal in 1863, and is a son of Horace P. and
Adelia A. P. (Wait) Merrill, both.of whom are
natives of Freeport, Me. His father was a sea-
captain, in charge of a merchant vessel engaged
in the coasting trade, and during the late war en
listed in Company B, Twenty-fifth Maine Vol
unteer Infantry, continuing in the service until
the expiration of his time. He still resides at
his Maine home, and is a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic, of which he is Past Com
mander. In politics he is a Republican. Adelia
A. P. Wait, the mother of our subject, was a
daughter of Capt. Charles Wait, who was en
gaged in the coasting trade and resided at Free-
port, Me. She was of English descent, and died
in 1876. Moses Merrill, the grandfather of our
subject, was of English descent, and lived aud
died iu Maine. To Horace P. and Adelia A. P.
Merrill were born six children, four sous and two
daughters. The subject of this sketch was fourth in the
family and grew to manhood in his native state.
Before attaining his majority he taught school at
Milan, N. H. Subsequently he entered Maine
Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, from which
he went to Williams College, at Williamstown,
Mass. He entered college in 1885, aud gradu-

1488

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ated in 1889, with the degree of A. B., making a
special study of history and political science, in
which he won first prize. After his graduation
he entered the law department of Columbia Uni
versity, at Washington, D. C, from which he
graduated in 1892, with the degree of B. L. The
law lectures being conducted in evening session
gave opportunity for employment during the day,
and during his course he was employed in the
United States Census Bureau, and was later stock
clerk in the equipment division of the Postoffice
Department, under the Second Assistant Post
master-General. In October, 1892, Mr. Merrill located in Mid
dletown and entered the office of Judge T. N.
Little, where he remained one year, and in Feb
ruary, 1894, was admitted at the Brooklyn Gen
eral Term to practice in the courts of New York.
He now has a law office in the Winter's Building,
No. 16 East Main Street, Middletown, where he
has built up a good practice.
Mr. Merrill is a member of Metropolis Lodge
No. 16, I. O. O. F., of Washington, D. C, and
is Secretary of Monhagen Hose Company No. 1.
In 1892 he organized Gen. D. P. DeWitt Camp
No. 57, Sons of Veterans, and was its first Cap
tain, holding the position for two years. In
politics he is a Democrat, and is taking an active
interest in political affairs. Religiously he is a
member of the Congregational Church. In Sep
tember, 1895, Mr. Merrill was married to Estella
May, daughter of Merritt H. Parsons, of Middle-
town.

:£)i*#

30HN M. GARDNER, an attorney of New
burgh, was born iu the town of Warwick,
Orange County, N. Y., in 1858. His fa
ther, W. H. Gardner, as was also his grandfather,
W. H. Gardner, Sr., was a native of Columbia
County, N. Y. The latter was a prominent and
successful woolen manufacturer, and also a lay
minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Originally the Gardners were from Scotland, and
first settled at Nantucket, whence they removed
to Columbia County.
The father was a teacher in that county, and

while still a young man came to Orange County
and engaged as Principal of the Warwick public
schools, where he remained until he retired from
the profession of teaching. He married Caroline
Flagler, who was born in Bellvale, Orange County.
Her father was Hiram Flagler, and her mother
was originally Miss Wiley. The Wiley family
are the oldest, and were the original, settlers of
the town of Cornwall, and until a few years ago
they continued to occupy the old homestead, where
the military academy now stands. The grand
father of Mrs. Gardner was a well known and
prominent Judge in his day. The parents of our
subject are yet living and reside in Ironton, N. J.
John M. Gardner is the second in a family of
four children. His primary education was ob
tained in the public schools of Warwick, aud his
law studies were commenced in Goshen, but con
cluded at Fulton County, N. Y. He was admitted
to the Bar in Ithaca, N. Y., in 1881, and at once
commenced the practice of his profession in Ful
ton County, where he remained until 1887, when -
he removed to Newburgh, opened an office, and
began practice. While still a resident of Fulton
County he married Miss Eugenia Northrup, a
daughter of Leonard Northrup, at one time one of
the best known and successful manufacturers of
that county.
On his arrival in Newburgh, Mr. Gardner at
once secured a fine practice, which has constantly
increased up to the present time. His office is
now located in the Townsend Building. In 189 1
he established an office iu the Bennett Building,
at the corner of Nassau and Fulton Streets in
New York City, in partnership with Mr. Linehan,
under the firm name of Gardner & Linehan. His
business has increased so rapidly in New York, that
he now spends about three-fourths of his time in
that city. • During the past few years his practice
has consisted, to a great extent, of damage cases
against railroads and other corporations, and in
the prosecution of claims he has been very suc
cessful. From others the biographer has learned
many facts in connection with the business of Mr.
Gardner. It is said of him that he has prosecuted
' to a successful termination more damage and
personal-injury cases than any other attorney in

DR. EDWIN R. VARCOE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1491

Orange County. Among the many cases was
that of Mowett vs. Mowett, which was very
closely contested, but he succeeded in recovering
over $6,000. In the Cookedale <\s. Brown case,
one in which the former had been defrauded out
of about $40,000 real estate, Mr. Gardner suc
ceeded in recovering nearly every dollar of the
amount. It will be seen from what has already been
written, that Mr. Gardner has become one ofthe
most successful attorneys in the Hudson Valley.
Iu the prosecution of a case he knows 110 such
word as "fail." Every case is touched carefully
from every point of view, and his conclusions
almost invariably prove correct. Beginning at
the lowest round of the ladder he has worked his
way up step by step, until he has gained a most
enviable reputation and a practice which he well
deserves.

oc*************jjSl************>o R. EDWIN R. VARCOE, one ofthe leading
•*) dentists of Orange County, located at Go-
CJ shen, was born near Honesdale, Pa., No
vember 4, 1850. His parents, Francis and Mary
(Hocken) Varcoe, were natives of England and
descendants of a long line of substantial English
ancestry. Both were educated near Liskeard, in
the county of Cornwall, where they grew to ma
turity and were married, in 1846. They came to
America on their wedding tour and were so well
pleased with the appearance of the country that
they decided to remain. Settling near Hones
dale, Pa., they engaged in fanning pursuits, and
remained there until their death, the father dying
iu 1895, aud the mother in 1865. Both were
devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Their eight children, three sons and
five daughters, are all living.
The father of Francis Varcoe, Samuel Varcoe,
was an English gentleman and a landed pro
prietor iu the county of Cornwall. The ma
ternal grandfather of Francis Varcoe was Rev.
Charles Hicks, ofthe Church of England. One of
Samuel's sons, Rev. R. Varcoe, came to this
country and filled several important charges

in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pennsyl
vania, where he died. The father of Mrs. Var
coe was Rev. Edward Hocken, a minister of the
Church of England and a man of learning and
eloquence. For fifty years he filled important
pulpits in his native land, dying at an advanced
age, revered for. his many acts of kindness and
his piety aud benevolence. He reared a family
of seven children, of whom Edward, Jr., became
a clergyman under the celebrated John Wesley
iu the Methodist Church, during the pioneer era
of that organization.
The great-grandfather of our subject on the
maternal side was Rev. William Geake, of the
Church of England, a learned man who ably filled
parishes for many years in the county of Corn
wall. It is a notable fact that the progenitors
of the family were scholarly men, of sterling char
acter and upright lives. Refinement and culture
have always been characteristic ofthe race. The
children of Francis and Mary Varcoe are as fol
lows: Lavenia, wife of Isaiah Scudder, of Middle-
town, N. Y. ; Sophia, widow of Ira S. Baxter and
a resident of Jersey City: Edwin R.; Elizabeth,
wife of Frank Sagendorph, of Jersey City; Selina,
Mrs. T. Edson Harding, of Jersey City; William
F., a practicing physician iu New York City;
Carrie, who married Herman Groffell, of Jersey
City; and Charles W., a dentist of Walden, N. Y.
In 1875 Francis Varcoe married for his second
wife Mrs. Elizabeth (Onger) Glenn, and they
had one daughter, Kittie, now the wife of Charles
Webb, of Bethany, Pa. Politically Mr. Varcoe
was an old-line Whig originally, subsequently
became a Republican, and was a stanch Union
man during the Civil War. In religious beliei
he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal
Church and held membership in that denomina
tion until his death, which took place at the old
homestead near Honesdale, Pa., September 6,
1895, aged eighty years.
The subject of this sketch, Dr. E. R. Varcoe,
received his literary education in the schools of
Wayne County and Wyoming Seminary at King
ston, Pa. At the age of twenty -one he began the
study of his profession under Dr. J. W. Kesler,
of Honesdale, Pa., with whom he remained for

1492

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

two years. He then practiced at different places
in Orange County for five years. In 1880 he was
graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College,
carrying of the highest honors of his class and
receiving the j)rize awarded, an S. S. White Den
tal Engine. In June, 1880, he established him
self in practice in Goshen, where for the last fif
teen years he has enjoyed an extensive and lu
crative patronage. In all modern improvements
and appliances pertaining to his profession he has
kept abreast of the times, and is recognized as
most skillful and successful. He is public -spirited
and has ever been zealous in the promotion of
the progressive interests ofthe town.
The Doctor is a member of the Presbyterian
Church of Goshen. He is also a member of the
Second District Dental Association, the order of
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Encamp
ment of Patriarchs. In politics he is a Repub
lican. He has made a success not only in a pro
fessional way, but has also accumulated a com
fortable competency and has found time during
his vacations to make several trips to Europe,
visiting Scotland, Ireland, England, France,
Switzerland and Italy, besides traveling exten
sively through this country, Mexico, Cuba and
the Sandwich Islands. For the benefit of the
church and charitable interests he has frequently
lectured on his travels in a most entertaining and
eloquent manner.

-*-— ^  •^3n|<j®t^g)®<*C;«  1 — "-

3 P. MANDIGO. Among the active business
men of West Point is Mr. Mandigo, who is
the proprietor of one of the finest livery sta
bles in the county. He is successful in carrying
on the same, and deserves honorable mention
among the substantial and representative citizens
of Orange County.
Mr. Mandigo was born at Highland Falls,
April 16, 1846. For services rendered during
the Revolutionary War, his paternal great-grand
father received a grant of land from the Govern

ment, lying between Highland Falls aud Ft.
Montgomery. Iu the last-named place Grandfa
ther Luke Mandigo and also Campbell, father of
our subject, were born. For many years the latter
followed farming with signal success; he is now
eighty-two years of age and lives retired from
work in Highland Falls. Iu religious affairs he
is a devout Methodist. Our subject traces his
ancestry back to the sunny land of Italy, where
the name was spelled Mantahue.
Our subject's mother, who bore the maiden
name of Jane Cox, was born in the North of Ire
land, and came to America when a young lady.
She was a member of the Episcopal Church, in the
faith of which she died in 1885. Her two chil
dren were Charles, a builder of Highland, and
J. P., of this sketch. The latter was reared in
Highland Falls, a.nd when a lad of sixteen years
went to Cold Springs, where he was apprenticed
to a horse-shoer and blacksmith, in order that he
might learn the trade. He remained there for
three years and on his return to Highland Falls
followed his trade for two years as an apprentice,
when he established in business for himself.
He was successful in this industry and built up
a large and paying business on the corner of
Main Street and Park Avenue. This he aban
doned in 1890, arid, renting his shop, purchased
the livery owned by Mr. Denton, since which
time he has enlarged the buildings and made
many valuable improvements. The stable is lo
cated on Government ground aud is the only one
in the place. Mr. Mandigo carries nothing but
the fastest horses and finest turnouts, and has in
his stables buggies, closed carriages, coupes,
carts, etc. He runs four busses and derives a
handsome income from his boarding stable. Al
though his business is located at West Point, his
residence and family are at Highland Falls.
Mr. Mandigo was married in Cold Springs, in
1867, to Miss Sarah M. Smith, who was born in
Hyde Park, Dutchess County, this state, and was
the daughter of Stephen Smith, a grocer of that
place and a well-to-do business man. The lady
is now deceased, passing away in 1886. She be
came the mother of a daughter, Delia, whose de
mise occurred when ten years of age. Mrs. Man-

ELI VAN INWEGEN.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'495

digo was a believer in the doctrines advocated by
the Presbyterian Church, to which she belonged.
Our subject has always been greatly interested
in school matters, and for nine years was Trustee
of the Board and three years served efficiently as
its President. He was Collector of Highland
for one year. In politics he is an influential
supporter of Democratic principles, and has been
Chairman of committees at the town, county and
state conventions. He is a very pleasant gentle
man and commands the respect and esteem of all
all who know him.

~ LI VAN INWEGEN, Vice-President of the
^ First National Bank of Port Jervis, is a
_ worthy representative of one of the old
families of this state. He is a native of Orange
County, born at Huguenot, April 23, 18 16, and
is a son of Benjamin and Charity (Cole) Van In
wegen. The family dates back to the first Hol
land emigration to this country. Gerardus Van
Inwegen and his wife, Jane DeWitt, were the
first of the family to settle in New York. It is
understood that they were married in this coun
try, and their eldest son, Hermann Van Inwegen,
wedded Margaret Cole. Hermann was Justice of
the Peace for many years, and was the father of
the following children: Gerardus, David, Corne
lius, Jacob, Samuel, Jacob, Josias, Charlotte and
Hannah. The father of our subject was born at Hugue
not, and removed across the line into Matamoras,
Pa., on a farm opposite Port Jervis, where he
died at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife was
but twenty-four years of age at the time of her
death, which occurred in 1816. Eli is the young
est of their three sons, the others being Lewis, a
resident of Hastings, Minn.; and George, who
died at the age of sixty years. The father was
again married, his second union being with
Phcebe Van Auken, and they had six children,
four of whom are still living. Andrew J. lives
at Matamoras, Pa.; Margaret is the wife of Luke
S. Rosencrans, of Port Jervis; Hannah is the

wife of Webb Cartwright, of Matamoras ; and
Ann, who is unmarried, lives in the same place.
On the death of his mother, Eli Van Inwegen,
who was but a few weeks old, was sent to live
with his maternal grandfather, Cornelius W. Cole,
who was a son of Wilhelmus Cole. The latter's
father, William Cole, or Cool, as the name was
sometimes spelled, wedded Catherine DuBois,
and located at Machachemech, now the southern
part of Port Jervis. His son Josias married
Maria Kimmell about 1740, and their child was
baptized in the Machachemech Church in 1743,
as the records show. Our subject well remem
bers Wilhelmus Cole, who died at the age of
about ninety years. His grandfather owned a
large farm, and his house stood opposite to where
Mr. Van Inwegen' s now stands, and the church
stood on the main street near that place. Cor
nelius Cole died at the age of eighty-eight years,
aud his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah
Gumaer, passed away four years previous. He
spent his last years at the home of our subject,
where his death occurred. His daughter, Mar
gery, married Wilhelmus Westfall, and died at
the age of sixty.
Mr. Van Inwegen remained upon his grand-'
father's farm until after he was married, when it
was divided between him and his two brothers,
but Lewis sold his share and removed to Minne
sota. Eli received for his share one hundred
acres, lying between the Delaware and Neversink
Rivers, on which farm he has since made his
home. He platted and laid out an addition to
the village, which is now largely improved with
first-class residences, and there he built his own
home. When the Port Jervis Savings Bank was
organized he became its Treasurer, and had full
charge ofthe business for ten years, or during its
entire existence. It was a success financially,
but it was decided to close out, and all depositors
and creditors were paid iu full. He was one of
the incorporators of the First National Bank in
1870, and has ever been one of its Directors,
while he is now serving as Vice-President. He
is an able financier, and the people have the ut
most confidence in him.
On the 30th of December, 1841, Mr. Van Iu-

1496

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

wegen married Miss Elizabeth M. Bull, a daugh
ter of Crissy and Catherine (Rosencrans) Bull,
the former a grandson of William Bull, the first
settler by that name in Orange County, who lo
cated near Goshen. Mr. Bull subsequently moved
three miles below Matamoras, where he lived at
the time Mr. and Mrs. Van Inwegen were married.
By her union with our subject, Mrs. Van Inwe
gen became the mother of three children: Julia,
who died in childhood; Cornelius, who studied
civil-engineering in Union College at Schenectady,
N. Y., and died at the age of twenty years; and
Charles F. , Cashier of the First National Bank of
Port Jervis. Mrs. Van Inwegen is a member of
the Reformed Church, and of it her husband is a
liberal supporter. In political sentiment he is a
Democrat, as was also his grandfather and most
of his ancestors. He has held the offices of
Justice of the Peace and Supervisor, and has
ever been a prominent and leading citizen of
Orange County.

30HN FRANCIS DICKS, a Roadmaster 011
the Southern Division of the Ontario & West
ern Railroad, has had a very successful rail
road career, having been Roadmaster since he was
seventeen years of age. He was born at Howells
Depot, January 21, 1858, and is a sou of Lewis
and Susan (Nichols) Dicks, both of whom were
natives of the towu of Wallkill, the latter being a
daughter of J. D. Nichols, a teamster and farmer,
and one of the earliest settlers of that locality.
Lewis Dicks is of Scotch descent, and entered the
employ of the Erie Railroad Company as foreman,
and then became foreman of building on the old
New York & Oswego Midland Railroad. He
served as foreman of the Erie Railroad a period of
twenty-seven years, since which time he has been
with the Ontario & Western Railroad, being now
employed as watchman. A present he resides in
Middletown, at the age of sixty-seven years.
The subject of this sketch is second in the fam
ily of five children born to Lewis and Susan Dicks.
The other members of the family are: Robert, iu
the employ of the Ontario & Western Railroad

with headquarters at Middletown; William, au
engineer on the Ontario & Western between Wal
ton and Corning; Joseph, a section foreman; and
Fannie, now Mrs. Hnlslande, residing near Bloom
ingburg. The childhood days of our subject were spent
at Howells Depot, and his education was re
ceived in a district school. In 1868, when but
ten years of age, he was employed as water-boy
in the construction of the old Midland Railroad,
his duties being the carrying of tools and water
to the men employed. He continued in this work
until the age of fourteen, when he was made a
full hand on the section, and when sixteen was
made section foreman. From October 1, 1875,
to July 1, 1876, hewas section foreman at Mid
dletown. He was then made Roadmaster of the
western district on the Middle Division of the On
tario & Western Railroad, which position he held
until 1882, when he was put in charge of con
struction on the West Shore Railroad from Mid
dletown to New York. In this work he had over
three thousand men under him at different times,
without having a man killed on his account.
After the opening of the West Shore Railroad he
returned as Roadmaster to Middletown, in the old
Middle Division, and served there until 1885,
when he was made Roadmaster of the Southern
Division of the Ontario & Western between Mid
dletown and New York. On the consolidation
of the West Shore and New York Central Rail
ways, he was made Division Roadmaster of the
West Shore between Cornwall and New York.
He continued there until 1887, when he returned
to the Ontario & Western in his old position as
Roadmaster of the Middle Division. In 1890 he
had charge of the construction of the Scranton
Division ofthe Ontario & Western Railroad, into
the coal fields of Pennsylvania, in connection with
his duties of Roadmaster at this point. He still
has charge of the Middle Division as Roadmaster,
and has under his supervision about one hundred
miles, divided into eighteen regular sections.
On the 27th of November, 1878, Mr. Dicks was
united in marriage, at Walton, Delaware County,
with Miss Thirza D. Booth, who was born at Ox
ford Depot, Orange County. Her father, Nelson

FRANCIS GOULDY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1499

Booth, who was a native of Canada, and a ship
carpenter by trade, was engaged in building in
New York City, and later at Oxford, where he
was accidentally killed by falling through a tres
tle. Her mother, Mary Miller, who was born
near Utica, and was of Scotch descent, died in
early life. In religious belief she was a Quaker.
In their family were two children: Thirza D., the
wife of our subject, and David, a farmer at Ox
ford Depot. Mrs. Dicks was reared and educated
in New York City and in Walton Academy. To
Mr. and Mrs. Dicks were born two children,
Mary B. and Douglas.
Iu politics Mr. Dicks is a Democrat, and is a
very active worker for the success of his party.
While not an office-seeker, he has yet been hon
ored by his fellow-citizens with local office. In
1890 he was elected Councilman from the First
Ward, and served two years, during which time
he was Chairman of the Street Committee. In
1893 lJe was elected Supervisor from the First
Ward, and served a term of one year. While a
member of this Board he was Chairman of the
Coroner's Committee, and was a member of sev
eral other committees. Fraternally he is a member
of Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. &A. M., aud ofthe
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is also
a member of Excelsior Hook and Ladder Com
pany No. 1.
Mr. Dicks is yet in the prime of life. Success
has attended him in everything undertaken, and
his long railroad service is proof of the fidelity
with which he discharges every duty devolving
upon him. i £: 1=11 ¦$' T "> S"5 "©
r"RANCIS GOULDY, one ofthe old and most
ffl honored citizens of Newburgh, has made his
I home here for some thirty-three years, prior
to which time he spent his summers here for sev
eral years. His birth occurred iu London, Eng
land, April 19, 18 12, and he was reared under
the instruction of a devoted Christian mother.
From boyhood he was trained in high and noble
precepts, and in 1830 he became a member ofthe
first Methodist Episcopal Church in New York

City, this being known as the John's Street
church. He also attended the first Sunday-school
of that denomination ever held in the metropolis,
which assembled 011 Tryon Row. For several
decades Mr. Gouldy has been one of the main
stays of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church
of this city, and has been very liberal in his con
tributions to its maintenance. While in New
York he was a member ofthe Board of Trustees,
and when he transferred his membership to old
Trinity he was given a like position on its board,
and was soon made President, which office he
still holds. He has always taken a great inter
est in educational and missionary work, and has
done what was in his power to advance the same.
The father of the above gentleman, David
Gouldy, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, receiv
ing a good education in the celebrated university
of the city, and early became a local minister iu
the Methodist Episcopal Church, laboring iu con
junction with John Wesley. For several years
he was pastor of a London church, but in 18 19
he decided to remove to New York, where his
death occurred soon afterward. His wife, who
was formerly Miss Mary Nichols, was born in
England, and was a daughter of a prosperous
farmer. After her husband's death she assumed
the entire responsibility of rearing her children,
and well did she perform her task. Our subject
is the only survivor of the family, the others,
David, Mary, Rachel and Elizabeth, all having
died in New York City, where the mother was
summoned to her final rest in 1840.
The first few years in the life of Francis
Gouldy were passed in the city of his birth, while
his education was mainly obtained in private
schools in New York City. Iu his youth he took
a position in a dry-goods store on Canal Street,
running the business in partnership with his
mother. Later he embarked in the lumber trade
on the corner of West and LeRoy Streets, con
ducting a retail business for about a quarter of a
century. From time to time he invested iu real
estate, which he bought and sold, and in 1855 he
gave up his interest in the lumber business. Iu
1858 he met with a great misfortune in a para
lytic stroke, but after a time partially recovered,

1500

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and ultimately concluded to settle in Newburgh,
where he could enjoy fresh air and an abundance
of exercise.
In 1837, in New York City, occurred the first
marriage of Mr. Gouldy, the lady of his choice
being Eliza, daughter of William Mead, who was
from Connecticut. Mrs. Gouldy was a native of
New York, and died at the age of twenty-eight
years, leaving three children, one ofwhom was
summoned to the home beyond at the age of
nineteen; the others are Mary E. and Nathaniel
E. The daughter graduated from Mt. Holyoke
Seminary, and was the first lady missionary iu
Japan. Becoming proficient in the language, she
labored earnestly for the cause of Christianity for
ten years, when she returned home. Nathaniel
graduated from the Columbia Law School and is
now living retired in New York City.
April 30, 1849, Mr. Gouldy married the lady
¦who now bears his name. She was Miss Jane
Disosway , a native of Staten Island, aud daughter
of Gabriel and granddaughter of Cornelius Disos
way, both natives ofthe same island and the lat
ter own.er of large landed estates thereon. The
family were originally French-Huguenots, who
were obliged to flee to Holland on account of re
ligious persecution, and, coming to New York
about 1657, settled on Staten Island. The pro
genitor of one branch of the family in America
was Marcus DuSanchy, who came from Picardy,
France, by way of Holland, to this country,
in company with two brothers. Mrs. Gouldy 's
father was a sea-captain and owner ofa schooner
engaged in trade along the Atlantic Coast. He
died while in the prime of life, being but fifty-two
years of age. His wife, Elizabeth, likewise a na
tive of Staten Island, was a daughter of Capt.
Barnett Sleight, who was born on the island, and
who was also a captain on the high seas, being
the proprietor of a fine schooner, which was en
gaged in the coasting trade. He was of the old
Holland-Dutch Knickerbocker stock, and died
when about fifty years of age. His wife died in
1849, aged fifty-six years.
Of the nine children born to Francis and Jane
Gouldy, but three grew to maturity. Charles
died in early manhood, and the others are Sarah

E., wife of George A. Sanford, of Warwick; and
Jennie A. The latter graduated from Vassar
College and is living with her parents. She is
very active in the Young Woman's Christian
Association and is one of the Board of Managers
for the Home of the Friendless. She has been
Chairman ofthe Finance Committee of the latter
organization, and is a most effective worker. Iu
questions of political moment Mr. Gouldy is a
true-blue Republican, and has made a special
study of government and the great issues of the
day.

Gz

£4s&

G

-o

¦XL)

SEORGE W. McELROY. "The beautiful.
village of Warwick, Orange County, is the
home of many prominent professional gentle
men, who have won for themselves both fame and
fortune, but none merit more praise or are more
highly esteemed than he whose history now claims
attention, and who is one of the leading attorneys
of the city.
Our subject is a native of this place, having
been born February 22, 1859, to Henry and Julia
A. (Lockwood) McElroy, and is the youngest in
their family of five children. The parents were
both natives of this state, spending their entire
lives here. Henry McElroy was a carpenter by
trade, aud during the years which he followed
this vocation was enabled to provide well for
his family. He was well and" favorably known
throughout the county, and during his lifetime
was the incumbent of several positions of honor
and trust. In his death, which occurred July 6,
1 88 1, the community lost one of its best citizens.
His good wife survived him ten years, passing
away January 4, 1891.
George W., of this sketch, graduated from the
high school at Warwick, after which, in October,
1878, he began reading law with Hon. M. N.
Kane, a noted attorney of Warwick. He contin
ued under the latter's instruction until December,
1 88 1 , when he was admitted to the Bar as an attor
ney, and some six months later was admitted as

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1501

a counselor. He at once opened an office for the
practice of his profession, which he has success
fully followed ever since.
Mr. McElroy was married, May 27, 1885, to
Miss Agnes, daughter of William W. and Susan
(McBride) Walling, natives, respectively, of the
town of Warwick and Jersey City, N. J. Mrs.
McElroy was born in Warwick in 1862, and by
her union with our subject has become the moth
er ofa son and daughter, G. Walling and Julia A.
Although not members of any religious body, both
attend services at the Presbyterian Church.
In politics Mr. McElroy is a true-blue Repub
lican. He has served his fellow-townsmen in
the capacity of Justice of the Peace and Police
Magistrate, and at the present time is filling out
his second term as Special Surrogate of Orange
County. He is the efficient President of the Board
of Education of Warwick, and through his influ
ence the standard of scholarship has been greatly
elevated. He is deservedly considered one of the
substantial residents of the village, and to such
men is Warwick indebted for its rapid growth and
wonderful prosperity, which distinguish it as a
desirable place of residence.

¦>>th^.

?-i ' 1 '

HIRAM L. LEONARD, of Central Valley,
Orange County, was born in Piscataquis
County, Me., June 23, 1831. The family
have long been residents of this country, three
brothers coming from England iu the "Mayflow
er," and locating in Massachusetts. To the one
who settled in Boston our subject traces his an
cestry. Lewis Leonard, the father of Hiram L-,
was born in Roxbury, a suburb of Boston, Mass.,
and received his education in a school of the lat
ter place. From Boston he went to Maine, then
a new country, to raise sheep. About the close
of the War of 181-2, the sheep industry became
unprofitable, and he began manufacturing oars.
In this he became so proficient that his fame
spread first throughout this country, aud then
across the water. He was considered the best
oar-maker in the world, and shipped his products
to England and many other foreign countries.

He first began to manufacture oars at Bangor, but
moved about wherever he could find ash, from
which the best oars are made. In 1835 he went
to Ellenville, Ulster County, N. Y., where he
found timber for his product. This he used up
in about three years, and then removed to Hones
dale, Wayne County, Pa., where he plied his vo
cation until his death, which occurred shortly aft
erward. He was married in the town of Knox,
Me., to Miss Hannah Blood, who is supposed to
have been a native of New Hampshire.
When the subject of this sketch was four years
old, the family removed to Ellenville, N. Y.,
where he first attended school. When nine years
of age they moved to Pennsylvania, where he at
tended a district school until he was fifteen years
of age. After that he studied civil-engineering
without a teacher, becoming quite an expert en
gineer. For a time he had charge of the machin
ery department of the Pennsylvania Coal Com
pany, but the work proving too hard, he went to
Maine to recuperate. At Bangor he engaged in
dealing in sporting goods, making trips to the
north woods, supplying trappers and hunters
with their supplies, and buying and trading iu
furs. He traveled over the north of Maine to
Quebec. About this time, while in the region of
Moosehead Lake, he met Thoreau, who speaks
of Mr. Leonard in one of his books, though he
does not use his name.
Mr. Leonard was married, September 28, 1858,
at Bangor, Me., to Miss Elizabeth S. Head, a
native of that city, aud a daughter of Henry A.
aud Abbie (Harriman) Head, both of whom are
also natives of Bangor. One child, Anna Cora,
has been born to them.
Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Leonard suf
fered an illness which brought on lung trouble,
and which threatened his life. He then again
went to the woods, and for the next four years
engaged in trapping and dealing in furs. He
employed some twenty-seven men as trappers,
covering territory of a hundred and fifty miles 111
length Having again thoroughly regained his
health he returned to the city, but in two years
again broke down. Again returning to the woods,
he continued there until 1870. He was always

1502

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

quite expert with tools, and used to make his own
guns and traps. Having seen a very fine fishing-
rod, he concluded he would make one for him
self, improving on the original. The Fish Com
missioner of Maine, Mr. Stillman, seeing his rod,
wanted one for himself, while Mr. Carlowe, a
druggist of Bangor, also wanted one. He com
plied with their request, and those were the first
rods made by him. A friend asked permission
to Send one to Boston to the largest dealer of
shooting goods in that city. The firm was so
well pleased with the rod, they at ouce sent an
order for a large number, and from this begin
ning the business developed until Mr. Leonard is
now the manufacturer ofthe finest rods in exist-
ance. The Boston firm asked if he could not
make rods from bamboo, the rods at. that time be
ing made in four pieces. Mr. Leonard, thinking
more pieces would be better, made them from six
pieces, and sometimes from twelve pieces. The
weight of rods, at that time, was ten to eleven
ounces, but Mr. Leonard makes them as light as
five ounces for a ten-foot rod, aud two ounces for
an eight-foot rod.
In 1 88 1 Mr. Leonard left Bangor and came to
Central Valley, where his factory is now lo
cated. He makes all the metal trimmings and
everything used in the manufacture of rods. The
Leonard rods are shipped to all parts of the
world where fly-fishing is pursued. One of his
rods he sent as a present to the King of Sweden,
and two to English officers in India. He has al
ways taken a first prize wherever his rod has been
exhibited. He took the first prize at Berlin, at
London, and at the Centennial Exposition at Phil
adelphia. Mr. Leonard has devoted a good part of his
time to studying the habits offish. He succeed
ed in probating salmon, something that up to
that time had never been accomplished. He
built a hatchway at Lubeck Lake, but could get
only few eggs. Under his management, however,
eighty-five per cent, of the eggs were hatched.
He afterward took eggs from the spawning ground
and hatched all of them, something that had not
been successfully done before.
Mrs. Leonard is a lady of more than ordinary

ability, and has received a very thorough classi
cal education, having a knowledge of Latin, He
brew and French. She is of a poetical turn of
mind, and many of her poems have appeared in
the large city journals. She is a member of the
Congregational Church of Bangor. Politically
Mr. Leonard is a Republican, and socially he is
a Mason, Odd Fellow, Knight of Pythias and
a Red Man. He was first made a Mason in
1858, and is a charter member of Central Valley
Lodge N<jf 502, I. O. O. F. , and a member of
Schunnemunk Lodge No. 276, K. of P., in which
he has filled all the chairs. He is also a charter
member of Wawa Lodge of Central Valley, a
member of the Central Valley Literary Society,
and ofthe Mechanics' Cornet Band.
|~ RANK S. McCOY, one of the enterprising
1^ young farmers of Orange County, was born
| on the homestead whicli he now operates,
in the town of Goshen, in 1861. He devotes the
greater part of his time aud attention to dairy
farming, although he does not neglect the raising
ofthe various cereals. The growing of onions is
a great industry in this section, aud Mr. McCoy
is not behind other farmers in this respect, and
has eight acres planted in this vegetable.
In the family granted to William A. and Cath
erine B. (Case) McCoy, Frank S. was the third-
born. The parents were both natives of this
town, the father's birth occurring on the estate
which is now owned by our subject. William
A. worked for two years at his trade ofa wagon-
maker, but thereafter spent the active years of his
life in agricultural pursuits, and became well
known in this community for his progressive
ideas aud the success which invariably attended
his efforts. He is now living retired from busi
ness of any kind in Goshen. His good wife de
parted this life in 1879, honored and respected by
all who knew her.
After acquiring a good fund of useful informa
tion in the district school, Frank S. McCoy be
gan working 011 the homestead, and has ever since
made farming his occupation in life. His estate

JOHN W. SLAUSON.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

is over one hundred acres in extent, and yields
its owner a handsome income. As stated above,
Mr. McCoy makes a specialty of dairy farming,
having a number of the best breed of milch cows.
His place is improved with all the buildings
necessary in his business, and the residence is
commodious and attractive in appearance. Al
though a comparatively young man, he is well
known in the county and numbers his friends by
the score.
The lad)- to whom our subject was married, in
1884, was Miss Ida, daughter ot Jacob and Mary
Moore, natives of Sullivan County, this state,
which locality was also the birthplace of their
d aught er.
Our subject and his wife are not connected
by membership with any denomination, although
they attend services at the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The former is a Democrat in politics,
as the principles set forth by that party coincide
with his views on almost all questions. Both
himself aud wife have a host of sincere friends,
whom they have won by their upright and con
scientious lives and by their genial and open-
hearted hospitality.

1505

— .^.***^*^**^.*t

This sketch was prepared by W. T. Uoty, editor of the Orange
County Farmer, a long-time frieud of Mr. Slauson, and who at va
rious times has been connected with the Press editorial staff.
(JOHN W. SLAUSON, now and for several
I years the senior editor of the Orange County
\Z/ Press and Middletown Daily Press, was born
September 18, 1846, in the town of Greenville, on
the family homestead, the farm which remained
in the Slauson family for almost a century. He
was the eldest of eight children, five ofwhom are
still living (October 1, 1895). His father was
David Slauson, the fifth of his name in an hon
ored ancestry that- came from Scotland and set
tled in Fairfield County, Conn., before removing
to Orange County. His great-grandfather, David
Slauson, second, who Was a soldier in the War of
the Revolution, was taken prisoner just after the
burning of Danbury by General Tryou, in 1777,
and with three others was taken to New York

and confined in an old coffee-house. After being
imprisoned about three mouths he aud one of his
comrades made their escape, aud after swimming
the East River made their way home by circuit
ous routes. His mother was Antoinette Whiting,
whose father, John Whiting, a member of a large
and prominent Connecticut family, was the only
one of the name who came to Orange County to
make his home, the others settling in New York
City and iu parts of New England, where the
name is a common one. The maternal grand
mother of the subject of this sketch was Maria
Penney, one of the noblest and best of women.
Mr. Slauson passed the early part of his life in
the family of his maternal grandfather, John
Whiting, iu whose honor he was named, and who
was one of the noted schoolteachers of his day in
this section of the state. Many of the older resi
dents ofthe town of Mt. Hope and of Middletown
were his pupils. Mr. Whiting was a man of
sturdy common-sense, with a well stored, culti
vated mind, which was improved by almost con
stant reading and study. His stern sense of jus
tice in the days of slavery agitation made him
what was known as an Abolitionist, and he re
peatedly voted for Gerritt Smith for President,
though there was no organized Abolition party,
aud he had to write his ballot with a pen. The
grandfather took charge of the grandson's in
struction and laid the foundation of an education
broad and thorough, as was characteristic ofthe
man. This home instruction was supplemented
by attendance at the Westtown Academy, at the
Dolbear School for Young Men in New York
City, and also by private instruction.
The time for leaving off systematic study found
Mr. Slauson ready for grappling alone with the
affairs of life, and he began teaching in the pub
lic schools at the age of twenty. In this work he
met with pronounced success and was ranked
among the foremost teachers of the county. In
the autumn of 1870, while still at the teach
er's work, Mr. Slauson was made candidate of
his party for the office of School Commissioner
iu the Second Assembly District of Orange Coun
ty, to fill the two-years vacancy occasioned by
the death ofthe lamented Benjamin F- Hill. Al-

65

1506

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

though the district was then strongly Demo
cratic, he was chosen to the office by a majority
of four hundred and seventy-seven, the first Re
publican Commissioner ever elected 111 the dis
trict. During his term of office he adopted and
extended the method of work inaugurated by Mr.
Hill, of requiring written and uniform examina
tions for teachers, similar to the present admirable
system, which was afterward introduced and
made obligatory throughout the state by State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Andrew S.
Draper. It was during the latter part of his term of of
fice that Mr. Slauson purchased an interest in the
Press establishment at Middletown, and the duties
thus assumed prevented his accepting a renomin-
ation for School Commissioner, a fact regretted
throughout the district. While this change ter
minated his active, or rather direct, connection
with schoolroom work, Mr. Slauson was after
ward for many years a member of the Middletown
Board of Education and has always retained his
interest in the noble profession of teaching, as
well as in all educational matters.
In 1875 Mr. Slauson married Miss Olivia,
daughter of Horatio R. Wilcox, Esq., of Middle-
town, and this union was one of "heart, of mind,
and of interest." His wife and two sons, Harold
Whiting and Kinsley Wilcox, aged twelve and
ten years, respectively, constitute the family.
Their first child, Horatio Wilcox, died in 1881,
when but a year old.
Mr. Slauson is a member of Hoffman Lodge
No. 412, F. & A. M., and was formerly a mem
ber of Neversink Chapter, R. A. M., and of Del
aware Commandery, K. T., both of the latter of
Port Jervis. He is also a member of Excelsior
Hook and Ladder Company, and of the First
Presbyterian Church of Middletown. For twenty
years he has been a member of the New York
State Press Association, having always taken an
active part in its meetings, and was one of its
Vice-Presidents in 1894. He is also au active
member of the Republican Editorial Association
of the state.
In politics Mr. Slauson has always beeu a Re
publican. His party allegiance is so strong, in

fact, that he may be styled a partisan. This, how
ever, has not prevented him from striving to be
fair toward his political opponents. Indeed his
love of justice, of fairness, of man's inalienable
right to liberty and conscience, has ever made
him most tolerant, liberal-minded and just in his
treatment of others on all subjects. This reputa
tion for fair dealing and steady adherence to the
principles of the Golden Rule in all relations
of life has earned him the merited esteem of his
townsmen generally and the highest regard of
those who know him best, a pleasure falling to
the writer many years ago, and he cherishes the
friendship thus formed as one of the pleasantest
incidents in his life.
Mr. Slauson has been actively and continu
ously connected with the Press since his purchase
of an interest in the concern in 1872, and with his
pen and personality has done much to bring that
able journal up to its present high standard. His
aim, and that of his partners, has been to make
it a clean, high-toned newspaper, one that could
offend no elevated taste; while bright, readable
and newsy, to make it honest, truthful and whole
some in its influence. This high aim has been
attained iu a degree rarely equalled in journalism.
Mr. Slauson is conceded to be one of Middle-
town's foremost and reliable business men, and
he is identified with the business interests of the
city in various ways. For several years past he
has been the Vice-President of the Middletown
Board of Trade. He never loses an opportunity
to advocate and champion Middletown' s interests,
and he has done his part toward making the city
the prosperous, attractive place that it is.

m&

•&-—

E EMMET CRAWFORD has undoubtedly
the largest stock of furniture, carpets and
crockery in his five stores, located respect
ively at Middletown, Newburgh, Matteawan,
Port Jervis and Goshen, of any one in the state

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1507

of New York. He began at the foot of the lad
der and has risen rapidly, now taking his place
among the foremost merchants of the country.
His fine establishment at No. 102 Water Street,
Newburgh, was erected at a cost of $15,000 and
is conducted under the title of the New York
Furniture Company. It is four stories in height,
well equipped with elevators and modern appli
ances, and is connected with a five-story building
on Front Street.
Oliver Crawford, the grandfather of our sub
ject, was born in the northern part of Ireland and
was of Scotch ancestry. He was of strong Chris
tian character and a devoted Presbyterian. At
an early period in his history- he came to Amer
ica and settled 011 the farm near Goshen, later
moving to the town of Wallkill. The old home
stead, which bears his name, is situated two
miles south of Middletown, and there his death
occurred at the good old age of eighty-six years.
He. reared a family of eleven children, James B.,
the father of our subject, being the eldest. He
was born in Goshen and received district-school
advantages. Until 1855 he resided on a farm
near Middletown, at that time moving to the
farm of one hundred acres adjoining that city,
now owned and occupied by C. E. Crawford.
The latter's mother, Sarah M., was born in Mid
dletown, being a daughter of Joshua McNish, of
Scotch descent. She died about 1888, leaving
three children. Her second son, Rev. O. C, is
a minister in the Congregational Church of Syra
cuse; and J. W. is in business with our subject
in Middletown. The father, now seventy-two
years of age, is still an active man, and takes
great interest in the prosperity of the Congrega
tional Church, with which he has long been iden
tified. C. E. Crawford was born December 16, 1849,
in Middletown, and received his higher education
in Wallkill Academy, afterward preparing him
self for his commercial career by a course of study
at Eastman's Business College in Poughkeepsie.
In 1870 he obtained a clerkship in a dry-goods
store in Middletown, aud two years later bought
out the old furniture house of Hiram Brink. A
year or two later he purchased the long-estab

lished crockery house of I. O. Beatty and com
bined the two concerns, which had occupied ad
joining buildings at Nos. 44 aud 46 North Street.
It is now the largest business house in Middle-
town, aud comprises twenty-five thousand square
feet of storeroom. The building has a frontage
of fifty feet, and is four stories in height and one
hundred feet in depth. With the exception of
stoves, everything in the line of house furnish
ings can be found in this immense establishment.
For seven years Mr. Crawford conducted the
business alone and then took in as a partner his
brother, O. C. Crawford, who retired from the
firm seven years later to devote himself to the
ministry In 1 88 1 the brothers opened the Newburgh
store, and in 1890 our subject started a branch
in Matteawan, this also being known as the New
York Furniture Company. The same year he
sold a half-interest in the Middletown store to
E. D. B. France, J. W. Crawford and Charles H,
Mapes, the firm being known as the C. E. Craw
ford Furniture Company. In 1891 another store
was started at Port Jervis, in connection with the
Middletown partners, and in 1894 the one at
Goshen, known as the C. E. Crawford Furniture
Company, was also organized. Our subject is
virtually the head of these various establish
ments, which have an immense trade. In con
nection with the Newburgh plant they have a
factory on Front Street, where are manufactured
parlor suites, lounges and mattresses. General
upholstery work is also done here. The store at
Matteawan is 25x75 feet, three stories in height;
the one at Goshen 25x100 feet, four stories; and
that at Port Jervis, 25x85 feet, also four stories,
with a wing 20x60 feet.
Mr. Crawford owns the old homestead of one
hundred and ten acres, a portion of which lies
within the city limits of Middletown, and his res
idence is on Cottage Street. He makes a speci
alty of raising standard-bred horses. He is a
member of the Newburgh Board of Trade, and
also of the Middletown Board of Trade. Socially
he belongs to the Newburgh and Matteawan City
Clubs. In 1870 he married Alice, daughter of Rev.
Dr. C. A. Harvey, now deceased, but formerly a

i5o8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

minister of the Congregational Church of Mid
dletown. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have two chil
dren: A. H., who is in charge of the store at
Goshen, and Mildred M. The family are mem
bers of the Congregational Church, and are lib
eral in their donations to religious activities. In
his political faith Mr. Crawford is identified with
the Republican party.

3<mm&xmE^.

- — ^52
•CfEORGE HENRY DECKER, the subject of
l_ this sketch, was born in the town of Jerusa-
\Ji lem, Yates County, N. Y., on the 23d of
April, 1842. After attending the district school
of the neighborhood he prepared for college
at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, N. Y.
He entered Genesee College, and at the expira
tion of the freshman year he entered Hamilton
College at Clinton, N. Y., where he graduated in
1866, with the degree of A. B., and three years
later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon
him. With the following school year he began
teaching as assistant in Wallkill Academy at
Middletown. At the expiration of the year he
returned to his native county and entered upon
a course of law in the office of Franklin & Morris
in Penn Yau. At the expiration of the year he
was elected Principal of Wallkill Academy, where
he had taught after leaving college, which posi
tion he accepted aud retained for two years, when
he resigned it to practice law, having been admit
ted to the Bar at the Poughkeepsie General Term,
held in May, 1870.
Mr. Decker is a descendant in the fifth genera
tion of his family in this country, the first having
come hither from Holland and made settlement
iu Columbia County, N. Y. There the great
grandfather, the grandfather, Lawrence, and the
father of our subject, William H., were boru.
The second of these removed in middle life to
Yates County and settled on a farm near Branch-
port, where his remaining years were spent. He
enlisted for service in the War of 18 12 and held
the rank ot Lieutenant in a New York regiment.
At the time the family removed to Yates County, .
William H. Decker accompanied them, and the

remaining years of his life were spent on the
home farm, where he died at the age of seventy-
three. He was a member of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, which was the religious belief of
his ancestors for several generations. His wife,
whose maiden name was Lucy C. Durham, was
born in Yates County, and is still living at
Brauchport, being quite well and vigorous, not
withstanding her seveuty-six years. She is a
daughter of Benjamin Durham, a native of Eng
land, who came to the United States with several
brothers, he settling in Yates County, where he
took up a large tract of land, aud was employed
as a millwright. He erected the first gristmill
built at Niagara Falls.
The family of which our subject is a member
consisted, besides himself, of two children, namely:
Ann Eliza, who died in 1865; and Charles D.,
who resides on the old homestead. For a time,
after his admission to the Bar, Mr. Decker was
alone; then he was in partnership with Henry
M. McQuoid until the death of that gentleman,
under the firm name of McQuoid & Decker.
Later he was with T. N. Little for three years,
the name of that firm being Decker & Little.
Since that time he has practiced alone.
In addition to his professional labors, Mr.
Decker has at various times held important local
offices, and in these varied positions he has ren
dered efficient service in the interest of the people.
He held the office of City Clerk of Middletown
for three years, and he has also served at different
times as City Attorney. For sixteen years he
was a member of the Board of Education, a por
tion of the time serving as President. During
that period several ward schoolhouses were built,
the academy remodeled, and the free library
founded. He introduced and secured the passage
ofthe resolution that founded the library, now
one of the best in the state.
At Middletown, December 31, 1872, Mr. Decker
married Miss Frances Emily Horton, daughter of
Charles Horton, a retired tanner, formerly of
Callicoon, N. Y. Mrs. Decker was born iu that
village, and was the recipient of excellent educa
tional advantages, being a graduate of Vassar
College. They are the parents of four children,

HERBERT GEDNEY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

r5"

namely: William Grant, who is a member of* the
Class of '96 of Wallkill Academy, preparing for
college; Florence Louise, Clements Durham and
Lucy Horteuse. The family occupy an elegant
residence on Highland Avenue, which was de
signed and built by Mr. Decker. He is a mem
ber of the Second Presbyterian Church. For a
time he was President of Excelsior Hook aud
Ladder Company No. 1, aud is now au honorary
member of the organization. Socially he is iden
tified with the Paughcaughmaughsinque Lodge
of Red Men in this city. He is also a member
of Clinton Lodge No. 169, F. & A. M., at Clin
ton; Midland Chapter No. 240, R. A. M.; Dela
ware Commandery No. 44, at Port Jervis, and of
the Psi Chapter of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity.

