USA > New York > Orange County > Newburgh > Newburgh; her institutions, industries and leading citizens, historical, descriptive and biographical > Part 36
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In 1884 Mr. Wil- lard was elected Supervisor of the Town of Boonville, being the first FRANCIS A. WILLARD. Democrat elected to that office on a regular Democratic ticket since before the war. In the session of 1885 he was the acknowledged leader of the Democratic minority, although one of the youngest members of the board. In 1885, also, he was unanimously nominated for Member of Assembly by the Democrats of the third Oneida district, but he positively de- clined to accept. He was the sole choice of the Democrats of Boon- ville for postmaster, and in August, 1886, he was appointed to that position by President Cleveland. Had he desired it he could have received the nomination for Congress in 1888 and 1890 from the 23d Congressional District. May 9, 1891, he purchased The Daily and Weekly Register from John A. Mason.
NEWBURGH.
179 .
JOHN F. TUCKER is the city editor of The Register, and junior member of the job printing firm of Willard & Tncker. He was born in Ponghkeepsie, July 3, 1850, and entered upon his apprentice- ship as a printer with Platt & Schram, of The Eagle, in 1864. While engaged on that paper as a compos- itor, he assisted George W. Davids, the city editor, by looking after minor items of interest. In 1872 Mr. Tncker left The Eagle, and took charge of the Government printing office at the United States Military Academy, West Point, a posi- tion he held for twelve years, un- der Generals Thomas H. Ruger, John M. Schofield, O. O. Howard and Wesley Merritt. In 1884 he resigned to become city ed- itor of The Regis- ter. Two years later, with Mr. PHOTO BY MAPES. Moffat, he purchas- JOHN F. TUCKER, ed the job printing plant of E. M. Ruttenber, which has since been conducted in connection with The Register.
Mr. Tucker is a member of Newburgh Lodge, No. 309, F. & A. M., Highland Falls Lodge, No. 429, I. O. O. F., and Lawson Hose Com- pany No. 5. He filled the office of District Deputy Grand Master of
Odd Fellows at a time when the dis- trict embraced the whole of Orange County, now divid- ed into three dis- tricts. He is Secre- tary of the New- burgh Skating Association, New- burgh Council, No. 1,320, Royal Arca- num, and of St. George's Sunday School; also a Director of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion.
ALMET S. MOFFAT was born in the Town of Goshen, Orange . County, N. Y., August 9, 1853. He is the son of Dan- iel C. and Juliana H. Moffat. His
PHOTO. BY MAPES
ALMET S. MOFFAT,
parents were farmers and descendants of the Moffats and Howells,
who have for generations resided in the adjacent towns of Chester and Blooming Grove. When he was five years of age his parents re- moved to Rockford, Ills. His boyhood days were spent in this thriv- ing Western city until 1868, when his parents removed East, and at the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to the printing trade in the office of The Goshen Independent Republican, then owned by the late Herbert P. Kimber. He worked at his trade in varions places, chief among which was the office of The New York Times, where he was employed for a number of years. He left the Times office in February, 1886, and took editorial charge of The Newburgh Daily Register upon the retirement of its then proprietor, John A. Mason, who entered the service of the United States Gov- ernment as a Deputy Customs Collector at New York City. Mr. Moffat, a year later, with John F. Tncker, purchased the job print- ing business of E. M. Ruttenber, which was consolidated with The Daily Register. Mr. Moffat remained for four years as the editor and business manager of the establishment. In May, 1891, Mr. Mason disposed of his interest to F. A. Willard, and shortly after Mr. Moffat also disposed of his interest to Mr. Willard and removed to New York City, where he is now engaged conducting the job print- ing business connected with The Harlem Local Reporter.
THE DAILY AND SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL.
In 1833 John D. Spalding disposed of his interest in The Gazette and established The Weekly Journal, which he continued till 1843, and then changed the name to The Highland Courier, which he con- tinned until his death. Mr. Spalding's connection with the press of Newburgh covered a period of thirty-eight years. He was the son of Rev. Joshua Spalding, and was born in Salem, Mass., in 1800. He came to Newburgh with his parents in 1815, and learned his trade under Ward M. Gazlay, in the office of The Political Index. In 1822 he began to publish The Gazette. Samuel Parmenter was his part- ner from 1825 to 1832, and for a short time John W. Knevels was a partner. As an editor, Mr. Spalding exercised good judgment, and his writings bear the imprint of a sincere and high-minded man. He married Elizabeth L., danghter of the Rev. John Johnston, D. D. He died in 1853.
