USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 66
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
fall of 1889 he went to the Pacific Coast, with the intention of going into business in Seattle. He was accompanied by his son Vernon, and they spent some time in Portland, Salem, Tacoma, and Seattle, the lad attending school in this latter city. Unfortunately Seattle was then a city of tents, a great fire having, late in that sum- mer, devastated the whole lower and business section of the city. In the winter of 1890 Mr. Doty returned East with his family, and became editor of the Middle- town Daily Press under Stivers, Slauson & Boyd. The following year he became editor of the Orange County Farmer of Port Jervis, and remained in that position until 1897, when he returned to Middletown, and associated with Horace W. Corey in the publishing of the Sunday Forum. When that paper was sold to Thomas Pendell, Mr. Doty returned to Port Jervis as editor of the Daily Union, which po- sition he occupies at this time (March, 1908).
William T. Doty and Catharine Elizabeth, the daughter of Andrew W. Dickert, of Youngsville, Warren County, Pa., were married October 6, 1875. Three chil- dren bless that union : Gwendolen, the wife of John S. Hatch, Jr., of near Scotch- town, this county; Vernon Dickert Doty, train dispatcher on the Panama R. R. at Colon; Louaine, wife of Charles A. Miller, of Midland Lake, near Middletown. A fourth child, Wentworth Doty, died in Port Jervis, March 12, 1888, aged thir- teen months. There are four grandchildren : Helen and Louaine Miller, and Naomi and Llewellyn Hatch. Mr. Doty's home is at Circleville, this county, where he has a "little farm well tilled" that affords him more comfort and pleasure than all that the cities or town can offer. During his many years of residence in Port Jervis, and where his children were born, he was for twelve years a more or less active fireman and a member of Delaware Engine, and later, Hose Company No. 2, which he joined in 1863, and of which he was foreman two years. Later he was first as- sistant chief engineer two years, acting as chief one year, after the removal of Leo- pold Fuerth, the chief, to Honesdale. He is a member of Port Jervis Lodge No. 328, F. A. M., and Neversink Chapter 186, R. A. M., of which he joined the former in 1871 and the latter in 1872. He is also a member of Delaware Commandery No. 44, Knights Templar, and of Mecca Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., of New York City; past grand of Utsayantha Lodge of Odd Fellows and past chief patron of Deer- park Encampment, I. O. O. F., and was the first chancellor commander of Mount William Lodge 105, K. of P .; is a member of Orange Chapter No. 33, O. E. S., and of Port Jervis Lodge No. 645, B. P. O. Elks.
COX, ELDER LEONARD .- Elder Leonard Cox came to Warwick early in the '60's as an Old School Baptist preacher and started the Warwick Advertiser. The Advertiser not only lives, but after 42 years of useful existence is to-day a monu- ment to the preacher-editor's judgment, force of character and early craftsman- ship. In 1868 or 1869 Mr. Cox returned to Virginia, where he is still living and editing, in connection with his son, the Charlotte Gazette, at Charlotte Court-House, Va., and still active at the age of ninety years. The writer has very pleasant per- sonal recollections of this venerable worker, having for a time been employed in his office in Warwick as a journeyman printer.
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JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.
STIVERS, HON. MOSES D .- The name of Moses Dunning Stivers deserves an important niche in the county's journalistic gallery, for, after he began to take part in newspaper work, he was an active, energetic, progressive and lead- ing factor. He was an able writer-incisive and wonderfully effective. He was well educated, ever affable and courteous, a clean-cut gentleman. Hle first appeared in active connection with journalism in March, 1868, when he purchased of John W. Hasbrouck the Orange County Press in association with his brother, Lieutenant Jesse L. Stivers. The latter was a practical printer, had twice enlisted in the army in the Civil War, and died in New York City, April 30, 1871, aged thirty years. Hon. D. M. Stivers was with the Press when the Evening Press (tri- weekly) was started, and later when the tri-weekly became a daily edition. He was instrumental in making it one of the leading country Republican papers of the State. Associated with him, at different times, in the business and editorial departments of the Press, were John W. Slauson, Charles J. Boyd, Albert Kessinger, and F. Stanhope Hill. In December, 1880, Mr. Stivers sold his interest in the concern to John W. Slauson, and retired.
