USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 79
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ALVA WISNER EDSALL, a lifelong resident of the town of Warwick, was born at Edenville, N. Y., January 8, 1861, and after attending the public schools com- menced the study of dentistry at the age of eighteen years, graduating from the Philadelphia Dental College. In 1883 took up the practice of his chosen profession in Warwick, N. Y., where he has since been actively engaged in business, forming a partnership with Dr. J. H. Wood in 1884, which partnership still exists. A son of Thomas S. and Phoebe Miller Edsall, he represents the seventh generation of a long line of English ancestry, who were among the early settlers of New Amster- dam (now New York City), in 1637, they being large owners of timber lands where Hackensack, N. J., is now located. They afterwards moved to Northern New Jer- sey about the time the DeKays settled there, and numerous branches of the family are now to be found in this locality. Dr. Edsall was married, in 1801, to Caroline Welling, of Warwick, having a daughter and son, Marian and Maurice, aged respectively twelve and five years. He is a member of the board of education and interested in Warwick's various business enterprises.
JOHN EGAN, retired dairyman, Newburgh, N. Y., was born in 1847 on a farm in West Newburgh. In 1876 he embarked in the milk and cream business and in 1883 his trade had assumed such proportions that he erected a creamery on First street, where the milk was received, which he equipped with modern appliances.
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He retired from the dairy business a few years ago and now devotes his attention to his extensive real estate holdings.
EDWARD R. ELLIOTT, M.D., of Montgomery, N. Y., was born in Dutchess County in 1854, a son of Rev. Jos. and Harriet (Andrews) Elliott. His education was obtained at Claverack Institute and Stamford Seminary. He graduated in medicine in 1874 from the University of New York and has enjoyed an extensive practice in Montgomery since 1878. Dr. Elliott is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and the Newburgh Bay Medical Society. He is also identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity. He is a director of the Montgomery National Bank. Dr. Elliott married Miss Lydia Wright and a son, Clyde, has been born to them.
E. J. EMERSON, cashier of the Montgomery National Bank, has been a resident of Orange County for some twenty years. He is a native of Sullivan County and began life by entering the employ of Albert Bull, wholesale druggist of Middletown, where he remained twelve years. Mr. Emerson's banking experience covers a period of six years, four of which were spent with the First National and the Merchants National Bank of Middletown. He accepted his present position in 1905.
CHARLES A. EVANS .- Soldier. newspaper man, ranchman and farmer suc- cessively the career of Charles A. Evans has been one of strenuous activity and varied experience. He was born September 11, 1845, in New York City, obtained his early education in New York schools, and when a mere boy, sixteen years old, enlisted in New York with the 12th Regular Infantry for service in the Civil War. This was in May, 1862. He could only be accepted as a drummer boy, but soon exchanged drum for musket, and carried it for three years. He was wounded and taken prisoner in the battle of Cedar Mountain, and was confined on Belle Island about two months. Communications which he wrote for Northern papers pleased the editor of the Chicago Times, and in the fall of 1865 the young soldier was invited to join the staff of that paper. He remained with it until 1878, and then getting the Western fever, went to a point in Southern Kansas, on the Walnut River, and established a ranch on which he and his family lived until 1883. Then, in order that his children might have opportunities for education, he returned to Chicago and resumed work on the Times, and after a little was appointed its New York correspondent. So he again became a resident of the metropolis, and was correspondent of the Chicago Times and St. Louis Republican five years, when trouble with his eyes caused him to quit newspaper work. In 1888 he came to Orange County and purchased the farm near Howells on which he lives. In 1900 he purchased at Mt. Vernon another farm, and now manages both. In 1895 he was supervisor for the town of Wallkill, and against much opposition pushed through the board the resolution offering a reward for the capture of Charles H. Rogers, the murderer of the Olney brothers and Alice Ingerick. In 1907 he was the Demo- cratie candidate for member of assembly. Mr. Evans was married to Miss Jennie
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E. Morrill, of Brandon, Vt., in 1867. They have four children-a son living in Chicago. Mrs. F. L .. Andrews, of Whitehall, Miss Frances, a graduate of Cornell University, and Austin, now a student in Cornell.
GEORGE W. EVANS, a prominent citizen of the town of Crawford, resides at Bullville and carries on an extensive trade in cattle and horses. Ile is a son of John A. and Marie (Walker) Evans, and was born at Walker Valley, Ulster County. Although but in his 'teens he went to the front during the Civil War, en- listing in the 56th Regiment. He was discharged in 1865 at Charlestown, S. C. On his return home he engaged with his father in the meat business at Bullville, in which he continued fourteen years, and then began trading in cattle.
