USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 72
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GEORGE T. BARNES, son of Gordon and Esther A. (Tate) Barnes, was born in Montgomery, Orange County. He attended school but a short period and in 1881 began his apprenticeship as a tinsmith and plumber, serving seven years. He was employed several years at Middletown by the late George A. Swalm and has resided in Newburgh since 1889. In 1892 he established his present business as a contractor for plumbing, ventilating, steam and hot water heating. Mr. Barnes has given a great deal of study to the most improved and economical systems of heat- ing and ventilating large buildings and his plans have been accepted and installed in many of the palatial homes in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Rhode Island. Among the important plants he has equipped may be mentioned those of the Light, Heat and Power Companies of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, the Chat- ham, Coxsackie and Rhinebeck electrical stations, and he now has the contract for heating the United States Government buildings at West Point, N. Y. Mr. Barnes's success may be attributed to his close attention to business and fulfilling his con- tracts to the letter. From a humble beginning he has built up a business in the space of fifteen years, exceeding all others in his line in Orange County. His show rooms at 107 Broadway will compare favorably with any in New York State. In 1895 he married Miss Cory, of Rhode Island, and one daughter has been born to them.
J. MILTON BARNES, flour and grain merchant, of Central Valley, was born in Cornwall, Orange County, in 1844, a son of Matthew and Mary (Van Duser) Barnes. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1876, when he located in Central Valley and engaged in the mercantile business with Alfred Cooper. This partnership continned eight years and was succeeded by Barnes & Thorn, Barnes & Duran, and J. M. Barnes & Co. Mr. Barnes was ap- pointed postmaster of the village in 1885 and again in 1892. Politically he has al- ways been a democrat. In 1884 Mr. Barnes married Miss Hannah, daughter of the late Hon. Morgan Shuit.
ROBERT HIRAM BARNETT, of Newburgh, N. Y., was born in the City of Gloversville, Fulton County, N. Y., on June 13, 1870, being the son of Alfred A. and Bessie Rowell Barnett. His father was born in London, England, and came to this country in the early sixties. The Barnett family is descended from English ancestors who commanded in the battle of Barnett. Through his mother, Mr. Barnett is a Mayflower descendant and is connected with the Fields and Morses, Warren Rowell, the New York inventor, being his maternal great-uncle. Mr. Barnett received his education in the city of Johnstown, N. Y., and graduated from the Johnstown High School and the Johnstown Academy, which was founded by Sir William Johnson. Owing to ill-health he was unable to enter college, but
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continued his studies for three years under a tutor and read law with Andrew J. Nellis, of Johnstown, N. Y., and acted as his managing clerk for several years and thereafter went to New York City and entered the New York Law School as a student thereof. While pursuing his course at the New York Law School he was connected with ex-Deputy Attorney General Colonel Dennison, of the firm of Dennison & Hartridge, of New York City. Mr. Barnett graduated from the New York Law School in 1895, with the degree of bachelor of laws, and was admitted to the bar at Albany in December, 1895.
He practiced law in the city of Johnstown for a short time and then removed to Mechanicsville, N. Y., where he remained for about three years, and while there was corporation counsel of the village and acted as attorney and counsel for the boards of health and water commissioners. From Mechanicsville Mr. Barnett re- moved to the city of New York and engaged in the practice of his profession, but owing to ill-health and inability to become acclimated to the salt air he removed to the city of Newburgh in 1901, where he has since continuously followed his profession, having largely confined his efforts to the practice of negligence law.
DANIEL D. BARNS, the third son of Nathaniel and Effie (Dusenberre ) Barns, previously referred to, was born in Middle Hope in 1833. He now lives in retire- ment on his valuable fruit farm, adjoining his birthplace. In 1857 he married Miss Hester D., daughter of Captain L. S. Carpenter, of Marlboro. They became the parents of three daughters and one son, Nathaniel C., who continues the manage- ment of the farm cultivated so many years by his father. Mr. Daniel D. Barns al- ways manifested a great interest in public affairs of Orange County, and was well known as a breeder of fast trotting horses for which Orange County is noted.
Nathaniel C. Barns was born in Middle Hope in 1863. Since completing his studies in the Newburgh schools he has been largely engaged in fruit growing with much success. He has served as justice of the peace, and is the present master of Cronomer Valley Grange No. 982.
In 1888 he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Dr. Kidd, of Newburgh; she died in 1889, leaving one daughter, Natalie C.