After Mr. Spalding's death his widow conducted the paper with the assistance of William E. Smiley, until 1855, when Mr. Smiley purchased it. Mr. Smiley sold it to Edward Nixon in 1858, and he disposed of the property to Rufns A. Reed in 1859, who changed the name to The Highland Chieftain.
On the first of June, 1861, Cyrus B. Martin became the owner. Up to this time the fortunes of the paper had varied but little, and a paper of April 9, 1842, now before the writer of this, did not differ material- ly from one of May, 1861, nineteen years later. The peculiar fitness of Mr. Martin for the profession was soon evinced by the change in the appearance of the paper. A new font of type was immediately put in the office, and, going back to first principles, he restored the original name to his paper, and it was once more The Newburgh Journal. From that time the paper grew steadily in infinence and circulation. On the fifth of July, 1862, the first number of The Daily Journal was issued. The pressure of " war times" made its career, at first, a labor of love on the part of its editor, its receipts not more than paying expenses. After about two years its prosperity became assured. It became a member of the Associated Press of the State of New York in March, 1872, a franchise that affords it an equal op- portunity of receiving the news of the world with that possessed by the press in the largest cities of the State.
On March 1, 1877, Samuel Ritchie, Lawrence C. Bodine and Frank S. Hull became the proprietors, under the firm name of Ritchie, Bodine & Hull. Abont ten months later Mr. Bodine retired, and Ritchie & Hull have since been the proprietors. Fifteen years have made many changes in The Journal. While the independence and energetic political partisanship that won it prominence among the journals of the State have been maintained, improvements have been made in other directions. The daily has been enlarged several times since 1877, and since 1887 a semi-weekly edition has been pub- lished. The premises have been greatly enlarged, and a book-bindery
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has for a number of years been an important branch of the establish- ment. New machinery, new type, new arrangements, and greater facilities have kept The Journal abreast of the times. Since 1885 the office has been connected with the Associated Press system by a special leased wire, and a telegraph operator is employed to receive the dis- patches. About twelve thousand words are received each day, so that The Journal is able to lay before its readers each evening the contemporaneous history of the world. In obtaining the news of the vicinity it has the aid of a large corps of correspondents located in the surrounding villages, some of whom have acted in that capacity for more than a score of years. The correspondence department is a popular feature of The Semi-Weekly Journal, and the basis of a circulation not confined to our own county or State. As for local news, The Journal is not given to sensationalism, but strives to tell only the truth, giving all the real news of the day accurately, concisely and in- telligibly. Having a firm belief that the principles of the Republican party are the best for the welfare of the nation, it has always been a steadfast advocate of those principles. Likewise it has been a reliable in- dex of the city's intelligence and public spirit. With- out ostentation it has suggested pub- lic improvements, advocated reforms, and exerted a healthy and refined influence in the city's life. Its files have furnished the fullest history ex- tant of the city and county in which it has been published. It has since its founding been the leading family paper of this section, and on its subscription lists are names of those who have taken it for more than half a cen- tury. The Journal printing house and book-bindery has every facility requisite for its business. This book tells its own story of skill and practice in this house. From thirty-five to forty hands are employed. A number of the employees have been connected with the office a great many years. William E. Smiley, once proprietor, is now the foreman of the newspaper composing room. For many years it has occupied the building Nos. 44 and 46 Second Street. In the basement is the press room, on the first floor are the business office and bindery, on the second floor the editorial, telegraph and composing rooms, and on the third floor the job printing department. The Daily Journal is issued every day, except Sunday, at 4.30 p. m., and served to sub- scribers by carriers. It also has a large circulation on the railroads and in the villages near by. The Semi-Weekly Journal is published on Tuesdays and Fridays.
