On the day of his funeral all the business places in the village were closed, the whole fire department and the members of the Warwick Club attended in a body, and one of the largest gatherings ever seen in the Reformed church listened to the funeral services.
His earliest ancestor in Orange County lived on a farm near what is now called Neelytown, and some of his ancestors still reside there. His great uncle was Samuel W. Eager, the first historian of the county.
THOMAS HORTON EASTON was born January 25, 1853, on the homestead farm near Otisville. He attended the district school, and assisted in the general store operated by his father at Otisville for many years. He engaged with the Erie Railroad as a brakeman and was promoted to conductor, serving from 1868 to 1882, after which he returned to the farm, where he has since remained. He was married to Miss Frances N., daughter of Dimmick and Sylvia A. (Cadwell) Wilkin, March 14, 1875. By this union there were three children born, all living: Harriet D., born February 11, 1877; Nellie W., born June 14, 1881; Sylvia E., born September 10, 1885. Harriet is the wife of Henry A. Holley, of Otisville, and they have three children, Henry E., born August 26, 1898; Elizabeth C, born April 30, 1901; James Easton, born September 20, 1905. Nellie W. is the wife of Joseph K. Corwin. They have two children, S. Gilbert, born July 19, 1905, and Francis Horton, born March 2, 1907. In politics Mr. Easton is a democrat, and has served as inspector of elections since 1884. His father, James Easton, was born January 15, 1824, at Milford, Pa. February 24, 1849, he married Hannah E. Corwin, of New Vernon, and three children were born to them, Nellie R., born November 21, 1849, married Schuyler D. Frazer, of Otisville; Ada, born February 23, 1855, died March, 1856. He was at Dunkirk, N. Y., in 1851, when the opening of the Erie Railroad occurred. In 1853 he returned to Howells and opened a general store, continuing there until 1861. In 1863 he went to Saginaw, Michigan, remaining there one year, returning to Orange County in 1864, opening a general store at Otisville, which in May, 1884, was destroyed by fire. He immediately rebuilt and continued until 1905, when he retired after a career of fifty years of active life.
ALVA WISNER EDSALL, a lifelong resident of the town of Warwick, was born at Edenville, N. Y., January 8, 1861, and after attending the public schools commenced the study of dentistry at the age of eighteen years, graduating from the Philadelphia Dental College. In 1883 took up the practice of his chosen profession in Warwick, N. Y., where he has since been actively engaged in business, forming a partnership with Dr. J. H. Wood in 1884, which partnership still exists. A son of Thomas S. and Phoebe Miller Edsall, he represents the seventh generation of a long line of English ancestry, who were among the early settlers of New Amsterdam (now New York City), in 1637, they being large owners of timber lands where Hackensack, N. J., is now located. They afterwards moved to Northern New Jersey about the time the De Kays settled there, and numerous branches of the family are now to be found in this locality. Dr. Edsall was married, in 1891, to Caroline Welling, of Warwick, having a daughter and son, Marian and Maurice, aged respectively twelve and five years. He is a member of the board of education and interested in Warwick's various business enterprises.
JOHN EGAN, retired dairyman, Newburgh, N. Y., was born in 1847 on a farm in West Newburgh. In 1876 he embarked in the milk and cream business and in 1883 his trade had assumed such proportions that he erected a creamery on First street, where the milk was received, which he equipped with modern appliances. He retired from the dairy business a few years ago and now devotes his attention to his extensive real estate holdings.
EDWARD R. ELLIOTT, M.D., of Montgomery, N. Y., was born in Dutchess County in 1854, a son of Rev. Jos. and Harriet (Andrews) Elliott. His education was obtained at Claverack Institute and Stamford Seminary. He graduated in medicine in 1874 from the University of New York and has enjoyed an extensive practice in Montgomery since 1878. Dr. Elliott is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and the Newburgh Bay Medical Society. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity. He is a director of the Montgomery National Bank. Dr. Elliott married Miss Lydia Wright and a son, Clyde, has been born to them.
E. J. EMERSON, cashier of the Montgomery National Bank, has been a resident of Orange County for some twenty years. He is a native of Sullivan County and began life by entering the employ of Albert Bull, wholesale druggist of Middletown, where he remained twelve years. Mr. Emerson's banking experience covers a period of six years, four of which were spent with the First National and the Merchants National Bank of Middletown. He accepted his present position in 1905.
CHARLES A. EVANS—Soldier, newspaper man, ranch man and farmer successively the career of Charles A. Evans has been one of strenuous activity and varied experience. He was born September 11, 1845, in New York City, obtained his early education in New York schools, and when a mere boy, sixteen years old, enlisted in New York with the 12th Regular Infantry for service in the Civil War. This was in May, 1862. He could only be accepted as a drummer boy, but soon exchanged drum for musket, and carried it for three years. He was wounded and taken prisoner in the battle of Cedar Mountain, and was confined on Belle Island about two months. Communications which he wrote for Northern papers pleased the editor of the Chicago Times, and in the fall of 1865 the young soldier was invited to join the staff of that paper. He remained with it until 1878, and then getting the Western fever, went to a point in Southern Kansas, on the Walnut River, and established a ranch on which he and his family lived until 1883. Then, in order that his children might have opportunities for education, he returned to Chicago and resumed work on the Times, and after a little was appointed its New York correspondent. So he again became a resident of the metropolis, and was correspondent of the Chicago Times and St. Louis Republican five years, when trouble with his eyes caused him to quit newspaper work. In 1888 he came to Orange County and purchased the farm near Howells on which he lives. In 1900 he purchased at Mt. Vernon another farm, and now manages both. In 1895 he was supervisor for the town of Wallkill, and against much opposition pushed through the board the resolution offering a reward for the capture of Charles H. Rogers, the murderer of the Olney brothers and Alice Ingerick. In 1907 he was the Democratic candidate for member of assembly. Mr. Evans was married to Miss Jennie E. Morrill, of Brandon, Vt., in 1867. They have four children—a son living in Chicago, Mrs. F. L. Andrews, of Whitehall, Miss Frances, a graduate of Cornell University, and Austin, now a student in Cornell.
GEORGE W. EVANS, a prominent citizen of the town of Crawford, resides at Bullville and carries on an extensive trade in cattle and horses. He is a son of John A. and Marie (Walker) Evans, and was born at Walker Valley, Ulster County. Although but in his 'teens he went to the front during the Civil War, enlisting in the 56th Regiment. He was discharged in 1865 at Charlestown, S. C. On his return home he engaged with his father in the meat business at Bullville, in which he continued fourteen years, and then began trading in cattle.
Mr. Evans was united in marriage with Miss Anna L. Relyea, January 6, 1869, a daughter of Christopher and Sarah B. (Sprague) Relyea. Socially he is identified with Hoffman Lodge, No. 412, F. and A. M., of Middletown, N. Y.