Mr. Evans was united in marriage with Miss Anna L. Relyea, January 6, 1869, a daughter of Christopher and Sarah B. (Sprague) Relyea. Socially he is identi- fied with Hoffman Lodge, No. 412, FF. and A. M .. , of Middletown, N. Y.
WILLIAM EVANS, now living in retirement at Westtown, N. Y., has been prominently identified with the commercial and financial development of Middle- town. He is a son of William and Rosetta (Corwin) Evans and was born at the homestead in the town of Minisink. His mercantile career began in 1849, when, under the firm name of Little & Evans, a dry goods store was started at Middle- town. At the end of eight years Mr. Evans continued the business alone for four years, when Mr. M. D. Stivers became his partner as Evans & Stivers. In 1864 Mr. Evans sold out his interest and took up the organization of the First National Bank, of which he was elected president. After a period of eleven years he resigned the office, retaining his directorship. In 1866 he assisted in the organization of the Middletown, Unionville and Water Gap R. R., and at his suggestion the rail- road was given that name. He was a director of the company and served as its treasurer a number of years. In 1874 he engaged for two years in the manufacture of horse clothing. He then went to New York and was engaged for four years in the real estate and insurance business. He then retired from active pursuits and traveled extensively in company with his daughter.
Mr. Evans married Miss Julia Denton, daughter of Theodore B. Denton, of Den- ton. N. Y. Two children were born. Ilis daughter is now the wife of Mr. Albert HI. Horton, of Johnson, N. Y., and his son, Sydney Denton, is engaged in business in Salt Lake City.
THE FABRIKOID COMPANY of Newburgh is among the most important industries of Orange County. It was established in 1902 and incorporated under the present title with the following officials: John Aspinwall, president : George II. May, secretary and treasurer: J. Kearney Rodgers, general sales manager. The product of the plant is chiefly an imitation leather called Fabrikoid, which finds a ready market all over the world. Bronze paint and lacquers are also manufactured. The growth of this business has been very rapid and the plant now covers twenty- five acres and consists of forty-nine buildings.
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THE FANCHER FAMILY .- Elias Fancher, who was born in Darien, Conn., January 19, 1793, came to Warwick in early boyhood with his father, who bought the Van Houghton farm with the stone house, which is still standing, was built in 1795. He married Miss Sarah Jones, who was born in Warwick September 10, 1795. They had eight children, only two of whom are living, Darius and Julia. The latter, born December 15, 1831, is the wife of Wisner Wood, of Paterson, N. J. Darius was born March 22, 1836, and has always been identified with agriculture since he left the district school. He married Sarah Catharine Sayer, of Warwick. The names of their five children are, Edwin, Sayer, Clinton W., Frank and Lillie. Edwin is a practicing physician in Middletown, N. Y., and Sayer is in a wholesale grocery in the same place. Clinton conducts a dry goods store and Frank is in the feed business in Goshen. Lillie is the wife of William A. Bradner, of Warwick. Their father, Darius, remains the good farmer and esteemed citizen that he has been since his young manhood.
HENRY H. FARNUM, of Port Jervis, member of the board of supervisors, was born and educated in this city. He is a son of Peter E. and Mary R. (Conkling) Farnum,and conducts an extensive business in real estate and insurance. Following the incorporation of Port Jervis as a city in 1907. Mr. Farnum was nominated and elected on the Republican ticket a member of the board of supervisors. He takes an active interest in public affairs of Orange County, is a member of the Deer Park Club, of which he is a treasurer. Mr. Farnum married Ruth Smith, of Port Jervis, and they have one son, Henry H., Jr.
JACOB R. FEAGLES was born on the Fcagles homestead March 31, 1863, and since his school days has been a farmer. His first wife's maiden name was Miss Belle Hyatt, of Warwick, and they were married December 5, 1889. His second marriage was to Mrs. Emma J. Vealy, of Amity, October 25, 1893. Five children have been the fruit of the second marriage-Jacob H., George W., Mary Elizabeth, Henry Barney and Emma. Mr. Feagles has been on his present farm twenty-one years, and is an extensive peach grower and a dairy farmer. He belongs to Amity Grange No. 1001.
DR. JAMES FRANCIS FERGUSON, founder of the widely known sanitarium "Falkirk," was born in New York City October 10, 1839, and died at his home near Central Valley, Orange County, N. Y., January 6, 190.1. He graduated from the medical department of the University of New York in 1861 and from Bellevue Medical College in 1862.
