He died at Warwick, on October 8, 1881, and is survived by three children: Abraham Forshee, who is a practicing lawyer of Middletown, N. Y.; Sara, wife of Dr. Stephen W. Perry, of Belchertown, Mass.; and John Magie, of Warwick. A younger child, Walter Tinkey, died at an early age. His widow still resides at Warwick in the family home.
FREDERICK W. SEWARD, M.D., a worthy member of a greatly honored family, was born in Goshen, August 22, 1845. He prepared for college in the Seward Institute, founded and endowed by his grandfather, Judge S. S. Seward. He graduated at Union College, and studied medicine in Bellevue Medical College and the New York Homeopathic Medical College. He then settled in Middletown, where he had an extensive practice, but on account of failing health went to New Mexico in 1876. Returning in 1882, he made Goshen his home and engaged in general practice until 1899, when he became a specialist in nervous and mental diseases, and opened "Interpines," a sanatorium for the cure of these diseases. He has long been president of the Orange County Homeopathic Society, and is a member of the New York State Homeopathic Society and the American Institute of Homeopathy; also the Orange County and New York State Medical Societies and of the National Medical Association. He is president of the Goshen Board of Trade and for years was president of the Goshen Board of Education. He is also a Mason. He was married to Ella Armstrong, of Florida, Orange County, December 27, 1866. She died three years later, leaving two children. Dr. Seward again married in 1875, his second wife being Matie Corey, of Plainfield, N. J., by whom he has three children. His three daughters, Ella, Matie and Bertha, are at home. His eldest son, Edwin P., is a ranch man in New Mexico, and Frederick W., Jr., a graduate of the New York Medical College, is associated with his father at the "Interpines." Dr. Seward's father was Edwin Pollodore Seward, of Florida, and his uncle was William H. Seward, Lincoln's secretary of state, and before the war United States senator. Dr. Seward's great-great-grandfather was John Seward, a colonel in the New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary war.
JOHN L. SEYBOLT, of the town of Mt. Hope, was born July 28, 1854, on the homestead farm, about one-half mile from Otisville. He was reared on the home farm and acquired his early education at the district school, afterward attending the Otisville school. His principal business is dairying, having one hundred and seventy-one acres of land. His parents were Paul Lee, born August 18, 1830, died July 8, 1905, and Antoinette, born July 4, 1831, still living. To this union four children were born: John, the subject of this sketch; Horace G., of New York City, engaged in the milk business; Alva, a prominent attorney at Oneonta, Otsego County, N. Y., and Emma, wife of J. C. Jordon, of Middletown, N. Y. Mr. Seybolt married Miss Alice W. Riter, of Otisville, N. Y., December 18, 1878. She was born June 13, 1858. Two children were born to this union: Violet, wife of George Kaufman, of Middletown, and Falter Lee, attending school at Middletown. In politics Mr. Seybolt is a democrat and has served six years as road commissioner. As a farmer he is very successful and for many years has been a member of the Otisville Grange.
REV. JESSE F. SHAFER, an old and honored resident of Newburgh, was born at Montgomery, Orange County, October 12, 1828. He graduated from Montgomery Academy in 1848, read law with Hon. Hugh B. Bull and attended the State and National Law School at Ballston Spa, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in 1852, and practiced in Goshen and Newburgh until 1857, when he formed a partnership with his brother, Joseph D., district attorney of Ulster County, with offices in Kingston. In 1861 he enlisted in the 56th New York Volunteer Infantry, was promoted to first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster, resigning in 1864. From 1869 to 1873 Mr. Shafer owned and operated the Youngblood farm. In 1874 he decided to prepare for the ministry, and was ordained in 1877. He was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Audenried, Pa., five years. The failure of his voice caused his retirement. Mr. Shafer is chaplain of Ellis Post No. 52, G. A. R.; also of the 56th Regiment Veteran Association. In 1869 he married Miss Ann H. Crawford, of Thompson's Ridge, Orange County. She died June 10, 1891, leaving one daughter, Susie C., the wife of Walter Carvey.
WILLIAM H. SHANNON, prominent in business and public affairs at Newburgh, N. Y., was born in Richmond, North Hampton County, Penn., April 22, 1840. His parents, Charles Shannon, a carpenter, and Magdalen Gruver Shannon, were also natives of Richmond. He is a descendant from Nathaniel Shannon, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1655 of Scottish ancestry. Nathaniel came to America in 1687 as naval officer of the port of Boston, where he was a member of the historic Old South Church. He served as naval officer of the port for twenty-two years. From him sprang the various branches of the family. Some of his descendants became pioneers in the South; one accompanied the Lewis and Clarke Expedition. William H. Shannon's grandfather, Langdon Shannon, was a major in the War of 1812.
Mr. Shannon received his education in the little log schoolhouse of Richmond; that is, as much education as a lad can acquire up to the early age of thirteen, when he went to work. He came to Newburgh in 1862 to take charge of the slating of Vassar College for the late John Gait. He started in business the same year and in 1877 became associated with Mr. Gait, who was interested in the firm of Shannon & Co., until his death. Mr. Shannon then took his son, William H., Jr., into partnership. To the originally modest slate-roofing business new branches were added from time to time until to-day an extensive business is carried on—slate, tile and metal roofing mantels, fireplaces marble and tiling.
Mr. Shannon is a member of the Masonic Veterans' Association, having been raised in 1866. He is also a charter member of the Washington Heights Chemical Engine Co. He has been a painstaking and efficient member of the Water Board for fifteen years, three of which he served as president.
THE SHAW FAMILY—The Shaw family was among the early settlers in the northeastern part of the town, and until within a few years the original tract Of land settled upon them was in the name of some of the family. About 1750 William Shaw moved to the town and was agent for a large tract of land owned by New York parties, with instructions to take what he wanted, sell what he could and give some away. The descendants of some of his friends to whom he gave farms are living in Orange County. Soon after he came from Ireland and had made a clearing, he sent for his intended wife (Mary Waldron). She came from New York to New Windsor on a sloop and was met by him and taken to his home on horseback, for at that time it was the only way he could travel between the two points. They had children and many of their descendants are still in that vicinity, among them being Wickham T. Shaw, a great-grandson, practicing law at Middletown, N. Y. William Shaw, who married Rachel Schoonover, son of William and Mary W. Shaw, inherited the homestead and died there. Two of his sons, Aaron and Howard, became quite distinguished. The former was state attorney, judge of the Supreme Court and twice elected to Congress in Illinois. The latter (Howard), who married Abby M. Tryon, was a noted auctioneer, and Wickham T. Shaw, his son, who married Clara A. Mapes, is the last male descendant in that line living. He has three sons, Howard, Charles and H. James Aaron, and one daughter, Florence.
HARRY E. SHAW, of Newburgh, member of the Board of Supervisors, was born in this city in 1869. His father, the late Captain George W. Shaw, was for years a leading business man of Newburgh, a member of the widely known firm of Thomas Shaw's Sons. Harry E. was educated at the Newburgh Academy and Siglar's Preparatory School, after which he entered the planing mill business of his father. He subsequently engaged in the feed business, being senior member of the firm of Shaw Brothers.
Politically Mr. Shaw is a democrat and in 1907 was elected supervisor of the Second Ward. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Elks, Ringgold Hose Company and the City Club.