MATTHIAS VAN HOESEN OBITUARY

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 14, 1890.

Obituary.

   Matthias Van Hoesen, Esq., died in Preble, N. Y., on Thursday, March 6, 1890, aged 84 years.

   Not often does the departure from among us of an aged person occasion a larger vacancy, and call out more marked expressions of loss and bereavement than in the event recorded above. Identified with the interests of Preble from his early infancy to the end of his long and influential life, and prominent in public affairs in this county for more than half a century, it was the rare experience of Mr. Van Hoesen to retain his powers and keep up his active attention to important interests until the sickness that prostrated him a few weeks before his death.

   He was born in Athens, Greene Co., N. Y., August 7, 1805. With his father’s family he came to Preble when an infant of five months of age. The family home until 1830, was a mile and a half north of Preble village on the place now occupied by Mr. Winegardener. The advantages enjoyed by him for school privileges were very limited indeed, but an original and vigorous mind like his could not be kept by any early disadvantages from learning how to think, and becoming conversant in a practical way with the methods and processes of a business education. In his early manhood he mastered the carpenter's trade and worked at that business for many years with marked success. In 1830 he removed to Preble village, having the year before married Miss Sarah Tully, like himself a native of Athens, Greene Co., who survives him. To them were born nine children, of whom two sons and five daughters are now living.

   To mention the public positions and places of responsibility held by Mr. Van Hoesen, is to give but a faint suggestion of the confidence and trust reposed in him, and of the honor in which he was held by all who knew him. He was a Justice of the Peace by successive elections for many years. For fourteen years he was Supervisor of the town. During the war he was an influential member of the committee for raising troops in Cortland Co. He was also connected with the official management of two or three of our leading banks, and for years had been almost continuously engaged as administrator of estates, referee in legal difficulties, and other similar positions requiring good judgment, tact, and sterling integrity.

   His counsel was sought after from all sides. Widows, orphans, the poor, the inexperienced, relied upon his advice and wisdom. Possessed of a rare judicial mind, conversant with legal matters, and keen in analysis as he was patient in hearing the matter submitted to him, his advice was not only sagacious, but was uniformly given in the interests of justice and peace, and for the best settlement of disputes.

   A man of bright and ready wit, he was a delightful companion, and yet took no comfort in jests and references of impure and salacious nature. He held himself aloof from the petty gossip and scurrilous tattle that are too often current, and occupied his thoughts and attention with things more important and becoming. Such was his integrity, his sagacity, and his force of mind and energy of executive ability, that more, probably, than any other man who has lived in Preble he was esteemed for counsel, and looked upon as the leader in public affairs. By his diligence and prudence he amassed a competency, yet ever lived in the same quiet, unostentatious, and simple ways in which he had become habituated.

   During his last sickness of seven weeks he was able to see around him all of his surviving children, some of whom were in almost constant attendance upon him. Everything that the best medical skill could do for his help and comfort was also done for him. His pastor visited him repeatedly, to whom he expressed most emphatically his trust in God, and his readiness to die. To him he entrusted the duty of bearing public testimony to his position regarding the supreme issues of life.

   On Sunday, ten days before his death, he called his family around him, spoke to them words of loving counsel, and in prayer commended them to the mercy and grace of God.

   The services on the occasion of his funeral were held in the M. E. Church of Preble, and an appropriate discourse was preached by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Curtis. Among those present in the large concourse convened were the trustees of the Preble Cemetery Association who acted as bearers, a full delegation of the Cortland Co. Bar, representatives of different banks, and many other citizens of Homer, Cortland and adjacent towns.

   It was the universal sentiment of those gathered to attend the last solemn rites, as it is of the many more who could not so express their veneration and esteem for Mr. Van Hoesen, that his death means not only the calling away of another of the few remaining ones of the generation of pioneers who founded the institutions which we enjoy, but of a man who had won and deservedly held a large place in the confidence and love of his fellow-men, and in the history of affairs in his town and county.

   "Hath he not always treasures, always friends,

   The great, good man? Three treasures—love and light,

   And calm thoughts, equable as infant’s breath;

   And three fast friends, more sure than day or night,—

   Himself, his Maker, and the angel Death."

   COM. [pen name of contributor. CC.]
 

The Home Market.

   Speaking of the interior decorations for the new Presbyterian Church in this place, the Cortland Standard says:

   "The contract for carpeting the church throughout has been given to Messrs. Kevenney Bros. & DeGan of Syracuse."

   In the same issue of the Standard we find the following in answer to an article that appeared in the DEMOCRAT the week previous on "Early Closing" of the business places in this village:

   "The latter part of the DEMOCRAT'S article, in condemnation of the practice of going out of town to buy goods which ought to be bought at home, to the encouraging and supporting of home enterprise, ought to be cordially endorsed by every public-spirited citizen. It is doctrine which the Standard has preached for years, both as to local and National trade, and which the DEMOCRAT has sneered at as "protection." The article in question is the first good, solid, Republican argument for protection which we have ever had the pleasure of reading in the columns of our contemporary, and we are almost as much surprised to find it there as we were to read its attack on the good sense of our business men. Free trade, or buying abroad where you think you can buy the cheapest, even if you cut your neighbor's business throat, is not good doctrine either in Cortland or any where else. In the end it will pinch a nation or a village."

