History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 90

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 90

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To Dr. and Mrs. Foster have been born a family of seven children, six sons and a daughter, namely, Scott, John Gray, David N., William Wisner, Fanny S., Albert Zabriskie, and Samuel Monell. Fanny S. died Jan. 8, 1868, and John G. on Jan. 22, 1878. The remaining sons are nicely settled in life, and under the firm-name of Foster Brothers, Scott, David N., Albert Z., and Samuel M. are carrying on a suc- cessful mercantile business at different points in the West. Scott resides in New York, and does the pur- chasing for the business; David N. resides at Fort Wayne, Ind .; Albert Z. at Terre Haute, Ind. ; and Samuel M. at Danville, Ill. William W. Foster is a commission agent in New York City.

David N. Foster, the third son of Dr. John L. and Harriet S. Foster, enjoys the honorable distinction of being the first person from Orange County to enter the Union army at the breaking out of the war of the rebellion. At the time he was attending school at the Montgomery Academy. The morning after the firing upon Fort Sumter the students of the academy made arrangements to raise a flag over the school- building, and young Foster was selected as speaker The early life of Beverly K. Johnston was passed in his native town, and his educational advantages were such only as the common schools of his day afforded. He engaged in various kinds of business during his minority, but on March 15, 1840, he came to the town of Newburgh and entered the em- ploy of John E. Goetehius, in the hotel business at East Coldenham. He remained there four years, then accompanied Mr. Goetchius to Montgomery for for the occasion. The burden of his speech was the duty of every loyal citizen to spring to the defense of his country. Not caring to hold the position of preael- ing what he did not practice, he closed his address by bidding his schoolmates good-by, and immediately started for home, and the next morning took the boat to New York, and was the same day enlisted as a private in the Ninth New York Militia, which re- mained in the service for the full term of three years. one year ; but, returning, leased the property at East

He was engaged in most of the battles fought by the Army of the Potomae, and at the first battle of Fredericksburg was severely wounded in the assault made by Franklin on the enemy's right. While lying in the field-hospital he was commissioned lieu- tenant and appointed an aide to Gen. Robinson, after- wards to a position on the staff of Gen. Reynolds, killed at Gettysburg, and eventually came home cap- tain of the company in which he entered the service as a private. He is at present a resident of Fort Wayne, Ind., a member of the firm of Foster Brothers.

BEVERLY K. JOHNSTON.

Beverly K. Johnston was born in Shawangunk, Ulster County, on June 21, 1818. The family was identified with the early settlement and pioneer life of that section of country, both his grandfather and father being residents of the locality. The latter, John Johnston, was a blacksmith by occupation, and' died about the year 1822, in his sixtieth year.

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Coldenham and commenced keeping hotel on his own account. In 1847 he became the owner of the place, and has since that time remained at the head of the establishment.

Mr. Johnston has applied himself to the profession of a hotel-keeper through a long series of years, and , January, 1847, when he accepted the office of deputy has done more to elevate the business than any man sheriff under Sheriff Welling, who was then entering upon his second term of service. In the fall of 1849, Mr. Underhill was the Whig candidate for sheriff, but was defeated by John Van Etten, Jr., who represented the political party then in the majority. For six years following he was engaged in brick making in New Windsor, then sold out his business, and for a brief time afterwards was engaged in the hat business. In 1867, Mr. Underhill again accepted the nomina- the county, and is a popular place of resort in both , tion for sheriff, and was again defeated by Daniel in Orange County. Actuated by an earnest desire to excel in anything which he undertook, he has placed himself at the head of his elass, and his honse is known for miles around as a well-appointed, well- regulated, and well-kept hostelry. While not a tem- perance house, it is run on temperate principles, and is free from the usual objections attaching to a rural hotel. It is patronized by leading men throughout the summer and winter season.

While Mr. Johnston has confined himself closely to his business, his affable manners, strict integrity, and generous hospitality have made him one of the most popular men of his section, and recommended him for appointment to several positions of responsi- bility and trust. He was formerly an Old-Line Whig, but now a stanch supporter of Democratie principles, and has been postmaster at East Coldenham, under all administrations and with brief exceptions, since I845. He was one of the commissioners for apprais- ing the damages caused by the putting through of the | Short-Cut Railroad to New York, and for laying out the boulevard in the town of Cornwall. He was the candidate of the Democratic party for sheriff in 1870, but was defeated by a small majority. For the past twenty years he has been one of the directors of the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike Company. Ile is a member of Hudson River Lodge, No. 109, F. & A. M., of Newburgh.

