History of Catskill, (Greene County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

John Hill, representative, was born in Catskill, N.Y., June 10, 1821. His education was acquired chiefly in private schools, and in 1835 he became a clerk in his father's bank in Catskill. He was clerk in a bank at Boonton, Morris county, N.J., 1842-45, and entered in the employ of the New Jersey iron company there in 1845. He subsequently engaged in business in Boonton on his own account. He was postmaster of the town, 1849-53; justice of the peace, 1856-61; and representative in the state legislature, 1861, 1862 and 1866. He took an active part in raising troops during the civil war. He was a representative in the 40th, 41st, and 47th congresses, 1867-71 and 1881-83. He was a prominent advocate of postal reform, and was influential in obtaining the issue of postal cards and the reduction of letter postage to two cents in 1883. He died in Boonton, N.J., July 24, 1884.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Nathan Benjamin, missionary, was born at Catskill. N.Y., Dec. 14, 1811. In 1831 he received his diploma from Williams college, and then spent three years in the study of theology at the Andover seminary. In 1835 he went to Turkey and Greece as missionary of the American board of foreign missions, going thence to Argos, and spending the years from 1838 to 1845 in Athena During the last two years he was acting United States consul. He then returned to his native country, where he remained two years, resuming his missionary labors in 1847. In December of that year he reached Smyrna, where for five years he worked faithfully, superintending the publication of the Bible and religions literature in the Armenian tongue. In 1852 he went to Constantinople, where he continued the same work and also regularly preached until his death, three years later. His publications consist principally of translations from English to Armenian and Greek; and The Morning Star, the first Armenian newspaper, was founded and managed by him. He was married to Mary Gladding Whalen of Providence, R. I., author of "The Missionary Sisters" (1859). His death occurred in Constantinople, Turkey, Jan. 27, 1855.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Addison Porter, chemist, was born in Catskill, N.Y., March 15, 1822. He was graduated from Yale college, A.B., 1842; A.M., 1845; was tutor in Delaware college, Newark, Del., 1844-45, and professor of rhetoric and modern languages there, 1845-47. He studied agricultural chemistry under Liebig at the University of Giessen, 1847-50; was assistant at the Lawrence Scientific school, Harvard university, in 1850; was professor of chemistry and applied arts at Brown university, 1850-52; professor of analytical and agricultural chemistry at Yale, 1852-56, and professor of organic chemistry, 1856-64. He was married to Josephine Earl, daughter of Joseph E. Sheffield , and was instrumental in securing from his father-in-law the generous donation that established the Sheffield Scientific school. He was a member of several scientific societies, and received the degree of M.D. from Yale in 1855. During the civil war he published the Connecticut War Record, a monthly. In 1842 he founded the Scroll and Key society of Yale, which established to his memory in 1871 the John A. Porter essay prize of $250. He is the author of: Principles of Chemistry (1856); First Book of Chemistry and Allied Sciences (1857); Selections from the Kalerala, the Great Finnish Epic (1868). He died in New Haven, Conn., Aug. 25, 1866.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Amos Beebe Eaton, soldier, was born in Catskill, N.Y., May 12, 1806; son of Amos and Sally (Cady) Eaton. He was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1826 and as lieutenant took part in the Seminole war in Florida and Alabama, 1827-28. He was married, April 21, 1831, to Elizabeth, daughter of Calvin and Phoebe (Ely) Selden. He was with General Taylor's army of occupation in the war with Mexico as captain and received his brevet as major for "gallant and meritorious conduct" at Buena Vista. In the civil war he was purchasing commissary in New York city, 1861-64, and commissary-general of subsistence, Washington, D.C., 1864-65. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel, colonel and brigadier-general, was brevetted major-general in 1865 for efficient services in the commissary department during the civil war, and was retired in 1874. He died in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 21, 1877.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor