PETER MOIR BARCLAY, M.D.—Of the physicians and surgeons in Orange County who built up an extensive practice, special mention should be made of the late Dr. Barclay, of Newburgh. He was a son of Dr. Alexander and Mary J. Fraser (Watt) Barclay, and was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, April 20, 1834. His parents came to America in 1835, settling in Newburgh. Here Peter M. received his preliminary education, graduating from the Academy in 1848. In 1850 he began the study of medicine under his father, and graduated from the University of New York in 1854. July 9, 1866, Governor Fenton appointed him surgeon to the 19th Infantry of New York, with the rank of captain. Dr. Barclay was a nonresident member of the Medico-Legal Society of New York, and was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, including the Knights Templar.
He was united in marriage, June 19, 1872, with Miss Harriet E., daughter of Captain C. B. Armstrong. They had one daughter, Maude, now the wife of Mr. John B. Rose, a leading brick manufacturer and representative citizen of Newburgh.
Of Dr. Barclay's skill in his profession it is unnecessary to speak, as his talents were known and appreciated for nearly half a century in this city and adjoining portions of the State. He was also recognized as a leading citizen, performing in a plain and courteous manner the various social duties that devolved upon him. His death occurred in Newburgh, February 10, 1901.
ARTHUR BARNES, senior member of the firm of Barnes & Atkins, is a son of Edgar C. Barnes, and was born and educated in Newburgh. They occupy one of the oldest business houses of its kind in the city; established in 1874 by Matthews & Barnes; succeeded in 1883 by Barnes & Mapes; and in 1890 by E. C. Barnes, and again in 1898 by Barnes & Monell. The present firm purchased the business in 1905. They are smokers and packers of B. & M. Newburgh meats and give employment to twelve men. They are extensive dealers in butter, eggs and cheese.
EDGAR C. BARNES was born in Orange County, N. Y., July 16, 1834. His parents removed to New York City when he was seven years of age, and he received his education in the schools of that city. From 1851 to 1854 Mr. Barnes was employed in the store of A. R. & O. Taylor at Pine Bush, Orange County. He then came to Newburgh and entered the employ of William K. Mailler & Co. as shipping clerk on the barge Newburgh. He filled various positions in the office of the barge until 1874, becoming familiar with the produce commission business. In 1874 he formed a partnership with James H. Mathews under the firm name of Mathews & Barnes, wholesale provision and produce merchants. In 1883 Mr. Mathews retired from the firm and Mr. Albert W. Mapes was admitted thereto, under the firm name of Barnes & Mapes, and so continued until December, 1890. Mr. Barnes continued the business alone until 1898, but removed to a substantial brick building he had erected at 42 South Water street, specially adapted to cold storage. In March of 1898 Mr. Barnes retired from active business life. He is vice-president of the Highland National Bank of Newburgh. Mr. Barnes has not sought prominence in public life, but rather has devoted himself to his business, in which he was eminently successful, and to the work of the church and Sunday-school with which he is connected. He has been twice married, his first wife being M. Theresa Pack, of New York, who died, leaving four children, three of whom are living. Anna, Minnie, and Arthur, his business successor. In 1870 he married Sophie H. Parsons, of Newburgh, N. Y.
GEORGE T. BARNES, son of Gordon and Esther A. (Tate) Barnes, was born in Montgomery, Orange County. He attended school but a short period and in 1881 began his apprenticeship as a tinsmith and plumber, serving seven years. He was employed several years at Middletown by the late George A. Swalm and has resided in Newburgh since 1889. In 1892 he established his present business as a contractor for plumbing, ventilating, steam and hot water heating. Mr. Barnes has given a great deal of study to the most improved and economical systems of heating and ventilating large buildings and his plans have been accepted and installed in many of the palatial homes in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Rhode Island. Among the important plants he has equipped may be mentioned those of the Light, Heat and Power Companies of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, the Chatham, Coxsackie and Rhinebeck electrical stations, and he now has the contract for heating the United States Government buildings at West Point, N. Y. Mr. Barnes' success may be attributed to his close attention to business and fulfilling his contracts to the letter. From a humble beginning he has built up a business in the space of fifteen years, exceeding all others in his line in Orange County. His show rooms at 107 Broadway will compare favorably with any in New York State. In 1895 he married Miss Cory, of Rhode Island, and one daughter has been born to them.
J. MILTON BARNES, flour and grain merchant, of Central Valley, was born in Cornwall, Orange County, in 1844, a son of Matthew and Mary (Van Duser) Barnes. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1876, when he located in Central Valley and engaged in the mercantile business with Alfred Cooper. This partnership continued eight years and was succeeded by Barnes & Thorn, Barnes & Duran, and J. M. Barnes & Co. Mr. Barnes was appointed postmaster of the village in 1885 and again in 1892. Politically he has always been a democrat. In 1884 Mr. Barnes married Miss Hannah, daughter of the late Hon. Morgan Shuit.
ROBERT HIRAM BARNETT, of Newburgh, N. Y., was born in the City of Gloversville, Fulton County, N. Y., on June 13, 1870, being the son of Alfred A. and Bessie Rowell Barnett. His father was born in London, England, and came to this country in the early sixties. The Barnett family is descended from English ancestors who commanded in the battle of Barnett. Through his mother, Mr. Barnett is a Mayflower descendant and is connected with the Fields and Morses, Warren Rowell, the New York inventor, being his maternal great-uncle. Mr. Barnett received his education in the city of Johnstown, N. Y., and graduated from the Johnstown High School and the Johnstown Academy, which was founded by Sir William Johnson. Owing to ill-health he was unable to enter college, but continued his studies for three years under a tutor and read law with Andrew J. Nellis, of Johnstown, N. Y., and acted as his managing clerk for several years and thereafter went to New York City and entered the New York Law School as a student thereof. While pursuing his course at the New York Law School he was connected with ex-Deputy Attorney General Colonel Dennison, of the firm of Dennison & Hartridge, of New York City. Mr. Barnett graduated from the New York Law School in 1895, with the degree of bachelor of laws, and was admitted to the bar at Albany in December, 1895.
He practiced law in the city of Johnstown for a short time and then removed to Mechanicsville, N. Y., where he remained for about three years, and while there was corporation counsel of the village and acted as attorney and counsel for the boards of health and water commissioners. From Mechanicsville Mr. Barnett removed to the city of New York and engaged in the practice of his profession, but owing to ill-health and inability to become acclimated to the salt air he removed to the city of Newburgh in 1901, where he has since continuously followed his profession, having largely confined his efforts to the practice of negligence law.
DANIEL D. BARNS, the third son of Nathaniel and Effie (Dusenberre) Barns, previously referred to, was born in Middle Hope in 1833. He now lives in retirement on his valuable fruit farm, adjoining his birthplace. In 1857 he married Miss Hester D., daughter of Captain L. S. Carpenter, of Marlboro. They became the parents of three daughters and one son, Nathaniel C., who continues the management of the farm cultivated so many years by his father. Mr. Daniel D. Barns always manifested a great interest in public affairs of Orange County, and was well known as a breeder of fast trotting horses for which Orange County is noted.