E. G. Fowler's _Morning Call_ appeared on Sunday morning, April 4,

1880. It was printed in the Masterson Building, No. 10 Ball street.

The _Morning Index_ appeared in an upper floor of the Hornbeck

Building, now the Swift Beef House on Jersey avenue. The _Sunbeams_

and _Farm Guide_ were issued from _The Union_ office, and _Church

Life_ and _Academy Miscellany_ from _The Gazette_ office. _The

Bulletin_ is the name of a two-column folio that is issued

occasionally in political and exciting local campaigns, from the

press of printer P. J. Gaudy, on Ball street. It doesn't appear very

often, but when it does it makes a sensation.

AT WARWICK.

The beautiful village of Warwick, the "Queen Village" of New York

State, has two well-established, ably-edited, well-printed and

influential weekly newspapers, reflecting with no exaggeration the

sentiment and conditions of the Warwick valley--a land rich in

nature's bounties, lavishly endowed with all the charms of rural

romanticism and pastoral fervency.

The first paper published in Warwick, so far as present records are

obtainable, was the _Doctrinal Advocate and Monitor._ It was probably

started as early as 1845--possibly earlier--and was edited or

conducted by Elder Jewett as an exponent of the Old School Baptist

doctrine. In 1846 this _Monitor_ was merged with Elder Gilbert

Beebe's _Signs of the Times,_ and for a while the latter paper was

published under both titles.

The second paper started there was the _Warwick Advertiser,_ the

first number of which made its appearance January 27, 1866. It was a

well-printed, neat, newsy, and bright paper from the first, and age

not only does not dim its luster, but seems to add to its

sprightliness. Its first editor and proprietor was Leonard Cox, who

was an elder in the Old School Baptist church of Warwick for a few

years. It was independent, or rather neutral, in politics, but

catered to the religious and moral sentiment as well as the local

interests of the community, from its inception, and has never ceased

to act as a propagandist theological, political, social and formal.

Within three years Elder Cox sold the plant to John L. Servin, a

local lawyer and farmer, a man of high standing and education. In

1873 Mr. Servin transferred the business to his associate editor,

Daniel F. Welling, a practical printer, but took back the concern

within the year and soon afterward sold the same to Samuel J.

Stewart and Joshua C. Wilson. A few years later Mr. Wilson sold his

interest to Dewitt C. Demorest, a workman in the office, who, after

a year or two, transferred his share back to Mr. Stewart, who

remained sole proprietor until April 1, 1882, when the plant was

purchased by its present owner and able editor, Hiram Tate. Under Mr.

Tate's management the _Advertiser_ became an advocate of the

politics of the republican party, of which it has since remained a

staunch and fearless supporter. The _Advertiser_ has been a factor of

no little importance in the growth and general well-being of the

village and Warwick valley. After a careful campaign of education on

that special subject, it was largely instrumental in bringing about

the now very popular and certainly sensible style of fenceless

dooryards and lawns, so prevalent in Warwick as to excite the

admiration of all tasteful visitors, and one of the distinguishing

factors in earning for the place the well-merited title of the

"Queen Village." It was also largely through the efforts of the

_Advertiser_ that a teacher in music and elocution has been added to

the Warwick schools. Other betterments in local affairs have been

brought about by this paper's efforts, and the _Advertiser_ is

certainly a paper of high tone and a credit to the Warwick valley.

The third newspaper to make its appearance in Warwick was the

_Warwick Valley Dispatch,_ which has been a success from its start.

It was established in June, 1885, by George F. Ketchum, who has since

been its fearless editor and publisher. The _Dispatch_ has prospered

under Mr. Ketchum's continuous and wise management of nearly

twenty-three years, and has been a potent factor in shaping the

progressive development of the village and town of Warwick. Its

columns have been especially devoted to school improvement, the

_Dispatch_ and its editor taking a leading part in the movement for

two modern brick school houses--primary and high school--during the

twelve years that Mr. Ketchum served as a member of the Warwick board

of education, he being president of the board when the high school

was built. It is generally acknowledged that the successful outcome

of this agitation was largely due to the influence of the _Dispatch_

and its editor. The paper has been a leader in all efforts to secure

improvements for the village and the valley, especially for increased

water supply, fine streets, and roads, and the development of Warwick

as a summer resort. The paper also heartily advanced the formation of

the Warwick Valley Telephone Company, the Warwick Realty Company and

the Warwick Knife Company. Politically the Dispatch is democratic,

and is recognized as the most influential exponent of democracy in

this section of the State. For a dozen years its editor has been

chairman of the democratic county committee, during which time the

influence of the Dispatch has been markedly shown in shaping the

policy of the party in Orange County, and in the favorable results

achieved for its candidates at the polls, although the county has a

normal republican majority. The paper has gained a large local

circulation because of its newsy features, and is respected for its

fairness and fearlessness in controversy. The Dispatch was started

as a nine-column four-page newspaper, and was first printed in a

small frame building on Main street, adjoining the Warwick Valley

Hotel. Since 1889 it has been comfortably housed in a brick structure

known as "The Dispatch Building," which was erected on Main street by

Thomas Burd, and is equipped with modern presses and a Simplex

typesetting machine. Although Mr. Ketchum has always personally

controlled the editorial policy of the Dispatch, Isaac W. Litchfield

was a partner with him in its business from 1889 to 1894, and much of

the reputation of the _Dispatch_ is due to his bright humor and

facile pen.

CORNWALL PAPERS.

Cornwall, or rather Cornwall-on-Hudson, has had its full share of

journalistic ups and downs. Through the courtesy of L. G. Goodenough,

editor and proprietor of the _Local-Press_ of that place, the writer

learns that the first paper, probably, issued in that interesting old

town appeared April 15, 1871. It was called _The Cornwall Paper:_ "A

Local Record of Things New and Old." It was published by P. P. Hazen,

of Cornwall, in conjunction with A. A. Bensel, Ferry Building,

Newburgh. It was stipulated, in the editorial announcement, that

unless the necessary support in the way of subscriptions, etc., was

received, the project would have to be abandoned. Mr. Goodenough has

a copy of Volume 1, No. 1, of _The Cornwall Paper,_ and as no other

number seems to be in existence, it is assumed the requisite

"support" never materialized, and that the paper practically "died

aborning."

To a woman belongs the credit of having started the first regularly

issued paper in this village. _The Cornwall Times_ appeared May 24,

1875, with Miss S. J. A. Hussey, a highly educated woman, as editor

and proprietor. The _Times_ was continued for at least six years, and

with credit to herself and to Cornwall. Miss Hussey died February 21,

1898, aged seventy-nine years. Her declining days were passed

practically as a recluse in a cabin on Round Top Mountain, which she

owned, and where she seemed to be happiest, efforts of relatives to

persuade her to live with them proving unavailing.

The _Cornwall Reflector_ was started about 1877 by John Lee, and

later was edited by H. H. Snelling, an elderly gentleman of ability

and a forceful writer. He continued as editor for ten years, and

until failing eyesight forced him to retire, and he went to a St.

Louis home for the blind, where he died in the early nineties, after

having become totally blind.

In 1879 appeared the _Cornwall Mirror._ It was published at Highland

Falls by James C. Merritt, and was represented in Cornwall by various

persons at different times.

In April, 1888, the _Cornwall Local_ appeared, under the management

of H. A. Gates, and was an excellent paper. In September, 1889, he

disposed of the _Local_ plant to C. P. Brate, of Albany, who induced

his brother-in-law, Thomas Pendell, to become its editor and

publisher. In June, 1892, the paper came under the present efficient

management of L. G. Goodenough. Mr. Pendell became connected with the

New York _Herald,_ later with the Middletown _Sunday Forum,_ which he

removed to Massena, N. Y., whence he went to Peekskill and then to

Poughkeepsie. For the past fifteen years the _Local_ has been

conducted by L. G. Goodenough, and is a particularly handsome, bright

and ably-edited local journal. Practically the paper's former

politics was classed as "independent." In 1896 Mr. Goodenough made it

distinctly and avowedly republican, and, as such, it has become an

influential member of the county's republican press. In 1859 Mr.

Goodenough purchased Mr. Merritt's _Cornwall Mirror,_ merging it with

the _Local._ Recently the name _Local-Press_ was adopted as more

significant of a newspaper than the name _Local._ The _Local-Press_

is an eight-page weekly, issued Thursdays at $1.50 a year, and with

an average circulation for the year 1907 of 1,225 copies.

In October, 1898, S. T. Morehouse started a paper known as the

_Cornwall Courier._ It was conducted by Mr. Morehouse, by his son

Claude, by the well-known writer Creswell MacLaughlin, Bernard Call,

Clark J. Brown, Clayton Brown, and William Clark. It lived until

1906.

WALDEN NEWSPAPERS.

Walden has two good, newsy weekly papers. So far as the writer can

ascertain the first paper started there was by Stephen H. Sayer, who,

at Middletown, in 1866, started the _Rising Sun,_ and at Montgomery

the _Wallkill Valley Times_ (1868), and the _Dollar Weekly_ (1869).

Mr. Sayer started at Walden in 1869 the _Walden Recorder,_ but

suffered it to go down. In 1870 Chauncey B. Reed resumed its

publication and called it the _Walden Recorder and Herald,_ but

subsequently dropped the _Recorder,_ and it has since appeared as the

_Walden Herald._ It is now edited by Ward Winfield. It is a

well-printed seven-column folio, and devoted entirely to local and

general news.

The _Walden Citizen was_ established in 1887 by Jacob Sears, and had

its first home over John Simpson's cigar store. The outfit consisted

of a Washington hand press and a small quantity of type. After

struggling a year, the ownership passed into the hands of a Mr.

Scudder, and the plant was removed to the top floor of what is now

the Fowler building. Soon afterward Eugen Abel, a practical printer,

and Prof. D. C. Dominick, principal of the high school, purchased the

concern, enlarged the paper and plant, and were getting the business

on a profitable basis when, in 1898, a fire swept everything away.

The paper was revived, however, and soon afterward Whitfield Gibbs

became owner of the plant and speedily put the paper on solid footing

and made it a leading republican paper. John Barringer succeeded Mr.

Gibbs, and since March, 1903, the Rev. J. H. Reid has been editor and

publisher. The paper is republican in politics, and Mr. Reid makes it

a lively publication.

MISCELLANEOUS.

It is not generally known that for two years (1884-1886) the _United

States Official Postal Guide_ for New York City was printed in Orange

County. A. M. May & Co. had the contract and the printing was done by

William H. Nearpass at the _Port Jervis Gazette_ office.

Of the papers at Pine Bush, Monroe, Washingtonville and Chester,

mention has already been made.

In the number of publications Newburgh leads with about forty

publications or changes from one to another; Middletown comes next

with 22, Port Jervis with 15, Goshen with 13, and Montgomery with 7.

Bloomingburg is in Sullivan County. So is New Vernon. But each is on

the south slope of the Shawangunk range and on the Shawangunk Kill,

which divides the counties of Orange and Sullivan. In each place

there was once a paper that practically was an Orange County

production, and depended to a greater or less extent on this county

for its support. The first was the _Signs of the Times_ in about

1883. The other was the _Sullivan Whig_ at Bloomingburg, in 1846. The

former was Elder Beebe's Old School Baptist organ; the latter John W.

Hasbrouck found at Bloomingburg in 1846, where he began to learn the

printing trade.

INCIDENTS.

As an auxiliary incident of Orange County journalism, it may not be

entirely out of place to record some facts regarding journalism in

Pike County, Pa., opposite Port Jervis. In 1846 or 1847 James J.

McNally removed the material of the _Goshen Sentinel_ to Milford, in

Pike County, and started the _Pike County Democrat,_ July 14, 1849.

It was a seven-column folio. In 1852 he changed its name to the

_Milford Herald._ Some time afterward John M. Heller purchased the

plant, and put in charge John B. Adams and Harry Heller, the son of

J. M. Heller. It passed to several owners, and when O. H. Mott took

it, in January 1, 1878, he for some unknown reason changed its name

to the _Milford Dispatch,_ which it remains, and now, 1908, it is

edited by Josiah F. Terwilliger.

But the first paper in Milford was _The Eagle of the North,_ in 1827,

with T. A. Wells, printer. In 1828 it became _The Northern Eagle and

Milford Monitor,_ under Benjamin A. Bidwell. Somewhere between 1831

and 1840 the paper disappeared. A second _Northern Eagle_ appeared

February 6, 1864, started by Dr. Edward Halliday. It was a red-hot

republican journal, and, as might be inferred, had a small

constituency in that land of 991 democratic and only a few republican

voters, and it died January 1, 1866.

MORE OR LESS PERSONAL.

Orange County's pioneer journalists have been gathered to their

fathers. Of the second generation there remains one--as if to link

the memories of the first with the fast-reclining activities of the

third generation of newspaper workers. And that one relic of the dead

past is a woman, now in the sunset of life. Dr. Lydia Saver Hasbrouck

is with us yet; a landmark in Orange County journalism--honored by

those who know her best, beloved by kindred, respected by all. The

twilight of her years is closing pleasantly at her beautiful home on

Linden avenue, Middletown.

Of the third generation but few remain of printers, reporters,

editors, publishers. The frosts of many winters have silvered their

heads, but the "strength of years" finds a few of them still

struggling with the insatiable demand of modern type-setting

appliances for "copy" and the bustle and rush of daily newspaper

life.

At this point it is interesting to take a look at the individuals,

the characters--the men and women who have been on the scene of

action, and who are there now. We have examined their work--the news

and other papers and publications they have produced; we have scanned

them in the best light afforded, refracted and reflected, and to know

somewhat of those who, in their own and often crude way wrought these

paper tablets of thought, let us again look over the field.

MANDEVILLE AND WESTCOTT--The first names to appear--the first

characters to attract our attention--are those of David Mandeville

and David M. Westcott as publishers of the _Goshen Repository_

(1788), "at the Academy." What relations they had with the old

Goshen Academy, or why the _Repository_ was started "at the Academy"

is not apparent. Victor M. Drake wrote from his recollections that

David M. Westcott "was a practical printer and editor, who served a

portion of his time in Benjamin Franklin's old printing office in

Philadelphia, though, of course, not under Franklin's mastership. He

was born in Cornwall of humble parentage, and in early life was

apprenticed to a farmer, and afterward learned the printer's trade.

His wife was the daughter of Coe Gale, one of the early settlers of

Goshen, by whom he had five daughters and three sons, Mandeville,

Nathan, and William. Nathan was clerk of Orange County from 1844 to

1855. David M. Prescott," continues Mr. Drake's recollections, "was

not only a good practical printer, but a good merchant and farmer,

an able editor, and a trustworthy public servant; he was county clerk

in 1815 and 1821, member of assembly in 1828, state senator in

1831-34, and filled many other stations of honor and trust. He acted

as editor of the _Independent Republican_ for a long time after Mr.

Cheevey was struck down with paralysis. I have repeatedly called him

from his labors on the farm to write editorials for the _Republican_,"

says Mr. Drake, "for such was the high state of party feeling that

its public would trust no other man than 'little Dave Westcott' with

the responsibility of editing that paper in critical election times."

Such, then, was the character and standing of the first editor in

Orange County. That he was a man whose character, whose personality,

and whose extraordinary abilities stand clearly silhouetted against

Time's somber background, is apparent to the reader and the student

of history.

CAREY, LUCIUS--The name of Lucius Carey appears next as the printer

of the _Newburgh Packet_ in 1795. Beyond the announcement that he was

the son-in-law of the Rev. John Close, he cuts no illustrious figure.

DENNISTON, DAVID--David Denniston appears on the scene in 1797 as

the purchaser of the _Packet_ from Carey, and as changing the name to

that of _The Mirror._ He was early in the field as a printer, having

a shop in Newburgh in 1796, when he got out a bound pamphlet or book

for the Rev. R. Watson, entitled "An Apology for the Bible." Mr.

Ruttenber says he was of the New Windsor stock of Dennistons. Mr.

Denniston was certainly a busy man, and a thinker. He died in

Newburgh, December 13, 1803, of malignant fever, having up to that

time been connected, at different times, from 1796 or earlier, to

1803, with the _American Citizen and Watch-Tower,_ of New York City,

and _The Mirror, The Citizen,_ and the _Rights of Man,_ in Newburgh.

SCHULTZ, JACOB--A local contemporary of Mr. Denniston was Jacob

Schultz, also of New Windsor, where he was born April 23, 1776, and

February 14, 1799, married Anna, daughter of John Denniston, of that

town. He first appears in the journalistic field as editor and

proprietor of the _New Windsor Gazette._ When this paper came into

existence is not known, though it was as early as, and probably some

time prior to, 1799, for in that year he moved the paper and plant to

Newburgh. In 1818 he retired to a small farm in the town of New

Windsor, where he erected a substantial stone house, and where, in

rural pursuits and pleasures, he passed the remainder of his days,

and was gathered to his fathers in 1859, aged eighty-three years.

WINFIELD, DR. ELIAS--Next on the scene is Dr. Elias Winfield, who,

in 1799, started the _Rights of Man,_ and later removed to Kingston,

and was lost to subsequent Orange County history.

HEURTIN, JOHN G. AND WILLIAM--John G. and William Heurtin are heard

of in 1800 as purchasers of the _Goshen Repository,_ the name of

which they changed to that of the _Orange County Patriot._ They seem

to have retired from public view after 1803, when the _Patriot_

passed into the hands of Gabriel Denton and William A. Carpenter, and

became _The Friend of Truth._

DENTON, GABRIEL--Gabriel Denton appears in 1801 as purchaser of the

interest of William Heurtin in the _Orange County Patriot._ In 1803

Mr. Denton sold his interest to William A. Carpenter. In 1804 Mr.

Denton began the publication of the _Orange County Gazette_ at

Goshen. In 1808 he started in Goshen the _Orange County Patriot and

Spirit of Seventy-six._ Mr. Denton seems to have been industrious as

a founder of newspapers, but others must have reaped the reward, for

his last days were passed in the Orange County poorhouse.

COLES, DENNIS--The name of Dennis Coles appears in 1803 as starting

the _Recorder of the Times,_ in Newburgh.

GAZLAY, WARD M--In 1804 Ward M. Gazlay appears on the scene for the

first time. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and became engaged in

the printing business at Goshen as the purchaser of the _Friend of

Truth,_ the successor of the _Repository_ and the _Patriot._ He

changed its name to that of the _Orange Eagle._ His office was

destroyed by fire in 1805, and with the remnants he drove into

Newburgh, purchased the _Recorder of the Times,_ of Dennis Coles, and

changed its name to the _Political Index,_ under which name it

continued until 1829. The _Recorder_ claimed to be Republican in

politics, but was generally regarded as representing the Federalists

and Burrites. When Mr. Gazlay merged the _Times_ with his Goshen

paper, and evolved therefrom, at Newburgh the _Political Index,_ the

interests of the Republican party were apparently consolidated. It

supported Jefferson and Madison, and the War of 1812. Jonathan Fisk

wrote the editorials for the _Index,_ and with the inspiration of

this able man's articles, the _Index_ cared little for its only

contemporary, the _Orange County Patriot,_ a Federalist paper, and

the latter retired to Goshen, whence it came, to become the

_Goshen Democrat._ He sold his _Index_ to Charles M. Cushman, in

1829. Mr. Gazlay served as a magistrate in the village of Newburgh

for some years, and died there in April, 1836, aged fifty-four years.

His wife was Bridget, daughter of Jonathan and Bridget Carter, by

whom he had three sons.

BEACH, CYRUS; PRATT, LUTHER--At Montgomery, May 6, 1806, appeared

the names of Cyrus Beach and Luther Pratt, as printers, or rather

publishers, "for the proprietors," of the _Orange County Republican._

The proprietors were twenty-four "patriotic citizens of the county."

Pratt's name remained connected with the paper until 1818, when it

became the _Independent Republican,_ with James A. Cheevey as its

proprietor.

HENDRIE, R. C. S--The name of R. C. S. Hendrie appears in Goshen

between 1822 and 1834, through coming into proprietorship of the

_Patriot._ He sold it to F. T. Parsons, who changed its name to the

_Goshen Democrat,_ February 22, 1834. In 1843 Mr. Hendrie started the

_True Whig,_ and two years later sold it to Mead & Son, who united

it with the _Democrat_ under the name of the _Democrat and Whig._

CROWELL, T. B--T. B. Crowell appeared in 1812 as the publisher of

the _Patriot,_ and in 1822 as its proprietor. Then he passed from the

scene.

VANDYCK, HENRY H.--In 1832 the name of Henry H. Vandyck appears, in

connection with the purchase of the _Independent Republican_ at

Goshen. In 1836 he was elected to the State Senate. In October, 1839,

he became proprietor of the _Newburgh Telegraph._ His course in

favoring the building of the Erie Railroad--a terrible commercial

blow to Newburgh--was so displeasing to the people of Newburgh that

he disposed of the paper to Elias Pitts, and left. He went to Albany,

and became editor of the _Albany Atlas,_ and was later elected

Comptroller of the State. He was a Democrat of the Jackson school.

VAIL, LEBBEUS L.--Lebbeus Lothrop Vail was born at Middletown, in

1793. His father was Squire Izaiah Vail, a farmer and miller, and his

mother, Azuba Horton. Mr. Vail, after engaging in various

occupations, finally started at Goshen the _Signs of the Times_ in

1832. In 1843 Vail and Denton started the _Democratic Standard,_

which afterwards came into the possession of his son Hector, who

changed its name to the _Goshen Clarion._

Mr. Vail was a highly popular citizen, and was elected county clerk

for two terms by handsome majorities. He died in 1849, and was buried

in Middletown, but the remains were afterwards transferred to Goshen.

Mr. Vail was married to Sally Moon, who lived until 1876.

CUSHMAN, CHARLES M.--Charles M. Cushman in 1829 purchased Gazlay's

_Political Index_ at Newburgh. He changed it to the _Orange

Telegraph_ and later to the _Newburgh Telegraph._ Mr. Ruttenber says

of him that he was a descendant of Robert Cushman, one of the

original company of Pilgrims who sailed for the New World August 5,

1620 (O. S.) He was born in Washington County, N. Y., March 20, 1802,

served as an apprentice in Rutland, Vt., and subsequently in Boston;

and retired from printing in 1839. He was one of the founders of the

Newburgh public libraries, and also helped to establish the Quassaic

Bank, and also the Newburgh Savings Bank. In 1853 he was chosen to

represent the first assembly district of Orange County in the

legislature. In June, 1832, he married Mary, fourth daughter of

Captain John Birdsall. He died without issue at Rhinebeck, June 1,

1859.

SPALDING, JOHN D.--A contemporary of Mr. Cushman was John D. Spalding

or Spaulding. He was born in Salem, Mass., January, 1800, and came to

Newburgh in 1815 with his father, the Rev. Joshua Spaulding, of the

Presbyterian Church. He served an apprenticeship as "devil" with Ward

M. Gazlay, was subsequently connected with the _Newburgh Gazette_ and

the _Journal,_ for about thirty-eight years. He married Elizabeth L.,

daughter of Rev. John Johnston, D.D., of Newburgh, and died August

22, 1853, in his fifty-fourth year. He was survived by several

children.

PITTS, ELIAS--Elias Pitts practically succeeded Mr. Cushman in

Newburgh journalism. He was born in Columbia County, N. Y., in 1810,

graduated at the Kinderhook Academy, served an apprenticeship in the

_Kinderhook Sentinel,_ and became interested in the paper. Later he

was in the editorial department of the _Rochester Advertiser,_ and

succeeded Mr. VanDyck on the _Newburgh Telegraph_ in the winter of

1840, which continued until 1850. He was next heard of at

Poughkeepsie as editor of the _Poughkeepsie American._ Soon after

1853 he received an appointment to a clerkship in the State

Department at Washington, which continued until his death at

Washington, July 21, 1854. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of

John Jamieson, of Newburgh. His second wife was Margaret, daughter of

John Whited.

It is practically at this point that we come to the parting of the

ways--the passing of the real pioneers in Orange County journalism.

The generation has come and gone, so far as activity is concerned,

and we find coming on the stage new actors. They were, however,

evidently of the same mould of character, infusing into their work

their personality, and stamping on their productions the ineffable

marks of strong individuality.

SECOND GENERATION JOURNALISTS.

DRAKE, VICTOR M.--First and clearly foremost in the second generation

of early journalists was Victor M. Drake. He was born at Milford,

Pa., March 20, 1813. His father was Rufus J., a son of Francis Drake,

of Blooming Grove, Orange County, N. Y. From the seventeenth century

the family had lived in Orange County, in the towns of Goshen and

Chester. His great-grandfather, Joseph Drake, was said to be a

lineal descendant of Sir Francis Drake, of England, who died in 1794.

The mother of V. M. Drake was Rhoda Pierson, a daughter of Rachel

Bull, whose mother was a sister of Mary DeWitt, the mother of DeWitt

Clinton. At the age of eleven years, Victor M. Drake entered the

office of the Goshen _Independent Republican,_ where he served as

apprentice, journeyman, editor and proprietor of the paper, and in

1846 he became connected with the _New Jersey Herald,_ at Newton, as

reporter, editor and proprietor, remaining there until 1871. Mr.

Drake lived an abstemious, careful, circumspect life, and died in

Goshen in 1894, and his remains repose in the cemetery at that place.

Frank M. Drake, the present able and dignified editor and proprietor

of the Goshen _Independent Republican,_ is a son of this venerable

and respected journalist, who infused a high standard in local

journalism, and left a name that should ever be revered in Orange

County newspaper circles.

BEEBE, ELDER GILBERT--Elder Gilbert Beebe, the editor of the

old-school Baptist publication, the _Signs of the Times,_ of

Middletown, for nearly half a century, was the son of David Beebe and

Eunice Case. He was born at Norwich, Conn., November 25, 1800, and

died May 2, 1881 at his home in Middletown, N. Y. He was of the

old-school Baptist faith and was licensed to preach in 1818. In 1823

he married at New York City, Miss Phoebe A. Cunningham, and the same

year he was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church at Ramapo, N. Y.

After serving pastorates in this church and the Baptist Church at

New Vernon, he moved to Middletown, N. Y., in 1847, which place

henceforth became his home, where the remainder of his life was

passed in editorial work on the _Signs,_ which he moved there in

1848, and in expounding the Baptist faith as stated supply for

several nearby churches.

When Elder Gilbert Beebe became editor of the _Signs of the Times,_ a

David had entered the theological field, armed with the slings of

regeneration, the rocks of inspiration, and the strength of

devoutness--backed by a printing press and waiting shrines. He was a

worker, and became a power in the land. When Elder Beebe passed away

the old-school Baptist creed lost its leader, and no one seems to

have risen to take his place; the stage of Orange County journalism

lost one of its most picturesque figures, the field one of its unique

landmarks--a type of preacher and editor that has already passed,

never to return.

MEAD, CHARLES--A contemporary of Victor M. Drake was Charles Mead,

though born six years later, November 19, 1819, at Newburgh. His

father was Xenophon Mead, and his mother was Abigail, daughter of

Moses Burr, a relative of Aaron Burr. Charles Mead was educated

under the then well-known Goshen teacher, Nathaniel Webb. At the age

of fifteen years he was apprenticed in the office of the _Orange

County Patriot,_ under William B. Wright, who afterward became judge

of the supreme court of New York State. He went to Carbondale, Pa.,

in 1839, and remained one year as editor of the _Carbondale Journal._

In 1841-42 he was employed on _Graham's Magazine,_ in Philadelphia.

May 9, 1842, he married Caroline A., daughter of Daniel Worden, of

Goshen, who died November 11, 1880. Shortly after his marriage he

purchased the _Goshen Democrat_ of the heirs of Frederick T. Parsons.

In 1865 he associated with him his son, William B. Mead, and January

1, 1892, sold his interest to Edwin L. Roys. His second wife was

Miss Fannie Jackson, of Goshen. Mr. Mead lived a quiet, unobtrusive

life, and made his paper a handsomely printed, model conservative

Republican journal. He died April 22, 1893, and his remains repose in

St. John's cemetery, Goshen.

