USA > New York > Orange County > Newburgh > Newburgh; her institutions, industries and leading citizens, historical, descriptive and biographical > Part 40
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been widely read among biblical scholars. Mr. Stevens was highly esteemed in Newburgh as a fine gentleman, au able business man and a profound scholar. He died May 22, 1881, leaving a widow (formerly Bettina Howe) and one son, by a former marriage, Elbridge Gerry Stevens.
ENOCH CARTER came of good stock, the sturdy honesty of which was one of his conspicuous traits. His grandfather, for whom he was named, was a Philadelphia-born Quaker of English blood. At the commencement of the Revolution he was a tanner and currier in New York, and, being a Whig, in spite of the peaceful tenets of his profession, when the British occupied New York he was conspicuous enough as a rebel to render it prudent for him to retire into the coun- try. He took up his abode at Fort Montgomery. On the return of peace he went back to New York. The grandfather had six children, of whom the father of the subject of this notice, Jonathan, was the eldest. Jonathan was born in 1772, in New York, and after his fath- er's death, in 1792, continued his business and the support of the fam- ily. In 1798 the yellow fever broke out and caused his removal to Newburgh, where he went into the tobacco business, in which he continued until his death in 1820. Jonathan's third wife was Jane Linderman, of German ancestry. She died in 1830 leaving: (1) Enoch (born September 17, 1810), (2) Margaret, who married Levi D. Wool- sey, (3) Catherine, who married Henry Ryer, (4) Charles.
In early life Enoch Carter shipped on one of the Newburgh Whal- ing Company's vessels, and passed some years at sea, but came back to Newburgh about the year 1844 and engaged in the tobacco business in a store opposite the Highland Bank, where he remained until he had opportunity through the death of Mr. Wiley (his father's successor)
ENOCH CARTER.
to purchase the stock and take possession of his father's old place of business, in which he continued the trade till a few years before his death.
It will be seen from this sketch that Mr. Carter was a Newburgher born and bred; and all who knew him will testify to the anxious de- votion he felt for the place and its interests. He was among the fore-
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most in every project which promised to advance those interests or magnify the fame of Newburgh. Such enterprises, when approv- ing themselves to his liberal judgment, never lacked the aid of his voice and purse. He took a deep interest in politics; was frequent- ly the candidate of the Democratic party for local positions, and rep- resented it in State and National conventions, gaining a reputation more than local. But he had no disposition to make himself conspic- uous as a leader, and for office-holding he had but a moderate desire. While a member of the Board of Supervisors he inaugurated the ef- fort which resulted in the establishment of the Newburgh Alms House, and that model institution is largely indebted to his suggestions for the success with which it was established and conducted. " To local improvements of every kind he was a liberal contributor; while to his antiquarian tastes, and to the reverence for the memory of the found- ers of the nation, the public are mainly indebted for the valuable col- lection of manuscripts and other relics which are deposited in Wash- ington's Headquarters, as well as for the rescue of that property from the grasp of private speculation, and the care with which the man- sion has been preserved."* He was one of the founders of the Me- chanics' Library Association, and gave it a large collection of miner- als. He manifested a deep interest in the success of the free schools and of the free library, and at one time prepared his will for the en- dowment of a school of design. Mr. Carter's private charities were many and liberal. His intellect was strong, vigorous and practical, developed by habits of thought and observation. He had the faults of other mortals, and some of these were conspicuous in his person. " His character was two-fold: the outward, springing from impulse and marred by the impress of associations by sea and land into which he was thrown; and the inward, actuated by kindly sympathies and noble purposes."# However, the characteristics of the man which were least commendable were pardonable ones, and such as often served by contrast to show the sterling character of his manhood. His last work was the Cedar Hill Cemetery. He watched the grad- ing and beautifying of the grounds, little thinking, probably, that he himself would be the first of its silent occupants. Mr. Carter never married. He died at his residence in Smith Street, near Second, January 14, 1872. Mrs. Charles Mapes and Miss Antoinette Wool- sey, of Newburgh; Mrs. L. H. Blackman, formerly of New York; and Mrs. Walter Reed, of Brooklyn, are nieces.
