USA > New York > Orange County > Newburgh > Newburgh; her institutions, industries and leading citizens, historical, descriptive and biographical > Part 16
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HON. MICHAEL DOYLE.
The zealous interest which he took in all public measures and enterprises affecting Newburgh caused him to be closely identified with the local history of the place fcr the fifteen years preceding his death. No measure which he thought would advance the prosperity of the place ever PHOTO. BY MAPES. failed to receive his support, and the enterprises with which he was connected were many and important. He entered public life as a member of Assembly from the Fourteenth Dis- trict, of New York City, for the session of 1851. He was also elected a member of the Common Council of that city by the Re- publican party. After his return to Newburgh he became a member of the Board of Education, a Trustee of the Savings Bank and a Di- rector of the Quassaick Bank. He was Mayor of the city from March, 1866, to March, 1870, and was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Robert Sterling. In 1868 he was elected the delegate from his Congressional district to the Chicago Republican convention which nominated Gen- eral Grant to the Presidency, of whom he was always a warm friend and admirer. Upon the occasion of President Grant's visit to New- burgh Angust 7, 1869, he was the special guest of Mayor Clark, at whose hospitable home he was entertained, and who delivered the ad- dress of welcome at Washington's Headquarters. At the time of his death Mr. Clark was president of the Board of Water
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NEWBURGH.
Commissioners, president of the Newburgh and Midland Railway Company, a member of the Board of Managers of the Hudson River State Hospital, and was filling several other positions of honor and trust. He was the virtual founder of Woodlawn Cemetery; he
HON. GEORGE CLARK.
selected the site, purchased the land and had it surveyed, laid out and adorned, and at the time of his demise owned a large part of it. One of the most successful enterprises of the kind in the country, it must ever stand as a monument to his judgment and public spirit. .
During his residence in New York City he was a member and a trustee of the Presbyterian Church in Twenty-third Street, of which the Rev. Dunlap Smith, D. D., was pastor, and after his removal to Newburgh he united with the First Presbyterian Church, and re mained a devoted and faithful member till death.
In all the places of trust to which George Clark was called by his fellow citizens and associates, he was faithful to every obligation. He was painstaking to a remarkable degree in the execution of public trusts, doing his duty conscientiously, and without fear or favor. In his private relations he was a warm friend, and in his family a most devoted husband and father. Of him it may with great truth be said that he bore himself with dignity and self-respect in all the relations of life, and that his death was lamented as that of a firni friend in private life, a useful citizen, a faithful public officer, and one well worthy of being the first Mayor of Newburgh.
He died June 3, 1871. Flags were displayed at half-mast on buildings in the city and on vessels in the bay. The Common Coun- cil, the Board of Water Commissioners and the various other bodies to which he belonged passed memorials in his honor.
Mr. Clark married January 27, 1840, Augusta, danghter of Jason W. and Martha (Griffith) Rogers, of the Town of Montgomery, and granddaughter of Daniel Rogers, one of the first settlers on the Wallkill in that town. Her father served as a captain in the war of 1812. Her maternal grandfather was Robert Griffith, a sea captain and a native of Wales, who married Miss Peck, daughter of the gentleman after whom "Peck's Slip" was named. Crissy, his daughter, married Cadwallader Colden, and lived at Coldenham.
Robert, his son, grandfather of Mrs. Clark, settled in Orange County, two miles beyond Walden, about 1795, and was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Rebecca Barnes, of whom were born six children, among them Martha, wife of Jason W. Rogers.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Clark were Mary Augusta, wife of T. Powell Townsend; George H., who at his death in 1888 was a practicing lawyer in Newburgh; Martha Louisa, who married Jonas Williams, of Newburgh, November 8, 1876, and died July 15, 1877; and Robert Sterling, who graduated at Princeton, in 1874, and died August 20, 1876.
