Mr. Hotaling has served nine years as justice of the peace and six years as collector of Tuxedo town. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, including Highland Chapter, Hudson River Commandery and Mecca Temple.
JAMES EDWARD HOUSTON is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born on the homestead three miles from Florida, Orange County, September 22, 1862, and was one of the six children cf William H. and Ann Houston. He attended the district school at Union Corners and the Seward Institute at Florida. After working on his father's farm several years he bought the Thomas Jackson farm of 130 acres, and has made farming his life occupation. His dairy cows are of Holstein breed, and his fruit specialty is peach growing. He is active in local matters and his family antecedents are of the best. He married Kissie Armstrong, of Florida, June 17, 1884.
JOEL W. HOUSTON was born March 28, 1856, on the old homestead, two and one-half miles from Florida. His father was William H. and mother Anna E. Wheeler. There were six children in parents' family. Joel W. was the fourth child. He attended the district school and assisted on the farm. Mr Houston has always been identified with agricultural pursuits. He married Anna Jessup, June 29, 1881. He is a republican, and one of the elders of the Presbyterian Church at Florida. He has been a director of the Orange County Agricultural Society for six years and superintendent of crates and tickets.
CAPTAIN JOHN W. HOUSTON was born March 20, 1842, on the homestead farm at Bellvale, Orange County, N. Y. When nineteen years of age he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers, and went forth to fight for the Union in the Civil War. He was made second lieutenant. In the battle of Chancellorsville, in 1863, he was severely wounded, and again at Spotsylvania, in May, 1864, which led to his honorable discharge. When the war ended he was brevetted captain. He married Miss Julia Baird, who died in 1880, leaving four sons and one daughter: Floyd, George, James, Frank and Clara. February 12, 1892, Captain Houston chose for his second wife Miss Margaret B. Neely, of Bellvale, N. Y., who survives him. He is also survived by a brother, Henry W., of Bellvale, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Francisco, of Little Falls, N. J., and Mrs. J. H. Bertholf. Captain Houston was a member of Warwick Lodge, No. 544, F. and A. M., and of G. A. R. Post, No. 575. He died January 11, 1905.
SAMUEL B. HOUSTON was born December 5, 1845. He attended the district school and Warwick Institute. He conducted a retail boot and shoe business in Warwick for seven years, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Salona S. Palmer, of Warwick, October 25, 1871. Three children were born to this union, two of whom are living: Charles B., who resides in Brooklyn and is engaged in the manufacturing business; Anna G., wife of J. Arthur Knapp, of Florida, this county, and Edna K., who died in 1898 in her twenty-third year. Mr. Houston has taken an active interest in public matters pertaining to his locality and served on the no-license commission of Warwick. In 1903 he was appointed to fill the vacancy of superintendent of poor of Orange County. He is a republican and a member of the Methodist Church at Edenville. Socially he is a member of Warwick Lodge, No. 544, F. and A. M.
CLARENCE J. HOWELL was born on the Howell homestead near Florida, Orange County, N. Y., December 30, 1868, and died March 30, 1905. He was a son of Asa Howell. Clarence rented his father's farm after his marriage and continued on the homestead until the death of his mother in 1897, when the farm was left to him. His father continued to make his home with his son until his death in 1900. Clarence obtained his education at the S. S. Seward Institute at Florida. He was united in marriage to Minnie Sinsabaugh, daughter of Daniel and Ellen A. Sinsabaugh, of Liberty Corners, Orange County, November 19, 1891. The children are Floyd Van Duzer, born October 19, 1892; Clara Adams, born February 4, 1894; William Sinsabaugh, born November 24, 1895; Thomas Wheeler, born December 3, 1898; Jennie Jessup, born May 27, 1904. The Howell homestead comprises one hundred and twenty-five acres and has been in the family since 1790. It is one of the best dairy farms in Orange County, and considerable of the low ground is devoted to onion growing.
DAVID H. HOWELL, clerk of the town of Crawford, Orange County, was born in this township in 1868. He is a son of Harvey and Emeline (Decker) Howell. After finishing his education at the public schools, he learned the tinsmith's trade and established his present hardware business at Bullville, in 1893, in which he has acquired much success.
Politically Mr. Howell is a democrat and was elected town clerk in 1905. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
D. BREWSTER HOWELL, a prominent farmer in the town of Newburgh, near East Coldenham, is a son of John C. and a grandson of Rensselaer Howell. It is ascertained that Silas Howell was born in Long Island, but moved to Orange County at an early day. He was a millwright by trade and became the owner of a large tract of land in the town of Newburgh. He was the father of four children, of whom Rensselaer bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the old homestead, and married Alice Belknap. They settled and built their home in what was then a forest, but what is now as fine and well cultivated a farm as can be found in the country. The following children were born: David B., Rensselaer, Jr., John Colvin and Mary F. Of these John C. continued the management of the farm, which is now conducted by D. Brewster Howell, who married Miss Katherine McCartney. They are the parents of two children: Elwood B. and Gertrude May.
JAMES T. HOWELL was born on the homestead farm about one mile from Howells station in the town of Mount Hope, Orange County, August 25, 1845. He was a son of Samuel C. and Sallie Jane (Beakes) Howell and attended the district school in the neighborhood; after his schooling he remained on the farm, and April 1, 1869, he purchased the farm of his father. He lived in New York City for twenty years, where he was identified with the milk business. Mr. Howell is extensively engaged in breeding and dealing in Holstein Friesian cattle.