History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 48

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 48

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Accepting a position on the Kingston Journal, during the winter of 1845 he found time, with his other duties, to compile a history of the press of Ulster County up to that period, which was published in the journal on which he was then engaged. About this time, also, he took great interest in the Kingston Lyceum aud Literary Association, both of which he was instrumental in forming. In the debates, lectures, and other exercises he took a prominent part; and while secretary of the latter he had the honor to invite Horace Greeley to lecture before its members, which was the first effort of the kind of that noted journalist and lecturer. His theme was "Human Life."

In the spring of 1846, Mr. Hasbrouck purchased the Sullivan Whig establishment at Bloomingburgh, in that county. Ile here commeneed to learn the practical part of the "art preservative," and, without any previous knowledge of the printer's trade, set up in type two columns of the first paper he issued. The county had long been Democratie, but thereafter elected the Whig county ticket for several years. While a resident of Sullivan he was chosen town superintendent of schools for Mamakating, and was also appointed postmaster at Bloomingburgh, under Polk's administration, which office he held acceptably to the community uutil his removal from the county. In 1848 he attended the Philadelphia Whig National Convention at which Gen. Taylor was nominated, but warmly espoused the claims of Henry Clay. The same year he represented the Whigs of Sullivan in their State Convention held at Syraeuse, and in 1850 he was nominated by the Whig party of Sullivan as their candidate for member of Assembly, failing of an election, with the rest of his ticket, by only one hun- dred and twenty-eight in a poll of three thousand five hundred and fifty-six.

About this time two opportunities occurred to in- duce him to change his location. One was to take charge of a weekly journal at Corning, on the Erie road, at the solicitation of Hon. A. B. Diekinson, and the other to establish and edit a daily administration paper in the city of Milwaukee, Wis. Stopping over at Corning long enough to look over the ground, and not thinking favorably of the opening, he pursued his way westward to the Badger State. This project, also, not being acceptable to him, he returned East to

accept from the late Com. Vanderbilt the position of agent at San Juan (Nicaragua) for his line of Cali- fornia steamers ; but siekness just at this time com- pelled him to forego his purpose.

In the fall of 1851, being strongly urged to come to Middletown and start a newspaper to meet the local and business wants of the village, he determined to do so. The village then contained a population of only fifteen hundred. The first number of the Whig Press -the name chosen for his new venture-was issued Nov. 26, 1851. The Press was published weekly, and soon secured, by its satisfactory management, a remu- nerative support and circulation, and, by his assiduous efforts, its proprietor built up a business second to few other country offices in the State. He was the first in this scetion to introduce the practice of giving a full and accurate compend of local intelligence from all parts of the county, always being careful, however, to exercise a discriminating judgment as to its publie importance.

lu 1854, being recommended to ex-Governor Hunt as a suitable person to conduet a daily journal at Lockport, in this State, he visited that gentleman at his home in Niagara County, the better to determine the matter, but concluded not to accept of the position, notwithstanding liberal offers were made him to do so.

In addition to publishing the Press, he also issued from its office, for the editors or proprietors, several other publications at different periods. Among thesc were the Hardwareman's Newspaper, in 1855, pub- lished monthly for some three years. Its name was afterwards changed to the Iron Age, and is still pub- lished in New York by a son of its former proprietor, he having learned the printer's trade under Mr. Has- brouek. In 1856 he also published The Sibyl, a semi-monthly quarto, edited by Mrs. Hasbrouck, which was continued for eight years.

July 27, 1856, he was married to Miss Dr. Lydia Sayer, a lady of varied attainments and culture. Their married life, though not uneventful, has glided along harmoniously, and during the present year has reached its silvered stage in the onward march of time. (See sketch of Dr. Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck.)

In 1866 he changed the name of his paper to The Orange County Press, the name which it still bears ; but feeling the need of rest he sold, in 1868, the establishment to Mr. M. D. Stivers, and during the following thirteen years kept out of newspaper work altogether; but during the present year has again resumed business by publishing, in connection with Mrs. Hasbrouck, a reform paper called the Liberal Sentinel. It is done to meet an unsupplied local want in the progressive thought of the age.

