USA > New York > Ulster County > The history of Ulster County, New York > Part 57
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GLENERIE HOTEL, located on a spur of the Catskills, one thousand feet above tidewater, near Mount Marion station, is one of the thriving mountain
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hotels of Ulster County. This hotel, established by Peter Whittaker thirty years ago, was purchased by Christian Meyer, its present proprietor, in 1898. The hotel buildings standing on an eminence, amid a pine and oak forest, command an extensive view of mountains and river, and accommodates about sixty guests.
Mr. Meyer is an experienced hotel manager and his guests are served with the best of viands. His farm of ninety acres supplies an abundance of fresh vegetables, fruits, poultry and dairy products.
PHILIP GOLDRICK, of the town of Saugerties, is one of the foremost brick manufacturers in the Hudson Valley. Seven years ago Mr. Goldrick purchased the property of Cullen & Miller, and has since greatly improved and enlarged the plant. He employes from one hundred to one hundred and fifty hands and his output, which reaches ten to fifteen million brick per year, is transported to market on his two barges. Among the more important improvements inaugurated by Mr. Goldrick is an automatic railroad conveying the clay from the pits to the yards. While Mr. Goldrick has not been a resident of Ulster many years, he is not new in the brick business, having conducted extensive yards in Haverstraw, from 1882 until 1905. He is a member of the National Brick Makers Society.
He married Miss Adelia Brennan and their family consists of the following children-Philip R., bookkeeper and paymaster for the company, Thomas F., John J., Martha L. and Rose L. Mr. Goldrick and family occupy his handsome and commodious residence on the banks of the Hudson, about three miles above the City of Kingston.
H. S. GORDON, a wealthy farmer and stock breeder, with an estate of some twelve hundred acres, near Wawarsing, acquired by purchasing and consolidating the Brodhead, Beard, Van Wagonen, Burger and Flugkeiger farms, has perfected and systematized stock breeding and dairying to such an extent that his establishment has become noted throughout the country. He gives the most careful attention to many details which heretofore have not been considered of especial importance by the average farmer and stock raiser, the ventilation of his spacious stables and their sanitation; the testing of milk from each cow daily by the celebrated Babcock test; sterilized clothing for milkers; the King system of air chambers, which keeps pure air in constant circulation; flowing fountains within easy reach of the cattle; perfect record of the product of each animal daily, are only a few special features, but are important in showing the care exercised and ingenuity displayed, which has brought this model farm and its productions to their present high state of proficiency.
Mr. Gordon's especial pride is a herd of over one hundred registered Holsteins, ranging in value from three hundred to fifteen hundred dollars each. He also has some very fine blooded horses, notably, Claud M., with a record of 2.211/4. He has built a one-half mile circular race track upon his estate, which is kept in first- class condition for speeding and training purposes. One of the notable features of this estate is the Colonial home. The old stone house has been systematically enlarged into a spacious mansion, retaining throughout its old Colonial style of
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architecture, and fitted with modern improvements, within which its owner and his family enjoy all the comforts of the city together with the advantages of the country life. Mr. Gordon is a graduate of Yale, Class of '93. His wife was Miss Mary Kelley of Grand Rapids, Mich.
NICHOLAS RIGHTER GRAHAM was one of fifteen children born to Alex- ander McClintock and Dorothy Righter in Homer, Cortlandt County, N. Y., April 24, 1818. On the paternal side he was descended from old Scottish houses; on the maternal, from German and English stock. Love of learning came as an inheritance to the Scottish father, who, although having as a younger son, brought little to America, managed to secure an academic education for seven boys. Con- sequently, young Graham was educated at the Academy of his native town, as were a number of New York's distinguished sons. Afterwards removing to Jeffer- son, Chemung County, he took up the study of law in the office of Edward Quinn, an Irish barrister and intimate of Charles O'Connor's family. U. S. Senator Kernan was equipped for law in the same office, also, Mr. Graham's brother-in- law, G. N. Swezy of California, who was a law partner of Stephen J. Field.
Nicholas R. Graham married, in 1844, Julia A. Whitney, a woman of the best New England type, whose strong mentality and personal graces are recognized to-day, although in her eighty-fifth year. She resides in Evanston, Illinois. They came to Ellenville, N. Y., as "Lawyer" and Mrs. Graham in 1847, and during their residence there, he was regarded as the leading attorney of that part of the county. In the fall of 1855 he was elected Judge of the county. Although having been a Democrat, yet he had attached himself to the "Know Nothing" cause, believing in America for Americans, whether native or adopted, who were qualified by intelligence to vote.
