USA > New York > Orange County > Newburgh > Newburgh; her institutions, industries and leading citizens, historical, descriptive and biographical > Part 53
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J. W. MATTHEWS & CO. (John W. Matthews and Edward 1 Stocker), wholesale grocers, importers and dealers in flour, salt, etc., Nos. 16, 18, 20 and 22 Front Street.
The members of this firm have had a large experience in their line. Owing largely to their efficient corps of salesmen, together with the combined natural advantages which Newburgh possesses as a com- mercial centre, their business has grown to be among the largest in the State. The patronage of the firm extends throughout the counties of Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, Westchester, Putnam and Columbia in New York State, and into Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
All things being equal, this large trade must be accounted for upon the fundamental business principle that Matthews & Co. are able to place their goods in the territory tributary to their warehouse at
RESIDENCE OF JAMES J. LOGAN-318 Grand Street.
prices that command the business. That they are able to do this is owing to the natural and acquired conveniences of their situation.
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NEWBURGH.
Groceries pay toll whenever handled, and freight charges are important items in their cost. The further your coal-bin is from the coal-mine the more your coal costs you. Likewise the firm which can un- load a cargo of Turk's Island salt from their own chartered vessel at one handling, can sell that salt at the lowest fig- ures. It follows, therefore, that the house which is sit- uated at the most convenient distrib- uting point has a great advantage.
In previous pages we have set forth the transportation facilities with which Newburgh is favored. Here are numerous com- peting railroads stretching away in all directions and to all parts of the country. Here is also water communication from the ocean to the great lakes. Newburgh is a port of delivery. Ocean vessels are constantly at
FLOUR
FISH
PORK.LARD.SALT.
NAILS
SOAP
CEMENT
LIME. GRASS SEEDS
&C
J. W. MATTHEWS & CO.'S STOREHOUSE-16 to 22 Front Street.
our docks. New- burgh gets the same rates or less from the West as John H Matber Feraabraet + does New York City, while the charges from the East and South are equal. In reality Matthews & Co. are nearer the " mine " than com- petitors from other points. They are nearer the produc- ers and nearer the consumers. They have the benefit of the river, while the railroads are joined to their building by switches. Cartage, lighterage, rents and taxes are ex- pensive in New York. The two former Matthews & Co. save, so far as receiving goods are concerned, while rents and taxes are low in Newburgh. With the West Shore Railroad, the New York Central, the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad, and the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad, we have four routes to the West. The West Shore, the
PHOTO. BY ATKINSON
JOHN W. MATTHEWS.
PHOTO, BY WHIDDIT.
EDWARD STOCKER.
290
NEWBURGH.
ENOX SOAP
145ª
J. W. MATTHEWS & CO .- WHOLESALE GROCERS.
First Floor-Sack Flour and Domestic Salt Department. First Floor-Offices.
Cellar Butter, Cheese and Lard.
First Floor-Shipping Department. First Floor-Salesrooms. Cellar-Molasses, Fish and Pork.
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NEWBURGH.
-
1
y
LIMARELVIS
LIMA BEANS
4
UMA BEANS
NO
MIN
LIMA BEANS
79
سداد
J. W. MATTHEWS & CO .- WHOLESALE GROCERS.
STOREHOUSES.
Fourth Floor-Breakfast Cereals, Brooms and Sundries. Third Floor-Cannad Goods, Sauces end Tees. Second Floor Barrel Flour, Arnold's Superlative and Bonanze.
STOREHOUSES.
Fourth Floor-Soaps, Starch and Coffees and Spices. Third Floor-Pickles, Foreign Salt, &c. Second Floor-Barrel Flour, Butterfly and Lily White.
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NEWBURGH.
Lehigh & Hudson, and the Atlantic Ocean open up the South and Southeast, the New York and New England Railroad and the New- burgh, Dutchess and Connecticut open up direct communication with the East; and last, the river, canal and railroads connect us with the St. Lawrence and the North.
With so many through routes Newburgh has rare advantages as a receiving point. Then for distributing purposes we have, in addition to the local benefits of the above named principal lines, the following local routes to work over: The Newburgh & New York Railroad (Short Cut), the Newburgh Branch, the Wallkill Valley, the Montgom- ery and Erie, the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston, the Central New England and Western and several others that could be mentioned, all being parts in the great network of railroads of which Newburgh is the centre.
The prejudice against buying supplies outside of New York has been dispelled, and active merchants are learning that they can pur-
2
3.
4.
6
5
7
TRAVELING SALESMEN OF J. W. MATTHEWS & CO.
