History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 45

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. J. W. Ostrom was born July 10, 1814, in Marl- borough. His early education from books was re- ceived at the common school, under the private in- struction of his unele, Rev. Mr. Kuiflin, of Little Falls, and at the Fairfield Academy, N. Y., at which

184

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

latter place he was graduated. At the age of eigh- teen he began the study of medicine at Little Falls, with Dr. Arsenus Smith, and the same year attended a course of leetures at Castleton Medical College, Vermont.

Being wholly dependent upon his own resources for

prosecuting his medical studies, he taught one term of school in Marlborough, and then engaged to attend a drug-store in New York, where he continued his studies with the proprietor, who was a physician. While there he was invited by Dr. Bedford, of that city, to attend his medical lectures at Peale's Museum, where he obtained the confidence of Dr. Bedford to such an extent for his devotion to study, and his de- termination to succeed, that he was invited to con- tinne his studies with that gentleman, until he was graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, in 1838.

In the spring of 1839, Dr. Ostrom settled in the practice of his profession at Goshen, where by perse- verance and skill in the treatment of disease, and his care and sympathy for the afflicted, he soon won the confidence of a large eirele of friends.

upon the practice of the new theory of medicine, which, although at first was received with doubts, soon won the confidence of a respectable part of the community, and in a few years was successfully estab- lished with a large part of the intelligent reading and thinking public.

Dr. Ostrom was the first regularly settled physician of homeopathy in Orange County, one of the found- : ers of the Orange County Homeopathie Medical So- viety, of which he has been chosen president many times, and to his early practice of this new theory of medicine is largely traced the origin and early history of homeopathy in this part of the State.

Besides his connection with the Orange County medical societies, he has been chosen for four years in succession, beginning with 1877, a delegate to the State Medical Society.

His acknowledged skill as a physician, his long continuous practice at Goshen, his liberal views en- tertained towards those who differ with him in the theory and practice of medicine, his care of and devo- tion to his patients, his safe and judicious counsel, often outside of his regular ride, have made his name widely known throughout the county and State, as among the first physicians of bis day.

Ile married in December, 1840, Emily I., daughter of Dr. Eleazer Gedney, of Newburgh, who died March 24, 1879, aged sixty-three years. The children born of this union are Charlotte, wife of Dr. Clarence Conant, of Middletown ; Gunning B., a merchant in Goshen ; Eliza, wife of William Vanamee, a lawyer of Middletown; Annie, wife of Rev. Henry A. Dowes, of Middletown; and Hiram Irwin, a graduate of the New York Homeopathic Medical College, and a practicing physician in New York City.

Dr. Ostrom's present wife is Emma Gertrude, widow of the late Edgar T. Lu Gar, of New York, and daughter of Prof. L. A. Benjamin, of that city, whom he married April 26, 1881.

DR. WILLIAM A. M. CULBERT is a native of New York City, and was born Nov. 4, 1822. During his earlier years he resided in the city and enjoyed the benefits of excellent educational training at the private schools of the period. Ile subsequently entered the Academic Department of the University of the City of New York, at which institution he was graduated on June 12, 1841, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later he received the Master's de- gree.

After the termination of bis academical course only a brief interval elapsed before Dr. Culbert com- menced his medical education. He entered the office of Prof. Valentine Mott as a student of medicine, cal department of the university of which he was an alumnus. After completing the three years' course of preseribed studies he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine on March 11, 1846. He soon after set- tled in Brooklyn and entered upou the practice of his

A student of his profession, Dr. Ostrom followed ; and the year following was matriculated in the medi- the regular practice until 1849, when he began to in- vestigate the principles of homeopathy. Here he found a wide and interesting field for study, and be- coming convinced of its superior theory of practice and necessary results, in 1852 he entered regularly

185

MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

profession, meeting with a degree of success that was very encouraging. His friend, A. Gerald llull, M.D., a distinguished physician of New York, had recently withshawn from practice and settled in Newburgh to recover his health, greatly impaired by hard work in his profession. By this gentleman Dr. Culbert was urged to remove to Newburgh also, and this, after consideration, he finally resolved to do. Accordingly on Nov. 8, 1547, he arrived in that city and took rooms in the t nited States Hotel, where he immedi- ately opened an office, entering almost from the be- ginning upon a good practice, which in time became extensive and lucrative, and included many of the most desirable families of the vicinity.