McNALLY, JAMES J.--One of the men who left their impress on the

printing art in Orange County, as well as in Sussex and Pike

Counties, was the venerable James J. McNally. He learned the printing

trade in the office of the _Signs of the Times_ at New Vernon. Thence

he went to Newton, N. J., and worked on the _New Jersey Herald._ From

there he went to Milford, Pa., where, it is believed, he started the

_Pike County Democrat,_ which became the _Milford Herald,_ now the

_Dispatch._ In the spring of 1852 he went to Goshen and bought the

_Independent Republican,_ which, seven years later, he sold to Isaac

V. Montanye. In the spring of 1859 he again went to Newton, N. J.,

this time as the editor and proprietor of the _New Jersey Herald._

This paper he finally sold and returned to Goshen, and again became

owner of the _Independent Republican._ In 1869 he sold the same to

Edward M. Ruttenber. The same year he became owner of the _Newburgh

Telegraph,_ daily and weekly, purchasing the same of A. A. Bensel. In

1874 he sold it to Dr. Cooper, of Warwick. For a short time he

conducted a grocery store in Middletown, then became connected with

the _Carmel Courier._ In 1882 he went to Monroe and started the

_Monroe Herald._ In 1888 he started at Goshen the _Goshen News,_ and

for a time conducted both of these publications, printing them at

Goshen. This he continued until the spring of 1892, when he died, and

both publications ceased. Mr. McNally was a good printer, a sharp,

witty writer, and an energetic worker. His son, William C. McNally,

is the owner and editor of the Ellenville (Ulster County) _Press._

RUTTENBER, EDWARD M.--Edward M. Ruttenber was born in Bennington, Vt.,

July 17, 1824, entered the office of the _Vermont Gazette_ in 1837,

as a "printer's devil," came to Newburgh in 1838, as an apprentice

to Charles M. Cushman, an old friend of his father, on the _Newburgh

Telegraph._ Three years later he entered the office of the _Newburgh

Gazette,_ where he remained until 1845, when he became foreman of the

_Telegraph,_ then owned by Elias Pitts. In May, 1850, he purchased

the _Newburgh Telegraph,_ and successfully conducted the same until

1857. It was a weekly, printed on a hand-press. To Mr. Ruttenber

belongs the honor of bringing to Orange County the first steam-power

press, on which the _Telegraph_ was printed in 1853. In 1851 the

_Telegraph_ absorbed the _Newburgh Excelsior,_ and the _Gazette_ in

1857. Early in 1857 Mr. Ruttenber and E. W. Gray began issuing the

_Daily News_ from the office of the _Telegraph._ Mr. Ruttenber sold

the plant late in 1857, repurchased it in 1859, sold it in 1861,

repurchased it in 1866, and in 1867 sold it to A. A. Bensel. In 1869

he and James J. McNally became owners of the plant. In the autumn of

that year Mr. Ruttenber retired, to become part owner of the

_Goshen Independent Republican,_ which in 1870, he sold to H. P.

Kimber. After leaving that paper he and a younger son started a job

printing office in Newburgh. From July, 1863, to January, 1865, when

he resigned, Mr. Ruttenber was engaged in the Bureau of Military

Records at Albany. Added to his other accomplishments Mr. Ruttenber

delved deeply and learnedly into historical lore, and became the

first authority on Indian nomenclature and the author of four or five

valuable historical works. The first was a "History of Newburgh"

(1859); the next was a work entitled "Obstructions to Navigation of

Hudson's River": next "A History of the Flags of the Volunteer

Regiments of the State of New York." A "History of the Indian Tribes

of Hudson's River" followed, and is a work that is now in great

demand. In 1875 he began in serial form a "History of Orange County."

His last work was "Footprints of the Red Men," containing Indian

geographical names in the valleys of the Hudson, Mohawk and Delaware,

their location and probable meaning. This was issued in 1906, and was

published under the auspices of the New York State Historical

Association. In addition to his journalistic and historical work, Mr.

Ruttenber found time to work in local educational matters, and in

1870 had served twelve years as a member of the Newburgh board of

education. In 1846 Mr. Ruttenber married Matilda A., daughter of Mark

McIntyre, of Newburgh, to whom two sons were born: Charles B., who

became a musician of considerable repute, and Walker F., associated

with his father in the printing business, and editor and publisher of

the _Newburgh Telegram._ Edward M. Ruttenber died in December, 1907,

aged eighty-three years, deeply loved by his family and those who

knew him best, and respected and honored by all. He was a man of

genial temperament, companionable, and the evening of life found him

amiable, courteous, warm-hearted, lovable. Orange County was greatly

enriched by his coming, and impoverished by his going. His grave on

the banks of the historic Hudson, in the hillside city of his

adoption, should ever be kept green.

HASBROUCK, JOHN W.--John Whitbeck Hasbrouck, the son of Richard

Hasbrouck and Mary Johnson, was born at Woodstock, Ulster County,

N. Y., November 20, 1821. In 1834 the parents of John W. Hasbrouck

removed from Woodstock to Kingston, where the subject of this sketch

completed his education at the famous Kingston Academy, and began his

journalistic career in 1845 with the _Kingston Journal._ In the

spring of 1846 Mr. Hasbrouck purchased the _Sullivan Whig_ at

Bloomingburg, Sullivan County, but disposed of it in 1851, and the

same year went to Middletown, where he started the _Whig Press,_

which later became the _Orange County Press,_ merging finally into

the _Times-Press_ in 1906. Mr. Hasbrouck retired both from his paper

and active journalism in 1868, though his graceful pen was never

entirely idle until stilled by the Great Destroyer in 1907.

Mr. Hasbrouck married Miss Lydia Sayer, M.D., of Warwick, N. Y.,

July 27, 1856, who still survives him. He found in this cultured

lady a true help meet, one with ready brain and brawn, and together,

hand in hand, they traveled down life's pathway, with a harmony

seldom paralleled, and the parting of the ways found them with

silvered heads and the harvest of autumn goldened by the rays of

life's declining sun.

HASBROUCK, DR. LYDIA SAYER, was born December 20, 1827, in the town

of Warwick, N. Y. She early determined to fit herself for a

professional life, and graduated at the Hygiea Therapeutic College in

New York, with the degree of doctor of medicine. Mrs. Hasbrouck's

life-work has been chiefly that of an educator, lecturer and

physician, and her connection with Orange County journalism was of

brief duration. For eight years she was editor of her husband's

paper, the _Sybil,_ a semi-monthly reform paper, and she started a

paper called the _Liberal Sentinel._

MONTANYE, ISAAC V.--Isaac V. Montanye was born May 3, 1825, on the

eastern slope of the Shawangunk Mountain near New Vernon, and died

December 26, 1906, in the eighty-second year of his age. He entered

the office of the Goshen _Independent Republican_ in the early

forties, as an apprentice under Victor M. Drake. In 1846 Mr. Montanye

and John S. Clark purchased the _Independent_ of the late Moses B.

Swezey, who had succeeded V. M. Drake. Later Mr. Montanye purchased

Mr. Clark's interest, and, in 1853, sold the paper to James J.

McNally, and in 1875 became, for the second time, the owner of the

_Independent Republican._ A few years later he again sold the plant

to James J. McNally. In 1876 he became owner of the plant for the

third time, having this time purchased it of T. P. McElrath. In 1883

he disposed of his interest to his son Lucien Montanye, and Frank

Drake. He had been connected with the _State Journal_ in Madison,

Wis., the _Mercury_ at Middletown, the _Telegraph_ at Newburgh, the

_Index_ at Port Jervis, and the _Record_ at Washingtonville. He

started the latter two papers, and was connected with the _Record_

when he died. Mr. Montanye installed the first cylinder press,

turned by hand, in Orange County, which he set up in the office of

the _Independent Republican_ in 1850, replacing the old hand-press.

He also installed the first newspaper folding machine in the

_Middletown Mercury._ In 1870 Mr. Montanye was elected member of

assembly from the second district of Orange County, and later secured

an appointment in the New York custom-house. In 1899 he resigned this

position, and, with his grandson, Montanye Rightmyer, established the

_Orange County Record_ at Washingtonville.

MARTIN, CYRUS B.--Cyrus B. Martin appeared in the field in 1861,

when he became the purchaser of the _Highland Chieftain,_ and changed

its name to the _Newburgh Daily Journal,_ which it retains to this

day.

Mr. Martin was born in Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., September 6,

1830, and having early learned the printer's trade, was employed as a

compositor on the _Albany Journal,_ where he remained from 1850 to

1855, when he became one of the editors of the _Chenango Telegraph,_

published at Norwich, N. Y. He continued on this paper until he

purchased the present _Newburgh Daily Journal_ in 1861. Upon severing

his connection with the latter publication in 1877, he returned to

Norwich, where various interests demanded his care and attention. He

became president of that great industry known as the David Maydole

Hammer Company, and also president of the Chenango County Bank. He

departed this life some years ago while still actively engaged in

business duties.

RITCHIE, SAMUEL--Samuel Ritchie, who as editor and part proprietor

of the _Newburgh Daily Journal,_ and president of the Newburgh

Journal Company, has been connected with that paper for over

thirty-one years, was born at Larne, Ireland, July 3, 1836. He was

the son of Robert L. and Sarah E. Ritchie, and came to Newburgh in

1839, where, with the exception of one year, he has resided ever

since. He was for many years connected with the _Newburgh Daily

Journal_ in a reportorial capacity and as city editor, and on March

1, 1877, with Messrs. Hull and Rodine, he purchased that paper from

Cyrus B. Martin, and became its editor, remaining such to the present

time.

Mr. Ritchie has long been recognized as an able editorial writer, and

being possessed of a keen wit, he wields a trenchant pen. His kindly

nature, however, has ever rendered him cautious against wantonly

injuring the feelings of others, and now, in the evening of life, he

reaps the reward of his upright conduct, in the regard and esteem of

his fellow-men.

HULL, FRANK S--Frank S. Hull, for many years part proprietor of the

_Newburgh Daily Journal,_ and at present the vice-president and

treasurer of the Newburgh Journal Company, was born in Newburgh, June

6, 1853. He became while a boy highly interested in printing and

successfully carried on several amateur periodicals. Upon the

retirement of Cyrus B. Martin, in 1877, from the management of the

_Newburgh Daily Journal,_ he was one of the three gentlemen who

purchased the former's interest, and has remained connected with that

paper ever since.

TUCKER, JOHN F.--John F. Tucker was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., on

July 3, 1850, and after leaving school became connected with the

_Poughkeepsie Eagle._ He left that paper in 1872 to take charge of

the Government printing office at West Point, where he remained for

twelve years, resigning in 1884 to become city editor of the

_Newburgh Register._ With that paper he remained connected as city

editor, part proprietor and sole editor, until its suspension in

February, 1908. Mr. Tucker has been one of the hardest workers among

newspaper men, and ever noted for the conscientious manner in which

he discharged the various duties allotted to him. For many years he

has been the secretary of the Newburgh Board of Trade, and to his

efficiency in office, and active interest in every movement likely to

benefit his city, is due a great part of the success attained by the

Board of Trade.

THIRD GENERATION JOURNALISTS.

The most recent of the old school of second generation journalists to

pass away was the Hon. Isaac V. Montanye, of the _Orange County

Record,_ at Washingtonville, who died December 6, 1906, and in

December, 1907, Edward Ruttenber of Newburgh.

There now remains on the stage of life only Mrs. Hasbrouck of the

second generation; and of the third generation, Gilbert Van Sciver,

Middletown; Isaac F. Guiwits, Kansas City; Samuel Ritchie, Newburgh;

William H. Nearpass, Port Jervis; William T. Doty, Port Jervis;

Evander B. Willis, California. These are named in the order of their

appearance in the journalistic field of Orange County, rather than

with reference to their ages.

VAN SCIVER, GILBERT--Probably the oldest male printer in the county

to-day is Gilbert Van Sciver, of Middletown. He has been almost

continuously "in the harness" since 1852 until two years ago (1906),

when the _Press_ and _Times_ of that city united. He became an

apprentice in the office of John W. Hasbrouck's _Whig Press_ in 1852,

when the office was located in the building on North and Depot

streets, opposite the carpet-bag factory. In 1857 he went to New York

and was there employed as a journeyman for eight years. In 1865 he

returned to Middletown, and was re-employed in the _Press_ office,

and there remained until the paper lost its identity and merged with

the _Times._

NORTON, JAMES H.--August 10, 1854, the name of James H. Norton first

appeared in Orange County journalism. On that date Mr. Norton

purchased the _Tri-States Union_ of Port Jervis, of Lucius F. Barnes,

and there then entered Orange County a journalistic genius--a talent

that was destined to cut a most important figure in the newspaper

life of the county and far beyond its boundaries. James Henry Norton

was born at Goshen, Connecticut, in May, 1823, and after a common

school education in his native town, he was admitted to the bar

before he was twenty-one years old, and was appointed District

Attorney of Wayne County, Pa. He finally decided to abandon the law

for journalism, and purchased and edited the _Wayne County Herald_

at Honesdale, and some years later sold the plant and went to

Boonville, Oneida County, N. Y., where he started the _Boonville

Ledger_ in partnership with H. B. Beardsley. From Boonville he came

to Port Jervis in 1854 and purchased the _Tri-States Union,_ which

he edited until 1861. In 1862 he removed to Middletown and purchased

G. J. Beebe's _Middletown Mercury,_ which he and Isaac F. Guiwits

made the brightest country newspaper in the United States. In 1867

he disposed of his interest in the _Mercury_ to Isaac V. Montanye,

and April 22, 1869, he and William H. Nearpass started the _Evening

Gazette,_ tri-weekly, at Port Jervis. A few years later, in company

with W. H. Nearpass and I. F. Guiwits, he organized a concern known

as the Franklin Printing Company, for printing "patent insides" for

country newspapers, and in 1882-3 started _The News_ at Middletown,

which he sold to Charles Conkling. His later work was as

correspondent for the _Sun, Herald_ and _Times._ In 1847 he married

Miss Elizabeth Monson at Bethany, Pa. He died January 20, 1894, at

his home in Middletown, and his remains rest in Hillside Cemetery.