JAMES PATTON is one of the best known citizens of Orange County, and a typical representative of its agricultural industry. " 'Squire " Patton, as he is familiarly known among his friends, has been a lifelong resident of this vicinity. He was born on a farm three and a half miles west of Newburgh, June 6, 1803. He remained at the homestead till he reached his majority, and then moved to a farm of fifty acres at " Washington Square," bequeathed him by his father. A pair of horses and one cow were his stock in trade when he com- menced farming on his own account. The following year he started a blacksmith shop, and conducted it in connection with his farming interests.
In 1827 he rented a tavern and store, and was successful therein till 1830, when he purchased the fine farm where he now resides, ad- jacent to the last campground of the main Continental army. On coming to this place he began the business of buying and selling cattle, which he has ever since pursued with profit. For many years he has been the largest dealer in this vicinity. Mr. Patton has lent his aid to many good works, both in this town and in the city. In all that concerns his neighborhood his opinion has weight. When eighteen years old he joined a local cavalry company and served seven years. As a member of this company he had the honor of be- ing one of General Lafayette's bodyguard when he visited Newburgh in 1824. Mr. Patton was one of the first stockholders of the High- land Bank. He also promoted the organization of the Quassaick Bank, of which he was one of the directors for many years; he is the only member of the first board now living. He was also one of the incorporators of the Newburgh Savings Bank, and beside himself
only one other (Hon. T. M. Niven) of the first trustees is now living. In politics Mr. Patton was first a Democrat, his first vote being cast for General Jackson; but when President Van Buren was re- nominated Mr. Patton voted against him, because of a speech he made disproving of the credit system. Afterwards he became a Whig, and when that party was split into "Woolly Heads " and "Silver Grays " he voted with the latter and was defeated. Then he returned to the Democratic party, and ever since has been connected
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JAMES PATTON.
with it. He was twice elected justice of the peace, and has held other offices in his town. Mr. Patton's home farm contains over two hundred acres, and with his son he has large landed interests. He is accounted a substantial country gentleman of the "old school," and enjoys vigorous health and a green old age.
JOHN W. MCCULLOUGH is of Scotch-Irish descent. His grand- father emigrated from Scotland and settled in the North of Ireland, where his son William, the father of John W., was born. William came to Newburgh in 1812, and his son John W., was born here in 1819, in a house on the corner of Mill Street and Western Avenue, where the Church of the Good Shepherd now stands. From his earliest years his God-fearing parents directed his conduct aright, and implant- ed in his mind those moral precepts which have guided his steps all his life long. He was sent to school to John Goodsell, the schoolhouse be- ing in Liberty Street nearly opposite Limestone Hill (now Gidney Avenue), and known as the Glebe School. Afterward he attended the High School, of which O. M. Smith was principal.
He learned the tobacconist trade from William M. Wiley, whose shop was in Water Street where is now George W. Green's book store. In 1845 he started in business for himself in the wholesale and retail trade at No. 93 Front Street, and continued there till 1873, when he pur- chased the business of Benjamin Hanmore, who a short time before had succeeded Alex. Mc Cann (the successor of the late Enoch Carter), at No. 70 Water Street. Afterwards he bought the adjoining build- ing, No. 68, and moved his business there, where he still continues to do a large manufacturing business.
* Ruttenber's History.
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In 1865 Mr. Mccullough purchased from David Miller the marble yard in Front Street and conducted it (without discontinuing his to- bacco business) un- til 1879. when he sold the yard to Webber, Forson & Ross. Mr. McCul- longh was brought up in the Covenan- ter Church, was baptised by the great divine Dr. Willson, and has been for many years one of the most helpful work- ers in the denomi- nation in the city. For a long period he was an Elder in the First Reform- ed Presbyterian Church under the ministration of the Rev. Samuel Carlisle, and for about thirty-seven or more years also performed the du- PHOTO. BY MAPES. ties of Treasurer. JOHN W. MCCULLOUGH. His first wife was Sarah D. McCart- ney. John R. Mccullough and Mrs. Curtis M. Thorpe were born of that union. His second wife was J. Kate Jamison, who died in 1884, leaving no children. Conscientiously adhering to the principles of his church, Mr. Mccullough has never taken any part in political affairs, but none has loved his country better, or rejoiced more in her great achieve- ments. In his long business career his name has been a synonym for unbending integrity and honorable dealings,
JAMES BIGLER was born near Bing- hamton, N. Y., Feb. 6, 1818. A portion of his boyhood was passed in Utica, where he saw the completion of the Erie canal and the passage of the first boat through it. In 1825 the family returned to Binghamton, and on leaving school Mr. Bigler joined his father in the grocery and provision business. To this the lumber trade was add- ed. With the lumber-men of the region they exchanged groceries and provisions for lum- ber and shipped it to various parts of the State, considerable of it coming to New- burgh. In the Spring of 1842 Mr. Bigler started John W. Wells in business at the foot of Western Avenue (now Broadway) in this city and in September of that year enter- ed into partnership with him. The other lumber merchants in Newburgh at that time were Belknap & Clinton, Peter Foster, and Thomas Kimball. When the Newburgh Steam Mills were building, two years later, Mr. Bigler contracted to furnish all the lumber and timber needed in their construction, and afterwards he went into the business on a large scale.