Dr. Culbert was married on Oct. 12, 1852, to Miss Henrietta, daughter of Robert and Louisa A. Powell, and granddaughter of Thomas Powell who was then in the enjoyment of a vigorous old age. Since his marriage the doctor has orenpied the residence corner of Grand and Second Streets, with his wife and son, Francis R Culbert, in the enjoyment of a high de- gree of professional success. For twenty years so closely confined was he that he was scarcely absent from the duties of his profession as many days in all as that number of years. His practice demanded his full time, and so incessant were his labors that at last health began to yield and rest became impera- tively necessary. This he took in 1870, and again in 1871, several months of each year traveling in Europe and visiting many of the medical institutions of the countries through which he passed.

Besides occupying the position of an intelligent and successful physician in the community in which he has passed so many years of his life, Dr. Culbert is also recognized as one of the leading citizens of Now- burgh, performing in a plain, modest, dignified, and courteous manner the various social duties that devolve upor him. While taking an active interest in the public events of the day, and in the local enterprises of th . city, he has been prevented by the pressure of professional duty from participating in political or public life.

IRA S. BRADNER, M.D., is a lineal descendant hom Rev. lohn Bradier, a native of Scotland, the first Presbyterian pastor of Goshen, who settled there in 1721, end died in 1732.

HIis father, Thomas Wickham Bradner, was born and resided in the town of Goshen, Orange Co., where he was a farmer during his active business life. JIe was a promoter of the interest of the Orange County Agricultural Society, of which he was a member, pro- gressive in his ideas of the development of the indus- tries of the county, and a thorough-going busin ~~ 4 man. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at Goshen, of which he served for many years as elder.

HIis wife, Susan Smith, bore him the following chil dren who reached manhood and womanhood : Wil- liam Fisk, succeeded to the homestead farm and there

died; Eliza, became the wife of David Redfield, a merchant of Goshen, where she died; Dr. Ira S., sub- ject of this sketch ; Rev. Thomas Seott, graduated at Princeton College, and is a Presbyterian clergyman at. (flen Cove, 1 .. I .; Harriet, died unmarried ; Harvey, was a farmer in Goshen, and there died ; Susan Emily, is the wife of Joseph Young, of Goshen ; and Caroline.

Many members of the Bradner family have made the medical profession their life work, and several have been identified with the practice of medicine in Orange County.

Dr. Ira S. Bradner was born in the town of Goshen, June 2, 1820. He received his preparatory course of education at Farmers' Hall Academy, Goshen, en- tered Princeton College, from which he was graduated with the usual honors in the class of 1840.

After his graduation he began the study of medi- cine with Dr. J. W. Ostrom, of Goshen, attended two courses of medical lectures at the Medical Department of the University of New York, from which he was graduated in 1843.

He first settled 'ju practice at Scotchtown, Orange Co., where, by his professional skill, perseverance, care, and devotion to his patients, he soon won the contidenee of the community and esteem of his fellow associates of the profession. While in New York purchasing medical books to replenish his library, about 1850, Dr. Bradner, through curiosity alone to know what it contained, purchased among other books the " Hahnemann Organon," the study of which soon convinced him of the superiority of its theory of the practice of medicine, and gradually he began to adopt the new practice. So successful was he in the treatment of difficult cases by this method, that although a member of the Orange County Medi- cal Society, and already inducted into a successful practice in the old school of medicine, he resolved to adopt the new theory, which he accordingly did about 1852.

