Nathaniel C. Barns was born in Middle Hope in 1863. Since completing his studies in the Newburgh schools he has been largely engaged in fruit growing with much success. He has served as justice of the peace, and is the present master of Cronomer Valley Grange No. 982.
In 1888 he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Dr. Kidd, of Newburgh; she died in 1889, leaving one daughter, Natalie C.
NATHANIEL BARNS—Among the representative agriculturalists and fruit growers of Orange County, Mr. Nathaniel Barns, of the town of Newburgh, is worthy of special notice. Born in Middle Hope, February 20, 1831, he has been for nearly half a century actively engaged in the cultivation of a large and valuable farm, mostly devoted to fruit. He is the second son and namesake of the late Nathaniel and Effie (Dusenberre) Barns, previously mentioned.
Mr. Barns attended a select school at Marlboro, and subsequently taught school one winter. When twenty-three years of age he married Miss Martha Waring, and four sons and one daughter were born to them, of whom James and Charles are living—the former a dry goods merchant of Newburgh, and the latter in the produce business in New York. Mr. Barns has been actively identified with public affairs of his native town. He was elected assessor for a period of nine years, excise commissioner for two years, and from 1865 to 1870 held the office of supervisor and chairman of the board in 1870. Mr. Barns was the first supervisor from the present town of Newburgh and is the only surviving member of that honorable body of 1866. Mr. Barns was recognized as a leader and placed on important committees. He is at present one of the trustees of Cedar Hill Cemetery, and member of Cronomer Valley Grange.
WILLIAM D. BARNS, widely known for many years as one of the most prominent and successful agriculturists, fruit growers and horticulturists in the State of New York, pursued his vocation at Middle Hope, Orange County, where he was born October 16, 1828. He was the descendant of an old and honored New England family. His father, Nathaniel Barns, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1782, and settled in Middle Hope shortly after his marriage to Miss Effie Dusenberre in 1828. Four children were born to them, namely, William D., Nathaniel, Daniel D., and Mary E.
Nathaniel Barns became a prosperous farmer, and at the time of his death in 1879 was the owner of 300 acres of the choicest farm land in Orange County. These farms became the property of the sons above mentioned. William D. continued the homestead farm, and for thirty-five years previous to his death devoted his attention largely to the cultivation of fruit. He was vice-president of the Orange County Agricultural Society from 1888 to 1897, and superintendent of the fruit department at the annual fairs of this organization. He was a member and exhibitor at the Newburgh Bay Horticultural Society. He was connected with the Eastern New York Horticultural Society since its organization, and a member of the Western New York Horticultural Society. In 1893 he was appointed by Governor Flower a member of the board of control of the New York State Experiment Station at Geneva. He was also appointed by Governor Odell a State delegate to the National Farmers' Congress at Sioux Falls, S. D., in 1901. As a citizen of the town of Newburgh, he was the incumbent of many offices of trust and honor. As almshouse commissioner he was prominent in securing many improvements on the farm attached to that institution. He was largely instrumental in the establishment of the Children's Home, and the plans for its management have been conducted substantially as he advocated. Mr. Barnes' death occurred in October, 1904. In 1860 he married Miss Elizabeth A. Carpenter, and five children were born, of whom four are living, Edwin W., Mary, George D., John S., and Nathaniel H. (deceased).
The homestead farm is now conducted under the management and firm name of Edwin W. Barns & Son. Over seventy acres are devoted to the culture of fruit, and all specimens adapted to this section, from the earliest strawberry to the latest apples, are here grown.
CHARLES W. BARTRUM, general superintendent of the Newburgh plant of Sweet, Orr & Co., was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and educated at the Rhinebeck Academy. He taught school for a time and was later associated with the clothing industry at Ossining, N. Y., for a period of nine years. In 1881 his services were secured by the above firm, first in the sales department and then in charge of the general office. In 1883 he was appointed superintendent.
Mr. Bartrum married Miss Hannah E. Willsea, of Tarrytown, and they are the parents of two children, Dr. William C. and Miss Nellie E.
WILLIAM R. BEAL, president of the Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Company, was born in Newark, N. J., in 1838. His father, Joseph Reynolds, a gentleman by birth and education, and his mother, Elizabeth Austen, came to this country from England about 1830.