Of Mr. Hasbrouck it can be truly said, that during his entire newspaper life his practice has ever been to do as well as he was capable of doing whatever he undertook ; requiring, also, the same care and effort from those who served under him. Ife has the satis- faction of knowing, therefore (and points with no little pride to the fact), that among his former ap- prentices many have become successful printers and publishers, while several at the present time occupy responsible positions in the editorial ranks.

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THE PRESS OF ORANGE COUNTY.

and spent several years in study at the Elmira High School and Central College, finally graduating at the Hygeia Therapeutic College in New York City. Dur- ing vacations she also lectured and wrote considerably for the newspapers, striving in every way to fit herself for public work.

In September, 1853, Miss Sayer was a delegate to the Whole World's Temperance Convention, held in Metropolitan Hall, New York City. The Tribune thus summed up the work of that convention :

" First day .- Crowding a woman off the platform ( Rev. Antoinette L. Brawn). Second day .- Gagging her. Third day .- Voting that she shall stay gagged. In fact, so determined were men at this time that women shumk not speak from public platforms, they acted like rowdies. Even Rev John Chambers, of Philadelphia, stamped his feet, thumped his (alte, and pointed his finger, saying, 'shame ou the woman ""

The first year of Miss Sayer's practice was in Wash- ington, D. C., where she was well received by both press and people, lecturing by invitation in Washing- ton, Annapolis, Georgetown, Baltimore, Philadelphia, etc., writing for papers, as well as familiarizing her- self with our national legislation. She speaks of this period of her life as most profitable and enjoyable.

While leeturing she received many flattering news- paper notices, and an invitation to make a leeturing tour of the States. The editors of the principal dailies in Washington invited her to use their columns to in- troduce or defend any principle she desired,-Major Ben Perley Poore, then local editor of the Star, bring- ing her the message from that paper. Both her writ- ings and discussions were well received, and made so much of a sensation that the newsboys cried their papers through the streets as containing her articles. She enjoyed the personal friendship of Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution, Mr. Giddings, then the father of the House, and many other noted and liberal men and women. The president of the Allo- pathic College recognized her as a physician by in- viting her to attend any of the college lectures and clinics she chose, while a retired physician brought her many patients, and offered to start a large health institute if she would take charge of it. She says be- fore going to Washington she was warned that her dress would damage her prospects, but she found it introduced her to all kinds of pleasant people and to personal attention in the best society, and regrets ever leaving a city so full of pleasant memories and asso- ciations.

In 1856, at the earnest solicitation of the then editor of the Press, at Middletown, she came North on a lec- turing tour, and on her arrival at that village lectured most acceptably in Gothic Hall to the largest audi- ence ever assembled there. She also spoke at several neighboring places. Her return to Orange County, as stated, was to end in assuming the editorial duties of a semi-monthly reform paper called The Sibyl, and to join her life-work with John W. Hasbrouck. They were married July 27, 1856, and have had three chil- dren,-Daisy, Sayer, and Burt, the last two yet living.

Mrs. Hasbrouck edited The Sibyl for eight years, at

the same time practicing her profession and attending patients both at her home on Sibyl Ridge* and outside. But at length finding the quadruple duties of editor, physician, mother, and housekeeper too arduous, she was forced to rest. After this, until 1868, she assisted on and wrote for the Press until it changed ownership. Since then, until the present year, though writing considerably for the papers, fighting corruption in public officials and denouncing high and unjust tax- ation, she has not been engaged in responsible news- paper work.

During 1864 and 1865, Mrs. Hasbrouck was presi- dent of the National Dress Reform Association. In 1864 its annual convention was held in Middletown. A large number of women wearing the reform dress were present, and Gothic Hall was packed with atten- tive listeners.

In 1880 the New York Legislature passed a law allowing women to vote for and hold school offices. The act was passed February 12th. On March 9th the election for school officers occurred in Middle- town. Mrs. Hasbrouck wrote an article for the Press calling on the " men of Middletown to show by their action they were honest enough to give the law a fair trial and practical test." The Republicans refused to do this, but the Equal Rights element united with the Temperance and Democratic vote, and elected five women as members of the board of education,- Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck being one of the number.

