BIOGRAPHY: James M. Firth; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

JAMES N. FIRTH. Among the prominent and successful business men of Newburgh
we make mention of Mr. Firth, who is the proprietor of a large establishment
for the sale of sporting goods, bicycles, guns, etc. He is a native of
England, having been born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, July 28, 1848. His father,
Absalom Firth, and his grandfather, James Firth, were also born there, the
latter following the profession of a music teacher.

The father of our subject came with his family to America in 1853, locating at
Little Falls, N. J. By trade he was a shoemaker and woolen-spinner, and for
seven years followed the first-named business in New Jersey. At the end of
that time he carte to Newburgh and engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods.
He served as a soldier in the Seventy-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry during
the Civil War, enlisting first as a mem-ber of Company H. After the expiration
of his term of three months he again offered his services and participated in
the first battle of Bull Run. He was honorably discharged on account of
disability after being a Union soldier for seven months. His death was caused
by an accident, he being thrown from a wagon in 1890, when in the seventieth
year of his age.

The maiden name of our subject's mother was Hannah Sheard. She, too, was born
in England, and was the daughter of Thomas Sheard, a weaver and manufacturer
of fine cloths. He departed this life in his native land, but his wife, Mrs.
Hannah Sheard, came to America after his de-cease, and died in New Windsor,
this county, at the remarkable age of ninety-eight years. The family
originally included eight children, and of these two are now living.

Our subject accompanied his parents on their removal to the United States,
embarking on the sailing-vessel "City of Washington" at Liverpool. They were
seven weeks on the journey across the Atlantic, and after being landed in New
York Harbor made their way to Gordinsville, N. J., afterward to Marlboro, N.
Y., and finally to New York City, where they lived during the war. While a lad
of eight years our subject began working in the woolen-mills, and on mastering
this industry learned to be a shoemaker and later a harness-maker. On removing
to Rif-ton Glen he again entered the woolen-mills, and was promoted from time
to time until he held the position of woolen-spinner. From there he went to
Yonkers, and thence to Broad Brook, Conn.

In 1885 he returned to Newburgh and was Superintendent of James Harrison's
woolen-mills for five years. In 1890 he decided to abandon that occupation,
and, buying the stock of goods formerly owned by Edward Wilkinson, opened his
present business at No. 77 Broadway, in the Van Cleft Building. The store has
been greatly enlarged since he took possession of it, and Mr. Firth is now
regarded as the largest dealer in the line of sporting goods in the city. His
repair shops are located in the rear of his store, and he has appliances for
making good all breakages to bicycles, etc. He carries a full line of electric
goods, and, in fact, everything usually found in a first-class establishment
of this kind. He has a private telephone, and his building is fitted up with
electric bells and speaking tubes. He commands a large patronage and well
deserves the success with which he is meeting. Although his place of business
is at Newburgh, his residence is on Johnes Street, New Windsor.

Mr. Firth was married in Broad Brook, Conn., in 1869, to Miss Jane Peace. She
was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to America with her parents when a
child. She was educated inthe Nutmeg State, and by her union with our subject
has become the mother of three children, two of whom are living, Hannah E. and
Joseph T., both at home. Socially our subject belongs to Oriental Lodge No.
111, F. & A. M., in Broad Brook, Conn., which he joined when a young man of
twenty-one years. Religiously he is a member of St. John's Methodist Episcopal
Church, and in politics is a Republican.