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.