Dr. Ferguson served with the Second New York Militia during the Civil War. At Blackburn's Ford, at the first battle of Bull Run, he was wounded and taken to Libby Prison, but was later released on parole through the efforts of his mother. As major and surgeon of the 165th New York Volunteers (Second Duryea Zou- aves), he was again mustered into the service September 9, 1862, served with Gen- eral Banks in Louisiana, was present at the battle of Pine Stores, and at the siege of
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Port Hudson was in charge of a field hospital. He was afterward provost surgeon in New Orleans and served in the campaigns in the Feche country, and was dis- charged at Franklin, La., in 1864. He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel of New York Volunteers.
The professional appointments of Dr. Ferguson were as follows: Attending sur- gcon, Bellevue, 1870-1871; visiting surgeon to Blackwell's Island Hospital, 1872- 1892; visiting physician to the Hospital for Nervous Diseases, 1886-1892, and con- sulting physician of the Charity (now City) Hospital, from 1892 to the time of his death.
Dr. Ferguson was a member of the Bellevue Hospital Alumni, the Medical Society of the County of New York, the New York Academy of Medicine, New York Neurological Society, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the Army and Navy Club, Lotus Club, Kane Lodge, No. 454. F. & A. M., Jerusalem Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M., Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 23. K. T., and a thirty-third degree Scottish Rite Mason.
JOHN H. FLANAGAN, who for many years has been extensively engaged in the cultivation of choice vegetables for the New York market, has achieved much suc- cess in this line of business. He was born in Ireland in 1843, came to America in 1851, and seven years later engaged in truck farming Mr. Flanagan is actively interested in business affairs at Newburgh. He was one of the promoters of the Columbus Trust Company and has been a member of the board of directors since the organization of this solid financial institution. Ile has also acquired much real estate in Newburgh and has served four years as a member of the board of public works.
Mr. Flanagan was united in marriage with Miss Shields and seven children were born to them.
CHARLES T. FORD .- Among the citizens of Orange County who by their own efforts have achieved unusual success, Mr. Ford, of Central Valley, occupies a prominent place. He is a son of Charles T. and Martha (Weygant ) Ford and was born at Southfield in 1844. He attended public and private schools, supplemented by a course at Claverack Institute and Poughkeepsie Business College. In 1867 he was manager of the iron works at Southfield and four years later was conduct- ing a charcoal furnace in Michigan. Losing heavily in the panic of 1873 he re- turned to Orange County and was appointed station agent at Turners. In 1881 he began his career as a railroad contractor, his first work being for the West Shore Railroad, excavating and building the retaining wall through the city of Newburgh between North and South streets. From Newburgh he went to Albany, and thence to Rochester, building five miles of road. He received the contract for grading on the Port Jervis Railroad from Rhodesdale to Huguenot, and also laid the track and ballasted the entire line. His next work was building the North Dam of Tuxedo Park, after which he graded eleven miles of the Baltimore and Eastern
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Shore Railroad. Mr. Ford continued construction for many years for various rail - roads.
Since 1898 he has personally superintended the construction of all improvements for Mr. E. H. Harriman on his Arden property, including the erection of his man- sion, not yet completed. During this time there were constructed a drainage canal three miles long and the course of the Ramapo straightened from Turners to Arden. Not the least of these improvements has been the Panchot system of for- estry, the building of an incline railway 3,300 feet long from Arden to Mr. Harri- man's house and twenty-five miles of roads for driving about the estate.
Mr. Ford has also built over one hundred miles of state roads in Orange County and has charge of maintaining of all the state roads in the county limited by yearly appropriations.
Mr. Ford is a director on the board of the Arden Farms Dairy Co., and as Mr. Harriman's confidential man here his duties are multitudinous. The Arden prop- erty comprises some 20,000 acres of land and there are 650 men employed thereon.
In 1868 Mr. Ford married Miss Josephine McKelvey. Three children were born, J. Barlow, Bertha and Harriet Louise.
Active in republican politics, Mr. Ford is a recognized leader in public affairs of his town and county.
HENRY T. FORD, merchant and postmaster at Central Valley, N. Y., was born in 1866, a son of Benjamin and Frances C. (Denniston) Ford. After finishing his schooling he conducted a store at Woodbury for six years, and in 1897 purchased the grocery business of George D. Wood at Central Valley, which he has continued with much success. Mr. Ford was appointed postmaster July 15, 1899.