^+£*B

""""""E]

HERBERT GEDNEY, attorney and counselor-
at-law at Middletown, was born in Gosheu,
June 22, 1852. The Gedney family were
originally from Kent, England, and the name,
which is an old Saxon one, was originally spelled
Geduaia. The first members of the family, who
came from Pike Island, were of the lauded gen
try. The father of our subject, the late Judge
David F. Gedney, was a son of Dr. Gedney, a
prominent physician of Newburgh. His mother
is the great-granddaughter of Lord Stirling, the
famous Revolutionary General, whose daughter,
Lady Katherine Alexander, married William
Duer, Esq. The grandfather of the Doctor was
the first of the - family in America, aud located iu
Newburgh. The father of our subject, D. F.
Gedney, a native of Newburgh, was District At
torney of Orange County two terms, and County
Judge the same length of time. After graduat
ing from Union College, he studied law and was
admitted to the Bar. Later he formed a partner
ship with Nathan Westcott, under the firm name
of Gedney & Westcott, at Goshen, N. Y., this
partnership continuing until the retirement of
Mr. Westcott. Mr. Gedney continued alone until
1875, when he took his sou Herbert into part
nership, the firm becoming D. F. & H. Gedney.
During the war the Judge was instrumental in

recruiting- the One Hundred aud Twenty-fourth
New York Infantry. He was a man of good lit
erary taste, a great linguist, and a musician of
more than ordinary ability. He wrote a great
deal of church music, and iu church matters he
always took a deep interest, for many years
serving as Warden of St. James Episcopal Church
at Goshen. As an attorney and jurist he was
well known, and carried on an extensive practice.
In politics he was a Republican, and for years
was quite active in the councils of that party. He
died iu Goshen, July 9, 1888. His wife, Harriet
Duer, was born in Goshen, and was a daughter
of Alexander Duer, Jr. , a prominent attorney in
that place, whose brothers, John and William,
were both Judges in the Superior Court of New
York. Mrs. Harriet Gedney is still living at
Goshen, N. Y. One of her sous, Alexander
Duer Gedney, was lost at sea. He was in the
United States navy, and when on a cruise off
Cape Horn was accidentally drowned. One
daughter, Henrietta, yet remains at home.
The subject of this sketch was admitted to the
Bar in February, 1875, and practiced law iu
Goshen until the death of his father in 1888.
He opened an office in Middletown in 1893, and
has since beeu connected with the Bar at this
place. In many interesting and important cases
he has acted as counsel, and has been very suc
cessful in the prosecution of cases in the various
courts. In politics he is a Republican, and was
a candidate for the office of District Attorney in
1882, but was defeated by Hon. Russell Headley,
of Newburgh. He has decided literary taste, is
well read in church history, and is greatly inter
ested in church literature. He is a member of
Grace Episcopal Church, and at present is con
nected with the choir.
Mr. Gedney was married, in Goshen, to Miss
Eleanor B. Blauvelt, a native of Rockland County,
and a daughter of Cornelius Blauvelt, now of
Jersey City, who is interested in the Milk Ex
change at that place. The Blauvelts were origi
nally from Holland, and were old settlers in
Rockland County. To Mr. and Mrs. Gedney
have been born two children, Katharine and
Minnie.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

QVAN STEENBERGH is known not only in
YS Goshen, where he resides, but throughout
\^J Orange County aud the Hudson Valley, as a
gentleman of large inventive skill, keen insight
into affairs, and shrewd judgment. He was the
builder, and is now the proprietor, of the New
Paltz & Highland Electric Railroad, which is ten
miles long, and was erected at a cost of $235,000.
His office is at No. 53 Broadway, and he has an
elegant residence on Golden Hill Avenue, where
he and his family are surrounded by all the lux
uries of life.
The history of the Van Steenbergh family in
America extends back to an early period in the
settlement of this country. Two brothers emi
grated from Stefenhoffen, iu Holland, and set
tled, one iu Kingston, N. Y., and the other in
the city of New York. The former, Abram Van
Stefenhoffen (for iu that way the family name
was originally spelled) , served on the Colonial side
during the Revolution, and was a stanch patriot.
His son, Thomas G., was born in Kingston, and
was a carpenter, contractor and builder. He
died in Kingston at the age of seventy-six.
The father of our subject, James E., a son of
Thomas G. , was born in Kingston, and was for a
time teller in the Quassaick Bank, but later be
came Cashier of a bank in Fishkill. He had
charge of the gas works at Fishkill and Cold
Springs. At the age of forty-four he was killed
in a train accident. For some time he was Super
intendent of the Sunday-school and Deacon in the
Dutch Reformed Church at Fishkill, where the
congregation worshiped iu a building that had
been erected during the Revolution, and had been,
during that conflict, temporarily converted into a
hospital for the wounded soldiers.
The marriage of James E. Van Steenbergh
united him with Miss Abigail Halstead, a native
of Newburgh, and now a resident of New York
City. Her father was one of the prominent Hud
son River captains, aud at different times had
charge ofa sloop, schooner and barge. Our sub
ject is the eldest of four children, and was born
in Newburgh, August 23, 1849. He was reared
in Fishkill, where he attended the academy.
Later he was a student in the Dutchess Countv

Academy at Poughkeepsie, and at the age of
nineteen years completed a course at Warring' s
Military School at Poughkeepsie, in which he
was Lieutenant. In 1868 he was employed in
building the gas works at Fishkill, which he
afterward owned. On selling the plant, he pro
jected the Fishkill Landing gas works, which he
sold upon completion. Later he built the gas
works at Rhinebeck, N. Y., Coshocton and
Barnesville, Ohio, and organized the gas works
at London, Ohio, all of which he sold.
Coming to Goshen in 1880, Mr. Van Steen
bergh organized the Gas-light Company and
built the works, of which he later disposed. His
next step was the organization of the Goshen
Foundry- aud Gas- machinery Company, for which
he built a plant, and of which he was President
and general manager. While thus engaged he
invented the water-gas process, for which he built
the necessary machinery and procured patents.
Subsequently he was given other letters-patent.
His original and valuable ideas 011 the subject
brought him into prominence throughout the
country, aud he was called to other cities to in
troduce the gas plant. He built the works at
Somerville, N. J., and introduced the machinery
for this process. Later he put in the plant for
the Singer Manufacturing Company of Elizabeth,
N. J., and afterward built the gas works at Del
hi, Waterville, Herkimer and Onoville, N. Y.;
Austin and Corsicaua, Tex. ; Macon, Ga. ; and
Rutherford, N. J. On his return to New York
he erected the water works and the electric-light
plant at New Paltz. He aided in the incorpora
tion of the New Paltz & Highland Electric Rail
road Company, which has a capital stock of
$235,000. He owns the works at this place, and
has been inseparably connected with the progress
of this most important enterprise.
It is scarcely necessary to state to any one ac
quainted with Mr. Van Steenbergh, that he is a
firm Republican, actively interested in the success
ofthe party. In all public matters he takes a
commendable interest, and he is both progressive
and public-spirited. Since coming to Goshen he
has established domestic ties, having been united
with Miss Ida, daughter of John Decker, a stock-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

[5*3

raiser of this place. Three children bless the
union, Edward S., Marguerite and Henry P.
Mrs. Van Steenbergh is identified with the Epis
copal Church, and with her husband is a member
ofthe best society ofthe place.
<X*******^'*****^*******»*****X>
(3TEELE HARRISON, one of the reliable
j\ and successful contractors and builders of
\2) Newburgh, has constructed upwards of a
dozen residences on his own account and dis
posed of them to good advantage. During the
twenty years of his employment in this line of
work in the city he has been constantly employed
in building residences, stores and public struct
ures, and has given general satisfaction to those
with whom he has had business dealings. At
present he is the owner of three residences at the
corner of Third and Dubois Streets and four oth
ers on Liberty Street, Washington Heights.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was
born in England. His father, Steele Harrison,
Sr., was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and
was the owner of a valuable farm. He was a
member of the Church of England, and at the
time of his death, which occurred in 1890, was
over eighty years of age. His wife, Jane, was a
Miss Bamford before their marriage, and like
wise a native of County Antrim. Her death oc
curred in the Emerald Isle in 1 891, at the ripe
old age of seventy-five years. They were the
parents of five children, two of whom are de
ceased, and three of the number are now in
America. .
The birth of Steele Harrison, of this sketch, oc
curred near Ballymena, County Antrim, June 1,
1840. He was the eldest in the family, and was
given a good education in the national schools of
Ireland. In 1863 he went to Londonderry,
where he took passage in the steamer "Nova
Scotia," bound for America. After a fourteen-
days voyage the vessel arrived in Portland, from
which city Mr. Harrison proceeded direct to
Newburgh. Here for a time he was employed in
a foundry at the corner of Washington and High
land Streets, and two years later commenced serv

ing an apprenticeship to the mason's trade under
a Mr. Dobbins. Afterwards he was employed
by John and Robert Kernahau, and then worked
as a journeyman both here and in New York
City for a few years. About 1874 he started in
business in partnership with John McNeal. This
connection existed for about five or six years',
when it was dissolved by mutual consent, since
which time Mr. Harrison has been alone. He
built two residences for Colonel Dickey on the
Heights, two for Mr. Chadborn, one for Mrs.
Ross, another for Mrs. Ford, two residences for
Frank Estabrook; the home of Mis. Cavanagh,
at the corner of Third and Lander Streets; the
homes of Messrs. Jones and Steward, and scores
of others. He erected Ryan's Building on Broad
way, St. James' Catholic Church at Middletown,
four buildings in Warwick, besides others. He
is financially interested in the Palatine Hotel
Company, and is a charter member of the Board
of Trade.
In 1 86 1 Mr. Harrison was married, in Ireland,
to Mary J. Leech. She was born in the same
locality as her husband, and, like him, received a
good education. They are both members of the
Reformed Presbyterian Church, and are active
in all good works of benefit to the public. Po
litically Mr. Harrison is a Republican of the most
loyal type, and is respected by all who have any
dealings with him, whether in a business or social
way.

c-

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l^r

=0

'HOMAS FULTON. Both in Washington
ville and the town of Blooming Grove tne
firm of Fulton & Co. is known as a reliable
business concern, entirely worthy of the confi
dence of the people. Its prosperous condition is
largely due to the energy and perseverance of
Thomas Fulton, who gained a thorough knowl
edge ofthe business under his father's guidance.
For a time he filled the position of bookkeeper,
but on the ist of January, 1892, he succeeded his
father in the business, which he has since con
ducted judiciously and with success. In his store

!5M

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he carries a full line of lumber, together with
coal, feed and building supplies generally.
The father of our subject, who was also named
Thomas, was a native of Orange County, and was
born at Bethlehem. In early life he removed to
Ulster, and for a time resided at Wallkill, where
he owned and operated a mill. About eighteen
years ago he came to Washingtonville and em
barked in the feed business, which he carried on
continuously until 1892. In many respects he
was a remarkable man, and it is safe to say that
no one in the town of Blooming Grove was more
highly esteemed than he. His death, which oc
curred September 3, 1892, at the age of eighty-
three years, was mourned as a public loss. His
political affiliations were with the Democratic
party, and he was one of the most faithful and
influential "wheel-horses" of that organization.
For two terms he represented his town upon the
County Board of Supervisors, and he was also a
member of the Assembly from Orange County.
His advice was often sought in party councils,
and the greatest reliance was placed on his sagac
ity and j udgmeut.
Thomas Fulton, Sr. , was twice married, his
first wife dying at the age of fifty-five. After
ward he was united with Miss Jennie McClung,
of Newburgh, who passed away in April, 1892,
shortly before his death. Their four children
were Annie, widow of John O. Birdsall, of Brook
lyn; Maggie, a trained nurse living in Newark,
N. J.; Thomas and Carrie. The only son, our
subject, was born in Wallkill, Ulster County,
N. Y. , June 5, 1871. At the age of six years he
was brought by his parents to Washingtonville,
where he has since resided. Attending the com
mon schools, he laid the foundation of the ex
tensive knowledge which he has since gained by
observation and systematic reading. From an
early age he has been active and ambitious, and
his natural talents seemed to fit him for a busi
ness life. After keeping the books for his father,
he succeeded to the business January 1, 1892.
Since that time he has purchased the lumber and
coal business of Charles Cooper, which has doub
led his trade. He is qualified to do an extensive
business, and his transactions are of such an hon

orable nature that the people repose the greatest
confidence iu his ability. By his marriage with
Miss Mamie C. Winans, of Brooklyn, he has one
child, Miriam.
Following in the footsteps of his father, our
subject takes a warm interest in political matters,
and gives his support to the Democratic party.
At present he is a member of the Democratic Cen
tral Committee, and without doubt his executive
ability and good judgment will be recognized to
an ever increasing extent by the members of his
party. All public-spirited and progressive meas
ures receive his cordial support, and Washing
tonville has in him. one of its most stirring citi
zens. In religious belief he is a member of the
Presbyterian Church.

(JOHN SMITH, one of the honored and re-
I spected citizens of Orange County, is now
(2/ living retired in the city of Newburgh. He
is a native of England, born in Manchester, Feb
ruary 9, 1853, and is a son of William and Lou
isa (Driukwater) Smith, The father was also
boru in that city, where for many years he was
engaged as a bleacher and dyer of cotton goods,
in connection with his brother John.
John Smith, whose name heads this sketch, is
the sixth in a family of eight children, three sons
and five daughters. His early life was passed in
Manchester, where he attended the grammar
school, one of the largest and best schools in the
north of England, and on completing the course
was graduated therefrom. At the age of sixteen
he obtained a position as salesman in a wholesale
dry-goods house of Manchester, remaining with
that firm until coming to America iu 187 1 , when he
entered the Boiling Springs Bleaching establish
ment of Chadwick Brothers, near Passaic, N. J.,
later becoming superintendent of their works.
He held that position until 1878, when the busi
ness was consolidated and he became superintend
ent of the Newburgh Bleaching Works, where he
remained until June, 1893, when he resigned and

FRANCIS A. WILLARD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1517

has since lived retired at his pleasant home on
Montgomery Street. His long retention in that
position indicates his faithfulness to his employers'
interests, and the high regard in which he was
held by them.
In Newburgh, in 1886, Mr. Smith married Miss
Anna L. Quackenbush, who is a native of that
city, and a daughter of T. S. Quackenbush, who
was born in Albany County, N. Y. They have
become the parents of three sons: Geoffrey Q.,
William Alfred and John Roland. In 1877 Mr.
Smith visited his old home in England, and dur
ing his absence traveled some on the Continent,
while in 1893 he made another trip across the
Atlantic with his family, remaining three months,
and visiting many places of interest.
In March, 1894, Mr. Smith was nominated on
the Republican ticket as a member of the Board
of Education, and on his election was made Chair
man of the Committee on Laws and Conference
with the Common Council, and a member of the
Committees on Finance and Textbooks and Sup
plies. As he is deeply interested in educational
affairs, he makes an efficient and active member of
the board. He is a member of the County Re
publican Central Committee from the Fourth
Ward, and from the second district of the same
ward was elected a member of the Republican
City Committee. Socially he belongs to the City
Club of Newburgh, and is a Director and Treas
urer of the Powelton Club, in which organiza
tions he takes an active part. Himself and ex
cellent wife hold membership with St. George's
Episcopal Church.

^ *+,+4*ml»

FRANCIS A. WILLARD, editor and proprie
ty tor of the Register, was born in Midway,
I Ky., August 23, 1856. His education was
obtained in the public schools and academy at
Boonville, and in the Whitestown Seminary. In
1878-79 he was clerk of the village of Boonville.
In 1880 he was telegraph editor of the Watertown
Morning Dispatch, and the following year served
as its managing editor. In September, 18S2, he
became a member of the firm of Willard & Sons,

editors of the Boonville Herald. During the first
year of the publication of the Utica Daily Press,
in the campaign of 1882, he had charge of its
editorial columns.
Iu 1884 Mr. Willard was elected Supervisor of
the town of Boonville, and it is worthy of note
that he was the first Democrat elected to that
office 011 the regular party ticket since the war.
In the session of 1885, though one ofthe young
est members of the Board, he was leader of the
Democratic minority. In 1885 his party nomin
ated him for Member of Assembly, representing
the Third Oneida District, but he positively de
clined to accept. In August, 1886, he was ap
pointed Postmaster at Boonville, being the
unanimous choice of the people of that place.
Had he so desired, he would have been tendered
the nomination for Congress in 1888 and 1890
from the Twenty-third Congressional District.
Iu 1891 Mr. Willard disposed of his interest in
the Boonville Herald to his brother, and then
set about finding a plant located nearer the
metropolis. The Newburgh Register was iu the
market; it belonged to John A. Mason, who had
been absent from the city as Deputy Collector
connected with the United States Custom House
at New York City for several years, leaving the
paper in the hands of others to conduct. The
result was that the influence and value of the
sheet, both as a newspaper and an advertising
medium, had greatly deteriorated. Mr. Willard,
recognizing that the task of bringing the Register
to the front rank (the only place he would be
content to have it) meant arduous aud unceas
ing labor, hesitated about making the effort.
Finally, May 9, 1891, he closed the contract,
the Daily and Weekly Register passed into his
hands, and since that time the improvements
have been so numerous as to entirely change its
position, as well as appearance, in the ranks of
newspaperdom. The Weekly became a semi-
weekly, the .system of newsgathering was mod
ernized by the employment of a city editor to
manage the local department and a corps of re
porters to gather the facts. Correspondents were
secured iu all neighboring towns and villages, m
order that every happening of importance might

I5i8

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

be chronicled on the day of its occurrence. A
soliciting agent was employed to keep the adver
tising standard at the top notch — being the first
publisher on the Hudson River who considered
this important feature worthy of consideration. To
the editorial department he gave, and still gives,
his personal attention, in addition to a general
supervision of every branch and department of
the vast establishment. The editorial utterances
in behalf of the cause of Democracy have so much
of snap in them that they are considered worthy
of reproduction in the columns of the foremost
party papers ofthe Empire State.
From an inconvenient and antiquated structure
the Register was moved into a commodious,
modern, four-story and basement building on the
main thoroughfare of the city, greatly to the sur
prise of the old-time-idea newspaper men, who
predicted that only ruin and disaster could follow
such a radical change, owing to the expense at
tending the occupancy of such a model edifice.
The wisdom of his choice has been evident from
the outset, and No. 30 Water Street is visited
weekly by hundreds of merchants, manufacturers
and citizens who had never before crossed its
threshhold. Finally, as a crowning endeavor to bring the
Register a trifle ahead of all its competitors, Mr.
Willard added improved machinery to his plant,
reduced the price of the paper to one cent,
changed it from a nine-column 28x44 y^ folio to
six pages, 23)^x40, and made it the best local and
general newspaper on the Hudson River. The
change proved a popular one, and in two months
time the bona fide circulation had more than
doubled, and on October 1 more than three times
as many papers were being printed as when he
first took control; its advertising columns were
crowded so they encroached on the reading mat
ter, and the rates for advertising had been made
to correspond with its increased value. The
Register is all that is claimed for it, Mr. Willard
considering this to be one of the secrets of suc
cess: "Always deal fair with patrons and never
misrepresent anything. ' '
Since coming to Newburgh Mr. Willard has
become one of the leading citizens. When here

less than two years he was selected , in one of the
longest and hardest contested conventions ever
known in the city, as Chairman of the Demo
cratic City Committee, a position that was cov
eted by life-long citizens. For two years he has
held the position of Statistician in the Bureau of
Labor Statistics at Albany. He is powerful in
the councils of his party, and his views are re
spected and advice sought for. Mr. Willard has
a strong love for home, and when office duties
are over he may be found at his fireside, enjoy
ing the companionship of his wife and daughter,
and doing all that he can to make their lives
happy and his home a pleasant one.

-">-—»  0>K®(§§|S)®iHrC*{«  1  *-

SEORGE CRAWFORD, for many years one
of the influential and enterprising business
men of Middletown, is now living retired at
his beautiful home in this city. He has shown
marked ability as a business man, and has been
very successful in all that he has undertaken.
Our subject was bom September 10, 1816, in
the town of Crawford, which was named in honor
of his grandfather, who located here many years
ago. The parental family included eleven chil
dren, of whom we make the following- mention:
Emeline, who never married, died when eighty
years of age; Leander at the time of his death was
in his seventy-third year; Millicent was sixty-five
years at the time other death; John A. lived to
be eighty-one; Albert was sixty-three years old
when he died; George, of this sketch, was the
next-born; Sarah E. is deceased, as is also Esther;
Theron is one of the most prominent agriculturists
of this section, and occupies the old home farm;
Robert is a substantial farmer ofthe town of Craw
ford; and Angeline is also living in the towu ot
Crawford. The father of our subject, Robert I. Crawford,
was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., and when
young was taken to the town of Crawford, where
he was reared to mature years, and where he led
an honorable and useful life. He was a very

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1519

prominent man in the affairs of his locality, and
in settling up estates there was none better.
Honorable and upright iu all his dealings, he
won mauy friends, who held him in high esteem.
The mother of our subject, Deborah (Dickerson)
Crawford, was a native of the' town of Crawford,
-and was the daughter of Benjamin aud Esther
(Ogden) Dickerson, who were born in Dutchess
County. She belonged to the Hopewell Presby
terian Church, with which denomination her
husband was also connected, and of which he was
an Elder for many years.
Our subject passed the. first thirty years of his
life on the old homestead, in the meantime ac
quiring a good education. On starting out for
himself, he purchased a farm in the town of
Montgomery, which he operated with success for
ten years. At the end of that time he rented his
estate, aud, moving into Middletown, engaged in
the crockery and woodenware business. Several
years later he opened up a grocery store, and for
four years conducted a thriving trade among the
best people ofthe locality. He is now living re
tired, giving his attention to looking after his
real-estate interests.
November 5, 1846, Mr. Crawford married Miss
Mary E. Crawford, a native of Orange County,
and to them have been boru two children: Emma,
at home; and Frank, a merchant of Middletown.
Mr. Crawford owns three residences in this place,
which he rents, and in this way derives a good
income. He is a stanch Republican in politics,
and is actively interested in the success of his
party. Like the other members of his family, he
belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

SOL- DANIEL C. DUSENBERRY, who is
the oldest merchant by many years in Mid
dletown, came to this place in 1838, and pur
chased the first jewelry store established here.
He was born near Amity, town of Warwick,
March 3, 1818, and is a son of Isaac and Anna
(Knapp) Dusenberry, also natives of that town.
The paternal grandfather, a native of Holland,
emigrated to the United States, and after a short

sojourn on Long Island made settlement in Or
ange County. The maternal grandfather, Will
iam Knapp, was born at Pine Island, and spent
his life principally in the town of Warwick.
Isaac Dusenberry, who was a farmer by occupa
tion, resided, near the village of Amity ville, where
he died at the age of seventy; his wife passed
away when eighty-two years old.
Of the family of five children born to Isaac and
Anna Dusenberry, Daniel C. is the sole survivor.
He remained at home until sixteen years of age.
When he was twelve, the family moved to Goshen,
and there he attended Farmer School. At the
age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the
watchmaker's trade, under Jonah K. Payne, of
Goshen, with whom he remained for two years,
completing the trade with Daniel Warden. He
then came to Middletown, which at that time had
less than three hundred inhabitants. As stated,
he purchased the first jewelry store in the village,
it being situated on the corner of North and Main
Streets. After two years spent there, he removed
to West Main Street, and two years later opened
a store 011 East Main Street.
At the expiration of two years, Mr. Dusenber
ry purchased his present site and erected a build
ing which he occupied many years. It was after
ward replaced by the three-story brick structure
at No. 14 North Street. In 1893 he admitted
his son D. W. into the firm, and the business is
continued under the firm name of D. C. Dusen
berry & Son. They make a specialty of dia
monds, sterling-silver tableware and fancy articles
of every description suitable to the jewelry trade.
Their assortment of diamonds and silverware is
the largest in the county.
In 1862 Mr. Dusenberry was commissioned
Colonel in the New York National Guards by
Governor Seymour, and recruited the Ninety-
first Regiment, composed of one thousand men,
taken from the different towns in Sullivan and
Orange Counties. After holding the commission
a short time he resigned. During the '40s he
assisted in the organization of a military company
in Middletown, which was known as the Middle-
town Light Guards, of which he was commis
sioned First Lieutenant.