Mr. Johnston was married in 1846 to Elvira S., daughter of Alexander W. and Elizabeth (Moore) Beatty, of New Windsor, and a representative of an old family of Orange County. William J., Anna F., John A., and Adaline L. Johnston, the children, are all living at home.

WILLIAM I. UNDERHILL.

William I. Underhill was a lineal descendant of Capt. John Underhill, who emigrated to New Eng- land from England and became notorious for his skill, daring, and heroic bravery in the Indian wars there about 1640, and in 1643 was employed by the Dutch of New Netherlands to fight the Indians, and com- manded several expeditions against them on Long Island, Westchester County, and other points. His father, Samuel Underhill, was a well-to-do farmer in the town of Newburgh, owned real estate in Sullivan and Ulster counties besides, and hy his wife, Alche, had twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was youngest.

William 1. Underhill was born in the town of New- in 1842.

burgh in March, 1817. In early life he took an active interest in local matters, and soon after reaching his majority was elected collector of his native town. Prior to 1840 he took up his residence in Newburgh, where he was engaged in the grocery business until

Van Sickle, the majority candidate. In 1873, James W. Hoyt was elected sheriff of Orange County, and made Mr. Underhill his principal deputy, giving him in charge the eastern half of the county, which posi- tion he filled for the full term of three years, dis- charging the duties incumbent upon him with in- tegrity and ability. Mr. Underhill was the Republican candidate for alderman of the Third Ward of the city in the spring election of 1878, was elected over Stephen King, and was filling this position at the time of his decease, Jan. 1, 1880.

Mr. Underhill was known as a man of strength of character in all the relations of life. He possessed a warm heart and generous impulses, decided convic- tions of duty, responsibility and justice in all the acts of his life, and met with a determined opposition any aggression or diversion of what he conceived honor- able, frank, and manly. Naturally fearless and frank, it was always known where he could be found ; ever ready to serve a friend, he was equally open and above board in his opposition to any one, and when once he had determined upon a course he did not hesitate or falter because of obstacles. Being free from any taint of hypocrisy he made strong friends, who only knew him to admire him for his sterling integrity and un- sullied character. Although not a member of any church, he was ever sensible of duty and always ready to relieve, commensurate with his means, the needy and distressed.

Upon the occasion of his death the flags at the dif- ferent engine-houses of the city were hung at half- mast, and Mayor Weygant called a special meeting of the Common Council to take appropriate action in honor and memory of one whose counsel was ever judicious, safe, and just.

Mr. Underhill was first united in marriage to Ann Eliza, daughter of Isaac Lockwood, of Gardnertown, who died leaving two sons, one of whom, William, survives. For his second wife he married, Jan. 4, 1871, Miss Selina Montrose, eldest daughter of Dr. James D. Jobnston, a gentleman of English birth who settled in Middletown as a practicing physician

Robert Whitchile

Nathaniel Banner

Among the old citizens of the town of Newburgh who for many years occupiedl a prominent place in its social life, and who did much by his industry and inodest efforts to advance the interests of the township, was the subject of this sketeh. He was born in Litehfield. Conn., on Sept. 23, 1782. Shortly after that event his father. Isnae Baros, had the misfortune to lose all of his property through a defective title to real estate which he had purchased in Litchfield, and he moved to Cobbleskill, Sehoharie Co. After ten years' residence at that place the family removed to the wilds of Otsego County. and endured the hardships of pioneer life. Here, without eppor- tunity for obtaining even the rudiments of an education, Na- thaniel Barns grew to manhood. Shortly before he attained his majority one of his sisters, who had been edneated by n rela- tive living on Long Island, visited her father's family in Otsego. The contrast between her and the rest of her brothers and sis- ters determined Nathaniel to endeavor to better his condition by coming more in contact with the world. When twenty-one years of age he left home and commenced life for himself. Hiring out to work for ten dollars a month, and being obliged te pay fifty cents n yard for narrow unbleached muslin, gave him suiall opportunity to save money. Yet at this time he at- tended school long enough to acquire the rudiments of an edu- cation. Building turnpike ronds was then in fashion. Before reaching his thirtieth year he had found his way to Ulster County, and was taking contracts to build parts of turnpike roads. Portions of the Farmers', the Iluckleberry, the Snake Hill, and the Newburgh and Plattekill turnpikes were built by him.