GUIWITS, ISAAC F.--Shortly after Mr. Norton came to Orange County, he

induced a bright young printer from "up State" to join him in Port

Jervis as a journeyman, and Isaac F. Guiwits came, then a mere boy.

But he had talents, and Mr. Norton knew it. Young Guiwits accompanied

Mr. Norton to Middletown, and the two made the _Middletown Mercury_

the great country newspaper that it became in the '60's. In 1869 Mr.

Guiwits started the first daily newspaper in Middletown, the _Daily

Mail._ Later he was connected with the Franklin Printing Company, and

when that merged with the New York Newspaper Union, and became the

Union Printing Company, Mr. Guiwits still retained an interest and a

position, and he was sent to St. Louis and later to Kansas City to

manage a branch of the concern. His wife, who was a Miss Mackey, of

Middletown, died four years ago, since which time Mr. Guiwits's

health has steadily declined. Three years ago he went to Los Angeles,

California, where he died at the age of sixty-nine, March 25, 1908.

Mr. Guiwits was one of the most graceful writers that ever adorned

the Orange County press.

FRIEND, DR. JOSEPH D.--One of the able editorial writers on the

Democratic papers in Middletown from about 1860 to his death in the

'80's, was Dr. Joseph D. Friend. He was a regular medical

practitioner, but preferred newspaper work, and many of the stirring

editorials in the _Mercury,_ the _Mail_ and the _Argus_ were from his

trenchant pen. For a time he owned the _Mail,_ and when it was merged

with the _Mercury,_ he became a partner with George H. Thompson, from

which he retired in 1874. Dr. Friend was a genial, whole-souled man,

and the writer remembers him as one who gave him encouragement, kind

words, and good advice at a time when such were needed and did the

most good.

NEARPASS, WILLIAM H.--William Henry Nearpass was born in Montague

township, Sussex County, N. J., May 9, 1840, being the son of Michael

Nearpass and Charlotte E. Stewart. He removed with his parents to

Port Jervis in 1856, and attended the schools there until he was

nineteen, when he embarked in mercantile pursuits which he

successfully pursued until he retired from business to devote himself

to journalism. With Evi Shinier he became the proprietor of the

_Gazette,_ and has retained his interest in that successful

publication ever since.

Mr. Nearpass has always been an active Democrat and very influential

in his party's counsels, having held various village offices, and

elected supervisor of the county nineteen times.

Mr. Nearpass has always enjoyed the highest esteem of his fellow

citizens, for his character has ever been above reproach, while every

public duty has been faithfully and ably discharged. During the many

years he has been the editor of the _Gazette,_ he has never used its

columns for the gratification of private spite or the furtherance of

selfish interests, but has always hewed close to the Golden Rule in

all his walks of life; and now the afternoon of his career finds him

with a blameless life, a clear conscience, a love for his fellow

mortals that no faults of others, injuries, assaults or

misconceptions have ever chilled.

Mr. Nearpass was twice married, his first wife being Miss Anna W.

Newman, of Brooklyn, L. I., who died in 1879. On September 8, 1881,

he married Miss Josephine Westfall near Port Jervis.

DOTY, WILLIAM T.--Mr. Doty was born at Crabtree's Corner, Sussex

County, N. J., March 11, 1847. His parents were Jonathan Fisk Doty

and Phoebe Jane Van Wert Doty. Mr. Doty is a descendant of Edward

Doten or Doty, who came over in the Mayflower and settled at

Plymouth, Mass., in 1620. His mother was one of the Van Wert or Van

Wart family, one of whom assisted in the capture of Major Andre. Mr.

Doty received a good education in the public and best private schools

of that day.

Mr. Doty's first connection with Orange County journalism was at the

early age of sixteen, when he became attached to the _Tri-States

Union_ at Port Jervis, in which latter city he is yet. He afterwards

became connected with the _Middletown Mercury,_ the _Banner of

Liberty,_ the _Whig Press,_ the _Signs of the Times,_ and in Col.

Finch's job printing office on Franklin Square when in 1866 S. H.

Sayer's _Rising Sun_ flickered above the horizon a few times and

disappeared. The _Mercury_ and the _Banner of Liberty_ each had

offices in the frame building (now a brick block) next to the

Holding House, on East Main street. When Isaac F. Guiwits started his

_Daily Mail_ in 1869, Mr. Doty set type on it. He was employed on the

_Whig Press_ in 1866, when John W. and Mrs. Lydia Hasbrouck changed

its name to the _Orange County Press._ He was also on the _Press,_

though not continuously, when, in 1868, it was purchased by Moses D.

and Jesse Lewis Stivers. In the meantime he was employed for several

months on the _Warwick Advertiser_ while it was yet conducted by

Elder Leonard Cox. It was not until April, 1869, that he returned to

Port Jervis, this time to become foreman of the _Evening Gazette,_ at

the time James H. Norton and William H. Nearpass started that paper.

Except for short intervals in Port Jervis and a few months in

Warwick, he was continuously employed in the various Middletown

offices from 1865 to 1869. His personal recollections of the older

inhabitants of that place, and particularly of the newspaper men and

women--John W. and Dr. Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck, Elder Gilbert Beebe and

his sons, G. J. and Benton Beebe, James H. Norton, Isaac F. Guiwits,

Hon. Moses D. Stivers, Dr. Joseph D. Friend, Hon. Isaac V. Montanye,

Evander B. Willis, Gilbert Van Sciver, Elder Cox of Warwick, Coe

Finch, E. Malcolm Norton, "Doxy," Charles Coleman and others, is

pleasant to recall after half a century's flight of changing years.

Leaving the _Gazette,_ Mr. Doty was a compositor on the New York

_Tribune_ soon after the present structure replaced the squatty old

home of the office on Printing House Square, and when the

composing-room was in the wonderful "Tall Tower" overlooking City

Hall Park--which structure used to amuse the _Sun_ so much that it

never tired of being facetious over the Tribune's "Tall Tower." He

was also a compositor on the _Times_ and the _World_ in those days.

In 1871 he, in company with Charles St. John, Jr., and Alfred E.

Spooner, bought the _Tri-States Union,_ of Port Jervis, of Foster &

Mitchell. They made many changes in the _Union,_ and in politics they

heartily supported Horace Greeley in his candidacy for the

Presidency. They also issued as a campaign paper _The Woodchopper._

In 1873 he associated with William H. Waller, of Monticello, in

leasing the _Gazette_ of George A. Clement. Some years later he again

went to New York City, this time as printer in charge of the issuing

of a little Liberal or Free Thought paper called _Man,_ published at

744 Broadway by Thaddeus B. Wakeman and Thoron C. Leland. Later he

became reporter on the New York _Star,_ then the Tammany organ, and

printed at North William street just off of Chatham street (now Park

Row). In the latter part of the '80's he was employed as editor of

the Port Jervis _Daily Union_ until 1888, when in obedience to a

telegraphic offer from Morris Koch, manager of William A. Clark's

_Daily Miner,_ he was called to Butte City, Montana, to become

editor of that paper in the interests of the Montana Democrats. He

went there in June of that year, and in the fall moved his family

there. In the fall of 1889 he went to the Pacific Coast, with the

intention of going into business in Seattle. He was accompanied by

his son Vernon, and they spent some time in Portland, Salem, Tacoma,

and Seattle, the lad attending school in this latter city.

Unfortunately Seattle was then a city of tents, a great fire having,

late in that summer, devastated the whole lower and business section

of the city. In the winter of 1890 Mr. Doty returned East with his

family, and became editor of the Middletown _Daily Press_ under

Stivers, Slauson & Boyd. The following year he became editor of the

_Orange County Farmer_ of Port Jervis, and remained in that position

until 1897, when he returned to Middletown, and associated with

Horace W. Corey in the publishing of the _Sunday Forum._ When that

paper was sold to Thomas Pendell, Mr. Doty returned to Port Jervis as

editor of the _Daily Union,_ which position he occupies at this time

(March, 1908).

William T. Doty and Catharine Elizabeth, the daughter of Andrew W.

Dickert, of Youngsville, Warren County, Pa., were married October 6,

1875. Three children bless that union: Gwendolen, the wife of John S.

Hatch, Jr., of near Scotchtown, this county; Vernon Dickert Doty,

train dispatcher on the Panama R. R. at Colon; Louaine, wife of

Charles A. Miller, of Midland Lake, near Middletown. A fourth child,

Wentworth Doty, died in Port Jervis, March 12, 1888, aged thirteen

months. There are four grandchildren: Helen and Louaine Miller, and

Naomi and Llewellyn Hatch. Mr. Doty's home is at Circleville, this

county, where he has a "little farm well tilled" that affords him

more comfort and pleasure than all that the cities or town can offer.

During his many years of residence in Port Jervis, and where his

children were born, he was for twelve years a more or less active

fireman and a member of Delaware Engine, and later, Hose Company No.

2, which he joined in 1863, and of which he was foreman two years.

Later he was first assistant chief engineer two years, acting as

chief one year, after the removal of Leopold Fuerth, the chief, to

Honesdale. He is a member of Port Jervis Lodge No. 328, F. A. M.,

and Neversink Chapter 186, R. A. M., of which he joined the former in

1871 and the latter in 1872. He is also a member of Delaware

Commandery No. 44, Knights Templar, and of Mecca Temple A. A. O. N.

M. S., of New York City; past grand of Utsayantha Lodge of Odd

Fellows and past chief patron of Deerpark Encampment, I. O. O. F.,

and was the first chancellor commander of Mount William Lodge 105,

K. of P.; is a member of Orange Chapter No. 33, O. E. S., and of

Port Jervis Lodge No. 645, B. P. O. Elks.

COX, ELDER LEONARD--Elder Leonard Cox came to Warwick early in the

'60's as an Old School Baptist preacher and started the _Warwick

Advertiser._ The _Advertiser_ not only lives, but after 42 years of

useful existence is to-day a monument to the preacher-editor's

judgment, force of character and early craftsmanship. In 1868 or 1869

Mr. Cox returned to Virginia, where he is still living and editing,

in connection with his son, the _Charlotte Gazette,_ at Charlotte

Court-House, Va., and still active at the age of ninety years. The

writer has very pleasant personal recollections of this venerable

worker, having for a time been employed in his office in Warwick as a

journeyman printer.

STIVERS, HON. MOSES D.--The name of Moses Dunning Stivers deserves

an important niche in the county's journalistic gallery, for, after

he began to take part in newspaper work, he was an active, energetic,

progressive and leading factor. He was an able writer--incisive and

wonderfully effective. He was well educated, ever affable and

courteous, a clean-cut gentleman. He first appeared in active

connection with journalism in March, 1868, when he purchased of John

W. Hasbrouck the _Orange County Press_ in association with his

brother, Lieutenant Jesse L. Stivers. The latter was a practical

printer, had twice enlisted in the army in the Civil War, and died in

New York City, April 30, 1871, aged thirty years. Hon. M. D. Stivers

was with the _Press_ when the _Evening Press_ (tri-weekly) was

started, and later when the tri-weekly became a daily edition. He was

instrumental in making it one of the leading country Republican

papers of the State. Associated with him, at different times, in the

business and editorial departments of the Press, were John W.

Slauson, Charles J. Boyd, Albert Kessinger, and F. Stanhope Hill. In

December, 1880, Mr. Stivers sold his interest in the concern to John

W. Slauson, and retired.

In 1891, in conjunction with his two sons, Lewis S. and John D.

Stivers, Mr. Stivers started the _Middletown Times._ From the first

this paper was a success, and the popularity it attained at its

inception has never waned, but continued after the death of their

father in February, 1895. Moses D. Stivers was born near Bennerville,

Sussex County, N. J., December 30, 1828, and was the son of John

Stivers and Margaret Dunning, his wife. In 1845 the family purchased

and removed to the Deacon Hallock farm at Ridgebury in this county.

Mr. Stivers attended both the public and private schools, finishing

his education at the Ridgebury Academy, after leaving which, for

several years, he taught school winters and worked his fathers farm

summers.

On September 26, 1855, he married Mary Elizabeth Stewart, of

Wawayanda, and then for two years kept a store at Ridgebury, and in

1859 engaged in the mercantile business in Middletown, first under

the firm name of Evans & Stivers, and then under that of Stivers &

Wallace. In 1864 Mr. Stivers was elected county clerk, and in 1868 he

became connected with journalism by the purchase of the _Orange

County Press._

Mr. Stivers held several political offices besides that of county

clerk, being postmaster at Ridgebury under President Pierce, was

appointed collector of internal revenue in 1868 for this district,

and was elected to Congress. Mr. Stivers was also active in civic

affairs, being a director of the Unionville and Water Gap Railroad,

a trustee of the Middletown Asylum for the Insane, and of the

Hillside Cemetery; also a trustee of the Middletown Savings Bank. He

also took a keen interest in firemanic affairs, and filled the

highest offices in the lodges of the Free Masons and Odd Fellows.

Mr. Stivers was a man of strong personality, indomitable will-power,

and diplomatic and statesmanlike qualities, which made him a

commanding figure in Orange County politics and journalism.

ST. JOHN, CHARLES.--When he was in the work there was no more

enthusiastic or energetic newspaper man in Orange County than Charles

St. John, Jr., the founder of the Port Jervis _Daily Union_ (1873),

and the _New York Farmer_ (1881). He entered the journalistic field

in 1871 in company with W. T. Doty and A. E. Spooner, when the three

purchased the _Tri-States Union_ at Port Jervis. For years he was

more or less active in the work, and retained an interest in the

_Union_ and the _Farmer,_ until October, 1907, when his partner and

brother-in-law, Fred R. Salmon, purchased his entire interest in the

two papers. While Mr. St. John could write energetically and with

much effect, it was as an organizer, solicitor and business hustler

that he shone brightest. Mr. St. John was a graduate of the famous

old Mt. Retirement Seminary in Sussex County, N. J., near Deckertown,

and of the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie. He was born in

Port Jervis, August 30, 1849, a son of Hon. Charles St. John, of Port

Jervis, and Ellen S. Thompson, of near Marlboro, Ulster County. The

St. Johns were an old family, that early came from Connecticut to

New York State, and nearly a century ago Stephen St. John came to

Port Jervis and purchased nearly all the land where Port Jervis now

stands. In 1870 Charles St. John, Jr., married Miss Mary Salmon at

Honesdale, Pa., a daughter of Conductor Charles M. Salmon and

Jeannette Russell.

