WILLIAM COOK BELKNAP, son of Moses Cook and Marietta (McCamly) Belknap, was born at Newburgh, N. Y., July 15, 1864. He was educated in the private and public schools of that city and at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass. He married Helen, daughter of the late George W. and Margaret (Brown) Kerr, December 15, 1890. Two children have been born to them, William Kerr, born December 10, 1897, and Helen Kerr, born April 8, 1899.
Mr. Belknap is engaged in the manufacture of soap under the firm name of Belknap & McCann, carrying on the business established by Abel Belknap about 1783. He is also engaged in other enterprises in Newburgh. Mr. Belknap has served as a member of the board of park commissioners of Newburgh since 1897. He is a member of the board of trustees of Washington's Headquarters (under appointment by Governor Higgins), corresponding secretary of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, member of the board of trustees of St. Luke's Hospital, a trustee of the Cedar Hill Cemetery Association and a vestryman of St. George's Church.
THE BENEDICT FAMILY—The first of the Benedict family to come to Orange County was Elder James Benedict, a great grandson of Thomas Benedict, who came from England and settled on Long Island about 1638. Elder James Benedict came to Warwick in 1765 and made his home in a log house near Chonck's Hill—he had separated from the church in Ridgefield, Conn., because of unjust demands of the tithe-master and very soon after coming to Warwick lent his efforts toward establishing the First Baptist Church. The first house built for worship was one over which he was pastor and stood at the fork of the road nearly opposite the church burying ground—on an angle which still continues to be church property. He left Warwick in the year 1773, and moved to Wyoming, Pa., because of difficulty arising in the church through prejudice toward the Order of Free Masons, of which he was a member and which connection saved the lives of himself and family at the fearful Wyoming massacre when a secret signal from Brandt brought mercy and safe escort to peaceful territory, he returned to Warwick at once and died here, September 9, 1792, aged seventy-two years. He is buried beside his wife, Mary, near where the church stood. The stone house just east of Warwick village was built by his oldest son, James, in 1779, and has descended through succeeding generations to the present owners—the children of Captain Jas. W. Benedict.
JAMES D. BENEDICT was born in the stone house about one mile from Warwick, Orange County, September 2, 1834. His father, William Smith Benedict, purchased the Wickham farm about 1839 and continued to operate it for many years. He removed to Warwick in April, 1867, and remained there until his death, September 22, 1883. James attended the district school and the Florida Institute. He assisted his father on the farm during his younger days and has always made farming his occupation. He removed to Warwick in 1871. remaining there about nine years, when he again took up his residence on the Wickham farm, where he resided until his death, which occurred February 17, 1898. He was a member of the Grange, a prosperous farmer and a good citizen. Mrs. Benedict has presented the International Sunshine Society with a plot of land on her farm near Wisner, on which the society will erect a bungalow costing about $2,000. The plot is beautifully located, presenting a fine view of the surrounding country. On it is a spring that never freezes, supplying an abundance of pure water. The place is to be known as "The James D. Benedict Sunshine Rest Home."
JAMES H. BENEDICT was born on the Benedict homestead in the old stone house at Stone Bridge, February 13, 1854. and lived there with his father thirty-five years. November 14, 1888, he married Miss Ada Pitts, and they had two children—Laura, born in October, 1889, and W. Smith, born in December, 1890. He has a large dairy farm, is a member of the Grange, and a democrat.
JOHN VAN DUZER BENEDICT—The Benedict family in America dates back to A. D. 1638, when Thomas Benedict and his wife, Mary (Bridgum) Benedict, the first of the name to come to America, settled at the colony of Massachusetts Bay.
The subject of this sketch is in the eighth line of descent from Thomas, the first settler, and in the fifth line from Elder James Benedict, the first of the name in Orange County. Our subject was born in the town of Warwick, on January 1, 1837, in the stone house, now standing and for many years known as the "John Blain" house. His parents were Abner Benedict and Julia A. (Van Duzer) Benedict, who were each in equal lines of descent from both Thomas, the first settler, and from the "old Elder," as he was familiarly called. He first attended school in the old stone schoolhouse, at that time standing opposite the forks of the highway near Stonebridge, afterwards at the district school in the village of Edenville, entered the academy known as the "Warwick Institute," at Warwick, N. Y., on December 5, 1853, its opening day, and was also a student at the S. S. Seward Institute at Florida, N. Y., during the spring term in 1857, under the direction of Professor John W. Round, then principal of that institution. He entered the freshman class of Union College at Schenectady on the opening of the school year in September, 1857, and completing the full classical course, graduated on the 25th day of July, 1861. Returning home, he lived with his parents at their home near Edenville, Orange County, N. Y.
JOHN W. BENEDICT—His parents were Henry A. and Laura T. Benedict, and he was born on the homestead farm, August 16, 1855. After his school days he became a farmer, and has not changed his occupation. His dairy farm consists of 230 acres, and has belonged to the Benedicts since 1817. His father, born in 1818, died April 3, 1900, and his mother, born in 1826, is still living. They had ten children, eight of whom are living.
CHARLES F. BENNETT, of Middletown, N. Y., was born in the Bennett homestead near Middletown, October 15, 1869. His early life was spent principally on his father's farm. His father, John F. Bennett, removed to Bloomingburgh, Sullivan County, and engaged in the hotel and livery business. Charles Bennett is a member of numerous social and fraternal societies, including the Masons, Royal Arcanum, Elks and Eagles. For over two years he served as postmaster at Bloomingburgh. He engaged in the livery business at Middletown in 1900 and now has one of the largest livery establishments in the city. He recently purchased of his father the homestead farm at Springside, near Middletown. This farm has been in the possession of the family over one hundred years. Mr. Bennett was joined in marriage with Kittie Bertholf, daughter of Andrew T. Bertholf, of Howells, N. Y., January 25, 1892. They have one son, Mortimer W., a student at the Middletown High School.
JOHN BIGELOW—The following data taken from "Who's Who in America," covers in concise form the career of this distinguished citizen whose country seat is at Highland Falls, N. Y.: