USA > New York > Orange County > Orange County, New York : a narrative history > Part 6
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He is the author of " History of West Point and the Origin and Progress of the U. S. Military Academy,"
ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
(1863,) which is regarded as the standard work on that subject. He is also the author of the military and naval terms in Webster's Army and Navy Dictionary, (1864;) Guide to West Point and the Military Academy; Grock Fire and Other Inflammables; Explosive Substitutes for Gunpowder: Photography as Applied to Military Pur- poses; Ovantitative and Qualitative Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Limestone; Manual on Blowpipe Analysis. He discovered, compiled and published the most com- plete collection of Washington's Orders at Newburgh. He was an honorary member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, of the American Academy for the Ad- vancement of Science, President, (1883-SS) of the His- forical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highland :. He was born at Bennington, Vt., February 1, 1824, and died at his home in Newburgh on May 3, 1893.
JOEL TYLER HEADLEY .- Historian and journal- ist, was born Dec. 30, 1813, at Walton, Delaware County, N. Y. He died at Nowburgh, N. Y., in 1897. He was the son of a Presbyterian minister settled at Walton. Early in life he determined to follow the ministry as a life work, and after graduating at Union College in 1839. he took a course in theology at Auburn Theological Seminary. After being admitted to the ministry he was settled over a church at Stockbridge, Mass. His Health failing shortly after he was compelled to relini - anish his chosen profession, and in 1842 traveled in Europe. His "Letters from Italy" attracted wide atten- tion, and on his return Horace Greeley, the veteran editor of the New York Tribune, induced him to become an associate editor of the Tribune. After a year with the Tribune he severed his connection with that paper and thereafter pursued the path of authorship, resid- ing continuously at Newburgh until his death.
His published works are: Napoleon and His Mar- shals, which appeared in 1846, and was followed at various periods by Washington and His Generals; His- tory of the War, 1812; Life of Cromwell; Life of Have- lock; Life of Scott and Jackson; Sacred Mountains; Sacred Heroes and Martyrs; Headley's Miscellanies: "The Imperial Guard; Chaplains and Clergy of the Revo- lution; The Great Rebellion; Grant and Sherman; Life
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69
A NARRATIVE HISTORY
of Farragut and Our Naval Commanders; History of the Great Riots, and many other works of lesser note.
During his long life he did not lay down his busy pen until 1854, when he was elected to the New York State Assembly from the First District of Orange County. In the following year he was elected Secre- tary of State of New York, which office he filled with marked distinction. He did not cease active literary work until late in life, and in his declining years was active in promoting public interest in historical matters pertaining to Orange County and vicinity.
EDWARD PAYSON ROE .- Edward Payson Roe was one of Orange County's most distinguished writers. Hle was born in Moodna, Orange County, N. Y., in 1838, and died at his home near Cornwall-on-Hudson in 1888. He is best remembered as a novelist whose works achieved great popularity in America and abroad, sev- eral of his novels being translated into foreign languages. Ile studied for the ministry, but illness caused him to abandon his studies while attending Williams College before graduation, but he afterward received a Bache- lor's degree, studied at Auburn and Union Seminaries, and in 1862-65, was a chaplain in the volunteer service during the Civil War between the states. He was from then until 1874 pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Highland Falls, N. Y., after which he gave himself up to lecturing, writing and fruit culture.
His first novel, "Barriers Burned Away," (1872,) was a story suggested by the great Chicago fire. This was followed by "Play and Profit in My Garden," (1873.) These two works established his reputation as a writer, and were followed in rapid succession by "What Can She Do," (1873,) "Opening a Chestnut Burr," (1874,) "From Jest to Earnest," (1875.) "Near to Nature's Heart," (1876,) "A Knight of the Nine- teenth Century," (1877,) "A Face Illuminated," (1878,) "A Day of Fate," (1880.) "A Young Girl's Wooing, " (1884,) "An Original Belle," (1885,) "Driven Back to Eden," (1885.) "He Fell in Love With This Wife," (1886,) "The Earth Trembled," (1887.) He also wrote "Success With Small Fruits, " (1880,) and "Na- ture's Serial Story," (1SS4.)
