The history of Orange County, New York, Part 70

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms
Number of Pages: 1342

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Mr. Joseph Hetzel, a farmer near Florida, related to the writer years later, that he had no idea of competing in the speed class with his colt Hambletonian 2nd (Volunteer), and so informed inquirers at Goshen, yet when it was confided to him that it had been said "he dare not," "his Dutch was aroused," he borrowed a skeleton wagon and harness and at his request the judges permitted him to start behind the other entries. Mr. Hetzel made no attempt for the lead until passing the stand the sec- ond time when he gave his colt his head, soon obtaining a commanding lead and finishing more than seven seconds ahead of his nearest com- petitor. Such an ovation as this church deacon and his colt received from an enthusiastic and admiring assemblage is seldom witnessed.

Mr. Hetzel sold his colt soon after to Sheriff Underhill, of Brooklyn, for $2,500. The writer sold his colt, the afternoon of his winning per- formance at a handsome price. Lady Howard passed to Governor Amsa Sprague, of Rhode Island. In fact, everyone of these colts by Hambletonian was soon sold at good prices, yet none were from trotting- bred mares and but one (Alexander's Abdallah) from a fast trotting mare.

Ser

colas

Hambletonian 10.

755

HORSE BREEDING IN ORANGE COUNTY.

It is particularly interesting to note the summary of the trotting stallions, as American Star and Harry Clay produced the dams of the record breakers of later years.

As illustrative of Hambletonian's great worth (earning capacity ), the writer will mention an over-night visit at Mr. Rysdyk's home as early as 1865, the latter part of June. The next morning Mr. Rysdyk drove home behind Lady Mcclellan to a farm that he had recently pur- chased for the overflow of stock from his home farm. The new purchase was made from an up-to-date painstaking man, and good buildings and fencings, also fertile fields were in evidence; brood mares and foals and young stock were distributed about in the pastures. Mr. Rysdyk's son, William, had already commenced the hay making of the season's crop.

Starting on the drive homeward Mr. Rysdyk inquired, "How do you like the Seely farm, my new purchase?" The writer could only reply in laudatory terms. "Well," said Mr. Rysdyk, "That farm cost me nearly twenty-two thousand dollars and Hambletonian earned the purchase price in three months." The record on file in the county clerk's office in Goshen, gives the seller as Charles B. Seely to Wm. M. Rysdyk. The deed calls for 218 98/100 acres, consideration $21.048, dated April 1, 1865. No world's records had been won by the get of Hambletonian at this time.

George Wilkes, under the name of Robert Fillingham, started in his first race on Long Island, August 1, 1861. He made a record of 2.22 at Providence in a race that lie won October 18, 1868, making him the champion trotting stallion of the world. Jay Gould reduced this world's champion stallion record at Buffalo August 7. 1872, to 2.211/2. Dexter began trotting May 4, 1864 and at Buffalo, N. Y., on August 14, 1867, became the world's champion by trotting to a record of 2.1714. George Wilkes, Jay Gould and Dexter were sons of Hambletonian, the last two from daughters of American Star.

Added to the marvelous performances of Hambletonian's immediate progeny, those of his sons began to come forward. The daughter of Edsall's Hambletonian ( Alexander's Abdallah) Goldsmith Maid, began trotting September 7, 1865, at Goshen, N. Y., and at Mystic Park, Bos- ton, September 2, 1874, reduced the world's record to 2.14.

St. Julian by Volunteer made a world's record of 2.1114 at Hartford, Conn.

756

THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

These performers attracted great attention and made a demand for the products of the breeding farms at remunerative prices, stock being pur- chased and taken to almost every section of the United States.

Therow Felter was keeping a summer resort at Greenwood Lake and bred a brown mare to Hambletonian April 22, 1855, the product being George Wilkes, who after his career on the turf, was placed in the stud in Kentucky.

Charles Backman established a breeding farm at Stony Ford about 1865. At this time the blood of American Star and Cassius M. Clay, Jr., particularly that of his son, Harry Clay, was very popular and Mr. Back- man stocked his farm with many mares by these great sires. He sold to the Hon. Chas. Stanford, of California, Electioneer, a son of Hambleton- ian, whose dam was Green Mountain Maid, by Harry Clay ; also a small band of brood mares. George Wilkes and Electioneer became great sires and in considering the relative merits of the two families, it is a debatable question which should be placed first. Mr. Backman's farm, Stony Ford, in the matter of brood acres and splendid equipment was unrivaled. The farm turned out race winning and record-breaking youngsters, splendid roadsters, horses celebrated as sires, also brood mares of a high order. Many of the first men of the country, including General U. S. Grant, enjoyed Mr. Backman's hospitality. Stony Ford Stock Farm passed to the ownership of Mr. J. Howard Ford, who, with Austral (winner of the blue ribbon in Madison Square Garden), a pro- genitor of beauty and extreme speed at the head of a band of choice brood mares, is breeding colts of rare quality.

