J. W. Corwin

J.W. Corwin, who is one of the old settlers of Goshen, was the first mayor of the place, acting in that capacity for three years, and was also a member of the Board of Trustees for several years. He is now president of the Electric-light Company, which he assisted to organize, and in which he owns much of the stock, and is also president of the Music Hall Company. He enjoys the distinction of having been longer engaged in the hardware business than any other merchant in the county, and has met with good success.

The subject of this article is of Scotch descent, but his grandfather, Eli, was a native of Long Island. At an early day he settled near Scotchtown, Orange County, where he improved a farm and made his home until his death, which occurred when he was well along in years. Jason, the father of our subject, who was a man of influence in his community, was born in this county, and was brought up in the old-school Presbyterian faith, to which he adhered in later years, serving in the capacity of Elder. He fell heir to his father’s homestead, and continued to dwell thereon until his death, in his seventy-second year. In the War of 1812, he was captain of an infantry company, the old sword which he then carried being now in the possession of his son, and in politics he was an old-line Whig. His wife, Jeanette, a native of this county, was a daughter of William Millspaugh, who was of Scotch origin, and who was born on Long Island. He was also one of the pioneers in the vicinity of Scotchtown, and was the owner of a valuable farm, which was reclaimed from the wilderness. Mrs. Corwin lived to be over threescore and ten years old, and was always a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. Of her eight children, only one, the youngest and the subject of this biography, survives.

J.W. Corwin was born on the old farm near Scotchtown, February 19, 1828, and in his youth attended the district school of the neighborhood in the winter. In 1846, he came to Goshen, and for seven years clerked in the hardware store for the old firm of Merriam & Smith. In 1853, Mr. Corwin became interested in the firm, the name becoming J.W. Corwin & Co., and this connection was in existence for a number of years. Then for twelve years, dating from 1869, the style was that of Corwin & Merriam, the junior member of the firm being a son of our subject’s first partner. In 1881, Mr. Corwin became sole proprietor, but January 1, 1893, became associated in business with one of his former clerks, under the present title of Corwin & Kniffin. Their hardware store on West Main Street is the oldest site in this line of trade in the city. They carry a full line of stoves, tinware, shelf and heavy hardware, etc., and in an adjoining building have a fine stock of harness and saddlery supplies. One store is 22x60 feet, and the other 18x80, and the four floors of the two buildings are all occupied. In the rear is a tinshop, 20x40 feet, three stories in height. Mr. Corwin owns a valuable dairy farm at Big Island, six miles from Goshen, which comprises two hundred and thirty acres. He has stocked the place and manages it himself, at present having upwards of sixty cows.

In Jersey City Mr. Corwin was married, December 14, 1853, to Miss Sarah, daughter of George Howell, an old settler of Goshen, in which place Mrs. Corwin was born and reared. Our subject and his wife have a pleasant home on Division Street, and delight to dispense hospitality to their large circle of friends. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Corwin being a member of the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the Committee on Repairs when the church was rebuilt, and he superintended the tearing down and reconstruction of the tower. The present church edifice, valued at $150,000, is the finest in the county. In his political affiliations, Mr. Corwin is a true-blue Republican. He is very liberal and enterprising and is a practical philanthropist, one who believes in doing good as opportunity offers, and not waiting, as so many do, until death to bestow his fortune upon various organizations.