I-Albert D. Marvin.
3-Jacob S. Brill.
5-William K. Leech.
2-J. B. B. Brundage.
4-Elmer E. Matthews.
6-Charles C. Jacobus. 7-James C. Cubit.
chase at better figures in the Newburgh market. For instance: flour, Duncan salt, and all brands of domestic manufacture, are received for this firm over either of the trunk lines into their warerooms with- out cartage. This firm charters yearly a brig for Turk's Island in the West Indies, carrying from 15,000 to 20,000 bushels of salt, which vessel delivers the same directly to their warehouse. As for fancy brands of factory-filled salt, they are laid down here from the ship at about as low a figure as they can be carted " across town " in New York.
The best brands of Columbia River canned salmon are delivered in carload lots without breaking bulk. Brands of Alaska salmon are re-shipped at San Francisco, direct in car-load lots, the same as Col- umbia River goods. Since the extension of the New York and
New England Railroad the fancy brands of Maine-packed canned goods are brought to this point in carload lots without breaking bulk. The same is truc of Southern canued vegetables, such as Defiance peas and tomatoes, which are let in by the West Shore Railroad. California products also arrive in the same manner, including canned goods, dried lima beans and prunes, in which this firm are large dealers. So we might continue with practical illustrations of how it works. Every month they issue a trade journal of twenty pages, in which they publish their current prices.
This firm was formed in 1884. They occupy a large double build- ing, which is situated on the river front and connected by switch to the railroads. Both partners have had large experience, and possess an intimate knowledge of the requirements of first class retailers and jobbers. Their stock is large and extensive, comprising a choice assortment of fancy and staple groceries. They deal direct with the manufacturers, packers and importers of the goods they handle.
They are sole proprietors of Arnold's Superlative brand of flour and the Defiance Brand of canned goods. They are wholesale agents for the Humboldt Flouring Mills, of Minneapolis, Minn., manufacturers of the " Bonanza " brand of flour; the Florence Mill Company, of Still- water, Minn., manufacturers of the " Butterfly " and " Royal Loaf" brands of flour; the Duncan Salt Company, manufacturers of table and dairy salt; Curtice Bros., packers of canned goods, and Heinz Bros. & Co., manufacturers of the celebrated Heinz brand of pickles.
They are also large dealers in teas, coffees and spices. In regard to the former they are among the largest buyers in the market. Their teas are all bought on the cup test, and very careful attention to quality is paid. Their coffees are roasted and their spices are ground under their own supervision. In canned goods alone this season their contracts call for over 2,000 cases of one brand of corn, and 3,000 cases of one brand of tomatoes, while their combined con- tracts tor early delivery aggregate thirty carloads of 24,000 lbs. each, or about 15,000 cases, which represents only about half of their can- ned goods business for the year. The concern employs seven sales- men, whose portraits accompany this article.
JOHN W. MATTHEWS, the head of the firm, is a young man of vim and energy in business. His career has been honorable and successful in a marked degree. His ancestors came from New Eng- land and settled in the Town of Olive, Ulster County, N. Y., where he was born September 29, 1854. His father was Jeremiah Matthews, long a supervisor and magistrate in the town. John W. attended the common schools of his native place and the Delaware Literary Institute at Franklin.
In 1872 he entered the employ of the Romer & Tremper Steamboat Company. Four years later he was engaged as book-keeper in a wholesale grocery house in this city, and in 1879 he became an equal partner in the business. The partnership expired by limitation in 1884, at which time the present firm of J. W. Matthews & Co. was formed.
Mr. Matthews is a Democrat in politics, a Baptist in religion, and a pusher in business. He is the buyer for the house and has charge of the office work. He is a Director and the Vice-President of the Young Men's Christian Association, and a Trustee of the First Baptist Church. He married Harriet Laraway, of Albany, N. Y.
EDWARD STOCKER, the junior member of the firm of J. W. Matthews & Co., has charge of the selling of the goods and of the salesmen. Mr. Stocker himself has a high reputation as a suc- cessful salesman, and the extensive patronage of the house is in a large degree an evidence of his energy and business ability. He was born at Chelsea, Mass., March 23, 1854, and was educated in the schools of Boston. He came to Newburgh in 1868, and entered the employ of E. T. Skidmore in the wholesale grocery trade. When the firm of James A. Townsend & Co. was formed in 1876, Mr. Stocker became associated with it, and remained till 1884, when he formed the partnership with John W. Matthews. Mr. Stocker is Vice-President of the Newburgh Democratic Association, and a charter member of the Newburgh City Club. He married Ella F., daughter of Garrett Cavanaugh, of Newburgh.
