Famous People Chenango Co. Has Given to the World
Mrs. Archie D. Gibbs
Norwich Sun, February 3, 1921
Part 1 - Gail Borden
Gail Borden
1801 - 1874
(findagrave.com memorial #6854411)
There is one name which seems to stand out above all others. This man's fame has extended to every country in the world and his name is known to every race on the globe. The product for which he is famous has been a part of the equipment of every army since 1861 and hunters, traders, trappers and explorers have carried it into every wilderness. Gail Borden, the inventor of the vacuum process for condensing milk, was born in the town of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] in 1901. The little house still stands beside the East River road between Norwich and Wood's Corners. He emigrated to Texas in 1827 and was collector of the port of Galveston. Before the discovery of the process for condensing milk, he invented a meat biscuit, which proved the value of a condensed form of food and in 1851 was awarded the Great Counsel Medal in London. Strange as it may seem, when Gail Borden first applied for a patent on his process of condensing milk, his application was rejected on the ground that it was not a useful process. After three years of hard work and financial loss, he succeeded in obtaining the patent in 1856, and thus laid the foundation for one of the largest industries in the world.
He then came north and turned his attention to the preservation of milk, and in 1858 claimed a patent for "producing concentrate sweet milk by evaporation in vacuo, the same having no sugar or other foreign matter mixed with it, and after a strenuous contest he secured letters patent in 1856. the development of the invention was now a fresh source of embarrassment. He had parted with all but three-eights of his interest in the patent, when after two unsuccessful attempts to establish works in New York, the New York Condensed milk Company was formed and began business on an extensive scale at Wassaic, Dutchess county, N.Y. This was in 1860. Soon after the civil war broke out and the article became at once quickly and extensively known as it became an essential article in military and naval supplies. Then the business rapidly expanded and other manufactories were established. During the war our soldiers needed meat juices in a condensed form and Mr. Borden resumed his experimental labors and produced an extract of beef of superior quality. These extracts and their sale gave him great wealth which he made liberal use of.
Mr. B. used often to visit the home of his youth [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY]. His last visit here was about six years ago.
The funeral of Mr. Gail Borden, the originator of condensed milk, who died in Bordenville, Texas, on the 11th inst., was solemnized yesterday in White Plains. Mr. Borden was 73 years old, and had lived in White Plains a number of years. He was born in Norwich, N.Y., and when a young man went to Texas. He was there during the Mexican troubles, and after the close of hostilities he was appointed Mayor of the city of Galveston by Gen. Sam Houston. He was the first Mayor Galveston ever had. Subsequently he was made Collector of the Port, and filled that position a number of years. In 1853 Mr. Borden having conceived the idea of preserving milk and meats in condensed forms he came to New York and experimented. He had some difficulty in obtaining a patent, and he worked and experimented until he made an article which seemed to answer the conditions of a patent, which the Commissioner was willing to give, and it was obtained. The patent was all he had left. His money was gone, but after three or four years he convinced capitalists that his enterprise was a worthy one, and in consideration of five-eights of the patent Mr. Borden formed a company called the New York Condensed Milk Company, and in 1860, the first factory was built in Wassisc, on the Harlem Railroad. The war came on; there was a great demand for milk in a condensed form, and Borden's condensed milk soon attained a national reputation. The demand was greater than he could supply, and in 1866, Mr. Borden built an extensive establishment in Brewaters, Putnam County. Soon afterward he built another in Elgin, Ill., and then another at Bordentown, near Columbus, Texas, where he combined the business of condensing meat, with that of milk. Mr. Borden soon became a millionaire. He owned a mansion in White plains valued at $50,000, and vast estates in Illinois and Texas. He spent most of his time travelling between his different factories, and was on a visit to his place in Texas when he died.
The funeral services were in the Memorial M.E. Church in White Plains, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Vassar of Amenia. Although the day was rainy the church was crowded. The remains, enclosed in an elegant rosewood coffin, were taken to Woodlawn Cemetery [Bronx, NY] by the 2:30 p.m. train and deposited in the family vault. Mr. Borden leaves a wife, a son, and two daughters, one of whom is married.