1520

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Colonel Dusenberry has beeu an active man in all
the business relations of life. In 1869 he assisted
iii the organization of the Middletown Savings
Bank, and was a member ofthe Finance Commit
tee, then Trustee, and subsequently Vice-Presi
dent, which position he held until his resigna
tion, some years ago. He was instrumental in
building the North Plank Road, the charter of
which is still in existence. It is now, however,
a turnpike. He also assisted in the building of
the South Plank Road, which is now given up as
a public road. In the location ofthe Middletown
State Hospital he took au active part, contribut
ing towards the purchase of the site, and was
one of the committee to work for its location in
Middletown. The cause of education has had in
him a friend, and he contributed liberally to the
Wallkill Academy, and has done everything in
his power to make it a success. He was instru
mental in building the railroad from Goshen to
Middletown, after the Erie had partially graded
it between the two places, and was one of a
committee to raise the sum of $80,000 for its
completion, with the understanding that the Erie
Company should pay the money back, which was
subsequently done. Stacey Beakes was Chair
man of the committee.
Iu 1850 Colonel Dusenberry married, in this
city, Miss Mary Bennett, a native ofthe town of
Wallkill, and a daughter of Bedford Bennett, a
farmer and representative of an old family who
settled on the site of Middletown. She was edu
cated at Goshen Academy. Of their family of
four children, three are now living. Emma, a
graduate of Port Jervis Academy, married a Mr.
Thompson, and died in Middletown; Hattie mar
ried a Mr. Towner, a graduate of Monticello
Academy and a merchant of Middletown; Clara,
who was educated at Wallkill Academy, is yet at
home; D. W.,whoisa graduate of Siglar's Prepar
atory Academy of Newburgh, is now engaged
with his father in business. The mother of these
children died in 1893.
Colonel Dusenberry was one of the charter
members of both Hoffman and Goshen Lodges,
F. & A. M. At Port Jervis. he was made a Ma
son, but withdrew from the lodge there to assist

in starting Hoffman Lodge No. 412 at Mid
dletown. He later withdrew from the latter to
start Goshen Lodge, and then returned to Hoff
man Lodge. He was also one of the organizers
of the old Pioneer Fire Company, which was the
first in Middletown. In politics he is a Demo
crat, and has served on both the City and County
Central Committees. He was Chairman of the
County Central Committee several years, and
has often represented his district in state conven
tions. He was a member of the state conven
tion which nominated Seymour for Governor, and
also of those which nominated Hoffman and Til-
den, the latter of whom was a personal friend.
Of late years he has not taken as active a part as
formerly. Iu local politics he was very active in
former years, and was one of the first Trustees 011
the incorporation of the village. He is a member
of the Board of Trade, and was its President for
several years.

(JOSEPH A. STEWART, storekeeper for the
1 New York, Ontario & Western Railroad at
Q) the main distributing point, Middletown,
was born in New York City, August 31, 1866.
He was brought to Middletown when but two
years of age, and has here continued to reside.
His primary education was received at the pub
lic schools and was finished in the academy.
When sixteen years of age he entered the employ
ofthe New York, Ontario & Western Railway iu
the paint-shops, where he continued for about
three years. The business not agreeing with his
health, he was compelled to resign, and was ap
pointed storekeeper for the company at this place,
to which he devotes his entire time.
Mr. Stewart was united iu marriage at New
ark, N. J., with Miss Tillie Lemon, who was
born in Circleville, and who is the daughter
of Henry A Lemon, a farmer residing in that
vicinity. They have one child, Selden H., and
the family resides at Nos. 40 and 42 Hanford
Street. Fraternally Mr. Stewart is a member of

<£&&&

'<S«2 '-)4iifeS

^4VlD A-

HAMILTON MORRISON AND SONS.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1523

Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M. ; Midland
Chapter No. 123, R. A. M.; and the Union Con
sistory of Middletown. Politically he is a Re
publican. HAMILTON MORRISON was born August
24, 1804, on the old homestead which is now
occupied by his sons, George H. and John
G. This property has been handed down in the
family from father to son for over one hundred
and fifty years. It contains two hundred and
sixty acres, and is one of the best improved es
tates in the town of Montgomery. The parental
family included eight children, of whom our sub
ject was the youngest but one. His parents were
Hamilton and Lydia (Beemer) Morrison, the
former of whom was a native of Ireland, whence
he crossed the Atlantic and landed on American
shores when a lad of sixteen years, being accom
panied by his father, John. The latter, who took
up the land which is still held in the Morrison fam
ily, was then advanced in years, and only lived a
short time after reaching his new home.
The parental family included the following
children: Bathsheba, whose birth occurred Au
gust 20, 1790; Lydia, December 10, 1791; Pru
dence, who died in childhood; John Adam, who
was born February 23, 1797; Elizabeth, who was
born September 9, 1799, and died in childhood;
Prudence, who was born November 1, 1802;
Hamilton, August 24, 1804; Eliza, September 21,
1807. Hamilton passed his entire life on the
home farm in the town of Montgomery, and died
October 25, 1881. He was very successful in all
his undertakings, and was highly regarded by all
who knew him. The progress and development
of the material resources of this section were due
in a measure to his untiring efforts, and to him
was given the credit of founding the Orange Coun
ty Agricultural Society.
The father of our subject, Hamilton Morrison,
was a* tanner by trade. He was born iu Ballyua-
hinch, in the North of Ireland, but wasof Scotch
extraction. He was married, some years after
coming to America, to Miss Beemer, who was
born in New Jersey, on the banks of the Delaware

River, and who was a daughter of Adam and
Deborah Beemer. She lived to the remarkable
age of one hundred and three years, passing away
January 24, 1868. She was twice married, and
after the death of Mr. Morrison married George
Morrow, by whom she had a son, George, Jr.,
whose sketch the reader will find elsewhere in
this book. The Beemers were of Holland extrac
tion, and Mrs. Morrison's father participated in
the Revolutionary War.
The lady to whom our subject was married,
January 15, 1827, was Miss Maria- daughter of
Jonathan and Elizabeth (Mould) Mould. Her
death occurred March 26, 1868. To our subject
and his wife seven children were boru, namely:
Jonathan M., who is a resident of Montgomery,
and who married Margaret Winfield; David A.,
whose sketch will be found on another page iu
this volume; George H.; Mary J., the widow of
Elijah C. Thayer, of Hamptonburgh; John G. ;
William H. H., a farmer of this locality, who
married Agnes Horton; and Elizabeth, the wife
of William Hart, of Walden. George H. and
John G. are unmarried and reside on the home
stead, which they personally superintend. They
carry on general farming, but make a specialty
of dairying, selling the product to the creameries,
there being quite a number in this county. The
sons are progressive and influential citizens, and,
with the exception of David A., none would ever
accept office, finding they had all they could do
to look after their property. They are Demo
cratic iu politics, as was also their father. Both
our subject and wife were members of the Re
formed Church, and were honored citizens ofthe
county.

+=

P| AVID A.
old and

0

MORRISON belongs to one of the
representative families of Orange
County, where his entire life has been passed.
He is of Scotch-Irish and Dutch ancestry.
His paternal ancestors emigrated from Scot
land to the North of Ireland during the seven
teenth century. His great-great-graudfather,

!524

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

John Morrison, was born near Belfast, Ireland,
in the year 1700, and came to this country prior
to the Revolutionary War. He died in 1783.
His son John, the founder of the family in Amer
ica, had preceded him several years, and settled
on what is now known as the Morrison Home
stead in the town of Montgomery. He married
Elizabeth Scott and had nine children: John,
Joseph, Jane, James, Hamilton, William, Rob
ert, Gwyn and Prudence, all born in Ireland ex
cept Prudence.
Hamilton, the grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, was born near Belfast, Ireland, Novem
ber 4, 1759, and accompanied his father to the
New World. Arriving at manhood, he married
Lydia Beemer, whose ancestors were of Dutch
descent and came from Beemerville, N. J. He
occupied the homestead farm and engaged in
agricultural pursuits and tanning. He was one
of the projectors of the Newburgh & Cochecton
Turnpike, and was Justice of the Peace for sev
eral years. Diligent in business, he accumulated
property rapidly, and, although he died in the
prime of life, owned several farms at the time of
his death, which occurred in 1808. His widow
lived to the advanced age of one hundred and
three years. They had eight children: Bath-
sheba, who died unmarried; Lydia, who married
William Stewart, of Newburgh; Prudence, who
died in infancy; John A., who became a promi
nent physician and large land-holder of Wurts
boro, N. Y.; Prudence, who married Hon. Ste-
•phen Rapalje, of Walden, N Y.; Elizabeth, who
died young; Hamilton; and Eliza, the wife of the
late Dr. Andrew King.
Hamilton Morrison, the father of David, was
born August 24, 1804, and inherited the old
homestead, on which he was reared. His edu
cation was obtained in the Montgomery Academy,
after which he taught school for some time, but
later gave his entire attention to the management
of his farm, which comprised nearly three hun
dred acres. He was a prominent man and a
leading agriculturist, and one of -the original
founders of the Orange County Agricultural So
ciety, of which he was ever an active member.
For many years he was a member of the Board

of Directors, twice served as President, and for
a quarter of a century was Vice-President. With
the Reformed (Dutch) Church he held member
ship. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a
supporter of the Democratic party.- Prudent in
investments, he amassed a large fortune, and
died in 1881, at the age of seventy-seven. In
1827 he married Maria Mould, the mother of our
subject, aud a most estimable woman, who de
parted this life in 1868, at the age of sixty-two
years. She was the daughter of Jonathan Mould,
an influential farmer of the town of Montgomery,
and a pillar in the Dutch Reformed Church.
His father, Johannes, and grandfather, Christo
pher Mould, were both born in Orange County,
where they followed the occupation of farming.
The latter was a son of Christoffel Mould, one of
the earliest Dutch settlers in the Wallkill Valley.
David A. Morrison is the second in a family of
seven children. Jonathan M., who married Mar
garet Winfield, is engaged in the insurance busi
ness, and is also a civil engineer in the village
of Montgomery; he is an amateur florist, and
takes an active interest in church work. David
A. is the next; George H, who is a prominent
farmer, resides on the old homestead; Mary J. is
the widow of Elijah C. Thayer, and is a resident
ofthe town of Hamptonburgh; John G., au intel
ligent agriculturist, is part owner of the home
farm, on which he resides; William H. H., who
is a successful and progressive farmer, married
Miss Agues Horton, and lives on a farm adjoin
ing the old homestead; and Elizabeth M. is the
wife of William C. Hart, who resides near Wal
den, this county.
On leaving the district schools Mr. Morrison
entered the Montgomery Academy, and at the
age of seventeen began teaching, being thus em
ployed during the winter, while in the summer
months he assisted his father iu the labors of the
farm. For about thirty terms he followed the
profession of teaching, being Principal of the
schools in Walden and Montgomery; also taught
in district schools in the towns of Montgomery,
Hamptonburgh and Blooming Grove.
Mr. Morrison has ever taken an active part in
educational affairs, being elected School Commisr

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sioner for the First District of Orange County iu
1867, and re-elected in 1881, 1884, 1887 and
- 1890, serving until 1894, hi all five terms, or fif
teen years, an event without parallel in the state.
The last four times the election was in a district
where the Republicans usually had a majority of
from eight hundred to one thousand, but each
time he was elected on the Democratic ticket with
an increasing majority, thus showing his popu
larity. During his term of office educational
progress was marked. He resurrected several
school districts and placed them in a good condi
tion. The following shows the advancement in
the schools in his district between the first and last
terms: Increase in number of teachers employed,
' sixty-eight per cent. ; in average length of school
terms, thirteen per cent. ; number of children of
school age, twelve per cent. ; average daily at
tendance, fifty-three percent.; aggregate number
of days' attendance, fifty-seven per cent. ; value of
schoolhouses and sites, three hundred and sixteen
per cent. ; assessed valuation of districts, forty-five
per cent.; amount of public money received, one
hundred and twenty-two per cent. ; and amount
of teachers' wages, one hundred and fifteen per
cent. In his reports Mr. Morrison made many
useful suggestions, which have been embodied
in the school laws of the state.
In 1880 Mr. Morrison was married to Miss
Mary R. Lipsett, who was born in the town of
Montgomery, and is a daughter of Robert Lip-
sett, who was one of its leading farmers, and a
great-granddaughter of Col. William Faulkner,
of Revolutionary fame. For many years Mr.
Morrison continued to live on the old homestead,
but in 1893 located in Newburgh, where he now
makes his home.
Since 1858 he has been Secretary ofthe Orange
County Agricultural Society. He has attended
every fair held by the society since its organiza
tion in 1 841, and is one of its mainstays. He is
a painstaking and tireless worker, gentle yet firm,
and a man of education and ability. His long
continuance in the office of School Commissioner
and Secretary of the Agricultural Society is suf
ficient evidence- of his qualifications therefor.
In politics, originally a Whig, he joined the Re-

!525

publican party at its organization in 1856, and
was an active supporter of the Union cause, but
during Grant's second term he became identified
with the Democratic party, of which he has since
been an honored member.

;****Sg[a

fc****~-
******=

I

OHN E. SMITH GARDNER, now de
ceased, was born July 16, 1815, in Florida,
Orange County N. Y. His father was Ira
Gardner, after whom the village of Gardnerville
was named, and who died many years ago. Our
subject was the eldest of nine children, five of
whom are now living, namely: Ann, wife of Gab
riel Seeley, ofthe town of Chester; Virginia, wife
of Benjamin Noyes, of New Haven, Conn.; Mrs.
Sarah Coleman, proprietress of the Coleman
House of Asbury Park; Harriet, who is unmar
ried; and Floyd, formerly a merchant of New
Hampton, but who now lives iu New York City.
Three ofthe sisters who died a number of years
ago in Middletown were Frances, widow of Capt.
John M. Cash, and who afterwards was the wife
of Herman B. Young; Caroline, wife of John S.
Conkling; and Antoinette, wife of Menson Finch.
Mr. Gardner married Phoebe Millicent Cash, who
died in 1875, and who was the youngest daughter
of Reuben Cash, and granddaughter of Daniel
Cash, who narrowly escaped a massacre at Wy
oming by the Indians under Brandt. Mrs. Gard-
uer was a sister of Dr. Merritt H. Cash, a wealthy
resident of Wawayanda, who died a number of
years ago. At his death Dr. Cash left the use
of his farm, known as the Rutger's Place, to Mrs.
Gardner until her son Merritt should reach
twenty-one, when the title passed to him. Mr.
Gardner was a good citizen and a kind and ac
commodating neighbor. He lived for many
years on the farm five miles north of Middletown,
011 the Bloomingburg Plank Road, for which he
helped to secure the charter and donated the
right of way through his farm, a distance of
three-quarters of a mile. While a young man he
united with the Westtown Presbyterian Church, of
which he was a member at the time of his death.
Daniel Cash was born in New England, but

1526

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the date of his death is not known exactly. He
and his wife, Mary Tracy, joined the Baptist
Church in the year 1776. They were members of
the Baptist Church at Pittston, Pa., to which
place they went during the troublesome times in
the Wyoming Valley, when the settlers were often
threatened with destruction by the Indians. Pre
vious to one of their incursions, the officers in
command of the fort, which probably numbered
forty, sent out a scout for information and to get
reinforcements, but he was cut off by the Indians
and never returned. A second one was sent out
and met with the same fate. The commander ofthe
fort then called for a volunteer to make the perilous
trip to Connecticut for help and reinforcements.
Daniel Cash stepped forward and volunteered
to go. During his absence the massacre of Wy
oming occurred, one of the most terrible in our
history.- He reached Connecticut safely, and on
his return 011 horseback, after crossing the Dela
ware River, he met the fleeing fugitives from the
valley returning to their old homes in Orange
and adjoining counties. Among them were his
wife and children, whom he met iii the woods,
each of the little ones carrying a little bundle of
goods. He turned back with them, realizing for
the first time that his lonely, perilous journey to
Connecticut was the means of saving his life.
He settled again in Orange County, in the town
of Minisink, and occupied the farm now owned
by Dorothea Brown, near Millsburg. He aud his
wife died in 1789, and were buried on the old
burying-ground on the farm of David Slaison, a
few rods distant from the present Cash Ceme
tery. There were but ten days between their
deaths. Several ofthe Cash family were inhu
manly butchered by the Mexicans during the
Mexican War. George W. Cash was living in
Texas during the struggle, and he joined the
command under Colonel Fannim, who, after being
closely besieged, surrendered to General Santa
Anna, under the solemn assurances of quarter.
The pledges were instantly violated, and nearly
the whole command was inhumanly butchered.
John S. Cash, a brother, hearing of the fate of
George, enlisted to avenge his brother's death.
He joined the expedition under command of T. J.

Green, known in history as the Meir Expedition.
They captured the city of Meir, but under
the false representation of the Mexican officers
that they were besieged aud surrounded by an
overwhelming force, they were induced to sur
render the city to the Mexicans. They were then
marched off as prisoners toward the city of Mex
ico, and on the way were met by an order from
Santa Anna to shoot every tenth man. They
were marched up to a pot containing white and
black beans. Those who drew black beans were
to be shot. John drew a black one, and with the
other ill-fated ones was massacred at nightfall.
Dr. Merritt H. Cash was born iu the town of
Wawayanda, July 20, 1802. He was the eldest
son of Reuben Cash, who came to the town the
latter part of the last century, and there made
his home Until the time of his death, experiencing
many of the hardships incident to the life of pio
neer settlers. Although quite young during our
country's struggle for independence, he was au
eye-witness of some of the exciting revolutionary-
scenes. He was one of the number allowed by
the Indian leader Brandt to escape the Wyom
ing Massacre, and was often wont to speak of the
white rag on his hatband that saved him from
the upifted tomahawk and glittering scalping
knife of the savages. He lived for over fifty
years on his father's homestead and in a house
that was built during the second year of the War
for Independence. He was reared on a farm, and
what little education he received was obtained in
the district school for a few months during the
winter season. But with these advantages
and self-instruction he acquired a fair elementary
education, at least enough to qualify him for
teaching. On leaving the farm he turned his
attention to teaching, in which occupation he
was very successful. It was not until he had
reached his majority that he fully decided to
enter the medical profession. As soon as he
formed this determination he relinquished his
school and entered a neighboring academy, where
he finished all the regular schooling that he ever
had, with the exception ofa few mouths' attend
ance at a select school kept by a man preparing
for the ministry. It was while with him that he

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J527

received his first religious awakening, and laid
the foundation on which was built his pure, Chris
tian character. He studied medicine in the of
fice of Dr. James P. Youngs, of Edenville, one
year, and in the office of Dr. James Huron, of
Warwick, one year. His next preceptors were
Dr. Thomas Royce and Dr. Benjamin B. New
kirk, all eminent practitioners of Orange County.
In the fall and winter of 1824-25 he attended a
course of lectures at the College of Physicians
and Surgeons iu New York. At the close of the
lectures he passed au examination and obtained a
diploma to practice medicine. This diploma bears
the honored signature of Prof. David Hasack,
President of the County Medical Society . The
Doctor now turned his attention to a suitable
field in which to practice his profession. After
casting about for a time, he concluded to settle in
the neighborhood where he was born and reared.
He was not long without patients, and they be
gan to multiply far beyond his ability to answer
their requirements. He was honorably esteemed
by neighboring* physicians as a sound counselor,
in which capacity he chiefly acted during the
closing years of his practice. He was several
times President of the County Medical Society,
twice a delegate to the State Medical Society,
and once or twice its delegate to the American
Medical Association. He was elected a perma
nent member of the State Medical Society in
1859, on the recommendation of the society.
The Regents of the University conferred on him
the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine. He
was widely known as a politician as well as a
physician, filling important offices at various
times. He represented his town as Supervis
or for several terms, and his assembly district
three terms in the Legislature. He was in the
House during the pendency of the bills incorpora
ting the Albany Medical College and the Young
Men's Association for the Mutual Improvement
ofthe City of Albany, iu both of which he took a
great interest.
Dr. Cash did not marry until he reached his
fortieth year, When he was united with Hannah
Davis, a daughter of Hon. Joseph Davis. The
marriage was a happy one, but of short duration,
66

as Mrs. Cash was soon called to that upper and
better world. She left no children. The later
years of the Doctor's life were devoted to his
farm rather than to medicine. He owned at the
time of his death several tracts of valuable
land, principally in the western part of Orange
County. Rutger's Place, his residence, so called
by him after a tribe of Indians, is where Dr.
Gardner now lives. At the time of his death he
was the possessor of a handsome fortune. He
bequeathed $4,000 to the Supervisors of Orange
County to be expended in the erection of a monu
ment to the memory of the patriots who fell in
the battle of Minisink, the bones ofwhom were
collected on the battleground and buried at Go
shen. (JAMES FREDERICK SMITH, pilot on the
I steamer "William F. Hart," was born in
G) Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, N. Y., July
23, 1861. His father, Frederick Smith, is a na
tive of Germany, born in Ulm, Wurtemberg, and
when a mere boy came to America aud located at
Rhinebeck, where he engaged as a teamster. He
there married Catherine M. Dittes, also a native
of Germany. She had been previously married,
and has two living children by her first husband.
In 1865 the family removed to Rondout, where
the father engaged in the truck and express-trans
fer business, where he still continues, being su
perintendent of the company. He is a member
of the Lutheran Church, and is greatly esteemed
in the city where he has so long resided.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
Rondout, and was educated in the private schools
of that city, taking a course in both English and
German. When twelve years of age he com
menced his river life as a cabin-boy on the
schooner "Minnie C. Post," where he was em
ployed for two seasons. During his last season
he had his right arm split from the elbow down
to the wrist, being hit by a boat while coming
around Hell Gate. On his recovery from this
wound he commenced work for George B. Hib-
bard, a coal dealer, and was engaged with him as
clerk for two seasons. He then served as deck