It being the first election in the State where women had been chosen to this office, immediately the New York journals despatched interviewing reporters to Middletown to learn the situation and facts, and to spread them far and near to their readers,-Mrs. Ilas- brouck being always the prominent figure in their articles. Naturally, the old members were greatly displeased with the result of the election, but Mrs. Hasbrouck has stood firmly in defense of such reforms as she believed the majority of the taxpayers and people desired. This not suiting "the ring," they managed in the spring of 1881 to have the editors of both local journals for members of the board of edu- cation, when they refused to admit in their papers a word in favor of woman as a worker in the schools. They had long been conservative on the subject of temperance and other reforms, hence the starting of the Liberal Sentinel by John W. and Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck,-an independent weekly quarto paper, open to the discussion of all topics that tend to make humanity better and healthier.

Since her marriage her husband has been a most efficient aid, having always sustained and assisted her in the carrying out. of her principles, and noinfluence has shaken his faithful allegiance to her. For twenty- five years they have been true to their principles and

* A charming locality on high ground in the northern part of the village, where, in 1857, she milt an octagon stone house in a two-acre clover-field for their future home, now surrounded by a wealth of shrub- hery, fruit, and flowers, all planted and cultivated by her own hands,

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

troth, and though six-feet boys call them mother and the ownership of the Orange County Prexs. He died father they are yet workers in the field, fighting wrong and battling for the right.

Mrs. Hasbrouck has always been an energetic busi- ness woman, with remarkable exeentive and go-ahead capabilities. Her transactions have been confined mostly to real estate, and at present she is engaged in building a large block of stores and offices on the best business street in Middletown. In it the Sentinel is expected to have new quarters and to be issued oftener, the better to accommodate the wants of this flourishing town.

MOSES DUNNING STIVERS was born near Beemer- ville, in the township of Wantage, Sussex Co., N. J., on the 30th day of December, 1828.

His father, John Stivers, was born in Middlesex Co., N. J., Oct. 3, 1802, and his grandfather, Randal Stivers, was also a native of the same county. The latter removed to Sussex County in the early part of the present century, and settled in the township of Frankford.

HJis mother, Margaret Dunning Stivers, who is still living and remarkably sprightly and active at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, was born near Scotchtown, Orange Co., N. Y., July 1, 1803. Her father and mother, Jonathan and Rachel Crans Dun- ning, removed to Sussex Co., N. J., and settled in the township of Wantage about 1806. Mr. Dunning served as a private soldier in the American army in the war of 1812. John Stivers and Margaret Dunning were married March 22, 1828, and settled upon a farm near Beemerville, N. J., where all their threechildren- Moses D., Randal, and Jesse L .- were born. In 1845 the family removed to Ridgebury, Orange Co., MIr. Stivers having purchased the old Deacon Hallock farm. The father died here on the 21st of February, 1865. His widow and son, Randal, still continue to reside upon the place.

The youngest son, Jesse Lewis Stivers, enlisted in Company B, Fifty-sixth Regiment New York Vol- unteers, known as the "Tenth Legion," which was raised and commanded by Col. (now Gen.) Charles HI. Van Wyck, then representing the Tenth District (Orange and Sullivan Counties) in Congress, how United States senator from the State of Nebraska. Although a mere stripling of slight build and not strong and robust, Jesse participated in several cam- paigns and battles, among them the campaign in front of Richmond, and was wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks. The regiment was afterwards stationed at Yorktown, and subsequently for some time on Mor- ris Island, S. C. After three years' service, young Stivers re-enlisted with his regiment for another three years. He was subsequently promoted to second lieu- tenant of his company. Ill health and physical de- bility, growing out of the hardships of the service, compelled him to resign his commission in the spring of 1865, when he received an honorable discharge.

For a time he was associated with his brother in

suddenly from heart-disease, in New York City, April 30, 1871, at the age of thirty years.

The subject of our sketch, Moses D. Stivers, whose likeness is given herewith, after attending the com- mon schools in his neighborhood, was in his four- teenth year sent to the then well and widely known select school kept by Edward A. Stiles, now deceased. located near the Clove church, in the township of Wantage, Sussex Co., N. J., afterwards known as Mount Retirement Seminary. He spent two and a half years at this school, and afterwards attended a term at a select school at Beemerville, N. J., and also the academy at Ridgebury, N. Y. After leaving school he worked upon his father's farm in the sum- mer seasons, and during the winters, for the next ten years, engaged in teaching at varions places in Sussex and Orange Counties.