He remained at Scotchtown until 1857, when he settled at Middletown, where he has since continued the duties of his profession.

Upon the organization of the Homeopathic Medi- cal Society of Orange County, on Nov. 12, 1851, in which Dr. Bradner took an active part, Dr. A. G. Hull was chosen president, Dr. De Witt C. Jayne, vice-presi- dent, Dr. Bradner, secretary and treasurer, and Dr. Win. L. Culbert, corresponding secretary.

Dr. Bradner has not only officiated as secretary and treasurer of the society since, a period of twenty-nine years, but has frequently contributed valuable statis- tics, and ably discussed medical topics before the society, in which his counsel has always commanded the confidence of his professional brethren for candor, frankness, and practical utility.

Dr. Bradnes, and a few other medical men of Orange County, are the founders of homeopathie practice in the county, and to them alone is due the credit and honor of having met the obstacles incident to the

186

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

introduction of this new theory and its successful es- place in 1826. Charles M. Lawrence was born in tablishment here.

Dr. Bradner was the first settled homeopathic phy- sician in Middletown, and is one of the oldest prac- titioners of medicine in the county.

In 1863, Dr. Bradner was appointed assistant sur- geon of the Fifty-sixthi Regiment New York Vohin- teers, under Gen. Van Wyck, and remained with the regiment while stationed on Saybrook Island, and at Beaufort, S. C., and just before the close of the war he received the appointment of surgeon of the same regiment.

Ilis wife is Sarah Jane, daughter of John G. and Susan (Bronson) Houston, of Scotehtown, whom he married Oct. 5, 1843. She was born July 18, 1819.

Their children are Julia E., graduated at the Women's Medical College and Hospital in New York in 1878, and is a successful practitioner in Middle- town ; Susan, is the wife of Odell Hathaway, of New- burgh; Fred. H., born Oct. 6, 1849, graduated at a homopathic college in New York, and afterwards practiced medicine in Middletown until his death, in January, 1880; John Fremont, was graduated at the Albany Law School, and is a lawyer and police jus- tice at Middletown ; and Isabella G.

CHARLES M. LAWRENCE, M.D .- The Lawrence family are of German extraction, Jacob Lawrence, the progenitor of the family in America, having, at the age of eighteen and previous to the war of the Revolution, emigrated from Alsace, Germany, to his adopted country. Mr. Lawrence, soon after his ar- rival, became impressed with the justice of the cause of the colonies, and enrolled his name as one of their defenders, serving with much credit at the battle of Trenton, where he was captain of the guard. He was on this occasion honored with the confidence of the commander-in-chief, whose intention to cross the Del- aware was known only to his council of war and to Mr. Lawrence. He served during the conflict, and at its close became a resident of Philadelphia, having previously been located at Red Bank, N. J. Mr. Law- rence had three sons, Jacob, James, and Charles, the latter of whom was the father of Charles M., the sub- ject of this biography, and was born in Philadelphia, where the early years of his life were passed.

The practical education which laid the foundation of a subsequent successful career was obtained at the public schools of the city, after which he acquired the trade of a rope-maker. This was pursued for years with his accustomed vigor, and at a later period his business interests became identified with those of his brother Jacob.

Mr. Lawrence's political predilections may be de- scribed as those of an Old-Line Whig, while his faith sympathized with the belief of the "Christians." He was united in marriage to Miss Mary De Flood, to whom two children-James and Charles M .- were born. The death of Mr. Lawrence occurred in 1845, in his fifty-sixth year, his wife's demise having taken

Philadelphia, July 8, 1822, where his early years were spent in study. A desire to engage in active business prompted him to remove to New York, where he be- came a druggist. Determining to enter one of the professions, he began the study of medicine in 1847, and graduated in the class of 1849-50 from the Medi- cal Department of the University of the City of New York, having for two years previously engaged in practice in New York under the direction of bis pre- ceptor, Lyman Fisk, M.D., in whose office he spent four years.