1. 52!;

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hand on the "Mary Powell" for four seasons, be
tween Kingston and New York City. For the
six seasons following he was mate on the ' 'Jacob
Tremper," assisting Capt. Ezra Hunter. In
1887 he was licensed as a first-class pilot on the
Hudson River, and continued on the "Tremper"
until April 1, 1892. He was then made pilot on
the "William F. Hart," where he has since re
mained. Mr. Smith was united in marriage at Rondout,
N. Y., to Annie Myer, a daughter of William
Myer, and a native of Hyde Park, N. Y. Three
children have blessed their union, Tillie M.,
J. Frederick and J. Oliver. The family resides at
No. 97 Smith Street. The parents are members
of the German Lutheran Church. Socially he is
a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.
Mr. Smith is yet a young man, but understands
the river throughout its entire length, aud since
serving as pilot has never yet met with an acci
dent.

ft) QlLLIAM B. BEAKES is numbered among
\ A / the successful and well-to-do citizens of
V V Newburgh, where he has made his home
for the past nine years. Formerly he owned a
stock and dairy farm at Cornwall, Orange Coun
ty, the place comprising some three hundred
acres. For six years he made a business of sup
plying dairy products to customers iu New York
City, and on the Cornwall Stock Farm, as his
homestead was termed, he usually kept from sixty
to eighty cows. In 1886 he sold out his business
to his brother, C. H. C. Beakes, and since then
.has been engaged in the retail trade in New
burgh, his headquarters being on the corner of
North Street and Gidney Avenue. His supplies
are obtained from his brother's farm, and his two
delivery wagons are kept in constant service.
Our subject was boru in Middletown, Novem
ber 8, 1850, iu which place his father and grand
father, Joseph, had also been boru. The latter
was a farmer by occupation and a son of Stacey
Beakes, a native of Wallkill Town. The latter's

father, who bore the same Christian name, was
the first ofthe family to settle in Orange County,
and from that time till the present his descendants
have been closely associated with the progress of
this region. Stacey, Jr., father of our subject,
was reared in Middletown, and owned a farm ad
joining that place. This homestead, comprising
one hundred and sixty acres, he continued to con
duct until he retired from active cares. His last
years were passed at the home of his son, C. H.
C. , near Cornwall, his death occurring when in his
seventy-fifth year. He was a member of the old-
school Baptist Church, and possessed the respect
and high regard of all with whom he was ac
quainted. After the organization of the Repub
lican party he became one of its loyal adherents.
His wife, Emeline, was a daughter of William
Carpenter, a farmer of Wallkill. She died in
Middletown, leaving a family of ten children,
one having previously- died.
William B. Beakes is the fifth in his parents'
family, and is one of six sons. Two of his broth
ers were soldiers in the Civil «War. He was
brought up to farm life, and his primary educa
tion was such as was afforded by the district
schools. Subsequently it was his privilege to at
tend Wallkill Academy at Middletown for one
term. He continued under the parental roof un
til eighteen years of age, when he went to New
York City and, entering the employ of Brown &
Bailey, delivered milk to their customers until his
brother, C. H. C, bought them out. He was in
his employ for six years, thus making a total of
twelve years in the same occupation. He was
thrifty- as well as industrious, and each year man
aged to lay aside a goodly sum. With this
capital he bought the farm in Cornwall, pre
viously mentioned, in 1880. Owing to his good
business methods and perseverance in his under
takings, he is now in the enjoyment of a substan
tial income and is on the high road to success.
November 15, 1877, Mr. Beakes was married,
in New York City, to Clara Embler, who was born
in Monticello, "Sullivan County, N. Y., and is the
daughter of W. T. Embler. This worthy couple
have six children, two sons and four daughters,
who in order of their birth are named as follows:

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'529

Clara, William, Florence, Sadie, Henry and
Katie. Our subject follows his father's ex
ample in the matter of politics and is an ardent
Republican.

(JOHN FERGUSON, a very successful real-
I estate and insurance broker of Middletown,
Q) has his office in the Central Building, on
North Street. He is a native of Mt. Salem, Sus
sex County, N. J., bora November 11, 1859, and
is of Scotch descent, his grandfather, James Fer
guson, having been born in Scotland. With two
brothers, he was a refugee from Scotland to the
North of Ireland, where they remained for a
short time, and then came to America, the grand
father locating in the town of Minisink, where
he purchased a tract of laud and was engaged in
farming until his death. In early life John Fer
guson, the father of our subject, learned the trade
of a shoemaker, and first engaged in business on
his father's farm. Later he located in Mt. Salem,
from which place he moved to Greenville, and
later to Port Jervis, continuing to work at his
trade until old age compelled him to retire. In
1887 he came to Middletown with our subject,
and here died June 21, 1892, at the age of seventy -
seven years. His wife, Eliza Young, the mother
of our subject, was born in Mt. Hope, aud was a
daughter of Samuel Young, a native of Scotland,
and a large farmer in the town of Mt. Hope. She
died here December 1, 1893, iu the faith of the
Baptist Church, of which she had been a mem
ber for many years. Of their twelve children,
seven grew to maturity, and six are now living.
John Ferguson, our subject, was tenth in the
parental family. In childhood he removed with
his parents to Port Jervis, where he grew to man
hood and received his education in the public
schools. When fourteen years of age he began
Work on a farm in the town of Deerpark, and for
three seasons continued to work as a farm hand
in that town and also in Minisink. He then re
turned to his father's house in Port Jervis, and
soon afterward entered the employ of the Erie
Railway, remaining as a locomotive fireman on a

freight train between Port Jervis and Jersey City
for two years. Later he was transferred to a
passenger train, where he remained three years.
In 1882 our subject left the employ ofthe rail
road company and engaged as traveling salesman
for the Scottford Manufacturing Company, of
New York City, manufacturers of stamps and
stencils. He traveled through New England and
New York, aud subsequently went west to the
Missouri River. For nearly three years he was
in the West, traveling through Missouri, Ne
braska, Kansas, Minnesota and Kentucky. In
this business he was very successful, but as he
did not care to remain away from home, in Sep
tember, 1886, he located in Middletown, where
he engaged in the real-estate and insurance busi
ness, under the firm name of Ferguson & Corey.
For two years they were located over Bull &
Youngblood 's, and then took Edward M. Mad
den in partnership, he remaining with them one
year, during which time business was conduct
ed under the firm name of Ferguson, Corey &
Madden. On the retirement of Mr. Madden, the
name of Ferguson & Corey was resumed, and
the business was continued until 1890, when our
subject withdrew from the firm.
With Mr. Corey our subject conducted an art
and music store for one year, when the firm was
dissolved, Mr. Ferguson again engaging in the
real-estate and insurance business. In 1893 he
organized the Central Building Association, and
erected the Central Building at a cost of $30,000,
he being one of the general overseers. The Cen
tral is one of the finest buildings in this city, aud
Mr. Ferguson was the first man to erect a busi
ness building north ofthe Erie Railroad. Recently
he organized a stock company, entitled The Me
chanics' Building Association, and they are erect
ing the Mechanics' Building, a magnificent struct
ure 011 North Street. Many of the buildings in
the north end were erected by them, nearly all
the real estate sold was through their agency, and
the Senator Low Tract was handled by them ex
clusively. With F. G. Kain, he is interested in
fifty lots between Highland and Linden Avenues,
near Wisner Avenue. These are among the
finest building lots in the city, and are rapidly

1530

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

being disposed of. In addition to his real-estate
business, Mr. Ferguson also acts as a loan and
stock broker, and is appraiser of the New York
Building Bank at this place.
In 1887 Mr. Ferguson was married, in Middle-
town, to Miss Mina C. Brooks, a native of Orange
County, born near Tuxedo Park, where her father
was engaged in merchandising. They have one
child, Clinton B. In politics Mr. Ferguson is a
Prohibitionist, and has been au advocate of the
principles of that party for many years. He has
been a candidate of his party for Assemblyman,
running far ahead of his ticket, and has been a
delegate to the state and national conventions,
attending the convention at Pittsburg which nomi
nated John P. St. John for President. For many
years he has been an active member of the Inde
pendent Order of Good Templars, and is now Past
Worthy Chief Templar of Middletown Lodge, and
is the County Chief Templar. He was Lodge
Deputy for several years, and has been a repre
sentative to the grand lodge of the state. He is
a member of the Middletown Board of Trade, and
religiously is a pronounced Methodist.

30SEPH W. CONKLIN resides iu the town of
Tuxedo, and owns a farm lying on the banks
of Little Long Pond, near the Rockland Coun
ty line. The greater portion of his life has been
spent in the forests of the Highland Mountains,.
and few are better judges of the land in this lo
cality than is he. A native of the adjoining
county of Rockland, his birth occurred in the
town of Johnsontown, March 14, 1828. He was
reared to maturity there, remaining with his fa
ther until the age of twenty-one. For a number
of years he worked as a laborer in the mountains,
and in the spring of 1867 purchased one hundred
and eighty acres in the town of Tuxedo, to which
he has since added from time to time. He spent
a short time in Virginia, near Fairfax and Bull
Run, getting out timber for shipbuilding, and has
always given prominent attention to wood prod
ucts. The first marriage of Mr. Conklin was to Miss

Irene Hill, a native of this county, and daughter
of Andrew Hill, who was a cooper by trade.
Five children were bom unto this union, of whom
we note the following: Margaret married Peter
Bush, of Albany, N. Y. ; David E. , who married
Louisa Conklin, makes his home with his father,
and for seven years has been in the employ of
Pierre Lorillard at Tuxedo Park; Georgiana
married Isaac Wanamaker, of Rahway, N. J.;
Ella is the wife of Jacob Taylor, of Spring Valley,
Rockland County; and Irene is deceased.
The present wife of Mr. Conklin was Miss
Elizabeth McKee, who was born near Warwick,
and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Conklin)
McKee. Her father, who was a hatter and mer
chant by occupation, went to New York on busi
ness and was never heard of afterward, but it was
supposed that he was murdered for the money he
carried with him. By his second marriage Mr.
Conklin is the father of five children, namely:
Albert, who married Isabel Odell, and lives at
Haverstraw; James L-, who for six years has
been employed as a gardener at Tuxedo Park;
Reuben B. and Aaron, who assist their father in
the management of the home farm; and Bertha
Mary, who resides with her parents.
The father of our subject, Walter, was a son of
Joseph and Sarah Conklin, and the mother, whose
maiden name was Adeline Jones, was a daughter
of Abraham and Nancy (Pitt) Jones. Nancy
Pitt was a daughter of Richard, brother of the
illustrious William Pitt, of England. The former
came to America and espoused the cause of the
Revolution, remaining a loyal citizen of our
Government until his death, which occurred on
land now owned by our subject. Joseph Conklin
was a soldier in the War of 18 12, and his wife,
Sarah, from the mountain-top saw the capture of
Stony Point by the British fleet.
Since the division of the old towu of Monroe,
our subject has been one of the Assessors of
Tuxedo. He has also served as School Trustee
and Collector, and has been elected to'other local
offices. By principle he is a Republican, but is
liberal iu his views, and gives to others the free
dom of thought and opinion which he demands as
his own due. With his wife he holds member-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

is .rt

ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church at John-
sontowu. He is a man of sound judgment and
great perseverance, and deserves all the prosperity
he has attained.

(TAMES J. McNALLY, editor and publisher
I of the Goshen News and The Monroe Herald,
Q) served his apprenticeship iu the office of the
Signs of the Times, published by Elder Gilbert
Beebe, at New Vernon, Orange County. In
1845, having finished his apprenticeship, he went
to New York City and worked for several mouths
in J. W. Oliver's job- printing office, at that time
located in the second story of The Sun building,
corner of Fulton and Nassau Streets. Then, at the
desire of Mr. and Mrs. Beebe, he returned to New
Vernon aud took charge of the office of the Signs
of the Times until after his marriage, in February,
1846, to Phebe Adaline, youngest daughter of
Elder Thomas P. and Charlotte Terry, of New
Vernon. By this marriage there were three chil
dren: Willie, the present owner and publisher of
the Ellenville Press; Mrs. Mallett, of New York
City; and Victor Irving, deceased.
Soon after his marriage Mr. McNally moved
to Newton, N. J., and became foreman in the of
fice of the New fersey Herald, then published by
V. M. Drake, his brother-in-law, they having
married sisters. He remained in this position
until 1849, when he left for Milford, Pa., aud es
tablished the Pike County Democrat (afterwards
changed to the Milford Herald). This he published
for several years and then sold out to John M.
Heller, then of Milford, afterwards a prominent
citizen of Port Jervis.
Mr. McNally then purchased the fndependent
Republican at Goshen aud took possession in
May, 1853. He was unacquainted with the
political leaders of his party at that time, and as
he had not consulted any of them nor asked their
advice as to the purchase of the Republican office,
they determined that he should not obtain pos
session, and the then Congressman from this dis

trict, Hon. William Murray, sent special word to
him from Washington that he should never have
possession of the office; and to prevent his get
ting it Mr. Murray and his friends, among whom
were included Hon. Charles H. Winfield, Dis
trict Attorney; Hon. John G. Wilkin, County
Judge; Walker Fowler, Surrogate; E. M. Mad
den, and others throughout the county equally
influential, induced John S. Clark, one of the
owners of the office, to refuse to sell or to accept him
as a partner in place of I. V. Montanye, whose
interest he had purchased.
Mr. McNally at once commenced proceedings
to secure his right, which finally led to a sur
render by Mr. Clark and the purchase of his half
of the office by Mr. McNally, but at an increased
price. He had hardly become accustomed to his
new position, when the Democratic party was di
vided into two parts, between the "Hunkers" and
the "Soft- shells," and the fight was very bitter.
A day or two after the state nominations had been
made, Wilkin, Winfield, Madden and Fowler,
as a committee of the "Soft-shells," sent word to
Mr. McNally that they desired to see him at the
Surrogate's office. He there met them, and it
transpired that their purpose was to dictate as to
the course he was to pursue in the campaign.
"Which ticket do you intend to place at the head
of vour editorial columns?" was demanded.
"While I publish it, the Republican will be a
Democratic paper, and nothing else," was Mr.
McNally's reply, and Judge Wilkin responded,
threateningly: "If you do not raise our ticket
(the Soft-shell), we will bury you and your paper
so deep that the hand of resurrection will never
reach either you or your paper." "Thank you,
gentlemen, for your courtesy," said Mr. Mc
Nally, and then added, "If the ticket I shall
raise at the head of my columns does not suit
you, then go on with your funeral, and we will
see who furnishes the corpse."
Mr. McNally then left, and the fight went
on, for he raised the "Hunker" (or Hard-shell)
ticket, and this led to the starting ofthe Demo
cratic Recorder, Soft-shell, in opposition to the
Republican, with C. H. Winfield, one of the
ablest writers in the state, as editor. It was,

1532

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

however, short-lived. Mr. McNally kept pour
ing into their ranks broadside upon broadside,
and at the end of a year or so a truce was asked
for and granted, which resulted in the transfer of
the Recorder to Mr. McNally, and it was discon
tinued. Then came the Anti-Lecomptou (or Anti-
Slavery) issue, and the introduction in Congress
by Mr. Douglas of a bill for the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise. These measures again
disrupted the Democratic party (which had be
come united) , and the fight here, as elsewhere,
was very bitter, resulting in many of the local .
Democratic leaders going over to the Republi
cans. Among these were Murray, Wilkin, Mad
den, Fowler and many others. Winfield at one
time was at the edge of the precipice, but he did
not take the final step, and remained with the
Democratic party.
In these contests, Mr. McNally kept the Re
publican up to the highest standard of journal
ism, and under his guidance it can truthfully
be said it was a political power in the laud.
During all these political differences the social
relations between the leaders and Mr. McNally
were not strained; in fact, with some of them he
was especially friendly, and they were daily as
sociates. He came to be regarded by them as a
safe and conservative politician, though positive
in his ideas and always ready to maintain the
right, as he regarded it, without fear or favor.
For several years he was Chairman of the Demo
cratic County Committee and served his party
satisfactorily in that position.
When Mr. McNally first purchased the Republi
can office, the paper was printed on an old Tuft
Platen Press, similar to the Adams Book Press,
which was driven by horse-power, on an endless-
chain threshing-machine, located in the rear of the
office building. This necessitated the keeping of
a horse, and on this machine Mr. McNally first
indicated his liking for trotting-horses, as he pur
chased and used a trotter as motive-power for
running the press, and would frequently go out
with the boys and have a brush on the road.
From this Mr. McNally became more deeply
interested, and eventually came to be widely

known as the owner and driver of some of the
best trotters in Orange County in those days.
He was one of the original six gentlemen who
established the Goshen trotting-track on the
"Elliott Meadow," now included within the
grounds of the Goshen Driving Park. The track
was first started on the sod, and by constant
driving and trotting it eventually became quite
good, and required comparatively little work iu
grading and draining by outside ditches to make
it noted, as it afterward became.
On this track the then popular "Orange Coun
ty Society for the Improvement of Horses" gave
its annual exhibitions, which were known and
attended by horsemen from almost all sections of
the Union, who came not only to see and enjoy
the sport, but also to purchase the very promis
ing young trotting stock, which they were sure
to find here contending in the speed classes for
supremacy, and also in the show classes for su
periority, as all-round road and family horses.
In this way much of the very best trotting stock
of the Hambletonian, Star and Clay strains was
taken from Orange County to Kentucky, Cali
fornia and other states, and served as the starters
for the growth of the trotting interests there that
have since become so prominent; in fact, have even
overshadowed Orange County.
For fourteen years Mr. McNally acted as Sec
retary of this society, and was the active worker in
making up the programs for meetings, arranging
purses, speed and show classes, etc., etc. The
society lasted only one year after he left Goshen
and became a resident of Newburgh.
In 1858 Mr. McNally went to Newton, N. J.,
and became editor and publisher of the New fer-
sey Herald. Here he made the fight against
Martin Ryerson on the Lecompton issue, which
carried that great leader into the Republican
party. He conducted the Herald until the fall of
1861, and in July, 1862, returned to Goshen and
repurchased the Independent Republican. In
1869 he purchased the Daily Press office at New
burgh from A. A. Bensel, and published it from
1869 to 1874 as the Daily and Weekly Telegraph.
He sold the plant to Dr. Cooper, of Warwick,
for $10, 500, and after living at Middletown for a

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'533

short time he purchased the Carmel Courier,
of Putnam County, N. Y., and conducted that
paper for several years. He then returned to
Orange County, and for the past thirteen years
has published the Monroe Herald and for eight
years the Goshen News.
Mr. McNally was born in Paterson, N. J.,
in 1824, and is the son of James McNally and
Elizabeth Bushforth. He is the youngest in a
family of four children, and the only son. His
father was the pioneer in a stage line whicli he
established to run between Jersey City and Pater
son, and at one time employed more than a hun
dred horses in the business. This was before
there was railroad communications between the
two places. He was also the owner qf the larg
est hotel property in Paterson, which included
the property now known as Congress Hall. In
1824, General La Fayette while 011 his visit to the
United States, was a guest at Mr. McNally 's
hostelry. For his second wife James J. McNally married
Phebe Ann, the youngest daughter of Gilbert
and Phebe Ann Beebe, of Middletown. They
have no children.

^"HOMAS DOUGHERTY, one of the most
I C successful business men of Newburgh, and
VJy one of her best citizens, is engaged in the
wholesale manufacture of cider and cider vinegar,
having the largest trade ofthe kind, not only in
this immediate locality, but perhaps anywhere in
the state. He embarked in this occupation in
1876, in a small way, and year by year has had
to increase his facilities for meeting the demand.
While his sales are principally in Newburgh,
he has large orders from New York City, many
points along the Hudson and inland , and has also
sent consignments to Leadville, Colo., in the
West; to Georgia in the South, and has even had
sales in China.
Some seven generations ago, our subject's sur
name was spelled McDarrah, and the lineage has
been faithfully kept. Members of the family
emigrated from Scotland two or more centuries

ago, settling in County Antrim, Ireland, where
our subject's grandfather, Harvey, was born.
He was superintendent of a factory at Killwater,
where flax was extensively manufactured. At an
early day he emigrated to America, settling in
Sullivan County, near the town of Pike Pond.
He lived to reach the extreme old age of nearly
ninety years, while his wife, Susannah, was in
her eighty-sixth year at the time of her death.
Our subject's father, Wi liam, was born in Kill-
water, County Antrim, Ireland, and learned the
carpenter's trade. He was brought up as a Prot
estant and has long inclined toward the Presby
terian faith. He is now nearly seventy-two years
of age, and resides on a small place near Monti
cello, N. Y. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter
of Thomas Logan, and both were boru in County
Antrim. Mr. Logan was a farmer, and was also
a fancy weaver, operating four looms. Mrs. Eliza
beth Dougherty died iu Monticello, in August,
1866. Of her ten children, all but two lived to
manhood and womanhood, and these are still liv
ing. Thomas, the eldest, and his sisters, Mrs.
Swan and Mrs. Burgher, reside in Newburgh; an
other sister resides in Yonkers, N. Y.; Harvey
lives in Paterson, N. J.; William is a farmer of
Schuyler County, N. Y. ; and John and Samuel
are engaged in cigar manufacturing in Bingham
ton, N. Y.
The birth of Thomas Dougherty occurred in
the village of Broughshane, County Antrim,
October 28, 1846. From the time he was nine
years of age he attended the district schools of
Monticello, and December 1, 1866, came to New
burgh with George Bennett, in whose employ he
remained until the latter's death in 1876. The
same year Mr. Dougherty embarked in his pres
ent business, and in 1888 rented the building
which he now occupies, aud which has a capacity
of thirty thousand gallons in barrels. Two de
livery wagons are kept in constant use, and the
proprietor attends to every department and detail
ofthe work. Such cider as he does not dispose
of he converts into vinegar by nature's process.
It is therefore in great demand by lovers of the
pure article, and by housewifes who have a just
regard for the health and welfare of their families.

!534

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

For two years he was engaged in the wholesale
grocery business on South Street, but now gives
his entire time to his present occupation. He
erected the fine three- story and basement brick
building at No. 233 Dubois Street, on the corner
of Gidney Avenue.
Our subject was first married, in this city, to
Catherine J. Kennedy, who was born in County
Roscommon, Ireland, but who is now deceased.
The only child of this marriage, Mary E. , gradu
ated from the Newburgh Academy, and is now en
gaged in teaching school. The lady who now
bears our subject's name was formerly Miss Mary
J. Ray, and she too is a native of Ireland, having
been born in County Donegal. Mrs. Dougherty
and her daughter Mary are members of St.
John's Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically
our subject is a loyal supporter ofthe Republican
party, and takes great interest not only in national
affairs, but in everything tending toward the up
building and beautifying of Newburgh.

HENRY YOUNGS. Farming and dairying
have formed the chief occupation of this
prominent young citizen of Orange County,
and the progressive manner iu which he has taken
advantage of every method and idea tending
toward enhancing the value of his property has
had considerable to do with his success in life.
Through thrift and enterprise he has succeeded in
making the old homestead farm, which he inher
ited upon the death of his father in 1885, one of
the best dairy farms in the township. A visitor to
the estate can here see the work of three genera
tions of men distinctly marked out and added one
to the other, the work of the three last Henry
Youngses, while the modern machinery and the
finishing touches are plainly the handiwork of
the last, our subject.
Mr. Youngs was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in
1866, aud was the eldest member and only son of
the family of Henry and Annie (Jackson) Youngs.
He is the sixth Henry Youngs to own the farm
on which he at present resides, and represents
the ninth generation of Youngses in America.