NATHANIEL BARNS .- Among the representative agriculturalists and fruit growers of Orange County, Mr. Nathaniel Barns, of the town of Newburgh, is worthy of special notice. Born in Middle Hope, February 20, 1831, he has been for nearly half a century actively engaged in the cultivation of a large and valuable farm, mostly devoted to fruit. He is the second son and namesake of the late Nathaniel and Effie (Dusenberre ) Barns, previously mentioned.
Mr. Barns attended a select school at Marlboro, and subsequently taught school one winter. When twenty-three years of age he married Miss Martha Waring, and four sons and one daughter were born to them, of whom James and Charles are living-the former a dry goods merchant of Newburgh, and the latter in the produce business in New York. Mr. Barns has been actively identified with public affairs of his native town. He was elected assessor for a period of nine years, ex-
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cise commissioner for two years, and from 1865 to 1870 held the office of supervisor and chairman of the board in 1870. Mr. Barns was the first supervisor from the present town of Newburgh and is the only surviving member of that honorable body of 1866. Mr. Barns was recognized as a leader and placed on important com- mittees. He is at present one of the trustees of Cedar Hill Cemetery, and member of Cronomer Valley Grange.
WILLIAM D. BARNS, widely known for many years as one of the most promi- ment and successful agriculturists, fruit growers and horticulturists in the State of New York, pursued his vocation at Middle Hope, Orange County, where he was born October 16, 1828. He was the descendant of an old and honored New Eng- land family. His father, Nathaniel Barns, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1782, and settled in Middle Hope shortly after his marriage to Miss Effie Dusenberre in 1828. Four children were born to them, namely, William D., Nathaniel, Daniel D., and Mary E.
Nathaniel Barns became a prosperous farmer, and at the time of his death in 1879 was the owner of 300 acres of the choicest farm land in Orange County. These farms became the property of the sons above mentioned. William D. continued the homestead farm, and for thirty-five years previous to his death devoted his atten- tion largely to the cultivation of fruit. He was vice-president of the Orange County Agricultural Society from 1888 to 1897, and superintendent of the fruit department at the annual fairs of this organization. He was a member and exhibitor at the Newburgh Bay Horticultural Society. He was connected with the Eastern New York Horticultural Society since its organization, and a member of the Western New York Horticultural Society. In 1893 he was appointed by Governor Flower a member of the board of control of the New York State Experiment Station at Geneva. He was also appointed by Governor Odell a State delegate to the National Farmers' Congress at Sioux Falls, S. D., in 1901. As a citizen of the town of New- burgh, he was the incumbent of many offices of trust and honor. As almshouse commissioner he was prominent in securing many improvements on the farm at- tached to that institution. He was largely instrumental in the establishment of the Children's Home, and the plans for its management have been conducted substan- tially as he advocated. Mr. Barnes's death occurred in October, 1904. In 1860 he married Miss Elizabeth A. Carpenter, and five children were born, of whom four are living, Edwin W., Mary, George D., John S., and Nathaniel H. (deceased).
The homestead farm is now conducted under the management and firm name of Edwin W. Barns & Son. Over seventy acres are devoted to the culture of fruit, and all specimens adapted to this section, from the earliest strawberry to the latest apples, are here grown.
CHARLES W. BARTRUM, general superintendent of the Newburgh plant of Sweet, Orr & Co., was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and educated at the Rhine- beck Academy. He taught school for a time and was later associated with the clothing industry at Ossining, N. Y., for a period of nine years. In 1881 his ser-
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vices were secured by the above firm, first in the sales department and then in charge of the general office. In 1883 he was appointed superintendent.
Mr. Bartrum married Miss Hannah E. Willsea, of Tarrytown, and they are the parents of two children, Dr. William C. and Miss Nellie E.
WILLIAM R. BEAL, president of the Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Com- pany, was born in Newark, N. J., in 1838. His father, Joseph Reynolds, a gentle- man by birth and education, and his mother, Elizabeth Austen, came to this country from England about 1830.
Left an orphan at an early age, he first engaged in a fifteen hour a day business for nearly two years and then commenced his career with gas companies. His ex- perience in the latter line of business was with the Newark, N. J., Gas Light Co. and then with the gas company at Elizabeth. In 1855 he became manager of the Yonkers Gas Light Co., leaving it in 1866 to take the same position in the territory now known as the Twenty-third Ward, New York City. In 1870 he organized the company and built the works now controlling the sale of gas in the Twenty-fourth Ward, New York City. In 1895, and as president of these companies, he sold them to the New Amsterdam Gas Company of New York City, now controlled by the Consolidated Gas Company, New York City.