He soon after relinquished business pursuits and devoted himself exclusively and with much ardor to the practice of medicine in New York, having mean- while become an exponeut of the homeopathic school. He was appointed in 1849 to the care of the Thir- teenth Ward Station-House during the cholera epi- demic, and the following year removed to Port Jervis.

Dr. Lawrence has been twice married ; first, to Miss Margaret Holmes, of Bridgeton, N. J., who was the mother of four children,-Emma, wife of Edgar Van Etten, of Port Jervis; Carrie J., wife of D. J. Pierce, of the same place; Holmes; and Charles, who is de- ceased. Mrs. Lawrence died in 1865, and in 1868 he was again married, to Miss Agnes L., daughter of Alexander Turner, of Scotch descent. To them were born two children,-Fred. M. and Agnes Houseman. Dr. Lawrence is a member of the State Homeopathic Society, and president of the Orange County Honpo- pathie Society. He has manifested during his resi- dence in Port Jervis a deep interest in its educational institutions, and has been for successive years presi- dent of the board of education.

Dr. Lawrence during the late Rebellion warmly espoused the cause of the Union, and was instru- mental in organizing the first company of volunteers. He has, notwithstanding his extended and lucrative practice, found time to devote to the interest of the community and the State. The doctor is in politics a Liberal Republican. His religious affinities are those of the Reformed (Dutch ) faith, of which church he is an active and consistent member.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE PRESS OF ORANGE COUNTY.

PRINTING, both of newspapers and books, had a comparatively early introduction in Orange County. The first newspaper printed in New York City was issued Oct. 16, 1725, and fifty years later there was none north of the Highlands. During the Revolu- tion, Samuel Louden followed the retreating footsteps of the Continental forces from New York to Fishkill with his New York Packet, but at best it was an army and not a local newspaper. The war closed in

一

187

THE PRESS OF ORANGE COUNTY.

1783, and five years later a newspaper press was established at Goshen,-The Goshen Repository,-and twelve years later there was a newspaper press-The Newburgh Packet-and book printing at Newburgh. Specimens of these pioneer publications compare fav- orably with any printed in New York at that time ; while " An Apology for the Bible," by R. Watson, D.D., F.R.S., printed by David Denniston, at New- burgh, in 1796, is exceedingly creditable in typo- graphical execution and binding. That there has been a wide departure from this primitive equality, both in newspaper and book printing, is evident enough. ' Capital, machinery, and the facilities of communication are preponderatingly in favor of the cities in all avocations, and especially in printing ; nevertheless, the newspaper press of Orange County maintains-and has maintained during the unequal struggle through which it has passed-a high standard of merit.

The history of the newspaper press of the county cannot now be written. In their early stages news- papers represented men to a greater extent than they do now. They were mainly either literally the "or- gans" of agreeing politicians, who purchased and " set them up," or of individuals in a less aggregated sense, in whose hands they became the substitute for the pamphlet in reaching the public ear. In some instances they were private ventures. With full files and a thorough investigation the influences which brought many of them into being might be traced in some cases, and the writer be able to say, with an early penman, "Which means, through the columns of that paper, Judge Booth ! Judge Booth !"' but as a whole the inquiry would not be profitable. Sufficient for the purposes of this work are such details as have tangible record.

THE PRESS OF GOSHEN.

The Goshen Repository was established by David Mandeville and David M. Westcott, at the Academy, in Goshen, in 1788. In 1793 its office was near the court-house. In 1800 it was sold to John G. and William Heurtin, who changed its name to The Orange County Patriot. In 1801, William Heurtin sold his interest to Gabriel Denton. In 1803, Denton sold to William A. Carpenter, and its name was changed to The Friend of Truth. In 1804, Ward M. Gazlay became its proprietor, and changed its name to The Orange Eagle. In 1805 its materials were destroyed by fire, and Mr. Gazlay removed to New- burgh.