Residing in Kingston, N. Y., at the outbreak of the Civil War, Judge Graham was among those citizens who, on the 18th of April, 1861, assembled at the Court House to take measures to furnish Ulster County's quota of troops for the defense of the Union. Chosen vice-president of the meeting, he spoke of his attachment to the flag and said: "There were times when bickerings and party dissensions might arise, but treason to the flag of the country he would repel." On this same historic spot, the Court House, where in 1777 Gov. Clinton sent Cadwallader Colden to the Kingston jail for treason, Judge Graham called together a number of patriotic citizens and made the motion which was, to deal summarily with loud- mouthed traitors, then termed "copperheads." This resolve was speedily put into action and those who thought they were privileged to insult the flag, found them- selves securely lodged in Fort Lafayette.
In 1862, Judge Graham aided in recruiting the "Von Beck Rifles" with the inten- tion of becoming Major of the regiment. The companies raised were, however, consolidated with others, to form the One Hundred and Second Regiment, N. Y. S. M., or "Van Buren Light Infantry."
Having moved to Chicago, Judge Graham was, in 1872, especially prominent in the Greely campaign. As a member of the State Committee which directed the canvass, he was associated with such men as Lyman Trumbull, James R. Doo-
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little, John M. Palmer, Cyrus McCormick, and others of the National organiza- tion-men who had grown up in the West, but who heartily welcomed so stalwart a supporter to their cause. He was for a time associated with Jacob Newman in the practice of law in Chicago, and subsequently at the solicitation of friends, he became a member of the Illinois legislature in order to give support to the World's Fair appropriation bill and the Drainage Canal bill.
But Judge Graham had another side to his character than that which brought him into prominence as a lawyer, a politician, a judge, a legislator, a broad- minded statesman. He was a representative of that rare element in modern life, which, although an invaluable part of it, rests upon something ideal and philo- sophical. Whenever he came in contact with men of note not only was he valued as an equal in practical strength and resources, but also as one whose integrity was beyond question. He was not only practical, but was imbued with the best scientific and philosophic thought of the day, being often a co-worker with those whose entire lives were thus absorbed. In Chicago, not only the philosophical tendency of his mind, but the humanity of his nature was illustrated, by his friendship for such men as Prof. David Swing and Dr. Thomas-with them he founded the first Philosophical Society of Chicago, acting upon the occasion of its organization in 1873 as president pro tem. During the last years of his life he was compelled to withdraw from activities, social and otherwise, on account of a throat difficulty.
A son and daughter were born to Nicholas R. and Julia Whitney Graham. The son, Malcolm, died in early manhood; their daughter Maria married John H. Snitzler, a man prominent in business and church circles, for thirty-five years, in Chicago. Judge Graham died at the residence of his daughter, 4339 Drexel Boule- vard, Chicago, July 9, 1895, survived by his wife, daughter and three grandchildren.
The final words were spoken at his funeral by his sincere friend, James R. Doolittle. Senator Doolittle said he "regarded Judge Graham as a most profound thinker, abreast, if not in advance of most men-that during his own public career through three administrations he had come in contact with many whom the world called great, but he regarded Judge Graham, a man whom he knew intimately, as a great man among the greatest," but the highest tribute Senator Doolittle paid to the memory of his friend was the emphasizing of the integrity of his character.
Of Ulster County he always harbored the kindliest remembrances, often reiterat- ing the fact in those early days of a simpler life, that "A Dutchman's word was as good as his note." Judge Graham's fault was a too modest estimate of his superior talent; consequently, he cared little for the accumulation of wealth-only for those treasures that enrich the mind, which, perhaps, may be the only possessions we may carry into the life beyond.