The first real estate Nathaniel Barns ever owned was pur- chased in the year 1822, and is now part of the property owned by the Cedar Hill Cemetery Association. Careful and extensive observations had satisfied him that the town of Newburgh was a desirable place to establish n family-seat, and he shortly after married and settled where he subsequently resided at Middle- hope. llore he passed his days engaged in farming pursuits, and through industry, economy, and the exercise of good judg- ment in business matters he accumulated a large estate, and took rank among the most successful and enterprising farmers ef Orange County. When a little over seventy years of age he was deprived by an accident of his eyesight, and for the re-

mainder of his life he was totally blind. Although feeling keenly the deprivation, no murmur ever escaped his lips, but he bowed in homble submission to this trying visitation of Providence. Ilis life was characterized by strict integrity. a conscientious regard for the rights and privileges of others, and by a faithful discharge of the duties devolving upon him as a citizen, a husband, and a father. After a long life of usefulness he passed away on Sept. 17, 1879, in his ninety-seventh year.

Mr. Barns was married on Jan. 3, 1828. to Effie, daughter of Dr. Win. Dusinherre, of the town of Plattekill, Ulster Co. She was born April 3, 1796. She proved a faithful belpmect, a loving wife and mother, and through a long life performed her varied duties in a commendable manner. Her memory of dates, names, and events was remarkable, making her a sort of eney- elopædia of such faets, and the faculty remained unimpaired until she was over eighty years of age. She was possessed of a kind heurt, of quick perception, seeing by intuition what etbers must needs reason out, and, together with her husband, was in active sympathy with the temperance cause, and was one of its pioneers in her locality. She died Ang. 5, 1880. The chil- dren were William D., Nathaniel, Jr., Daniel D., and Mary E., residing in tho eity of Newburgh. The three sons were all settled by Mr. Barns on farms adjoining his own, and are still among the first farmers of the town, in sympathy with every good work, contributing as they can to the prosperity and de- velopment of their section of the county, and filling with sue- eess the various positions of trust and responsibility that have been conferred upen them.

The following testimonial referring to Nathaniel Barns was written to Mrs. Burns by an intimate acquaintance imme- dintely after hearing of his death :

" None of those whom I have delighted to elnim as relative und friend have ever reached the advanced age allotted to bit.

" Venerable with years, respeeted by all, the counselor and guide of three generations, tired of life, he has stopped on his jenrney to rest, forever.

" Thus earth loses and heaven gains one more nttraction.

"The life ended wns one ernate with goodness, gentleness, patience, and parental love; and the memory of such a life must ever be a conscious and constant culture te those he has left behind him."

一

Gilbert-Williams

GILBERT WILLIAMS was born in Westehester County, N. Y., on March 5, 1796. His parents were Benjamin and Sarah (Lewis) Williams, and the fam- ily were carly located in Westehester County, being quite numerous at the breaking out of the Revolu- tionary war. The father of Benjamin Williams was Frederick, and his grandfather Stephen Williams, both of whom resided in Westehester County.

The early life of Gilbert Williams, until the age of twelve years, was passed upon the paternal farm in his native county. In 1808 his father removed to the town of Newburgh, Orange Co., where he engaged in farming. Gilbert Williams during his boyhood served an apprenticeship as a blacksmith with Samuel Corwin. His schooling advantages were meagre. Frederick Williams, his grandfather, had removed to Nova Scotia, where he owned a large landed estate. Here young Gilbert repaired, by invitation, when about sixteen years of age, taking charge of his grand- father's affairs, and inheriting at his death consider- able property. With a portion of this he returned to Newburgh and purchased his father's farm, where he resided for twenty-one years. At the expiration of that time he bought his present farm, whereon he has since continued to reside.

Mr. Williams has led an active and industrious life, and confined himself strictly to the legitimate pur- suits of husbandry. He has accumulated a good estate, is a man of good judgment, careful and cir- cumspeet in all of his affairs, a great talker, and devoted to family and friends. Ile has taken no in- terest in political affairs, and has voted only half a dozen times during his long residence in the town of Newburgh. He was formerly an officer in Capt. Daniel Tooker's company of militia, and delights in recalling the martial trainings and experiences of that body. Since 1832 he has been a member of the Methodist Church at Middlehope, and has filled most of the offices of the church and society with general acceptance. He has always been a staneh supporter of the temperance eause. He is now in his eighty- sixth year, mentally sound, possessed of considerable activity aud ambition, and is one of the last living representatives of an old and fast-vanishing raee of men to whose industry, toil, and self-denial so much of our present prosperity is due.