While living in the Twenty-third Ward, he was actively identified in church and Sunday-schools and church construction and management, and for twelve years with the public school system of New York as trustee and chairman.
Mr. Beal was president of the American Gas Light Association in 1902, and is now a trustee and treasurer of its educational fund. In 1900 he became president of the Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Co., and a little later of the Poughkeep- sie L., H. & P. Co. His policy throughout his career of more than half a century with gas enterprises has been to use the best manufacturing and distributing ap- paratus and to give the best possible service at equitable rates.
For many years Mr. Beal has been largely identified with real estate and building operations and in the organization and management of incorporated enterprises. He is a warden of Holy Trinity Church, New York, is an officer of Christian as- sociations, a Free Mason and a Grand Army man, as well as a member of several clubs, church and benevolent institutions.
In 1863 Mr. Beal was united in marriage to Eleanor Louise Bell. Their living children, Reynolds and Gifford are artists, Thaddeus R. is manager of the Pough- keepsie L., H. & P. Co., Albert R. is manager of the gas department, Newburgh L., H. & P. Co., Mrs. Charles E. Acker and Miss Mary Reynolds Beal.
OSCAR W. BELCHER, who recently purchased the Lee farm in the town of Cornwall, has resided in Orange County nearly half a century. He was born in Passaic County, N. J., in 1844, where he remained until 1859. With the exception of two and a half years spent in Michigan, Mr. Belcher has been engaged in farm- ing in what is now the town of Tuxedo. In 1907 he disposed of his property there and removed to his present home.
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
THE BELKNAP FAMILY .- Abraham Belknap, from whom the Belknap family in this country trace their descent, emigrated from England and settled in Lynn, Mass., in 1637. Samuel Belknap, the immediate ancestor of the family in Orange County, was born in 1707, came to Newburgh in 1749, and died in 1771. His son Isaac, during the struggle for independence, was appointed a captain of a company of rangers, and later in the regular service as assistant deputy quartermaster- general. Another son, Abel, was chairman of the committee of safety for the Newburgh precinct during the Revolution. At the close of the war he engaged in the manufacture of soap. This became an important industry, and has extended from father to son for four generations as follows: Abel Belknap, 1783 to 1804; his sons, Abel and Moses Higby Belknap, 1804 to 1855; Moses Cook Belknap and Belknap & McCann, 1855 to 1892, and William Cook Belknap, 1892 to the present.
Moses Higby Belknap was born in Newburgh, N. Y., September 23, 1787, and died January 4, 1855. He was president of the village of Newburgh in 1832-33-34- 38-39-41-43-44. He was one of the founders of the Newburgh High School.
Moses Cook Belknap was born in Newburgh, February 2, 1832, a son of Moses H. and Ruth P. (Cook) Belknap. In 1867 he was appointed cashier of the High- land National Bank and January 9, 1883, was elected its president, continuing in this office until he retired on account of ill health in 1892. He died at Newburgh, October 3, 1892. Upon the death of his father in 1855, Mr. Belknap formed a co- partnership with Thomas M. McCann to continue the soap manufacturing business of A. & M. H. Belknap, Mr. Belknap managing the finances of the concern. He served as clerk and treasurer of the board of trustees of the First Presbyterian Church from 1855 o the time of his death. He was one of the founders of the local Y. M. C. A. and was connected therewith after its reorganization. In 1877 he served as alderman from the Third Ward and in 1884 was elected a member of the Board of Education and re-elected in 1888. In 1887 he was chosen its president.
In 1857 Mr. Belknap married Mary H., daughter of William K. Mailler, who died May 31, 1858. In 1862 he married Marietta, daughter of David McCamly, of War- wick, N. Y. She died in 1873, leaving three sons and one daughter. In 1875 he married Evelina, daughter of Dr. Nathaniel Deyo, by whom he had a son and a daughter, now living.
WILLIAM COOK BELKNAP, son of Moses Cook and Marietta (McCamly) Belknap, was born at Newburgh, N. Y., July 15, 1864. He was educated in the private and public schools of that city and at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass. He married Helen, daughter of the late George W. and Margaret (Brown) Kerr, December 15, 1890. Two children have been born to them, William Kerr, born December 10, 1897, and Helen Kerr, born April 8, 1899.
