J. OGDEN GOBLE was born May 30, 1865, on the homestead farm, one mile from Florida. His father was William Timelo and mother Jane Miller. There was one child, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Coble's father died February 19, 1883, and his mother died October 3, 1905. J. Ogden attended the Washington Academy and Seward Institute, and at the age of eighteen, upon the death of his father, took charge of the home farm, which he has since conducted. He married Miss Carrie Stevens, of Florida, April 17, 1889. They had one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Goble has served as inspector of election for a period of twenty-three years. He was master of Florida Grange No. 1053 for two years and is now its secretary.
CHARLES T. GOODRICH, born Newburgh, N. Y., December 5, 1846; learned machinist's trade in Washington Iron Works, and engaged for a time with Erie Railroad in various positions. In 1865 was victim of railroad wreck, which physically disabled him for life. Studied telegraphy and was employed by the Western Union Co. in New York, Newburgh and elsewhere. Has acted as correspondent for New York dailies for many years and also connected with local papers. Since 1870 Mr. Goodrich has been engaged in real estate and fire insurance business, and interested in several local business institutions. He is prominently identified with Knights of Pythias. In 1881 he married Hattie F., daughter of Capt. Isaac Jenkinson.
HON. LOUIS F. GOODSELL, of Highland Falls, who was State senator from the Twenty-third New York District, 1898 to 1906, was born January 30, 1846. His education was obtained at Tracey's (now Holbrook's) Military Academy, at Sing Sing, N. Y. While at school and but seventeen years of age, Mr. Goodsell enlisted in Company F, Forty-seventh New York Volunteers, and went to war. He was mustered out with the regiment, August 30, 1865. He then re-entered school, and in May, 1867, graduated from the Poughkeepsie Business College.
After spending two years in Omaha, Neb., he was a resident of Newburgh from 1869 to 1878. He spent five years in Savannah, Ga., and in 1885 was engaged in the oil business in Chicago, and the lumber business in Ottumwa, Iowa. He disposed of his interests in both places in 1887 to his partners and returned to his native town.
Early in life Mr. Goodsell became a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, and has always fought with the greatest enthusiasm for the party's success at the polls. His superior ability as a political leader soon became recognized. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors eighteen years, and in 1894 was elected a member of assembly from the First District of Orange County. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 1895, 1896 and 1897. In 1898 he was elected State senator from the Twenty-third District, and was re-elected to that office in 1900, 1902 and 1904.
Mr. Goodsell's career as a legislator was eminently successful. A tireless worker, he devoted his efforts to furthering the interests of this district. Since his retirement from political life, he has cheerfully extended a helping hand to republican aspirants for public office. Mr. Goodsell married Miss Frances A. Parry, and two children, Harry and Edith, were born, both residents of Highland Falls.
EDGAR M. GORDON, of the hardware firm of Malven & Gordon, of Port Jervis, N. Y., was born December 22, 1850, at Cuddebackville, Orange County, N. Y. He obtained his early education at the district school in his locality and at Port Clinton, N. Y. He started at an early age as clerk in the canal store at Neversink Locks, where he remained for three years. He then served two years at the same place as telegraph operator. September 1, 1869, he came to Port Jervis, and clerked for St. John & Malven. About 1875 he purchased a half interest in the hardware store of George Malven. Mr. Gordon was married to Miss Ann Amelia Malven, daughter of George Malven, in June, 1877. Three children were born to this union, George M., Wilbur and Samuel, all residing at home. Mr. Gordon is a republican and in 1900 was elected supervisor of census of his congressional district. He is a member of the Mt. William Lodge, K. of P., is identified with the Reformed Dutch Church and is superintendent of the Sunday-school.
REV. C. GORSE was born in the town of Fulton, Schoharie County, N. Y., June 4, 1815. He was the eldest of four children of Robert and Mary Gorse, who owned a large farm in that township. The father of Robert Gorse was Ephraim, who spelled the name Goss, being of English extraction, a descendant of Sir John Goss, and a soldier of the Revolution who, having been wounded, perished in the rigors of the encampment at Valley Forge. Having acquired a common school education, he taught school during the winters, laying the foundation of a rugged constitution by working for his father on the farm during the summers, until having attained the age of manhood, he went to the theological seminary at Albany, joining the New York Conference in 1840. He resided in Newburgh at the time of his death, May 31, 1892, at the ripe age of seventy-nine. He was married on August 31, 1836, to Eleanor Louise Ireland, a daughter of Rev. Thomas Ireland, a descendant of Sir John Ireland, the former being a pioneer in the Albany circuit and a resident of Ireland Corners, New Albany. Of this marriage there were born three children: Dr. C. A. Gorse, of Cornwall; Mrs. Conrad Russ, of Albany, and Miss Louisa Virginia, for fifteen years organist of the Church of the Corner Stone and music teacher of Newburgh during the residence of her parents there and subsequently of Poughkeepsie, and organist of the Reformed Church at New Paltz. Rev. and Mrs. Gorse celebrated their golden wedding in Newburgh in 1886, when there was a distinguished company of the clergy with friends and relatives present, who expressed their high esteem for his moral and religious, character.
DR. CHARLES ASBURY GORSE was born at Roxbury, Delaware County. N. Y., July 12, 1841. He was the only son of the Rev. Charles Gorse and Eleanor Louise Ireland, his wife. By this union there were also two sisters, Eleanor Victoria, wife of Conrad Russ, of Albany, N. Y., and Louisa Virginia, single, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. The doctor was educated at Poultney, Vermont, Charlotteville, Amenia, and Warnerville seminaries in this State, after which he taught schools at Stamford, Conn., Patchogue, L. I., Margaretville and Prattsville, N. Y., the last three being very successful private schools. He went from the latter place in 1861 to attend the Medical Department of the New York University, from which he graduated March 4, 1864. He practiced at Barngall, Dutchess County, Brooklyn, L. I., New Providence, N. J., Newark, N. J., about two years at each, prior to coming to Vail's Gate, N. Y., in 1872, where he remained until his marriage on June 12, 1878, to Sarah Elizabeth Brooks, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brooks, of Bethlehem, where he has practiced his profession ever since. Of this union there were born three children, Charles Victor, Virginia Elizabeth and Robert Sylvester. The doctor has served as town physician for the towns of Cornwall and New Windsor for several years at various periods, and also as health officer for the latter town. One of his ancestors, Ephraim Goss, was a soldier of the Revolution. The doctor has always been a staunch republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln on his second election.
JOHN H. GRAHAM, who for many years was one of the representative farmers and dairymen of the town of Montgomery, was born there in 1822 and died in 1906. He was a son of William and Hannah (Houston) Graham, natives of Orange County. William Graham was an active democrat and served his town as assessor and supervisor. He was also a member of assembly and declined the nomination for State Senator. John H. Graham remained at home until the death of his father, when he inherited a part of the homestead and subsequently purchased the interest of the other heirs. He was a man well read and much interested in public affairs, always taking an active part in promoting the welfare of the democratic party. Though not an office-seeker, he was at one time nominated for member of assembly. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Isabella Young, of Neelytown. The farm, which comprises one hundred and eighty acres, is now conducted by his nephew, Mr. Charles H. Graham, who is numbered among the progressive citizens of Orange County.