FOWLER, ERWIN GALLATIN.--Erwin Gallatin Fowler, who started the

_Sunday Call_ in Port Jervis, and for several years edited the

_Daily Union_ and the _Orange County Farmer,_ was born at Walden,

N. Y., November 28, 1837, and died April 3, 1904. His parents were

Charles Fowler and Millie Ann Lehman. He attended the schools at

Walden, became a teacher, enlisted in the Duryea Zouaves, went to the

front in the Civil War and became first lieutenant. After the war he

was employed in Newburgh for a while, part of the time on the

_Journal._ In 1870 he removed to Huguenot, and in 1872 became

connected with the _Port Jervis Union._ Later he started the _Sunday

Call,_ and was called hence to Middletown to edit the _Daily Press._

September 8, 1881, he became editor of the _Orange County Farmer,_

just started, and remained with this paper until he and John J.

Dillon bought the Elmira _Husbandman,_ going thence to the _Rural

New-Yorker_ and later to the _American Agriculturist._ The last work

that he did in the editorial line was as editor of the _Orange County

Farmer,_ when fatal illness stilled forever his able pen. During the

World's Fair at Chicago in 1893 he had charge of the New York

horticultural exhibit. Mr. Fowler, in addition to his editorial work,

interested himself considerably in musical matters, and was president

of the Orange County Musical Union. As a writer Mr. Fowler was able,

ready, and facile. His homilies were not long-drawn-out, but were

wonderfully effective, and his descriptive powers were fine. He had

an extensive knowledge of agricultural matters, and when in charge of

the _Orange County Farmer_ put that paper on a high plane, and made

it popular and its circulation grew to large proportions. Personally,

Mr. Fowler was genial, the soul of good-nature, philanthropic and

benevolent to the last degree. Mr. Fowler and Miss Fannie F. Dunning

were married March 19, 1862.

MOTT, ED. H.--Though not directly connected with Orange County

journalism, Ed. H. Mott, the well-known writer and correspondent of

the New York _Sun,_ was for a time, in 1871, editor of the _Gazette,_

and after that the _Daily Union_ at Port Jervis. Mr. Mott was too

restless to be tied down to the drudgery of the daily grind on a

newspaper, and in time he found himself in the regular employ of the

New York _Sun,_ with a desk in that office, grinding out Pike County

tale's and character delineations that brought him notoriety and

shekels galore. He is at present located in Goshen, and yet writing

for the New York _Sun._ He also wrote a history of the Erie Railroad,

which is valuable and a high-priced production. Mr. Mott is a gifted

writer. His witticisms, character sketches, and stories generally are

original, unique, and clever.

VAN FREDENBERG, HENRY ABSALOM--One of the ablest writers in the

State to-day; one who has such command of words that they are as

playthings to a child; a remarkable linguist; mathematician,

botanist, chemist, geologist, and all-round naturalist, with

abilities which his own modesty and lack of self-appreciation prevent

him from fully recognizing--is the genius who is doing editorial work

on an Orange County paper to-day. The writer of these lines has for

many years known the gentleman, worked side by side with him, tried

to fathom the depth and height, the breadth and length of his

marvelous mentality. While it is a pleasure to make record of these

facts, it is done with hesitation for fear of misconception,

misconstruction, and misinterpretation. Henry Absalom Van Fredenberg

was born in the town of Montague, Sussex County, N. J., December 30,

1849. His parents were the late Aaron Van Fredenberg and Marie De Witt

Van Fredenberg. His parents, in 1850, moved from Montague, N. J., to

Sparrowbush, N. Y., where his youth was passed. He was educated in

the public schools and in Professor A. B. Wilbur's seminary in Port

Jervis, and at an early age became a school teacher. He taught in

Sparrowbush, Sanfordville, Mount Hope, Otisville, Slate Hill, and

Deckertown (now Sussex), N. J. In Deckertown he became interested in

journalism and edited the _Sussex Independent_ for several years. He

edited the Port Jervis _Daily Union,_ the Washington (N. J.) _Star,_

and the Mauch Chunk (Pa.) _Coal Gazette_ and _Daily Times_ in

succession. In 1885 he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he served as

editor-in-chief of the _Lumber World, Milling World, The American

Tanner,_ the _Iron Industry Gazette,_ the _American Woodworker,_ and

the _Factory and Dealers' Supply World._ In that city he served as

associate editor of _The Magazine of Poetry,_ now merged with _Poet

Lore,_ of Boston, Mass. In 1898 he returned to Orange County, making

his home in Sparrowbush. Mr. Van Fredenberg succeeded the late Erwin

G. Fowler as editor of the _Orange County Farmer_ in 1899 (now the

_New York Farmer_), and is in that position at this date (March,

1908), making the _New York Farmer_ an authority on all dairy

matters, and quoted extensively wherever dairy interests have an

intelligent force.

STIVERS, LEWIS STEWART--Lewis Stewart Stivers was born in the town

of Wawayanda, Orange County, April 20, 1859, the oldest son of Hon.

Moses D. and Mary Elizabeth Stewart Stivers. After his parents

removed to Middletown he attended the public schools in that city and

the Wallkill Academy, and then entered Peekskill Military Academy,

from which he graduated in 1876. On concluding his studies, he

entered the office of the _Middletown Press,_ of which his father was

then editor and part owner and in 1891 he and his brother, John D.

Stivers, began the publication of the _Middletown Daily Times_ and

the _Orange County Times,_ the latter a semi-weekly issue. He was

united in marriage, in Middletown, with Miss Cora D. Mackey, daughter

of John Mackey, who, for many years, was connected with the Orange

County Foundry Company. Mr. Stivers died October 30, 1905, deeply

lamented by everyone who knew him, for he was the soul of honor, the

friend of all; courteous, amiable, generous.

SLAUSON, JOHN WHITING--Many bright minds have been engaged in the

field of Orange County journalism. It is not vaunting to say that one

of the keenest of these was he who made his entrance into active

newspaper life October 15, 1872, by the purchase of the _Orange

County Press_ of Stivers & Kessinger at Middletown, and under him the

_Press,_ already influential and highly respected, became one of the

leading Republican journals of the State. Mr. Slauson remained with

the _Press_ thirty-three years, associating in its management with F.

Stanhope Hill one year, the Hon. Moses D. Stivers seven years, and

Charles J. Boyd twenty-five years, retiring from the printing

business in 1906. In all these years the _Press_ property became very

valuable, owning one of the finest locations in Middletown, and

conducted in such a manner that it was a positive pleasure to be

employed therein. Mr. Slauson is a writer of ability, using the

choicest language in diction, structure in phrasing, and style

enriched with the higher graces of composition. John Whiting Slauson

was born September 18, 1846, in the town of Greenville, this county.

His father was David Slauson, and his mother was Antoinette, daughter

of John Whiting, a member of a prominent Connecticut family. Mr.

Slauson attended the Westtown Academy and the Dolbear School for

Young Men in New York City, and at the age of twenty began teaching

in the public schools of the county, and after filling an unexpired

term as school commissioner of the Second District of Orange County,

he purchased an interest in the _Press_ and thenceforth devoted

himself to journalism. In 1875 Mr. Slauson married Miss Olivia,

daughter of Horatio R. Wilcox, of Middletown. For over twenty-five

years Mr. Slauson has been a member of the New York State Press

Association, was one of its vice-presidents in 1894, and is still an

active member of the Republican Editorial Association of this State.

Mr. Slauson's reputation for fair dealing and steady adherence to the

principles of the Golden Rule in all relations of life, have earned

for him the merited esteem of his townsmen generally, and the highest

regard of those who know him best--a pleasure falling to the writer

many years ago, and he cherishes the friendship thus formed as one of

the pleasantest incidents in his life.

MACARDELL, CORNELIUS--An important factor in Orange County

journalism entered when Cornelius Macardell came, and a distinct loss

when he passed away. He founded the _Daily Argus_ in 1876 at

Middletown and in 1878 consolidated the _Argus_ and _Mercury._ In

1896 he turned the control of the paper over to his son, Cornelius,

and his official connection with journalism ceased from that date.

Cornelius Macardell was born at Darien, Georgia, October 24, 1837,

the son of Cornelius and Rebecca Campbell Macardell, and returned

with his family to New York in 1841. He was educated in the public

schools of Brooklyn, and then, after a few years of reporting for the

city papers, became interested in a newspaper venture in New Orleans.

In 1861 he came North, entered Wall street, New York, and in 1866

became a member of the Stock Exchange. A few years later he retired

from the street and bought a farm near Mount Hope in Orange County.

In 1877 be again became active in Wall street, but he sold out his

seat in the Stock Exchange a number of years ago. For years Mr.

Macardell was interested in banking in Middletown, and was elected

president of the First National Bank in 1891. He was also interested

in many ways with other business institutions in Middletown, and his

business life was full of activities. In 1860 Mr. Macardell married

Esther, daughter of Oliver and Penelope Crawford, of near Middletown.

Mr. Macardell died April 9. 1904, lamented by everyone who knew the

genial, kindly old gentleman.

THOMPSON, GEORGE H.--An able journalist of the fourth generation in

Orange County was George H. Thompson, whose work began on the

_Middletown Mercury_ about 1873. He was educated at Williams College,

had a good style in writing, and was one of the brightest and most

satirical writers in the county. He also made a good editor and until

his death, a few years ago, kept the columns of the _Argus_ and the

_Mercury_ alive with his bright sayings and well-rounded sentences.

Mr. Thompson was at one time president of the Board of Education of

Middletown, and for a short time was postmaster under President

Cleveland. His wife was a daughter of Colonel D. C. Dusenberry, but

both have passed away, leaving one daughter, Maysie Thompson.

WINCHESTER, REV. CHARLES M.--About 1874 the Rev. Charles M.

Winchester, who came to Middletown from one of the New England States

to preach temperance and the Gospel according to the Free Christian

Church, started the _Standard,_ an afternoon paper, and forthwith

engaged in newspaper work of the most lively character. To say that

affairs grew hot in Middletown for a year or two, is to state facts

very moderately. Mr. Winchester was bubbling over with his ideas of

theology, temperance and morals, and his powers of invective seemed

unlimited. He preached Sundays and through the week in tents and

other places, and hurled his javelins of wit, of satire, of

denunciation, of imprecation, and execration orally from the pulpit,

and daily through his paper. The _Standard_ was finally purchased by

the _Mercury_ people, and Mr. Winchester went to New York, where he

died a year or two ago.

SALMON, FRED R.--Fred R. Salmon, the present business manager of the

_New York Farmer_ and the Port Jervis _Daily Union_ and _Tri-States

Union_ plants, was born at Susquehanna, Pa., January 18, 1858. His

parents were Charles M. and Jeannette Russell Salmon. The family

removed to Port Jervis and then to Honesdale, in both of which places

Mr. Salmon attended schools, graduating from the Honesdale High

School. He entered the office of the Port Jervis _Union_ in April,

1877, as bookkeeper for his brother-in-law, Charles St. John. In 1884

he entered into partnership with Mr. St. John under the firm name of

St. John & Salmon. In 1895 they organized the Tri-States Publishing

Company, as its sole owners. This concern continued until October 1,

1907, when Mr. Salmon purchased Mr. St. John's interest, and became

the sole owner of the stock. October 6, 1889, Mr. Salmon married

Miss Flora Dunning, daughter of Joseph and Clara Owen Dunning, of

near Middletown. For several years Mr. Salmon was secretary of the

Republican County Committee and prominent in the councils of his

party. He is now a member of the Civil Service Commission of the new

city of Port Jervis; is a member of the Board of Education; is

trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, and a trustee of the Port

Jervis Board of Trade.

DRAKE, FRANK M.--The present editor of the Goshen _Independent

Republican_ is Frank Drake, who became connected therewith as part

owner January 1, 1883, and sole owner in March, 1892. Mr. Drake is a

practical printer, an able writer, and is a "worthy son of a worthy

sire." His father was Victor M. Drake, one of the Nestors of Orange

County journalism, and the son is giving in the semi-weekly issues of

his _Independent Republican_ evidence that the "journalistic

instincts" of the father have descended to the son. He is a Democrat

of the conservative type; is sprightly in his treatment of all

subjects, and deftly sprinkles a bit of attic salt in much of the

palatable literary provender that he sets before his readers. Mr.

Drake was born at Newton, N. J., in 1855, and after his school days

he entered the office of the _Independent Republican,_ after his

parents removed to Goshen, and became an apprentice in 1874, at the

age of nineteen years. He never found it necessary or advisable to

migrate, and it is fitting that he should find his life work in the

very office in which the genius of his gifted father for so many long

years was exercised for the public good. Mr. Drake is unmarried.

KETCHUM, GEORGE F.--With the establishment at Warwick in 1885 of the

_Warwick Valley Dispatch_ there entered the arena of Orange County

journalism a champion who has proven his right to become a leader.

George F. Ketchum, who founded the _Dispatch,_ is the son of the late

George W. Ketchum and Elizabeth Strang Wright. George F. Ketchum has

made his _Dispatch_ the leading Democratic paper in the county, by

reason of his unquestioned honesty of purpose, his fearless but

always fair and courteous advocacy of principles which he believed

conducive to the public weal, his persistent, aggressive efforts, and

his fair treatment of all opponents. Mr. Ketchum has been for more

than a decade the chairman of the Democratic County Committee--a

position that he has not held through mere favoritism, but by reason

of the force of character and the indomitable energy that has

characterized his whole public career.