CYRUS B. MARTIN was born in Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., September 6, 1830. He received a common-school educa- tion. In 1845 he entered the office of The Glens Falls (N. Y.) Clarion to learn the printer's trade, and was employed there five years, in- cluding one year after his apprenticeship expired. From 1850 to 1855 he was a compositor on The Albany Journal. In the latter year he be- came one of the editors and publishers of The Chenango Telegraph, at Norwich, N. Y. He remained there until the Spring of 1861, when he sold his interest in The Telegraph, came to Newburgh, and purchased The Highland Chieftain from Rufus A. Reed. He im- proved its appearance by dressing it in new type and in other ways; changed its name to The Newburgh Journal, and took up with energy the tasks of his new position. In the following year The Daily Jour- nal was established. Mr. Martin had not conducted the rejuvenated paper long before the people of New- burgh perceived that he was com- pletely equipped for his work. They recognized in him a vigorous thinker, an incisive writer, a man of positive views and convic- tions and fearless in expressing them. They also learned to esteem him for his integrity and his genial traits, as well as his abilities as a public journal- ist. He began his work here when the outbreak of war intensified the feelings of the peo- ple, and he was a patriotic, aggres- sive advocate of the Union cause. He did much to mould and to strengthen Union sentiment in this region, and the "boys in blue" found in him one of their stanchest friends.
JOURNAL PRINTING HOUSE ANO BOOK BINDERY.
THE JOURNAL BUILDING-44 and 46 Second Street.
Mr. Martin has been a Republican ever since the par- ty was organized, and one of the de- voted members and trusted counselors of that party. In past years he took an active part in its conventions, local and general, has been a member of its State Committee, and one of its Presidential Elec- tors (1880).
During his sixteen years' residence in Newburgh, many projects of local importance were proposed. Those of them that commended themselves to his sound judgment as calculated to promote the pros- perity of the place received his cordial support, and many such enter- prises have profited from that support.
Mr. Martin was warmly interested in all that concerned the well- being of society. The cause of law and order had no sturdier cham- pion. He was a judicious friend of the public school system of our city, and from 1868 to 1873 was a useful member of our School Board. He was also a Trustee of Washington's Headquarters from 1874 to 1877.
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On the eve of his removal from Newburgh to Norwich, N. Y., in the Spring of 1877, after he had sold The Journal establishment, a complimentary banquet was tendered to Mr. Martin by our leading
CYRUS B. MARTIN.
citizens. The estimate in which he and his work here were held was well shown by the speeches made and the letters read on that occa- sion.
The banquet was held in the United States Hotel on the evening of April 20, 1877. The Committee of Invitation, acting in behalf of leading citizens, consisted of Michael H. Hirschberg, Abram S. Cas- sedy, John C. Adams, Peter Ward and Isaac C. Chapman. In their letter inviting Mr. Martin to become the guest of the citizens of the banquet the committee said:
" It is difficult to express in this formal invitation the kindliness and warmth of the friendly feelings evoked. Your sixteen years' residence in our city, dur- ing which The Journal has been built up as a valued institution, and during which botb in public and private station those qualities of head and heart have been displayed which make us so keenly regret your contemplated departure, constitutes the sufficient reason for, if not an adequate measure of, the hearti- ness and sincerity of the invitation."
In his letter acknowledging the invitation Mr. Martin wrote:
" In accepting the great honor which those you represent have tendered me, it is impossible not to feel that I am placing myself under added obligations to a generous and kindly public sentiment which has followed and encouraged me for many years, and for which-expressed as it has been in many ways, and un- der widely varying circumstances-it is impossible to make known the full measure of that grateful feeling with which it has been and will continue to be cherished in my memory. This sentiment has reached me from all classes of society, from men of opposite political faith and affiliations, and from very many with whom my relations have been only those distant ones-and yet in a sense familiar ones-which exist between an editor and his readers. And since my retirement from the editorial chair there seems to have been a common purpose in these different quarters to cover the path of my retreat with the choicest of flowers of friendly feeling-a purpose which has reached the unexpected cul- mination made known in your generously-phrased note of invitation."
The Committee of Arrangements for the banquet consisted of Dr. L. S. Straw, James W. Taylor, John R. Wiltsie, Arthur A. McLean. J. H. H. Chapman, John C. Adams and John B. Kerr.
John J. S. McCroskery, Mayor of the city, presided. Among those present, besides the gentlemen mentioned above, were Charles H. Winfield, Daniel B. St. John, James G. Graham, Rev. Drs. Wendell Prime and William K. Hall, Charles F. Brown, James Mackin, Ben- jamin B. Odell, Charles H. Weygant, Charles J. Lawson, Homer Ramsdell, John Galt, Samuel P. Church, James W. Miller, David Carson, M. C. Belknap, Halsey R. Stevens, William B. Brokaw, John Schoonmaker, J. McC. Farrington, Eli Hasbrouck, James L. Teller, William O. Mailler, Charles Caldwell, Charles H. Lyon, Samuel C. Mills, William C. Lawson, Joseph Casterline and John Corwin.