Samuel Hill, in this locality, followed by his son, Ed. Hill, bred horses in fashionable lines of blood. Jonas Hawkins began breeding to Hamble- tonian when he bred the Mckinstry mare May 16, 1853, producing Shark, record 2.301/2, to saddle 2.273/4, a winner at one, two and three miles on Long Island tracks. The Mckinstry mare produced by American Star, Clara, and on May 8, 1857, Mr. Hawkins bred Clara to Hambletonian, producing the renowned Dexter, record 2.1714. The breeding was con- tinued by Mr. Hawkins's son, Jonathan, who bred Dictator, a wonderful sire and several sisters, also Kearsarge by Volunteer. This family is truly great judged by the recognized test of greatness, extreme speed and race winning qualities.

Alden Goldsmith's Walnut Grove Farm near Washingtonville, became

757

HORSE BREEDING IN ORANGE COUNTY.

famous as the home of Volunteer, a horse that attained great prominence in the stud. Mr. Goldsmith, with his sons, James and John, showed rare judgment and skill in the selection and development of great turf performers and as professional drivers the sons were at the very top. During the many years that Alden Goldsmith campaigned a stable of trotters on the Grand Circuit, his horses were the grandest in existence and his success was brilliant. In this vicinity were the Brooks, the Moffatts, thie Hulses, the Hallocks, the Thompsons, who bred fine horses and profited thereby.

The Mills family of Bullville had been patrons of American Star and when the superiority of the Hambletonian American Star cross was made evident by the performances of Dexter, they were enabled to breed in this fashionable line. Harrison Mills, from Hambletonian and his American Star mare, Emma Mills, produced Independent and Sweepstakes. The former a fine animal that sired speed. The latter a beautifully shaded bay, individually most perfect in action, really a grand horse. Sweep- stakes, considering his opportunities was an excellent sire. James M. Mills bred Chosroes, Imperial and Fisk's Hambletonian, all by Hamble- tonian, the latter from Lady Irwin by American Star. Fisk's Hamble- tonian became quite noted as a sire in Michigan.

At Middletown, John E. Wood bred many fine horses, the most prom- inent being Knickerbocker, son of Hambletonian, and Lady Patchen by George M. Patchen. J. D. Willis, with Harry Clay, 2.29, at the heiglit of his stud career, other fine stallions, and a band of choice brood mares, bred, developed and trained youngsters evidently with pleasure and satis- faction.

At Florida, Jefferson Post bred Middletown by Hambletonian from a mare whose sire, Vivian Grey, was a grandson of the great American Eclipse. Nearby, Joseph Hetzel bred the great Volunteer and his two full brothers. Nathaniel Roe, also of Florida, bred Florida, son of Ham- bletonian and a daughter of Volunteer, a most excellent sire. Mr. Roe purchased in Kentucky colts, at least three, by famous sons of George Wilkes, and kept them for service at his farm. William Roe, a son, in- herited his father's estate and is following the paternal footsteps in horse- breeding.

AAbout Warwick were the Wellings, the Sanfords, the Wismers, and just over the county line in New Jersey were the DeKays and Givens. All

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

breeders of fine horses. At Bellvale was W. H. Wismer, breeder of Woful.

The Sayer familes at Westtown, bred fine horses, Decater Sayer's farm being the center of attraction when that grand individual and phenom- enally gaited horse Harry Clay was broken to harness at four years of age and was owned and kept for public service till sold, to Harry Dater and removed to Long Island, May 8, 1862.

At Monroe works, Mr. Peter Townsend, who with his brothers owned the vast Sterling tract with its two blast furnaces ( where the great chain that spanned the Hudson River, during the war of the Revolution, was made at his grandfather's Sterling Iron Works), had near his house a farm, "The Old Fields," which was mainly used to breed horses for the pleasure and use of his family. He first had a daughter of American Eclipse, a daughter of Young Engineer (sire of the dam of Gideon). From the latter he bred a pair by Abdallah, also a pair by Hambletonian. Mr. Townsend purchased of Lieutenant General Manry ( while Professor of Tactics at West Point), Saline, a thoroughbred mare brought from the latter's home in Virginia, that, bred to Hambletonian, produced Jas. H. Coleman, quite a trotter for his day; and Lord Sterling, that had the thoroughbred finish yet beautiful trotting action; also Young Selene by Guy Miller, that by Iron Duke produced Monroe, 2.271/2. A sister, Miss Monroe, was the dam of Fergus McGregor. Young Selene produced by Volunteer, St. Patrick, 2.141/2.