In 1844 he commenced the erection of a steam saw-mill on Norris's dock at the South End, first leasing the dock, and two or three years
JAMES BIGLER.
later purchasing the whole property. The business acquired large proportions; at one time it amounted to $1,600,000 a year, and for many years it av- eraged $100,000 a month. The tim- ber arrived at the mill in rafts from the West, and after being sawed was loaded on vessels and sent to all parts. During the war he manufac- tured hundreds of gun-carriages for the Government, and also supplied it with lumber and timber for naval construction. In 1861 the mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in five weeks. Mr. Bigler while in this business owned three ships, one barque, and a number of schoon- PHOTO. BY WHIDDIT. ers, barges and steamboats. In WILLIAM HILTON. 1879 he organized the Newburgh Telephone Company, and with the Western Union Telegraph Company owned most of the stock. Afterwards he aided in the organization of the Hudson River Telephone Company, and combined the Newburgh company with it. He was elected presi- dent of the Hudson River Company, and laid the first telephone cable across the Hudson. He continued in the presidency of the company till two years ago, but is still a director.
In 1876 he became interested in the Courtney automatic signal buoys, and has continued their manufacture ever since. He became the sole proprietor of the invention, but three years ago his interest was pur- chased, except that he still has a royalty on all manufactured, which part of the business he still superintends. It has been the most successful buoy made, and is in use in all parts of the country. Mr. Bigler purchased the ship-building works of Ward, Stanton & Co. after the firm failed, and for a time continued the business. He sold the plant to the Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construc- tion Company, of Newport News, and for a short period he was superintendeut of that company.
He is now and has been for some years engaged in manufacturing caisson gates for the Simpson Dry Docks. Mr. Bigler was one of the organizers of the National Bank of Newburgh; and at one time the largest individual stockholder; he was one of the PHOTO. BY ATKINSON. subscribers to the original stock of the Erie Railroad; he was a liberal subscriber toward the purchase of the Home for the Friendless, and actually purchased the property himself and deeded it to the society. For more than thirty years was a member of the consistory of the American Re- formed Church. He was a member of the Board of Village Trustees
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at institution of the city government, and an Alderman for two years thereafter. He is now a leading member of the Board of Trade. He has been twice married-first to Miss Harriet E. Smith, of Bing- hamton, in 1841, and in February, 1867, to Miss Mary W. Magee, of Elizabeth, N. J. He has three sons and three daughters.
WILLIAM HILTON was for many years prominent in building and real estate affairs. He possessed in a notable degree the esteem of his townsmen, and was one who impressed his mark upon the com- munity. He came of Scotch Covenanter stock and was born in the North of Ireland, October 4, 1815. He came here with his father's family in 1832, and resided here until his death, April 4, 1890.
After learning his trade with John W. Gott, of Little Britain, and Alanson Miller, of Newburgh, Mr. Hilton began business as a car- penter and builder in 1837. With the rapid growth of the village his operations became very large. Scores, almost hundreds, of the houses constituting the city were erected either wholly or partly by him; and a number of fine residences in the suburbs. He built the residences of Judge Fullerton, Thomas B. Shelton, Caleb Sprague Henry, D. D., LL. D., William J. Roe, Prof. Greene, Walter Vail, the parsonage of Calvary Church, the Church of Our Father, the Free Library, the Chandler building, the Peck & Van Dalfsen building, and thirty dwellings in Smith Street alone. He opened up North Miller Street and sold the lots. He built the residence No. 291 Liberty Street for his own occupation, and lived there many years. He was succeeded in business by his son William H.