Gilbert Williams was married on April 11, 1832, to Jemima, daughter of Samuel Corwin, of the town of Newburgh. No children were born of the union.

His father, Jacob Gillies, who was an early farmer of the town of Newburgh, was born on April 20, 1790. His mother, Martha, daughter of James Waring, of Newburgh, was born on Dec. 30, 1796. The children were Jolm W., born June 13, 1816, lives in Haver- straw; Jacob, the subject of this memoir; Wright, born Dec. 10, 1820, head of the spicc firm of Wright Gillies & Brothers, New York; Sarah W., born Feb. 2, 1824, married Clark- son Gerow, of Plattekill, Ulster Co .; Martha, born June 16, 1826, married David Marston ; James, born April 7, 1829, in the spice busi- ness in New York; and Charles Wesley, born May 30, 1834, died in infancy.

Jacob Gillies was born on his father's farm, in the town of Newburgh, on June 1, 1818. His early education was obtained at the com- mon schools of the neighborhood. His father died when he was fifteen years of age, and for a number of years thereafter he remained on the family farm with his mother.

On May 22, 1844, he married Phebe, dauglı- ter of Isaac and Sabina Griggs, of Newburgh, and a few years later he began the manufacture of brick, on the old Smith property, at Balm- ville. He subsequently purchased the Gardner briek-yard near by, where he also followed brickmaking. Still later he purchased the in-

terest of his brothers and sisters in the home- stead farm, where he passed the remainder of his life engaged in tilling the soil. He died Feb. 12, 1881.

Mr. Gillies belonged to that class of men who confine their lives to the inner circles of society, attending strictly to his legitimate pri- vate affairs, and avoiding publicity of every kind. His private life was free from reproach, and to the support and encouragement of church and kindred institutions he lent liberal assist- ance, often in excess of his means. He was a zealous member of the Fostertown Methodist Episcopal Church, and held at different times the offices of class-leader, steward, and trustee in that body. He was an earnest temperance man, a member of the Newburgh Bible Society, and one of those modest, substantial citizens upon whose industry, integrity, and personal worth the foundations of society rest. He bore in the community in which he dwelt the reputa- tion of an upright and honorable man, and left behind him at his death recollections of a well- spent life.

Of a family of fourteen children, ten sur- vive, namely,-James, Jacob, Milton, John, Wright, Homer, Anna, Frank, Frederick, and Martha. James and Homer are engaged in the mercantile business in Newburgh.

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NEWBURGH.

ROBERT WHITEHILL.

Robert Whitehill was born at Glasgow, Scotland, on June 1, 1845. His parents, Hugh and Jeannette (Murray) Whitehill, were also natives of Scotland, the former being born at Glasgow, and the latter at Ayrshire.

When Mr. Whitehill was two years of age he was brought to this country by his father, who emigrated in that year, settling first at Wappinger's Falls, Duchess Co .. where he worked in a cotton-mill, and subsequently at Newburgh. The early life of Robert Whitehill was passed until the age of ten years at Wappinger's Falls, where he attended the common schools of the neighborhood. Upon the removal of his father to Newburgh he enjoyed the benefits of

- academic instruction at the Newburgh Academy until he attained the age of thirteen. At that period of life he left school and went to New York City, where he filled the position of book-keeper and cashier in a millinery and fancy-goods store on Canal Street for three years. At the expiration of that time he re- turned to Newburgh and entered the foundry of Stan- ton, Mallory & Co., for the purpose of learning the trade of a machinist. He remained there until the . suspension of business by the firm, and during that period, with his father's assistance, invented an im- proved machine for sizing and dressing cotton-yarn, and had put it in operation at the Newburgh Steam- Mills, then run by Garner & Co., at which place his father was employed.