In 1891, in conjunction with his two sons, Lewis S. and John D. Stivers, MIr. Stivers started the Middletown Times. From the first this paper was a success, and the popularity it attained at its inception has never waned, but continued after the death of their father in February, 1895. Moses D. Stivers was born near Ben- nerville, Sussex County, N. J., December 30, 1828, and was the son of John Stivers and Margaret Dunning, his wife. In 1845 the family purchased and removed to the Deacon Hallock farm at Ridgebury in this county. Mr. Stivers attended both the public and private schools, finishing his education at the Ridgebury Academy, after leaving which, for several years, he taught school winters and worked his father's farm summers.
On September 26, 1855, he married Mary Elizabeth Stewart, of Wawayanda, and then for two years kept a store at Ridgebury, and in 1859 engaged in the mercantile business in Middletown, first under the firm name of Evans & Stivers, and then under that of Stivers & Wallace. In 1864 Mr. Stivers was elected county clerk, and in 1868 he became connected with journalism by the purchase of the Orange County Press.
Mr. Stivers held several political offices besides that of county clerk, being post- master at Ridgebury under President Pierce, was appointed collector of internal revenue in 1868 for this district, and was elected to Congress. Mr. Stivers was also active in civic affairs, being a director of the Unionville and Water Gap Rail- road, a trustee of the Middletown Asylum for the Insane, and of the Hillside Cem- etery ; also a trustee of the Middletown Savings Bank. He also took a keen in- terest in firemanic affairs, and filled the highest offices in the lodges of the Free Masons and Odd Fellows.
Mr. Stivers was a man of strong personality, indomitable will-power, and diplo- matic and statesmanlike qualities, which made him a commanding figure in Orange County politics and journalism.
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
ST. JOHN, CHARLES .- When he was in the work there was no more enthu- siastic or energetic newspaper man in Orange County than Charles St. John, Jr., the founder of the Port Jervis Daily Union (1873), and the New York Farmer (1881). He entered the journalistic field in 1871 in company with W. T. Doty and A. E. Spooner, when the three purchased the Tri-States Union at Port Jervis. For years he was more or less active in the work, and retained an interest in the Union and the Farmer, until October, 1907, when his partner and brother-in-law, Fred R. Salmon, purchased his entire interest in the two papers. While Mr. St. John could write energetically and with much effect, it was as an organizer, solicitor and busi- ness hustler that he shone brightest. Mr. St. John was a graduate of the famous old Mt. Retirement Seminary in Sussex County, N. J., near Deckertown, and of the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie. He was born in Port Jervis, August 30, 1849, a son of Hon. Charles St. John, of Port Jervis, and Ellen S. Thompson, of near Marlboro, Ulster County. The St. Johns were an old family, that early came from Connecticut to New York State, and nearly a century ago Stephen St. John came to Port Jervis and purchased nearly all the land where Port Jervis now stands. In 1870 Charles St. John, Jr., married Miss Mary Salmon at Honesdale, Pa., a daughter of Conductor Charles M. Salmon and Jeannette Rus- sell.
FOWLER, ERWIN GALLATIN .- Erwin Gallatin Fowler, who started the Sunday Call in Port Jervis, and for several years edited the Daily Union and the Orange County Farmer, was born at Walden, N. Y., November 28, 1837, and died April 3, 1904. His parents were Charles Fowler and Millie Ann Lehman. He at- tended the schools at Walden, became a teacher, enlisted in the Duryea Zouaves, went to the front in the Civil War and became first lieutenant. After the war he was employed in Newburgh for a while, part of the time on the Journal. In 1870 he removed to Huguenot, and in 1872 became connected with the Port Jervis Union. Later he started the Sunday Call, and was called hence to Middletown to edit the Daily Press. September 8, 1881, he became editor of the Orange County Farmer, just started, and remained with this paper until he and John J. Dillon bought the Elmira Husbandman, going thence to the Rural New-Yorker and later to the American Agriculturist. The last work that he did in the editorial line was as editor of the Orange County Farmer, when fatal illness stilled forever his able pen. During the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893 he had charge of the New York horticultural exhibit. Mr. Fowler, in addition to his editorial work, interested him- self considerably in musical matters, and was president of the Orange County Mu- sical Union. As a writer Mr. Fowler was able, ready, and facile. His homilies were not long-drawn-out, but were wonderfully effective, and his descriptive powers were fine. He had an extensive knowledge of agricultural matters, and when in charge of the Orange County Farmer put that paper on a high plane, and made it popular and its circulation grew to large proportions. Personally, Mr. Fowler was genial, the soul of good-nature, philanthropic and benevolent to the last de- gree. Mr. Fowler and Miss Fannie F. Dunning were married March 19, 1862.
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JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.
