BIOGRAPHY: Ames F. Templeton; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

***********************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
***********************************************************************

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

AMES F. TEMPLETON, who is numbered among Newburgh's most successful
contractors, was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, June 28, 1845. As far back as
the family record extends, the ancestors have resided in the "land of
heather," and have been people of recognized worth of character and strength
of intellect. The grandfather, John Templeton, was born in Dumfriesshire,
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Like the others of his name, he was
a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.

The father of our subject, William Templeton, was born in Wigtonshire, and in
the parish of Glenluce he passed his entire life, dying at the age of
eighty-one. He married Miss Annie Pat- erson, who was born in Scotland in
1809, and died March 12, 1895, aged eighty-six years. Her father, George
Paterson, was born in Wigton-shire, and continued to make his home there
throughout life. James F. is one of a family of seven sons and six daughters,
of whom three sons and three daughters are still living. Two broth-ers,
Alexander and William, settled in Newburgh, where the former followed the
business of a con-tractor, and the latter was a carpenter; both died in this
city.

Among the thirteen children James F. was the eighth in order of birth. He was
reared in Glenluce, where he attended the common schools and aided his father,
who was a contractor and builder. At the age of sixteen he commenced to learn
the carpenter's trade under the instruction of his father, gaining a thorough
knowledge of every department of the work. In 1865 he went to Glamorganshire,
South Wales, where he worked at his trade for three years. On the 19th of
June, 1868, he took passage from Glasgow on an American-bound steamer, which
landed him in New York on the 4th of July, after a voyage of fifteen days.

For two years after coming to the United States, Mr. Templeton worked for his
brothers, after which he was in the employ of William Hilton & Son for
thirteen years. In 1881, forming a partnership with George Usher, under the
firm name of Usher & Templeton, he started in business for himself, and the
connection continued until 1895, when Mr. Templeton bought out his partner's
interest and has since carried on the business alone. He has been a successful
business man, and the work that he has done has been entirely satisfactory to
the parties concerned. He has erected many of the residences in the city, and
while in partnership with George Usher also had the contract for the City
Hall, the McGregor and Fletcher Blocks, and a number of other important public
office buildings. At different times he has had in his employ from fifteen to
thirty men, having conducted the business on an extensive scale. He owns
eighty-six feet frontage on Chambers Street, at Nos. 30-32-34, where he owns
two residences and has his office and shop.

In Newburgh Town, in 1870, Mr. Templeton married Miss Jessie McGregor, who was
born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, but was brought from there to America by her
father, John McGregor, who became a farmer in New Windsor Town. Four children
comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Templeton, namely: George, a graduate of
Newburgh Academy, and now his father's -assist-ant; Annie, also a graduate of
the academy; Mabel, a member of the Class of '96, Newburgh Academy; and
William.

Politically Mr. Templeton is a Republican. In 1886 he was elected Alderman
from the Second Ward on his party ticket, and two years later he was
re-elected, serving four years altogether. During his incumbency of this
responsible position he was Chairman of the Sewer Committee, and a member of
the Police, Light, Finance and Fire Department Committees. In 1894 he was
elected Water Commissioner for five years, his term be-ginning in March of
that year. While acting in this capacity he has been Chairman of the
Improvement Committee, and a member of the Sup-ply Committee. Socially he is a
Mason, and a past officer in the order of Odd Fellows. In religious
connections he is a member of the Associate Reformed Church on Grand Street.