The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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261 burgh in the fall of 18 5 3. His first employment' was with Ste h H p en ayt, on Water Street, for his board. In three months he took a clerkship with Isaac Wood, Jr., for three years, after which he had a position for a year with Mr. Parmale d e, an againtreturned to the store of Isaac Wood where, d M W un er r. ood's guidance, he received instruc- tion and acquired experience that was invaluable to him in later years. In 1-863 Mr. Schoonmaker, with Samuel C. Mills and A. A. Weller, purchased the dry-goods business of Col. Woods at the north: east corner of Water and 3d Streets. Business at that time was conducted on a very.d1ffere1112 scale from the present. Nearly everything Could be purchased at the same store. Half a dozen lines of boats between New York and. Newburgh and market-wagons from the surrolllldlng COUNTY made Newburgh an active business centre, .Wheie stores were open as early as cllclock Ciillgcli morning and frequently as late as cl even 1 - fi occupied its new Y at night. In 1878 the T111 d 6 Water Completed building at' NOS. 94 iitnblegirnprove- Street. This was considteired 2336156 largest dry- ment and the firm even G11 ,E 1 ' ' Although at firs on Y goods store in. the C1'CY- . p - f em-S increased business made 1? ne - 88 and Mr. the whole. Mr. Mills retired in I 5ker,S Son, Weller januafy I, 1393- T '3S?12323:1l3, and the S211'I111G1, Purchased Mr' We G 8: Son I Now ohn Schoonmalff-31' , . ' mm became g d the adjoining building on the the firm purc ase , - acitjv' 'fm' north, still further increfgilgtoglie afflpactive ina business. Mr, Sqhoonmi firm until his sudden terest in the affairs of t G ft r a PTO' illness in the latter Part of IQOZ' 34121 an G , f he died on the 1513 tracted Period of hope Eiqdhiillie, No. 135 Grand , at 15 5 any Sizreiegttiuaidyr. Sgligonmakef 1233 tliuicinydsltriigdein His years the head Qf N ewburg? xfeflyy egctensive and few business acquainta11C9 Wa

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260 to reside, Mr. Van Duzer's business being .at Nos. 198 and 200 Greenwich Street. After residing in that city and on Staten Island for three years, they purchased their present residence in New- burgh,.which has always remained their home, although they had a winter residence at Thomas- ville, Ga., and resided in the midsummer at Stony Crest, an island in Alexandria Bay. On May 15, 1900, they celebrated their golden wedding at Newburgh. Mr. Van Duzer had four children: the eldest, Selah Van Duzer, who died July 5, 1892, Henry S. Van Duzer, a lawyer in the firm of Van Duzer 85 Taylor, of New York City g Katha- rine S., wife of Frank V. Burton, of Balmville-on- Hudson, and Frederick C. Van Duzer, of London, England, a member of S. R. Van Duzer 85. Son, and at one time president of the American Society in that city, and also Past Assistant-Director of Ceremonies of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Eng- land. The funeral took place at Mr.'Van Duzer's late residence, Rozenhof, the services being conducted by Rev. I. Searle, Pastor of Calvary Church, as- sisted by Rev. Dr. Longacre, formerly of Trinity Church. The interment was at Greenwood Cem- etery in the family lot.. CThe widow of Mr. Van Duzer soon followed her late husband and died at Thomasville, Ga., on April 25, , IQO4.D JOHN SCHOONMAKER was born january 2 5, 1 8 30, in the town of Gardiner, Ulster County, N. Y., the youngest of ten children. When old enough, he began work upon his father's farm and continued until he was twenty-two, teaching school at Gar- diner for the last winter that he remained at home. In March, 18 52, with his brother Jacob, he opened a. general store at Tuttletown. Soon afterward his brother lost his life in the H enry Clay disaster on the Hudson, and in a short time the Tuttletown store was sold, Mr. Schoonmaker moving to New-

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Q . c,.o . -,I .iraq fu , 'Vg v A . - . K ,wi .f- Eg. , -'Iv - . '.-,,.1 3.1. A-1 - -V? Q 4 . 1' .- Ng ,,:,, 'v Q.. ,Q 57 r 1 Q'-:.F 5 .1 ., . .4 ' , V X I . 1 -. 4. V -. 'we 262 d men enjoyed such a reputation for honor, integ- rity and probity, his friends .and acquaintances placing implicit confidence in him, which, through- out his career, was never violated. He was a public-spirited citizen, always interested in the welfare and progress of Newburgh and contributed generously to projects which promised well for its advancement, yet he never sought public office or cared to appear prominently in public. His in- creasing business prevented him from entering politics., although he was a member of the Board of Health from 188 5 to 1888, in which he rendered conscientious service. He was one of the organ- izers of the old Newburgh Board of Trade and of its successor, the Newburgh Business Men's Asso- ciation, of which his son was president. For thirty-seven years he was a trustee of the New- burgh Savings Bank and for a number of years its second vice-president. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he was active and efficient, serving for many terms as trustee and elder. He was also deeply interested in the Bethel Mission and Chapel, serving as Superin- tendent of the Chapel while health permitted. The funeral was held at Mr. Schoonmaker's late residence, on Monday, January 4th, and the in- terment was made at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Mr. Schoonmaker was elected to membership in the 1 .Holland Society March 27, ISQO. In April, 1898, he was elected Vice-President for Orange County at the annual meeting. He leaves three chil- dren, his son and partner, Samuel V. Schoon- maker, Mrs. W. Clement Scott, and Miss Elizabeth Schoonmaker. Gen. Georges Loo1v11s BECKER was elected to membership in the Holland Society June 12, 1902, and died january 6, IQO4. He had been for half a century sa prominent figure in the state of Minne- sota,. and, with his wide public experience, his public and private activity in the various posi-