HON. ROBERT STERLING, the second Mayor of Newburgh, was born in Ireland in 1814. When a boy of ten he came to this country with his parents, and resided in Newburgh upwards of forty years. At an early age he engaged in business as a gunsmith, but in 1843 he entered the clothing trade, and at the time of his death was the head of the largest establishment in that line in the city.
Mr. Sterling was closely identified with the prosperity of the place, and was always prominent in local affairs. For seven years he was trustee of the old village, and for two years he was the village presi- dent. He was pressed by his friends to take the Democratic nomina- tion for Mayor at the first election under the city charter, but he de- clined to be considered a candidate. He was one of the Water Commissioners under the reorganization of the Board in 1869, and when his short term expired the following year, he was elected Mayor of the city. The people looked to him with confidence for a success- ful administration of public affairs.
But the seeds of disease had been sown, and only needed the ex- citement and labors attendant upon his new duties to ripen them to a
HON. ROBERT STERLING.
fatal issue. He died Saturday evening, April 30, 1870, at his residence in Liberty Street.
Mr. Sterling was also an officer in both the Newburgh Savings Bank and the Quassaick National Bank. Of the former he was Vice- president, and of the latter a Director at the time of his death.
79
NEWBURGH.
In early life Mr. Sterling chose the wise path of a christian life, and united with the Presbyterian Church, then under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Johnston. At his death he was an elder in the Calvary Presbyterian Church.
In all these relations Mr. Sterling bore himself as a faithful and conscientious servant and upright citizen. He won and retained
PHOTO. BY ATKINSON
DANIEL S. WARING.
through life the respect of his neighbors of all classes, and, in a larger measure than usually falls to the lot of a man always in active and, at times, heated political life, was the possessor of the personal es- teem of those who most widely differed from him on questions of public policy.
He was liberal without ostentation, and there were not a few who had experienced at his hands that treatment which made his loss to them that of a sympathizing and helpful benefactor. While his death was a sad blow to a large family circle, the gap which his removal left in the business and official life of the city was wide and deep. The memory of Robert Sterling will long be treasured by the people of Newburgh as that of an upright citizen, a faithful magistrate and a generous neighbor.
DANIEL S. WARING, one of our most useful citizens, was born in the Town of Newburgh November 22, 1827. He remained at home on the farm till 1853, then embarking in the coffee and spice business in Brooklyn. In the year that Newburgh became a city he returned here and built a coffee and spice mill, which he operated for one year and then sold to N. B. Beede. He then entered the firm of D. S. & C. S. Lockwood, in the coal business, and in 1873 succeeded the Lock- woods in the proprietorship of the yard on Mailler's Dock. In 1888 he opened a coal yard at the corner of Broadway and Lake Street, which he still continues, in partnership with George S. Weller. His interest in the other yard he sold in 1889 to W. O. Mailler. The same year Mr. Waring became a large stockholder and trustee in the Kil- mer Manufacturing Company.
He organized the Newburgh Ice Company in 1885, and is now sole proprietor. In 1890, in partnership with Messrs, L. M. Smith and
Robert Whitehill, he purchased the Walsh paper mill property, and commenced the manufacture of ice by the Pictet process on the prem- ises. Mr. Waring was a stockholder and the Secretary of the New- burgh Highland Hotel Company, which erected the large building af- terwards known as the " Baldwin House" and " The Leslie." He is a trustee of the Newburgh Savings Bank and a Director of the High- land National Bank. He represented the Third Ward in the Board of Supervisors in 1872, and again from 1874 to '85. On the death of Dr. Forsyth he was chosen President of the Woodlawn Cemetery Association, which office he still holds. He is also an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Waring has given his aid and influence to many public move- ments, and does all he can to encourage the growth and prosperity of the city. He was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade and its first President, and was annually re-elected till two years ago, when he declined 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 to this city of the Kilmer Manufacturing Company. He is a member of the Newburgh Real Estate Company, which purchased the Roe property between Grand and Montgomery Streets, now occupied by a number of handsome dwellings and Miss Mackie's large boarding school. He huilt a number of fine dwellings in Grand Street, and has otherwise dealt considerably in real estate. In 1891 Mr. Waring was appointed by Mayor Doyle an Alderman from the Third Ward, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Alder- man Gibb. He was married in 1857 to Miss Phebe A. Moffat, of the Town of Blooming Grove, in this county, who died in 1889, leaving a son and a daughter.