MOTT, ED. II .- Though not directly connected with Orange County journalism, Ed. H. Mott, the well-known writer and correspondent of the New York Sun, was for a time, in 1871, editor of the Gazette, and after that the Daily Union at Port Jervis. Mr. Mott was too restless to be tied down to the drudgery of the daily grind on a newspaper, and in time he found himself in the regular employ of the New York Sun, with a desk in that office, grinding out Pike County tales and character delineations that brought him notoriety and shekels galore. He is at present located in Goshen, and yet writing for the New York Sun. He also wrote a history of the Erie Railroad, which is valuable and a high-priced produc- tion. Mr. Mott is a gifted writer. His witticisms, character sketches, and stories generally are original, unique, and clever.
VAN FREDENBERG, HENRY ABSALOM .- One of the ablest writers in the State to-day ; one who has such command of words that they are as playthings to a child; a remarkable linguist ; mathematician, botanist, chemist, geologist, and all- round naturalist, with abilities which his own modesty and lack of self-appreciation prevent him from fully recognizing-is the genius who is doing editorial work on an Orange County paper to-day. The writer of these lines has for many years known the gentleman, worked side by side with him, tried to fathom the depth and height, the breadth and length of his marvelous mentality. While it is a pleasure to make record of these facts, it is done with hesitation for fear of misconception, misconstruction, and misinterpretation. Henry Absalom Van Fredenberg was born in the town of Montague, Sussex County, N. J., December 30, 1849. His parents were the late Aaron Van Fredenberg and Marie DeWitt Van Fredenberg. Ilis parents, in 1850, moved from Montagne, N. J., to Sparrowbush, N. Y., where his youth was passed. He was educated in the public schools and in Professor A. B. Wilbur's seminary in Port Jervis, and at an early age became a school teacher. He taught in Sparrowbush, Sanfordville, Mount Hope, Otisville, Slate Hill, and Deckertown (now Sussex), N. J. In Deckertown he became interested in jour- nalism and edited the Sussex Independent for several years. He edited the Port Jervis Daily Union, the Washington (N. J.) Star, and the Mauch Chunk (Pa. ) Coal Gazette and Daily Times in succession. In 1885 he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he served as editor-in-chief of the Lumber World, Milling World, The Amer- ican Tanner, the Iron Industry Gazette, the American Woodworker, and the Fac- tory and Dealers' Supply World. In that city he served as associate editor of The Magazine of Poetry, now merged with Poet Lore, of Boston, Mass. In 1898 he returned to Orange County, making his home in Sparrowbush. Mr. Van Freden- berg succeeded the late Erwin G. Fowler as editor of the Orange County Farmer in 1899 (now the New York Farmer), and is in that position at this date (March, 1908), making the New York Farmer an authority on all dairy matters, and quoted extensively wherever dairy interests have an intelligent force.
STIVERS, LEWIS STEWART .- Lewis Stewart Stivers was born in the town of Wawayanda, Orange County, April 20. 1859. the oldest son of Hon. Moses D
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
and Mary Elizabeth Stewart Stivers. After his parents removed to Middletown he attended the public schools in that city and the Wallkill Academy, and then en- tered Peekskill Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1876. On conclud- ing his studies, he entered the office of the Middletown Press, of which his father was then editor and part owner and in 1891 he and his brother, John D. Stivers, began the publication of the Middletown Daily Times and the Orange County Times, the latter a semi-weekly issue. He was united in marriage, in Middletown, with Miss Cora D. Mackey, daughter of John Mackey, who, for many years, was connected with the Orange County Foundry Company. Mr. Stivers died October 30, 1905, deeply lamented by everyone who knew him, for he was the soul of honor, the friend of all; courteous, amiable, generous.
SLAUSON, JOHN WHITING .- Many bright minds have been engaged in the field of Orange County journalism. It is not vaunting to say that one of the keen- est of these was he who made his entrance into active newspaper life October 15, 1872, by the purchase of the Orange County Press of Stivers & Kessinger at Mid- dletown, and under him the Press, already influential and highly respected, be- came one of the leading Republican journals of the State. Mr. Slauson remained with the Press thirty-three years, associating in its management with F. Stanhope Hill one year, the Hon. Moses D. Stivers seven years, and Charles J. Boyd twenty- five years, retiring from the printing business in 1906. In all these years the Press property became very valuable, owning one of the finest locations in Middletown, and conducted in such a manner that it was a positive pleasure to be employed . therein. Mr. Slauson is a writer of ability, using the choicest language in diction, structure in phrasing, and style enriched with the higher graces of composition.