Mr. Hilton became a member of Engine Company No. 2, May 7, 1839, and was the foreman when the company was disbanded in 1849. He was for many years an elder of the First Reformed Pres- byterian Church. He was a life member of the American Bible So- ciety, and a director of the Newburgh Bible Society. He contributed largely to the support of all worthy objects, and there are many who have reason to remember his kindness. Apart from his regular business Mr. Hilton's life was a quiet one, and the evening hours would generally find him in his library. He was a well-read man, and particularly interested in sacred history. Holding to the peculiar principles of his church, he had no part in petty political strifes or pastimes, but he was an ardent Abolitionist and a friend of the op- pressed. His whole life was that of an honest, upright man. Mr. Hilton married Ellen J. Lawson, of St. Andrews, a sister of
John and David Lawson (for many years merchants in the hardware and flour and feed business respectivly, in this city), and had William H., Robert John, Anna, Samuel, Mary Ella, Sarah, Minnie, Clara, Joseph (died young), and Edith.
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PHOTO. BY MAPES.
JOHN HILTON.
JOHN HILTON. The opportunities which Newburgh presents to men of intelligence and perseverance have a striking illustration in the career of this gentleman, who, commencing as a poor boy, acquired a large fortune solely through the channels open to everyone in Newburgh. Mr. Hilton's business was exclusively in real estate, and at the present time he is probably the largest indi- vidual property-owner in the city.
Mr. Hilton was born in the North of Ireland, in 1816. He is a brother of William Hilton and first cousin of Judge Henry Hilton, of New York. He was sixteen years old when he came to Newburgh. After learning the mason trade he went to New York City to work under the instruction of metropolitan builders, and for a short period carried on business for himself. Doubtless had he remained in New York, the perseverance and sagacity which charac- terize him would have earned him in that great field a far larger measure of success than even that which he has achieved within the bounds of this little city. For a number of years after returning to New- burgh he was a master mason, but eventually his building operations were exclusively on his own ac- count, though the greater part of his realty was ac- quired by purchase. With the steady growth of the city and the appreciation of values liis interests became very large. Mr. Hilton married in 1865 Anna L. Turner, of Wisconsin, and has the fol- lowing children: William T., Bertha, Robert and Ralph.
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN HILTON-333 Grand Street.
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EDSON H. CLARK, born at East Hampton, Mass., January 2, 1813; died at his residence in Liberty Street, Newburgh, April 9, 1885. Mr. Clark came of an old New England family. His father was a master millwright. A portion of Edson's boyhood was spent
EDSON H. CLARK.
in the village of Bloomingburgh, Sullivan County, N. Y., from which place he came to Newburgh to learn the stone-cutting trade with Thornton M. Niven. He continued at that trade until he was twenty- two years old, when he became connected with the firm of Oakley & Davis, of Newburgh, and represented the firm at New Milford, N. J.
In 1843 he associated himself with Isaac Stanton, Nicholas Wilson and James Robinson, forming the firm of Stanton, Clark & Co., who erected a foundry and machine shop at the foot of South Street, on Front, to which the title of ". Highland Furnace " was given. Samuel G. Kimball bought an interest in the business in 1846. This firm was dissolved in 1851, when the lease of the plant expired. Mr. Clark then formed a copartnership with Mr. Kimball and built the ironworks in Washington Street for many years known as Clark & Kimball's. They did general foundry and machine work, and were very success- ful.
Mr. Clark was elected a member of the Board of Village Trustees in 1854, and again in 1865. The following year he represented the Third Ward as a member of the first Common Council under the city government. He had the welfare of the city at heart, and being a man of varied experience and knowledge his opinions and advice al- ways had weight. His was a modest and unassuming nature. He never sought public honor and applause, but like his life-long friend, Charles Downing, carefully shunned all ostentation.
Mr. Clark retired from business in 1875, and the remainder of his life was spent in the quietude of his home and the society of a few chosen friends. He was, like Mr. Downing, greatly interested in po- mology. He was of high authority in the science of raising fruit and in the nomenclature of fruits. He was a life member of the United States Pomological Society, and a leading member of the Newburgh Bay Horticultural Society. When the latter was merged into the Orange County Agricultural Society he made the fruit department of the
county fairs a notable one. For many years he and Charles Downing were co-workers in this field, and during their closing years they spent much of their time together in the study of their favorite science. In Mr. Clark's garden was a tree which bore at one time two hundred distinct varieties of apples.