CORNELIUS S. GIBB was the sou and last surviving child of Samuel and Louisa Gibb, and was born in Newburgh, November 19, 1846. During his boyhood he attended the public schools, and after his graduation was variously employed as clerk and bookkeeper, and also learned the art of photography. For a time he was a resident of Amenia, Dutchess County, and there met and married Miss Eliza Reed. On the death of his father he formed a partnership with William W. Terwilliger and continued the undertaking business which his father had established on the corner of Smith and Fourth Streets, and was in that occupation at the time of his death (April 19, 1891), residing mean- while in the house in which he was born, a house which had been the homestead of the family for over half a century.
He was a Re- publican from edu- cation, sincere in his convictions and earnest and un- flinching in his work for the ad- vancement of the interests of his party. And his party honored hin by continuing him for twelve years in the office of Asses- sor and transfer- ring him from that post, in 1887, to membership in the Board of Alder- men, and re-elect- ing him in 1889, CORNELIUS S. GIBB. and again only a few weeks before his death. His duties as Assessor were faithfully performed, and from the acquaintance
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NEWBURGH.
with city affairs which he gained in their discharge he entered the Board of Aldermen fully equipped for the greater responsibilities which devolved upon him. With remarkable aptitude he became master of the city's laws and prece- dents, and earnest and active in pro- moting their ob- servance and in advancing the interests of the people whom he served.
He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1870. That he was an active member of the order need not be stated. As in other relations in life, the energy of his nature was in the work which he was called to per- form. During its continuance he held every post of distinction in PHOTO. BY MAPES. Lodge and Chapter and was a mem- JAMES F. TEMPLETON.
ber of the Com-
mandery, and Noble of the Mystic Shrine in New York. He was also a member of the North River Lodge, Knights of Honor, and of Columbian Hose Company.
After a short service at Trinity M. E. Church, the remains of the deceased were interred, with Masonic honors, in Woodlawn Cemetery. His aged mother and his wife and four children survive him.
JAMES F. TEMPLETON has repre- sented the Second Ward in the Board of Aldermen since 1888, having been re-elected by the Republican party in 1890. He was born in Wigtownshire, Scotland (where his ancestors had lived for many generations), June 28, 1845. He was reared in the Free Church of Scotland, and was educated in the excellent school connected with the church at Glenluce. His father being a master carpenter and builder, James learned the trade and worked under him till 1868, when he emigrated to America and settled at Newburgh,
In 1882 he formed a partnership with George Usher (Usher & Templeton), in the carpenter and building business. Their shop is at 32 Chambers Street. For nine years Mr. Templeton was a Trustee of the First Associate Reformed Church. He has been through all the chairs in Acme Lodge. I. O. O. F., and for two years past has filled the office of Secretary; he was twice elected to the Grand Lodge. He is a man of large and powerful frame, and in his early manhood took pleasure in Scottish games, at which he was very proficient. He won prizes at tourna- ments for throwing the hammer and putting the stone. It was he
JAMES COCHRANE.
who introduced curling in Newburgh. Mr. Templeton married Jessie, daughter of John McGregor, of the Town of New Windsor, and has two sons and two daughters.