SAMUEL M. GRAY of Saugerties, N. Y., was born at Quarryville, Ulster County, December 15, 1851. When but a child his parents removed to the town of Olive, where he lived until about eighteen years of age, attending the district school and later the public school in Katsbaan. After leaving school Mr. Gray worked on his father's farm for a time, and then for two years engaged in buying
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butter in Greene and Ulster Counties. In 1876 he opened a grocery store in Quarryville, and afterwards enlarged his business so as to comprise general mer- chandise. He continued in this for nine years and in the meantime, in 1883, established a wholesale flour, feed, grain and grocery business in Saugerties. This he carried on for two years, in connection with general merchandising and then sold out his interest in Quarryville to his brother John. In 1886 he removed to Saugerties and since that time has given his entire attention to his wholesale business, shipping from sixty to one hundred and fifty cars of grain per month. Mr. Gray received the first car load of grain (oats) that came to Saugerties over the West Shore Railroad when it was opened for business, and since that time has shipped over the road many thousand car loads, in fact he does the largest business of any firm of the kind in Ulster County. Besides his extensive business as above, Mr. Gray is a director in the First National Bank of Saugerties; a member of the Board of Education, President of the Saugerties Sewer Commis- sion, which has just completed over ten miles of sewerage in the village, and is also President of the Saugerties Club.
He was married June 3, 1875, to Isabella Hommel of Quarryville and they have one daughter, Ethel H.
Since becoming a resident of Saugerties, Mr. Gray has entered largely in its growth and development and is identified with its best financial and commercial interests.
JAMES W. HAINES was born in Albany County, N. Y., December 24, 1839. When two years of age he came with his parents to Ulster County, where he attended the district schools, and then learned the paper maker's trade, which he followed for nearly forty years. In 1895 he accepted the position as Keeper of the Ulster County Almshouse, under the superintendency of John H. Davis. He also served one year under Superintendent Sammons, when he resigned to take charge of the electric light plant of New Paltz. After the election of C. L. Van Orden as superintendent in 1905, the services of Mr. Haines as keeper were again sought and he is now engaged in that capacity.
In 1860 Mr. Haines married Miss Emily Van Leuven, by whom he had one son, Harry, a resident of Kingston. Mrs. Haines died in 1897. For his second wife he chose the widow of John H. Davis, who was formerly Miss Mary C. DuMond. Samuel G. Haines, father of our subject, was born in Albany County in 1793, and was authority for the story told by John Bagley relative to the burning of Kingston, an account of which appears elsewhere in this book.
THE REV. CHARLES MERCER HALL was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., December 23, 1864. He is the eldest son of William Noble Hall and Flora Mar- garet McAlister. He received his early education privately in England, where he resided for twelve years. After ten years' experience in the mercantile and banking business, in Philadelphia, he took instruction in the classics under a tutor, and in 1888 entered the General Theological Seminary, New York, where for three years he took a course as special student. On January 6, 1891, he was ordained Deacon
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by the Rt. Rev. John Scarborough, D. D., Bishop of New Jersey, and on Decem- ber 23, 1891, was advanced to the sacred order of priesthood. His first work was as missionary at Camden, N. J., where he had charge of St. Barnabas and St. Andrew's Chapel. In 1893 he became curate of the Church of the Beloved Disciple, New York, and in 1894 came to Kingston as Vicar of the Mission Church of the Holy Cross and Curate of St. John's Church. In 1896 he became first Rector of the Church of the Holy Cross. Prior to his ordination as deacon, he was offered the rectorship of St. Matthew's Church, Omaha, Neb., and later he declined an election to the Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, N. J. He also declined curacies at the Church of the Evangelists, Philadelphia, the Church of the Redeemer, New York, and All Saints', Orange Valley, N. J. In 1904 he re- ceived the degree of M. A. honoris causa from St. Stephen's College, Annan- dale. He has published The Life of a Christian and Calvary Every Day be- sides various sermons and magazine articles. He is a member of the New York Catholic Club, also of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament and the Guild of All Souls. He has been President of the Ulster County S. P. C. C. since its organization and was recently elected Honorary Chaplain of the Fourteenth Separate Company, N. G. S. N. Y. In 1898 he married Bertha, only daughter of Chief Judge Alton Brooks Parker and Mary Louise Schoonmaker, and has issue Alton Parker Hall, born March 9, 1900, and Mary Macalister Hall, born June 25, 1902.
BENJAMIN F. HALLET, son of Daniel and Abbie J. (Brannan) Hallet, was born in Scranton, Pa., in 1852. When a lad he came to Kingston with his parents and secured his education in the schools of the city. Mr. Hallet, since 1870, has been engaged in Kingston, in the General Upholstery business, and the decoration of antiques, succeeding to the business established by the Schryvers. In the homes of many of the representative families of Ulster County are to be found specimens of his handiwork.