NEWBURGH.
293
EDGAR C. BARNES is a native of Orange County, and was born July 16, 1834. His parents removed to New York City when he was seven years of age, at which place he received a common school education. During the cholera epi- demic of 1849 his parents returned to Orange County, and at the age of seventeen he entered the employ of A. R. & O. Taylor, of Pine Bush, N. Y. In 1854 Mr. Barnes came to Newburgh, and entered the employ of William K. Mailler & Co. as ship- ping-clerk on their barge New- burgh. He filled the various posi- tions on the boat until 1874, when he entered into partnership with James H. Mathews, under the firm name of Mathews & Barnes, to carry on a wholesale provision and produce commission business. For a long period their house was at Nos. 62 and 64 Water Street.
In 1883 Mr. Mathews retired from the firm, and Albert W. Mapes was admitted thereto. The firm name was changed to Barnes & Mapes, and was continued until December 1, 1890, when it was dissolved. Mr. Barnes continues the business, but has removed to a very substantial brick building which he has just completed at No. 42 South Water Street. It is especially adapted for the purposes of cold storage, and here he con- ducts a cold storage and produce commission business of considera-
ble magnitude, his judgment and market quotations on butter, eggs, etc., being considered as the standard in this section.
Mr. Barnes has not sought after prominence in public life, but rather has devoted himself closely to his business, and to the work of the church with which he is con- nected. He was twice married, his first wife being M. Theresa Pack, of New York City, who died in 1867, leaving four children, three of whom are now living-Anna, Minnie (the wife of the Rev. Wil- liam E. Webster, of this city), and Arthur. In 1870 he married Sophia H. Parsons.
COLD STORAGE. 12
E. C.BARNES.
MERCHANT
BUTTER.CHEESE.EGGS.LARD &9
THE C BARNES
E. C. BARNES' WHOLESALE COMMISSION AND COLD STORAGE WAREHOUSE, 42 South Water Street.
WILLIAM O. MAILLER &
CO., wholesale grocers, commis- sion merchants and coal dealers, corner of Front and Third Streets. This business had its beginning in 1791, when Hugh Walsh pur- chased the northeast corner of Water and Third Streets, including lands under water, whereon he built a dock and storehouse for a general merchandise and freight- ing business. He ran sloops from Newburgh to New York and Al- bany, and had a large trade in mer- chandise with the farmers of the surrounding country. During the century which has passed, the house has necessarily experienced a number of changes in proprietor- ship as generations have come and
PHOTO. LY MAPES.
EDGAR C. BARNES.
M.N.CO.
WILLIAM K MAILLER.
294
NEWBURGH.
gone, as well as changes in the buildings and in the manner of doing business. Since Hugh Walsh's time the principal proprietors have been Crawford & Harris, Francis Crawford, Francis & David Craw- ford, F. & D. Crawford & Co., David Crawford & Co. (William K. Mailler): Crawford, Mailler & Co., William K. Mailler & Co., William K. Mailler & Son, William O. Mailler, and William O. Mailler & Co. The present firm is composed of William O. Mailler and his brother, John D. Mailler, sons of the late William K. Mailler.
The transportation business was conducted entirely in sloops until 1830, when D. Crawford & Co. purchased a half interest in the steamer Baltimore, with Christopher Reeve, who was also a for- warding merchant. The Baltimore was the first steamboat in the Newburgh trade. She ran alternately from Crawford's dock and Reeve's Dock. Crawford & Co. became the sole proprietors of the steamboat in 1831, and continued her on the Newburgh and New York line until 1835, when she was transferred to the route between Newburgh and Albany. In 1833 the firm awarded contracts for the construction of another steamer, the Washington, and commenced running her in conjunction with the Baltimore in November of that year. This boat was "far superior to any in the trade." In 1841, the first barge, the Minisink, was placed on the line in lieu of the Washington, which was sold to the People's Line of Albany. Sub- sequently they sold the Minisink to B. Carpenter & Co., and pur- chased the barge Newburgh from Ramsdell & Co. The freighting business was continued until 1873, when the barge Newburgh, to- gether with a full cargo of freight, and also their storehouse, etc., were destroyed by fire, and the firm retired from the freighting busi- ness.
The storehouse was immediately rebuilt, and since then the firm has been principally engaged in the wholesale grocery trade, and in- cidentally in the coal business. Their storehouse extends from Front Street to the river. Both partners are merchants of experience, and imbued with a spirit of enterprise and energy.