Mr. Clark was not only deeply learned in fruit-life, but was well read in general literature, and he possessed a great store of practical knowledge. He was eminently a man who did his own thinking and formed his own opinions after careful and intelligent investiga- tion. Personally he was a most estimable gentleman, kind and con- siderate, and attracted many friends. His wife was Ruth Ann Clark. (not a relative), of Newburgh, and his surviving children are Leander Clark, jr., Ruth Ann, Mrs. Elizabeth Upright, and Mrs. Albert Coutant, of Chicago.
LEANDER CLARK, JR., was born in Beattiesburgh, Sullivan County, N. Y., but his home since he was six months old has been in Newburgh. He was educated in the private and public schools, and is a graduate of the class of 1853 of the Newburgh Academy. He learned the trade of an iron-founder at his father's foundry, and when he finished his trade he became the corresponding secretary and book- keeper for Dr. C. W. Grant, an eminent horticulturist at lona Is- land.
He remained at the island till the breaking ont of the Rebellion. In 1861 he received an appointment as paymaster's steward on board the United States gunboat Somerset, which left the Brooklyn navy-yard
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PHOTO. BY WHIDDIT.
LEANDER CLARK, JR.
in March of the same year and served in the East Gulf Squadron un- der Rear Admiral Bailey. In 1862 he was promoted to paymaster's clerk, and in August, 1864, was honorably discharged from the ser- vice. During the years 1867-68 and till the Spring of 1869, he was Superintendent of the Newburgh water works, resigning at that time to engage in the manufacture of brick and in fruit-growing in the Town of Newburgh, until 1888.
Mr. Clark, since 1858, has taken great interest in horticulture and agriculture. He was a member of the Newburgh Bay Horticultural
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Society until it became a part of the Orange County Agricultural So- ciety, at which time he became associated with the latter, and no one has been a more earnest worker for the good of the association. For a number of years he has been a Director and its efficient General
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RESIDENCE OF LEANDER CLARK, JR .- 287 Liberty Street.
Superintendent, and in all matters appertaining to horticulture and agriculture he is familiar, having for his instructor for many years the late Charles Downing. In 1888 Mr. Clark became a resident of this city again, having retired from active business. He occupies his time looking after his real estate, of which he is a large owner. He is also a Director of the Quassaick National Bank.
EZRA I. HUNTER has been a pilot of steamboats forty-seven years, and more trusty hands than his never turned a steering- wheel. His birthplace was Yorktown, Westchester County, N. Y., and the time June 24, 1826. When a very small lad the ambition to steer a steamboat possessed him, and when only twelve years old he left home and shipped as a cabin-boy on a North River sloop. In this good school of navigation he learned the intricacies of the river, how to reef and steer, and all the technicalities of boating. In Winter when the sloop was laid up he worked in shops. In 1843 he was hir- ed as mate on the steamer Croton, running between Croton and New York, and the following year he was in the pilot-house, duly commis- sioned to steer a steamboat. For a number of years he was pilot on vessels around New York harbor; in 1848-49 he was captain of the steamer Stranger, in the employ of the Commissioners of Immigration and Alms House, running between the city and Staten, Randall's and Blackwell's Islands, transporting paupers, criminals and immigrants, and seeing a great deal of the miseries of New York life. In 1850 he came up the river and piloted the steamer Mazeppa, then running between Rondout and Albany. In 1851 the route was extended to Poughkeepsie. In 1855 the Mazeppa was replaced by the Eagle. In
1859 the route was extended to Newburgh, and has been continued between Albany and Newburgh ever since. Mr. Hunter steered the Eagle for thirteen years, then he was transferred to the steamer M. Martin. He steered the Martin seventeen years till the Eagle was burned. Then the Jacob H. Trem- per was built, in 1884, and Mr. Hun- ter was entrusted with the naviga- tion of the new boat. For thirty years he and Cap- tain Henry Fair- banks and Engi- neer William H. Berry sailed to- gether in the Eagle and Martin, and on thirty successive Thanksgiving Days they ate din- ner together on the boats. In all the years that he has stood at the wheel, EZRA I. HUNTER. Captain Hunter has never had a mishap to his boats. His home has been in Newburgh since 1859. Since 1869 he has been a Steward of Trinity M. E. Church. On August 16, 1848, he was married to Miss Amanda Theall, of New York.
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