JAMES COCHRANE, the President of the Common Council, is serving his seventh successive year as an Alderman from the First Ward, and is oc- cupying the Presi- dent's chair for the third time, having both preceded and succeeded the late President Wenzel. He is one of the most popular citi- zens of the town, and has never yet experienced a po- litical defeat. He was born in the north of Ireland December 19, 1842, being the youngest of seven brothers, but one of whom besides himself left their native land. The oldest came to America before James, but the lat- ter did so in early life, first becoming a farmer's boy a few miles from this PHOTO, Or ATKINSON. city. Thirty years HENRY B. LAWSON. ago, in 1861, he moved into Newburgh, soon afterwards entering the U. S. Navy, in which he served during the closing years of the civil war-
principally on the gunboat Eutaw, on the James River, on which Dr. J. D. Malone, of this city, was then surgeon. With this vessel he took part in the second attack on Fort Fisher, the successful one, and helped to fire one of the last guus discharged by the navy, in the taking of Fort Darling, which was among the closing events of the war.
Subsequently Mr. Cochrane became a cartman at Newburgh, but for twenty-two years past has carried on a large grocery business in Liberty Street, in a building owned by himself, his store being one of the best known in the city. As a merchant, he is highly successful. As a citizen, he is law-abiding, generous in aiding the unfortu- nate, and informed on public matters of local interest. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Orange Lake Club. Mr. Cochrane has uncommon strength in polit- ical circles. He married Martha, daughter of Samuel J. Hewitt, of Newburgh, and has one son, William H.
HENRY B. LAWSON, Alderman from the Second Ward, was born in New Bruns- wick, N. J., February 29, 1856. He is the son of Robert and Hannah (Budd) Lawson. Coming to Newburgh in 1862, he entered the public schools and passed through all the grades till he reached the Academy, but did
8 1
NEWBURGH.
not complete the academical course. He learned the tobacconist trade with George M. Ross, and in 1879 commenced business on his own account, at 100 Broadway. Thence he removed to a better location, No. 7 Water Street, and conducted both a wholesale and retail business in tobacco and cigars. When he purchased the book.
EDWIN T. SMITH,
stationery and news business of William H. Callahan at 55 Water Street, he conducted both stores.
A few years ago he disposed of these stores, and forming a part- nership with George A. Embler, embarked in the grocery business at No. 12 Colden Street, and is now doing one of the largest retail trades in the city. The firm (Lawson & Embler) also owns the cigar, tobacco and news stand at 8 Colden Street.
In 1891 he was elected Alderman by the Republicans of the Second Ward by a majority of 220, and at the organization of the Council he was appointed chairman of the Fire Department Commit- tee, and a member of the Sewer and Auditing Committees.
He married Jennie M. Brown, daughter of Charles G. Brown, of Newburgh, and they have one son.
EDWIN T. SMITH, Alderman from the Fourth Ward, is the second son of Lewis M. Smith, and was born in Newburgh, June 22, 1860. Upon leaving school he entered the office of the Chadborn & Coldwell Manufacturing Company, where he has ever since re- mained. In 1891 he was elected secretary of the company.
Mr. Smith was elected to the Common Council in 1890 by the Dem- ocratic party. He is a member of Newburgh Council of the Royal Arcanum, Hudson River Lodge, F. & A. M., Highland Chapter and Hudson River Commandery; also of Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, New York City. He is also an exempt fireman, having been a member of Ringgold Hose Company. He married Pauline, second danghter of F. W. Gerecke, of Newburgh, and they have two children-a son and a daughter.
HENRY RUDOLPH, Alderman from the Fourth Ward, was elected by the Republicans in 1891. His ward is usually Democratic, but Mr. Rudolph's popularity was so great as to secure his election over H. B. Beckman, who had been a member for a number of years. Mr. Rudolph came to Newburgh in 1880, with no meaus except a thorough knowledge of the baking business. He commenced busi- ness for himself in North Water Street in 1882, and now has a large and flourishing trade.
He was born in Germany in 1853. In 1870 he came to this coun- ry, and worked at his trade in New York City for several years.