William O. Mailler, the head of the firm, was born in Newburgh, May 26, 1831. In 1858 he was taken into partnership by his father, and in 1860 he became the sole proprietor. He married, in 1859, Antoinette W. Conkling. Mr. Mailler was a member of the Board of Water Commissioners from 1877 to 1882, and for several years was president of the board. John D. Mailler, brother of William O., be- came a member of the firm in 1870.
WILLIAM K. MAILLER. The ancestor of the Mailler family in this country was John Mailler, who emigrated from Scotland a few
years after the American Revolution, and, after residing for a few years in New York and in Westchester County, settled permanently in the Town of Cornwall, Orange County. His son Bartholomew
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SCHOONMAKER & WEL FR
DAY SCODE
SCHOONMAKER & WELLER'S. STORE-94 and 96 Water Street.
W.O.MAILLER & CO.
W O. MAILLER & CO'S STOREHOUSE -64 and 66 Front Street.
married Julia, daughter of Samuel Ketcham, of Corn- wall, and had one child, William Ketcham Mailler, who was born in the Town of Cornwall, August 17, 1805.
At the age of eighteen he came to Newburgh and entered the employ of Francis Crawford & Co. His business habits and sound judgment soon rendered him a desirable acquisition to the firm, and in 1827 he became one of its members, under the title of F. & D. Crawford & Co. From that time until 1860 he re- mained a principal in the forwarding trade. "In private as well as in public life Mr. Mailler was plain and unassuming. Liberal in his charities, kind in the discharge of his parental duties, and cheerful in the social circle, he left an example worthy of imitation."* He died October 20, 1864. Mr. Mailler married Han- nah P., daughter of Jacob Oakley, of Coldenham, June 1, 1830.
SCHOONMAKER & WELLER, dry goods, Nos. 94 and 96 Water Street. In 1863 John Schoon- maker, Samuel C. Mills and A. Y. Weller purchased the dry goods business of Colonel Isaac Wood, Jr., on the northeast corner of Water and Third Streets, and for fifteen years they continued to do business
* Ruttenber's History.
NEWBURGH.
295
there. In 1878 the present large and handsome building was com- pleted and occupied. It was considered a notable improvement at the time. Though occupying but two floors, the firm had even then
MONCo.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN SCHOONMAKER-135 Grand Street.
GEORGE BEGGS, senior member of the firm of Beggs & Moore, was born in the city and county of Armagh, Ireland, October 9, 1836, and was the third son of Joseph and Isabella Beggs. His father had a house-painting business in Armagh. Both parents were of Scotch extraction, their progenitors having emigrated to the North of Ireland during the religious persecutions in Scotland. George Beggs received a common school education; he was in his boyhood fond of reading, especially on subjects relating to America. When thirteen he formed the resolve to come to this country, but his parents refused their permission. Thereupon he left home secretly and on the 29th day of November, 1849, bade adieu to the Emerald Isle. He had obtained only sufficient money to land him in Liverpool, but he had an uncle there, whom he sought out. This gentleman was in the shipping business, and when he had heard his nephew's story he promis- ed the lad he would find a way of getting him to the States. December 2d George was taken by his uncle aboard the ship Cheseca, furnished with all need- ed supplies, and two hours later the vessel was sailing down the Mersey. There were nine hundred emi- grants in the company. Typhus fever broke out ere the long and perilous midwinter voyage was ended, and our young adventurer contracted the disease. On the ship's arrival in New York harbor he was removed to the emigrants' hospital on Staten Island. There he remained nearly two months till health was restored, and on March 16, 1850, he was landed on a dock in New York City without a dollar or a friend. After trying in vain to get employment in New York, he crossed to New Jersey, and after one day's weary search found work in the Village of Metuchen, four miles from New Brunswick, where one Thomas Simpson took him to learn the painting trade. Two years afterward he was offered a situation by the New Jersey Railroad Company to do
by far the largest dry goods store in the city. A few year's later they included the whole building in their store. Mr. Mills retired from the firm in 1885. This concern has for many years been the largest and oldest in their line in the city, with a trade extending throughout eastern Orange and the neigh- boring districts of adjoining counties. The store has a frontage of 291/2 feet and a depth of 80. Four floors, including the basement, are filled with a heavy stock of dry goods, and connected by a passenger elevator. In the basement is the domestic department; on the main floor, dress goods; on the second floor, the cloak department; and on the third floor, curtains, blank- ets, etc.
