After Adelbert's father sold his farm the family moved to Parksville NY where his father operated a general store. When only five years old, on his very first day of school, Adelbert attempted to climb onto an ox-drawn wagon filled with sand, to hitch a ride to school, as was commonly done by boys in those days.  His foot caught in the spoke of the wheel, which he was using to hoist himself up, and the cart began to move, dragging him and twisting his leg around and around. The wagon was finally stopped by a man named George Mitchell, who had a combined furniture and undertaking business on a near-by corner. In later years Adelbert said at this point he was "pretty near ready for George Mitchell's undertaking shop"!

His father, whose store was nearby, came running and applied a tourniquet.  Evidently there were no doctors in this tiny village so two riders set out on horseback to neighboring villages.  One headed to Liberty which was five miles away and the other to Rockland, fourteen miles distant.  Adelbert was taken to his home to wait.  First to arrive by horse and buggy were Dr. Watkins and Dr. Webster of Liberty.  Dr. Tuttle of Rockland eventually arrived on the scene as well.

His leg could not be saved so was amputated just below the knee. During his recovery a local man known for his highly exaggerated regional tales of lore, Johnny Darling, entertained him with these stories. Those were later told by A.M., as he was called, to his grandchildren.  Many years later a collection of Johnny Darling's stories was eventually published by an author named M. Jagendorf and A.M. Scriber is credited in this book as a contributor.

Many of the residents of the area took a special interest in this young boy who had suffered an undeserved accident. One in particular was the attorney, Peter B. Akens, who felt that Adelbert had the makings of a fine lawyer. Adelbert was in the debating club in high school and participated in one to two debates per week at which Mr. Akens was generally present. Adelbert later said that he would either "condemn or compliment me" but often helped him find sources for his material. Mr. Akens had intended for Adelbert to join his law office once he had graduated from school.

Adelbert said that at that point in time he knew of four lawyers who were spending their last days in the poor house and he didn't want to be the fifth. The profession of law was not all that prosperous in those days. During his high school days Adelbert was writing articles on local happenings for the Jeffersonville Record. Then a new newspaper called The Willowemoc Times was established in Livingston Manor by Moses H. Pride and Adelbert was offered the opportunity to write for this paper. He went to their office  twice a day, before and after school, and did a variety of other jobs there as well.

It may have been during this period in time that Adelbert purchased, or built, a house in Livingston Manor. An article in the July 20 1888 Sullivan County Record states:  “The carpenters have commenced work on D.M. Scriber’s new house. They will soon be ready to raise it.”  Adelbert was often referred to as Del, therefore “D.M. Scriber” would have been him.

Over time Del decided that he really enjoyed newspaper work and gave up the idea of law altogether. By the time he was sixteen he was the editor and proprietor of his own little newspaper called The Livingston Manor Times. He was said to have been the youngest editor in New York State at that time.  After doing this for two years he sold it and joined the staff of The Homer Republican in the town of Homer NY. He boarded at the Homer Hotel while there.

After being there nearly one year he came home for a vacation and was invited to Monticello by Mr. Barnum who was the editor of The Republican Watchman. Mr. Barnum needed additional help on the printing of a law case of five or six hundred pages (The Bethel Appeal Case). Monticello was twenty-five miles away and Adelbert, although eighteen years old, had never been there before. It was quite a distance to go by horse, so he took the train from Livingston Manor to Fallsburgh and the mailman brought him to Monticello via horse and wagon.

He agreed to help Mr. Barnum during his four week vacation. In the four weeks that Adelbert was in Monticello, he was very taken with the charm of the village and the friendliness and kindness of its people. He made a decision that he would not return to Homer and since there was still much to do for Mr. Barnum, told him that he would stay on until this work was completed. He took on additional projects of hand-setting the type for the printing of the laws of New York State, which were to be published in the Republican Watchman and at night he went over to another newspaper, the Sullivan County Republican, where he helped set up some laws for their printing.

Mr. Barnum came to Adelbert one day and said that his foreman, Frank Holmes was not well and was taking a leave of absence, and asked if Adelbert could fill in as his "assistant" for nine dollars a week, which was one dollar less than Mr. Holmes was paid.  In these days this was considered a large salary for a printer. Adelbert agreed to this and received instructions from Mr. Holmes on how to care for the cylinder and job presses and the other work that he would be responsible for. Within two weeks Mr. Holmes was dead.

Shortly after the funeral, Mr. Barnum offered Adelbert the job as foreman for ten dollars a week and he accepted. Ten dollars went a long way in those days. Adelbert boarded at the Dutcher house which was adjacent to the Methodist Church on Broadway and board was only three dollars a week which included ham, eggs, chicken, a lovely room and comfortable bed.

