WILLIAM EVANS, now living in retirement at Westtown, N. Y., has been prominently identified with the commercial and financial development of Middletown. He is a son of William and Rosetta (Corwin) Evans and was born at the homestead in the town of Minisink. His mercantile career began in 1849, when, under the firm name of Little & Evans, a dry goods store was started at Middletown. At the end of eight years Mr. Evans continued the business alone for four years, when Mr. M. D. Stivers became his partner as Evans & Stivers. In 1864 Mr. Evans sold out his interest and took up the organization of the First National Bank, of which he was elected president. After a period of eleven years he resigned the office, retaining his directorship. In 1866 he assisted in the organization of the Middletown, Unionville and Water Gap R. R., and at his suggestion the railroad was given that name. He was a director of the company and served as its treasurer a number of years. In 1874 he engaged for two years in the manufacture of horse clothing. He then went to New York and was engaged for four years in the real estate and insurance business. He then retired from active pursuits and traveled extensively in company with his daughter.
Mr. Evans married Miss Julia Denton, daughter of Theodore B. Denton, of Denton, N. Y. Two children were born. His daughter is now the wife of Mr. Albert H. Horton, of Johnson, N. Y., and his son, Sydney Denton, is engaged in business in Salt Lake City.
[THE FABRIKOID COMPANY] of Newburgh is among the most important industries of Orange County. It was established in 1902 and incorporated under the present title with the following officials: John Aspinwall, president; George H. May, secretary and treasurer; J. Kearney Rodgers, general sales manager. The product of the plant is chiefly an imitation leather called Fabrikoid, which finds a ready market all over the world. Bronze paint and lacquers are also manufactured. The growth of this business has been very rapid and the plant now covers twenty-five acres and consists of forty-nine buildings.
THE FANCHER FAMILY—Elias Fancher, who was born in Darien, Conn., January 19, 1793, came to Warwick in early boyhood with his father, who bought the Van Houghton farm with the stone house, which is still standing, was built in 1795. He married Miss Sarah Jones, who was born in Warwick September 10, 1795. They had eight children, only two of whom are living, Darius and Julia. The latter, born December 15, 1831, is the wife of Wisner Wood, of Paterson, N. J. Darius was born March 22, 1836, and has always been identified with agriculture since he left the district school. He married Sarah Catharine Sayer, of Warwick. The names of their live children are, Edwin, Sayer, Clinton W., Frank and Lillie. Edwin is a practicing physician in Middletown, N. Y., and Sayer is in a wholesale grocery in the same place. Clinton conducts a dry goods store and Frank is in the feed business in Goshen. Lillie is the wife of Wilham A. Bradner, of Warwick. Their father, Darius, remains the good farmer and esteemed citizen that he has been since his young manhood.
HENRY H. FARNUM, of Port Jervis, member of the board of supervisors, was born and educated in this city. He is a son of Peter E. and Mary R. (Conkling) Farnum, and conducts an extensive business in real estate and insurance. Following the incorporation of Port Jervis as a city in 1907. Mr. Farnum was nominated and elected on the Republican ticket a member of the board of supervisors. He takes an active interest in public affairs of Orange County, is a member of the Deer Park Club, of which he is a treasurer. Mr. Farnum married Ruth Smith, of Port Jervis, and they have one son, Henry H., Jr.
JACOB R. FEAGLES was born on the Feagles homestead March 31, 1863, and since his school days has been a farmer. His first wife's maiden name was Miss Belle Hyatt, of Warwick, and they were married December 5, 1889. His second marriage was to Mrs. Emma J. Vealy, of Amity, October 25, 1893. Five children have been the fruit of the second marriage—Jacob H., George W., Mary Elizabeth, Henry Barney and Emma. Mr. Feagles has been on his present farm twenty-one years, and is an extensive peach grower and a dairy farmer. He belongs to Amity Grange No. 1001.
DR. JAMES FRANCIS FERGUSON, founder of the widely known sanitarium "Falkirk," was born in New York City October 10, 1830, and died at his home near Central Valley, Orange County, N. Y., January 6, 1904. He graduated from the medical department of the University of New York in 1861 and from Bellevue Medical College in 1862.
Dr. Ferguson served with the Second New York Militia during the Civil War. At Blackburn's Ford, at the first battle of Bull Run, he was wounded and taken to Libby Prison, but was later released on parole through the efforts of his mother. As major and surgeon of the 165th New York Volunteers (Second Duryea Zouaves), he was again mustered into the service September 9, 1862, served with General Banks in Louisiana, was present at the battle of Pine Stores, and at the siege of Port Hudson was in charge of a field hospital. He was afterward provost surgeon in New Orleans and served in the campaigns in the Teche country, and was discharged at Franklin, La., in 1864. He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel of New York Volunteers.
The professional appointments of Dr. Ferguson were as follows: Attending surgeon, Bellevue, 1870-1871; visiting surgeon to Blackwell's Island Hospital, 1872-1892; visiting physician to the Hospital for Nervous Diseases, 1886-1892, and consulting physician of the Charity (now City) Hospital, from 1892 to the time of his death.
Dr. Ferguson was a member of the Bellevue Hospital Alumni, the Medical Society of the County of New York, the New York Academy of Medicine, New York Neurological Society, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the Army and Navy Club, Lotus Club, Kane Lodge, No. 454, F. & A. M., Jerusalem Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M., Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 23, K. T., and a thirty-third degree Scottish Rite Mason.