John Schoonmaker, the senior member of the firm, was born in the Town of Gardiner, Ulster County, and came to Newburgh in 1853, entering the dry goods store of Isaac Wood, Jr. Ten years later, as before stated, he and his partners purchased the business. For twenty-five years Mr. Schoonmaker has been a Trustee of the Savings Bank, and is now Second Vice-president. For eighteen years he was a director of the National Bank of Newburgh. He has served as a member of the Board of Health, and was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade. He contributed to the construction of the Short Cut Railroad, and was prominent in the movement which had for its object the building of the Newburgh and Walden Railroad many years ago. Mr. Schoonmaker is a Trustee and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church; also Superintendent of Bethel Mission Sun- day School.
Alanson Y. Weller was born near Montgomery, and in early life came to Newburgh and learned the dry goods business with A. K. Chandler, remaining with him till the firm of Schoonmaker, Mills & Weller was formed. Mr. Weller is a Trustee of Union Church and a Trustee of the Savings Bank.
RESIDENCE OF A Y. WELLER-168 Grand Street.
general painting on the road. With this company he remained sever- al years, and then went to Hartford to take a place in Colt's pistol and
296
NEWBURGH.
BARTHOLOMEW B. MOORE
May, 1866, the business was removed to this city, and a year later they added house-painting and paper-hanging, with a full supply of all the requisites to carry on the trade. Their first stand was Nos. 154 and 156 Water Street, corner of Fifth, in a building since removed to make way for the West Shore Railroad. At length the rapid increase of their business seemed to warrant better facil- ities, and the store No. 137 Water Street was purchased and occupied in May, 1867, and two years later the firm bought No. 135 adjoining, threw the two stores into one, and thus have a large and attractive place of business. No change has been made in the firm since its formation, a quarter of a century ago, and its pros- perity has increased with each succeeding year. In politics Mr. Beggs has been a Repub- lican of the firmest kind. He was one of the organizers of the Union League in New Brunswick, N. J. While never looking for political distinction he has always taken part in lo- cal and national politics and in the general interests of our city. He is one of the oldest members of Newburgh Lodge F. and A. M. and belongs to all the higher branches of Free Masonry. He was one of the charter members of North River Lodge No. 1218, K. of H., and is also a member of
rifle works. At that time the Colt com- pany was furnish- ing the Russian government with firearms for the Crimean war, and Mr. Beggs helped erect many of the fine residences that have been left by Colonel Colt to beautify the City of Hartford. On the first of January, 1866, Mr. Beggs formed a partner- ship with Bartholo- mew B. Moore, at New Brunswick, N. J., to deal in pictures and picture frames on the in- stalment plan. They were the third party to start in that business in this country. In
Storm King Lodge, K. of P. But in all these bodies, as in politics, he never cared to fill any office. Six years ago he and Mr. Moore conceived the idea of institut- ing a Building and Loan Association, having learned by experience its good qualities. After consultation with a few of our best business men they concluded to get signatures for stock, and a can- vass was com- menced. After a hard struggle the Association was formed, and the projectors have their reward in the benefit it has been
GEORGE BEGGS.
to their fellow-citizens. As a Director of the company Mr. Beggs feels proud that he had a feeble hand in organizing and conceiving the Building & Loan Association, which has done so much in the past, but seems destined to accomplish greater things in the future.
PAINTS. OILS, GLASS & VARNISHES
PICTURE FRAMES & PAPER HANGINGS. NEWE
NECESS YOURT
BEGGS & MOORE'S STORE-135 and 137 Water Street
Time has dealt leniently with Mr. Beggs, and although he is passing towards the west- ern side of life, he still retains that activity for business which characterized him when as a boy he stood in the streets of New York for the first time without a dollar or a friend.
BARTHOLOMEW B. MOORE, President of the Building and Loan Associa- tion, and the junior member of the firm of Beggs & Moore, was born October 10, 1834, and reared at New Brunswick, N. J. After receiving a com- mon school education he was apprenticed at the age of six- teen to the carpenter's trade, becoming a free man at the building of the Crystal Palace, in New York City. At the age of twenty-three he made a voyage on a coasting vessel and afterwards was in busi- ness in New York City.
In 1863 he entered the Gov- ernment service in the quarter- master's department at Wash- ington D. C., under Captain
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NEWBURGH.
Dupreze, and in July, 1864, was transferred to the Army of the Cum- berland, at Chattanooga, being in the 4th division of the engineering and construction department commanded by Colonel W. W. Wright. His division took part in the memorable operations through Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. It was well represented in Andersonville prison through the attentions of Morgan's band, not forgetting the attentions of General Hood's command, whose acquaintance was made in Tennessee. Mr. Moore was honorably discharged at Chat- tanooga, August 1, 1865, ranking as Major.
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