BOYD, CHARLES J.--About 1880 Charles J. Boyd became interested in

newspaper work through partnership with John W. Slauson, under the

the name of Slauson & Boyd, as publishers of the _Middletown Press._

Mr. Boyd remained with the _Press_ until it was merged with the

_Times_ in 1906, when he retired from the work, to engage in

insurance and real estate business. Mr. Boyd was a first-class

newspaper man in every particular. He wrote a good article, had neat

descriptive powers, good judgment, clear discernment and

discrimination, and his work was ever in evidence on the Press. It

would seem that one so clever, so well endowed by nature for

newspaper work, should have remained in the field. Mr. Boyd was

supervisor of his ward for a number of years, and made one of the

most efficient members of the county legislature. He was also by

appointment one of the Prison Commissioners of the State.

STIVERS, JOHN D.--In 1891 John D. Stivers entered actively into

journalistic duties, though he had been connected therewith more or

less all his life. In that year the _Middletown Times_ came into

existence, and he became its normal editor. Since the lamented death

of his father, the Hon. Moses D. Stivers, in February, 1895, John D.

Stivers has been the real head and front of the establishment. Mr.

Stivers is a young man who deservedly stands well with his party and

the public. Through its well-written editorials, its daily supply of

the local and general news served in the most concise and acceptable

manner, the _Times_ is a power in politics and in general thought

that needs to be reckoned with by politicians and caterers to the

public in any form whatever. John Dunning Stivers was born August 30,

1861, at Middletown, N. Y., the second son of the Hon. Moses D. and

Mary Elizabeth Stewart Stivers. He attended the public schools of

Middletown and Wallkill Academy, where the rudiments of his education

were obtained, and later Peekskill Military Academy, from which

institution he was graduated in 1878, at the age of seventeen years.

He then began his journalistic career, entering the office of the

Middletown _Press_ as bookkeeper and later filling the position of

city editor. Resigning from the _Press,_ Mr. Stivers became private

secretary to his father, the Hon. Moses D. Stivers, during his term

as Member of Congress from this district. Upon the latter's

retirement from office, John D. Stivers returned to Middletown, and,

with his brother, Lewis S. Stivers, established the _Middletown

Times._ After the death of his father, he was elected to take the

latter's place as trustee of the Orange County Trust Company. Mr.

Stivers was appointed a member of the Board of Managers of the

Middletown State Hospital by Governor Morton, and was secretary of

the Board for several years, and until the reorganization of the

asylum management throughout the State by Governor Odell.

NICKINSON, ALBERT E.--Albert E. Nickinson, the present treasurer and

general business manager of the Middletown _Argus_ and _Mercury,_ was

born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 8, 1863. He was a son of John

Nickinson and Elizabeth J. Phillips. Albert E. was educated in the

public schools of Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Suffern, N. Y. He

entered the employ of the _Argus_ and _Mercury_ in 1888, remained

until 1901, and returned to the office upon its reorganization as a

new company in 1906. Mr. Nickinson is a good business man, and when

necessary can wield a descriptive pen. On November 28, 1889, Mr.

Nickinson and Miss Penelope Macardell were married.

SPEIDEL, MERRITT C.--The present efficient associate business manager

of the Port Jervis _Daily Union, Tri-States Union_ and _New York

Farmer_ is Merritt C. Speidel. He was born May 19, 1879, in Port

Jervis, son of Martin and Hannah M. Patterson Speidel, members of

well-known Deerpark families. During his student days he frequently

wrote for the local newspapers, and on October 25, 1897, he became

employed in the business department of the Tri-States Publishing

Company, and several months later became reporter for the Port Jervis

_Daily Union,_ and then successively city editor, associate editor,

and editor. January 1, 1904, he became associate business manager of

the Tri-States Publishing Co., and in January, 1908, became secretary

and a director of the company. Mr. Speidel, though a young man, has

been much identified with local public affairs and is now serving his

seventh year as secretary of the Port Jervis Board of Trade; is one

of the Health Commissioners; is president of the Deerpark

organization of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.

POWERS, HENRY P.--Henry P. Powers, city editor and desk man of the

Middletown _Daily Argus_ and semi-weekly _Mercury,_ was born at

Groton, Tompkins County, N. Y., June 30, 1857, a son of Jacob B.

Powers and Nancy G. Bouton. He early developed a love for the

printing trade and entered the office of the _Groton Journal,_ when a

lad, as apprentice, serving there seven years, and about eighteen

years ago he came into Orange County and located at Middletown. For a

year and a half he was employed as city editor of the Middletown

_Daily Press._ In January, 1903, he became reporter for and then

city editor of the _Daily Argus._ Mr. Powers is a thoroughly good

newspaper man; active, reliable, a ready writer, of good

discrimination, and he is a valuable addition to Orange County

journalism. Mr. Powers was twice married. His first wife died at

Groton twenty-two years ago. His second wife was Miss Minnie L. Hill,

daughter of John W. Hill, of Middletown.

GREGG, GEORGE F.--In January, 1903, George F. Gregg, in company with

John B. Scott, became part owner of the _Goshen Democrat,_ and

September 1, 1905, he became sole owner of the same. To say that he

has made the _Democrat_ a bright, newsy, weekly paper is to express

the fact mildly but justly. He is a vigorous writer, with a fervor

and animation that is born of the intensity of earnestness and zeal,

and he is surely making the _Democrat_ read by friends and political

foes. In 1906 Mr. Gregg was elected supervisor of the town of Goshen,

and again in 1907, and brings to this public office the same

earnestness, push and capacity that characterizes his work as an

editor. Mr. Gregg is yet a young man, and he is in a fair way to be

one of the leaders of thought and action in Orange County. George F.

Gregg was born at Walden, N. Y., April 30, 1875. His parents were

Edgar M. Gregg, of Walden, and Rose L. Faron, of Corning, N. Y. His

education was at the public schools. He passed several years in

Chenango County, this State. For a short time he was connected with

the advertising department of the New York _Times._ He was also in

the Ordnance Department of the United States Navy, in the naval

magazine at Fort Lafayette. Mr. Gregg seemed to have an "intuitive

leaning" to journalistic work, for in addition to his service on the

New York _Times,_ we find he was fifteen years in newspaper work,

several of which were in the office of the "now esteemed

contemporary," the _Independent Republican._ For two years he was

city editor of the _Middletown Argus,_ immediately prior to

purchasing an interest in the _Goshen Democrat._ The good work he is

doing in the columns of that old paper, and the esteem in which he is

held by the people of Goshen, as shown by his being twice chosen as

supervisor of the town, is evidence that he has found his life's work

and its field. Mr. Gregg and Miss Jane A. Brundage, of Newark, N. J.,

were married July 11, 1900.

TAFT, LYMAN H.--One of the most thoroughly independent editors in the

county is Lyman H. Taft, of the Montgomery _Standard-Reporter,_ who

was born December 5, 1865, at Oneida Valley, Madison County, N. Y.

His father was Thomas J. Taft, and his mother was Jane Baum, whose

father, Rev. John Baum, was a Methodist minister at Mendenville,

N. Y. The parents went to the Pennsylvania oil country, when Lyman

was but three months old, and settled at Warren, Pa. He attended the

Warren high school, leaving the same to enter the office of the

Warren _Ledger_ (1877), where he served an apprenticeship of three

years, and then traveled over the country, working as a journeyman

printer, and visited forty States of the Union. September 1, 1888, he

arrived at Montgomery, purchased the _Recorder_ and in 1898 the

_Standard,_ and consolidated the two papers under the title of the

_Standard and Reporter._

MacGOWAN, HORACE A.--Horace A. MacGowan, city editor of the

Middletown _Daily Argus,_ was born January 7, 1877, near Circleville,

this county, a son of John Nelson and Julia Woodruff MacGowan, and

of Scotch ancestry. His parents removed to Middletown when Horace was

but four years of age, and he attended the schools until thirteen

years of age, when (July, 1891) he entered the employ of the

Middletown _Daily Press,_ where he remained fifteen years. When the

_Press_ was merged with the _Times,_ Mr. MacGowan, February 1, 1906,

became city editor of the Middletown _Daily Argus,_ which position he

still holds. Mr. MacGowan has time and again proven his capability as

a good writer and newspaper man by work of recognized merit. April

23, 1903, he married Miss Elizabeth Tappan, daughter of Mrs.

Catherine Tappan, of Middletown.

MACARDELL, CORNELIUS, JR.--Cornelius Macardell was educated in the

public schools of Middletown, and entered the office of the _Argus_

in 1891, becoming publisher of the _Argus_ and _Mercury_ in 1896, and

continuing in that capacity until the formation of the corporation in

March, 1906. He is president of the Argus and Mercury Company.

RICHARDS, MARK V.--The city editor of the Port Jervis _Gazette_ since

1905 is Mark V. Richards, an industrious, alert reporter, a

descriptive writer, and a conscientious, painstaking worker. Mr.

Richards was born in Port Jervis, February 24, 1880, the son of David

S. and Martha Isadore Bunting Richards. Mark V. Richards graduated

from the Port Jervis High School, June 24, 1898. He began newspaper

work, January 2, 1897, as a paper carrier for the _Gazette._ In the

year and a half thus employed he was constantly picking up bits of

news for the _Gazette,_ often writing them out in such readable form

that he attracted the attention of Editors Nearpass and Bennet, with

the result that at the first opportunity he was engaged as reporter

for the _Gazette._ This work he began in September, 1898, and

continued until 1905, when he became city editor. July 7, 1903, he

married Miss Bertha E. Lobb, of Honesdale, Pa.

SHIMER, EVI--The present business manager of the Port Jervis

_Gazette_ is Evi Shimer. He has held that position since April 1,

1886. Mr. Shimer was born December 8, 1860, on the old Shimer

homestead in Montague, Sussex County, N. J. His parents were Abram

and Adaline Cuddeback Shimer. When Evi was about seven years of age,

the family moved to Port Jervis, where he attended the public

schools. Later he graduated from the Binghamton Business College.

After that he was ten years in the wholesale hardware business in

New York City. April 1, 1886, he returned to Port Jervis and became

business manager of the _Gazette_ establishment, which position he

still holds. Mr. Shimer was for four years one of the trustees of the

village of Port Jervis. In November, 1888, Mr. Shimer and Miss Susan

A. Donaldson were married.

BROWN, MELVIN H.--The present city editor of the Middletown

_Times-Press_ is Melvin Halstead Brown, an alert worker and ready

writer. He was born at Otisville, N. Y., December 25, 1867, a son of

Orville and Emeline Ketcham Brown. Melvin H. attended the public

schools at Paterson, N. J., and later in Middletown and the Wallkill

Academy. He learned the printer's trade in the _Argus_ office,

beginning at the age of fifteen years. When the Middletown _Times_

was started he became a compositor thereon, later foreman of the

composing room, and twelve years ago became a reporter, which

position, and that of city editor, he has since filled. His wife was

Miss Anaina, daughter of Alderman and Mrs. George Miller.

RUSSELL, ALEXANDER W.--One of the ablest editorial writers on the

country press of to-day is the young man who is on the staff of the

Middletown _Times-Press,_ Alexander W. Russell. He is alert to

events of local as well as of State, national and international

importance, and treats them in a most able manner, in language that

is choice, pleasing and expressive. Mr. Russell was born at New

Berlin, Chenango County, N. Y., April 14, 1865. His parents were

Edward and Elinor Tillinghast Russell. He learned the trade of a

printer in the office of the Brookfield _Courier,_ at Brookfield,

Madison County, N. Y. Later, he attended Hobart College at Geneva,

N. Y., leaving there in 1886, to become city editor of the Oneida

_Union,_ Oneida, N. Y., which position he filled for ten years, at

the end of which time he became city editor of the Brockton, Mass.,

_Gazette,_ where he remained two years. Soon after this he came to

Middletown, N. Y., where he has since remained, and has been on the

_Times-Press_ editorial staff since 1906.

MACARDELL, ABRAM B.--Abram Bennet Macardell, the editor of the

_Argus_ and _Mercury,_ and vice-president and secretary of the

Argus and Mercury Publishing Company, was born at Mount Hope, this

county, a son of Cornelius and Esther Crawford Macardell. In January,

1886, the family removed to Middletown, and he was educated in the

public schools there and graduated from Wallkill Academy in 1897, a

member of the last class to graduate from that time-honored and

historic institution, which, after that year, became the Middletown

High School. He entered Hamilton College and graduated in 1901. In

November, 1902, he entered the _Argus_ office and succeeded George H.

Thompson as editor at his death in May, 1904. He was active in the

formation of the Argus and Mercury Company in March, 1906. Mr.

Macardell is an easy, graceful writer, and, while "young in the

harness," is doing good editorial work.

STAGE, ALBERT L.--The present city editor of the Port Jervis _Daily

Union_ is Albert Louis Stage. He was born in the town of Lumberland,

Sullivan County, N. Y., June 8, 1876. His parents were Albert and

Caroline Cowen Stage. He attended the public schools at Barryville,

N. Y., and Equinunk, Pa., qualified himself for teaching, and for

several years was thus engaged in the public schools at Blooming

Grove, Greeley, Mast Hope, and Flagstone, Pa. Later, for a time, he

was a salesman for Rand, McNally & Co., educational and book

publishers, of New York City. During 1904 he was employed in the

wholesale house of E. P. & E. Kinney, spices, coffees, teas and

groceries, in Binghamton, N. Y. In March, 1905, he became city editor

of the Port Jervis _Union,_ which position he has since most

acceptably filled.

STIVERS, DR. MOSES A.--Moses Asby Stivers was born in Middletown,

November 14, 1872, the youngest son of the Hon. Moses D. and Mary

Elizabeth Stewart Stivers. He graduated in the Middletown schools,

and became bookkeeper in the Middletown _Times_ when it was first

started. Later he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in

New York City in 1894. Dr. Stivers is a practicing physician in

Middletown, is connected with Thrall Hospital, and is now secretary

and treasurer of the Stivers Printing Company, of which his brother,

John D. Stivers, is president, printing the _Daily Times-Press._ He

is a young man of superior mental qualities and ever amiable and

courteous.

CALLED ELSEWHERE.