The Orange County Gazette was commenced at Goshen in 1804 by Gabriel Denton, who took its name from an extinet Newburgh paper. Elliott Hopkins, pub- lisher, 1807; Elliott Hopkins & Co., 1811; Elliott Hopkins, 1812; F. J. & A. D. Houghton, 1813; " printed and published for the proprietor" in 1818. Its subsequent history is unknown.

shen in 1820 by Williams & Farrand. How long it was continued has not been ascertained. Its founders were graduates of the Albany Plow-Boy establish- ment, and aimed to conduct a general news and agri- cultural paper. Samuel Williams, the associate of Mr. Farrand, died at Rondout, June 16, 1878, in his ninetieth year, and at the time of his death was said to have been the oldest printer in the State. He was for forty years a member of the Baptist communion.

The Orange County Patriot and Spirit of Seventy- Sir was commenced at Goshen, by Gabriel Denton, in 1808. Lewis & Crowell purchased it and removed it to Newburgh, where it was published as "a new series" in 1811. T. B. Crowell was the publisher in 1812, and professed to hold its columns "open to all parties" but to be "influenced by none." It was again at Goshen in 1822, Mr. Crowell proprietor, and was subsequently sold to R. C. S. Hendrie. Feb. 22, 1834, Hendrie sold to F. T. Parsons, who changed its name to Goshen Democrat. Charles Mead became the asso- ciate of Mr. Parsons in 1842. Nathaniel Webb suc- ceeded Mr. Parsons, and the firm became Mead & Webb, and, after the death of Mr. Webb, Charles Mead & Son. Mr. Hendrie started the True Whig in 1843, and after continuing it two years soll it to Mead & Webb, who changed their newspaper title to Goshen Democrat and Whig. After Mr. Webb's death, Mr. Mead dropped the Whig and resumed the title of Goshen Democrat. As the name of Gabriel Denton will not again be met in connection with the Goshen press, of which he was so industrious a founder, it may be stated here that his last years were spent in the Or- ange County poor-house. Hle certainly deserved a better fate.

The Orange County Republican, " volume one, num- ber one, Montgomery, May 6, 1806. Published for the Proprietors by Cyrus Beach and Luther Pratt," is a transcript of the imprint of a paper published in Montgomery, or, as some writers say, "at Ward's Bridge," which was the title of the first post-office in Montgomery, and so called from the fact that it was located and kept at James Ward's grist-mill, where he had thrown a bridge across the Wallkill, constituting it one of the most convenient locations for the delivery of mail-matter. Who the proprietors were is explained in its issue of June 9, 1806, in which it says, " Money was advanced in equal shares by twenty-four patriotic citizens of this county, consist- ing chiefly of respectable farmers, and mostly inhab- itants of the town of Montgomery." Notices of meet- ings of the proprietors frequently appear in its files. From the first it claimed to be an Independent Repub- lican journal, -one which was prepared to admit that there was some honesty among Federalists, but one that was bitterly opposed to DeWitt Clinton and what would now be called the "ring," which con- trolled the then Republican organization. In 1812, January 18th, Luther Pratt being the publisher, its

The Orange County Farmer was established at Go- 'title was changed, for the evident purpose of more

188

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

clearly indicating its character, to Independent Repub- lican. James A. Cheenry became its proprietor in Ists, by whom it was removed to Goshen some time abont 1822, where he continued it until 1832, when he sold to Henry 11. Van Dyck. When the latter was elected to the State Senate in 1836, and in which he served from 1837 to 1810, he sold it to Victor M. Drake, who had previously been associated with him in its publication, Mr. Drake sold to Moses Swezey in 180, who sold to Clark & Montanye in 18:46. James J. Me Nally purchased in 1853, and sold to 1. V. Montanye in 1857. Mr. MeNally repurchased from Mr. Montanye, and sold to E. M. Ruttenber and 11. P. Kimber in 1869. I. P. Kimber continued it until 1873, when he sold to Thomas I. Methath, who sold to 1. V. Montanye, its present proprietor. While prolific in changes of proprietors, the paper has maintained a consistent political course since 1824, when modern political parties were founded under Jackson, and fairly won, in days anterior to 1816, the title of " the Bible of the Orange County Democracy."

