BIOGRAPHY: Hon. Augustus Denniston; Newburgh, Orange co., NY
surname: Denniston, Scott

submitted by Michelle L. McKenzie 
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Source: NEWBURGH, Her Institutions, Industries and Leading  Citizens,
Historical, Descriptive and Biographical. 
           Compiled by John J. Nutt, Published by Ritchie & Hull, Proprietors
Newburgh Journal, 
           Newburgh, N.Y., 1891, page 211

     HON. AUGUSTUS DENNISTON is a son of Hon. Robert Denniston, who was born
in the Town of Blooming Grove and was for many years in public life. He was
Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of the town, Member of Assembly and of the 
State Senate for several terms, and Comptroller of the State in 1860-61.

     Augustus Denniston was born in the Town of Blooming Grove, May 25, 1842,
educated at home, and was a clerk in the Comptroller’s office at Albany during
his father's administration. In June, 1862, he was appointed by Governor 
Morgan, on the recommendation of Colonel Ellis, to be Quartermaster of the
124th Regiment, N. Y. V. In September he went with the regiment to the front.
After a few months' service he was taken ill and spent several weeks in
hospital life. His health was so greatly impaired that he resigned.

     Mr. Denniston was a member of the Assembly from this district in 1873—74.
He was brought up on a farm and has always taken a deep interest in
agriculture In 1876 he was elected First Vice-President of the Orange County
Agricultural Society, and in 1879, upon the death of the President, the Rev.
L. L. Comfort, he was elected President which position he has ever since held,
and has seen this society, year after year, prosper and grow in public favor.
Mr. Denniston is also Vice-President of the Highland National Bank of
Newburgh, a director of the Newburgh District Telegraph Company, an officer of
Isaac Nicoll Post, G. A. R., of Washingtonville, and president of the
Washingtonville Farmers' Creamery Association. He lives on a large farm near
Washingtonville, and is a most useful man in that town. He is a bachelor.

[Note that a portrait was included with the original article]
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Source: Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson
River Valley by Cuyler Reynolds, (1914), page 896-897:

     Augustus, son of the Hon. Robert and Mary (Scott) Denniston, was born in
New Windsor township, Orange county, New York, May 25, 1842, and is now living
in Washingtonville, Orange county, New York. He was educated at home by 
private tutors. He learned to manage his father's estate, and during his
father's administration was clerk in the state comptroller's office. In June,
1862, he was appointed by Governor Morgan, on recommendation of Colonel Ellis,
as quartermaster of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment New York
Volunteers, and in September, 1862, went to the front with his regiment. He
was taken ill a few months later, and was confined in the hospital for several
weeks; finding his health greatly impaired, he resigned from the service and
returned to Orange county. In 1873-74 he was a member of the assembly of the
state of New York. In 1877 he was elected first vice-president of the Orange
County Agricultural Society, and two years later, on the death of its
president, Rev. L. L. Comfort, he was elected to the presidency of the society
and still holds that office. He was appointed cattle commissioner by Governor
Cornell, and state fair commissioner by Governor Odell for five years. In 1873
he was elected a director of the Highland National Bank of Newburgh, and was
for seven years president of the bank. He is a director of the First National
Bank of Washingtonville. He is a member of the New York State Agricultural
Society, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a Republican in
politics; a member of the Presbyterian church.