Among the newspaper men, aside from those already mentioned, who have

come and gone--some to their final reward, others to new or different

fields of labor--who were more or less important actors on this stage

of life's industry, were some who were peculiarly adapted to

journalistic work and had rendered highly satisfactory service in

their day. Among such were:

HOLBROOK, DANIEL--Daniel Holbrook, who, in 1862, bought the

_Tri-States Union_ in Port Jervis--a college graduate, a linguist,

scholar, and able writer, a native of Boston. After less than a

decade of newspaper work, he sold the plant, and has since been

engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Port Jervis, and

is now justice of the peace and police justice in the city of Port

Jervis.

SLAWSON, WILLIAM G.--William G. Slawson was, in the '70's, one of the

liveliest reporters that ever labored in Middletown, and he kept the

columns of the _Press_ teeming with his clever work. He has been for

several years in other work, lately at Cleveland, Ohio.

SHIER, JAMES J.--James J. Shier, a graduate of the Middletown

_Mercury and Argus,_ was city editor there some time, and in the

'80's went to Port Jervis and secured an interest in the _Gazette,_

where he remained until he died, June 2, 1893.

HELLER, BURRELL--An old Milford and Port Jervis printer and a good

writer and reporter was Burrell Heller, who died late in the '80's.

He was employed in various capacities on the Port Jervis papers,

latterly as reporter on the Port Jervis _Gazette._

YOUNG, CHARLES O.--Charles O. Young, of Port Jervis, admitted to the

bar as a lawyer in the '80's, son of the late Oliver Young (a

prominent lawyer of Port Jervis), edited the Port Jervis _Daily

Union_ several years. He is a most accomplished writer, highly

educated, a scholar, a linguist, and a man of high literary tastes.

He prefers literature to law, and the Port Jervis papers are

occasionally favored with emanations from his gifted pen.

WILLIS, EVANDER B.--Evander B. Willis appeared in Middletown early in

the '60's, and learned the printer's trade, later becoming an expert

stenographer, then reporter and editor, and for a time conducted the

Middletown _Mail._ He was born at Unionville. Early in the '70's he

went to California and became court stenographer.

BENNET, JAMES--One of the men who figured prominently in the

western end of orange County newspaper circles for about a quarter of

a century was James Bennet, of Port Jervis. He was a good newspaper

man and had a knack for seeing the droll side of events and for

putting the same into print, and some of his "yarns" were extremely

witty. Mr. Bennet is the youngest son of James and Sarah Westfall

Bennet, and he was born at Carpenter's Point (now Tri-States, and a

part of the Fourth Ward of the city of Port Jervis). James Bennet

graduated at the famous old Mount Retirement Seminary in Sussex

County, N. J., near Deckertown (now Sussex), in 1863. He studied

medicine two years, and abandoned the same to go into the flour and

feed business in Port Jervis. In 1886 he accepted a position in the

business and editorial department of the Port Jervis _Gazette,_ and

became associate editor. In 1889 he went with the _Union,_ remaining

there fifteen months, and then returned to his former position with

the _Gazette,_ where he remained until 1906, when he resigned to go

into the insurance business--the retreat of so many old newspaper

men. His wife was Alice Stiles, daughter of the late Edward A.

Stiles, for so many useful years the principal and proprietor of the

Mount Retirement Seminary.

BARRET, LEON--One of the brightest cartoonists of the metropolis,

Leon Barret, began his work in Orange County, having come to

Middletown in the '70's, where he conducted a book and stationery

store at the corner of James and King streets. He soon developed a

talent for drawing that attracted the notice of newspaper men, and

Messrs. Macardell and Thompson found a place for him on the _Argus

and Mercury,_ and eventually took him into partnership. His artistic

ability so rapidly improved, however, as to receive recognition from

the New York press, and severing his connection with the _Argus_ he

went to the metropolis, where a wider field was afforded for the

exercise of his remarkable talents, and where he has won fame and

standing.

WHEAT, WALLACE B.--Wallace B. Wheat, for the past twenty-five or

thirty years, has been connected with the Port Jervis _Gazette_ as

typesetter and reporter, and for many years has been the local

representative of the New York _World._

BENNET, JAMES EDWARD--James Edward Bennet was the son of James

Bennet, and for four years was a reporter for and city editor of the

Port Jervis _Gazette,_ and is now a practicing lawyer in New York

City.

PINE, COL. CHARLES N.--Col. Charles N. Pine was an old Philadelphia

journalist who, in the '90's, passed his last years on the Port

Jervis _Gazette,_ going there from Milford. He was brainy and

brilliant. He died in Port Jervis, October 26, 1894.

BAILEY, WILLIAM P.--William F. Bailey through the '90's was one of

the most alert reporters that Middletown ever had. He was a graduate

of the _Press_ office, and his work was always in the lead. He is now

in the insurance business in New York City.

GIBBS, WHITFIELD--Whitfield Gibbs was, for a short time, in Orange

County journalism, having been the owner of the _Walden Citizen_ late

in the '90's. Mr. Gibbs now resides at Hackettstown, N. J. He is an

able writer, and a good newspaper man.

CRANE, STEPHEN--Stephen Crane, the gifted author of "The Red Badge

of Courage" and other tales, and magazine and newspaper articles,

began his literary career in Port Jervis, and did reporting a short

time on the _Daily Union._ His father was a resident of that city,

pastor of Drew M. E. Church, and died in that city.

COREY, HORACE W.--Though connected with journalism only briefly and

through his interest in the Middletown _Sunday Forum_ (1897-99),

Horace W. Corey gave evidence of unique ability in that work which,

pursued, would have brought reward and fame. His "sermons" and other

satires were features that "pointed morals" where much needed.

PENDELL, THOMAS--Thomas Pendell came into Orange County through

Cornwall (1889) and to Middletown in 1898-99 on the _Forum;_ later on

the _Argus,_ and again on the _Forum,_ which he removed to Massena,

N. Y. He is a ready writer, a rapid worker, a practical printer, and

one of the best all-round newspaper men that have ever tarried in

Orange County. He is now publishing a paper at Peekskill.

BLANCHARD, FRANK L.--Frank L. Blanchard, of New York, was connected

with the Middletown _Forum_ from December, 1907, to March or April,

1908. He is a good writer.

IN THE HARNESS.

Connected with the newspapers at the present time one finds an array

of rising talent, the fourth generation of workers since journalism

gained a foothold in Orange County.

WILSON, FREDERICK WILLIAM--In Newburgh the Newburgh _Daily News_ has

as editor Frederick William Wilson. To the energy and ability of

Frederick W. Wilson, editor of the Newburgh _Daily News_ and

president and treasurer of the Newburgh News Printing and Publishing

Co., is due in great measure the success that newspaper has achieved

as a business proposition, and also its recognized standing among the

leading newspapers of the State.

Mr. Wilson's connection with the _News_ dates almost from its

inception, when as a lad in his teens he entered the business office

of the paper in its second year of publication as bookkeeper. The

founder of the _News,_ the late William H. Keefe, was not slow to

recognize the aptitude of the young man for the business, and in his

twentieth year he practically had the entire business management of

the then very modest _News_ establishment in his hands, Mr. Keefe

confining himself principally to the editorial conduct of the young

and rapidly growing paper.

Mr. Wilson was born October 8, 1869, near Brighton, the renowned

watering-place in the south of England. His father, Henry Wilson, was

a surgeon in the British navy and saw service in the Crimean War. He

died when the subject of this biography was but ten years old. After

his death his widow, Sarah Jane Cleaver, daughter of a prominent

woolen goods manufacturer and former mayor of Northampton, came to

Newburgh, where an older son, Dr. Henry Wilson, was established in

the practice of medicine. Other relatives lived in New York and the

New England States. She died here in 1894, leaving, besides the two

sons mentioned, two daughters, Kathryn and Maude, both of whom are

married and live in New York City.

Young Wilson evinced an early aptitude for literary work, and having

completed his education, frequently contributed to the _News,_ which

about that time was started by its founder.

In 1896 a company was organized to conduct the _News._ Mr. Wilson was

one of the incorporators and directors, and at the meeting of the

board of directors was chosen secretary and treasurer. Mr. Keefe was

elected president. On the latter's death, in 1901, Mr. Wilson

succeeded to the presidency of the company. He immediately set on

foot plans for the enlargement of the paper and the betterment of its

mechanical equipment. One of these was the introduction of

typesetting machines. Next the large double brick building, Nos. 40

and 42 Grand street, was purchased and remodeled into an up-to-date

newspaper and printing plant at an outlay for alterations alone

exceeding $15,000. A perfecting press (the first in the city) was

installed therein, and the building was equipped with every known

contrivance to facilitate the work of production of a modern

newspaper. The plant and equipment to-day represent an investment of

over $100,000, and the home of the _News_ is regarded as one of the

most complete and handsome newspaper establishments in the State.

Simultaneously with the removal of the _News_ to its new home (in the

spring of 1902), Mr. Wilson changed the appearance of the paper by

discarding the old-fashioned nine-column "blanket" sheet for the

modern seven-column folio form--an innovation at that time for small

city dailies, but now generally in vogue. The history of the paper

under his direction has been one of evolution, progress and marked

success.

Besides being a fluent and forceful writer, Mr. Wilson possesses rare

business tact and executive ability--a combination seldom found in

newspaper men.

He is a moving spirit in all that makes for the welfare and growth of

Newburgh and is an earnest advocate both through his paper and

orally, of progress and enterprise in municipal matters. He is

actively identified with the work of the Business Men's Association

for a "greater Newburgh," and is the chairman of the committee which

has in hand the arrangements for Newburgh's part in the celebration

of the tercentenary of the discovery of the Hudson River and the

centennial of the navigation of its waters by Robert Fulton's

Clermont, to be held in September, 1909.

Mr. Wilson early displayed a liking for politics, his first

inclination in that direction finding vent in the organization of a

juvenile "Tippecanoe Club," which participated in the local parades

of the Harrison campaign of 1888. Later he took part in the

organization of a club of young voters known as the Union League

Club. The one hundred and fifty members unanimously elected him

president.

He has always been an admirer and earnest supporter of former

Governor Odell. He was a delegate to the State convention at Saratoga

in 1900, when Mr. Odell was first nominated for the governorship, and

again in 1902, when he was renominated. He was also a delegate to the

convention of 1904, which nominated Higgins, and to that of 1906,

when Governor Hughes was nominated. He has himself never desired or

held public office, but has been a factor in putting many of his

friends in elective and appointive positions of trust.

Mr. Wilson enlisted in the Tenth Separate Company at the age of

eighteen and served six years. He volunteered to return to the ranks

at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War and was offered a

commission, but the company was not ordered to the front.

He is active in social as well as business life, being a member of

the Powelton Club, City Club and Newburgh Wheelmen, the Old Orchard

Club of Middletown, and the Press Club and Republican Club of New

York. He is a past exalted ruler of Newburgh Lodge of Elks; a member

of Continental Lodge No. 287, F. and A. M.; Jerusalem Chapter No. 8,

R. A. M.; Palestine Commandery No. 18, K. T.; New York Consistory,

Scottish Rite, 32nd deg; Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine;

president of the Wilbur H. Weston Shriners' Association; president of

the Newburgh Automobile Club, and a member of the New York State and

American Automobile Associations.

Mr. Wilson resides in a handsome residence owned by him at 268

Liberty street, Newburgh.

RUTTENBER, J. W. F.--The editor of the Newburgh _Telegram_ is

J. W. F. Ruttenber, who was born at Newburgh, N. Y., December 14,

1857. After receiving a good education in the public schools of his

native city, he became associated in business for several years with

his father, E. M. Ruttenber. Subsequently he embarked in several

newspaper ventures, and finally started the Newburgh _Sunday

Telegram_ in 1889. This is a non-partisan paper, and is especially

devoted to local events and local characters, in the discussion of

which a full opportunity is afforded the editor for the exercise of

that wit and caustic humor, with which he is well equipped. The

_Telegram_ was a success financially from the start and has now

developed into a very valuable newspaper plant.

In Middletown the _Times-Press_ has as editor John D. Stivers; as

editorial writer Alexander W. Russell, and as city editor Melvin

W. Brown. On the _Argus_ the editor is A. B. Macardell, ably assisted

by Henry P. Powers and Horace A. MacGowan as city editors. The _Signs

of the Times_ is published by Gilbert Beebe's Son, with Elders F. A.

Chick and H. C. Ker as editors.

On the Port Jervis _Union_ is Fred R. Salmon, business manager;

Merritt C. Speidel, assistant and formerly city editor; W. T. Doty

as editor, and Albert L. Stage, city editor. On the _Gazette_ is Evi

Shimer, business manager; William H. Nearpass, editor; Mark V.

Richards, city editor, and James Skellinger, assistant. The _New York

Farmer_ is edited by Henry A. Van Fredenberg.

In Goshen Frank Drake is editor and manager of the oldest newspaper

in Orange County, the _Independent Republican;_ and George F. Gregg,

the editor and manager of the next oldest paper, the _Goshen

Democrat._

At Warwick the _Advertiser's_ business manager and editor is Hiram

Tate; while the _Valley Dispatch_ has George F. Ketchum as editor and

business manager.

At Montgomery the old _Standard and Reporter_ has Lyman Taft as

editor and proprietor, with Charles H. Miller as associate editor.

The _Walden Herald's_ editor and proprietor is Ward Winfield; and the

_Citizen_ has a clergyman editor and publisher in the Rev. J. H.

Reid.

At Cornwall-on-Hudson is the _Local-Press,_ with L. G. Goodenough

editor and proprietor.

The _Pine Bush Herald's_ editor and proprietor is George W. Jamison,

a former school teacher and an educated man and good writer.

Monroe has the _Ramapo Valley Gazette_ (started March, 1908), with

J. B. Gregory as publisher and proprietor.

The _Orange County Record_ at Washingtonville has Montanye Rightmyer

as editor and manager.

JUST A FEW REFLECTIONS.

Inspecting the field of Orange County journalism one sees the Glebe

strewn with wrecks of ambitious effort, and sympathy goes out to the

disappointed strugglers, they of tattered aims and ambitions; of

immolated hopes and desires.

