General Editorial Review
OF THE MOST PROMINENT
MANUFACTURERS, BUSINESS HOUSES,
AND PROFESSIONAL MEN
OF ORANGE COUNTY
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WE present herewith to our readers, brief sketches and business notices of the prominent manufacturing and jobbing houses, professional and business men of the County. It will be interesting as showing the growth of the County, while the notices embrace a group the most substantial and enterprising firms in every department of trade, showing at a glance those who, comparatively speaking, are the “soul” of the County's prosperity, and who advance its interests perpetually by their individual energy and enterprise. To this end we submit to our readers the following brief review.
Homer Ramsdell & Co. In opening our editorial department it appears to us fitting and peculiarly appropriate that we select the name of the above firm. Their history has been the county's history for more than half a century, and their interests so closely identified with her interests as to defy separation. Homer Ramsdell, the senior member of the firm, was born at Warren, Mass., August 10, 1810 was educated at Monson Academy, and at the age of twenty-two entered the dry goods trade in New York, in which he remained until 1840. In 1835 he was married to Miss Frances E. L., daughter of Thos. Powell, Esq., of Newburgh, and in 1844 he became a member of the firm of Thomas Powell & Co. of Newburgh, and from that time until the present writing, he has continued his connection with the mercantile interests of Newburgh. In 1849-50 we find his name prominently identified with the Newburgh & Ellenville Plank Road, being President of the same. During the construction of the Erie R. R., we find him employing his time, energy and a large capital to secure the advantages of railroad connection for the city of his adoption, and in 1849, the firm of Thos. Powell & Co. was individually responsible for $202,219, having secured that amount towards building that road. He was one of the first directors of the Powell Bank, organized in 1838, and was vice president in 1843. In 1844 he was interested with the company that erected the Newburgh Steam Mills, and was the first vice president of this company. He was the first Newburgh Director of the Erie R. R., which position he has held almost uninterruptedly since. He served as President of the road from 1853 to 57, and as Receiver in 1876. Mr. Thomas Powell died in 1856, and in 1858 Mr. Geo. W. Townsend became a partner with Mr. Ramsdell, and the firm of Homer Ramsdell & Co. was formed. In Feb. 1865, they purchased the dock property on Front st., of B. Carpenter & Co., and moved their storehouse upon it, combining with and erecting the one they now occupy. Mr. Jas. A. Townsend in 1858 became a member of the firm. The business at that time consisted of wholesale grocery, commission and forwarding, the company owning a line of vessels plying to New York. This firm transacted the largest business ever carried on in Orange County. Aside from his immense private enterprises, we find Mr. Ramsdell's name prominently identified with every public enterprise throughout the county. He was largely interested in steamboating in its early days. The Newburgh & Fishkill Ferry as it exists to-day is an outgrowth of his enterprise, and he was also largely interested in the Newburgh & New York Short Cut R.R. In 1876 Mr. Jas A. Townsend withdrew from the firm, which then discontinued the grocery business, confining themselves to forwarding. We might mention scores of other enterprises with which Mr. Ramsdell has been identified, but the limits of this book will not permit. Suffice it to say the history of Orange County, more especially of the City of Newburgh, has been his history, for no one man of all her citizens has contributed so much to make it what it is.
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