Later his brother, Bert, also came to Monticello and they shared the room for seven years. Later they moved to the Ennis house, kept by Mrs. Charles Ennis. After her husband, who was had been Deputy County Clerk, had become paralyzed in his lower extremities, she opened a rooming house to generate some income. The Ennis' daughter Grace, had a spectacular soprano voice.  Their two sons also had fine voices and Adelbert had wonderful memories of much music and singing in this household.

Eventually his mother and sister, Caroline came to Monticello and moved into a house on Clinton Avenue which they then shared with Adelbert and Bert. With some of the money that he saved he decided to purchase a three story house in Livingston Manor. It is not known just why he did this. Possibly he had the idea of eventually moving back there or saw it as an investment and rented out rooms there.

In 1895 he was offered a half-interest in the newspaper. Unknown to all at that time was the fact that Mr. Barnum did not own the newspaper, but it was owned by  Judge George Beebe, and he now intended to sell it.  Judge Beebe wanted a down payment of one thousand dollars, meaning that Mr. Barnum and Adelbert would have to each put in five hundred dollars. Adelbert's salary had by then increased to eleven dollars and fifty cents per week and he had managed to save only a total of about thirty dollars by then in that he had purchased the Livingston Manor house. His only hope was to borrow the money. After making some inquiries he heard that a local hardware clerk, John Armstrong, had sold his property and now had two thousand dollars to invest. By the time Adelbert reached him though he had just loaned seventeen hundred of this to someone else and had only three hundred of it left. Adelbert left thinking that that just wouldn't do but shortly returned deciding that three hundred was not too far from the total necessary. Mr. Armstrong said that collateral was unnecessary but they did agree to have Dr. Cauthers endorse the loan for him. Adelbert left with the three hundred dollars in his pocket wondering how he would get another one hundred and seventy-five to add to his own meager twenty-five.

He then heard that "Old Uncle Jimmy Geraghty", who was a friend, had some money to loan. He and his brother, Bert, went by horseback to Geraghty's home that evening.  Uncle Jimmy answered the door and was delighted to see them, offering them cider and apples. After some cider, apples and chit-chat, Adelbert told him about his agreeing to purchase the half-interest and his need for the money. Uncle Jimmy said he could have it and even more if he wanted it. He went to a cupboard and removed some dishes and dug around in the recesses coming out with a handful of bills. After counting it though found he was a bit short, so went upstairs and came back with the additional needed. Adelbert was able to pay back Uncle Jimmy within a year but Mr. Armstrong let his note run on for three or four years until he was ready to build.

The actual story of his meeting his future bride is unknown, but she and her sisters owned and operated a big Victorian boarding house on West Broadway. On April 6, 1899 they were married at this house, called “The Osborn”. The story of their wedding was in the local papers. The couple honeymooned in Boston and on their return lived for a while with his mother, sister and brother on Clinton Avenue. In about 1902, Adelbert purchased a house right next to the Osborn house from William I. Stewart. This house was one of the earlier houses of the village and probably built in the early 1800s. It was quite small so Adelbert added on to the original structure with a front parlor and large front porch which curved around to the side. This was later enclosed and became a sun-parlor. Front bedrooms were added and another set of stairs leading up to the front area of the house. In all it had thirteen rooms, counting the walk-in pantry, vestibule, sun-parlor, library and dressing room. In the early days there was no electricity or running water. The house was lighted by kerosene lamps and lanterns and a beautiful cranberry glass hanging lamp, given to them as a wedding gift, hung in the front entry. In those days there were chamber pots under the beds for night-time "urgencies" and during the day one used the outhouse. Water was piped up from a well with a pump in the kitchen. The house was situated on a knoll slightly raised from the wide unpaved street (at that time called Main St.) and behind it stood a barn with a hay loft. When Adelbert and his bride moved to this house his mother and sister came along as well. Their three children were literally born there and also a fourth, a son,  who died of an intestinal aliment when still an infant.

Life was good and Adelbert was doing well. He and his wife were involved in the community and highly respected. In addition to being a newspaper editor he was writing some historical fiction. He published his own novel in 1906, based on the Battle of Minisink, entitled "Old Jed" and completed another entitled, "Deacon Davey", which never was published.

Adelbert had an artificial leg which was molded of metal and painted flesh color. His stump slid into the hollow and it was strapped on . He walked a bit stiffly, always with a cane.

In the spring of 1909 Mr. Barnum died at his farm east of Monticello. Adelbert remembered him as a very generous man. On occasion he would hand Adelbert an extra twenty dollars as a bonus for a job well done, or a turkey at Thanksgiving. As a wedding gift he gave the newly weds a set of dishes worth seventy-five dollars, which according to Adelbert, was a tremendous price in those days. Adelbert reminisced with great pride that he was worthy of being a business partner of the likes of George Barnum. Mr. Barnum had been a court stenographer and one of the first to learn short-hand. He had been offered a professorship in astronomy at the University of Chicago in the 1870s because of his incredibly accurate tracing of a comet. The newspapers had reported his work and he received a great deal of publicity.

Only six months after Mr. Barnum's death a fire broke out in the newspaper office which was in the brick Masonic building in Monticello. The files were carried out to the lawn of the adjacent courthouse and thus saved. Two years later Adelbert bought out the Barnum interest of the business and paid the heirs fifty-five hundred dollars and assumed the indebtedness for the new presses and equipment that were replaced after the fire. He also gave Barnum's widow one thousand of the insurance money for the loss of the plant, making him now sole owner. Later Adelbert built a new building to house this business on what was the old Waller property,  a block long, and which Adelbert now owned. The post office was also on this piece of property. The business grew and included a Webb, Book, and three job presses as well as three linotype machines.

Adelbert became quite active in politics and held various offices over the years.  He was secretary, treasurer and chairman of the State Democratic Committee all at the same time due to the simultaneous resignation of these officers who refused to support Hearst, who was running for Governor. This put him in a very responsible and laborious position which he upheld for a year and then also resigned. Often he contributed large sums of money from his own pocket to help promote candidates.

He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Monticello NY and licensed to preach. He was also a member of the school board, on the board of Education, served twelve years on the Water Board and was Deputy Grand Master of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Monticello.  In 1930 he was appointed by FDR, then Governor of New York, as a member of the Washington Memorial Commission of New York State. He was also the President of the Sullivan County Historical Society that same year. It appears that he gave greatly both physically and monetarily to his community. As adults his children always said that he could have been a very wealthy man but he gave to people who were needy never expecting to be paid back and always was contributing to various causes.

He sent all of his children to college. His daughters both went to New Paltz Normal School, then a two year teacher's college, now SUNY New Paltz, and his son went to Lehigh in PA.

Early in his newspaper career he became an acquaintance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and in supporting him politically from  Secretary of the Navy on to Senator, Governor and to President of the United States continued a regular ongoing correspondence with him throughout his entire adult life. A collection of these original letters have been passed on to his heirs and copies of both his and Roosevelt's letters are on file at the Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park NY.

His grandson, Robert L. Scriber recalls his father John, telling him how he used to drive his father, Adelbert, to Hyde Park to meet with Roosevelt. John would wait outside. On several occasions Adelbert was invited to lunch with FDR or to meet with him. It appears from the content of the letters that FDR recognized the influence this country editor could have on his career.

Adelbert and his wife, Susan, on occasion would take the train to Albany for State dinners. Some of Susan's lovely dresses used for such occasions still exist as do some of the programs and menus from the various political and organizational dinners that they attended.

During these good years they owned a summer cottage on Sackett Lake not too far from Monticello. They called it the "camp". It was a wonderful place to unwind, canoe, swim or just sit and read on the screened-in porch overlooking the lake. According to a deed (in the possession of Susan Schock) this property was purchased in September of 1923 for $2,300.00 from a Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ellis of Monticello NY. It was described as follows: Being all the land, bungalow and furnishings of bungalow, except as herein set forth, at Sackett Lake, Sullivan County NY, owned by first party, bounded easterly by Sackett Lake. southerly by Pelton, Keary and Whelan, westerly by the Sackett Lake Road and northerly by Keary and Whelan., excepting an oak table, one mattress to be selected by vendor, sewing basket, such china and pictures as vendors select. Being the same premises conveyed to said Thomas Ellis and wife, by deed dated July 8, 1913 and recorded in Sullivan County Clerk’s Office in Deed book #174 at page 26.  Also excepting trunks and clothing and personal effects of vendors which they bring with them every spring when coming to the bungalow.

Note: An Ellis family had settled quite early in the Town of Rockland and it is thought that there might be a blood link to this family somehow with the Purvis family (not yet determined).  If so Thomas Ellis may have been a distant cousin of A.M. Scriber’s.

In 1947, Adelbert underwent surgery in Brooklyn, perhaps for prostate ... people did not discuss such things then though. In November of 1947 the Middletown Times Herald  published a story about Adelbert with a formal photo of him.

BACK AT DESK - Sullivan County Editor, 83, Resumes Work on Book Destroyed in Fire - Monticello - A. M. Scriber, eighty-three, one of New York State’s oldest active editors, was back at his desk at the Republican Watchman office here today after a summer of illness which necessitated two operations at a Brooklyn Hospital.

Mr, Scriber has resumed work on two books, manuscripts of which were lost in a fire December thirteenth 1942. The blaze destroyed the Watchman building on the south side of Broadway.

At the time of the fire Mr. Scriber had the manuscript of one book, Fifty Years a Country Editor wrapped ready to ship to a New York publisher. The other, a History of Sullivan County was nearly destroyed. He is now rearranging chapters for that book. He expects to complete the two volumes within a year.

Mr. Scriber attended the Democratic National Convention in 1944 as a delegate-at-large and voted for Frenklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Also in 1937 he was a presidential elector, casting his ballot then for Franklin D., Roosevelt for President and John N. Garner for Vice President.

Mr. Scriber has been keenly interested in the county and its people. After the disastrous fire of 1942, the editor and his son-in-law, Alvin O. Benton, moved across the street and after a great deal of effort resumed operations in the plant. A press was the only piece of equipment salvaged. from the fire.

Adelbert died of heart failure in his sleep never finishing these books.  As of today only one history of Sullivan County was published in 1873 by James Eldridge Quinlan, a former editor of the same newspaper, The Republican Watchman.  Adelbert’s obituary was written up in the New York Times on August 14, 1948.

The following are some newspaper items of interest in Adelbert's life:

In 1930, the Sullivan County Democrat reported:

In September 1948, a month after Adelbert’s death, this appeared in the Republican Watchman:

Adelbert Marvin died in Monticello, NY, on August 13, 1948 at the age of 84.  He is buried in the Orchard Street Cemetery, Livingston Manor NY.

Susan Schock has contributed greatly to her line on this website.  Adelbert Marvin Scriber was her grandfather.  Our thanks to her for her very thorough biography and pictures.

Susan Wilks Osborn was the daughter of Lewis Vultie Osborn and Harriet Elizabeth Gardner.  She was born on October 8, 1867 in Centerville NY, now Woodridge NY.

Susan was a talented seamstress and worked in New York City in this occupation up until 1897, just a year prior to her marriage. She and her sister Emma were commissioned by wealthy families to custom make clothing for them. She and her sister designed and made her wedding dress which was of ecru faille with a shirred chiffon trim. After her marriage she made many beautiful dresses for herself and her daughters, some of which still exist and have been handed down .

After their marriage she and Adelbert lived on Clinton Avenue in Monticello, with his mother and brother and sister. Soon after, Adelbert purchased a house at 371 Broadway and at that time his mother and sister moved there with them. Fortunately their house was large with a living  room, parlor, sun-parlor, library, vestibule, pantry, front and back stairs and many bedrooms as well as a dressing room upstairs. It still must have been difficult always having someone there and Susan's mother -in-law died only one year before she did. In those days when one died the body was laid out in the home, so Adelbert's mother was "viewed" by family and friends in the parlor as was Susan a year later. 

Susan was forty-four years old when her last child was born, a boy, who lived to be only four months old.

She was very active in women's groups of the Monticello NY Methodist Episcopal Church as well as the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She entered many of her "fancy work" pieces at the Sullivan County Fair and usually won blue ribbons. Her handiwork was finely and exquisitely done and displayed much patience, skill, and perfection.

An notice appeared in the August 8 1924 edition of The Republican Watchman as follows:

Susan celebrated her 57th birthday party with a surprise picnic.  The Republican Watchman reported on October 16, 1924:

A story was always told of how she and her sister, Nell, built her children a playhouse behind the boarding house next door which was operated by her sisters. Susan's husband, being handicapped was unable to do these sorts of things and so she took it upon herself to carry out such jobs. Her children had very fond memories of this playhouse and the wonderful times spent there.

Her daughter Elizabeth, used to say that she would say:” The dogs have the days, the cats have the nights ....and your time will come!”

Susan became ill with a kidney ailment and suffered for a number of years with this before her death.  She died in Monticello, NY, on June 17, 1933 at the age of 65.  She is buried in Orchard Street Cemetery, Livingston Manor NY.

Adelbert M. Scriber, 1864-1948

Adelbert M. Scriber, in his later years

A newspaper clipping provided by Susan Schock.  The caption reads "Members of the New York State Washington Bicentennial Commission grouped around a bust of George Washington, which was presented to Governor Roosevelt yesterday.  Left to right, Senator A. Spencer Feld, Governor Roosevelt, Guernsey T. Cross, the Governor's secretary; Charles J. Tobin, chairman; Education Commissioner Frank T. Graves, Major General Franklin W. Ward, Adelbert M. Scriber, Monticello; Robert B. Fentreas, New York; William H. Manning, Saratoga Springs."