Looking at the files and samples of the papers of to-day and the

relics of early journalism in Orange County, one's pride over

progress in certain lines is mixed with humiliation. The old papers

were printed with artistic ideals. The type was neat, the page was

pleasing to the eye, and the printer showed evidence of intelligence.

Words were divided at the ends of lines with some idea of method and

reason; the break-lines were made neat. The old-time compositor who

would have divided "campaign" on the "p" and run "aign" over, or

worse yet, made a break-line of "ed," "ly," or a single or even two

numerals, would have been laughed out of the office by his

companions. The writer will never forget an incident in his own very

early career at the "case," when he divided "Messrs," running the

"srs." over into the next line. It was a long time before he heard

the last of that break, and it was never repeated. To-day one sees

all sorts of divisions--anywhere, everywhere; it matters not whether

it is on the vowel or the syllable or between--it all goes. The

outrage on neatness of a single numeral making a full break-line is

no longer confined to the "blacksmith" who was aiming to gel a "phat

line," but is seen in the work turned out from the marvelous

Mergenthaler Linotype, the excuse being that it "takes too much time"

to space and adjust the line neatly. This same excuse is given for a

lot of other abominations--really intolerable and vexatious--that one

sees in the machine-set newspaper. Really, if modern mechanical

appliances are sweeping the "art preservative" back to the most crude

and primitive specimens of workmanship, there is cause for deep

regret. Neatness should go hand in hand with improved methods and

aids.

The old-time newspaper was not a hand-bill. It was a model of taste

and neatness. The idea of the average editor, publisher and printer

today seems to be how he can make his paper the most hideous to the

eye, and to the aesthetic senses. Big, black type for headlines, and

glaring, sensational, spectacular, flaring "big heads" are the order

of the day.

Compare these modern newspapers with almost any of those printed one

hundred, fifty, forty, thirty years ago. The contrast is so markedly

in favor of the papers printed under the old regime that one who

really loves the art is disgusted with modern printers and printing

as applied to newspapers.

This criticism, it should be borne in mind, is made with reference to

newspapers, and not of "job work." The man who is getting out

bill-heads, letter-heads, etc., is constantly striving for neatness,

and his work is a great advance over that done by his predecessors in

the "job department." This is as it should be.

The modern job printer is an artist; the modern newspaper printer a

botch. The printer may blame the editor or publisher, but that does

not excuse his vile distortions and caricatures on the art. The

publisher or editor may blame the "popular demand" for his efforts to

cater to the sensational and hideous; but that does not help the

matter any, nor does it tend to elevate the art of newspaper

printing.

Journalism, indeed, seems to have fallen, or wandered, into dangerous

or demoralizing ways. This, also, is laid at the door of "popular

demand," etc. The old-time editor had a personality, and this he

infused into the columns of his paper. He was not always right, of

course, but the general tendency of such journalism was to breed a

spirit of independence, of character, of research. The consensus thus

evolved by the masses was wholesome.

To-day the editor is a mere machine. His individuality is suppressed,

and the effort is to keep him entirely under the thumb and rack-screw

of the publisher, who manipulates the finances, the "business" end of

the concern. This publisher generally gets his "cue" from his banker,

who may be his backer, and, who, at any rate, sets the pace for

editorials, news--and in fact the whole tone of the paper. In all

this there is concert. From some great business center the word goes

out, and the newspapers catch up the echo. In this way the

individual, the great personality that once made the newspaper a

power for good, is lost; instead, the press has become a mob--the

most dangerous mob that ever existed, for it comes in the guise of

instruction, of morals, of culture, of learning. Thus masquerading,

journalism to-day is fast lapsing--or rather plunging--into a vortex

that is positively appalling in its aspects. How and when the remedy

will come is of grave concern. The mob may, in sheer desperation,

rend itself, commit hari-kari; or it may go on until in frenzy, the

long-deluded and outraged populace shall rise and revolutionize

newspaperdom.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

FREEMASONRY.

By Charles H. Halstead.

The earliest authentic record of masonry in New York, or in fact in

the American colonies, is the deputation appointing Daniel Coxe, of

New Jersey, to be provincial grand master of New York, New Jersey and

Pennsylvania, signed by the Duke of Norfolk, grand master of the

grand lodge of England, and dated "this fifth day of June, 1730, and

of Masonry 5730."

From that date and until 1781 there were five different masonic

deputations granted to provincial grand masters for New York, by the

grand lodge of England.

During this period there were two provincial grand lodges in the

State of New York, organized at different periods by authority of

rival grand lodges in England, which were termed the "Moderns" and

"Ancients."

In 1813 these two grand bodies united into what is now the "United

Grand Lodge of England."

The provincial grand lodge authorized by the Atholl warrant, dated

September 5, 1781, existed from December 5, 1782, to September 19,

1783. when the British troops evacuated New York City, and as the

grand lodge was essentially a royalist institution, and a majority of

its officers and members were connected with the evacuating army, the

brethren were in a quandary, the solution of which we find in the

minutes of a grand lodge of emergency, held on the nineteenth of

September, 1783, when "The propriety of leaving the grand warrant by

which this lodge is established in the province of New York, being

fully discussed, it was resolved, that the same should be left and

remain in the care of such brethren as may hereafter be appointed to

succeed the present grand officers, the most of whom being under the

necessity of leaving New York upon the removal of his majesty's

troops."

This necessitated the election of a complete new set of officers,

which was immediately done.

The lodges throughout the State, which had received charters from the

"Modern" provincial grand lodge, in the interim between the

dissolution of that body and the organization of the "Ancient"

Provincial grand lodge had pursued an independent existence and

naturally under their existing conditions, were loath to surrender

their warrants to the new body; therefore, it was a number of years

before all the lodges were brought under the control of the new

grand lodge.

This provincial grand lodge, so far as existing records show, made no

returns to the parent grand body, and in all matters acted as an

independent grand lodge.

This state of affairs caused some of the lodges to question the

legality of its proceedings, and the propriety of paying grand lodge

dues.

This question was settled for all time on the sixth of June, 1787, by

the grand lodge adopting the report of a committee which reported:

"Your committee appointed at the last quarterly communication, in

consequence of certain resolutions of St. John's lodge, respecting

the warrant under which the grand lodge is established, report their

opinion as follows, viz.: That the grand lodge of this State is

established, according to ancient and universal usages of masonry,

upon a constitution formed by the representatives of the regular

lodges, convened under a legal warrant from the grand lodge of

England, dated the fifth day of September, in the year of masonry

five thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, the most noble Prince

John the Third, Duke of Atholl, being the then grand master, and your

committee further beg leave to report that, in their opinion, nothing

is necessary or essential in the future proceedings of the grand

lodge upon the subject matter referred to them, but that a committee

be appointed to prepare a draft of the style of warrant to be

hereafter granted by the grand lodge, conformable to the said

constitution. All of which is, nevertheless, most respectfully

submitted to the wisdom of the most worshipful grand lodge." In this

manner the grand lodge declared itself an independent grand body,

supreme within its own jurisdiction. The date of transition of the

grand lodge from a provincial to an independent State masonic

organization might be a subject of difference of opinion, but the

grand lodge, however, numbers its annual communications from the

earlier date, viz., 1781, under the charter issued by the "Ancients."

The grand lodge of the State of New York, under this charter,

guarantees certain rights and privileges to 775 masonic lodges having

a membership (December 31, 1906), of 146,026 master masons.

At different times the grand lodge has been disrupted by internal

strife and schisms which continued several years, but since June,

1858, peace and harmony have prevailed among the fraternity.

The severest trial that freemasonry has had to endure was the

anti-masonic crusade that began in 1826, which assailed the

fraternity throughout the land and resulted in many of the lodges

having their charters forfeited.

A political party was founded at the time on prejudice and hatred.

Politicians mounted the whirlwind, and rode into power on the storm.

Fanatics in the forum, at the bar and in the pulpit inflamed the

passions of men and aroused the bitterest enmity against freemasonry.

Men of the highest social and masonic standing were threatened with

political ostracism; to be a mason was to be an object of suspicion

and often of persecution; the lodge rooms were deserted, charters

were surrendered, and the craft became disheartened at the situation.

Some members of the fraternity openly declared their withdrawal and

were known as "seceding masons" in the community. After ten years of

bitter feeling and hatred against the society of Free and Accepted

Masons, the storm of persecution began to subside; the calmer and

better judgment of men prevailed; the craft took courage and masonic

lodges again opened their doors and resumed labor. In 1840 there was

not a masonic lodge in Orange County.

It would appear from the meager information given in the proceedings

of grand lodge or in the minutes of subordinate lodges in the early

days that the brethren were imbued with the idea that the very

existence of the fraternity depended upon shrouding with great

secrecy their every act and surroundings, consequently very few

details can be gathered concerning matters that would make history.

_Steuben Lodge, No. 18._--The first mention of a masonic lodge in

Orange County is found in the proceedings of grand lodge on the

fourth of June, 1788, where we find this minute: "A petition from

F. A. Morris and nine others praying for a warrant to hold a lodge at

Newburgh, under the name of Steuben. Granted."

The charter was issued to Ebenezer Foote, master; Francis Anderson

Morris, senior warden, and Peter Nestell, junior warden, and was

dated September 27, 1788. It was signed by Robert R. Livingston,

grand master; Richard Harrison, deputy grand master, and Jacob

Morton, grand secretary. Baron de Steuben was an honorary member of

the lodge. The minutes embrace the period between the thirteenth of

November, 1788, and the twenty-seventh of December, 1792. Doubtless

the charter was surrendered soon after 1800, as at the communication

of grand lodge of that year report was made of the irregularities

that prevailed in Steuben lodge. This lodge is among the number whose

charter cannot be revived by resolution of grand lodge.

The charter and minute book of Steuben Lodge, No. 18, are in the

keeping of Hudson River Lodge, No. 607, as custodian.

_St. John's Lodge, No. 21._--Subsequent to the disbandment of the

troops in the war of the Revolution the warrant of St. John's

regimental lodge--the first military lodge warranted by New York or

any provincial masonic power--was taken by some of its members to

Clark's Town, in the county of Orange, and here it remained until

interest was revived in masonry by some of its officers in 1784, who

came at that time under the jurisdiction of the grand lodge.

Lodge meetings were held under this warrant at Warwick as well as at

Clark's Town, when on the twenty-third of December, 1789, a petition

signed by John Smith, David Miller and Thomas Wing, was made to grand

lodge stating that they were the presiding officers of a lodge now

held at Warwick, working under an old warrant and known by the name

of St. John's Lodge, and formerly held at Clark's Town, and praying

that, as the warrant properly belonged to the brethren at Clark's

Town, "a new warrant be issued to them as officers of a lodge to be

held in the county of Orange, on the west side of the mountain, by

the name of St. John's Lodge." The petition was granted and the

warrant dated the twenty-sixth March, 1790. On December 4, 1793, the

proxy of St. John's Lodge stated to grand lodge the low condition of

the funds and offered as a compromise for the amount due the grand

lodge the sum of 10 pounds, which was accepted.

The lodge was represented by proxy in grand lodge as late as 1802,

but does not appear thereafter until June 4, 1819, when "the

numerical designation of St. John's Lodge, No. 19, held at Warwick,

was changed to No. 18." On June 12, 1822, "all lodges in arrears for

dues for three years and upwards were summoned to show cause why

their warrants should not be surrendered," and among the number was

St. John's, No. 18. The charter was declared forfeited on the eighth

of June, 1832, by grand lodge.

_Orange Lodge, No. 45._--At a meeting of grand lodge held on the

second of March, 1796, petitions for warrants were read and among the

number was one "for a lodge to be held in the town of Goshen, by the

name of Orange Lodge." The warrant was dated April 12, 1796.

The lodge was represented by proxy in the grand lodge at the

communication of January 2, 1799, but thereafter we find no mention

of it except in the "list of lodges whose charters cannot be revived

conformable to resolution of grand lodge adopted on the fourth of

June, 1819."

_James' Lodge, No. 65._ On the 6th of September, 1797, a petition was

presented to grand lodge "From Adam I. Doll and others, to hold a

lodge in the town of Middletown, county of Ulster, by the name of

James' Lodge, and the same was referred to the grand officers." At

that time Middletown was embraced in the county of Ulster. The

warrant was dated January 6th, 1798, No other information is

obtainable concerning this lodge, but it appears as one of the

lodges whose charters cannot be revived.

_Montgomery Lodge, No. 71._ The minutes of grand lodge of December

7th, 1796, read: "The petition of Brother John Schmidt and sundry

other brethren, for a warrant to erect and hold a lodge in the town

of Montgomery, county of Ulster, with some accompanying papers, were

then severally read, and referred to the presiding officers of the

grand lodge, with powers to order a warrant to be issued if they find

the applicants deserving." The warrant was not issued, however, until

the 6th of June, 1798, when the dispensation was returned to grand

lodge. The lodge was represented by proxy in grand lodge up to the

4th of March, 1812. The warrant was doubtless forfeited some years

later.

_Olive Branch Lodge, No. 102._ At the communication of grand lodge,

held on the 7th of December, 1803, we find this minute: "A similar

petition from sundry brethren residing in the town of Minisink,

Orange County, praying a warrant for a lodge to be held in said town,

to be known by the name of Olive Branch Lodge, was read and referred

to the grand officers." The lodge was located in the village of West

Town, and its meetings were held on the upper floor of the academy

building. On December 4th, 1811, "Olive Branch Lodge, No. 102, prayed

that the payment of their dues (to grand lodge) might be postponed

until the next year on account of several losses sustained by the

lodge the present year, which was granted." The lodge was reported as

being in arrears for dues for two years and upwards in 1822. The

charter was declared forfeited, June 8, 1832.

_Hiram Lodge, No. 131._ At the communication of grand lodge, held on

the 19th of February, 1806, "A petition from sundry brethren to

establish a lodge at Newburgh, by the name of Hiram Lodge, was read

and the prayer thereof granted." The first officers of the lodge

named in the charter were Jonathan Fisk, master; Charles Baker,

senior warden; John R. Drake, junior warden.

General Lafayette was the guest of Hiram Lodge on the occasion of his

visit to Newburgh on the 14th of September, 1824.