Mr. Belknap is engaged in the manufacture of soap under the firm name of Bel- knap & McCann, carrying on the business established by Abel Belknap about 1783. He is also engaged in other enterprises in Newburgh. Mr. Belknap has served as a member of the board of park commissioners of Newburgh since 1897. He is a member of the board of trustees of Washington's Headquarters (under appoint-
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ment by Governor Higgins), corresponding secretary of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, member of the board of trustees of St. Luke's Ilospital, a trustee of the Cedar Hill Cemetery Association and a vestryman of St. George's Church.
THE BENEDICT FAMILY .- The first of the Benedict family to come to Orange County was Elder James Benedict, a great grandson of Thomas Benedict, who came from England and settled on Long Island about 1638. Elder James Bene- dict came to Warwick in 1765 and made his home in a log house near Chonck's Hill-he had separated from the church in Ridgefield, Conn., because of unjust de- mands of the tithe-master and very soon after coming to Warwick lent his efforts toward establishing the First Baptist Church. The first house built for worship was one over which he was pastor and stood at the fork of the road nearly oppo- site the church burying ground-on an angle which still continues to be church property. He left Warwick in the year 1773 and moved to Wyoming, Pa., because of difficulty arising in the church through prejudice toward the Order of Free Masons, of which he was a member and which connection saved the lives of him- self and family at the fearful Wyoming massacre when a secret signal from Brandt brought mercy and safe escort to peaceful territory, he returned to Warwick at once and died here, September 9, 1792, aged seventy-two years. He is buried be- side his wife, Mary, near where the church stood. The stone house just east of Warwick village was built by his oldest son, James, in 1779, and has descended through succeeding generations to the present owners-the children of Captain Jas. W. Benedict.
JAMES D. BENEDICT was born in the stone house about one mile from War- wick, Orange County, September 2, 1834. His father, William Smith Benedict, purchased the Wickham farm about 1839 and continued to operate it for many years. He removed to Warwick in April, 1867, and remained there until his death, September 22, 1883. James attended the district school and the Florida Institute. He assisted his father on the farm during his younger days and has always made farming his occupation. He removed to Warwick in 1871. remaining there about nine years, when he again took up his residence on the Wickham farm, where he resided until his death, which occurred February 17, 1898. He was a member of the Grange, a prosperous farmer and a good citizen. Mrs. Benedict has presented the International Sunshine Society with a plot of land on her farm near Wisner, on which the society will erect a bungalow costing about $2,000. The plot is beauti- fully located, presenting a fine view of the surrounding country. On it is a spring that never freezes, supplying an abundance of pure water. The place is to be known as "The James D. Benedict Sunshine Rest Home."
JAMES H. BENEDICT was born on the Benedict homestead in the old stone house at Stone Bridge, February 13, 1854, and lived there with his father thirty-five years. November 14. 1888. he married Miss Ada Pitts, and they had two children
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-Laura, born in October, 1889, and W. Smith, born in December, 1890. He has a large dairy farm, is a member of the Grange, and a democrat.
JOHN VAN DUZER BENEDICT .- The Benedict family in America dates back to A. D. 1638, when Thomas Benedict and his wife, Mary (Bridgum) Benedict, the first of the name to come to America, settled at the colony of Massachusetts Bay.
The subject of this sketch is in the eighth line of descent from Thomas, the first settler, and in the fifth line from Elder James Benedict, the first of the name in Orange County. Our subject was born in the town of Warwick, on January I, 1837, in the stone house, now standing and for many years known as the "John Blain" house. His parents were Abner Benedict and Julia A. (Van Duzer) Bene- dict, who were each in equal lines of descent from both Thomas, the first settler, and from the "old Elder," as he was familiarly called. He first attended school in the old stone schoolhouse, at that time standing opposite the forks of the high- way near Stonebridge, afterwards at the district school in the village of Edenville, entered the academy known as the "Warwick Institute," at Warwick, N. Y., on December 5, 1853, its opening day, and was also a student at the S. S. Seward In- stitute at Florida, N. Y., during the spring term in 1857, under the direction of Professor John W. Round, then principal of that institution. He entered the fresh- man class of Union College at Schenectady on the opening of the school year in September, 1857, and completing the full classical course, graduated on the 25th day of July, 1861. Returning home, he lived with his parents at their home near Eden- ville, Orange County, N. Y.
JOHN W. BENEDICT .- His parents were Henry A. and Laura T. Benedict, and he was born on the homestead farm, August 16, 1855. After his school days he became a farmer, and has not changed his occupation. His dairy farm consists of 230 acres, and has belonged to the Benedicts since 1817. His father, born in 1818, died April 3, 1900, and his mother, born in 1826, is still living. They had ten children, eight of whom are living.