HENRY RUDOLPH,
When he had accumulated sufficient capital, he started in business at Keyport, but lost all he had. Then it was he came to Newburgh, and his career here has been successful and honorable. He is President of the Turn Verein, a member of Leonard Steamer Company, and a Mason, Odd Fellow and Knight of Honor.
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NEWBURGH.
MONTGOMERY STREET_"HUDSON TERRACE"-LOOKING SOUTH FROM BROAD STREET.
M.N.G.
LANDER STREET-LOOKING SOUTH FROM SOUTH STREET.
THE CITY WATER WORKS.
HE source of the water supply is Washington Lake, a pretty sheet of water three and a third miles from the river, and at an elevation of 276 feet above it, the sup- ply reaching the city by gravitation. It is a natural body, fed by countless internal springs and by an arti- ficial connection with the Silver Stream. Its waters are clear, tasteless and odorless, as chemical analysis has proven, and need no filtering to make them palatable. Bright, pure and fresh, it has furnished the drinking water of the population for nearly forty years, and a more healthful community than ours does not exist. The lake covers about 140 acres, and has a storage capac- ity of 300,000,000 gallons.
Its natural outlet for nearly a mile is subterranean. Close by the lake the water tumbles into the " Swallow Hole," the entrance to a natural, rocky underground passage, not to be seen again till it gushes out of the " Trout Hole Spring," around which a reservoir of masonry has been constructed. From this point the water is conducted in mains into the city. The effect of the subterranean passage is to pu- rify, and in warm weather to cool the water, and altogether it is a re- markable provision of Nature. There is also a main leading directly to the lake, so that the Trout Hole Reservoir may easily be cleaned whenever desirable. The level of the Trout Hole is 44 feet below the lake, and 232 above the river. It is the usual practice to use the water from the Trout Hole in Summer, and directly from the lake at other times. The supply is abundant for all purposes, and by the intervention of water motors it is also used to run light machinery. Mains ex- tend through all the populated streets, and the extension of the works keeps pace with the growth of the city. Over 6,000 feet of iron pipe was laid in 1888; 7,662 feet in 1889, and 12,301 feet in 1890, with all necessary valves and hydrants thereon.
There are in all about 30 miles of water mains, varying in size from 4 inches to 24 inches. Newburgh has about 37 miles of streets within its corporate limits, showing that the diffusion of the water supply is unusually large.
In 1883 a high-service reservoir was constructed in the northwest- ern part of the city at an elevation of 331 feet above the river, into which water is pumped from the mains. It supplies dwellings in its vicinity. A third reservoir is now building in Downing Park. All are formed of masonry, with cement bottoms, so that they can be kept clean.
As a protection against fire the water supply is invaluable. In most parts of the city the natural water force is sufficient to throw a stream to the top of ordinary buildings. There are about three hun- dred fire plugs in the streets.
The construction of the works was commenced in 1853. Prior to that time the Cold Spring, on Clark Street, was the main supply for those who had not wells. The water was taken from a " penstock" in Liberty Street, at Dunlap's brewery, and conducted in logs down Ann, Colden, Water and Smith Streets. These works were construct- ed about 1817, after the village trustees had purchased the Cold Spring from Jonathan Hasbrouck, Eli Hasbrouck, George Gardner and the Mackin heirs for $3,650. In 1821 the trustees purchased, for $450, the Ritchie lots in the vicinity of Grand and Third Streets, which were covered by a pond fed by a spring. Logs conducted the water through the streets. Later, an additional source of supply was found on the land of William P. C. Smith, and a reservoir was built there. It was situated on Liberty Street near the residence of the late Rev. Dr. John Johnston. In 1829 the Ritchie lots were sold by the village for $4,715, and the pond was filled up. When Third Street was opened the spring (which was between Grand and Lib- erty Streets), was arched over, and its waters now enter the sewer.
The Cold Spring is still owned by the city. Its outlet flows throughi St. George's Cemetery.