The Democratic Hunderd was started at Goshen in November, 18-13, by Vail & Donovan, as an opponent of the Republican, or rather of the parties which it represented. It passed to the hands of Hector Vail in 1841, who changed its name to Goshen Clarion. It was a spirited " barn-burner" paper, but under the reunion of the Democratic party its vocation was lost. In 1849 its subscription list was merged in the Independent Republican,* and its materials were taken lo New Milford, Pa., by John M. Heller, and with them James J. MeNally started the Milford Herald. In 1854, during the " hard-shell" and "soft-shell" rupture in the Democratic party, the Demorratie Re. corder was started at Goshen as n "soft-shell" organ under the management of A. G. Tucker, After a short life its materials and subscription passed to the Independent Republican, of which James J. MeNally was then the proprietor.

From recollections by Victor M. Drake, now the oldest printer in the county, we learn that " David M. Westcott wus n practical printer and editor, who served a portion of his time in Benjamin Franklin's old printing-office in Philadelphia, though, of course, not under Franklin's mastership. He was born in

Cornwall of humble parentage, and in early life ap- prontived to a farmer, and afterwards learned the printer's trade, His wife was the daughter of Dr. Coe Gale, one of the early settlers of Goshen, by whom he had five daughters and three sons, Mandeville, Nathan, and William, Nathan was clerk of the county From 1811 to 185, David M. Westentt was not only a good practical printer, but a good mer- chant and farmer, an able editor, and a trustworthy publie servant, serving as county clerk in 1815 and 1821, State senator 1831-34, member of Assembly in 1828, and filled many other stations of honor and trust. He seted as editor of the Independent Republi- con for a long time after Mr. Cheency was struck down with paralysis. I have repeatedly called him from his labor upon his farm to write editorials for the Republican, for such was the high state of party feeling that the public would trust no other man than "itde Dave Westcott' with the responsibility of editing that paper in critical election times. The next two gentlemen of distinction connected with the Goshen press were Hon. Henry I. Van Dyck and Hon, William B. Wright. Both of these gentlemen were printers and editors of high literary ability. Van Dyck was a native of Kinderhook, and was sent. to Goslien from Albany to succeed Mr. Cheeney. I lived seven years with Mr. Cheeney, and served four years in the Republican office with Van Dyck. Judge Wright was a native of Newburgh, and learned print- ing under Ward M. Gazlay. While studying law at I Goshen he was the editor of Mr. Hendrie's True Whiy. I remained in the Republicun office for a period of four years as editor and proprietor after Mr. Van Dyck was elected senator. During my administra- tion the 'Hard Cider' campaign of 18:40 was fought, and prior to that was the local struggle to locate the Eastern Division of the Erie Railroad. In 1811, my office was burned up and everything but my books lost, For the time being I was completely broke. While the five hundred dollars insurance policy was pending, I took rooms in the third story of the old court-house, and through the generosity of Mr. Par- NonN, of the Demorral, I was enabled to issue the Re- publican in a half-sheet form. In the mean time Lewis Cuddeback, Robert Denniston, and Nathaniel Jones, our members of the Legislature, made up a hundred dollars for me, and with the aid of a five- hundred-dollar note discounted by Gilbert O. Fowler at the Highland Bank in Newburgh, I was enabled to get on my feet again, and bring out the Republican in better shape than ever before. I afterwards sold out my business, and on settling up found I had five thousand dollars left, which I invested in the brick building opposite the Goshen Bank. Having stipu- lated neither to print nor edit any more newspapers in Orange County, Femigrated to New Jersey, where Ispent a good many years in the newspaper business, acquiring, however, more honor than profit. In 1864 I returned to Orange County, and during three years

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 45

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1336

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336