He was married, Sept. 26, 1855, to Mary Elizabeth Stewart, second daughter of Mr. Lewis Stewart, of the town of Wawayanda, Orange Co., N. Y. Five children have been the fruit of this marriage, viz .: Mary Ellen ( wife of Mr. Edwin T. Hanford, of Mid- dletown), Louis Stewart, John Dunning, Cristina Stewart, and Moses Ashby.

For two years after his marriage he kept a country store at Ridgebury. In 1859 he removed to Middle- town, where he has since resided, with the exception of three years at Goshen. In the spring of that year he entered into partnership with Mr. William Evans in the mercantile business, under the firm-name of Evans & Stivers, which they carried on upon Main Street for some five years. Mr. Evans then sold his interest to Messrs. Harvey and John A. Wallace, and the business was continued under the firm-name of Stivers & Wallace until after the election of Mr. Stivers to the office of county clerk in the fall of 1864.

In March, 1868, after the expiration of his term of office as county clerk, Mr. Stivers purchased from Mr. John W. Hasbrouck the printing-office and weekly newspaper, The Orange County Press, which the latter had founded. Although with no practical knowledge of the printing business, and without any experience as a journalist, except as an occasional contributor to the newspaper press, Mr. Stivers at once met with remarkable success in his new voca- tion. The paper was enlarged, and in various ways improved ; and from a feeble circulation of a few hundred copies it speedily ran up in a few months, until it equalled, if not surpassed, the circulation of any weekly journal in the county.

He associated his brother Jesse with him for a few months, and afterwards, in December, 1869, formed a partnership with Albert Kessinger, of Rome, N. Y., a mere youth, who had not then attained his majority, but who possessed intellectual and business qualities far beyond his years. This association continued until the unfortunate mental disability and death of Mr. Kessinger, which latter occurred Ang. 5, 1872.

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THE PRESS OF ORANGE COUNTY.

In the mean time, besides largely increasing their business in all its branches, they had established the Middletown Tri-weekly Evening Press. In order bet- ter to settle up the partnership affairs of the late firm, in October, 1872, Mr. Stivers soll the concern to Mr. F. Stanhope Hill, who associated with him Mr. John W. Slawson, under the firm-name of Hill & Slawson.

In the summer of 1873, Mr. Stivers made a tour of Europe, visiting England, Ireland, Scotland, and the Continent, going as tar south as Naples, and visiting the International Exposition at Vienna. His observa- tions were given in a series of letters in the Press. Just previous to his departure, which was on June 14, 1873, he again became part owner of the Press by the repurchase from Mr. Hill's interest therein. On his return from abroad, in September, 1873, Mr. Stivers again resumed the editorship of the paper,- the Daily Press having at this time been established, -devoting the closest attention to it until he finally sold his interest in the concern to the present pro- prietors in December, 1880. The Press had during these years attained a wide circulation.

While the paper was radically Republican in poli- ties, it nevertheless was always extremely independ- ent in the expression of its views. Mr. Stivers has always taken a lively interest in political matters. He started out as a Free-Soil Democrat in 1848, but could not then vote. In 1852 he cast his first vote for President, for Franklin Pierce. He was an ardent Anti-Slavery Democrat during the Kansas troubles, which occurred during President Pierce's term, and when the Republican party was organized in 1855 was one of the very first to assist in that organization, and has remained a stanch and active Republican- without variableness or shadow of turning-to the present time. He has frequently been chosen as a delegate to the various local, State, and once to the National Convention of his party. In fact, probably no one in the county has ever been called to serve oftener in this capacity.

Mr. Stivers has also received many nominations, and has held several offices at the hands of his fel- low-citizens. He was elected town commissioner of schools for the town of Wawayanda, and when the office was abolished was the first Republican candi- date for the office of district commissioner. He was appointed postmaster at Ridgebury under President Pierce, but owing to his outspoken Free-Soil senti- ments was removed. In 1862 he was the Republican candidate for member of the Assembly in the Second District of Orange County, but of course was de- feated in this strong Democratic district.

In the fall of 1864 he was elected to the office of county clerk of Orange County on the Republican ticket, and after serving three years, at the close of his term, received the compliment of a renomination. But the county at that election was carried by the Democrats, and he was defeated, though only by a few votes.