The present water works have cost $554,544.79. For the year 1854 water rents amounted to $8,369; in 1890 the receipts were about $40,000. The expenditures last year were:
Construction and repairs.
$12,018 80
Pumping and high service.
3,322 02
Contingent.
6,073 98
Interest on bonds
14,560 00
Sinking fund.
2,000 00
Reservoir improvements.
2,063 02
Refunded taxes.
41 00
$40,078 82
PHOTO. BY ATKINSON.
WILLIAM CHAMBERS-Superintendent of the Water Works.
The bonded debt is $286,000. The Water Board cares for its own debt, and furnishes water very cheaply, far below the average cost in most cities. The following is the scale of rates:
Front of Building.
One Story.
Two Stories.
Three Stories.
Four
Stories.
o to 18 feet
$4.00
$6.00
$7.00
$8.00
19 to 22 "
5.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
23 to 27
6.00
8.00
9.00
10.00
28 to 32
7.00
9.00
10.00
11.00
33 to 37
8.00
10.00
11.00
12.00
38 to 42
9.00
11.00
12.00
13.00
43 to 50
10.00
[2.00
13.00
14.00
[83]
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NEWBURGH.
Special low rates are given to manufactories and others using steam engines, as the policy of the city is to encourage manufactur- ing by every means in its power.
The Board of Water Commissioners is at present constituted as follows: Robt. Huddelson, President; Tilden H. Wilson, James Mc- Cord, Friend W. Perkins, William H. Smith. William Chambers, Superintendent of Works and Secretary of the Board. The Commis- sioners are elected by the people, and serve for a term of five years. They have full control of the works and report annually to the Common Council. The following is a list of citizens who have been members of this Board:
Beckman, Horatio B. .. . 1876-78
McCann, Henry. 1880-90
Clark, George.
1866-71 Moshier, George. 1884-89
Carson, William W .. .1872-78
McCord, James. . 1887-
Chapman, Joseph H. H .. 1875-80
Perkins, Friend W. . 1891-
Crane, James M. 1885-91
Root, Charles,
1876-79
Doyle, Michael. 1883-88
Scott, Francis
I866-71
Gerard, Franklin.
1871-75 Shafer, J. D.
1866-69
Gerecke, Frederick W. .. 1879-84
Shaw, E. K .. . . 1875-76, 1882-87
Hnddelson, Robert ..
. 1888-
Smith, Lewis M. 1875-76
Kimball, Samuel G .. . . . . 1873-77
Smith, William H. .. 1890-
Lawson, William C .. .... 1878-83
Sterling, Robert. 1868-70
Leonard, Chancey M .... 1869-72 Townsend, Timothy
1871-75
Lockwood, Charles S. .. . 1881-86 Van Nort, John F
1870-75
Mailler, William O ..... . 1877-82 Wilson, Tilden H. .1889-
Wyckoff, William .. ... . . . 1869-72
SUPERINTENDENTS OF WATER WORKS.
Allard, N. W. .1869-70 Miller, William C .. . IS81-90
Boynton, Edward C .. . . . 1874-81 Rogers, Daniel T. .1866
Clark, Leander, jr .. ..... 1866-68 Royce, Charles B. Chambers, William. . .1891-
.1870-73
WILLIAM CHAMBERS, Superintendent of the Water Works, was born in Connty Down, Ireland, May 15, 1822. His father's name was Samnel, and his mother's, Jane McCord; Willliam was their first born. When he was but two years old his parents emigrated from Belfast to Newburgh. The lapse of sixty-five years has not effaced the memory of scenes and events in Newburgh in his early childhood, and he can relate many reminiscences of Newburgh at that early period in strange contrast with the present times. Mr. Chambers recollects crossing the river in 1827 on a ferry horse-boat named the " Caravan," which was propelled by horses; in 1828 he saw the first steam ferry boats, " Jack Downing" and "Post Boy," and in 1830 the first steamboat owned and run from Newburgh, the " Baltimore."
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