WILLIAM FOSTER, retired manufacturer and prominent citizen of Newburgh, was born in England in 18441. He was engaged as a school teacher in his native country for a period of five years, and in 1867 came to America as selling agent for James Taylor, who was subsequently proprietor of the Newburgh Woolen Mills. He continued in this capacity until 1888, when upon the death of James Taylor, Mr. Foster and James S. Taylor purchased the plant and conducted the business with much success until 1902. The establishment was then incorporated as the Stroock Plush Company, Mr. Foster holding the office of vice-president. He was also vice- president of the Stroock Felt Company until 1906. He has been a director of the National Bank of Newburgh since 1895.
Mr. Foster takes an active part in promoting the welfare of Newburgh's chari- table institutions. He is president of the Associated Charities, trustee of the home for the Friendless, and member of the board of managers of St. Luke's Hospital. In religious affiliations he is identified with the Church of the Good Shepherd, holding the office of warden.
Mr. Foster married Mary Ann Taylor and seven children were born to them, of whom four are living.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ANSON J. FOWLER, attorney of Walden and Newburgh, was born in Walden, N. Y., in 1878. He was educated at New Paltz Normal School, and was engaged in the mercantile business at Walden, five years. He read law in Newburgh, and was admitted to the bar in 1905.
Mr. Fowler is president of the Electric Light Co., Walden, and a director of the Walden National Bank. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I. O. O. I. He is a son of Nicholas J. and Elizabeth ( Millspaugh) Fowler.
NICHOLAS JANSEN FOWLER, of English and Welsh descent, son of Peter Hill Fowler and Anna Jansen Fowler, was born on the ancestral homestead near the village of Montgomery, N. Y., May 9, 1847. He attended the famous Mont- gomery Academy, also the Monticello Academy. After graduating, he was associ- ated with G. Fred Wiltsie, in business at Newburgh-on-Hudson. In 1868, Mr. Fowler located at Walden, N. Y., opening the first hardware store in the village, which he continued for thirty years.
He was the original organizer of the Wallkill Valley Electric Light and Power Company, of which for many years he was president ; was one of the original in- corporators of the National Bank of Walden and one of its officers until recent years. For many years he has been vice-president of the Walden Savings Bank; is connected with the First Reformed Church of Walden and Wallkill Lodge, F. and A. M., of which he was treasurer for over twenty years. He was a charter member of the Wallkill Valley Farmers' Association, serving many years as its treasurer and doing much to establish it.
Mr. Fowler married Miss Elizabeth Millspaugh, daughter of the late Joseph G. Millspaugh, of Walden, N. Y., May 29, 1872, Three sons were born to them. The eldest, Joseph M., of Kingston, an attorney of distinction, who has represented his district in the legislative hall at Albany; Anson J., an attorney having offices at Newburgh and Walden, who enjoys a large legal business; Fred, who has been highly successful in the electric light and telephone interests of Walden and adjacent villages. Mr. Fowler has been confined to his home for several years.
THOMAS POWELL FOWLER, president of the New York, Ontario and West- ern Railway Company, was born in Newburgh, October 26, 1851. His father, Isaac Sebring Fowler, was a descendant of Isaac Fowler, who settled near that city in 1747. His mother, Mary Indlow Powell, was the daughter of Robert Ludlow Powell, who was the son of Thomas Powell, long prominent in the affairs of the Empire State, and one of the most successful men of his time.
Mr Fowler's childhood was spent at Newburgh. He received his early education at Siglar's School, Newburgh, and College Hill, Poughkeepsie, after which he studied abroad for nearly two years, spending most of his time in Germany. Re- turning to New York, he entered the banking house of Morton, Bliss & Co., then Morton, Burns & Co, where he acquired a general knowledge of financial affairs. He studied law under Prof. Theo. D. Dwight, at the Columbia College law school,
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entering the junior class of that institution October 21, 1872. He graduated in May, 1874, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
In 1881 Mr. Fowler was elected director of the Chenango and Allegheny Rail- road. In 1884 we find him a director of the West Pennsylvania and Chenango Connecting Railroads. On March 15 of the same year he was appointed receiver of the Chenango and Allegheny Railroad and the Mercer Coal and Iron Co. On March 31 following Mr. Fowler was elected director of the New York, Ontario and West- ern. In 1886 lie was elected president. He has also served as director in the boards of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad and other corporations.