In October, 1868, he was appointed by President Grant collector of United States internal revenue for the Eleventh District of New York, comprising the counties of Orange and Sullivan. In 1876 the Thirteenth District (Ulster and Green Counties) was consolidated with the Eleventh, and Mr. Stivers was retained as the collector of the new district, which office he continues to fill.

In the Utica Republican State Convention, in Feb- ruary, 1880, Mr. Stivers was selected by a majority of the delegates from the Fourteenth Congressional Distriet to represent the party at the Republican National Convention at Chicago in June following.

Mr. Stivers from the ontset declared his intention to obey the manifest will of his constituents rather than the instructions of the State convention, and joined with Judge Robertson and some twenty other delegates from this State in opposition to the unit rule, which position was sustained by the subsequent action of the National Convention. With the dele- gates alluded to he voted in the convention steadily for Mr. Blaine for President, until the name of Gen. Garfield was introduced, when they immediately gave their votes to him and helped to bring about his nomination. He took an active part in the campaign which followed, as, indeed, he has always done in every political campaign since he has been a voter.

Aside from the political offices he has held, Mr. Stivers has been called to fill many other positions of honor and trust. He is a director of the Middletown, Unionville and Water Gap Railroad, a trustee of the Middletown Savings-Bank, a trustee of the Hill- side Cemetery, and almost from the first organization of the New York State Homeopathic Asylum for the Insane at Middletown-in which he took an earnest interest, and to which he contributed liberally of his time and means-he has been a member of its board of trustees, and the secretary of the board.

In all matters pertaining to the advancement and welfare of the village of Middletown he has always taken a lively interest and been an active participant. He was one of the original members of Eagle Engine Company, and for some years its foreman. He is a member of Hoffman Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and is a Past Master of the lodge; also of Mid- land Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; a member of Middletown Lodge of Odd-Fellows, and of Ivanhoe Lodge Knights of Honor.

THE PRESS OF MONTGOMERY.

The history of the Orange County Republican, which was printed in Montgomery from 1806 to 1818, has been given in connection with the press of Goshen.

The Republican Banner was, we believe, the second paper printed in the town. Calvin F. S. Thomas was its publisher in 1833-34, but when it began or ended its career we have no knowledge. The Montgomery Standard was established by William H. Smith, June, 1859. The Montgomery Republican was established by

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Lester Winfield, in September, 1868, as a continuation of the Pine Bush Weekly Casket (November, 1867 ), which was originally started by him at Galeville Mills, Ulster Co., May 4, 1564. The Standard was consoli- dated with the Republicun, May 1, 1869, under the title of Republican and Standard, which is continued by Mr. Winfield.

The Wallkill Valley Times was established at Mont- gomery in April, 1868, by Stephen H. Sayer, who also issued the Dollar Weekly, in 1869. His undertaking failed in 1871, and his materials went into the bands of Mr. Winfield.

The Walden Recorder was commenced by S. H. Sayer in 1869, but suffered to go down. Chauncey B. Reed took it up in 1870, and added Heruld to the title, but subsequently dropped Recorder. The paper is now the Walden Herald.

THE PRESS OF PORT JERVIS.

The first newspaper published in Port Jervis was the Port Jerris Express, an independent Whig journal, and was issued in January, 1850, by P. II. Miller, a colored man, who was both editor and proprietor. The size of the sheet was twenty by twenty-eight. It was printed on a Ramage press, and was published on Wednesdays, at one dollar a year, payable in advance, or two dollars at expiration of year. The office was over a harness-maker's shop, near the residenee of Dr. John Conkling. The Express gave up the ghost in abont nine months.

In November, 1850, the publication of the Tri-States Union was commenced in Col. Samuel Fowler's brick building, opposite the present Erie Railway freight depot. It was mainly through the efforts of Col. Fowler, then a leading Democratic politician, that the paper sprang into existence. It was a nicely-printed sheet, and was ably edited by John I. Mumford. In December, 1853, the paper was purchased by L. F. Barnes, a young lawyer of Milford, Pa., who edited it until Aug. 10, 1854, when, having been appointed to a lucrative government position, he sold the establish- ment to James H. Norton. Barnes died at Milford about 1868.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 48

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