After leaving the foundry of Stanton, Mallory & Co., Mr. Whitehill engaged as a journeyman in the JAMES MCCORD. employ of the Novelty Iron-Works, of New York, James McCord was born in the city of Philadelphia on July 1, 1826, and was the second of the five chil- dren of John and Rosella (Cargin) MeCord. His parents emigrated to this country from the north of Ireland, being of hardy, Scotch-Irish descent. John McCord located in Newburgh about the year 1827, where he engaged in shoemaking. He died about 1845, in his forty-fourth year, and his wife, Rosella, on March 4, 1869, in her sixty-ninth year. Their daughter Jane was born in Ireland, and was brought to this country by her parents, becoming the wife of William Haxby, of Newburgh. James, William, Eliza (who married Stephen Vandewater), and Charles were born in this · country. where he labored most of the time on ships. He re- mained in that position for one year, and then, being seized with a desire for a sea-faring life, he entered the United States navy as third assistant engineer on board the transport vessel " Kensington." lle was soon after detailed and ordered to join the Gulf Squadron, where he filled the same place on the gunboat "New London" for six weeks, when she was ordered North. Upon arriving at Boston again Mr. Whitehill was ordered to report on board of the "Ticonderoga" for a foreign cruise. At this point he came to the conclu- sion that he must either decide to pass his life on the sea, a thing which he was little inclined to do, or to adopt another calling in life at once. He accordingly The educational advantages of James McCord were such only as the common schools of his day afforded. He was carly inured to a life of toil, and at eleven years of age worked in a tobacco-stripping factory for two years. He subsequently clerked for five years in the clothing store of William Sterling & Sons, of Newburgh, and with Moss Brothers, and Joseph Slee, for four years more, in the same business, in Pough- keepsie. During all of this time, although Mr. Mc- Cord had been in the receipt of modest wages, he managed through industry and economy to lay aside resigned his position in the navy in 1865, and return- ing to Newburgh, rented a room in the steam-engine works of Corwin, Stanton & Co., on Western Avenue, and engaged in the manufacture of his machinery for sizing and dressing cotton-yarn, his father being also interested in the enterprise. In 1870, in connection with his father, Mr. Whitehill purchased the steam- engine works of Wood, Frisbie & Co., retaining Amos R. Wood as a partner. The firm was known as White- hill, Wood & Co., he himself holding a one-half in- terest in the business. Mr. Wood died a short time , something for the future. About 1852 he entered the afterwards, and Mr. Whitehill took in as a partner

Lewis M. Smith, the firm continuing as Whitehill, Smith & Co. until 1873, in which year Mr. Hugh Whitehill disposed of his interest to Whitehill & Smith, and a firm was organized as Whitchill, Smith & Hampson, in Newburgh, and Hampson, Whitehill & Co., in New York, for the purpose of manufacturing general machinery. In the winter of 1876-77, Mr. Hampson withdrew from the business, and Mr. White- hill has since carried it on in the interest of Mr. Smith and himself. The enterprise is now a prosperous and successful one, and a large amount of work is turned out each year. Among other branches of ma- chinery manufactured in the shop is the cotton-yarn dresser invented by Mr. Whitehill. A specialty is made at the present time of the manufacture of ma- chinery for making artificial ice, and for cooling pork- packing establishments and breweries. Both Mr. Whitehill and Mr. Smith are also interested in the Chadborn & Coldwell manufactory of lawn-mowers on Western Avenue.

While Mr. Whitebill is young in years, he is en- titled to a place among the successful and growing manufacturers of Newburgh, whose industry and in- ventive talent, intelligently directed, contributes much to the development and prosperity of the city. He takes an active interest in local affairs, and, as the candidate of the Republican party, represented the Second Ward in the board of aldermen in 1871 and 1872, being the president of the board in the latter year.

employ of the firm of S. H. Tift & Co., of Newburgh

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

(consisting of S. II. Tift and his brother, Wm. Mc- Cord), who were engaged in the manufacture of brushes by hand in an upper story of the Oakley Building, corner of Fourth and Water Streets, and he also loaned money to the enterprise. In 1854 Mr. Tift withdrew from the concern, and the firm of J. & W. McCord was formed and still continues in the same business.

The enterprise at first was a small one. The work was all performed by hand, and the annual product of the factory aggregated about $6500. Through good management and elose application to business the firm increased its trade, adding to the facilities for manufacture and improving upon the quality of the work prodneed; and in the winter and spring of 1879 and 1880, James McCord erected the present factory npon Broadway, which he owns individually, and where they removed from their factory in Lander Street. The building is one hundred and eighty feet long, with an average width of thirty-five feet, and is five stories high. The firm now employs about one hundred and fifty hands, and the annual production

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 90

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