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ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
EDWARD M. RUTTENBER .- Journalist and his- torian, was born in the Town of Bennington, Vt., July 17, 1824. He entered the office of the Vermont Gazette as an apprentice to the printing business in 1837, and removed to Newburgh in 1838, where he became an in- dentured apprentice in the office of the Newburgh Tele. graph, of which he became the owner in 1850. He was thereafter connected with Newburgh journalism as edi- tor and publisher during his entire life, dying at the advanced age of 83 years on December 4, 1907, at New- burgh, N. Y. As a historian he was thorough and ex- haustive, and to him, more than to any other local his- lorian; is perhaps due the credit of preserving for future generations the vast mass of historical data relating to Orange County and the Hudson River Valley. He is the author of the following works: History of the Town of Newburgh, 1859; History of the Flags of New York Reg- iments, 1865; History of the Obstructions to the Naviga- tion of the Hudson River, 1866; History of the Indian Tribes of the Hudson River, 1872; History of Orange County, 1881.
All of these works are universally regarded as stand- ard authorities on the subjects treated and show ample evidence of his exhaustive research and ability as a writer.
DAVID HALLIDAY MOFFAT .- David H. Moffat, one of the empire builders of the great West, was born at Washingtonville, Orange County, N. Y., in the year 1839. He died in New York City on March 18, 1911. He was the youngest child of David Moffat and Cath- erine Gregg Moffat. The life of David H. Moffat can be properly termed one of the romances of the great Middle West, for he was connected with almost every important development between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, particularly in the vicinity of Denver. He commenced his business career as a clerk in a New York bank at twenty years of age, and in 1860, shortly after the discovery of gold at Pike's Peak. went to Denver, then a mining camp, where he estab- lished himself in the stationery business. That enter- prise was first located in a tent, on the banks of Cherry Creek, where his little stock of newspapers, magazine-
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DAVID HALLIDAY MOFFAT
Banker, Railroad Builder. Mine Owner and Philanthropist, of Denver, Colorado. Born at Washingtonville. Orange Co., N. Y., 1839, died March 18, 1911.
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A NARRATIVE HISTORY
and stationery was sold to the miners from a counter constructed by placing boards on the tops of two empty flour barrels. In a short time he was a clerk in the newly organized First National Bank of Denver, where he rose in rapid succession to the position of Cashier, and then President, a position which he held until his death. His name is inseparably connected with the mining industry of Colorado and the building of its railroad systems, in both of which he amassed a fortune of several millions of dollars. He was one of the chief promoters of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad sys- tem, and its President for many years. He built the Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek Short Line Road which was constructed over mountains in many places 9,000 feet above sea level.
The greatest project of his busy life and the one of most importance to his adopted city of Denver, was the Railroad over the Rocky Mountain range, familiarly known as the Moffat Road. This road, the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific, crosses the range at an alti- tude of 11,600 feet, and is the highest broad guage rail- road in the world. Its terminus will be Salt Lake City, some seven hundred miles west from Denver. When completed this line will shorten the distance between Chicago and San Francisco some 250 miles and reduce the running time about 24 hours less than by any other route. It enters a vast empire of natural wealth now undeveloped. The original plans called for a tunnel under the range and this has now been built. It is 6.9 miles long and its total cost was $12,000,000.
Mr. Moffat died when his gigantic project was less than half completed, but his memory is cherished by those of the present day who regard his life work as of inestimable value to Colorado. Some forty years ago he presented his native village with a building which is used as a public hall and library, and bears the name of "Moffat Library." Shortly before his death he gave a large pipe organ to Blooming Grove Chureb. The State of Colrado has honored his name by naming one of its counties Moffat County, and placing a memorial window in the Senate chamber in the State Capitol at Denver.
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ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
Celebrated Horses
T 'HE ancestry of the American trotting horse goes back for several centuries and is chiefly confined to the early racing records in England, coupled with local tradition. Some two or three centuries ago the trot - ting horse was a great favorite in and about Norfolk and Yorkshire, England, and trotting races were frequent occurrences in that locality. Several authorities state, and the fact is partially borne out by early records that a trotting mare named Phenomena, owned by a horseman of Norfolk, in 1800, trotted 17 miles in 56 minutes, car- rying a weight in saddle of 225 pounds. In 1806 the horse known as Pretender, is reputed to have trotted 16 miles in one hour, carrying 210 pounds. In those early days it should be borne in mind that all trotting races were made under the saddle.
The history of the American trotter extends back into carly Colonial times, but all authentic records have been lost, if ever there were any of a reliable nature. and now only local tradition remains of early importa- tions and performances. It seems certain that running horses were imported from England as early as 1625. and horses of this class are known to have been bred in Virginia and the Carolinas. The early records of the trotter go back to the early part of the nineteenth century in an imperfect way, and are principally con fined to trotting performances on certain racing courses on Long Island. It is of record that in June, 1806, that a horse by the name of Yankee, under saddle, trotted a mile in 2:59 on the Harlem race course, New York. A horse from Boston is reported to have trotted a mile at Philadelphia on August 25, 1810, in harness in 2:481.
Undoubtedly the most important source of trotting blood in America was the importations of the stallion- Messenger and Bellfounder, from whose blood the foun- dation of the American trotter is established.
Messenger, commonly known as Imported Messenger. was a thoroughbred, his pedigree tracing back through his sire to Flying Childers and the Darley Arabian.
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معنى الاج سام
٦٠
٠,٠
السيد
ـة لحم
lixa
RYSDYK'S HAMBLETONIAN 10
73
A NARRATIVE HISTORY
He was foaled in 1780 in England and proved a successful racer, and as a five-year-old won the King's Plate. Believing that he would do valuable service in the stud, he was imported to the United States in May, 1788. Messenger, however, though a trotting sire, had no immediate descendants that proved to be noted trot- ters. He secured his chief fame through his son Mam- brino, a thoroughbred, that in turn, was the sire of Abdallah, a breeder of trotters. Messenger was a gray, 1534 hands high, with strong loins and powerful hind- quarters. He was in stud service for twenty years in America, chiefly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. He died January 28, 1808, leaving a lineage of driving horses of remarkable qualities.
Bellfounder, known as Jary's Bellfounder in Eng- land, and as Imported Bellfounder in America, was foaled in 1815, and was imported from Norfolk in 1822. He was a bright bay, with black mane, tail and legs, stood 15 hands high, and was a natural trotter. At the time he was brought to America he was regarded as one of the very fastest and most powerful trotters, and is said to have trotted seventeen miles in an hour. Velocity, his dam, trotted sixteen miles in an hour on the Norwich road in 1806, while two years later she is reported 10 have made eighteen miles in 1 hour and 47 seconds. Thus it can be seen how a strong line of trotting blood was brought to America. Bellfounder was taken to Orange County, N. Y., where he went into stud service. Here he sired the Charles Kent mare, a most important connecting link with his American fame. Bellfounder died on Long Island in 1843.
IN THIS automobile age the history of the develop- ment of the American trotting horse is relegated to the background and there are thousands of the present generation, who, while thoroughly well informed upon the various makes of automobiles, regard the trot- ting horse as an animal which has passed into history -- a subject which their forefathers discussed with en- thusiasm -- which has little interest to the rising gener- ation. All authorities concede that the original home
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ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
of the American trotting horse is in Orange County, N. Y., in so far as scientific breeding and development are concerned, and it is to the farmers and breeders of this section that the chief credit should be given for first producing a strain of blooded horses, which for speed, intelligence, beauty and other admirable qualities has commanded the admiration of all lovers of the horse.
The development of the American driving horse began about seventy-five years ago in and about the immediate vicinity of the little village of Chester. It was in this section that the Orange County farmers be- gan to take an interest and experiment in the breeding of horses for speed, size, intelligence, strength, disposi- tion and exceptional qualities of endurance. And so well did they succeed that in a few years Chester became the Mecca for borsemen from all sections of the country, and to-day all the great trotting horses with but here and there a rare exception, invariably trace their ances- try back to the noted sires of Chester and vicinity, the premier of which was Rysdyk's Hambletonian.
All the great breeders of the past generation have passed to their reward, notably among which were Wil- liam M. Rysdyk, Seely C. Roe, Robert Bonner, Alden Goldsmith, Charles Backman, Major Edsall, Guy Miller, and a host of others of lesser importance, not omitting nine out of every ten farmers living in the county who boasted of possessing a blooded borse that could show marvelous speed and other good points.
The history of the development of -the trotting horse in Orange County is filled with interesting epi- sodes, both romantic and tragic, and only to relate but a small portion of it in detail would fill volumes. The history of Rysdyk's Hambletonian has been told many times by scores of writers dealing with the development of the trotting horse, and although it varies in unimpor- tant details, in the main all writers on the subject agree.