CHARLES F. BENNETT, of Middletown, N. Y., was born in the Bennett homestead near Middletown, October 15, 1869. His early life was spent principally on his father's farm. His father, John F. Bennett, removed to Bloomingburgh, Sullivan County, and engaged in the hotel and livery business. Charles Bennett is a member of numerous social and fraternal societies, including the Masons, Royal Arcanum, Elks and Eagles. For over two years he served as postmaster at Bloomingburgh. He engaged in the livery business at Middletown in 1900 and now has one of the largest livery establishments in the city. He recently purchased of his father the homestead farm at Springside, near Middletown. This farm has been in the possession of the family over one hundred years. Mr. Bennett was joined in marriage with Kittie Bertholf, daughter of Andrew T. Bertholf, of Howells, N. Y., January 25, 1892. They have one son, Mortimer W., a student at the Middletown High School.
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JOHN BIGELOW .- The following data taken from "Who's Who in America," covers in concise forin the career of this distinguished citizen whose country seat is at Highland Falls, N. Y .:
"John Bigelow, author; born Malden, Ulster County, N. Y., November 25, 1817. Graduated from Union College, 1835 (LL.D., Union and Racine Colleges, 1886; University of the City of New York, 1889) ; admitted to bar; inspector Sing Sing prison, 1845 to 1846; one of the editors New York Evening Post, 1849-61. Consul at Paris, France, 1861-64. United States Minister to France, 1864-67. Chairman of Governor Tilden's canal investigating committee, 1875. Secretary of State of New York, 1875-77. Executor and trustee of will of late Samuel J. Tilden. Presi- dent board of trustees, New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden's foun- dations. Author : Molinos the Quietist; France and the Confederate Navy; Life of William Cullen Bryant ; Life of Samuel J. Tilden (2 vols.). A life of Franklin (3 vols.) from his pen, and the complete writings of Franklin which he edited (10 vols.)."
JOHN W. BINGHAM, whose fruit farm of sixty acres is located in the town of Newburgh near the county line, was born in the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, in 1852. His education was obtained in the Marlborough schools and the public schools of New York City, and he then engaged with his father in the man- agement of the farm, which was purchased in 1867. Mr. Bingham is an elder in the Marlborough Presbyterian Church and identified with the I. O. O. F. He married Miss Mary Bloomer and three children have been born to them. He is a son of Charles E. and Amelia (Holmes) Bingham, who were prominent in church and social circles of Marlborough.
JOHN JACOB BIPPUS, a successful merchant of Port Jervis, was born at Bearville, Pa. His parents removed to Port Jervis when he was a child, and in the schools of that place he received his education. He has been engaged in the gro- cery business since 1891, and is one of the leading merchants of Port Jervis. Mr. Bippus is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the K. of P., Elks, and is an officer in the Building and Loan Association. He is vice-president of the board of trade, has been town collector and was one of the first aldermen elected after Port Jervis received its charter as a city.
CALEB BIRCH .- Among the representative merchants of Orange County is Mr. Birch, who has conducted a boot and shoe establishment in Walden for a period of thirty-three years. Mr. Birch is a native of the town of Plattekill, Ulster County, N. Y., and his younger days were spent in farming. In 1872 he opened his store in Walden and in 1875 erected the building he now occupies. Mr. Birch is a member of the American Mechanics and the Knights of Honor. He married Miss Abbie Gale and the following children have been born to them: Caleb, George, Marcus and Leuella. George, who is in business with his father, is clerk of the town of
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Montgomery, a member of the Masonic fraternity and one of Walden's progressive young citizens.
HILAND H. BLANCHARD was born in Acra, Greene County, N. Y., February 18, 1850. His father, Justus Blanchard, was for a time engaged in the hotel busi- ness, after which he settled on a farm. He died at the age of thirty-five years. His wife, Emeline, daughter of Miles Darby, was born in Greene County and sur- vived her husband's death many years, passing away at the age of seventy. The only surviving member of the family is the subject of our sketch. He attained his early education at the district school and afterwards attended the Wallkill Acad- emy. In the fall of 1868 he identified himself with Wheeler Madden & Clemson, saw manufacturers, of Middletown, N. Y., and for the past twenty years has filled the office of superintendent of that concern. Mr. Blanchard married Miss Sarah Biggin, of Middletown; four children were born to this union. He is a member of Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M., of Middletown, and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a democrat and has served on city and county committees, is a member of the board of water commissioners and president of the Old Orchard Club.
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