JOHN W. THORN was born in Mount Hope, February 17, 1864. After his education in the district and a private school, he engaged in the feed and coal trade, and in 1894 started a creamery near Middletown, which he recently sold, and is now conducting a creamery at Westtown, N. Y. He is a member of Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. and A. M.; Midland Chapter No. 420, R. A. M.; Cypress Commandery No. 67, K. T.; and of the Commercial Travelers' Middletown Council. His father is A. D. Thorn, a Mount Hope farmer, and his mother's maiden name was Lucinda Moore.
HON. HOWARD THORNTON, attorney of Newburgh, N. Y., was born on Governors' Island, New York Harbor, on February 25, 1849, where his father, General William A. Thornton, was stationed at the time.
Mr. Thornton comes of old Revolutionary stock. His paternal grandfather was Major John Thornton, of the Continental and Revolutionary Army, and his paternal grandmother was a daughter of Colonel Samuel Clyde, of Cherry Valley. Matthew Thornton, one of the signers, was an uncle of his grandfather. On his mother's side his ancestors run back to the De Witts, who were prominent in the Revolutionary period in the Hudson Valley.
Mr. Thornton attended the public schools of New York City, and the College of the City of New York. Later he entered Union College, from which he graduated in 1872. He entered the office of Eugene A. Brewster, of Newburgh, as a law student in the year of his graduation, and subsequently the Albany Law School, from which he graduated in 1874. Returning to the office of Mr. Brewster he remained there until 1883, when he opened his present office.
A staunch republican, Mr. Thornton has long been identified with its affairs in this city. In 1891 he was elected a member of assembly from the first assembly district of Orange County, and re-elected in 1892 and 1893. During his third term he was chairman of the judiciary committee of the assembly.
He has been prominently connected with the Masonic organizations of Newburgh; is president of the board of trustees of Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh; a member of the board of education of that city, and vice-president of the National Bank of Newburgh.
SAMUEL V. TIDD was born February 1, 1842. His parents were John and Hulda Tidd. Five children were born to this union. Samuel acquired his education at the district school and in after years became a mechanic. He enlisted in the 124th Regiment, the famous "Orange Blossoms," September 2, 1862, and was engaged in many important battles. He was taken prisoner in 1864 and confined in the Andersonville prison for eleven months. He married Harriet Reeves, of Howells, N. Y., March 6, 1866; five children were born to this union, Addie L., born February 25, 1867; Harriet E., born August 26, 1868; Nettie W., born March 17, 1870; Elizabeth, born February 10, 1872; John S., born October 23, 1873. Nettie is the wife of Harry Miller, of Middletown, N. Y., and John married Julia McWhinnie, of New York City. Mr. Tidd is a republican, has been collector of the school district four terms and constable one term. He is a member of Lyon Post, G. A. R., No. 266, of Middletown, N. Y.
CHARLES E. TOWER, postmaster at Maybrook and member of the firm of Tower Brothers, general merchants, is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., where his brother Fred. W. was also born. Their father, Albert Tower, moved to Orange County in 1870, locating at Campbell Hall, where he was engaged in the milk business for twenty-five years. He established the store at Maybrook in 1889, where he served as postmaster fourteen years. He also held the office of justice of the peace for three years. His death occurred in 1904. Inheriting the industry and enterprise of their father the Tower brothers are numbered among the progressive business men of Orange County. They are members of the Order of United American Mechanics.
THOMAS POWELL TOWNSEND, son of Jacob P. and Mary Ann (Barrett) Townsend, was born at Milton, Ulster County, N. Y., November 26, 1836. His father was a prosperous merchant of Milton, and young Thomas remained in his employ acquiring the requisite training for a successful business career until 1860, when he located in Newburgh and engaged in wholesale merchandise and general freighting business until 1876, when with the exception of a period in 1881, in which he was interested in the wholesale grocery house of James A. Townsend & Co., he has lived in comparative retirement. Mr. Townsend has steadfastly declined to hold public office, directorships, membership in clubs and fraternal organizations, preferring to enjoy the seclusion and privacy of his home. He married Mary Augusta, daughter of Hon. George Clark. They have one daughter, now Mrs. Florence C., wife of Charles T. McKenzie, married October 22, 1890.
FRANK T. AND A. G. TRIPP, publishers of The News of the Highlands at Highland Falls, N. Y., established this bright weekly eight-page newspaper, March, 1891. A valuable feature of the paper is the chronicling of the news of West Point. A modern job printing plant is also conducted, and it has a large advertising patronage in Newburgh.