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

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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-

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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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263 tions to which his bus l'f 11 - large .place in the mgmdrif Cgf eliiishlaieliiiivej 3 acquaintances. He was born in Locke Cayuga COUHW' N- Y-2 February 4, 1829. His father Vilas Hiram Becker and his mother Sophia Millard t e latter being of H t ,qs Beckers had settled in ltI1gvE1re1I!9orkWSCint'. The th seventeenth century, the first ancestgirbzinlg Jag juriensen B k - - ec er, of Amsterdam, the immigrant of 165 5 or 1656. The earliest home of the family was Albany or New York, from which the family moved to Schoharie about 1733. General Backers, early school days began in his native town and continued at Moravia, from which at the age of twelve he was sent to Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio. The family then removed to Auburn, N. Y., where he finished his preparation for college. In 1841 the home was again changed to Ann Arbor, and he became a student at the University of Michigan, graduating in 1846 at the age of seventeen, the youngest member of a large class. Having selected the law as .his career, he began to study in the office of George Sedgwick, at Ann Arbor. In Gctober, 1849, heremoved to Minnesota, and in 1850 he was admitted to the bar, although less than twenty-one years 'of age. He formed a partnership with Edmund R106 Hfld Ellis G. Whitall, which was early successful, and with slight changes the firm continued until 18 56, when it was dissolved. General Becker about this time had concluded to abandon the praotlfge Of the law. In 1862 he became Irand Comm1SS1OHC1' of the St. Paul Sc Pacific Railroad, and inf was elected president of the first division do T72- road, holding the position twelve Years indcllzlnd ing as hard as any emlQ10Yee-, Th? known? 'Umm a eXPerienC6 gained dufmg th-15 Pei?-'id mils Ware- valuable member of the State Rai way . , . - ' 5 13 13 house Commission and dictated T115 appgm me? t l t t He took an active lftterest in O 3 arge GX en - ' f his residence in local affairs from the beglnlilng 0 D