Edward M. Ruttenber Collection

Edward M. Ruttenber was born in Bennington, Vermont on July 17, 1825. According to his obituary, he arrived in Newburgh by sloop in 1836 at 12 years of age apparently unaccompanied by parents. As a young man, he was apprenticed to Charles Cushman, who managed the Newburgh Telegraph. Ruttenber was transferred to the Newburgh Gazette in 1839, returned to the Telegraph in 1845 and purchased the Telegraph in 1850. Later he consolidated the Excelsior, the Gazette, and the Daily News. He began publishing what would become the Newburgh Evening News newspaper in 1885. The Evening News would be the newspaper of record for Newburgh, NY for the next 100 years. He was a charter member of the Newburgh Historical Society and is responsible for writing and / or publishing numerous works including a History of Newburgh, Historic Flags of the New York Regiments, History of the Indian tribes of Hudson's River, The history of Orange County, and Footprints of the Red Men. E.M. Ruttenber died on December 4, 1907, leaving a widow, two sons, 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in New Windsor, NY.