The history of Roe's Abdallah Chief, a half-brother of Hambletonian, is equally interesting, as well as the sad fate of the sire of both these famous horses, old Abdallah, who was a son of Imported Messenger, and a mare named Imported Sauerkraut.
Rysdyk's Hambletonian is perhaps the most cole-
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A NARRATIVE HISTORY
brated horse in history. The pedigree of this remarkable horse is undoubtedly familiar to every horseman throughout the civilized world, for no single horse ever foaled has achieved from his own intrinsic merits such an extensive and enduring reputation.
He was by Abdallah, the grandson of the renowned imported Messenger; his dam, the Charles Kent mare, and she by imported Bellfounder. Abdallah was kept for mares at Chester, Orange County, N. Y., in the years 1847-8 at $20 to insure a colt. In the latter year Jonas Seeley, of the same town, owned the Charles Kent mare and bred her to the horse Abdallah. She proved with foal and on May 18, 1849, gave birth to the colt which since has become famous throughout the world under the name of Hambletonian.
The mare, with her colt by her side, was sold by Mr. Seeley to William M. Rysdyk for $125. The price paid did not indicate that there was anything extra- ordinary in either the mare or the foal. The colt, how- ever, under the careful management of its new owner rapidly improved, and was exhibited in the Fall of 1849 at the fair of the Orange County Agricultural Society at Goshen. At this exhibition he was led by the side of a horse, and equipped with a white bridle and martin- gale, which attracted considerable attention at the time. He was again shown at the fair of the same society at Goshen in the Fall of 1850. By the Fall of 1851, when two years old, so rapid had been his growth, that he represented in almost every particular, a fully developed horse. During that season Mr. Rysdyk allowed him to cover four mares. He got three colts from these mares, (two males and one mare,) no price being charged for this service. One of these colts shortly thereafter came into the possession of Major J. Seeley Edsall, of Goshen, and under his careful handling proved himself a superior horse. The Major kept him for mares at Goshen four years and then sold him to Mr. Alexander of Kentucky. He had, however, in the meantime, become the father of the filly so widely known throughout the country as Goldsmith's Maid. One chronicler of the remarkable career of Hambletonian remarks, "It is perhaps perti- nent to observe that in Hambletonian's first season a
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ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
large percentage of his progeny were males, and that while large numbers of them have from time to time be- come celebrated as trotters, the reputation of the old horse as a father of trotters would scarcely arise above mediocracy were it entirely dependent upon the per- formance of his daughters."
In the Spring of 1852 Hambletonian was offered for service to a limited number of mares at $25 to insure a colt. During the season he served seventeen mares and got 13 colts. In the Fall of 1852 he was taken to Long Island to be trained as a trotter, and after going through a term of three months of this kind of education he was returned to Chester without having made any public record, having been unable to withstand the se- vere exactions of training.
In the Spring of 1853 he was advertised for service at $25 to insure a colt. The breeders of Orange County at this carly day began to discern his fine qualities and extended to him a liberal patronage. During this sea- son, (1853,) he covered 101 mares and got 70 colts. His success as a stock horse was now fully established, and without any brilliant performance upon the turf, he entered upon a career never equalled in the annals of horse breeding. His record in the stud follows:
No. Mares
No.
Year
Served
Price
of Colts
185
SS
$35
63
1855
89
35
64
1856
87
35
64
1.857
87
35
63
185S
72
35
54
106
35
72
1861
9S
35
6S
1862
158
35
111
The brilliant performances of his colts upon the turf had now given their siro a national reputation and they were in great demand, commanded high prices, and the breeding of trotters received a new and greater im- petus than ever before throughout the country. His owner naturally took advantage of this state of affairs and raised his price to $75. At this price his record in the stud is as follows:
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A NARRATIVE HISTORY
No. Mares
No.
Year
Served
Price
of Colts
1863
150
$75
92
1864
217
100
.
143
1865
193
300
12S
1866
105
500
75
1867
77
500
41
1868 (Retired)
1869
21
500
14
1870
22
500
13
1871
30
500
20
As a natural result of such a course the physical powers of the old horse became weakened in 1867 and he was retired from the stud during the season of 1868. His retirement had a highly beneficial result and he was again placed in the stud in 1869. The year 1871 ended his career in the stud, that season after serving 30 mares 70 were left unserved. He died March 27, 1876. During his years in the stud, a well-kown and recognized authority states that he sired 1,287 foals, the fees for which totaled $185,715.