His father, who was the fifth of the name, was
boru in New York City, where he passed the
greater portion of his life. In 1869, upon the
death of his uncle, Henry Youngs (fourth) , he
came to Orange County, where he lived until
called from earth. While a resident of the me
tropolis he was engaged in the produce business,
and was one of the founders, and up to the time
of his death a member, of the Produce Exchange
of that city. After coming to Orange County he
lived retired from business of any kind, and died
September 9, 1885, at the age of sixty -four years.
His wife, who was a native of Brooklyn, has just
died, October 4, 1895. Their family consisted of
four daughters and one son, all of whom are liv
ing at the present writing,
The original of this sketch received his educa
tion in the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.
He has resided on his present beautiful farm for
the past ten years, and in the carrying on of his
labors is meeting with untold success. His place,
besides being one of the largest in the township,
ranks among the best in point of improvement.
Mr. Youngs is one of the progressive and ener
getic young business men of the county, and his
success is well deserved. He is a member of St.
James' Episcopal Church, in which he is a Ves
tryman. Iu politics he is an ardent Republican,
and takes great interest iu the success of his party.
Honorable and upright in his dealings with all,
he has many warm friends throughout the coun
ty who hold him in high esteem.
The Youngs family is an old and time-honored
one in this section. The founder of the family in
America was Rev. John Youngs, a Puritan min
ister, who, with thirteen of his congregation emi
grated from Hingham, England, and in 1637
landed on the shores of Connecticut at the then
village of New Haven. He was the son of Rev.
Christopher Youngs, the vicar of South wold, Suf
folk County, England. After a short stay there
they crossed over to Long Island and settled the
village of Southold. He built the first church
there, which is still standing, and was the first
pastor there, holding the office for many years.
Here the family dwelt for many years, aud is still
well represented.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1732 four ofthe descendants, Reuben, Silas,
Abimel and Henry, all brothers, left Long Island
and came up the Hudson as far as Newburgh;
thence striking across the country, they settled
the territory between Washingtonville and Go
shen. Henry settled where the present Henry,
his sixth lineal descendant, now lives. The main
farm of two hundred and twenty-two acres which
the present Henry inherited through his father,
Henry Youngs (fifth), from his great- uncle, Henry
Youngs (fourth), has never been out of the pos
session of the Youngses. H. Youngs (fifth) ad
ded some seventy-eight acres, making a total of
three hundred acres iu all.
Two of the sons of H. Youngs (third) very
early in the present century left their Orange
County home for New York City, and engaged
in the dry-goods business, later becoming very
successful merchants. These sons were Henry-
Youngs (fourth) and Hiram. Upon the death of
his mother, Henry Youngs (fourth) returned to
Goshen, where he died, childless, in November,
1869, leaving the bulk of his property, and in
particular the homestead farm, which he dearly
loved, to his. nephew, Henry Youngs (fifth), eld
est son of his brother Hiram, for life, and upon
his death, in fee to his son, H. Youngs (sixth),
then a child three years old.

J*=3

r535

-""""""""")

$+$%

^EORGE N. CLEMSON. The history of
— Middletown -is that of its successful business
Ji men, those who have developed its commer
cial activities, promoted its manufacturing inter
ests and enlarged its material resources. Such
a one is George N. Clemson, President of the
National Saw Company, President of the Middle-
town Trust and Safety Deposit Company, Vice-
President of the Hogan Boiler Works, Vice-Pres
ident of the Middletown Glass Works, and mem
ber of the firm of Clemson Brothers. Though in
achieving his present position he had the prestige
of wealth and the influence of his father's name,
it is but justice to him to say that, had he been
obliged to begin the battle of life unaided, he
would nevertheless have gained success, for he pos

sesses those traits of character that almost invari
ably bring prosperity and prominence.
A native of Massachusetts, George N. is the
son of William Clemson, a successful saw manu
facturer, concerning whom mention is elsewhere
made. He accompanied his father to Middletown,
arriving iu this city May 4r i860. In childhood
he gained a thorough knowledge of every detail
connected with the manufacture of saws, and at
an early age he began making bracket-saws in a
building on his father's place, that he had fitted
up for the purpose. So well did he succeed, that
he soon enlarged the shop, and after a time
moved to larger quarters. Like his father and
grandfather, he possesses inventive genius and
his patents have wrought a marvelous improve
ment in the saw business, increasing the speed of
manufacture as well as the quality ofthe product.
The firm of Clemson Brothers, in which George
N. and his brother Richard are interested, is one
of the most complete manufacturing establish
ments iu the country. In 1890 the firm built a
large brick structure on Cottage Street, opposite
the National Saw Works. This is a substantial
building, with granite front and all modern con
veniences for the manufacture of butchers' brack
ets and lock-saws. Prior to his father's death he
and his brother Richard purchased his interest in
the saw works of Wheeler, Madden & Clemson,
and since that time he has become more largely
interested in them. In 1891 he was one ofthe in
corporators ofthe National Saw Company, into
which the other concern was merged, aud of
which he has since been President. It is a very-
large corporation, having, besides the works at
Middletown, manufacturing establishments iu
Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
The home of Mr. Clemson on Highland Ave
nue is one of the finest residences in the city and
is surrounded by beautiful and well kept grounds,
the whole presenting a most inviting appearance
to the passer-by. Mr. Clemson and his wife have
two children now living. For some time he was
Vice-President of ' the Middletown Trust and
Safety Deposit Company, and in May, 1895, was
elected its President, to succeed the late Hon.
M. D. Stivers. In the organization of the Hogan

1536

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Boiler Works he was an active factor and is now
its Vice-President. He is also Vice-President of
the Middletown Glass Company. No man takes
a deeper interest in the progress and prosperity of
Middletown than does he, and every public-spir
ited enterprise receives his support and substan
tial aid. While his- business duties are heavy
and engrossing, he does not allow them to con
sume his entire time, but is fond of a drive be
hind a team of his fine horses, and a hunt with
his hounds, that are the finest for miles around.
In business and in society, at his office and in his
home, he is ever the same tactful, courteous and
affable gentleman, one with whom it is a pleasure
to meet and associate.

Mi

,m

m

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V A OSES V. SHUMAKER. If by success in
Y life we mean securing a comfortable home
(9 and the means for a good support, then is
our subject one of the most successful men in
Orange County. He owns and occupies a fine
estate in the town of Goshen, which is devoted to
the raising of fruits and vegetables in great var
iety, and also to dairy farming, which he finds to
be very profitable.
Our subject was born in Monroe County, Pa.,
iu 1839, and is the second of the family born to
John and Sarah (Van Cainpen) Shumaker, na
tives of New Jersey, within whose borders they
were reared. John Shumaker was a well-to-do
farmer during his lifetime and at the time of his
decease, in 1893, was the possessor ofa good es
tate. His wife preceded him to the land beyond
by many years, her death occurring in i860.
Although he attended the common schools,
Moses V. received special training iu farm work.
It was not strange, then, that, when ready to em
bark in life for himself, he should choose that vo
cation. Since his twenty -fifth year he has been
carrying on farm pursuits. In October, 1891, he
located on his present estate, and, as before stat
ed, he gives his attention to raising fruits aud
vegetables and to dairying.
Mr. Shumaker was married, in 1870, to Miss
Martha, daughter of John W. and Eleanor (Phil

lips) Beemer, all ofwhom were natives of Sussex
County, N. J. By her marriage with our sub
ject, Mrs. Shumaker became the mother of eight
children, one of whom is now deceased. Those
living are: Lillie A., the wife of Frederick North
up, of Newburgh; Fannie O., Charles W., Al
bert L. , Willard J., Lizzie M. and Florence L.
Although not members of any religious body,
both our subject and his wife are inclined toward
the faith of the Presbyterian Church, which they
attend. In politics he has abiding faith in the
teachings of the Republican party, whose candi
dates always receive his vote and influence.
When the tocsin of war was sounded through
out the country in 1861, Mr. Shumaker donned
the blue, enlisting iu Company D, Thirtieth New
Jersey Infantry, being mustered in at Fleming-
ton, that state. He was in active service for ten
months, participating in all of the engagements
in which his regiment was engaged, and was
mustered out as Corporal of his company. He is
now a member of Chaplain Haines Post, G. A. R.,
at Deckertown, N. J.

<X************'ip*******,**,****'*X>
0ANIEL THOMPSON. Among the many
fine farms that attract the stranger's eye in
this part of Orange County, the one be
longing to the subject of this sketch deserves
special mention. The owner of this valuable
piece of ground was born in the town of Craw
ford, this county, October 8, 18 19. He was the
seventh iu order of birth in a family of ten chil
dren comprising the household of Alexander and
Hannah (Bull) Thompson.
The following is a brief mention of the brothers
and sisters of our subject: Jane married Archi
bald P. Nevins, of Monticello, and died when
about seventy-four years of age. Catherine be
came the wife of John Moore, and on his death
married A. W. Jackson, of Middletown; she died
when in her eighty-ninth year. Albert was a
physician of Ontario, N. Y., and died after
reaching his seventy-fourth year. Mary became
the wife of Hiram Phillips, and died when about
thirty-eight years old. Sarah, Mrs. E. Sherman,

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was eighty-three years of age at the time of her
death. Harriet married William H. Smith, and
died in New York City when sixty-eight years
old. Augustus was a farmer in this town, and died
at the age of sixty-seven years. Martha married
Samuel C. Brush, aud her death occurred when
iu her sixty -eighth year; and John A. is a resident
of Middletown.
The father of this family was born in the town
of Crawford, where he spent his entire life, suc
cessfully engaged in farm pursuits. He lived to
be eighty-six years old. For a period of nine
years he was Supervisor, and during that time
gave satisfaction to all concerned. In religious
affairs he was a prominent member of the Pres
byterian Church. He was in turn the son of
Alexander and Jane Thompson, natives of Coun
ty Longford, Ireland. The former came to Am
erica many years ago, in company with two of
his brothers, Robert and Andrew. They were
among the very earliest settlers of this town,
where they took up Government land, which is
still in the possession ofthe family.
The subject of this sketch lived with his par
ents until his marriage. He then located on his
present place, which property was given him by
his honored father, and here he has made his
home ever since. The tract comprises one hun
dred and thirty acres, finely improved in every
particular and cultivated in such a manner that
it yields its owner a handsome income.
The marriage of Mr. Thompson with Miss
Mary E. Hunter occurred October 3, 1850. The
lady was born in this town January 7, 1830, and
is the daughter of George and Sarah (Crawford)
Hunter. Her father was born in the town of
Montgomery, and was a well -'to-do physician.
He went to Searsville in 1823, when a young
man, aud was there engaged in a lucrative prac
tice until the time of his death, in 1870, when
threescore and ten years of age.
Four children have been born to Mr. aud Mrs.
Thompson. Frank H., born February 8, 1853,
is now engaged as an engineer at Akron, Ohio;
Anna, born March 21, 1856, is at home; George,
who was born August 14, 1858, died August 4,
1893; and the fourth child died iu infancy.

!537

Our subject is an old-time Democrat in his
political views. For twenty -seven years he held
the office of Supervisor, for a number of terms
was Commissioner of Highways, at one time was
President ofthe Middletown and Pine Bush Rail
road Company, and from'1876 to 1882 was Sup
erintendent ofthe same.
Socially Mr. Thompson is a Mason of high
standing, belonging to Hoffman Lodge No. 112
of Middletown. With his wife he is a devoted
member of the Presbyterian Church, to the sup
port of which they give liberally, and are always
ready to lend a helping hand to the needy. Al
though Mr. Thompson is well advanced in years,
he is hale and hearty and is still able to person
ally superintend his excellent farm. He is one
ofthe leading citizens of the county, and as such
we are pleased to be able to place this brief out
line of his life before our readers.

pGJlLLIAM E. DOUGLAS, M. D., began
I A/ Practice in Middletown in 1 88 1. Hewas
YV horn in Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y.,
July 14, 1853, and is of good old Revolutionary
stock, his great-grandfather, Asa Douglas, serv
ing as Captain during that struggle. For his
services he was granted a tract of land, supposed
to have been in Massachusetts, but on surveying it
was found between the two states, now in Rensse
laer County, N. Y. He was boru iu Franklin, Del
aware County. Judge Amos Douglas, the grand
father, was born in Stephentown, in Rensselaer
County, and in early life moved to Franklin,
Delaware County, where he was one of the first
attorneys. He was subsequently County Judge
there, which office he held for many years. The
father of our subject, who was also named Amos,
was a native of Franklin, and for twenty-five
years was engaged iu the mercantile business,
and later in the banking business. He was one
of the organizers of the First National Bank of
Franklin, and was President of the same for more
than twenty-five years. He married Miss Mar-
riette Hine, who was also, a native of Franklin,
and was a daughter of William Hine, a native

1538

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Woodbridge, now New Milford, Conn. He
was, however, an early settler in Franklin,
and was by occupation a farmer. His grand
father, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Douglas,
who was named Stephen Hine, served in the
Revolutionary War, 'and died iu Connecticut.
Her father was a Deacon in the Congregational
Church for many years. Anios Douglas, the fa
ther of our subject, was a strong Republican, but
one who never aspired to official position. He
was Clerk iu the Congregational Church for many
years, or until he gave it up on account of ill-
health. He died in Franklin in 1888, and his
wife died in 1886. They were the parents of
four children, three of whom grew to maturity,
and two are yet living: Amos Stanley, who re
sides in Middletown, and who is a special insur
ance adjustor; and Dr. William E., the subject
of this sketch. Charles A. grew to manhood
and was Cashier of the First National Bank of
Middletown, but resigned, and has since died.
The subject of this notice was reared in Frank
lin, and received his education iu the literary in
stitute at that place, from which he graduated.
At the age of sixteen he began reading medicine
in the office of Dr. Ira Wilcox, and subsequently
entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New
York City, where he remained four and a-half
years, taking his degree of M. D. in 1876. On
graduating, he removed to Lisle, Broome Coun
ty, where he opened an office and commenced
the practice of his profession. He remained
there until 188 1, when, as already stated, he lo
cated in Middletown, where he has since resided,
and where he has built up an extensive practice,
being recognized as one of the leading physicians
of the county. Since the institution was started
he has been on the medical staff of Thrall Hos
pital. He is a member of the State Medical So
ciety, is ex-President of the Orange County
Medical Society, and is Examiner for several life-
insurance companies, besides being a Director of
the First National Bank of Middletown, and a
member of the Board of Water Commissioners.
Dr. Douglas was married, in Broome County,
to Miss Katharine Whitney, a native of that
county, and they have one child, Amos Stanley,

Jr. Fraternally the Doctor holds membership
with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias,
and politically is a Republican. He is a member
of the Congregational Church of Middletown,
and is Chairman of its Board of Trustees. Per
sonally he is very popular, and is held in high
esteem by those who know him.

30HN H. CHAPMAN. While this gentle
man has gained success in business, his at
tention has not been so engrossed by per
sonal affairs as to exclude participation in matters
of public importance. At the present time he is
rendering efficient service as a member of the
Board of Health of Newburgh, and at different
times he has held other responsible positions. In
Masonry he has attained a high rank, and is well
known among the members of that order in the
Hudson River Valley.
The Chapman family is one of the oldest and
most honorable in Orange County. The father
of our subject, Isaac C. Chapman, is the well
known wholesale and retail druggist of New
burgh, and to his sketch on another page the
reader is referred for particulars concerning the
family history. John H. was born in this city
February 1, i860, being an only son. He was
reared in the home of his parents, and under
their wise guidance was prepared for a useful and
honorable career iu the business world. After
having graduated from the grammar school, he
entered the free academy, and completed the
course there in 1877. He then went to New
York City, where he entered the New York Col
lege of Pharmacy, and for a time was connected
with the wholesale drug house of R. W. Robin
son & Son.
After about two years in New York, Mr. Chap
man returned to Newburgh, establishing in busi
ness with his father, with whom he remained un
til 1890, when he took the stand formerly occu
pied by F. W. Reuter. This he has since conduct
ed, and has met with the most flattering success in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'539

the enterprise. His location first was on the
corner of South and Liberty Streets, but in May,
1895, he removed to South and Chambers Streets,
•where he occupies a new building, and has a
large and well equipped pharmacy.
In addition to his business interests, Mr. Chap
man is agent for the Northwestern Masonic Aid
Association, which has its headquarters in Chi
cago, 111. In 1893, under the administration of
Mayor Lawson, he was appointed a member of
the City Board of Health, and in 1895 he was
again appointed to that position by Mayor Odell.
He occupies a pleasant residence at No. 164
Grand Street.
Socially Mr. Chapman is identified with Hud
son River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M.; High
land Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; and Hudson
River Commandery No. 35, K. T., in which he
has been Generalissimo, and since May, 1895,
has held the rank of Commander. He also be
longs to Mecca Temple, New York City, and the
Noble and Mystic Shrine. He is au honorary
member of the Newburgh Fire Department, and
served for six years iu the Ringgold Hose Com
pany. With the City Club, of which he was a
charter member, he is still actively connected.
He is connected with the Veterans' Association
of the Tenth Separate Company, National Guard
of New York, and for six years served as Cor
poral of the old Tenth Separate Company. In
politics he is active and enthusiastic in support
of Democratic principles, and never fails to cast
his ballot for the candidates of that party.

£&@Gz

GlLFRED BRIDGEMAN. While his busi-
Ll ness interests have required his presence in
j| New York City at intervals for many years,
Mr. Bridgeman has gained a large acquaintance
in Orange County, especially in the city aud
town of Newburgh, where he has made his home
for a long time. The enterprise with which he has
been connected throughout his entire active life
is one ofthe oldest ofthe kind in the metropolis,
having been established in 1824. The first loca
tion ofthe house was at No. 876 Broadway, from

which place it was removed, in 1872, to No. 37
East Nineteenth Street, near Broadway. Here
a large and remunerative business is carried on
both in the importing and sale of vegetable,
farm and flower seeds, etc. The premises occu
pied are of modern and substantial construction,
and are finished artistically and in a most pleas
ing manner. The trade is large, not being lim
ited to the city or state, but extending through
out the entire country, and from all points are
received orders for the many varieties of goods
carried. The Bridgeman family originated in England,
where the parents of our subject, Thomas and
Hannah (Eastmond) Bridgeman, were born, the
former in Abingdon, March 29, 1786, and the
latter in Kintbury, May 16, 1787. Of their
marriage, which took place in their native land
May 23, 1807, nine children were born, ofwhom
Alfred and two sisters are the sole survivors.
The father, who was a horticulturist, seed-mer
chant and horticultural writer, brought his fam
ily to America and settled in New York City,
where he engaged in business until his death, at
the age of sixty -four. He was a man of indus
trious, persevering disposition, and held many
positions of honor.
During the residence of his parents in New
bury, England, the subject of this sketch was
born, June 6, 18 18. He was brought by his fa
ther to America, where he completed his educa
tion in the Lafayette Institute of New York City.
Possessing an aptitude for the business in which
he is now engaged, he early turned his attention
to it, gaining a familiarity with every department
of the work. To it he has given his entire active
life, and by managing his affairs in a systematic
and business-like manner he has built up the rep
utation of the house. In addition to the business
in New York City, he is proprietor ofa nursery
at Astoria, now Long Island City, N. Y.
In Brooklyn, N. Y., February 25, 1846, Mr.
Bridgeman married Martha M. King, whose fa
ther, Gamaliel King, a noted architect cf Brook
lyn, was at one time a member ofthe State Leg
islature, and often held positions of public trust
and honor. Five children comprised their fam-

1540

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ily, but two have been called from earth, the sur
vivors being Alfred T. , Catherine H. and Ella
M. Alfred T. married Jennie Adams, and they
have one son. Catherine H. is the wife of Mun-
son G. Muir, and the mother of a son and daugh
ter. Ella M. is the wife of Augustus W Bell, of
Morristown, N. J., and is also the mother of one
son and one daughter.
Mr. Bridgeman has been an extensive traveler
through this country, and he has also visited Eu
rope four times, having iu that way gained famil
iarity with the customs of the people in this and
other lands. To his children he gave the best
educational advantages, both at home and abroad,
and fitted them for positions of honor in social or
business circles. February 4, 1850, he received
from William H. Seward, Governor of the state
of New York, the appointment of Second Lieu
tenant of the Third Regiment of Artillery, and he
served as a commissioned officer in the same up
wards of six years.

~f—l**in

0EWITT C. DOMINICK is the energetic
and progressive Superintendent of the pub
lic schools of Walden, N. Y. Himself a
man of finished education, he is able to appreciate
the benefits to be derived from a thorough knowl
edge of men aud things, and has ever striven to
instill into the young people under his charge a
love for learning and perseverance in the pursuit
of that knowledge which is power. His life has
been devoted to school work, aud in every posi
tion to which he has been called he has shown
his executive ability in organization and his
power to present puzzling and intricate truths in
a simple and lucid manner.
The birth of Mr. Domiuick occurred in Gallup-
ville, Schoharie County, N. Y., on the 19th of
September, 1851, and he was the son of Weid-
man Dominick, a native of Herkimer County.
He is still living, making his home in his native
county, where he is a prominent attorney. He
has always been a very popular man and has
been called to fill many positions of honor and
public trust, performing the duties devolving
upon him with ability and faithfulness.

Professor Dominick received the rudiments of
his education in the public schools, and from the
age of eighteen until twenty-one years of age was
in the employ of his father. At that time he en--
tered the Delaware City Institute, and later be
came a student at the Albany State Normal,
from which he graduated in January, 1876. He
spent the following year teaching in the public
school of his native town, and during the sum
mer was instructor in the Schoharie Academy, in
his spare moments studying languages under the
Superintendent ofthe academy.
Iu the year 1877 our subject entered Cornell
University at Ithaca, N. Y., taking the scientific
course, and graduated iu 188 1, although during
his junior year he was obliged to teach for six
months to defray his expenses. He paid his own
way through college, and upon the completion of
his course received the degree of Bachelor of
Sciences. He was always very active in his
class work, maintaining a high standing as a
student and being a leader in his class. To per
haps unusual ability he added a genius for study
and close application, and in the success which
has come to him he has no cause for regret for
the hard struggles of his early life.
In the autumn of 1881 he accepted the Princi-
palship ofthe schools at Schaghticoke, N. Y., re
maining there two years. He had engaged for a
third year, but being released he accepted a more
lucrative position at Greenport,' L- I., whicli he
held for two years. He then went to Gallupville,
where for a similar length of time he dealt in
hardware and drugs. For the succeeding two
years he was employed as traveling salesman for
the firm of E. L- Kellogg & Co. , publishers of
New York, canvassing teachers' institutes in
New York and Illinois.
The Professor next came to Walden, where he
has been connected with the schools for six years.
During this time the educational interests of this
locality have made great strides. The enrollment
and average attendance have increased fifty per
cent, and the corps of teachers has been advanced
in number from six to ten. The school has been
placed under the supervision of the Regents of
the State University and carries a regular high-

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 54i

school course. The school ranks among the first
in the county, and in several competitive exam
inations has taken first place. Its pupils took
examinations with those of the Newburgh High
School and the New Paltz State Normal, and in
both cases carried off honors.
In county-institute work our subject has served
two years as instructor, aud is prominently iden
tified with all educational associations, both state
and national, and has been President ofthe coun
ty association, in which he is very active and in
fluential. He is a Republican in politics, and is
in demand as a public speaker. He is also one
ofthe proprietors of the Walden Citizen, and as
sists in its management, although not on its edi
torial staff.
December 26, 1883, our subject married Miss
Mabel F. Field. She is also a native of New
York, and was born iu Mt. Vision, Otsego Coun
ty. To this union were born three children, two
of whom survive, namely: Dewitt C, Jr., and
Elma C. Field H. died aged five years. Mr. and
Mrs. Dominick are valued members of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and the former has been
Superintendent of the Sunday-school for two
years. He is a Steward in the congregation and
was Secretary of the Building Committee which
had in charge the erection of the new church,
completed. in 1894. Socially he isa Mason, hav
ing belonged to that fraternity since 1882. Ju
dicious and enterprising in public affairs, pro
gressive and interesting iu the schoolroom, and
genial and hospitable in his home, he is a man
whom to know is to honor.