In the early morning shadows of Skenemonk Mountains is "Glen Lea," the charming home of Mr. William Crawford. Here may be found Alto Mckinney, by that great sire of race horses of extreme speed, Mckinney, 2.1114, dam Cresida, 2.1834 at three years, by Palo Alto, 2.0834, champion trotting stallion of 1901.

At Turner, Thos. Lewis bred Dandy, a daughter of Young Engineer, to Hambletonian, producing Gideon, that sired the dam of the great per- former Nelson, also from Dandy and Iron Duke, Silver Duke, 2.283/4.

The late Mr. Pierre Lorillard (the only American who has attained the distinction of winning the classic event of the world, the English Derby, with a horse of his own breeding), was a patron of Hambletonian-the youngsters being raised on one of his Tuxedo farms. R. F. Galloway near Turner was a breeder to Abdallah and Hambletonian. Guy Wilkes cost him $500 at three years, at seven years he dealt this horse to E. W.

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HORSE BREEDING IN ORANGE COUNTY.

Teakle, receiving the famous Princess, 2.30 and $3.500. Princess had been bred to Hambletonian and the next spring (1863), gave birth to Happy Medium, 2.321/2, that in February of 1871, was sold to Robert Steel of Philadelphia, Pa., for $25,000.

Near Newburgh, Mr. Jas. Hasbrook bred horses, and on his half-mile track. Judge Fullerton, Mountain Boy, Music and others received their harness education and acquired great speed. Mr. Aymar Van Buren, al- ways a horse lover, procured from Wm. M. Rysdyk, Molly, daughter of Long Island Black Hawk and Betsy by Imp. Bellfounder, from Hamble- tonian and Molly, Mr. Van Buren bred Effie Deans, 2.251/2 and Lottie, 2.28, placing Molly in the great brood mare list. This was in the seventies and Mr. Van Buren is still breeding and finding pleasure with his horses. Mr. J. A. P. Ramsdell is breeding The Arab, that retains the beautiful type, great courage and endurance of his desert ancestry.

At Goshen in the early days of trotting horses were J. S. Edsall, owner of the famous Alexander's Abdallah, also breeder of Fleetwing (dam of Stamboul, 2.071/2). John Minchen, later owned a stock farm at Stony Ford with Young Woeful and Tom Mare for stud service. This John Minchen farm was later purchased by General Benjamin F. Tracy and called Marshland stud. It was stocked with trotters impotent blood : Ad- vertiser, 2.15, sire of the world's fastest yearling trotter, Adbell, 2.23 and others : Lord of the Manor, by Mambrino King "handsomest horse in the world." and Kiosk, a son of Kremlin, champion trotting stallion of 1892. The brood mares were choice and it was a great loss to Orange County when General Tracy discontinued breeding at this farm.

Mr. Geo. S. Wisner bred Samson and other most excellent horses at his farm. Edmund Seely owned American Star, a horse that by his unique, open, stride, great courage, quality of endurance that served him through great hardship to the end of his days, without blemish, made the breeding on qualities of his progeny a wonderful contribution to our American trotters.

Parkway Farm, made one of the real beauty spots of Goshen by the late owner. Senator McCarty, takes the highest rank as a breeding establish- ment, with the great Joe Patchen ( the iron horse), sire of the wonderful horse. Dan Patch and other performers. The form of Joe Patchen is such that his services are sought from every section in this country.

When Mr. E. H. Harriman paid $41.000 for Stamboul to place at the

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

head of his Arden Farms Breeding establishment at Goshen, he became the owner of a champion, whether on the turf or in the show ring. When Elsie S. by Stamboul (bred by Mr. Harriman) defeated Mr. Marcus Daly's Limerick in the $5,000 match race at Goshen, 1898, the joy of Orange County breeders was complete.

Mr. Harriman's patronage has had a wonderful influence in uplifting and popularizing the sport of competition of the light harness horse in Orange County.

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DAIRYING.

CHAPTER XL.