   Evidently the doctrine which the Standard has been preaching for years has not taken very deep root in the minds of its readers and the fact that the Presbyterian Church carpets were bought in Syracuse is but one illustration of this fact.

   Here we have a craft with a republican high tariff skipper, officers and crew of the same persuasion, the hull purchased and paid for with funds solicited and freely given by the residents of this village, and bound for an exclusively republican, high tariff, home market, hereafter, purchasing its supplies in a foreign market with the funds contributed by Cortland people. Can any one tell why these high tariff and home market shouters do not practice what they preach? If there is any virtue in the home market it ought to be as valuable to republican churches as it is to the laboring men and mechanics, who are constantly importuned by republicans not to purchase their supplies outside the home market.

   Do these republicans believe in the home market? Let their faith be known by their works. We venture the assertion without fear of successful contradiction, that the people of means in this village, purchase more than one-half their clothing, dry goods, groceries, etc., in foreign markets, leaving the farmers, laborers and mechanics to support the home dealers. In many cases this is done thoughtlessly, but in many other cases it is done with a full knowledge of the results. Now if the farmers, laborers and mechanics would unite and purchase all their supplies abroad what a healthy business town Cortland would be. The price of real estate would drop so low that Cortland would not be able to hear the blasts from Gabriel's horn resurrection day.

   There are three reputable dealers in carpets in this place, who stood ready to furnish carpets for the church at cost, but it was "quite English ye know" to purchase in a foreign market and pay a much higher price for the same goods. Preaching in favor of preserving the home market may be all well enough, but it looks very much as if prayer should be offered also.

It Stands Every Test.

   The brick pavement put down by Mr. P. M. C. Townsend of Horseheads on South Main St., in 1887, has been thoroughly tried and tested in every possible manner since it was laid, and has proved itself to be the best pavement possible. There were many kickers while the work was being done, but after a trial of over two years its opponents have come to be its fast friends. All of the stone for the new Presbyterian church, erected in this place last summer, were hauled over this pavement and most of the wagons carried six tons at a load. These heavy loads made not the slightest impression on the brick and the pavement is as smooth and even to-day as it was the day it was finished. It has proved more than satisfactory to all and we hope to see it used in exclusion to all others on our streets in the future. It is a smooth and beautiful piece of road to drive over and unlike the asphalt pavement it furnishes a foothold to the horse and is not injurious to the animals driven over it. Good judges believe it to be as permanent and lasting as any, and far more durable than the wood or cobble pavement generally in use. We hope the village authorities will finish paving South Main St. the coming season and they should certainly use the brick pavement.

For Rent-Cortland Opera House [Ad]

   Application for lease of the Opera House should be made in writing and addressed to H. M. Kellogg, Treasurer of the Opera House Co., during the month of March. Possession given June 21st, 1890. Security required for the prompt payment of rent in monthly installments.

   H. M. KELLOGG, Treasurer.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   Michigan has seventy-eight furniture factories, half of which are in Grand Rapids.

   Forty-seven thousand of the 76,000 paupers in New York State almshouses are of foreign birth.

   Two hundred thousand salmon trout fry have been placed in Cayuga lake by Union Springs sportsmen.

   The total city debt of Syracuse is now $1,438,400, but the indications are that it will rapidly grow to large proportions.

   Dr. J. T. Jameson, who died at South Otselic, Wednesday, was a licentiate of the college of physicians and surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland.

   Jack Heffernan, seconded by his mother, won a desperate prize fight from John Carter at Wilkesbarre, Pa., Saturday. Both reside at Mill Creek, Pa.

   The net revenues to the State of the Onondaga salt fields have been over $4,000,000, which was used in paying the cost of construction of the Erie canal.

   A printing machine now being built by the Hoes, New York, will be guaranteed to print, paste and fold 90,000 six-page papers per hour. It will deliver in the same condition 70,000 eight page, 46,000 twelve page, or 24,000 twenty-four page papers per hour! Good for the Hoes.

   The State Press Association will meet in Syracuse June 24 and go to Alexandria Bay. After a two days session they will make a tour of the Thousand Islands, visit Montreal and Quebec, returning by the way of the White Mountains, Lake Champlain, Lake George and Saratoga. The trip will occupy about ten days.

   Fuller & Warren company, proprietors of the Clinton foundry, the largest stove manufacturing establishment in Troy, have been requested to remove their business to Joliet, Ill., and the company intimates that the proposition will be accepted. The entire business of the company will not be removed at once, but as the buildings shall be erected at Joliet and the facilities for manufacture increased there, the operations of the concern will be diminished in Troy. The company employs 1,200 men and the pay roll aggregates more than a million dollars a year.

Recommended:

Preble Post Office: http://www.preble-ny.org/news/2012_newsletter.pdf
Mr. Van Hoesen and His Money: http://jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-balloon-ascension-at-cortland.html 
Find a Grave, Matthias Van Hoesen: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=VanHoesen&GSiman=1&GSsr=41&GScid=64437&GRid=41763341&