Mr. Fowler occupies his country place in the village of Warwick during the summer months. In 1876 he married Isabelle, eldest daughter of Benjamin F. Dun- ning, an eminent New York lawyer and for many years a partner of Charles ('Conor.
WILLIAM J. FOWLER, a prominent and progressive fruit farmer of the town of Newburgh, resides at the homestead where his grandfather, Peter V. B. Fowler, was born in 1800. He is a son of Henry D. and Anna (Du Bois) Fowler, who for many years cultivated this valuable property and were prominent in church and social affairs. W. J. Fowler was born in 1862. He attended the schools of Middle- hope and then took the English course at Tivoli Military School, from which he graduated. He spent two years at Newburgh in Eli Hasbrouck's dry goods estab- lishment, and in 1881 purchased his farm of forty-two acres and undertook the cultivation of fruit, in which he has been uniformly successful. In 1905 he pur- chased his father's farm of fifty-six acres. Mr. Fowler was school trustee twelve years, highway commissioner eight years, and has served as town collector. He is treasurer of Cronomer Valley Grange.
JAMES FULLAGAR, contractor and builder, Newburgh, N. Y., was born in England in 1328. Attended the schools at Headcorn and learned the carpenter's trade there. He lived for a number of years in the West End of London, where he and his brother conducted an artists' lodging house. In 1850 he sailed for America, coming directly to Newburgh, where he engaged in his trade with his uncle, with whom he later formed a partnership which existed four years. He then engaged in real estate and building on his own account, and in the period from 1855 to 1902 erected for himself one hundred homes in Newburgh. He has since disposed of these with the exception of thirty houses. Mr. Fullagar is possessed of deep religious convictions and for forty years has devoted a portion of his time to preaching the gospel.
December 20, 1860, he married Miss Elizabeth Hoase, of New Windsor. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are still living.
NICHOLAS L. FURMAN was born at Spring Valley, town of Ramapo, Rock- land County, N. Y., March 29, 1835, and died at Warwick, N. Y., April 3, 1908. He was in school and on the farm until eighteen years of age, when he engaged in the
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lumber business. His railroad career began as a switchman for the Erie Railroad at Suffern, N. Y., where he was soon promoted from track to train service. In 1860 he went to Port Jervis, N. Y., was in Newburgh a year, and in 1860 moved to Warwick, N. Y., continuing in train service until 1882. In that year he was assist- ant superintendent for a short time, and superintendent of the Lehigh & Hudson from 1882 to 1893. Mr. Furman has been an influential Republican. He was a member of the Republican county committee three years during the Mckinley administration, and was a delegate to the state convention that nominated the late Governor Higgins. Ile was a member of Port Jervis Lodge, No. 328, F. & A. M., Warwick Chapter, No. 186, and Delaware Commandery, No. 44. He was president of the Warwick Cemetery Association, second vice-president of the Warwick Sav- ings Bank, and, in general terms, a wide-awake, helpful and highly esteemed citizen. He attended the Reformed Dutch Church .. Mr. Furman's first wife was Rachel 1. Westervelt, who died in 1872. His second wife was Mary E. Hynard, of Warwick. He has had no children.
FRANCIS K. GAFFNEY was born in New York City in 1871. At the age of seventeen he became the youngest fireman, probably, on the New York & New Haven Railroad. After stoking over its rails for a year or more, he was placed in charge of a switch engine in the yard. He left the railroad and went at stationary engineering in New York City for three years. Then he accepted a position in Jacksonville, Fla., and set up two engines for the Street Railroad Co., thus driving out the old mnle tramway from the city of Jacksonville. At the completion of this southern plant he returned to New York and assisted at the erection of the large Allis engines for the Lexington Avenue cable road. From there he was ordered to Detroit to assist at the building of the plant of the Detroit Citizens' Street Railway. He was then employed as engineer of the plant after it was completed, later as chief engineer in charge. This plant was at that time one of the largest in the West. After two years services here, in which time he was married, he resigned and came east, accepted a position with the Kingston Consolidated Traction Co. as chief engin- ver. He was in this position for five years, then accepted a position as chief engineer for the Queens Borough Gas & Electric Co., New York City, also in charge of the new construction at this plant. After the completion of this new work he went in the employ of the Floy Engineering Co., of New York, and took charge of the electrical end of the construction of a new hydro-electric plant on the Neversink River. At the completion of this work he went with the Public Service Corpora- tion of New Jersey as chief of their Morristown Division. He was then employed as electrical construction expert for the New York & New Jersey Tile Co., and is now identified with the Orange County Lighting Co. Under his management the plant has largely improved.
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