When the tables were cleared Mayor McCroskery called the com- pany to order and in the course of his remarks, introducing the honored guest of the evening, said:
" It is my privilege as your Chairman to call upon many who are abundantly able to express that appreciation of our guest, and the regret at parting from him, which no one feels more keenly than I do. His work, his position, his in- fluence, and his usefulness in this community are more than enough to account for this compliment."
In concluding his remarks the Mayor offered the following toast: " Our guest, Cyrus B. Martin. Esq .: We regret his departure from Newburgh and his retirement from the Press, and tender to him our best wishes for his future happiness and prosperity."
Many complimentary letters were read from personal friends of Mr. Martin, among them Senator Roscoe Conking, Hon. Alonzo B. Cornell, Hon. Thomas L. James, Ellis H. Roberts, of The Utica Her- ald, S. C. Hutchins, of The Albany Argus, Charles E. Fitch, of The Rochester Democrat, Benson J. Lossing, Hon. George M. Beebe and Hon. M. D. Stivers. Speeches were made by Charles Emory Smith, editor of The Albany Journal, now United States Minister to Russia; Senator Daniel B. St. John, Hon. Charles H. Winfield, Hon. J. G. Graham, and the Rev. Wendell Prime.
In Norwich Mr. Martin has been a busy man, having large inter- ests to oversee. He is President of the David Maydole Hammer Co.,
PHOTO. BY ATKINSON.
SAMUEL RITCHIE.
one of the largest concerns in that line of industry. He is also Presi- dent of the Chenango National Bank, a solid and prosperous institu- tion, and is engaged in other enterprises in that thriving village.
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Mr. Martin married, in 1858, Ann Vernette, daughter of David Maydole, of Norwich. Four of their children, three daughters and a son, have grown to mature years. Mrs. Martin died in June, 1885.
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL RITCHIE-41 Liberty Street-Washington Heights.
During her residence here she was held in high esteem for her excel- lence of character and her unostentations activity in good work. While domestic in her tastes and deeply devoted to home and family, her sympathetic spirit went beyond her home and found exercise in quiet ministrations to the destitute. The Home for the Friendless found in her one of its warmest friends and wisest managers.
SAMUEL RITCHIE, second son of Robert L. and Sarah E. Ritchie, was born in Larne, Ireland, July 3, 1836. Came to this country with his parents in 1839, and has lived in Newburgh since then, except during the year 1867. Received a common school edu- cation. Became a reporter for The Journal March 1, 1865, and has been its editor and one of its proprietors since March 1, 1877. Mar- ried, in May, 1869, Kate L., daughter of the late James F. Kelly.
FRANK S. HULL, of the firm of Ritchie & Hull, was born in Newburgh June 6, 1853. He received an education in the ordinary English branches in one of the public schools of the village, and in several private schools both in and out of Newburgh. The printing business had a fascination for him in his boyhood, and when thirteen years of age he began the publication and printing of The American Eagle, a small, amateur paper-the second one of its kind in the place. The first one was The Union Jack, printed and published by Master A. Ludlow Case, a son of Admiral Case, U. S. N., and it was from this lad that Master Hull received his earliest lessons in type-setting. He published The American Eagle with but little interruption until 1868, and the sheet was enlarged several times during that period. The place of publication was changed from Newburgh to Millerton
and West New Brighton. N. Y. respectively, as his residence was re- moved thereto.
In 1870 he returned to Newburgh and obtained employment in the composing room of The Journal office, where he was able to turn to good account his previous few years' experience with type and ink as an amateur printer. Mr. Hull has been continuously in The Journal office since then, with the exception of one year (1876), when he was foreman of The Middletown (N. Y.) Press office. Resigning his po- sition which he held in Middletown on March 1, 1877, he entered into co-partnership with Samuel Ritchie and Lawrence C. Bodine, and the firm purchased of Cyrus B. Martin the Journal establishment. In De- cember following Mr. Bodine's interest was acquired by the other two partners, who have since continued the publishing, printing and book- binding business.
Mr. Hull is President of the Young Men's Christian Association, a Steward in Trinity M. E. Church, and one of the five Newburgh rep- resentatives in the Advisory board of the Orange County Agricul- tural Society.
