Adam Neidlinger (1831-1904)

He was born in Germany and came to America in 1852. He trained as a maltster (for breweries) and on setting up on his own account very quickly became one the country's leading figures in the malting industry. He owned seven malting plants in New York, Brooklyn, South Rondout, Cayuga, Sodus Point, and Oswego, New York. He was also the sole owner of the Manhattan Ice Company with properties at Eddyville, South Rondout, Four Mile Point, and Phippsburg, Maine. In 1884, he bought Waldorf in Ulster County from John Jacob Astor III, spending most of the year there, and the rest at his townhouse in New York, 423 East 50th Street. He was described as, "a man of sterling character, of great courage and energy, and was very highly esteemed by all who knew him". He was survived by his wife, three sons and four daughters.