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will not be able to come up to Roundout as they are going back to College Hill Monday and all their time is taken to that date. I came home and put on my painting clothes and went up the ladder and painted the gutters on the man house and did not finish until 4 o'clock. I was tired and stiff and think it will be my last work of that kind as really I do not feel it safe to do it.

Saturday Nov. 24" 1888 Tom and I went over to the cemetery and placed the cover on dear Gertrudes tombstone. I think I shall do this as long as I can as the stone shows indications of being perishable Tom spread the manure over the lot a few days ago. It is a sad place to me holding as it does the dust of those I loved best. The little flag placed on Maurice's grave by the grand Army post still remained and fluttered in the wind. I wish I could put a stone at his grave and will as soon as I can. The skies are grey and promise snow. When I came back Tom and I put up the screen in the lower hall which I made last winter and now I think we are all ready for the winter except putting up the new stove in the hall when it comes in place of the old one. Mrs. Davis came up to dinner and stayed over night. Katy our cook is disabled with rheumatism and Tracy has to do all her work. - I paid Post today for building the foundation of the stone at my father's and mothers graves. $6 for the foundation and $7 for care of the lot 2 years up to this date. 

Sunday 25" It began to snow this forenoon gradually with a strong N.E. wind and has continued furiously all day, the wind roaring as I write How fortunate that all my preparations for the winter are completed and particularly that I finished shingling the roof. Sara, Lucy, Mrs Davis and I have sat before the wood fire all day and enjoyed the "Tumultuous privacy of the storm" There is something very soothing and satisfying to me in such a storm surrounded by all the home

[[newspaper clipping]]
AN OLD HOTEL KEEPER DEAD
Freeman Nov 13 1888
Freeman Nov. 13 1888
SOLOMON BROWN PASSED AWAY IN KINGSTON THIS MORNING.

He was a Man of Few Words, But He was King in His Own House--A Notable Place of Resort in Its Day-Some Reminiscences.

Life is given to us for use. - Ovid.

Solomon Brown, of Kingston, died at 1 o'clock this morning. Mr. Brown was born October 4; 1804. He was a son of Seth Brown, of Salem, Washington County. He received a common school education. When a young man he went to Rochester City and learned the trade of a hatter. He took a trip on the first railroad passenger train in regular service in America, running between Albany and Schenectady. In 1832 Brown came to Ulster County and entered the hotel business as a partner of Thomas Clark, his uncle. For a short time he ran upon a steam-boat upon the Hudson River, but soon drifted back into the hotel business. In 1840 he took charge of the Ulster County House, which stood near the Court House, Kingston. In 1847 he was a proprietor of the Schryver Hotel, on Clinton-avenue. In 1849 he was a proprietor of the Mansion House, Rondout. In 1853 he permanently located at the Kingston Hotel, on Crown-street, Kingston. His house was the place of notable gatherings. Here the military had their famous balls. Brown was a favorite with military men, being a friend of General Samson, Colonel Pratt and others. At his house the Judges of the Supreme Court and many lawyers stopped. Brown was a man of few words, but he was king in his own hotel. He was strict in observing the law on Sundays. He was possessed of great muscular strength. It is said he never struck a man. When he wished to quell a disturbance he laid hands upon the offender and if he deserved it carried or threw him outside the door. Mr. Brown was a temperate man in all his habits. He was passionately fond of music, was an excellent singer, and for years was President of the Ulster County Musical Association. He was a patriotic man. During the war he visited the front twice as the guest of the Old Twentieth Regiment, of Ulster County. Mr. Brown was a warm advocate of the claims of the soldier. He would say "But for my age I would have been a soldiers. I was there during the war. I know the hardships soldiers encountered. I know how they fought. I passed over a battle-field, and I never want to see another. They deserve everything a nation can do for them." Mr. Brown married Miss Belinda Hauver in 1835. There is no living issue. Mrs. Brown died some years ago. Mr. Brown retired from active business 20 years ago. His health was good, and he was physically strong until about two years ago. Since then he was been an invalid, gradually wasting away. The funeral will be held from his residence at 2:30 o'clock to-morrow afternoon; interment private.
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[[newspaper clipping]]
Tribune Nov. 13. 1888
HIS LIFE DASHED OUT.
VINCENT YOUMANS'S VIOLENT DEATH.
LIVING NINETY-FOUR YEARS TO BE KILLED BY A TRAIN-HIS SONS WELL-KNOWN MEN.

Vincent Youmans, of Mount Vernon, the father of Professor Edward L. Youmans, who died recently, was instantly killed yesterday morning while crossing the railroad track in that town. He was on his way home from the Post-Office when the 10 o'clock Boston Express of the New-York and New-Haven line swept around the sharp curve near the station and struck him before he was aware of its approach. Notwithstanding the fact that his life was dashed out of him in an instant, his body was not mutilated. His left leg only was broken below the knee by the force of the blow which hurled his body over to the down-track, where it was picked up and carried to the house of his daughter Eliza. Adjoining it is the home of one of his sons, William J. Youmans. The inquest will be held by Coroner Tice to-day and the funeral arrangements will be perfected this afternoon.

Mr. Youmans had reached the ripe old age of ninety-four and was still alert in mind and active in his movements. He was a fine example of the rugged American stock, being essentially one of the plain people. He was born in Coeymans, Albany County, in this State, in 1794, but when he was six months old his parents moved to Greenfield, near Saratoga Springs. Here he worked upon his father's farm until he was sixteen years old, when he was apprenticed to a carriage-maker in Sheffield, Mass. His master proved to be a hard one and his lot was far more unsatisfactory than that of most of the apprentices of those days. During his five years of service he was permitted to receive only three month's "schooling." This deprivation bred in him the firm resolve that his children should suffer no similar neglect if it lay in his power to guard against it. How well he fulfilled this resolution, their subsequent careers have testified.

After he was out of his indentures he made Saratoga his home, and was married in early life to Catherine Schofield, also a native of Albany County. To them were born five children, four of whom were boys. The family moved to Chester Hill, Mount Vernon, sixteen years ago and lived there until Mrs. Youmans received injuries from falling down stairs last autumn which terminated fatally after a week's illness,

Of their children the best known was Professor Edward L. Youmans, a writer on scientific subjects and the founder of "The Popular Science Monthly." In this work, however, as well as in all of the branches of his scientific pursuits and experiments, he had the active assistance and cooperation of his sister, Eliza A. Youmans, and also of his brother, W. J., who has since been the editor of the publication they used to manage jointly. The two remaining members of the family, Earl S. and Addison Youmans, are engaged in business at Winona, Minnesota.
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