DAIRYING

F OR some seventy-five years past the most important crops produced on the Orange County farm has been, and is to-day, milk. This alone exceeds the combined value of all else the farmer produces. All other crops are gathered once a year only, but a new crop of milk is in evidence every day, Sundays and holidays included. Under existing conditions the producer has no difficulty in disposing of all he can make at a market so close at hand that it can be delivered within an hour from the time it is drawn from the cow. Thus it is a continual source of ready and regular revenue.

Prior to 1842 the total, and for many years later a large majority, of the output was turned into butter right at the farmer's home. As a rule the farmer's wife personally attended to churning, working and packing the butter into the tub, all ready to be sent to market.

Orange County butter was a trademark that achieved a wide reputa- tion as denoting an article of superior quality, and the yellow bills issued by the Bank of Orange County were known far and wide as "butter money."

But the Orange County farmer no longer makes such disposition of his milk. To both himself and his wife, butter-making is a lost art. Besides he is no longer a farmer but a "dairyman" or "milk producer." for his principal business is to supply the market with milk. What farming he does is merely a side issue.

The beginning of these changed conditions dates back to 1842, when the Erie railroad, then hardly out of its swaddling clothes, carried to New York the first consignment of milk that ever reached that city by way of a transportation line.

In 1842 the city of New York contained, approximately, a population of 315.000 and used about 30,000 gallons (3,000 cans, forty quarts each ). of milk daily. A large proportion of this was produced within the city limits, very much ( probably a large majority) of which was the output of cows kept in stables connected with and fed on the refuse of distil-

762

THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

leries and breweries. Very aptly this was termed "swill milk," for it was all that the name implies. The balance was brought in by wagons from the surrounding farmis.

Early in the sunimer of 1842 Philo Gregory, a milk producer at Chester, N. Y., was induced to try the experiment of shipping milk to the New York market. At this time the road was in operation as far west as Goshen, with its eastern rail terminus at Piermont, on the Hudson River, twenty-four miles from New York and forty-one miles from Chester. At this point all passengers and freight were transferred and reached the city by boat. There were many doubting Thomases who contended that it was impossible to carry milk this distance and deliver it in good condi- tion. But the experiment was a success from the start, so much so that there was a continual call for more dairies and a gradual increase in the number of shippers. Orange County milk soon gained as favorable a reputation in the New York market as Orange County butter had pre- viously achieved. More or less sour milk was in evidence from time to time, enough at least to give excuse for the aforementioned doubters to exclaim: "I told you so." Comparatively little trouble arose from this source, however, as nearly all shipments were in merchantable condition when received. If otherwise this was not due to the distance hauled, but the lack of proper care.

In the first few shipments wooden churns were used, these being the most convenient vessels at hand. But tin cans soon came into use. These were of five sizes, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty and sixty quarts each. Al- though milk was shipped twice a day, morning and evening, it was not considered safe to send what was left over from any one milking. For this reason every shipper provided himself with all these sizes as a means of cleaning out as closely as possible. At this time an ice house was an institution unknown to the farm. To the milk producer of to-day an ice house is regarded as almost as much of a necessity as the milk can or the cow. But in 18.42 and for some years later, natural facilities for keep- ing milk from day to day could be found on nearly every farm. Flowing springs, the temperature of which never rose above about fifty degrees, were then plentiful in Orange County, much more common than now. It was some time after Mr. Gregory made his first shipment that farmers learned to use these springs, and discontinue the morning shipment. It was later still when the majority ceased yarding their cows early in the

763

DAIRYING.

afternoon and shipping this milking the same evening. Since these early days much has been learned about how to keep milk in good condition for a long time. But even now the great possibilities in this direction are not suspected by the average producer.

In 1843 the road was operated as far west as Middletown, in 1846 to Otisville, and in 1848 to Port Jervis. The only portion of the territory thus traversed that was well adapted to the production of milk lay be- tween Otisville and Greenwood ( now Arden) a distance of thirty-one miles. The total amount of milk shipped in 1842 averaged about forty- five ; in 1843, 275 cans, and in 1844 some 420 cans daily.

