The History of Orange County New York

by Unknown

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.