John Whiting Slauson was born September 18, 1846, in the town of Greenville, this county. His father was David Slauson, and his mother was Antoinette, daugh- ter of John Whiting, a member of a prominent Connecticut family. Mr. Slauson attended the Westtown Academy and the Dolbear School for Young Men in New York City, and at the age of twenty began teaching in the public schools of the county, and after filling an unexpired term as school commissioner of the Second District of Orange County, he purchased an interest in the Press and thenceforth devoted himself to journalism. In 1875 Mr. Slauson married Miss Olivia, daughter of Horatio R. Wilcox, of Middletown. For over twenty-five years Mr. Slauson has been a member of the New York State Press Association, was one of its vice-presidents in 1894, and is still an active member of the Republican Editorial Association of this State.
Mr. Slauson's reputation for fair dealing and steady adherence to the principles of the Golden Rule in all relations of life, have earned for him the merited esteem of his townsmen generally, and the highest regard of those who know him best-a pleasure falling to the writer many years ago, and he cherishes the friendship thus formed as one of the pleasantest incidents in his life.
MACARDELL, CORNELIUS .- An important factor in Orange County jour-
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JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.
nalism entered when Cornelius Macardell came, and a distinct loss when he passed away. He founded the Daily Argus in 1876 at Middletown and in 1878 consolidated the Argus and Mercury. In 1896 he turned the control of the paper over to his son, Cornelius, and his official connection with journalism ceased from that date.
Cornelius Macardell was born at Darien, Georgia, October 24, 1837, the son of Cornelius and Rebecca Campbell Macardell, and returned with his family to New York in 1841. He was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn, and then, after a few years of reporting for the city papers, became interested in a newspaper venture in New Orleans. In 1861 he came North, entered Wall street, New York, and in 1866 became a member of the Stock Exchange. A few years later he re- tired from the street and bought a farm near Mount Hope in Orange County. In 1877 be again became active in Wall street, but he sold out his seat in the Stock Exchange a number of years ago. For years Mr. Macardell was interested in banking in Middletown, and was elected president of the First National Bank in 1891. He was also interested in many ways with other business institutions in Middletown, and his business life was full of activities. In 1860 Mr. Macardell married Esther, daughter of Oliver and Penelope Crawford, of near Middletown. Mr. Macardell died April 9. 1904, lamented by everyone who knew the genial, kindly old gentleman.
THOMPSON, GEORGE H .- An able journalist of the fourth generation in Orange County was George H. Thompson, whose work began on the Middletown Mercury about 1873. He was educated at Williams College, had a good style in writing, and was one of the brightest and most satirical writers in the county. He also made a good editor and until his death, a few years ago, kept the columns of the Argus and the Mercury alive with his bright sayings and well-rounded sen- tences. Mr. Thompson was at one time president of the Board of Education of Middletown, and for a short time was postmaster under President Cleveland. His wife was a daughter of Colonel D. C. Dusenberry, but both have passed away, leav- ing one daughter, Maysie Thompson.
WINCHESTER, REV. CHARLES M .- About 1874 the Rev. Charles M. Win- chester, who came to Middletown from one of the New England States to preach temperance and the Gospel according to the Free Christian Church, started the Standard, an afternoon paper, and forthwith engaged in newspaper work of the most lively character. To say that affairs grew hot in Middletown for a year or two, is to state facts very moderately. Mr. Winchester was bubbling over with his ideas of theology, temperance and morals, and his powers of invective seemed unlimited. He preached Sundays and through the week in tents and other places, and hurled his javelins of wit, of satire, of denunciation, of imprecation, and exe- cration orally from the pulpit, and daily through his paper. The Standard was finally purchased by the Mercury people, and Mr. Winchester went to New York, where he died a year or two ago.
SALMON, FRED R .- Fred R. Salmon, the present business manager of the
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
New York Farmer and the Port Jervis Daily Union and Tri-States Union plants, was born at Susquehanna, Pa., January 18, 1858. His parents were Charles M. and Jeannette Russell Salmon. The family removed to Port Jervis and then to Honesdale, in both of which places Mr. Salmon attended schools, graduating from the Honesdale High School. He entered the office of the Port Jervis Union in April, 1877, as bookkeeper for his brother-in-law, Charles St. John. In 1884 he entered into partnership with Mr. St. John under the firm name of St. John & Salmon. In 1895 they organized the Tri-States Publishing Company, as its sole owners. This concern continued until October 1, 1907, when Mr. Salmon purchased Mr. St. John's interest, and became the sole owner of the stock. October 6, 1889, Mr. Salmon married Miss Flora Dunning, daughter of Joseph and Clara Owen Dunning, of near Middletown. For several years Mr. Salmon was secretary of the Republican County Committee and prominent in the councils of his party. He is now a member of the Civil Service Commission of the new city of Port Jervis ; is a member of the Board of Education; is trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, and a trustee of the Port Jervis Board of Trade.