Mr. Hallet is a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He mar- ried Miss Anna Yarrow, of Ellenville, N. Y., by whom he has one daughter, Bessie.
His mother, Abbie J. Brannan, daughter of Abigail Styles, was born in Esopus. Her father located there previous to the Revolutionary period and helped protect the lookout forts at Kingston Point. He came from Holland.
URBAN HAMBURGER, of Kingston, was born in Covington, Ky., in 1843. He was completing his studies in the public schools there about the time the Civil War began, and he immediately enlisted in the 22nd Regiment of Indiana, serving four years in the defence of his country. He then engaged in cotton raising in Tennessee and Arkansas for about three years, but lost all he had through the floods in that section. In 1868 he came to Rondout and engaged with the Rondout & Oswego R. R. (now U. & D. R. R.) in building bridges over the Esopus Creek, between Rondout and Stamford. In 1877 his services were secured by the D. & H. Canal Co., with whom he remained twenty-five years constructing bridges and
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piers. For the past five years he has been superintendent of the boat yards for the Consolidated Rosendale Cement Co.
Mr. Hamburger has served fourteen years as Alderman of the 7th Ward and was President of the Common Council one term. He is a member of St. Mary's Church and a charter member of the G. A. R. In 1869 he married Miss Jane Flynn, of Rondout. They have five children: Mary, Lovetta, George, Nellie and Harry.
CHARLES M. HARCOURT, son of Matthew and Sarah (Deyo) Harcourt, was born in the town of Plattekill, Ulster County, June 6, 1847. He obtained his education at the district schools and Highland Institute. In 1870 Mr. Harcourt was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude M., daughter of Jacob Elting. They began life on a farm in Lloyd township, where they remained sixteen years, and in 1886 removed to the village of New Paltz. Here Mr. Harcourt purchased some sixty acres of land within the corporation, which he laid out in village lots, the location being known as "Harcourt Heights."
Mr. Harcourt is First Vice-President and Director of the New Paltz Savings Bank, and a Director in the Huguenot Bank. He is on the Finance Committee of both these institutions. He has served as trustee of the village, and for twenty years was Superintendent of the New Paltz turnpike. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Paltz Normal School since 1904.
Alfred Harcourt, only son of our subject, was born January 31, 1881, in the town of Lloyd. After finishing his preliminary education he entered Columbia Univer- sity, from which he graduated with honors in 1904, being chosen valedictorian of his class. A daughter was born to them, Magdeline, in 1875 and died in 1899, leav- ing a daughter, Magdeline Elizabeth Brooks, born December 18, 1898.
Alfred is now engaged with the firm of Henry Holt & Co., of New York City. Mr. Harcourt traces his ancestry to Richard Harcourt, his great-great-grand- father, a native of England, wlio located in Ulster County in 1754. In 1758 he was commissioned as one of His Majesty's justices for the State of New York.
ELTING HARP, son of Simon and Helen J. (Clearwater) Harp, was born at New Paltz, in 1860. His early advantages in life were meagre and he left school at the age of eleven years to accept employment as water-boy on the Wallkill Valley R. R., then in course of construction. In 1873 he entered the employ of J. J. Hasbrouck, as clerk, receiving a salary of $50 for the first year. Here he remained five years, when he decided to learn the harness maker's trade, at which he continued until 1883, when he established a harness making business of his own at New Paltz. In 1888 he removed his business to the present commodious building which he had erected, and now conducts one of the most complete harness, blanket and trunk stores in the county.
Politically he is a Democrat, and held the office of Town Clerk for ten consecutive years. He is a member of the K. of P. and a charter member of the Ulster Hook and Ladder Co., of which he has been Foreman. He is now one of the Trustees of New Paltz Village.
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He was married in 1892 to Carrie C., daughter of W. C. Tamney. They have seven children, Helen, Delia T., Warren C., Peter Hayt, Frank Ross, Harry Valen- tine and Marion Borden.
Since 1902 Mr. Harp has dealt extensively in choice country property in the vicinity of New Paltz, and during the past two years many important real estate transfers have been effected through his agency.
