[ANDREW K. WADE,] of Walden, who conducts a stove and tinware establishment, was born at Montgomery in 1845, a son of Jabez P. and Susan (Millspaugh) Wade. This business was established by his brother, Joseph G. Wade, in 1857, who died in 1862. E. B. Tears continued the business until 1887, when our subject succeeded to it. Mr. Wade has served three terms as supervisor, and also justice of the peace and police justice. Politically he is a democrat, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. In 1879 he married Sarah Frances McVey. They have one daughter living, Frances Willard Wade.
CHARLES D. WAIT, a leading and very successful business man of Montgomery, N. Y., is a descendant of one of Orange County's old and respected families. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Mould) Wait, and was born at the Wait homestead in the town of Montgomery. In 1887 he erected the buildings he now occupies for business purposes, dealing extensively in flour, feed, coal, lumber and cattle, his cattle trade exceeding ten carloads monthly, which he markets in New York, while his trade in hay averages eighty carloads annually. Mr. Wait is a director in the Montgomery National Bank, and an elder of the Dutch Reformed Church. In June, 1897, he married Miss Eliza Seymour, of Walden, daughter of James Seymour.
GEORGE W. WAIT, son of Thomas and Mary (Mould) Wait, was born at the homestead, where he has always resided, in 1853. This farm, which was the property of his grandfather, Samuel Wait, is situated some two miles east of Montgomery village and comprises two hundred acres of improved and valuable land. Mr. Wait has been engaged in its cultivation since finishing his studies at the Montgomery schools, and is one of the more prosperous and progressive agriculturists in the county. He is also an extensive dealer in cattle. He married Miss Cornelia, daughter of J. Egbert Kidd, a descendant of an old Orange County family. They have had two children, Charles D., Jr., who died at the age of five, and Helen Marguerite. Mr. Wait is a member of the Montgomery Grange.
DR. WESLEY WAIT, surgeon dentist of Newburgh, N. Y., was born in the Wait homestead near the village of Montgomery, Orange County, May 15, 1861. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Mould) Wait, and a grandson of Samuel Wait, who came from Somersetshire, England, in 1821, and engaged in farming in Orange County. He married Miss Mary Welch before leaving his native land, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom Thomas was the fifth in order of birth.
Dr. Wait was educated at Montgomery Academy and a New York preparatory school, and in 1881 entered the New York College of Dentistry. Eight months later he was appointed first assistant to Professor J. B. Littig. He graduated a year ahead of his class, and has practiced continuously in Newburgh since 1885, becoming identified with a number of local enterprises.
From 1890 to 1893 Dr. Wait represented New York State in the National Association of Inventors and Manufacturers and in 1891 he represented this Congressional District at the Patent Centennial at Washington, D. C, being the inventor and owner of several valuable inventions.
In 1885 Dr. Wait married Emily S., daughter of General John A. Pawlins, chief of staff to General U. S. Grant, and ex-secretary of war. Mrs. Wait died March 25, 1897, leaving a daughter Lucille R., now the wife of Mr. John Springstead Bull. Mr. Wait chose in 1905 Miss Annie E. Knapp, daughter of Samuel T. Knapp, of New York City, for his second wife. Their mansion is located at Grand avenue and North street, overlooking the Hudson.
CHARLES N. WALTON, of Monroe, N. Y., who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, is a native of Pennsylvania and has resided in this village since 1901, when he purchased the business from J. T. Horrick. This business was originally established by Charles Maples. Mr. Walton is identified with many fraternal organizations, including the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He married Miss Alice Bond, also of Pennsylvania, and three children have been born to them, Raymond, Minnie and Russell.
DR. GEORGE N. WARD, dentist of Walden, was born in the town of Crawford, Orange County, N. Y., a son of James and Elizabeth (Crans) Ward. He graduated from the Montgomery Academy in 1886 and acquired his dental education in the University of Maryland. He has practiced his profession in Walden since 1895. He married Miss Bradnack, of Middletown, and they have one daughter. Possessed of literary and historical inclinations, Dr. Ward has accumulated a valuable collection of books and has many relics of aboriginal and Revolutionary days. James Ward, Sr., his grandfather, was born in the town of Newburgh in 1797. In 1826 he purchased the farm in Crawford township, which has been the homestead for two generations.
J. ERSKINE WARD, supervisor of the town of Crawford, has for many years been prominently identified with business and public affairs in this part of Orange County. He was born in this township March 4, 1864, a son of James and Elizabeth (Crans) Ward. His education was obtained at the schools of his native place and Middletown. In 1888 Mr. Ward engaged in the feed business at Thompson's Ridge, which he continued successfully for a period of ten years, when he sold the business and property to Messrs. Clark Bros. In 1898 he engaged in the hardware business at Pine Bush, in partnership with Mr. J. L. McKinney, disposing of his interest to Mr. McKinney in 1904, and shortly thereafter established his present saw-mill, which gives employment to about fifteen men. In political belief Mr. Ward is a staunch democrat. In 1900 he was appointed supervisor of the town and elected to the office in 1901, and has been continuously re-elected to the present time. In January, 1908, he was chosen chairman of the board. Socially Mr. Ward is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Sons of the American Revolution, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees and Grangers.