DRAKE, FRANK M .- The present editor of the Goshen Independent Republican is Frank Drake, who became connected therewith as part owner January 1, 1883, and sole owner in March, 1892. Mr. Drake is a practical printer, an able writer, and is a "worthy son of a worthy sire." His father was Victor M. Drake, one of the Nestors of Orange County journalism, and the son is giving in the semi-weekly issues of his Independent Republican evidence that the "journalistic instincts" of the father have descended to the son. He is a Democrat of the conservative type; is sprightly in his treatment of all subjects, and deftly sprinkles a bit of attic salt in much of the palatable literary provender that he sets before his readers. Mr. Drake was born at Newton, N. J., in 1855, and after his school days he entered the office of the Independent Republican, after his parents removed to Goshen, and became an apprentice in 1874, at the age of nineteen years. He never found it necessary or advisable to migrate, and it is fitting that he should find his life work in the very office in which the genius of his gifted father for so many long years was exercised for the public good. Mr. Drake is unmarried.
KETCHUM, GEORGE F .- With the establishment at Warwick in 1885 of the W'arwick Valley Dispatch there entered the arena of Orange County journalism a champion who has proven his right to become a leader. George F. Ketchum, who founded the Dispatch, is the son of the late George W. Ketchum and Elizabeth Strang Wright. George F. Ketchum has made his Dispatch the leading Demo- cratic paper in the county, by reason of his unquestioned honesty of purpose, his fearless but always fair and courteous advocacy of principles which he believed conducive to the public weal, his persistent, aggressive efforts, and his fair treat- ment of all opponents. Mr. Ketchum has been for more than a decade the chair- man of the Democratic County Committee-a position that he has not held through
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JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.
inere favoritism, but by reason of the force of character and the indomitable en- ergy that has characterized his whole public career.
BOYD, CHARLES J .- About 1880 Charles J. Boyd became interested in news- paper work through partnership with John W. Slauson, under the firm name of Slauson & Boyd, as publishers of the Middletown Press. Mr. Boyd remained with the Press until it was merged with the Times in 1906, when he retired from the work, to engage in insurance and real estate business. Mr. Boyd was a first-class newspaper man in every particular. He wrote a good article, had neat descriptive powers, good judgment, clear discernment and discrimination, and his work was ever in evidence on the Press. It would seem that one so clever, so well endowed by nature for newspaper work, should have remained in the field. Mr. Boyd was supervisor of his ward for a number of years, and made one of the most efficient members of the county legislature. He was also by appointment one of the Prison Commissioners of the State.
STIVERS, JOHN D .- In 1891 John D. Stivers entered actively into journalistic duties, though he had been connected therewith more or less all his life. In that year the Middletown Times came into existence, and he became its normal editor. Since the lamented death of his father, the Hon. Moses D. Stivers, in February, 1895, Jolin D. Stivers has been the real head and front of the establishment. Mr. Stivers is a young man who deservedly stands well with his party and the public. Through its well-writen editorials, its daily supply of the local and general news served in the most concise and acceptable manner, the Times is a power in politics and in general thought that needs to be reckoned with by politicians and caterers to the public in any form whatever. John Dunning Stivers was born August 30, 1861, at Middletown, N. Y., the second son of the Hon. Moses D. and Mary Eliza- beth Stewart Stivers. He attended the public schools of Middletown and Wallkill Academy, where the rudiments of his education were obtained, and later Peekskill Military Academy, from which institution he was graduated in 1878, at the age of seventeen years. He then began his journalistic career, entering the office of the Middletown Press as bookkeeper and later filling the position of city editor. Re- signing from the Press, Mr. Stivers became private secretary to his father, the Hon. Moses D. Stivers, during his term as Member of Congress from this district. Upon the latter's retirement from office, John D. Stivers returned to Middletown, and, with his brother, Lewis S. Stivers, established the Middletown Times. After the death of his father, he was elected to take the latter's place as trustee of the Orange County Trust Company. Mr. Stivers was appointed a member of the Board of Managers of the Middletown State Hospital by Governor Morton, and was secretary of the Board for several years, and until the reorganization of the asylum management throughout the State by Governor Odell.
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