He is the eldest son of Dr. Duane and the late Sarah S. Hull. His father was a well-known dentist here nearly thirty years ago, who, it is worthy of note, originated several valuable inventions, one of the most important of which was the "facing" of the iron "guards" on the mowing machine with cast steel, to afford a keen and durable cutting-edge for the knives to operate across. This invention very greatly reduced the draught or labor of drawing the machine through and cutting the grass, and proved to be such a great improvement over the cutting apparatus previously in nse, that the " facing " of mowing machine " guards " with cast steel is a very important part of the design of this great labor-saving machine to this day. Through some defect in the formal application Dr. Hull did not secure a patent for his invention. Nevertheless the untold
PHOTO. BY ATKINSON.
FRANK S. HULL.
benefits from it are now being reaped by the farmers throughout the world, as well as by the mowing machine manufacturers. Persons are living in Newburgh now who attended the competitive mowing machine trials in the vicinity when Dr. Ifull's improvement was
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tested with marvelous results in comparison with the old-fashioned machines. About that time a large number of machines in course of construction for Dr. Hull at the Washington Iron Works were totally destroyed by a boiler ex- plosion there.
Frank S. Hull married in 1882, Ida, daughter of the late James Wey- gant. They have two children, Marjorie W. and Stanley W.
THE DAILY EVEN- ING NEWS
Was established in 1885, by William H. Keefe. It is an eight-column folio 26x39. It is sold at one cent a copy, and has a fair share of the public patronage. The printing house is at 126 Broadway. Mr. Keefe received his newspaper training in The Journal office, and was for a number of years city editor. He resigned that position in February, 1884, to become Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue.
RESIDENCE OF FRANK S. HULL-16 Bay View Terrace-Washington Heights.
Dunphy, emigrated to this country from Ireland in the latter part of the decade beginning with 1830, and settled in New- burgh. Mr. Dunphy has numerous brothers and sisters, all of whom had a literary turn of mind, and three of them entered the ministry of the Catholic Church, one became an M. D., and one sister chose a religious life. Death has been busy in this family as in all others. The father of the subject of this sketch, one sister and five broth- ers are dead. Three brothers and three sisters and his mother are liv- ing. Mr. Dunphy married in this city, Miss B. A. Bannon in 1871. One son, Edward, and two dangh- ters, Jennie and Mary, were born of the union.
THE DAILY EVENING PRESS (Dem.),
Was established by James G. Dunphy in 1888. It is an eight-column folio 25x39, and is issued every day except Sunday, price one cent. The printing house is at 123 Broadway, and is a large and well equip- ped establishment. Mr. Dunphy, the editor and proprie- tor, was born in the City of Newburgh, August 21, 1842, received a com- mon school educa- tion and learned the printing busi- ness under E. M. Ruttenber in this city. With the ex- ception of two years and a half he has lived here all his life and been active in the "art preservative of all arts." In 1883 he embarked in busi- ness on his own account, confining his efforts to job printing until 1888, when he founded The Press, a Dem- PHOTO. BY ATKINSON. ocratic newspaper, JAMES G. DUNPHY. which has been successful. Untir- ing energy, combined with a practical knowledge of his business, has enabled him to overcome the usual obstacles which meet the average
newspaper founder, and at this writing he is considered to be on the " high road to fame and fortune." His parents, Edward and Mary
Mr. Dunphy exercises excellent judgment in the conduct of his paper, and is a power in the Democratic party.
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAM
Is a seven-column quarto, which has a large circulation in the city and neighboring towns on Sunday. It is bright, newsy and racy. It is retailed for five cents. It was established in March, 1889, by J. W. F. Ruttenber, a thorough news- paper man and the son of Edward M. Ruttenber. The Telegram express- es an opinion that carries weight on all the questions of the day. Its com- ments on current events are always interesting.
J. W. F. RUT- TENBER was born in Newburgh, December 14, 1857, and received a common-school ed- ucation. After be- ing connected PHOTO. BY ATKINSON. several years with his father in the J. W. F. RUTTENBER. printing business in this city, he was continuously attached to newspapers both in New- burgh and elsewhere, and commenced the publication of The
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Newburgh Sunday Telegram in March, 1889. Although but 34 years of age, Mr. Ruttenber has been a newspaper man for twenty years, his first experience being with The Index, an amateur paper published in Newburgh by him in 1870-71. The Telegram is non- partisan and, confining itself to live local topics of interest to New- burgh and close vicinity, became an acknowledged success in the first month of its existence.
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