The first regular milk train was run on the 3d day of May, 1847. It ran morning and evening, leaving Otisville at 6.30 A. M. and 4.15 P. M., scheduled to reach New York at 11.30 A. M. and 9.15 P. M. Otisville con- tinued to be the western terminus for the run of the milk train until 1868, when it was extended to Port Jervis. Not until 1884 was any attempt made to develop any of the extensive and excellent milk territory lying west of Port Jervis. All efforts in the direction of securing increased supplies were centered on .the eastern (now New York) division. Here, by its branches and connecting lines, it made practically every can of milk produced in Orange County available to the New York market. Prior to twenty-five years ago nearly every producer shipped his milk direct to the dealer. While these conditions prevailed the milk manifest at any station where a large amount of milk was loaded contained so many names of shippers and consignees that it resembled the poll list of an election district. At these same stations now, although loading more milk than formerly, it is unusual to find more than two or three shippers. While the list of consignees has not decreased to the same extent, still it is very short as compared with the former period. The one time shippers are now patrons of the local creamery, from one to three of which may be found at every station.

The first butter and cheese factory. or creamery, started in the State of New York was located near what is now the Crystal Run Station of the Ontario and Western Railway. This was about 1856. It was co- operative, owned and operated by the farmers of the neighborhood. The object was to lessen the labor at the household and also make a more uniform quality of butter than was possible when churned at each indi- vidual home. The cream was made into butter. the skimmed milk into

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

cheese and the whey mixed with grain turned into pork. Thus nothing was wasted and the venture proved successful. Other similar factories were started in different sections and inside of ten years Orange County was dotted over with such establishments.

Generally they were operated as co-operative concerns, and quite as generally, due to lack of proper management, were unsuccessful. As a consquence they were either abandoned or passed into the possession of private parties and were no longer used exclusively for manufacturing. More money could be realized by shipping milk. Only such as could not be disposed of in this way was turned into butter and cheese.

This Crystal Run factory was the progenitor of the present day ship- ping stations from which the New York market now receives approxi- mately ninety-eight per cent. of its milk supply and practically all its creamn.

Prior to the foundation of the New York milk exchange, in October, 1887, the price paid for milk delivered at these factories, or shipping stations, was determined by the highest market price of butter. Stock- holders in the co-operative factory were paid whatever might be earned, but when milk was purchased outright the producer received the price of one pound of butter for every twelve (or 121/2 as might be agreed) quarts of milk delivered.

When the milk exchange began to announce prices (which prevail until otherwise announced) the stations accepted these as a basis and bought at a discount that ranged from ten to twenty cents per can of forty quarts. Later these discounts were lowered from time to time and now range from ten cents to nothing.

Nearly all of these stations are now operated by dealers who use them as a source of supply for their city trade, the balance conducted by parties who have no interest in the city business, but supply such dealers as do not care to operate a place in the country.

In the county of Orange are (including its three condenseries) seventy milk shipping stations, every township being represented by from one to twelve. Mount Hope has the one, Warwick the twelve.

In addition are two cheese and one butter and cheese factory, the latter the celebrated Neufchatel cheese factory of William E. Lawrence & Son, at Chester. In 1906 this establishment turned out 7,000 pounds of butter, 600,000 pounds of Neufchatel and 273.000 pounds of square cream cheese.

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DAIRYING.

From January Ist to December 31st, 1907, the daily average output of milk in the county approximated 9,400 cans of forty quarts each. This was disposed of about as follows :

Shipped to the New York market. 6,000 cans, 40 quarts each.

Consumed in the county.

1,850

Condensed .

750

Turned into butter and cheese.

400

Skimmed or cream

400

Daily average production

9,400 cans, 40 quarts each.

For milk shipped front 1842 to 1854 or 1855 producers received the following prices :

Months.

Cents per Quart.

May, June, July and August. ..

March, April, September and October.

November, December, January and February.

Yearly average

In 1854 or 1855 the Milk Dealers' Union was organized for the avowed purpose of determining future prices. This body proposed to (and did) meet on the tenth day of every month and "make a price" for the preced- ing month. Thus, the producer did not know how much he would re- ceive for his milk until ten days after it had been shipped, distributed and consumed.

This was so palpably unjust and one-sided that producers were indig- nant and since then have formed many counter organizations and com- binations for the purpose of taking the price-making power out of the hands of dealers. All these were failures.

The present system of fixing prices, in vogue since 1882, is more equit- able. It is the producer's own fault that it is not the best that could be devised. The Consolidated Milk Exchange, an incorporated stock com- pany, announces prices in advance of delivery. This is merely an offer to pay a specified price until otherwise announced. This constitutes a legal price, inasmuch as no one is under any obligation to deliver any milk, provided the offer is not satisfactory.

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The history of Orange County, New York, Part 70

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms Number of Pages: 1342

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms
Number of Pages: 1342