BENJAMIN TAYLOR HARRIS, son of the Rev. John Ferguson Harris, was born at Pompton Plains, N. J., in 1860. In 1867 his father was transferred to Hurley, Ulster County, N. Y., to take charge of the Reformed Dutch Church, and it was there our subject obtained his preliminary education. He was engaged for a time in office work in Kingston, and in 1882 went to New York as bookkeeper for George Crawford, who was in the blue-stone business. He remained there until 1888, when he purchased the business from Mr. Crawford for $18,000. In 1892 he consolidated his plant with the Ulster Blue Stone Co. of Malden, of which he became president, continuing in that office until his death, which occurred June 17, 1901. Mr. Harris was a self-made man in every respect, and was one of Sauger- ties's most progressive citizens.
October 22, 1883, Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Anna Kate Wend- over, who survives him with the following children, Maud Wendover, Benjamin Taylor, Helen VanDeusen and Stephen Wendover.
Mr. Harris was a Republican in politics, a Mason, a member of the Central Presbyterian Church of New York City, a member of the Board of Education of Saugerties, President of the Saugerties Club, and prior to his death took an active part in the Central Presbyterian Church. Benjamin T. Harris is in the Albany Business College, preparing himself for an active business career.
WILLIAM R. HARRISON, Secretary and Treasurer of the well-known whole- sale grocery house of Matthews & Harrison, has resided in Kingston since the organization of the firm in 1898.
Mr. Harrison was born in Newburgh, N. Y., in 1865, and was engaged in the wholesale grocery business there sixteen years. He married Miss Martha F. Kelly, and they have one daughter, Mildred F. He is affiliated with No. 10 Lodge, F. & A. M., and has served as Police Commissioner since Mayor Thompson's adminis- tration. He is numbered among Ulster County's representative business men.
CHARLES A. HARTSHORN, son of Charles H. and Elizabeth (Snider) Hartshorn, was born in Orange County in 1869. He obtained his education at the public schools of Newburgh and Eastman's Business College. He accepted a position as bookkeeper for a year and then became traveling salesman in the grocery line. In 1893 Mr. Hartshorn located in the village of Marlborough, establishing a grocery and hardware store, and in 1897 built his present commodious establish- ment. The building is a five-story brick structure 38 x85 feet, three floors of which are occupied by Mr. Hartshorn; the next floor is divided into office suites,
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while the top floor is the lodge-room of the I. O. O. F. The building is illuminated by acetylene gas and is the most pretentious business block in Marlborough.
He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. He was united in marriage to Miss Georgia Griffin, and they have two children. Mr. Hartshorn is one of Ulster County's most energetic business men and his well-directed efforts are bringing him success.
A. C. HASBROUCK, Coroner, of Highland, was born in New Paltz, in 1837. He is a descendant in the fifth generation from one of the patentees (Abraham Has- brouck) of New Paltz, who was conspicuous both in the civil and ecclesiastical affairs of that early period.
When our subject was three years of age, his father came to Highland, where the elder Hasbrouck owned about five hundred acres of land. Here A. C. Has- brouck's early years were passed. He attended the local schools and the Claverack Academy. After leaving school, he went west and was subsequently engaged upon the railroad. In 1865, he returned to Highland, where he has since lived. Mr. Hasbrouck was a member of the firm of Brown & Hasbrouck, Auctioneers, a number of years. Since the firm was dissolved, Mr. Hasbrouck has conducted the business alone. He has served in different public offices; was Town Clerk for two terms, Justice of the Peace for six years and Associate Justice of Sessions, with Judge Kenyon, and in 1896 was elected Coroner of the County, which office he is still occupying.
Mr. Hasbrouck married Julia M. Dun Combe, and they have four children living, DuBois Hasbrouck, Levi, Alex C., and Mary, and he has one brother, Herman, living in Denver.
C. V. HASBROUCK, M. D., of Rosendale, was born at Cottekill, May 5, 1854. He is a direct descendant of one of the original patentees of New Paltz. Dr. Has- brouck graduated from the State Normal School, after which he attended Bellevue Medical College, in New York City, finally graduating from the Long Island Medical College in 1876. After graduating he immediately commenced the practice of his profession in Milton, Ulster County, where he remained three years. In 1879 he removed to Rosendale, where he has since continued in practice. During his residence in Rosendale, Dr. Hasbrouck has served as Coroner for three years, and as President of the Village. He has been Health Officer the past five years, is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, and has served as President and Vice-President of the former, and is also a member of the State Medical Society and the Holland Society.
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