+^m

§>-^-^

<Sx>—

(JOSEPH RAKE occupies a prominent place
I among the substantial and progressive busi-
G) ness men of Turner, and is at present carry
ing on an extensive trade in the lumber and coal
business, handling also lime, cement, etc. He is
a native of Orange County and was boru in the
town of Monroe December 27, 1830. He attend
ed the district schools until eighteeu years of age,
when he left home and apprenticed himself to a

carpenter in order to become fully acquainted
with the trade. He worked for three years under
Peter Rose, of Chester, and after completing his
trade was in the employ of a Mr. Thompson, of
that place, for seven or eight years. Later he
began contracting, which he still follows to some
extent in conjunction with his other business.
In the year 1868 our subject purchased the in
terest of Isaac Thompson, of the firm of Brown
& Thompson, in his present business, and four
years later Mr. Brown withdrew, leaving him the
sole proprietor of the business. He has had the
assistance of his son William ever' since the latter
was old enough, and together they manage an
extensive enterprise, dealing in the various build
ing materials and coal.
Our subject is a son of John and Mary Ann
(Brooks) Rake, natives of London, England.
Prior to his emigration to America, in 1828, the
father was a teacher, but after making his home
in the New World he gave his attention to farm
pursuits. He died in 1863.
The parental household included ten sons and
daughters, ofwhom three died in infancy. Those
who grew to mature years were Jane; George,
living in Monroe; Joseph, of this sketch; Rachel,
who is the widow of Josiah Bull and makes her
home in Oxford, this county; Elizabeth, who
married John E. Ewery, of Monroe; William,
who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness in
the late war; and Agnes.
Our subject was married, December 23, 1856,
to Miss Hannah Case, who was born in the town
of Monroe and who was the daughter of Benja
min W. and Mary (Solomon) Case, natives of
this county, although the family came originally
from Long Island. They were the parents of
eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Rake had a fam
ily of six sons and daughters, of whom four sur
vive, namely: Carrie, who married Arthur P.
Carey, of Newburgh; William, who is in business
with his father, and who married Miss Bertha
Coffee; Mary, the wife of Frank Griffin, of the
village of Monroe; and Hannah, Mrs. William
L. Dolly, of Jersey City. Mrs. Rake is a consist
ent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In politics our subject is a Republican, having

1542

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

always voted that ticket. He was first elected
Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1875, and
has continued to hold that position since, a period
of twenty years. His interest in schools has led
him to be placed on the Board of Trustees, and

roe and Justice of Sessions. Socially he belongs
to Standard League No. 711, of Monroe, and is
a Chapter and Commandery Mason. He is a
member of Central Valley Lodge No. 502, I. O.
O. F., and takes great interest in the work of

he has also been Supervisor of the town of Mon- these various orders.

index, m

Abrams, Theron B  234
Abrial, Stephen  561
Ackerman, David I,  11 13
Adams, Henry Iv  1290
Adams, John  23
Adams, John E  1012
Adams, John Q  39
Adolph, Joseph H  440
Ahern, Rev. Philip E-- • . 1331
Akins, Le Roy  563
Alexander, George B  1048
Alexander, Harvey  1391
Alexander, Joseph K  1061
Allau, Dr. Charles F  544
Aloysius, Brother  331
Andrea, Otto  S74
Appleton, Dr. G. J  1433
Arthur, Chester A  99
Austin, M, B  974
Austin, William A  492
Ayers, Edward  1302
Ayers, Gabriel B  1304
Ayres, David P  1002

B

Babcock, Charles H  1304
Bacon, Hon. Henry  746
Bahrman, Ernst M  281
Bailey, Hon. Daniel H  1459
Bailey, William H  739
Bailie, William J  271
Bain, Francis N  572
Baker, J. Edward  867
Baker, William H  511
Baldwin, Charles G  1392
Banker, Isaac  1453
Banker, Thomas E  205
Banks, Charles W., M. D.. .923
Barber, George  354
Barber, Luther  1121
Barker, Theodore D  626

Barnes, Isaac  827
Barnes, J. Milton  1316
Barnes, William  809
Barnes, William E  755
Barns, William D  513
Barratt, Rufus  492
Bartle, George  1376
Bass, Col. Edgar W  731
Bastian, William C. F  1227
Bauer, Louis V  1144
Beakes, Adam W  1065
Beakes, George E  1 156
Beakes, George W  1067
Beakes, Henry Iv  1339
Beakes, James A  1466
Beakes. William B  1528
Beattie, Alexander  222
Beckerle, Peter  175
Beekman, Horatio B  379
Bell, Andrew J  1216
Benedict, Henry A  773
Benedict, Capt. James W . .303
Bennet, William H  757
Bennet, Wilton  632
Bennett, Peter E  520
Berard, Robert A  401
Bergen, George  114°
Berry, Dwight W  14 15
Bigler, James  1007
Bird, Clarksou  944
Birdsall, Reuben G  929
Birdsall, Thomas W  594
Birdsley, Isaac H  465
Blanchard, Hilaud H  1320
Bloodgood, Foster  142
Boak, A. V  1328
Boak, Robert N  :o6o
Board, J. Hudson  i9r
Board, Joseph  1403
Board, Joseph K  526
Bodine, Hon. Frederic  729
Bookstaver, Abner  715
Booth, Fred  5°3
Bowne, Cyrus A  622
Boyd, Charles J  1368
Boyd, John C, M. D  295
Bradley, Frank J  553
Bradley, John 1  1334

Bradley, Thomas  S61
Bradner, John B  858
Brady, Rev. Patrick *.  285
Brazee, James E  1 134
Brennan, Lawrence C  313
Brewster, William  496
Bridgeman, Alfred  1539
Brill , Jacob S  211
Brink, Charles H  1352
Brink, Leander  1409
Broadhead, Joseph  451
Brooks, Chauucey  240
Brooks, E. F.. M. D  216
Brooks, Harvey  777
Brooks, Noah H  768
Brooks, Samuel  911
Brooks, Thomas L  473
Brooks William  500
Brooks, William H  579
Brooks, William R  540
Bross, John J  885
Brotherhood Wine Co  710
Brown, Andrew  1180
Brown, Col. Charles L  565
Brown, Cornelius M  575
Brown, Daniel T., M. D  196
Brown, Eber Lain  1221
Brown, James M  952
Brown, James W  245
Brown, Jesse C  797
Brown, Nathaniel M  461
Brown, Robert  456
Brownell, Tohu D., M. D... .699
Brox, Charles  921
Bryant, John J  641
Buchanan, James  75
Buckley, Wade  629
Buckhout, Charles B  1174
Budd, Daniel C  78s
Bull, Charles 1  234
Bull, Jesse  1002
Bull, John Nelson  302
Bull, John T  957
Bull, Stephen M  391
Bullis, Ephraim  334
Burant, Charles  4°4
Burke, Thomas  894
Burke, William  1 188

Burnet, Augustus D  61 1
Burnet, Joseph B  522
Burnett, James R  722
Burns, Charles J  48[
Burrows, Prof. John H  1301
Burton, William H  430
Bush, J. Wallace  764

Cairns, Robert  662
Campbell, George W  933
Campbell, Hoik D  1066
Campbell, James W  S20
Cantine, Col. George A. . . 199
Carpenter, Chauucey  848
Carpenter, Daniel F  757
Carpenter, James L  661
Carpenter, John D  870
Carpenter, O O  1205
Carpenter, William H  S41
Carpenter, William H  1197
Carpenter, William S  1222
Carpenter, William W  676
Carroll, Miss Mary  571
Carver, Howell H  215
Case, Horatio N  1086
Case, Ira L  1369
Case, James H  576
Case, William N  872
Caskey, Cornelius  1416
Cassedy, Hon. Abrani S  453
Cassell, Isaac L  130S
Chadwick, James  229
Chamberiaiu, Roswell W...210
Chambers, James P  i486
Chandler, Daniel C  261
Chapman, Isaac C  152
Chapman, John H  1538
Chardavoyne, H. S  266
Chase, Capt James T  142
Clark, Abraham S  485
Clark, Addison  739
Clark, Charles  795
Clark, David R  1043

1544

INDEX.

Clark, Edson L  8S9
Clark, Hon. George  117 <
Clark, Hugh E  506
Clark, Hulet D  1179
Clark, James  744
Clark, James A  1379
Clark. James H  1199
Clark, James Van Fleet  1017
Clark, Joseph H  ipoi
Clark, Justus  293
Clark, Capt. Leander  127
Clark, Leander, Jr  269
Clark, Leonard P  365
Clark, Moses M  1480 J_
Clark, Reuben  483 '
Clark, Rev. Robert B  1351
Clark, Capt. Robert S  586
Clark, Willard M  640
Clemence, John  422
Clemson, George N  1535
Clemson, William  684
Cleveland, S. Grover  103
Cliff, Benjamin  319
Cochran, Isaac  1S5
Cocks, Charles E  502
Cohalan, Timothy J  1032
Coldwell- Wilcox Co  656
Cole, George W  251
Coleman, John T  726
Coleman, L. Edson  573
Colelnan, Roswell C  11 25
Coleman. Capt. William... .449
Collier, William J  882
Collins. Prof. Isaac  325
Collins, William W  382
Comfort, Theodore  950
Compton, Harrison  762
Confort, Samuel a  1074
Conklin, Joseph W  1530
Conklin, Restcome P  838
Conkling, Edward E  1454
Conkling, James H  1358
Conkling, Dr. John  1071
Conn, William  1146
Conner, Milton C, M. D.. .1269
Constable, David  694
Convery, John P  592
Convery, John R  372
Cook, A. M  373
Cook, W. Scott  1157
Cooley, Asahel H  613
Corey, Horace W  1291
Corkedale, John  424
Cornell, Sidney B  828
Cornell , William M  1393
Corwin, Silas G  815
Corwin, J. W  719
Cox, Virgil  1332
Crabtree, William  616
Craig, Hector  503
Crandall, Rev. O. P  1053
Crane, James M  299
Crawford, C. Emmet. . . .1506
Crawford, Emmet  631
Crawford, George  1518
Crawford, John A  1049
Crawford, Robert 1  1447
Crawford, Theron  1 239
Crawford, William  314
Creegan, James  864
Crevling, Whitfield  404

Crissey, Joel H  766
Cromwell, George  799
Cromwell, Henry T  808
Cromwell, Henry W  835
Cross, John A  1167
Cuddeback, Abraham J. . .903
Cuddeback, Abraham W .1421
Cuddeback Benjamin  981
Cuddeback, Cornelius E.- .1382
Cuddeback, Elting  1465
Cuddeback, Henry G  968
Cuddeback, W. L-, M. D. .1149
Cummings, John  1296
Cummings, Peter  1322
Cuuniugham, Henry C. . .1133
Cunningham, James  343

D

Dales, John  239
Davidson, Capt, E  460
Davidson , Hugh  569
Davis, Charles  1145
Davis, Edward  1 76
Davis, George E  124
Davis, Joseph Y  706
Dayton, Byron S  1315
Dean, Hon. Joseph  725
Decker, Cornelius J  221
Decker, George H. . -  1508
Decker, George W  1479
DeGarmo, Peter H  582
Delancy, John  136
Delany, John  515
Delany, Patrick  556
Dell, Andrew  361
Demarest, Rev. W. H. S . . .282
Demerest, Nicholas  212
Demerest, Thomas H  665
Denna, Prof. Jerome  415
Dennis, Frank W . M. D. .1143
Denniston, Hon. A  309
Denniston, W. Henry  526
Denton, Edward S  532
Denton, John  452
Depuy, Moses  901
Derr, William L  1193
Desmond, Thomas H  1158
Dewitt, Eben D  1179
Dickerson, Jacob  713
Dickerson, John B  362
Dickey, Col. William D. ..159
Dickinson, Silas H  1056
Dicks, John F  1496
Diehl, Conrad  241
Dieiner, Louis J  1397
Dill, James  254
Dixon, Charles A  450
Doderer, Emil  184
Doell, Charles W  1404
Dolan, John  1062
Dolph, John M  916
Dominick, Dewitt C ... 1540
Donohue, John  619
Donovan, John  1164
Doremus, David  862
Dorrance, Ira  1277
Dougherty, James J  410
Dougherty, Thomas  1533

Doughty, William B  135
Douglas, W. E., M. D  1537
Downing, Andrew J  1430
Downing, Charles  1460
Drake, Victor M  244
Drechsler, Rev. Gu.stave. . . . 186
Drew, Jeremiah  421
Drew, Townsend  412
DuBois. Charles D  754
DuBois, Jonas  699
Dumville, Walter  204
Dunning, Hon. C. T  192
Dunning, Henry W  661
Dunning, Horace  666
Durland. Dewitt C  284
Durland, James P"  855
Durland, Thaddeus S  606
Durland, Thomas T  1037
Durland, Wilmot A  252
Duryea, Samuel C  1257
Duryea, Wilmot  1340
Dusenberry, Col. D. C  1519
Dwyer, Michael J  393
Dwyer, Thomas J  495

E

Eager, John L. D  623
Earl, Charles  775
Earl, John G  817
Earl, Joseph Henry  798
Earl, Joseph Sears  753
Earl, T. Byron  292
Eaton, Daniel H  636
Edsall, Dr. Alva W  740
Edsall, Benjamin F  275
Edsall, William H., M. D. .431
Egau , John  143
Elliott, Charles G  273
Elliott, E. Ross, M.D  1030
Ellis, John W  951
Ellison, Thomas  591
Elmer, Emmet S., M. D  296
Elsen, Prof. Joseph J  330
F)1ston, George A  1448
Emslie, Holland  609
Emslie, Samuel  560
Estabrook, Charles  118
Estabrook, Frank E  423
Everitt, Martin C  1439

Falconer, Jonathan  1090
Farley, Thomas  .705
Farnum, H. H  1429
Farnum, Peter E  1068
Farnum, Samuel B  961
Faulkner, W. H.,M D  253
Feagles, Nathaniel R  302
Ferguson, John  1529
Ficken, Richard  476
Field, Capt. George  584
Field, John  S73
Fillmore, Millard  67
Finn, Daniel  1406
Finnegan, James  600

Firnhaber, Mrs. E  n 20
Firth, James N  183
Fitch , Henry M  474
Fitzgerald, Charles  735
Fitzgerald, Edward  1296
Fitzpatrick, Nicholas F. . . .329
Flood, George W  422
Ford, Charles T  1095
Ford, John W  '.  292
Forsythe, Rev. James C. . . 1080
Foster, Jacob  719
Fouquet, Louis D  1388
Fowler, Henry D  855
France, Elting DuBois  1254
Fraser, Prof. Reuben  230
Frazer, Samuel  561
Friend, Hon. Joseph D . . . . 1356
Fritz, Michael F  1338
Fuller, Abram  5S1
Fuller, Capt. Charles R.. . .1155
Fuller, George W  736
Fullerton, Charles C  1073
Fullerton, Henry B  881
Fullerton, Hon. William. . . 189
Fulton, Thomas  1513
Funnell, Henry  11 13

Gannon, John A  1260
Gardner, Charles  1363
Gardner, John E- S  1525
Gardner, John M  1488
Gardner, John W  1 162
Gardner, Merritt H. C  Sio
Garfield, James A  95
Garrison, Capt. B  374
Gartzmann, G., M. D  322
Gavin, Joseph  1313
Gearn, Walter W  122
Gedney, Herbert  1511
Gehrig, Prof. Theodore  399
Gibb, David  330
Gibson, Samuel J  351
Gibson, Willdie F  763
Gidnej', Jacob P  463
Giles, Job B  1 235
Gillespie, Leander C  671
Gillespie, Luke F  524
Gillespie, Ren wick  263
Gillett, GeorgeS  631
Gillson, Thomas L., M. D.1085
Gilman, Ernest H  349
Glasier, James H  1 104
Glasson, Samuel  1077
Gleason, W. S., M. D  150
Gogarty, Thomas  ,. . . . .356
Goldsmith, George B  562
Goodgion, Gilbert  1145
Gordon, Coggswell K  1072
Gordon, James, M. D  166
Gorse, Miss L- V  144
Gouge, George  835
Gould, Franklin  952
Gouldy, Francis  1499
Graham , George R  224
Graham, Mrs. Ida P  856
Graham, John H  255
Graham, Martin D  938

INDEX.

Grant, Ulysses S  S7
Greatsinger, Ebenezer W. .414
Green, Oliver  857
Greene, George W.-  784
Greer, Sylvanus  1242
Grimley, Prof. Charles F). . . 174
Groo, Hon. William J  1209
Grosset, Alexander S  409
Gumaer, Andrew J  839
Gumaer, Peter L  852
Gwyer, William K  -184

H

Hadden, George H  1122
Hafner, Benjamin  1 132
Hagerty, Christopher  S29
Haight, Henry J  1054
Hainen, Joseph  1092
Hall, Harlan P  937
Hall, Henry  823
Hall, Robert B  464
Hallock, Ira P  848
Hallock, Richard  .928
Hallock, William H  1185
Hallock, William H  316
Hallock, William H  909
Halstead, John R  7*3
Hamilton, Evauder M  1446
Hamilton, William  730
Hauimerstein, Prof. I,ouis..203
Hammond, William  1090
Handerhan, Patrick  255
Hanmore, I,ouis E.. M. D. .323
Hanretty, tawreuce M  501
Harden, Matthias R  970
, Hardenbergh, D. B., M. D.1271
Hardenbergh, H., M. D. .. 915
> , Harding, Gideon C  640
' Harris, George W  543
^"Harris, Louis A., M. D  519
' Harrison, Benjamin  107
Harrison, S. D., M. D  490
Harrison, Steele  1513
i Harrison, William  191
Harrison, William H  51
Hart, John Iv  1442
'• Hastings, James  390
Hathaway, Capt. H. F  384
Hawkins, Eliab  905
Hayes, Charles J  126
Hayes, Uzal T  1042
Hayes, Rutherford B  91
Hayne, Marcus S., M. D.. .1462
¦ Headley, Hon. Russel  139
Heard, William  366
Heater, George  1 266
Heath, Rev. Frank A  1264
Herbert, John E  360
Herman, Fred  1385
' Hess, George W  1309
" Higby, Newton  95S
Higham, Charles  1194
Higham, Robert  1285
Hildegarde, Sister Mary ... 656
.Hill, Augustus  701
Hill, Charles W  1186
Hill, Marcus K  250
Hill, Nelson  1127

Hill, Thomas D  '. . .692
Hill, Wilbur  I0I3
Hilton, Samuel J  37*3
Hirst, Joshua  ,o97
Hoag, Cyrus D  ,34
Hock, Capt. Robert B  1035
Hoffmann, Peter  yg
Hogan, John J  ^sg
Holden, Amos F  i4s5
Holden, William 1-1  y4„
Horton, Timothy W  636
Hotaling, Capt. John N. . . .434
Houston, David D  1-423
Howell, Benton  723
Howell, David B  462
Howell, John C  6n
Howell, John T., M, D. . . . 625
Howell, Rensselaer  320
Howell, Samuel C  849
Hoyt, Charles W  939
Hughes, Charles E  536
Hulett, Joseph B., M. D. ..1107
Hull, Charles \v  4i5
Hull, Franks  r47g
Hulse, Hon. Ananias B  842
Hulse, Chancy  265
Hulse, Hon. Gilbert 0  1427
Hulse, Courtland S  1083
Hulse, Henry V  643
Hulshizer, Christian S  1143
Hunt, Hiland H  945
Hunt, Isaac S , M. D  1174
Hunt, James H, M. D  1173
Hunt, William D  857
Hunter, Capt. Ezra 1  564
Hunter, George H  552
Hurd, Horace E  596
Hutchison, Thomas S. . . .1455

1545

Innis, Aaron..

.605

Jackson, Andrew  43
Jacobs Gilbert E  161 >
Jacobson, Frank A., M. D. .315
Jayne, William T  767
Jefferson, Thomas  27
Jeffrey, Alexander  123
Jessup, John  1203
Jessup, Seneca  879
Johnson, Albert  352
Johnson, Andrew  S3
Johnson, Jacob M  1098
Johnson, John F  1476
Johnson, John T  927
Johnston, James H  935
Johnston, Robert  214
Johnston, Thomas.  311
Jones, Charles  1026
Jones, Oscar E  659
Jones, Judge Samuel V . . . .901
Jordan, Increase C  1236
Jordan, Joseph V  539
Jova, Andrew V., M. D  689

Jova, Henry J  442
June, Capt. Charles F  340

K
Kadel, Jacob  gI?
Kain, Frank G  IIgg
Kampe, Joseph 1  475
Kaune, Charles H  703
Kay, William H  353
Reams, Robert, M. D  615
Keefe, William H  4gg
Keener, Charles  I3g7
Kellogg, Alba H  4I6
Kelly, Bernard  j95
Kent, George W  546
Kernochan, James K  3g5
Kerr, Col. Anthony p  n3g
Kerr, Charles L. C  756
Ketcham, Charles C. V .1020
Ketcham, George  1441
Ketcham, Isaac E  840
Ketcham, John L  896
Ketchum, D. A  '  i46i
Ketchum, George F  305
Kidd, Dr. David L  243
Kidd, James  252
Kilmer, Irving A  723
Kilmer, Martin L  171
Kilmer, William A  443
King, John D  906
Kirby, James P  335
Kirby, William H  1255
Kissam , Adrian  542
Kleitz, George L  426
Klemmer, John  344
Knapp, C. Albert  261
Knapp, Charles N , M. D. .922
Knapp, Charles S  662
Knapp, Walter H  1 1x7
Knapp, W. Nelson  1091
Knight, Chauncey B  825
Knox, George L  125S
Kohl, Henry  324
Kortright, Aaron W  900
Kortrig-ht, Lawrence W.. . .645
Kroeger, August  1284

L

Lahey, William  520
Lain, David E  t32i
Lain, James  741
Xain, Richard A  784
Lamb, Harvey  1223
LaMont. Charles F  868
Lang, Edmund  523
Larkin, Patrick  1367
Larned, Col. Charles W ..1400
Laurell, Klas E  364
Lawrence, Robert  1240
Lawrence William A  793
Lawson, Hon. Charles J... .516
Lee, Alexander  .)oix
Lee, Gabriel PI  980
Lee, Lewis  301
Leemon, John B  1029

Leemon, John E-, M. D  982
Leeper, Col. Joseph M  369
Leonard, Alfred D., M D. .777
Leonard, Henry M  432
Leonard, Hiram L  1501
Lewis, Henry V  Tg3
Lewis, James H  3o6
Lewis, Peter G  1422
Lewis, R. o  I4I2
Likely. Ebenezer C  435
Lincoln, Abraham  7g **|
Linehan, John F  '470
Lippincott, D. G., M. D....1120
Littell, Rev. Luther  639
Littell, Moses  721
Little, E. Knox  400
Little, John H  1 163
Little, Joseph E  976
Littleton , George J  645
Littleton, Thomas  1019
Livingston, Isaac H  964
Loomis, Charles W  1005
Loughran, Irving H  613
Low, Benjamin F  1345
Lowe, Frederick W  1 181
Ludington, Austin E  956
Lundgren, Carl J  350
Lutes, Charles C  1161
Lynn, William  151

M

McBrair, Henry C. . .  660
McBride, Archibald  300 .
McCain, Charles Thomas.. .880
McCamly. David  1137
McClung, Benjamin  321
McClung, James  460
McConville, Edward  962
McCormick, Hon. W. E- ...679
McCoy, Frank S  1502
McCroskery, Hon. J. J. S.. .342
McCroskery, Lewis W. V. ..S14
McElroy, George W  1500
McElroy, James  464
McEnany, Edward T  531
McEwen, Edward  314
McEwen, Milton  690
McGivney, Philip  136
McGowan, William H  1382
McGregor, Gavin R  371
McGuigan, Hugh  532
Mclnnes, William a  938
McKenzie, Thomas  386
McKinney, John L  930
McLernon, Hugh  385
McMonagle, Moses B  1006
McNally, James J  1531
McNeal, John  394
McNiff, Edward  1434
McNish, Wickham C  T473
McWilliams, William E- . .1410
Macardell, Cornelius  i486
Mackie's School, Misses.. .170
Madison, James  31
Magourty, James E  121
Maier, George  1228
Mailler, William O.....  535

1546

INDEX.

