Frothingham began contributing columns on current events to newspapers in New York and other states during the Civil War.  He was an advocate for the Union and a supporter of President Abraham Lincoln.

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Fonda area minister was pioneer syndicated journalist

By Bob Cudmore

   A minister who spent most of his 92-year life in the Fonda area was a pioneer syndicated journalist.

   The New York Herald interviewed Reverend Washington Frothingham in 1912, two years before his death, calling him the dean of American journalism.

   Frothingham began contributing columns on current events to newspapers in New York and other states during the Civil War.  He was an advocate for the Union and a supporter of President Abraham Lincoln.

   Frothingham used pseudonyms to obscure his identity, although several newspapers over the years did stories “outing” the columnist’s real name.

  He signed his columns as The Hermit of New York in the Troy Times and New York Herald.  He was Macauley in Rochester, the Rosicrucian in Utica and the Demon of Broadway in Hartford.

   Over the years his columns were printed by newspapers in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and many other cities. 

   Much of the money he earned from the newspapers he gave to needy people and causes he considered worthwhile. 

   His will provided the funds needed to start the Frothingham Free Library in Fonda.  He paid for a bowling alley and public bath in Fonda and was still swimming there regularly when the Herald interviewed him in 1912.

   He told the newspaper he did not favor women’s suffrage.  He also expressed concern for the younger generation, saying he feared for the future unless young people turned to the Lord, honored the flag and became good citizens.

   Frothingham was born in 1822 in East Fonda and died at his home in Fonda in 1914.

   Frothingham’s family—he was the third of ten children—moved from Fonda to Johnstown when he was a young child.  His mother was a niece of author Washington Irving and his father was a judge. 

   Young Frothingham studied at Johnstown Academy and wanted to be a writer.  To please his father and help the family, at 18 he moved to New York City and worked in a Broadway store.

   He secured a better job with wholesale grocer Edwin D. Morgan.  Morgan later was elected governor.  After working some time for Morgan, Frothingham and a friend opened their own store.

   In 1850 at age 28, Frothingham felt called to the ministry. He sold his share of the business and prepared for the ministry at Princeton, developing skills as a speaker.  His first position was at a Presbyterian Church in Guilderland.  He opened a Sunday school and preaching station at an Albany machine shop. That effort led to the founding of Albany’s West End Presbyterian Church.

   In 1861 Frothingham was invited back to Fonda to restore the declining Reformed church.  He succeeded, although his pro-Union and pro-Lincoln political stance ran counter to the secessionist views of some church members. 

   In 1862 at age 40, Frothingham married Mary Middlemass, a native of Scotland who was a Sunday School teacher.  They had no children.

   He was called to serve the Tribes Hill Presbyterian Church where he was pastor until 1905.

   After his wife died, Frothingham in 1900 married a woman who had been his wife’s nurse, Ella Leavitt of Tribes Hill, a school teacher and correspondent for the Recorder.  One source said his first wife’s last words were, “Take care of Ella.”

   He was author of several books including histories of Montgomery and Fulton counties. He was friendly with newspaper men and writers including Horace Greeley and William Cullen Bryant.

   Frothingham died October 21, 1914 two weeks after suffering a paralyzing stroke.  The funeral was held at Fonda Reformed Church and his body was cremated in Troy.  There is a memorial to him in Fonda’s Caughnawaga Cemetery.

Historians Episode #470 tomorrow, Friday, April 14, 2023

Patrick Chaisson has written a multi-media presentation “Wings of Victory: Aircraft Production in New York State during WWII.” Patrick Chaisson is a retired (26 year) US Army Lieutenant Colonel now an author/historian from Scotia.

The Empire State Aerosciences Museum will hold its monthly Fly-In Breakfast on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 8:30 am – 10:30 am at 250 Rudy Chase Drive, Glenville, NY 12302 (off Route 50). Enjoy an assortment of pancakes, french toast, eggs, sausage, potatoes, juice, coffee, tea, fruit and more. The breakfast is open to the public.

At 10 am, Historian & Author, Patrick Chaisson, will host a multimedia presentation on the New York Air National Guard in the Vietnam War. Chaisson, himself the son of an Air Guard veteran and a retired Army officer, relates the story of how the New York Air National Guard went from a poorly-funded "flying club for weekend warriors" - as some saw it - to a professional organization that served with distinction in South Vietnam from 1965 to 1969.

His talk will combine period photographs with modern computer technology to share the story of Air Guard flight crews in combat. Those who attend may be surprised how many New York Air National Guard service members fought in the Vietnam conflict - including airmen and airwomen, who lived and served in the local area.  Veterans and the general public alike will enjoy this lively, fast-paced presentation about a little-known but important role played by the New York Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.

Fly-In if you would like. Pilots: Tower Frequency 121.3; Ground 121.9. Land at Schenectady County Airport and taxi to Richmor Aviation North. Tell them you are going to ESAM.

Bob Cudmore "History stories from The Mohawk Valley"

Email [email protected]

Donald Williams is author of “Grandfather’s Tool Chest.” The book has stories about 400 vintage and antique tools. Don Williams, 88, is a well-known educator, lecturer, columnist, and author. He has written eleven books on local and Adirondack history.

Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, April 13, 2023

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