Hambletonian 10 was a bay in color, with a star and white hind ankles, stood 1516 hands high, and was pow- erful in build. His head was large with pleasant eyes, his neck and shoulders strong, the body round and full, legs and feet of superior character, and he stood some- what higher behind than in front. As a three-year-old he made a record of 2:4815 over the Union course. He was undoubtedly the greatest progenitor in American trotting history. Among the famous sons and daughters of Hambletonian 10 are Alexander's Abdallah, Elec- tioneer, George Wilkes, Aberdeen, Volunteer, Happy Medium, Harold, Strathmore, Dictator, Dexter, Nettie 2:18, Orange Girl 2:20, Gazelle 2:21, Jay Gould 2:21% and Bella 2:22. The first eight of these proved very pre- potent sires, and thus demonstrated the value of their remarkable sire.
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ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
Messenger
(Thoroughbred)
by Simpson by Engineer Dam by Turi
Mambrino
Abdallah 1
(trottor)
(trotter)
Sour Crout (Imp.)
Mare by
..
- Son of Messenger .... Unknown
Messenger
Hambletonian 10
(Bellfounder
Jary's Bellfounder .. (trotter)
(trotter) (Unknown
r Messenger (Imp.)
Charles Kent Mare
Bishop's Hambletonlan (trotter)
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1
.
Pheasant, (by Shark
One Eye
Messenger (Imp.)
Silvertall
Black Jin ({Untraced)
1
...
AY
PEDIGREE OF HAMBLETONIAN 10
Amazonia (trotter)
1
1
4
A NARRATIVE HISTORY
REMINISCENCES OF RYSDYK'S HAMBLETONIAN, ROE'S ABDALLAH CILIEF AND OLD ABDALLAH
Some few years ago a local newspaper published an interesting account of the history of Rysdyk's Hamble- tonian, Roe's Abdallah Chief and old Abdallah, the famous sire of these notable horses. The late HI. Wig- ner Wood, of Chester, who was one of the last of that school of famous breeders and lovers of the trotting horse, related to a party of gentlemen the following reminisences of the way history in the trotting world began to be made in and about Chester:
"I was present," said Mr. Wood, "when the colt that became the most celebrated sire of American trot- ters was foaled on Jonas Seely's farm at Sugar Loaf, three miles from Chester, and which was later known as Rysdyk's Hambletonian. All previous histories of Hambletonian make the incorrect statement that Jonas Scely took pity on a mare that he happened to see in New York, and which had been, and was being abused by her owner, a butcher, by the name of Charles Kent, whereupon he bought the mare and took her to his farm at Sugar Loaf, where he used her for breeding purposes. That statement is all right, so far as Jonas Seely's taking pity on the mare and buying her is concerned, but he didn't 'happen to see her in New York,' the fact being that he had taken her to New York originally and sold her to Kent, and naturally knew all about her.
"Jonas Scely was an extensive trader in horses and cattle along in the forties and later. In the course of his dealings he got hold of a mare that proved to be out of the famous old Bellfounder. The mare turned out to be a good family horse and became a great favor- ite with his family, but he had a chance to make a profit- able deal with Kent and disposed of her to him. She proved to be a good one on the road and came to be known as the Kent mare. I was in New York one day some months after Kent bought the mare and went in see him. I found she had been abused shamefully. She was badly, and as it turned out, permanently
بيجر هـ
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ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
crippled. I prevailed upon Jonas to go and see her and buy her back. . He did so and brought her to his Sugar Loaf farm, with the intention of letting her spend her days there, which, from her condition, did not promise to be many.
"About that time Jonas Seely and other farmers in that neighborhood, who were interested in having good horses, induced the owner of Abdallah, the great Long Island sire of good horses, and then well along in years, to bring that horse to Chester. He came here two or three seasons, the last one being in 1848. The Kent mare had revived so under the care she had ro- ceived, at her old Sugar Loaf home, that Jonas used her in the stud to breed to Abdallah. Her colt was foaled in March, 1849, and was probably the last of old Abdal- lah's get, and was founder of the great race of trotting horses of the Rysdyk Hambletonian strain. And right here I come to the incident which determined the future career of Hambletonian and placed him in the posses- sion of William M. Rysdyck, instead of Seely C. Roe, who later purchased a colt, which was a half-brother of Ham- bletonian, and became almost as celebrated as Hamble- tonian.
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