Makuen , George  742
Mance, Charles E  1168
Mandigo, Isaac F  733
Mandigo, J. P  1492
Manning, Ephraim  837
Manning, John R  1000
Mapes, Daniel S  242
Mapes, George H  602
Mapes, Robert D  1272
Mapes, William H  355
Marsh, Hon. Luther R ...652
Marsh, John  935
Marsh, Thomas  935
Marshall, John C  419
Marshall, Willett J  1386
Marston , David  869
Martin C. W  1.151
Martin, James G  1265
Marvel, Capt. Thomas S... .406
Marvin, Mrs. Amelia  995
Marvin, Hon. Francis  993
Marvin , William A  366
Masterson, Samuel J  940
Mathews, Isaac T  430
Matthews, E. W  1212
Matthews, John W  482
Matthews, J. Francis. ... 1283
Mead, Charles H  439
Mead, Charles L  1319
Mead, Josiah  889
Mead, William B  603
Merrill, E- S., A. B., B. L. 1487
Merritt, Andrew H  796
Merritt, Caleb  541
Merritt, Daniel H  1400
Merritt, Josiah  745
Middletown Press, The. . . 1393
Middletown Straw Works. 1 169
Milburn, Richard  604
Miller, Charles E  1241
Miller, David R  1289
Miller, Peter P*  1 1 1 6
Milliken, Abraham L  545
Mills, Albert  1060
Mills, Jacob  632
Mills, Dr. James J  649
Mills, John G.  923
Mills, Samuel C  509
Mills, Samuel W., D. D . . . .845
Mills, Theodore D., M. D..1445
Millspaugh, James F)  284
Millspaugh, Theron I,  694
Minshull, Philip H  663
Mitchell, John J., M D  169
Mouell, John P  734
Monroe, James  35
Montfort, R. V. K., M. D. ..149
Montross, John D  782
Moore, Andrew J  851
Moore, Harvey  1286
Moore, James F  6s,s
Moore, Joseph Emmet . . . .967
Moores, William R  500
Morey, Henry, Jr  1248
Morrison. Mrs. Ann  *ss3
Morrison , David A  1523
Morrison, Hamilton  1523
Morrow, George, Jr  256
Moscow, Prof. Charles E. . .554
Moss, Miss Mary A  606
Mould, Frank  702

Mulford, James P  1170
Mullen, Michael F  172
Mulliner, Franklin  600
Mulock, Daniel  928
Murray, Hon. Ambrose S. .761
Murtfeldt, Edward M  479
Musbach, Cuuo  1217
Musbach, E. G. William. . 1044
Myer, James E  774
Mygatt, Charles G  979

N

Nelson , Moses F  443
Nelson, Thomas  674
Nelson, William J., M. D..1182
Nicoll, Charles  420
Northup, Joel D  666

0

Oakey, Leigh  356
Oakley, Lucas  771
Oberle, Aloyse  413
O'Connell, Rev. Dauiel  362
Odell, Hon. Benjamin B. . . .131
Odell, Hon. B. B., Jr  209
Odell , Hiram B  259
Ogden, George T  1055
O'Hara, Thomas  459
Oliver, Irving  591
O'Malley, James E  380
O'Neal, George W  1247
O'Neal, William M  1313
Oram, Thomas H  1361
Orce, Frank  11 75
Ormsbee, Addison C  326
Ormsbee, Clarence, M. D. . .933
Osborn, John  204
Osterhout, Hector  1223
Ostrom, Joshua W., M. D. .803

Palma, Tomas Estrada. . . . 815
Palmer, John S.  912
Parker, Dr. Edwin G  283
Parshall, David B  612
Patterson, John R  892
Peacey, William  574
Peattie, Edwin M  1 72
Penny, Joseph B  1303
Perlee, William H  1278
Perrott, John J  309
Peters, George W  1307
Peters, Jacob B., M.D  223
Pfaff, August  1 239
Phillips, JohirF)  233
Piano, Prof. Elwood  4NS
Piatt, Charles  1298
Pierce, Franklin  71
Pierson, George  704
Pierson, John  884
Pillsbury, Burke, M. 1)  1078
Pitts, Thomas P  1131

Polk, James K  59
Poppino, John J  1355
Porritt, James  1161
Potter, Lewis  787
Pough, James E  800
Powelson , A. V. N  1327
Pratt, Albert H  642
Price, George A  389
Price, Jacob M  280
Puff, William H  1056
Putney, George E-, M. D. . .644

Q

Quackenbos, Nicholas I. .. .620

R

Rafferty, Prof. James S  137
Rake, Joseph  T541
Randall, Thomas J  275
Raynor, Samuel  755
Rechtsteiuer, Rev. Joseph. 10S9
Reed, Alfred H  1109
Reed, George W  1290
Reeve, Dauiel  1185
Reeve, Henry S  894
Reeve, William H  863
Reisler, Evan T.-  r 108
Repp, Prof. W. H. G  570
Reppenhagen, Max E  441
Requa, Edgar L  885
Reynolds, Archibald C  1411
Richardson, Hon. W P  781
Ritchie, Samuel  1479
Rider, James C  1152
Ring, A. Smith  235
Ritter, Herbert P  216
Rivenburg, Charles  7S6
Roberson, Samuel D.,  1005
Roberson , Samuel  94 3
Roberson, Theodore M  982
Robinson, H. H., M. D. . . .1337
Robinson, Morris  946
Rockafellow, James H  691
Roe, Harvey  1000
Roe, Henry M  594
Roe, John W  710
Rogers, John B  614
Ronk, Philip 1  463
Roosa, Capt. Zach  580
Rose, Hilend C  425
Rose, John C  491
Ross, George H  333
Ross, Capt. George M  411
Rowe, Matthew-  716
Roys, Edwin L  196
Rudolph, Heurj*-  525
Rumsey, William W  433
Rupp, Prof. Charles  339
Russell, Edward R  1470
Russell, W. S , M. D  868
Rutan, John L  305

St. John, Hon. Charles. , . .1469
St. John, Stephen  1418

St. Patrick's Church  545
Sager, William  494
Sallander, Bengt P  372
Salley, Rev. Michael  1059
Sanford, Pierson E  272
Sargeant, A. R  1122
Sarvis, James H  1215
Sayer, John P  11 76
Sayer, Robert A  1344
Sayer, William M  1023
Sayer, William S  946
Schaad, Adam  3.X3
Schaefer, F. J. A  324
Schoudel, William  485
Schwartz, J. Charles  1218
Scott, Frank A  585
Scott, James  226
Seacord, Henry  720
Seaman, Edward H  804
Sears, Mrs. Mary A  693
Sebring, W. C, M. D  643
Seeger, Albert H. F  530
Seeholzer, William  11 10
Seely, Fred B  696
Seely, William  1119
Senior, George  231
Senior, Thomas H  622
Senior, William H  610
Seward, F. W., M. D  289
Seybolt, James F  911
Shafer, James  1350
Shafer, Rev. Jesse F  589
Shannon, William  1096
Shaw, Charles B  162
Shaw, Elkanah K  345
Shaw, George W  332
Shaw, Robert W  969
Shelley, H. J., M. D  973
Shephard, Col. Charles H. .975
Shipp, Samuel E  555
Shuit, Hon. Morgan  955
Shumaker, Moses V  1536
Sinsabaugh, Levi V  1276
Sirrine, William  405
Skinner, C. N., M. D  918
Skinner, John N  924
Slaughter, Alausou  682
Slauson, John W  1505
Slawson, John B  -.934
Sloan, Moses  13c)
Sloat, Alexander C  964
Sly, William J  799
Smith, Dr. Charles  684
Smith, Charles H  1399
Smith, Charles H.J  496
Smith, Edgar  *  1482
Smith, Emmett A  664
Smith, Eugene  686
Smith, George  902
Smith, George  1475
Smith, Henry C  476
Smith, Henry E  743
Smith, Henry W  1227
Smith, Capt. Isaac  775
Smith, James  712
Smith, James P*  1527
Smith, James H  944
Smith, James M  471
Smith, John  1514
Smith, Lewis M  533
Smith, S. Edgar  650

INDEX.

Smith, Stephen A  g62
Smith, Thomas  154
Smith, Uzell  T^:
Smith, William C  629
Smith, Capt. William H  570
Smith, William K  794
Sneed, Joseph A  249
Sniffin, Joseph  1 127
Soare, Robert F  246
Soare, William H  1367
Spiegel, James C, M. D. . .1192
Sprague, David H., M. D. .1200
Stage, John L  778
Stage, Joseph D  986
Stanton. Curtis  563
Steward, Dauiel J  5S3
Stewart, James  472
Stewart, Joseph A  1520
Stewart, Lachlan  206
Stickney, Hon. Erastus. . . .785
Stivers, John D  1302
Stivers, Lewis S  1270
Stivers, Hon. Moses D  1373
St. John, Stephen  141 8
Stocker, Edward  143
Stokem, Eugene D  816
Storch, George  1206
Stratton, Frank M  1405
Stratton , William D  1 245
Strong, Robert S  540
Strong, William H  276
Straw, Dr. Lendon S  436
Struble, H. McD., M. D....1103
Stubley, Ingham  165
Swartwout, H. B., M. D  669
Swartwout, Peter D  1026
Swartwout, Col. Peter P. . ..996
Sweeney, Daniel B  1204

T

Taft, Nathaniel  1 197
Taggart, William G  1364
Talcott, Selden H., M. D. .1233
Talmadge, John M  682
Tate, Hiram  776
Taylor, Charles Z  1297
Taylor, Hon. Grant B  213
Taylor, Joh n S  634
Taylor, Nathan S  599
Taylor, Zachary  63
Teller, James L  350
Templeton, James F  155
Terwilliger, Oscar M  1252
Terwilliger, William W. . . 350
Thayer, Elijah C  674
Thomas, W. R. , D. D  1435
Thompson, Alexander  808
Thompson, Dr. A. J  1363
Thompson, Dauiel  1536
Thompson, George W  863
Thompson, Horace D  714
Thompson. Isaac H  294
Thompson, Jeremiah H. . . .826
Thompson , J. H . , M. D . . . 1 101
t Thompson, Samuel H  263

Thorn, Townsend  806
Thornton, Hon. Howard. . .402
Thrall, Mrs. S. Maretta ... .963
Tierney, Charles  ,27,,
Todd, James  ^2i
Toleman, William  44s
Tooker, Samuel S  1453
Townsend, Charles H  S7 1
Townsend, James A  219
Traphagen, William D  709
Tremper, Capt. Andrew J. .455
Trimble, William C  1325
Tuma, Frank M  385
Turner, Amzy A  1 259
Turner, Charles  10 iS
Turner, Gilbert  829
Turner, Joseph N  1128
Tuthill, Alsop P  4X9
Tuthill, Fred D  5,2
Tuthill, Prof. James F  675
Tuthill, Nathaniel  620
Tuthill, Townsend D  1041
Tweed, William  395
Tyler, John  55
Tyndall, William  641
Tyrrell, Oliver B  S36

U

Ulrich, William R  1017
Ural, James  T031
Usher, George  381

v

Valentine, Charles H  469
Valentine, John  262
Vau Alst, Charles J  232
Van Alst, Daniel  715
Van Alst, Ebenezer  256
Vanamee, William  1251
Van Buren, Ay mar  489
Vau Buren, Martin  47
Van Cleft, Joseph  124
Vanderoef, James  1191
Vanderoef, John J  691
Vau Dewater, Harry  969
Van Duzer, Henry T  -. .304
Van Duzer, Joseph B  290
Van Etten, Alva  890
Van Etten, Levi  988
Van Etten, Hon. Thomas. .910
Van Fleet, Benjamin  893
Van Fleet, Benjamin F. . . . 1024
Vau Fleet, Charles  765
Van Fleet, Solomon  921
Van Inwegen, Charac J... .1014
Van Inwegen, Eli  1495
Vau Inwegen, Job  893
Van Keuren, J., M. D  529
Van Keureu, John J  903
Van Keuren. Nelson  672
Van Ness, Joseph P  985
Vau Saun, Samuel S  28r

Van Sickle, Nathaniel  602
Van Steenbergh, B  i5I2
Van Vliet, Samuel c, Jr., .1343
Vau Wormer, Azariah R. . .671
Van Wormer, William J... .936
Varcoe, Dr. Edwin R  M9,
Vennema, Rev. Ame  1435
Vogel, William  II04

\V

Waddington, John S  396
Wade, Andrew K  704
Wade, Dauiel M  724
Wager, David P  ,204
Wait, Thomas  7Vl
Walker, Capt. J. Alfred. . . .549
Walker, Samuel S  S91
Wallace, Aarou Vau D  772
Wallace, James H  683
Wallace, John A  1380
Wallace, William T  664
Walsh, George Albert  7R7
Wands, William S  133
Ward, David H  138
Ward, James  995
Ward, Josiah M., M. D ....601
Ward, William  551
Warford, John H  225
Waring, Harry M  1349
Warwick, David G  506
Washington, George  19
Washington, Mrs. L. H  899
Washington, Rev. S  899
Wasnick, Joseph  731
Webb, Stephen 1  221
Weed, Charles W  163
Weed, Daniel T  1295
Weed, Samuel  452
Weeks, Charles  766
Weller, Alansou V  375
Weller, George  721
Weller, George S  346
Wells, Abner S  1263
Wells, James E  624
West, George W  1440
West, Heury F  999
Weston, Maj. Wilbur H  446
Weyant, Charles H  744
Weyant, John  756
Weyant, Peter J  741
Weyant, Wilbur F  576
Weyant, Col. Charles H  179
Weygant, Theodore  797
Wheeler, A. B  1332
Wheeler, Ellsworth A  1447
Wheeler, Isaac B  481
Wheeler, William F  1074
White, Henry  412
White, Rev. Stephen F  202
Whitehead , Edward  235
Whitlock, Aarou  635
Whitlock, John  973
Wickham, George  654
Wiggins, John  1417
Wiggins, John L  1423
Wilcox, Gavin R. M  593

Wilcox, Nelson H  706
Wilcox, Samuel H  m6
Wilcoxson, ' James s  S61
Wilkes, C. B  1ci7k
Wilkin, Joseph'M  813
Wilkin, Theodore C  9S6
Willard, Fraucis A  1317
Willcox, John  806
Willcox, William H  294
Williams, Alouzo J  7ss
Williams, Benjamin B  1344
Williams, Charles E  818
Williams, Fred R  1442
Wilson, John M  572
Wilsou, Jonathan D  595
Wilson , Lewis G  1310
Wilson, Robert  359
Wilson, Tilden H  556
Wilson, William  839
Winans, H. E.,'.M. D  493
Winchester, Rev. C. M  680
Wisuer, Hou. Cliuton W. ...279
Wisner, George T  751
Wisuer, James  1053
Wisuer, Capt. Lewis S . .1084
Wisner, Richard  272
Wisner, William H  291
Wolf B. V  1362
Wolff, Charles  1025
Wood, Maj. Charles B  11 14
Wood, Emmett E  974
Wood. George R  286
Wood, H. Wisuer  265
Wood, Jacob  1 109
Wood. Johu  1092
Wood, Col. Johu D  646
Wood, John D  673
Wood, John F  I23o
Wood, Nelson Wells  1037
Wood, Thomas J.,  466
Wood, William H  1050
Wood, William H  IOo8
Woodruff, Caleb W  403
Woodruff, W. H., M . D. . . . 1047
Woods, John H  65 1
Woods, Dr. Leonard B  363
Woolley, C. N., M. D  429
Woolsey, Capt. George D.. .559
Wright, Alexander  259
Wright, Col. Charles J  949
Writer, Theodore, M.D... .987
Wyker, William H  274

Y

Youmans, George E  807
Young, Alexander  456
Young, Charles A  660
Youngs, Henry  1534

Zint, Frank J.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Ackerman, David L  1112
Adams, John  22
Adams, Johu Q  38
Ahern, Rev. Philip H  1330
Alexander, Harvey  1390
Appleton, Dr. G. J  1432
Arthur, Chester A  98
Bailey, Hon. Daniel H  1458
Baker, J. Edward  866
Banker, Isaac  1450
Banker, Mrs. Isaac  1451
Beakes, Adam W  1064
Beekman , Horatio B  378
Bergen, George  1141
Berry, Dwight W  1414
Board, Joseph  1402
Bodine, Hon. Frederic  728
Bradner, John B  859
Brink, Leander  1408
Brown, Eber L  122S
Brown, Robert.'  457
Brox, Charles  920
Buchanan, James  74
Burrows, Prof. John H  1300
Cantine, Col. George A  198
Carpenter, William H  1196
Chadwick, James  228
Clark, Edson L  888
Clark, Hon. George  116
Clark, Hulet D  1178
Clark, James A  1378
Clark, James Van Fleet. . .1016
Clark, Leander, Jr  268
Cleveland, S. Grover  102
Cliff, Benjamin  318
Coldwell- Wilcox Co  .657
Coleman, Roswell C  1123
Coleman, Mrs. R. C  1124
Coleman, Capt. William — 448
Conkling, Dr. Johu  1070
Conner, Milton C, M. D...1268
Crane, James M  298
Crawford, Theron  1238
Cuddeback, Abraham W. .1420
Cuddeback, Elting  1464
Cuddeback, \V. L-, M. D...1148
Dales, Johu,  238
Davidsou, Hugh  368
Dickey, Col. William D  15S
Diemer, Louis J  1396
Donohue, Johu  61S
Duryea, Samuel C  1256
Everitt, Martin C  1438
Farnum, Peter E  io69

Farnum, Samuel B  960
Fillmore, Millard  66
Fitzpatrick, Nicholas F  328
Ford, Charles T  1094
Foster, Jacob  718
Fowler, Henry D  854
Fuller, Capt. Charles R....1154
Fuller, George W  737
Fullerton, Hon. William. . .188
Garfield, James A  94
Gavin, Joseph  1312
Geduey, Herbert  1510
Gehrig, Prof. Theodore. . . .398
Gilman, Ernest H  348
Gouge, George  832
Gouge, Mrs. George  833
Gouldy, Francis  1498
Grant, Ulysses S  86
Groo, Hou. William J. .. .1208
Grosset, Alexander S  408
Hallock, William H  11 84
Hallock, William H  908
Hardenbergh, H., M. D. . . .914
Harris, Louis A., M. D  518
Harrison, Benjamin  106
Harrison, William PI  50
Hayes, Rutherford B  90
Herman, Fred  1384
Hock, Capt. Robert B  1034
Holden, Amos F  1484
Hulett, J. B., M. D  1106
Hull, Frank S  1478
Hulse, Courtland S  10S2
Hulse, Hon. Gilbert 0  1426
Hunt, James H., M. D  1172
Jackson, Andrew  42
Jefferson, Thomas  26
Jessup, John  1202
Johnson, Andrew  82
Johusou, John T  926
Jones, Charles  1027
Jordan, Joseph V  -538
Jova, Andrew V., M. D  688
Keefe, William H  498
Lawrence, William A  792
Lee, Alexander  1010
Leeper, Col. Joseph M  368
Lincoln, Abraham  78
Littell, Rev. Luther  638
McCain, Charles Thomas. .S77
McCain, John Edsall  S76
McCamly, David  1 136
McCormick, Hon. W. E  67S
McNish, Wickham C  1472

Madison, James  30
Marshall, John C  418
Marviu, Mrs. A. St. John.. .991
Marviu, Hou. Francis  990
Matthews, J. Francis  1282
Mead, Charles H  438
Mead, Charles L  1318
Miller, David R  1288
Mills, Dr. James J  648
Mills, Samuel C  508
Mills, Samuel W., D. D  844
Mills, T. D., M. D  1444
Mitchell, John J., M.D ...16S
Monroe, James  34
Montfort, R. V. K., M. D.. .148
Moore, Andrew J  851
Moore, Joseph Emmet  966
Morrison, David A  1522
Morrison, George H  1522
Morrison, Hamilton  T522
Morrison, Johu G  1322
Morrison, Jonathan M....1522
Morrison, William H, H. .1522
Mt. St. Mary's Academy. . .657
Murray, Hon. A. S  760
Murtfeldt, Edward M  47X
Mygatt, Charles G  97S
Oakley, Lucas  .770
Odell, Hou. Benjamin B... .130
Odell, Hon. B. B., Jr  208
Odell, Hiram B  258
Oram, Thomas H  1360
Ormsbee, Clarence, M. D.. .932
Ostrom, yoshua W.. M. D..802
Perrott, John J  308
Peters, George W  1306
Pierce, Franklin  70
Polk, James K  38
Poppino, John J  1354
Porritt, James  1160
Price, George A  3S8
Rechtsteiuer, Rev. J  10S8
Richardson, Hou. W. P  7S0
Ritchie, Samuel  1478
Roberson, Samuel  942
Roberson, Samuel D  1*004
Robinson, FI. H., M. D....1336
Rupp, Prof. Charles  338
St. John, Hon. Charles  1468
Salle}', Rev. Michael  1058
Sarvis, James H  1214
Sayer, William M  ^022
Seely, Fred B  697
Seely, William  111S

Seward, F. W., M. D  2S8
Shafer, Rev. Jesse F  58S
Shephard, Col. C. H. . ..975
Shuit, Hon. Morgan  954
Slauson, Johu W  1504
Smith, Henry W  1226
Smith, William C  628
Sneed, Joseph A  248
Soare, William H...  1366
Stivers, Hon. Moses D  1372
Stratton, William D  T244
Swartwout, H. B., M. D. . . 668
Talcott, S. H., M. D  1232
Taylor, Nathan S  598
Taylor, Zachary  62
Thompson, J. H., M. D. . . 1100
Townsend, James A  218
Traphagen, W. D  70S
Trimble, William C  1324
Tuthill, Townsend D  1040
Tyler, John  54
Valeutine, Charles H  468
Vanamee, William  1250
Van Buren, Ay mar  488
Van Buren, Martin  46
Vanderoef, James  U90
Vau Inwegen, Eli  1494
Van Keuren, J., M. D  52S
Van Ness, Joseph P  984
Van Vliet, Samuel C, Jr.. .1342
Varcoe, Dr. Edwin R  1490
Walker, Capt. J. Alfred. .. .548
Waring, Harry M  134S
Washington, George  18
Washington, Mrs. L H  898
Weed, Dauiel T  1294
Wells, Abner S  1262
West, Henry F  998
Weyant. Wilbur F  577
Weygant, Col. Charles H.. .17S
Wheeler, William F  1075
Whitlock, John  972
Wilkin, Joseph M  812 -
Willard, Francis A  1516
Wilson, Robert  358
Wisuer, Hon. Clinton W. . .278
Wisner, George T  74S -
Wisuer, James  1052
Woodruff, W. IL, M. D. . . . 1046
Woolley, C. N., M. D  428
Woolsey, Capt. George D.. .558
Wright, Col. Charles J  948