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Obituary
Chenango Telegraph, January 22, 1874
Gail Borden, the inventor of the process of making condensed milk, died on the 11th inst., at Bordenville, Texas. Mr. Borden will be remembered by many of our older citizens, He was born in Norwich, upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Pendleton (the Area Pellet farm) in 1801, he being the eldest of seven children. At the age of 13 he went west with his father, who settled near Madison, Ind., but finding his health impaired he went to Mississippi, and there engaged in teaching. Here he was appointed County and Deputy United States Surveyor. Having married, he removed to Texas in 1829,. His abilities soon brought him into prominence. After conducting a newspaper for some years, he was appointed by president Houston, Collector of the Port of Galveston, and subsequently was agent for twelve years of the Galveston City Company, a corporation holding several thousand acres on which the city is built. His experimental labors as an inventor resulted first in the production of a meat biscuit, which he manufactured extensively in Texas with the view of supplying good and portable food to emigrants crossing the plains. The opposition of the army contractors however overcame him, and he retired from the unequal contest penniless.He then came north and turned his attention to the preservation of milk, and in 1858 claimed a patent for "producing concentrate sweet milk by evaporation in vacuo, the same having no sugar or other foreign matter mixed with it, and after a strenuous contest he secured letters patent in 1856. the development of the invention was now a fresh source of embarrassment. He had parted with all but three-eights of his interest in the patent, when after two unsuccessful attempts to establish works in New York, the New York Condensed milk Company was formed and began business on an extensive scale at Wassaic, Dutchess county, N.Y. This was in 1860. Soon after the civil war broke out and the article became at once quickly and extensively known as it became an essential article in military and naval supplies. Then the business rapidly expanded and other manufactories were established. During the war our soldiers needed meat juices in a condensed form and Mr. Borden resumed his experimental labors and produced an extract of beef of superior quality. These extracts and their sale gave him great wealth which he made liberal use of.
Mr. B. used often to visit the home of his youth [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY]. His last visit here was about six years ago.
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A Millionaire's Funeral
Chenango Union, January 29, 1874
Under the above caption, the New York Sun, of the 23d inst., gives the following account of the funeral of Gail Borden, of Texas and a native of this town [Norwich, NY].The funeral of Mr. Gail Borden, the originator of condensed milk, who died in Bordenville, Texas, on the 11th inst., was solemnized yesterday in White Plains. Mr. Borden was 73 years old, and had lived in White Plains a number of years. He was born in Norwich, N.Y., and when a young man went to Texas. He was there during the Mexican troubles, and after the close of hostilities he was appointed Mayor of the city of Galveston by Gen. Sam Houston. He was the first Mayor Galveston ever had. Subsequently he was made Collector of the Port, and filled that position a number of years. In 1853 Mr. Borden having conceived the idea of preserving milk and meats in condensed forms he came to New York and experimented. He had some difficulty in obtaining a patent, and he worked and experimented until he made an article which seemed to answer the conditions of a patent, which the Commissioner was willing to give, and it was obtained. The patent was all he had left. His money was gone, but after three or four years he convinced capitalists that his enterprise was a worthy one, and in consideration of five-eights of the patent Mr. Borden formed a company called the New York Condensed Milk Company, and in 1860, the first factory was built in Wassisc, on the Harlem Railroad. The war came on; there was a great demand for milk in a condensed form, and Borden's condensed milk soon attained a national reputation. The demand was greater than he could supply, and in 1866, Mr. Borden built an extensive establishment in Brewaters, Putnam County. Soon afterward he built another in Elgin, Ill., and then another at Bordentown, near Columbus, Texas, where he combined the business of condensing meat, with that of milk. Mr. Borden soon became a millionaire. He owned a mansion in White plains valued at $50,000, and vast estates in Illinois and Texas. He spent most of his time travelling between his different factories, and was on a visit to his place in Texas when he died.
The funeral services were in the Memorial M.E. Church in White Plains, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Vassar of Amenia. Although the day was rainy the church was crowded. The remains, enclosed in an elegant rosewood coffin, were taken to Woodlawn Cemetery [Bronx, NY] by the 2:30 p.m. train and deposited in the family vault. Mr. Borden leaves a wife, a son, and two daughters, one of whom is married.
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